Last week I was supposed to be on vacation, but the vacation was clearly cursed. Just absolutely pirate gold, vengeful murdered victorian child levels of nonsense. The one silver lining was passing by The Peachoid twice in two days.

So, behold, I guess.

This is The Queue, our daily column where you ask us the questions and just as soon as we get back from the DMV, dentist, and mechanic, and actually let’s pencil in an exorcist so we probably won’t have a chance to answer, sorry. Maybe after I get done very carefully and explicitly not cussing out my “roadside assistance” insurance agent. Oh, probably should check in with my therapist about it, too now that I’m thinking of it.

This week on the Tavern Watch Podcast, we wander very naturally into one of the most age-old discussions among tabletop players and GMs alike: do you have a preference for crunchy systems or streamlined ones?

We're gearing up for some big news days, I just know it.

If you ask a WoW player, Bloodmage Thalnos (or Thalnos the Soulrender) is just a barely-remembered boss in the Scarlet Monastery, not particularly noteworthy. Ask a Hearthstone player, though, and you might just get a declaration of love for one of the most iconic cards that have ever graced the game, and possibly the only card to remain unchanged, and still playable, since the game’s inception.

This is The Queue, our daily Q&A column where we want more! More souls!

We hope you got your fill of both the gameplay and the Player Housing rewards from Decor Duels, because they're going away in World of Warcraft patch 12.1.

Player Housing decor collectors will have a new fishy friend to acquire in Midnight's patch 12.1, and its looping swim animation makes it perfect for placing in your at-home aquarium.

The Burning Crusade Classic anniversary realms are progressing to Phase 3 on August 27, 2026 at 3 pm pacific time.

I do have a Mage alt, but I don’t play it enough to keep up with how to play it, which means I usually don’t play it. I just want to go around spamming Arcane Explosion non-stop and be a ball of violent purple destruction, but apparently that’s inefficient and also it tends to result in my death. I’m that player in pugs when I’m on a Mage.

And I’ve been maining a Death Knight lately, so weirdly I’m not actually used to dying a lot anymore. Every other class I play feels squishy, but Mages more than most. So playing a Mage is a hard ask, but maybe I should anyway.

Existential class questions aside, this is the Queue, our daily Q&A column where we attempt to answer your gaming (maybe) questions (maybe) and sometimes succeed (maybe). Let’s get to it.

Every week the Epic Games Store gives away a game or two for free.

As usual, BlizzCon 2026 attendees are receiving an absolute slew of in-game goodies with their (oof) roughly $300 tickets, but what about those of us stuck at home?