This weeks Summer Challenge: Outland Mount Roundup

Blizzard have announced the arrival of the Summer Challenges. This weeks Summer Challenge is known as "Outland Mount Roundup".  And you have a better chance of obtaining a mount known as "Netherwing", the "Talbuck"and the Sha'tari's Skyguard mount, by grouping together and completing the quests in the area. I personally already own the "Netherwing" and "Talbuck" mounts and so have no interest in this expedition. From what I understand all you need to do to gain the best XP and Rep is to group with other players,  go to Outland and start completing quests for the three factions of the area.

The quests have always been there, if you can't find any, then chances are you already completed them when you were levelling up through Outland.

What achievements are obtainable in relation to completing Outland Quests.

Additional to obtaining the mounts there are several obtainable achievements in the Outland areas which include the following:

• Leading the Cavalry (given when you own 50 mounts)
• Mountain o' Mounts (given when you own 100 mounts)
• Flying High over Skettis (given when you become exalted with Sha'tari Skyguard)
• On Wings of Nether (given when you become exalted with Netherwing)
• Skyshattered (given when you defeat Captain Skyshatter in the Dragonmaw race, on Netherwing Ledge)
• Mag'har of Draenor (given when you become exalted with the Mag'har)
• Oh My, Kurenai  (given when you become exalted with the Kurenai)

Summer Challenges Announced

We have recently heard that Blizzard have announced some Summer challenges to give us players another way to pass the time while waiting for the new expansion to come out. Blizzard basically state that its to give us a reason to go out into the near forgotten areas which we once passed while levelling up our characters, such as Outland which has been pretty much forgotten about since Cataclysm was released. Their reason, for us to obtain rare mounts, rare achievements and rare items.

Image from www.wow-europe.com

These challenges encourage players to group up and visit certain areas which Blizzard have announced the "Challenges" are based, and to do things that they do not normally do anymore. (Basically trying to get players to play the game again, instead of hanging out in the cities twiddling their thumbs waiting for Mists of Pandaria).

My opinion on why Blizzard have made the Summer Challenges

My opinion on this is that Blizzard have only done this to try and reduce the number of players that hang around the main cities, such as Stormwind. Prior to Cataclysm most level 80 (the then top level) used to hang out in Dalaran, since Cataclysm was released when you visit or pass through Dalaran in Northrend its basically a ghost town, and most level 85 players have made their homes back in Stormwind or other major cities in Azoroth.

Achievement: Ready, set, goat

The “Ready, set, goat” achievement is very easy to get. Simply go to “Fuselight” located in  Badlands and visit “Gina Gotgoods” and purchase a “Billy Goat Blaster DX” then go upto a “Billy Goat” and use the “Billy Goat Blaster DX” to push 12 “Billy Goats” off the cliffs within 1 minute.

I completed this first time as there are lots of goats on the nearby cliff edges.

Video: Pushing Billy Goats off cliffs for “Ready, set, goat” and “Its goat time baby” quest.

Deathwing sightings: Badlands

While questing for my “Badlands Quests” achievement (where you complete 35 quests in Badlands) I came across a couple of quests that involved Deathwing. So here are some Deathwing screenshots.

Level 84 reached

Today my main character reached level 84 yay go me!!!


Sent from my Win7 Phone
Regards Vicky

Archaeology: Fossilized Hatchling Companion and I had it in my hand Achievement

I have been busy since Christmas building up my “Archaeology” profession. Today one of the rewards for Fossil digging was a “Fossilized Hatchling”. This indeed is a companion and is really quite cute in its own bony way. It is a rare fossil which when created makes you a companion.

“There is something unusual about these tiny raptor bones. The empty eye sockets don’t quite seem empty. In fact, are they twinkling with a hint of life?”

When you get this companion you will also get an achievement known as “I had it in my hand” which is given when you find a rare artefact. Along with the achievement you will also get the title “Assistant Professor”.

Achievement - Stood in the Fire: Get killed by Deathwing

While visiting “Greenwarden’s Grove” in the “Wetlands” the area was set ablaze and my level 82 character Latura instantly died. This action gave my character the achievement known as “Stood in the Fire”, which means that Deathwing (the giant dragon who stands on the towers of Stormwind during the login screen and reaped havoc through the world of warcraft has flown overhead and set the area on fire!
I have yet to see Deathwing but this is the first encounter I have had with him. This may not be the last! I was not aware of this random event so I thought it would be good to mention it just in case other people wanted to know about it.


Please click on the above screenshots to enlarge and view in a new window the below screenshot shows my characters location at the time of the attack, and the time was approximately 10:00pm in the UK.

A Mammoth of an Event

Today I finally managed to save up 17,000 Gold and finally purchased the "Travelers Tundra Mammoth" its a great mount and you get an award known as "Traveler's Tundra Mammoth". Shown below

While we are on the subject of Mammoths I came across another player riding a different type of mammoth in Daralan so I decided to get us to pose for the camera, hope you like it.

The "Travelers Tundra Mammoth" is one of the faster mammoth mounts with 100% speed. This mount also comes with two NPC vendors known as "Hakmud of Argus " and "Gnimo ". These are really both useful NPC's to have with you. You can buy trade items from Hakmud including some great health & mana items, and are able to repair your tools on the go with the Tinker. The only thing missing is a "Mailbox" hint hint!!!! and the Kitchen Sink!

