I'm on my Shaman in this video, and I'm testing out Screenr.com and showing you another one of my favorite addons for World of Warcraft - the Addon Control Panel.

This is another one of those addons that I install right away as soon as I get set up on a new computer, or if I have to nuke my Interface and WTF folders due to loading or UI problems.

Addon Control Panel

If you DO NOT have the add-on installed, it won't show up on this list, but if you DID have it installed, here's where it would show up and what it would look like.

Normally your Options would have things like Video, Sound & Voice, Mac Options (if you're on a Mac), Interface, Key Bindings, Macros, Logout, Exit Game and at the very bottom, Return to Game. If you have the Addon Control Panel installed, between Macros and Logout you'll have the option "Addons".

What this addons list does, is give me a list of all of my addons so that I can enable and disable right away, and actually be able to reload my UI and addons, so I don't have to log out and back in with that character.

This is incredibly convenient for any player who uses a lot of addons - when I'm raiding, I use different addons than when I'm questing or running heroics, and this add-on makes it super easy to turn addons on and off between pulls in a raid if required, for example.

Also, when new patches come out and one of your addons is causing problems with your chat window or is generating errors, it's REALLY convenient to not have to log in and out a million times to troubleshoot the problem.

And if you have multiple characters, add-on control panel saves your list of addons to load without any extra work from you unless you want to create templates.

I demonstrate Addon Control Panel's ability to shut off an add-on that is loaded by showing Bagnon loaded, and then disabling it and reloading the UI through Addon Control Panel and showing how my bags and inventory were handled afterwards.

You can find Addon Control Panel at your favourite place to download WoW addons, it's pretty popular so it shouldn't be hard to find.

Here's the video walk through. I'm also testing out Screenr.com so don't mind the jumpiness of the video, but definitely check that free service out if you like to take vids.

Related posts:

1. WoW Addon Review: Reagent Restocker
2. Ode To A Great WoW Addon: AlwaysLFG
3. WoW User Interface (UI) Addons

Elemental Shaman in Icecrown Citadel 25

Sure, I'm having a great time advancing in-game but I'm missing out on something I really love to do, which is write on this blog.

This blog that I spent so much time upgrading and re-designing!

So, I'm back.

Demoted To Reservist Raider

I've officially requested that my characters be demoted to a Casual Raider rank within our guild.

Of course, there were a whole bunch of reasons that went into the request for a demotion to "Reservist" raider, but the main ones were that I've got some RL things to be working on, and the level of commitment to stay anywhere near the "average" was getting to be too much.

Ah, the price one pays for being in a guild that's rockin' the new content ;)

Seriously tho, I had been slipping behind since before Christmas time, even with the switch-over from my Priest to my Shaman and all the effort that went into there. It was time to acknowledge to the team that they'd be better to recruit a full time raider for my spot for now.

With over a year and a half of raid experience with half of the Officer core, it was easy to move to the Reservist rank instead of considering removing myself entirely.

I do like my raiding mates after all.

Lock With Mechanohog at the Bulwark

What I'm Doing Now

I find that my gaming interest waxes and wanes. Not that I lose interest in playing, more that my interests move from place to place within the game.

When I started, leveling was fascinating.

PvP was something I got deeply into in terms of battlegrounds for a while, too. Wintergrasp is a lot of fun.

For a while, I quite enjoyed raiding.

But all in all, I find that I can write more fluidly when I'm writing about virtual strangers, instead of virtual teammates or virtual friends.

So now I'm taking my enjoyment of the new LFG system, and basking in the anonymity of adventure it allows, and looking to write more about this "back to the social leveling guild" view of the game.

And of course, now that I don't have the raiding costs, I'm having a lot of fun watching the Auction House earnings pile up with very minimal effort, too.

On my main realm where I'm well-established with 5 level 70+'s all with Epic Flyers (and a Motorcycle mount on my now-54 Warlock), I cracked 40k recently. On a lowbie realm I'm LFG Tank Leveling on (highest playing toon is 24) I have just over 1000g already.

