Pretty Pulp

I would like to take a moment to discuss, in brief, Cataclysm’s top raid DPSer: The Fire Mage! 

Now, before you ‘flame’ (haha..) me into oblivion for making such a grand statement, I would like to point out this is a raid specific article. While arcane may have the potential for higher overall damage, fire is truly unbeatable in a boss fight. Or, it should be when played properly…

Keep in mind that as an element fire is highly unpredictable and situational. Not surprisingly, so is the fire mage. When played correctly, a fire is a vicious and adaptable raid member. However being difficult to manage, and with only a rough outline of a rotation, it is vitally important that one’s stat priority is in order. 

We all know that regardless of spec a mage’s first priority is intellect, when ever and where ever you can get it. Intellect takes first priority for three reasons:

• it directly affects you maximum mana:1 point of int = 15 mana (after the first 20 int which equal 20 mana).
• At level 85 648.91 intellect increases your chance to critically strike by 1%
• Increase in spell power where 1 intellect = 1 spell damage

 followed by the ever important hit cap (set at a whopping 17% for casters). Haste, while an still important stat in fire, begins to suffer from diminishing returns fairly quickly, becoming less than effective after reaching the 12.5% mark needed to add that extra tick on your Living Bomb DOT. We refer to this as the “soft haste cap”. Expertise and resilience are exclusively PvP stats as far as a mage is concerned, so this leaves us with Critical Strike Rating (or crit) as the remaining stats (strength, agility etc.) are never needed when playing a mage.

Now, crit is important for every class, as this particular combat rating effects ranged and spell damage as well as melee. The specifics of crit are very simple.

• a “critical strike” is a hit (with a spell, ability or weapon) that deals 100% the normal physical damage
• At level 85 179.19 crit rating = 1% chance to critically strike 

That means you need over 2600 crit just to reach 15%! Ideally, your critical strike rating should be well over 20% if you’re spec-ed in fire. This is important for a variety of reasons.

First, remember not to gem or enchant for critical strike if there is an equal or better gem or enchant in intellect. All the critical strike rating the in world won’t do you a bit of good if you are constantly out of mana. (The exception to this rule being your bracer enchant, as there is a +65 critical strike opposed to only +50 intellect. This, in my opinion, is enough of a stat difference to opt for crit.) That being said, as a fire mage there is only one meta gem to consider: the Burning Shadowspirit Diamond for 54 intellect + 3% critical strike, introduced in Cataclysm patch 4.0.6. It is generally more expensive (as it is also very desirable for healers) but worth the gold. 

And here we come to the biggest reason a fire mage prioritizes crit - Pyroblast! (Not to be confused with the hard version of the spell: Pyroblast, with a 3.5sec cast time and 17% of one’s base mana cost). Pyroblast! is a 40 yard range, instant cast, mana free spell made available by Hot Streak in the fire talent tree. Anytime you get two critical strikes in a row using Fireball, Fire Blast, Frostfire Bolt, Scorch or Pyroblast, Pyroblast! pops (provided you have spent 2/2 points in Hot Streak for 100% chance to proc. If you haven’t, respec immediately.) In addition to the extended range, instant, mana-free-ness of it all, Pyroblast! debuffs your target doing an additional 648 fire over 12 seconds. It is important to note here that as DOT Pyroblast! is effectively spread by the use of Combustion. Also, Pyroblast! does not have a cool down, nor does it effect your global cool down! It can be cast on the move AND if your Pyroblast! crits, it can pop again! This is where we see fire truly becomes mobile, as scorch (which can be cast while moving as long as you have spent a talent point Firestarter) will also pop Pyroblast!. For boss fights requiring a lot of movement (Lord Walden, the fourth boss in heroic Shadowfang Keep, comes to mind. Or heroic mode Altairus in the Vortex Pinnacle) the fire mage adapts, never slowing the burn!

In Conclusion (or TL;DR)

- Int > Hit [until 17% cap] > CRIT > Haste > Mastery

- Prioritizing your Critical Strike Rating helps you effectively increase Pyroblast! proc for max damage output in any combat situation

May 1st 2012, saw the successful US launch of the new MMORPG, TERA (created by the U.S. based team of industry veterans, En Masse Entertainment). TERA is short for The Exiled Realm of Arborea, first released in South Korea in January of 2011. It is the very first MMO to feature true action combat! This means no more targeting, you aim all your attacks and you hit/block/dodge based on your skill and timing. How cool is that! Essentially it’s an MMO, with all the social perks and ever expanding content, that plays like a console game.

