Check out a great side by side comparison of Slayer vs. Choppa over at Tome of Knowledge . After a thorough reading I concur that the Slayer is a slightly faster killer. Whereas, the Choppa benefits from slightly higher health for the trade off of a small decrease in damage potential. A side by side stat comparison is also included. Read the full article here.

WAR Name or Banner image

If you are looking for a neat name or image banner for a forum signature, check out this site. In about two minutes you'll have one generated that you can use. Check out the one I did for Grymborn.

You can find the site at guildlaunch.net

WAR Community Promotion Initiative - WCPI

A new program called the WAR Community Promotion Initiative, or WCPI for short, has begun over at Warhammer Alliance. It is an effort to get sites of WAR seen, heard, and discovered by the community. Inspired by our very own Age of Blogging.

Here's what you need:

• An active WAR fansite/blog/forum/podcast/other community resource (active meaning at least one post a week)
• Willingness to promote other sites such as yourself!

Here's how it works:

• At least once a week, promote someone else in the WCPI via a link and description/content
• Tell them you did it, and where!

That's it! The more who participate, the more likelihood that you will get promoted by another site. And you'll have a chance to talk to other sites about further cross-promotion opportunities as well. With a membership requirement of 4 cross-promotion posts a month, it's easy for anyone to get involved and also get promoted!

Warhammer Alliance knows that bonus incentives can't hurt, so they're throwing in the following for all active participating WCPI members:

• New usergroup with accompanying title, "WAR Lord"
• Green Colored username
• Double the PM box capacity (100 messages as opposed to 50)
• Ability to create blogs on Warhammer Alliance via the User CP
• Custom avatar request (restrained to the standard dimensions we use with a 1 pixel black border)
• Access to a private forum for the WCPI
• Warhammer Alliance will frontpage/promote selected content pieces from your site every month

Each month, they will tally the points, and the WCPI member with the most points will be prominently featured for a week on Warhammer Alliance in a Monthly Community Focus!

So if you are an active blogger head on over to Warhammer Alliance and check it out!

More Chosen 1.2 Updates

Smile, Chosen
This upcoming patch is looking better and better for us. I almost can't believe it. I hope it goes live like this.


Chosen

Bug Fixes

• Mixed Defenses: Fixed an issue that made the parry bonus of this ability a multiplicative bonus instead of additive.
• Repel: Fixed an issue that limited the knockback distance of this ability.

Balance Changes

• All Chosen have undergone changes and as a result will need to reallocate their Career Mastery Points. Be sure to speak to your trainer right away to regain your abilities!
• Discordant Fluctuation: The base damage on this ability has been increased and will now deal Spiritual damage. The ability will not receive benefits from stats nor will it do critical damage.
• Dreadful Agony: The base damage on this ability has been increased and will now deal Spiritual damage. The ability will not receive benefits from stats nor will it do critical damage.
• Bane Shield: The base damage on this ability has been increased and will now deal Spiritual damage. The ability will no longer receive benefits from stats nor will it do critical damage.
• Touch of Palsy: The value of the barb damage has been increased and will now deal physical damage. The barb will no longer receive benefits from stats and will no longer do critical damage.
• Tainted Wound: The base damage on this ability has been increased and will now deal Spiritual damage. The ability will not receive benefits from stats nor will it do critical damage.
• Hasten Dismissal: This tactic is now a level 35 Core tactic. It reduces Repel's cooldown by 50% and turns Repel into a long knockback.
• Corruptive Power: This tactic is available at Corruption x11. All Corruption abilities cost 35% less action points.
• Baneful Shielding: This is no longer a valid tactic.
• Dire Shielding: This ability will also increase the duration of Bane Shield by 7 seconds.
• Bane Shield: Multiple Chosen with this ability up will no longer prevent each other from dealing damage to the same target.
• Oppression: The disorient effect has been removed. This ability will now reduce incoming damage on the Chosen by 15% for 10s. The cost has been lowered on this ability.
• Rending Blade: No longer requires an active aura to receive a bonus effect. The ability is now a Point-Blank Area of Effect ability that deals Spiritual damage. This ability requires a Great Weapon and no longer has a cooldown.
• Relentless: The cost and damage has been increased on this ability.
• Dreadful Fear: The cost of this ability is now free.
• Corrupting Wrath: The cost of this ability is now free.
• Discordant Instability: The cost of this ability is now free.
• Discordant Fluctuation: The cost of this ability is now free.
• Corrupting Retribution: The cost of this ability is now free.
• Dreadful Agony: The cost of this ability is now free.
• Dreadful Terror: The cost of this ability is now free.
• Corrupting Horror: The cost of this ability is now free.
• Discordant Turbulence: The cost of this ability is now free.
• Power from the Gods: This tactic will now restore 5 action points per second to the Chosen for each Aura the Chosen is running.