Gold doesn't make the social part of the game any easier, but it sure makes the technical advancement part easier :)

I'm planning on publishing my strategies and AH-specific adventures on a new site I've got set up, called Don't Buy Gold (Auction House Strategies for the Intelligently Lazy).

It's not live yet but you can sign up to find out more about my plans, and be notified of its opening on the front page there.

If my hosting provider hasn't somehow hosed my temporary front page again, that is.

Achievement - Ragefire Chasm

Would You Subscribe To My LFG Leveling Podcast?

I'm also thinking now of making a podcast based upon my LFG leveling adventures, with two special focuses: One on Tanking as an LFG leveler, and another on things you can do to improve your own dungeon-running skill and contribute to a great run.

I know a lot of people are afraid of PUGs (pick up groups with complete strangers, especially cross-realm), but would anyone be interested in my experiences and advice?

My plan is that the free podcast would be no more than 30 minutes in length, published weekly.

Oh, and I'd also definitely want to relay some of the funny PUG adventures I have - you know, the Bad PUGs that are just SO classically bad that they're funny...

That on its own might be worth the subscription!!

Related posts:

1. The Heroics Divide
2. Why My Raiding Guild Rocks, Part II
3. Summertime's Effect On Your Raid Team

This entry is more about the things that I lament about the new LFG tool.

Ready Check For Random Dungeon

Like It? Don't Like It?

Now, don't get confused. Overall, I L-O-V-E the new LFG tool. I think it's a wicked upgrade to an already useful tool.

But, there are some things that "just aren't the same" anymore, and I can't help but miss them just a little bit.

Gimme Back My Global LookingForGroup!

The first thing I noticed about the LFG Tool upgrade that I didn't like was the fact that the LookingForGroup channel was now restricted to the cities, and if you moved out of those restricted areas, one couldn't "lurk" in it any longer as a way to find out what PUG raids were going on.

I don't know about you, but I rarely hang out in the city, and when I do, I'm probably doing something very specific and have most of my channels turned off to reduce spam. And when I'm actually interested in getting into a PUG raid, I'm generally out and about, doing Fishing or Jewelcrafting Dailies which take me out of the city.

I used to put myself in the LFG tool under something like the zone of Icecrown so I didn't get ninja invites, but was still able to keep a finger on the pulse of what was going on RIGHT NOW that I could get into with various toons. Now I've completely left the LookingForGroup channel because it's useless and spammy to me.

Don't Force Me To Commit

Space Goat Death Pose

Having to commit to Heroics *or* Raids, and not being able to pick and choose like we used to be able to do, sucks too!

I used to list myself for the one specific Heroic I wanted to do (daily, generally), and then I'd list myself for a couple of Raids as well. Whatever I got an invite for, I went to.

But now I have to commit to what I want to do - raid or do Heroics - and I find that a wee bit restrictive.

Although I do admit, the Heroics pop so fast these days that it doesn't make much sense to list myself in anything else when I list for Heroics. But I still resent being forced to make a commitment right from the start, as it takes away some of my "I like random things" joy. I've basically stopped listing myself for raids at all as a result.

Let Me Vote To Kick More People

In my Lowbie Leveling PUGs I quickly found that there's a limit to the number of people that can be voted out of a group.

So, in the Wailing Caverns run I had on my lowbie Paladin Tank, the guy who went AFK to girlfriend aggro (to do the dishes, 10 min into our run - yah, marry that one and keep bowing down to her, you'll be REAL happy together) got voted out, and then his replacement was a huntard who rolled Need on everything despite agreeing to our requests to only Need on what he'd equip himself, so he got voted out, and then a third person joined who couldn't find his way to us (and we weren't in the twisty part yet at all) yet rolled Need on everything that dropped... and we couldn't vote him out.

