WoW Insiderhttp://wow.joystiq.comWoW Insiderhttp://wow.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gifWoW Insiderhttp://wow.joystiq.comen-usCopyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/WoW Insider ShowEvery week, the WoW Insider Show brings you news and views from the World of Warcraft and the site that covers it all, WoW Insider. We introduce a panel of rotating guests, including bloggers from WoW Insider and other WoW blogs, and many popular personalities from around the WoW community. From the live listener chat and polls during the show, to the emails direct from listeners (reach us at theshow@wow.com), right on to the "meat" of the show -- in-depth discussion of the most popular news and posts on WoW Insider -- the WoW Insider Show is a terrific source of news and entertainment about what's going on with Blizzard and their World of Warcraft. Listen live every Saturday at 3:30 pm Eastern on our Ustream page (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wow-insider-show) or subscribe to the feed and let us know what you think by reviewing the show right here in iTunes.Addon Spotlight: GTFO revisitedhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/addon-spotlight-gtfo-revisited/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/addon-spotlight-gtfo-revisited/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/11/addon-spotlight-gtfo-revisited/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider's Mathew McCurley brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience: the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond -- your addons folder will never be the same.

If you asked me back in 2009 if GTFO would become one of the most widely used, universally loved, and iconic addons in World of Warcraft's history, I would have laughed you out the door. You see, not standing in bad things was the ultimate test to see if you were ready for the big boy leagues. Sartharion and his three drakes brought a whole new meaning to the phrase "if you stand in the bad, you're losing DKP."

World of Warcraft made standing in stuff a staple game mechanic for boss fights and player spells and abilities. A common thread presents itself -- Blizzard took potentially clunky boss and game design and made it more accessible. Boss design used to be a mix of larger and stronger versions of regular mobs, like in the EverQuest planes, or unique mobs that would have some awesome new NPC abilities or even steal a player ability or two, like in the EverQuest planes. WoW might not have done it first, but the game sure did make it pretty and varied.

For every action, there is a reaction, and for every good thing to stand in, there are a hundred more bad things. Standing in bad things has become the joke of the era, culminating in Wrath of the Lich King with the ultimate send-off to positional and location-based mechanics -- heroic-mode Shadow Traps. GTFO's alarms and bells would echo down the sheer icy cliff walls of Arthas' monstrous fortress, the angry screams and painful sighs of adventurers falling to their deaths, the alarm not even finishing its full playback.

Continue reading Addon Spotlight: GTFO revisited

WoW InsiderAddon Spotlight: GTFO revisited originally appeared on WoW Insider on Fri, 11 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedfonzigtfoguidethunderfurywow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guideMathew McCurleyFri, 11 May 2012 16:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Bryce and Elv's UI stand against any foehttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/reader-ui-of-the-week-bryce-and-elvs-ui-stand-against-any-foe/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/reader-ui-of-the-week-bryce-and-elvs-ui-stand-against-any-foe/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/08/reader-ui-of-the-week-bryce-and-elvs-ui-stand-against-any-foe/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

As many of you already know, my go-to recommendation for pre-fab compilation user interfaces is ElvUI. I love this addon pack because the skinning of the interface keeps the game uniform with easy-to-read fonts and lots of information for both the novice and expert, and it's updated enough that, for my purposes, I've never really worried.

Bryce's user interface starts with an ElvUI foundation and moves toward full-featured completion with a bevy of new addons not included in the pack. Filling out the areas that ElvUI doesn't necessarily cover, Bryce has complemented the addon pack with addons necessary to raid and function, as opposed to addons that skin or change the aesthetics of the user interface.

Here's the part that interested me about the aesthetics issue: None of the addons that Bryce added to his setup changed the way ElvUI actually looks. Sometimes you get to talk about behind-the-scenes addons. Let's have fun with it.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Bryce and Elv's UI stand against any foe

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Bryce and Elv's UI stand against any foe originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguideuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 08 May 2012 14:00:00 ESTAddon Spotlight Alternatives: Unit frameshttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/addon-spotlight-alternatives-unit-frames/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/addon-spotlight-alternatives-unit-frames/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/03/addon-spotlight-alternatives-unit-frames/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider's Mathew McCurley brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience: the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond -- your addons folder will never be the same.

Unit frames have evolved significantly over the course of WoW's life, from static, portrait-driven frames to dynamic and animated hubs of information. I've always treated the unit frames as a centerpiece and counterweight, like a see-saw, using the unit frame's natural duality to its best effect. There are few addons or types of addon that can take on as many shapes and forms as the unit frames do. Not least, the unit frames provide some of the most vital information to the player possible -- your health.

