The Instance Podcast

The Cataclysm Soundtrack LP is now in iTunes.

The Instance #215 – Patchy Patch McPatch Patch

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Randydeluxe

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Big News Of The Week

Let’s Patch This Sucker!

We got a heap ‘o trouble this week with new notes on patch 4.0.6, which Blizzard is deploying on the public test realm immediately, and looks to be going live quickly. It’s a big cleanup to non-critical parts of the game, for the most part, since they’ve been hotfixing the more important stuff on the fly for weeks, but 4.0.6 does have a lot of wondrous parts, which we will dispense with here.

Rumors And Scuttlebutt

Lylirra Is Doing The Poll

Over at worldofwarcraft.com, there is a poll that asks the following question, “For those of you who have had the opportunity to play through the new high-level zones, which one was your favorite, and why?” It has only been up for about 18 hours, as we record this, and already the winning zone has a huge lead.

Town Cryer

Justin N. writes: Is there a resource that details what items are available for guild rep levels? So far the guild vendor just had the BOA cloaks, and I know if you get exalted you get the faction mount, but is there a place to see these in game?

Yes, probably. Don’t forget to hit “J” in game and look around that window!

Drop Of The Week

An Answering Machine For Your Dude

Over on Curseforge, a mod writer named Submann came up with a great idea – use a simple little mod to record whispers you get when you’re AFK, and then automatically play them for you when you return. Is that cool…. or what?!

Additional show content provided by Darrell the Tipgiver, Steve “Buxley” Pietrowicz, James “Acuzod” Jefferies and the outstanding Instance Community.

Special thanks to DogHouse Systems, GoDaddy, and TypeFrag for sponsoring this episode.

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The Instance #214 – Blackrock Whatever It’s Called

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Randydeluxe

New show up! Full notes coming soon! Enjoy!

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The Instance #213 – Teddy Roosevelt Was An Orc

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Randydeluxe

Big News Of The Week

It’s Like 2010, Only You Add 1 To The End

Happy New Year! There is nothing quite like the changing of the date to make us take stock of what has happened in the game, the community, and for Blizzard over the last 12 months. And there’s nothing like a new year’s arrival to make us want to look forward and try to understand what’s coming. We’re going to do this in 13 parts.

Rumors And Scuttlebutt

So What Do We Think Is Coming in 2011?

Let’s make some educated guesses, and then do our best to distance ourselves from them as the year goes on:

Town Cryer

Medasin from Shadowmoon writes: I went to my local best buy to look at external hard drives on which I could keep the bulk of the Warcraft content on and in turn freeing my computer of so much space. Well to my dismay when I asked a “Geek Squad” team member about doing this, they said I was mistaken that I could not play any large game which required installation using an external hard drive. He said I could only play small flash games off of them. Would you mind clarifying if this is indeed possible and how it can be done?

Jason W. writes: We have six tiers in our guild structure. In order to advance to the second rank, and gain access to higher slots in guild bank you have to have and authenticator. Most members think that reasonable, but we had one guildie leave the guild when they read that rule saying we were paranoid and that they were not going to spend more money to play a game they already spend money on to play. Are we justified in asking that your account be authenticated in order to keep from the guild bank being attacked?

Rumors & Scuttlebutt

He Still Can’t Decide Between Betty And Veronica

By far the most common question we’ve seen over the last month is this one: “What’s that Archaeology mod called?” We’ll we’ve got it for you right here, and also in our show notes. It’s called Archy.

Additional show content provided by Darrell the Tipgiver, Steve “Buxley” Pietrowicz, James “Acuzod” Jefferies and the outstanding Instance Community.

Special thanks to DogHouse Systems, GoDaddy, and TypeFrag for sponsoring this episode.

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Why you should follow @instanceshow on Twitter

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Randydeluxe

Well, here’s one good reason why:

The Instance #212: Shattering of the Over Pants

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Randydeluxe

Big News Of The Week

3.3 Million Deathwing Fans Can’t Be Wrong

In case you haven’t heard, Blizzard launched a little something called World Of Warcraft: Cataclysm exactly one week ago. Today, Blizzard announced that the third expansion to WoW destroyed the record for most sales of a PC game in its first 24 hours, with 3.3 million copies sold.