Now, I understand that the Vote to Kick feature can be abused if I were to bring three of my friends and myself into a group, and keep kicking anyone who rolls on anything for that fifth person, but when we're all virtual strangers from different realms, I don't see the potential for abuse as much. After all, it only takes one dissenting vote for the kick to not go through, and the tool "knows" whether we were grouped together to start, or randomly tossed together.

Is this Vote To Kick thing limited by time, does anyone know? If we were in an uber-long run, would we be able to Vote Out more than two/three people?

Related posts:

1. To The LFG Tool: An Ode
2. How To "Lurk" On The LFG Channel
3. How To “Lurk” On The LFG Channel

CURRENT FOR PATCH 3.3!

Here's a complete Gemming and Enchanting Guide for Balance Druids in WoTLK World of Warcraft.

This guide includes two sets of gem/enchant suggestions: One for the beginner and another for "pro" raiders

BONUS: Complete Materials Lists + helpful suggestions to help you reduce your raid gear-enhancing costs!

EVERY BALANCE DRUID RAIDER NEEDS THIS GUIDE!

Crit Chicken - Unshifted

If you want to find a fast, efficient, friendly raiding team, read on!

Raiders Who Don't Waste Time Gem and Enchant Their Gear

Sure, gems and Enchants aren't NEEDED in order to get into raiding.

Lots of people get wicked gear upgrades, but then continue to raid week after week without enhancing that wicked gear. And yes, they're still invited into raids.

But if THEY are so poorly Gemmed and Enchanted, I'll bet you can tell what the rest of the group looks like, too!

Some entry-level raiding guilds overlook an applicant's Gems and Enchants initially, but then discriminate when it comes time to build in-guild raid teams. The well-gemmed and enchanted tend to only want to play with others of the same ilk, potentially leaving YOU on the outside.

Use this guide to shine up your gear the best you can before a raid guild application, or to shine up the gear of your new alt raider!

Shine up your gear to Awesome Raiding Guild standards and notice how your in-game social circles begin to change as playing with well-gemmed and enchanted players becomes your new standard.

Topics In This Document

Buy Now!

The Raiding Boomkin's Gemming and Enchanting Guide

WoWGrrl's mini-guides are based on many hours of research, and therefore are comprehensive and specific, but I still keep them very low-cost. Your purchase helps support the hosting costs of the WoWGrrl.com website and production of future guides on various World of Warcraft topics.

I appreciate the opportunity to help you reduce your research time and increase your play time, while you help me keep my blogging and guide-writing costs down through your contributions!

Feel free to leave a note to suggest a topic you'd like to see covered in a guide!

Related posts:

1. Kitty Druid Gem and Enchant Guide for World of Warcraft
2. WoW Mage’s Gemming and Enchanting Guide
3. WoW DPS Death Knight Gemming and Enchanting Guide

CURRENT FOR PATCH 3.3!

Here's a complete Gemming and Enchanting Guide for Paladin Tanks in WoTLK World of Warcraft.

This guide includes two sets of gem/enchant suggestions: One for the beginner and another for "pro" raiders

BONUS: Complete Materials Lists + helpful suggestions to help you reduce your raid gear-enhancing costs!

EVERY TANKING PALADIN RAIDER NEEDS THIS GUIDE!

Raid Geared Paladin Tank

If you want to find a fast, efficient, friendly raiding team, read on!

Raiders Who Don't Waste Time Gem and Enchant Their Gear

Sure, gems and Enchants aren't NEEDED in order to get into raiding.

Lots of people get wicked gear upgrades, but then continue to raid week after week without enhancing that wicked gear. And yes, they're still invited into raids.

But if THEY are so poorly Gemmed and Enchanted, I'll bet you can tell what the rest of the group looks like, too!

Some entry-level raiding guilds overlook an applicant's Gems and Enchants initially, but then discriminate when it comes time to build in-guild raid teams. The well-gemmed and enchanted tend to only want to play with others of the same ilk, potentially leaving YOU on the outside.

