The Queue: Worlds collide

I love it when two of my interests come crashing together like a pair of hockey players slamming each other into the boards! Once again, World of Warcraft sponsored an Edmonton Oilers game, and they were exceedingly kind in inviting me along for the ride! The Blood Elves came back to support the Oilers, and there were prizes, pizzas being parachuted down from the ceiling, and a cool limited edition t-shirt of the Oilers mascot, Hunter the Lynx, glowing all void-y with the Warcraft W on his chest.

Last time they had us up in the special fancy box to watch the game, this time we were rinkside, and what an experience that was. I’ve never been so close to a professional hockey game! The puck was amazingly loud; you felt every slapshot that hit the boards viscerally. It was also super cool to hear it skitter along the glass as they passed it around the end of the rink. To say nothing of watching the aforementioned body checks up close and personal. It gives you a whole new appreciation of the things hockey players put their bodies through.

Sadly, the Oilers didn’t win, so congrats to Kalcheus and every other Carolina fan that night. I was really hoping that the Oilers would be heroes in the storm of Carolina. Still, it was a really close game (until it wasn’t) and I hope they decide to sponsor some Oilers playoff hockey…

While I pitch Blizzard on an Oilers quest hub, it’s time for our daily question and answer column — The Queue!

Have you tried bear? Many* top Druid-ologists are saying bear is objectively the best, and no other Druid spec comes close to how awesome bear is. Bear!

*me, I’m saying it. Go play bear, be an invincible furry truck wandering around Zul’Aman making trouble for yourself.

I’d say go for one at a time and get them maxed out. You’ll get that Warband bonus, which is a pretty big bonus to every subsequent character. Razwick pointed out in an answer to your question that it also benefits all of your experience, unlike the Rested XP, which only goes towards killing things.

I’m still a little surprised that Leeroy Jenkins has held on so much as a thing. 20 years for the same joke character is a really long run! He could retire, though, and I don’t think I’d miss him that much. I wish we could get lasting jokes out of newer content, but I think that the critical mass of players who would get that joke, and having too many places to share a joke, has made it harder for any one thing to gain traction. The most recent memes to have come out of Warcraft that I can think of are Magni saying “Woons!” and Zappy Boi.

I never really played a bunch of online games with ‘stakes’ to them — so when I got into raiding, that was my first experience with the big adrenaline hits. Maybe it’s why I got hooked on it? The heart pounding, this is the pull after 50/100/200 pulls, where you finally beat the boss and can sit back and feel proud of yourself, that’s the good stuff.

I get it sometimes in Heroes of the Storm now, too, but I’ve played that enough that it’s pretty rare now. I’ve gotten better at being fine with my wins and losses, since the real prize is the friends we made along the way.

Bacardi has already gotten his loot for the week! That means he’s free to give you all exactly what you’ve been wanting in your playing. I just hope that this shirt doesn’t awaken any desires to play hockey or worship the Void. Have you seen how much hockey equipment costs?!

Would you rather

Catch a free t-shirt at an event. Either thrown by a mascot, or launched out of a cannon

Or

Catch free food parachuted down to you from the rafters

Today’s Anna Earworm™: In One Ear

This week, I hope you all have your interests collide in the best ways. Don’t forget to leave Anna lots of questions for tomorrow!