Da Choppa - Rage Mechanics, PvE and PvP

Our friends over a Garrison Of War have an excellent review of Da Choppa. The article covers Rage Mechanics, PvE, and PvP overview. Make sure to read up if you're like me and haven't had the chance to test out the new classes.

Read their full article here.

Enjoy.

Chosen AoE Tanking

Wondering how the new changes will affect this guide, but so far it is an amazing farming spec. It will also allow you to off tank well and main tank some smaller jobs.

I have found Chosen make quite good AoE tanks. You can start this around level 15. You can do it well in groups around level 20 once you receive your AoE taunt. At 25 it really starts to shine. I'll try to point out the best talents I've found at each level (15, 20, 25). This is as far as I've made it so far. I do this mainly in between Scenarios, AoE grinding PQ/Kill task mobs when I can for good XP.

It is important to take Apothecary and Scavenging as your skills. This will allow you to make Thorn Potions and HoT Potions. Use the highest level you can make at the time. Here is a good Google spreadsheet I found with recipe/formula info Apothecary. The Thorn potion should always be up. The HoT potions are just in case, I usually don't need them.

You will be stacking Toughness, Wounds, and Armor gear. You are not worried about Strength for your melee damage as we are more concerned with the mobs beating themselves to death on us.

As far as attacks I am usually lazy. I cycle through the targets reapplying Seeping Wound until they are dead. You can be more involved than this if you want.

My career points I went straight up the Corruption tree and am now bringing up Dread. I have no idea if this is a good idea at this point. It does increase the potency of most of the skills I use to AoE Tank. I guess we'll see.


Level 15
Tanking 3-4 melee mobs at a time
Warped Flesh.
This will proc constantly and absorb alot of damage.
Shield Wall
Not a necessity, but can help offset all damage for 10 seconds while you pop a HoT potion.
Corrupting Wrath
Just run this toughness aura for now.


Level 20
Tanking 6-8 melee mobs at a time
Raze
Your new Tier 2 Morale ability (replaces Shield Wall). This will hit all mobs in front of you for 300 every second for 3 seconds. With alot beating on you its usable every 60 seconds.
Chaotic Advantage This is your 2nd career tactic until we change it in a few levels. Just helps to build action points as you will parry quite a bit.
You also have a few new abilities:
Blast Wave
More AoE Damage. Hit it every time it refreshes.
Corrupting Retribution
Your self HoT Aura to help keep you alive. Run this instead of your toughness aura, unless you like twisting. Ideally twist them both.
Challenge
Only when grouped or to help solo pull. Your AoE taunt.


Level 25
Tanking 6-10 melee mobs at a time, maybe more
Dreadful Agony
This is your AoE damage aura. You should now be twisting it with Corrupting Retribution and Corrupting Wrath. At the minimum twist this with your heal Aura.
Backlash
This will now fill your 2nd career tactic (replacing Chaotic Advantage) causing a DoT on any enemy that hits you. You can actually change this when you get it at 23.