For healers, from the very beginning, the group and raid interfaces were unable to cope with the sharp skill incline after reaching level 60 cap. There was nothing that I wanted more than a robust group layout of buffs, debuffs, and easy-to-read healths and percentages, with the ability to make it look the way I wanted to. The idea of something like Grid had not even come up yet. Original unit frame addons were blocky messes of textures and bright blue and green bars. Portraits were taken way, way too far. Kids in the candy store.

Continue reading Addon Spotlight Alternatives: Unit frames

WoW InsiderAddon Spotlight Alternatives: Unit frames originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 03 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedgridguideparty-framespitbullraid-framesshadowed-unit-framesstuftargettarget-frameunit-framesvuhdowow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guideMathew McCurleyThu, 03 May 2012 16:00:00 ESTCustomize your guild bank icons with this handy scripthttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/customize-your-guild-bank-icons/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/customize-your-guild-bank-icons/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/customize-your-guild-bank-icons/#commentsFiled under:

picking icons
Have you ever wanted to customize your guild bank icons but been daunted by the sheer number of icons to choose from? The default interface for picking icons isn't very easy to navigate. There are hundreds of icons, and they're not searchable or sortable. Trying to find the icon you're looking for is like finding a needle in a haystack. In fact, not every icon in the game is even listed in the default interface!

There's a better way to assign icons to your guild bank tabs. With a simple script command, you can assign any icon that's in the game to any one of your tabs. The first step is to identify the icon you want to use. Wowhead is your best bet here, as it's got the icon files for every spell, item, and achievement in the game. Find the ability that shares the icon you want to use, and then click on the icon image to grab the specific icon identification string, like "spell_nature_bloodlust" for Bloodlust.

Continue reading Customize your guild bank icons with this handy script

WoW InsiderCustomize your guild bank icons with this handy script originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 01 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bank-tabschoose-guild-bank-iconcustomize-guild-bank-iconsguild-bankguild-bank-iconsicon-interfacemacroscriptsetguildbanktabinfotab-iconswowheadChase ChristianTue, 01 May 2012 20:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Neutral elements and goldfishhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/reader-ui-of-the-week-neutral-elements-and-goldfish/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/reader-ui-of-the-week-neutral-elements-and-goldfish/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/05/01/reader-ui-of-the-week-neutral-elements-and-goldfish/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

What do you get when you cross readers with UIs? Reader UI of the Week, of course. Want to show off your own interface creations? Send an email, screenshots, and anything else you'd like to readerui@wowinsider.com, and you might see your submission right here. That's totally awesome.

This week's discussion is all about Alvala and a changing multi-spec setup that eventually had to accomodate the healer lifestyle. With a flair for keeping things neat and tidy, as well as introducing neutral elements that span each class, spec, and role for every character, Alvala has created a UI that works for pretty much anything she can think of with room to grow.

I don't want to spoil the surprise, but at the end of the article today, I talk about how much I like the little WeakAuras goldfish that Alvala has on her UI. It's pretty much one of my favorite things. Must have caught me at a good time, little goldfish.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Neutral elements and goldfish

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Neutral elements and goldfish originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 01 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguideuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 01 May 2012 18:30:00 ESTAddon Spotlight: Revisiting OPiehttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/addon-spotlight-revisiting-opie/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/addon-spotlight-revisiting-opie/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/26/addon-spotlight-revisiting-opie/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider's Mathew McCurley brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience: the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond -- your addons folder will never be the same.

At the end of last week's Addon Spotlight, I put out the call to readers to let me know what addon, category, or type they would like to see revisited or discussed on this week's edition of the column. Emails, comments, and more came through, and the two biggest contenders were OPie and the various raid frame alternatives. (Also, commenters seem to have an affinity for GTFO, so we'll get ourselves reacquainted with that lovely addon in a few weeks.)

OPie strikes a personal chord with me, not only because of its functionality and ability to remove a ton of clutter from your interface, but also because of the association with a radial menu not unlike Secret of Mana, one of the best SNES games of all time. I loved Secret of Mana more than I can tell you, and OPie brings the memories back in full force.