En Masse is offering any player who purchases the game and subscribes before May 31st, 2012 a sweet full set of Golden Dragon weapon skins! (A “skin” is an in-game item, purely for esthetics, that attaches to a weapon or piece of armor and changes it’s appearance.)

With beautiful graphics and extensive content TERA offers players both PVE and PVP combat. TERA is only available for the PC, but adapts easily to controller play. System requirements are as follows:

The recommended system requirements:

• OS: Windows XP (32 bit only), Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (latest service pack)

• CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ or Intel Core2 Duo E6750 2.66G

• RAM: 2 GB or greater

• GPU: AMD Radeon HD 3870 or Geforce 8800GT

• HDD: 50 GB of hard drive space (25 GB to download, 25 GB to unpack)

• DirectX: DirectX 9.0c

• Optical Drive: DVD-ROM Drive

• Internet Connection

*Additional disc space can help improve performance, disc space used by installer and game client does not increase.*

As with most MMO’s, TERA requires a monthly subscription at the standard $14.99/month. Although, they offer significant discounts if you pay in larger segments (for example, paying for a year at once saves you 34%.) And even larger discounts to those who subscribe before May 31st, 2012. In addition, En Masse has a team of the best technical support and customer service reps working around the clock to listen, respond and fix player issues and keep communication lines open as the game grows.

There are seven races and eight classes co-operating as the Valkyon Federation against the fickle gods of TERA. With the absence of factions, the game’s political aspect is created almost entirely by guild ranking. Having spent some time in beta, TERA already has a dedicated player base and excellent social atmosphere.

They even offer a well organized, online game guid at http://tera.enmasse.com/game-guide

TERA Races:

1. The Aman
2. The Baraka
3. The Castanics
4. The Elins
5. The High Elves
6. The Humans
7. The Popori

TERA Classes

Archer, Berserker, Lancer, Mystic, Priest, Slayer, Sorcerer, Warrior

-Written for Shawn Whinnery, with Love, thoughtfulness and empathy -

Etiquette, manners, acceptable social behavior. When one marries, one is forever guilty by association. In both positive and negative situations. 

Becoming a unit means that things no longer effect you as a single being, but as a couple. One partner’s actions and choices reflect on the character of the other. They are not just a team anymore, they are a single unit. This can be the cause of a lot of frustration, perhaps especially for young couples who are still trying to form their identity as individuals. 

It is now the generally accepted train of thought among psychiatrists that an individual’s brain (regardless of gender) does not reach full maturity until approximately the age of 25, perhaps later. According the the research conducted at Dartmouth College in 2006, the brain continues to undergo significant structural changes well have the age of 18. Based on this information, it is same to assume that a man or woman in their early twenties is still “developing” into their adult selves. Marrying in the last of these formative years can greatly benefit a couple in the long term,   as growing up together and into each other can build a bond like no other. 

Especially in the honeymoon period, when the “one-ness” is still very new, the way the world views a married couple (now as a unit rather than two individuals) is very fresh and exciting. There is pleasure to had just in being a “we”, a couple must learn to appreciate and revel in their  unity if they are to be resilient.

The first time a couple’s unity effects one, or both, negatively can feel like a personal attack or betrayal. It is very, very important for both parties that they communicate through these situations and protect each other. These struggles need to be viewed as GROWING PAINS, not problems. Often, when a couple is at odds it is over an outside situation or person, or the way one partner dealt with said outside force. 

It is so important that one not resent their partner for making them “guilty” (either in a good or bad way) by association, LOVE them for their differences. Respect the husband who makes a rude comment out of righteous indignation! Appreciate being married to one who will defend, when his intentions are right focus not on the mode of defense. For what is a faux pax when a committed by a knight in shining armor but an expression of love, value and respect? While it can be excessively difficult to look from another’s point of view when angry or betrayed, it is essential one treats their partner with empathy at every opportunity. 

In all things remember this: Love is patient, Love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking or easily angered and Love keeps NO record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always perseveres. LOVE NEVER FAILS, for the greatest of all things is love.

____