Achievement: One that didnt get away

Today I have been working on my fishing achievements, after about a hour and half of fishing in Ironforge for Ironjaw and having no luck I managed to capture a 17 pound Catfish... unsure as to what this is I found it can be carried in the offhand but has no use not even for an achievement.


From there I looked into finding other rare fish for the "One that didnt get away" achievement.
For this achievement I need to capture at least one of the following rare fishes:

1. Steelscale Crushfish      
   
   
   • Baradin Bay (Wetlands)
   • Menethil Harbour (Wetlands)
   • Zoram'gar Outpost (Ashenvale)
   • The Zoram Strand (Ashenvale)
   • Southshore (Hillsbrad Foothills)
   • Western Strand (Hillsbrad Foothills)
     
     
2. 22 Pound Lobster
   
   
   • Bay of Storms (Azshara)
     
     
     
3. 52 Pound Redgill   
   
   
   • Verdantis River (Feralas)
   • Darrowmere Lake (Western Plaguelands)
        
4. 68 Pound Grouper
   
   
   • Feathermoon Stronghold (Feralas)
   • The Shattered Strand (Azshara)
   • Steamwheedle Port (Tanaris)
     
     
     
5. 32 Pound Catfish
   
   
   • Shadowpray Village (Desolace)
   • Desolace (Desoclace)
   • The Uplands (Alteric Mountains)
   • Pool of Tears (Swamp of Sorrows)
   • Tahonda Ruins (Thousand Needles)
   • Tarren Mill (Hillsbrad Foothills)
   • Hillsbrad Foothills (Hillsbrad Foothills)
   • Mirkfallon Lake (Stonetalon Mountains)
   • The Darkened Bank (Duskwood)
     
     
     
6. 103 Pound Mightfish
   
   
   • Wetlands (Wetlands)
     
     
     
7. 15 Pound Mud Snapper
   
   
   • Stonebull Lake (Mulgore)
   • Crystal Lake (Elwynn Forest)
   • Goldshire (Elwynn Forest)
   • Forest's Edge (Elwynn Forest)
   • Mirror Lake (Elwynn Forest)
   • Brightwater Lake (Tirisfal Glades)
   • Gunther's Retreat (Trisfal Glades)
   • Stillwhisper Pond (Eversong Woods)
   • Iceflow Lake (Dun Morogh)
   • Helm's Bed Lake (Dun Morogh)
   • Lake Al'Ameth (Teldrassil)
   • Jaggedswine Farm (Durotar)
   • The Darkened Bank (Duskwood)
     
     
     
8. 29 Pound Salmon         
   
   
   • Frostfire Hot Springs (Winterspring)
   • Lake Mereldar (Eastern Plaguelands)
   • Zul'Gurub (Zul'Gurub)
     
     
     
9. Dark Herring
   
   
   • Found in open in land water pools in Northrend
   • Fangtooth Herring School (Winerbreath Lake) Howling Fjord
   • Grizzly Hills
     
     
     
10. Rockhide Strongfish
    
    
    • Wild Shore (Stranglethorn Vale)
    • Southern Savage Coast (Stranglethorn Vale)
    • The Savage Coast (Stranglethorn Vale)
    • The Crystal Shore (Stranglethorn Vale)
    • Yojamba Isle (Stranglethorn Vale)
    • Bloodsail Compound (Stranglethorn Vale)
    
    When I am successfull in capturing one of these fish I will post where I have found it.

Achievement Gained: I Smell A Giant Rat

Today I have been working hard trying to gain two particular achievements, these are "Old Ironjaw" and "I smell a giant rat". I have successfully fished up the giant rat from The Underbelly located under Dalaran City.
From this achievement you also gain a Giant Sewer Rat Companion.

 Please click on either image to view a full sized image

Got my mind on my money.

Another cool new achievement gained by Latura, "Got My Mind on My Money" is given when you loot a total of 1000 gold. This was gained when handing in the Dalaran Daily Fishing.

Another New Achievement: Old Man Barlowned

Today Latura completed all the Outland Fishing Daily Quests which are given by “Old Man Barlo” the final one entailed running off to Stormwind and fishing in the canals until a “Baby Crocolisk” is found. Delightful.

Another New Achievement

Today Latura managed to gain the “Master of Arms” Achievement while hunting “Highland Mustangs”.



This now means she now has successfully trained three weapon skills up to 400 which is the maximum.
The three chosen weapons of Latura’s choice are “Guns” “Bow” and “Polearms” all three are basic requirements of any good and upcoming Hunter.

The Coin Master

For several weeks now I have been trying to collect all the Gold, Silver and Copper coins which can be fished from the Dalaran Fountain.
Today I was fishing for no less than 4 hours straight and finally collected the final eluding gold coin know as “Archimonde’s Gold Coin”. Now I have the following awards including “A Penny for your thoughts”, “Silver in the City” and “There’s gold in that there fountain”. As I have all three coin awards Latura was also awarded with “The Coin Master” and was awarded a “Titanium Seal of Dalaran”.



 

Latura the Explorer

Today Latura has gained her very first title. Its the one which I most wanted and managed to get today. Latura is now an explorer, and has explored Northrend, Outland, Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms fully.

In all honesty the hardest ones to get were on Kalimdor and Eastern Kingdoms simply because in Outland and Northrend flying mounts are allowed and makes places easier to get to.

Now Latura has "the explorer" after her name which is excellent, the "World Explorer" achievement and I managed to get the "Tabard of the Explorer" which is a purple item. Kinda cool really.