Use this guide to shine up your gear the best you can before a raid guild application, or to shine up the gear of your new alt raider!

Shine up your gear to Awesome Raiding Guild standards and notice how your in-game social circles begin to change as playing with well-gemmed and enchanted players becomes your new standard.

Topics In This Document

Buy Now!

The Raiding Tankadin's Gemming and Enchanting Guide

WoWGrrl's mini-guides are based on many hours of research, and therefore are comprehensive and specific, but I still keep them very low-cost. Your purchase helps support the hosting costs of the WoWGrrl.com website and production of future guides on various World of Warcraft topics.

I appreciate the opportunity to help you reduce your research time and increase your play time, while you help me keep my blogging and guide-writing costs down through your contributions!

Feel free to leave a note to suggest a topic you'd like to see covered in a guide!

Related posts:

1. Death Knight Tank Gem and Enchant Guide
2. Holy Paladin’s Gem and Enchant Guide
3. WoW Rogue Gem and Enchant Guide

CURRENT FOR PATCH 3.3!

Here's a complete Gemming and Enchanting Guide for Druid Tanks in WoTLK World of Warcraft.

This guide includes two sets of gem/enchant suggestions: One for the beginner and another for "pro" raiders

BONUS: Complete Materials Lists + helpful suggestions to help you reduce your raid gear-enhancing costs!

EVERY TANKING DRUID RAIDER NEEDS THIS GUIDE!

Feral Druid Tank

If you want to find a fast, efficient, friendly raiding team, read on!

Raiders Who Don't Waste Time Gem and Enchant Their Gear

Sure, gems and Enchants aren't NEEDED in order to get into raiding.

Lots of people get wicked gear upgrades, but then continue to raid week after week without enhancing that wicked gear. And yes, they're still invited into raids.

But if THEY are so poorly Gemmed and Enchanted, I'll bet you can tell what the rest of the group looks like, too!

Some entry-level raiding guilds overlook an applicant's Gems and Enchants initially, but then discriminate when it comes time to build in-guild raid teams. The well-gemmed and enchanted tend to only want to play with others of the same ilk, potentially leaving YOU on the outside.

Use this guide to shine up your gear the best you can before a raid guild application, or to shine up the gear of your new alt raider!

Shine up your gear to Awesome Raiding Guild standards and notice how your in-game social circles begin to change as playing with well-gemmed and enchanted players becomes your new standard.

Topics In This Document

Buy Now!

The Raiding Druid's Tank Gemming and Enchanting Guide

WoWGrrl's mini-guides are based on many hours of research, and therefore are comprehensive and specific, but I still keep them very low-cost. Your purchase helps support the hosting costs of the WoWGrrl.com website and production of future guides on various World of Warcraft topics.

I appreciate the opportunity to help you reduce your research time and increase your play time, while you help me keep my blogging and guide-writing costs down through your contributions!

Feel free to leave a note to suggest a topic you'd like to see covered in a guide!

Related posts:

1. Kitty Druid Gem and Enchant Guide for World of Warcraft
2. Death Knight Tank Gem and Enchant Guide
3. WoW Rogue Gem and Enchant Guide

CURRENT FOR PATCH 3.3!

Here's a complete Gemming and Enchanting Guide for Death Knight Tanks in WoTLK World of Warcraft.

This guide includes two sets of gem/enchant suggestions: One for the beginner and another for "pro" raiders

BONUS: Complete Materials Lists + helpful suggestions to help you reduce your raid gear-enhancing costs!

EVERY DK TANKING RAIDER NEEDS THIS GUIDE!

Lich King's Student?

If you want to find a fast, efficient, friendly raiding team, read on!

Raiders Who Don't Waste Time Gem and Enchant Their Gear

Sure, gems and Enchants aren't NEEDED in order to get into raiding.

Lots of people get wicked gear upgrades, but then continue to raid week after week without enhancing that wicked gear. And yes, they're still invited into raids.