Rumors And Scuttlebutt

Would You Like To Play A Game?

Today on the all-new and wondrous WoW community site, Bashiok told us all about War Games.

“Beginning with Arena Season 9, we’re giving Arena and Battleground teams the option to challenge each other to War Games, a new kind of skirmish that allows teams to practice, set up matches against friends or rivals, or even try out potential recruits.”

We’ll All Look Back On The Good Ol’ Days Of Guild XP

Remember, way back in early December 2010? When it was four times as much as it is now? For all of one week? The rumor going around and around tonight is that Blizzard has cranked the amount of xp you give your guild down from 100% to 25%.

Town Cryer

Zydiri writes: I am currently in air force flight training. In the plane I fly there are three little panels that pop out by the jump seat. Sitting as the jump seat gets pretty boring so people pop them out and write stuff on the inside. Last week I was reading each of the panels in turn. The first said something about how awesome class 10-06 is. The second one said Lieutenant So and So Sucks… The third one had FOR THE HORDE scrawled in big black marker. Naturally I said “That’s right For the Horde.” Of course my intercom was on and the pilot and copilot both turned back to look at me. Not a very cool move… Anyway, since then I have been inspired. I have started writing OBEY HENRY in black marker on any blank spot I can find on those panels. I think by the time I am done here I will have gotten to every jet on this base.

Rumors & Scuttlebutt

The Story So Far

As the world’s races struggled for survival in the wake of the Cataclysm, details came to light concerning what—or who—had caused the disaster. Prior to the upheaval, the Fury of Earth had cryptically told Thrall that Azeroth’s instability had been caused by something good that had turned unnatural. Something that wished to inflict pain and suffering on the entire world.

Part I – Part II

Additional show content provided by Darrell the Tipgiver, Steve “Buxley” Pietrowicz, James “Acuzod” Jefferies and the outstanding Instance Community.

Thanks to The Spirit Thief, by Rachel Aaron, for sponsoring this episode of The Instance! Read the first two chapters of The Spirit Thief here for free!

Special thanks to DogHouse Systems, GoDaddy, and TypeFrag for sponsoring this episode.

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Giving Away Those Steins, With Our Thanks

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Randydeluxe

Almost two months ago, we announced a contest wherein we called for you to submit your best concept for a new in-game beverage, with the prizes to be given away being two Tankards Of Terror from Taverncraft. Your response to it was overwhelming.

And we dropped the ball.

But we did judge them! We got a couple of friends to help us, and we chose winners. In doing so, we realized just how thankful we are to have an audience of such talented and fun-loving folk. Here the two winners:

Maxz, who proposed Blackrock Dopplebock:

“As the caverns of Blackrock Mountain began to tremble and quake the Dwarves continued to delve greedily and deep, uncovering the secrets of this dark brew. Like the monks of old, they hoped this liquid sustenance would sustain them through the upheaval to come. In the tradition of the Dopplebock, this dark beer is rich and malty with obsidian undertones. The bitterness of the hops is heightened by notes of brimstone, but remains submerged beneath the depth of the sweet, hearty body. As expected of a bock and a Dwarven brew, the alcohol heavy finish explodes from deep within like an ancient beast.”

Our other winner is Zurriel, with this Official press release from the offices of Vyral the Vile:

“This year’s Brewfest brings many new offerings, and we would be low to dissuade any discerning imbiber from trying them. In fact, we encourage it! Brewfest is a time-honored tradition, where every batch can share the spotlight. At the end of the day, we know you’ll return to your old standby. A brew as time-honored as the festival itself (well…maybe even a little more so). A beer that isn’t made from rusty hops and that doesn’t exploit captured Hydraxians—we have a purer source. Much purer. The beer that was with you through tough times and worse times. Twilight’s Hammer’d premium dark lager. Strong, slowly-roasted malty flavors that ultimately culminate in uncompromising victory. Your heart will explode. A refined taste smooth enough for an elf, yet strong enough for an ogre. Your friends will abandon you. A name backed up by centuries of unwavering resolve. You are already drunk. So enjoy this year’s festival! But when the stench of wet dog fades and you pine for an old friend, we know who you’ll turn to. Because everyone will. Eventually.”