Level 35-40
Tanking anywhere from 10-25 equal level mobs depending on type.
I've added these, buy it is more speculation at this point. Bane shield is an excellent source of AoE DPS, but I am not sure if Baneful Shielding is worth the Tactic slot.
Bane Shield
Baneful Shielding
These two together seem powerful.
I also like these as your 3rd and 4th Tactic slot:
Chaotic Advantage
Mixed Defenses
These two together should keep your Action Points almost full from parrying so much.

If anyone has ideas, comments, or experience with AoE tanking please leave your comments so I can try them out. I am by no means an expert. This is just info I have learned as I played around with AoE farming PQ xp in between scenarios. For some reason this play style intrigues me. Remember that melee mobs are easier. Ranged mobs can be a pain unless you hhave a spot to get out of Line of Sight, and can then pull them to you. Don't ask me why, but I enjoy making huge pulls and watching the damage nummbers fly

Commeth da Choppa!!!

Many of you are drooling as a live release for the Choppa draws closer. What little time I have is spent on this blog and playing my Chosen. I can tell you though, that once the Choppa goes live I will be making time to level an alt.

I can't wait for March!

"The Choppa is an offensive juggernaut that rains increasingly punishing blows down upon their enemies as their battle frenzy consumes them more and more. However, while the Choppa is single-minded, they’re also clever in their brutality, and they have found that they can channel their battle rage into massive, exhausting attacks, briefly sacrificing their enraged power in an attempt to fell the enemy with a single powerful blow. For those who choose the life of a Choppa, the limited control of when to embrace their battle frenzy and when to exhaust it will be a constant back-and-forth as their battles rage on."

Chosen Test Server Changes

Updates in testing. Not sure if I am liking these. Anyone know how the change to Spirit damage will affect us?

Bug fixes:
* Relentless: This ability will now behave correctly when interrupted.
* Dreadful Fear: This ability will now continue after zoning.
* Corrupting Wrath: This ability will now continue after zoning.
* Discordant Instability: This ability will now continue after zoning.
* Discordant Fluctuation: This ability will now continue after zoning.
* Corrupting Retribution: This ability will now continue after zoning.
* Dreadful Agony: This ability will now continue after zoning.
* Dreadful Terror: This ability will now continue after zoning.
* Corrupting Horror: This ability will now continue after zoning.
* Discordant Turbulence: This ability will now continue after zoning.
* Challenge: This ability no longer requires an enemy target.
* Dire Shielding: This Tactic will no longer cause Bane Shield to stack when multiple Chosen in the same group use the ability.
* Tzeentch's Reflection: The beneficial portion of this ability will no longer be removed by any ability that removes Silence. The Silencing portion of this ability will continue to be removed as normal.


Balance Changes:

* All Auras except Dreadful Agony will no longer aggro monsters that are not already in combat. Auras can no longer be dodged, blocked, parried, or disrupted. Auras that deal damage now deal Spirit damage.
* Hate from auras which affect all group-mates will now be credited to the individual group members, instead of all to the Chosen themselves.
* Blast Wave: This ability will now deal Spirit Damage. Additionally, this ability will no longer lower the target's resistances, but will instead lower the target's Wounds.
* Quake: This ability will now deal Spirit Damage.
* Discordant Fluctuation: This ability will now deal more damage. Additionally, the damage effect on Discordant Fluctuation will now only trigger a maximum of once per 2 seconds per character affected.
* Corrupting Retribution: This ability will now heal for slightly more.
* Dreadful Terror: This ability now removes slightly more Action Points from the victims.
* Tooth of Tzeentch: This ability's bonus damage will now deal Spirit Damage.
* Bane Shield: This ability will now deal Spirit Damage. Additionally, the damage effect on Bane Shield will now only trigger a maximum of once per 2 seconds per character affected.
* Touch of Palsy: This ability will now deal Spirit Damage.
* Corrupting Horror: This ability will now disorient targets by 25%.
* Impenetrable Armor: This ability will now absorb more armor.


Racial Changes:

* Warped Flesh (Chaos): This Tactic will now absorb more damage.