But if THEY are so poorly Gemmed and Enchanted, I'll bet you can tell what the rest of the group looks like, too!

Some entry-level raiding guilds overlook an applicant's Gems and Enchants initially, but then discriminate when it comes time to build in-guild raid teams. The well-gemmed and enchanted tend to only want to play with others of the same ilk, potentially leaving YOU on the outside.

Use this guide to shine up your gear the best you can before a raid guild application, or to shine up the gear of your new alt raider!

Shine up your gear to Awesome Raiding Guild standards and notice how your in-game social circles begin to change as playing with well-gemmed and enchanted players becomes your new standard.

Topics In This Document

Buy Now!

The Raiding Death Knight's Tank Gemming and Enchanting Guide

WoWGrrl's mini-guides are based on many hours of research, and therefore are comprehensive and specific, but I still keep them very low-cost. Your purchase helps support the hosting costs of the WoWGrrl.com website and production of future guides on various World of Warcraft topics.

I appreciate the opportunity to help you reduce your research time and increase your play time, while you help me keep my blogging and guide-writing costs down through your contributions!

Feel free to leave a note to suggest a topic you'd like to see covered in a guide!

Related posts:

1. WoW Rogue Gem and Enchant Guide
2. WoW DPS Death Knight Gemming and Enchanting Guide
3. Resto Shaman Gem and Enchant Guide

CURRENT FOR PATCH 3.3!

Here's a complete Gemming and Enchanting Guide for Rogues in WoTLK World of Warcraft.

This guide includes two sets of gem/enchant suggestions: One for the beginner and another for "pro" raiders

BONUS: Complete Materials Lists + helpful suggestions to help you reduce your raid gear-enhancing costs!

EVERY ROGUE RAIDER NEEDS THIS GUIDE!

Sneeeeaaaaaakkkkyyy

If you want to find a fast, efficient, friendly raiding team, read on!

Raiders Who Don't Waste Time Gem and Enchant Their Gear

Sure, gems and Enchants aren't NEEDED in order to get into raiding.

Lots of people get wicked gear upgrades, but then continue to raid week after week without enhancing that wicked gear. And yes, they're still invited into raids.

But if THEY are so poorly Gemmed and Enchanted, I'll bet you can tell what the rest of the group looks like, too!

Some entry-level raiding guilds overlook an applicant's Gems and Enchants initially, but then discriminate when it comes time to build in-guild raid teams. The well-gemmed and enchanted tend to only want to play with others of the same ilk, potentially leaving YOU on the outside.

Use this guide to shine up your gear the best you can before a raid guild application, or to shine up the gear of your new alt raider!

Shine up your gear to Awesome Raiding Guild standards and notice how your in-game social circles begin to change as playing with well-gemmed and enchanted players becomes your new standard.

Topics In This Document

Buy Now!

The Raiding Rogue's Gemming and Enchanting Guide

WoWGrrl's mini-guides are based on many hours of research, and therefore are comprehensive and specific, but I still keep them very low-cost. Your purchase helps support the hosting costs of the WoWGrrl.com website and production of future guides on various World of Warcraft topics.

I appreciate the opportunity to help you reduce your research time and increase your play time, while you help me keep my blogging and guide-writing costs down through your contributions!

Feel free to leave a note to suggest a topic you'd like to see covered in a guide!

Related posts:

1. Resto Shaman Gem and Enchant Guide
2. Elemental Shaman Gem and Enchant Guide
3. WoW Hunter Gem and Enchant Guide

CURRENT FOR PATCH 3.3!

Here's a complete Gemming and Enchanting Guide for Resto Shaman in WoTLK World of Warcraft.

This guide includes two sets of gem/enchant suggestions: One for the beginner and another for "pro" raiders

BONUS: Complete Materials Lists + helpful suggestions to help you reduce your raid gear-enhancing costs!

