Some Thoughts on Weapons and Professions

"A true warrior forges his own axe."

Is what I were brought up to believe. And I's lived it that way. Copper Battle Axe. Heavy Mithril Axe. Light Skyforged Axe. Truesilver Champion (olay, that were a sword, but still). The Planar Edge. Lunar Crescent. But the world done got more complicated than it were growing up in Durotar. I can't always follow them simple rules. I done made deals with Night Elves and killed buggers 'cause they'd pissed of Draeninaninies and retrieved all sortsa weird crap for gnomes. I don't even want to think about how many gaskets me dad would blow if he knew I were putting on me dwarf disguise and helping them Alliance glubberthunkers (though he'd probably slap me on the back and say "well done, lad!" if he heard about how I'd done curled Miss Proudmoore's toes). But I digressifiies.

Thing is, I think I wants to learn engineering. And there ain't enough room in me head fer too many skills, so I'd eithers haveta forget mining or forget smithing. Trying to be a engineer and a smith withouts being able to mine would be too dang expensive, so that's out. If I learns engineering I could make this and this and this and, whoo doggy! these. Which'd rock me socks. But I'd haveta stop using me two crafted axes, and that would suck if I weren't able ta replace'em. So what I gonna do?

Well, maybes I can replace'em. I's nearly exalted with the Aldorks, at which point I'll be able to pick me up one of they's Vindicitator's Brandy swords. Not quite as nifty as The Planar Edge, but should be adequates fer farming when tank specced. For a two-hander, I gots me some options. Right now I could go talk to them simple country orcs in Nagrand and get me a Hellscream's Willy, which be a strange name fer an axe, but whatevers. Is an all-offensive weapon, like me Lunar Crescent, so less than ideal fer PvPing, and the dps would be a noticeable drop, but I could maybe handle it for the short-term. Then there's the Legionfoe from the new Dorkbabies faction - comparable overall, but got a bunch of stamina for the PvPing. Longer-term, the best way ta go would be the Gladiator's Decapitator, which would be a rel upgrade from even the Lunar Crescent but is gonna require a lot more honor farming in AV. So, I'll be working on that but it's gonna take a while 'cause I got other chickens ta chase.

So, there's me thoughts. I been stashing away mats, in case I ever decides to go down this road, and I thinks the time may be Real Soon. Got about enough to power-level to 300, and some of what I'll need fer the next 50. If I does make the plunge, you buggers'll be the firsts to know.

Road Trip!

I's been a blacksmith almost as long as I's been a warrior, and in me time I've been to a great buncha forges. Most of the time they's pretty easy to get to. Ya ride into town, hop off yer mount, pull yer hammer outta the backpack, and get started working up a righteous sweat while the metal sings to you. Easy as whackin' bunnies. Even if you can't find the forge right off, you can often ask a guard or someones, and they'll be happy to say "It's right over there, rocks-fer-brains."

Likes I said, easy.

But some forges is harder to get to than others. Thun'grim Firegaze set his up in the middle of the Barrens. "East of the Crossroads" I was told. Fegh! He were on top of a bloody mountain! And Galvan the Ancient set up his forge in the middle of the jungle in Stranglethorn Vale. Fuggin tigers walk up and bite yer arse while yer trying to Smelt On, Smelt Off.

But I'd have to say that the hardest forge to get to is also the most amazing one of all. It's the Great Forge in the heart of Ironforge. And I wanted to see it, at least once. Maybe hammer out some felsteel armor while I's there. Swaps stories with me fellow smiths. "But Ratter," you sez, "ain't Ironforge full of them ankle-biting dwarves, who don't take kindly to surprise visitors droppin' in (especially orcs)?" Well, yeah. I said it were hard to get to, didn't I?

I figures I'm gonna do me best to look unthreatening, so as to put the locals at their ease. I takes off me armor and weapons and puts on me best civilian tuxedo. I rode me Brewfest Ram, so's to show I honors the local customs. And I prepares to wave and state me intentions to peacefully tour the forge and then depart in a calm, unthreatening voice.

Pfft. Fat lotta good that did me. Soon as the guards got over the "What the fuhg? An orc just ran past us!" shock, they was on me. I didn't fight back, just kept pushing toward the Great Forge. It were chaos. Guards everywhere, hunters shootin' they's bows and sending in they's pets, and at least one human rogue stealthed her way in so she could cop a feel. I weren't sure I were gonna make it, but fortunately I's a tough bugger and I got around a corner and there it were.

The Great Forge.

It were magnificent.

Then the guards got me down and slapped the chains on me. Then they dragged me out of town and tossed me off a cliff, the one overlooking the cemetery. Oof. That hurt. A bunch. Still, I was glad I done it.