I like the increased damage absorption on Warped Flesh and the increased damage from Discordant Fluctuation. Corrupting Retribution will now heal for slightly more too. These changes fit my AoE play style I like on my Chosen. But, I only like them on paper at the moments as I have not tested any of these new changes. If you have been trying these out please let us know your thoughts so far. Thanks!

Armored Mounts!

Quoted from The Herald:

"More mounts will be added in an upcoming patch, and three or four of the skins will be exclusive to guilds. High-level guilds in the next patch will have access to armored steeds that are harder to get knocked off of and run a little faster. They will eventually be offered in RvR and PvP as well."

Upcoming Talisman changes

Thought you would all like to see the upcoming changes to Talisman (1.2) changes.


Scavenging
Scavenging has been adjusted slightly in version 1.2, with the primary change being the removal of a number of Apothecary determinants and the addition of a number of Talisman fragments. This will allow Scavengers to successfully skill up their Talisman crafting skill without needing a second gathering skill.
* Talisman-Making fragments can now be Scavenged.
* Talisman-Making boxes have been added to harvest drop tables.
* Scavenging drop rates have been improved.
* Cultivation additives have been removed.
* Apothecary ingredients have been removed.


Salvaging
Salvaging has been adjusted slightly in version 1.2, with the primary changes focusing on improving the rate at which Salvagers can skill up. In addition, the results from Salvaging have been adjusted so Salvagers can successfully skill up their Talisman crafting skill without needing a second gathering skill.
* Players can now skill up even if they fail to Salvage a fragment.
* Fragment figurines have been introduced. Salvaging these items will allow a player to skill-up without risking valuable magical equipment in the process. These can be found from PQ rewards.
* Gold Dust has been added to Salvage tables.
* The improved user interface will now notify the player of a successful Salvage.
* Players will now receive a Fragment, a Magic Essence, and a Gold Dust on a successful Salvage.
* Removed Whisper and Echo refining.
* All success rates have been improved noticeably.


Talisman Crafting
Talisman crafting has been adjusted moderately in version 1.2, with the primary changes focusing on allowing players to create Talismans without needing a large number of additional components. In addition, we have reduced the potency of all Resistance Talismans in order to bring them in-line with other Talisman bonuses.
* Resistance Talismans have had their effect reduced by 50%.
* Talisman crafting will now only require a Fragment and Container to successfully craft a Talisman. Components have been made optional and will continue to increase the power of the Talisman.
* New Containers have been added for Talisman making.
* Talismans now stack in your inventory.

Great New Wallpapers - The Greenskin

Check out the great new wallpapers our friends over at The Greenskin have up. Got to love the new Choppa!

Patch 1.1.1 Highlights

Just the additional flightpaths made this one worth it to me, but here's the highlights for the new patch:


Night of Murder Live Event: This update includes Warhammer Online's next live event, the Night of Murder, which begins on February 6, 2009. Check out the Night of Murder live event page for full details including dates, lore, and exclusive event rewards.

* Russian Launch: With this update, we're very excited to bring Warhammer Online to Russia! This update includes numerous improvements and fixes specific to the Russian client.

* New Flight Masters: New Flight Masters have been added to some Chapter Hubs to ensure that each realm has equal means of travel. Read about this change in the General Changes and Bug Fixes section.

* New Quests: New quests are available from Keep Lords and Battlefield Objective Sergeants. Talk to the leaders there and help defend your territory!

Longing for DAoC

There are days, and this is one of them, that I long for the good old days of DAoC. I miss Old frontier, Darkness Falls, the dynamics of three opposing realms, and a true stealth game (never believed I would have missed Brynja bridge or mile gate fights!)

This does give me hope though - the new dungeon Tomb Kings. This dungeon will function similarly to Darkness Fall from DAoC. This means whoever controls the zone has access to the dungeon, and when the zone switch hands your enemy will be trapped inside.

Ok enough nostalgia, was just having a moment.