EVERY RESTO SHAMAN RAIDER NEEDS THIS GUIDE!

Bloodlustin' Resto Shaman

If you want to find a fast, efficient, friendly raiding team, read on!

Raiders Who Don't Waste Time Gem and Enchant Their Gear

Sure, gems and Enchants aren't NEEDED in order to get into raiding.

Lots of people get wicked gear upgrades, but then continue to raid week after week without enhancing that wicked gear. And yes, they're still invited into raids.

But if THEY are so poorly Gemmed and Enchanted, I'll bet you can tell what the rest of the group looks like, too!

Some entry-level raiding guilds overlook an applicant's Gems and Enchants initially, but then discriminate when it comes time to build in-guild raid teams. The well-gemmed and enchanted tend to only want to play with others of the same ilk, potentially leaving YOU on the outside.

Use this guide to shine up your gear the best you can before a raid guild application, or to shine up the gear of your new alt raider!

Shine up your gear to Awesome Raiding Guild standards and notice how your in-game social circles begin to change as playing with well-gemmed and enchanted players becomes your new standard.

Topics In This Document

Buy Now!

The Raiding Resto Shaman's Gemming and Enchanting Guide

WoWGrrl's mini-guides are based on many hours of research, and therefore are comprehensive and specific, but I still keep them very low-cost. Your purchase helps support the hosting costs of the WoWGrrl.com website and production of future guides on various World of Warcraft topics.

I appreciate the opportunity to help you reduce your research time and increase your play time, while you help me keep my blogging and guide-writing costs down through your contributions!

Feel free to leave a note to suggest a topic you'd like to see covered in a guide!

Related posts:

1. Elemental Shaman Gem and Enchant Guide
2. WoW Rogue Gem and Enchant Guide
3. Resto Druid Gem and Enchant Guide

CURRENT FOR PATCH 3.3!

Here's a complete Gemming and Enchanting Guide for Mages in WoTLK World of Warcraft.

This guide includes two sets of gem/enchant suggestions: One for the beginner and another for "pro" raiders

BONUS: Complete Materials Lists + helpful suggestions to help you reduce your raid gear-enhancing costs!

EVERY MAGE RAIDER NEEDS THIS GUIDE!

Raid Geared Mage

If you want to find a fast, efficient, friendly raiding team, read on!

Raiders Who Don't Waste Time Gem and Enchant Their Gear

Sure, gems and Enchants aren't NEEDED in order to get into raiding.

Lots of people get wicked gear upgrades, but then continue to raid week after week without enhancing that wicked gear. And yes, they're still invited into raids.

But if THEY are so poorly Gemmed and Enchanted, I'll bet you can tell what the rest of the group looks like, too!

Some entry-level raiding guilds overlook an applicant's Gems and Enchants initially, but then discriminate when it comes time to build in-guild raid teams. The well-gemmed and enchanted tend to only want to play with others of the same ilk, potentially leaving YOU on the outside.

Use this guide to shine up your gear the best you can before a raid guild application, or to shine up the gear of your new alt raider!

Shine up your gear to Awesome Raiding Guild standards and notice how your in-game social circles begin to change as playing with well-gemmed and enchanted players becomes your new standard.

Topics In This Document

Buy Now!

The Raiding Mage's Gemming and Enchanting Guide

WoWGrrl's mini-guides are based on many hours of research, and therefore are comprehensive and specific, but I still keep them very low-cost. Your purchase helps support the hosting costs of the WoWGrrl.com website and production of future guides on various World of Warcraft topics.

I appreciate the opportunity to help you reduce your research time and increase your play time, while you help me keep my blogging and guide-writing costs down through your contributions!

Feel free to leave a note to suggest a topic you'd like to see covered in a guide!

Related posts:

1. Balance Druid Gemming and Enchanting Guide
2. WoW DPS Death Knight Gemming and Enchanting Guide
3. WoW Rogue Gem and Enchant Guide