Bravo! More after the break. Continue reading →

The Instance #211: Orgrimmar’s Back Door

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Randydeluxe

Big News Of The Week

He’s Huge, He Can Fly, He’s Fiery, And He’s Pissed!

As if you weren’t fully aware of the obvious, we are one week away from World Of Warcraft: Cataclysm, the third expansion to WoW, and all its pleasant delights! We are also now one week past The Shattering, that night last week when Deathwing flew all over Azeroth and destroyed the very landscape, in addition to most of some of the cities we love. Don’t worry, they got partially-rebuilt really quickly. Like, immediately. But there is still some scaffolding up. Sorry about the mess.

Rumors And Scuttlebutt

Do We Get Results, Or What?

One week ago, on the eve of The Shattering, we discussed the cost to the player who decides to take up World of Warcraft for the first time now, or in the near future. Something then happened that seems to happen a lot with The Instance: On the very next day, literally withing a couple of hours of posting the show, Blizzard slashed the prices of the original game and the first two expansions.

Town Cryer

Kevin I. writes: I just returned home from serving with the Air Force in the middle east and I was looking to pre-order Cataclysm Collectors Edition and do an in-store pickup so I can play the day of launch. Seems like all the stores in northern Utah are not selling them or are sold out and won’t hold on to one for me. I was wondering if you know where i can pick one up the night of. Waiting 3-5 days on shipping and paying twice the MSRP is not something I’m willing to do if i can avoid it. I don’t really want to buy it twice, one regular copy for launch day and one collectors edition 3-5 days later.

Cataclysmic Drop Of The Week

We’re doing this one last time, folks!

The Cataclysm is upon you, and you need some websites. While this is by no means a comprehensive list, we want you to benefit from all the web has to offer by way of helping you find hat you need in-game over the next few days and weeks. This list will be updated as we come across more best-in-class sites to bookmark:

Fishing – El’s Anglin

Pet finding – Warcraft Pets

Jewelcrafting and gem fitting – WoW-Gem

Mounts mounts mounts – Warcraft Mounts

Archaeology – WoWpedia’s Archaeology page

Additional show content provided by Darrell the Tipgiver, Steve “Buxley” Pietrowicz, James “Acuzod” Jefferies and the outstanding Instance Community.

Special thanks to DogHouse Systems, GoDaddy, and TypeFrag for sponsoring this episode.

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This Year’s WoWniversary Is Scaled Way Back.

The Instance #210: Got A Bad Case Of The Shattering

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Randydeluxe

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Big News Of The Week

The Upheaval Will Not Be Televised

In the frigid wastes of Northrend, the final battle against the merciless Lich King ended in victory for Azeroth’s defenders. Upon returning home, veterans of the unforgiving conflict against the Scourge were showered with praise for their valiant sacrifices, while the honorable dead were mourned. Yet as hope flared anew in the wake of the Lich King’s fall, Azeroth’s native elemental spirits grew confused and erratic, setting off a series of deadly natural disasters. Horde and Alliance leaders scrambled for clues about the troubling state of the world, but nothing could have prepared them for what was to come.

Rumors And Scuttlebutt

Let’s Talk Realm Firsts!

You know the routine. A new expansion comes out that has tons of feats of strength that only certain people can ever get. After the first few days of play, you’ve seen strangers on your realm get realm first achievements for reaching max level, maxing their professions, defeating the major raid dungeons, and every one of them for doing it before anyone else on the realm. And you’ll say to yourself, “next expansion, that’s going to be me.” Well, next expansion is two weeks away. Let’s get cracking now!

Rapid Fire Rumors And Scuttlebutt!

Your Fortune Awaits! Blizzard is running a little Darkmoon Faire game.

Town Cryer

Elevator Operator writes: I was told the city portals were going away in Dalaran and Shattrath. What does this mean for my level 30 toon who got mage ported to Dalaran at level 5? Am I stuck there?

Additional show content provided by Darrell the Tipgiver, Steve “Buxley” Pietrowicz, James “Acuzod” Jefferies and the outstanding Instance Community.

Special thanks to DogHouse Systems, GoDaddy, and TypeFrag for sponsoring this episode.

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