Continue reading Addon Spotlight: Revisiting OPie

WoW InsiderAddon Spotlight: Revisiting OPie originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguideopiewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guideMathew McCurleyThu, 26 Apr 2012 19:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Vhei's Cataclysm 2.0 UI packed up for youhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/reader-ui-of-the-week-vheis-cataclysm-2-0-ui-packed-up-for-you/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/reader-ui-of-the-week-vheis-cataclysm-2-0-ui-packed-up-for-you/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/24/reader-ui-of-the-week-vheis-cataclysm-2-0-ui-packed-up-for-you/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

When a beautiful user interface hits the site and people ask where to get it, I have the sad news that not everyone makes their user interfaces available online. The process done correctly, mind you, is a relatively complicated one -- there is a lot that goes into it, especially for a first-timer. So while it is not a requirement to make your user interface available when submitting to Reader UI of the Week, it's always a pleasure when one does come down the pike.

Vhei's user inteface creations have always been fun to showcase because of his talent and attention to detail. Lots of user interfaces out there do what his does, as do all of ours for the most part, but the construction of the whole is where I am always impressed with his creations. I've just gotten an email from Vhei letting me know that his last UI, the Cataclysm 2.0 UI, has been released as a package that you can download and try out. He's even got a video on YouTube explaining the process. Let's find out more, shall we?

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Vhei's Cataclysm 2.0 UI packed up for you

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Vhei's Cataclysm 2.0 UI packed up for you originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedfull-ui-conversionguideuiui-configurationui-guideui-packuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidevheiwow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 24 Apr 2012 14:00:00 ESTA beginner's guide to getting started in WoW Lorehttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/a-beginners-guide-to-getting-started-in-wow-lore/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/a-beginners-guide-to-getting-started-in-wow-lore/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/a-beginners-guide-to-getting-started-in-wow-lore/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Truth is, I enjoy World of Warcraft's lore, which is why I write about it for the site alongside Anne Stickney. But I understand why a setting that's been around since the original Warcraft: Orcs vs. Humans can be daunting to new people trying to understand what's going on. Why does the human king have scars on his face, and why is this orc with giant tusks on his shoulders so upset about everything? Never fear, it's really not all that complicated. Here, we're going to discuss some ways for people who haven't really had a chance to get invested into the lore to start figuring out who those people are and what they're on about.

My first suggestion to you is, when you're playing WoW, start clicking on books. There are books all over the game world, in various dungeons, out in the open, hidden away in corners in inns and cities. If you see one, click on it. Hidden in all these books are stories about the world of Azeroth. You can get surprisingly caught up on the basics just via this exercise. Also try to click on plaques on statues and in structures. The statues in front of Stormwind have small plaques on them that tell you exactly who these are statues of and why they were placed there.

Continue reading A beginner's guide to getting started in WoW Lore

WoW InsiderA beginner's guide to getting started in WoW Lore originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>beginnerfeaturedguideguide-to-lorelorelore-guiderole-playrole-playing-guiderp-guideworld-of-warcraft-lorewow-guidewow-lorewow-role-playingwow-role-playing-guidewow-rpwow-rp-guidewow-rpingMatthew RossiThu, 19 Apr 2012 20:00:00 ESTAddon Spotlight Alternatives: Boss modshttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/addon-spotlight-alternatives-boss-mods/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/addon-spotlight-alternatives-boss-mods/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/addon-spotlight-alternatives-boss-mods/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider's Mathew McCurley brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience: the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond -- your addons folder will never be the same.

Did you know that there are multiple addons out there that can competently handle boss timers, cooldowns, and announcements? Did you know that not every one of those is named Deadly Boss Mods? By far the most popular, DBM has set the standard in terms of features and relative ease of use for a category of addons that has a high potential to overcomplicate things.

Instead, the addon community has created niches and fanbases around its labors of love, creating the juggernaut boss mods that we have today. Deadly Boss Mods sits proudly in the Addon Kingdom with BigWigs and Deus Vox Encounters (DXE) as champions of letting you know that you're about to wipe the raid because you're standing in the wrong stuff.

Continue reading Addon Spotlight Alternatives: Boss mods

WoW InsiderAddon Spotlight Alternatives: Boss mods originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-guideaddon-spotlight-alternativesaddonsalternativealternative-addonsbigwigsboss-modsct-raidct-raidassistctradbmdeadly-boss-modsdeus-vox-encountersdxefeaturedguideora-2ora2raid-addonswow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guideMathew McCurleyThu, 19 Apr 2012 09:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Vondak knows presentation is everythinghttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/reader-ui-of-the-week-vondak-knows-presentation-is-everything/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/reader-ui-of-the-week-vondak-knows-presentation-is-everything/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/17/reader-ui-of-the-week-vondak-knows-presentation-is-everything/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

Welcome back to Reader UI of the Week, WoW Insider's showcase of the community's user interfaces. I'm looking for Mists of Pandaria beta UIs. Enough people are in the beta now playing around with monks and their kit, so let's see what people are doing with monk abilities. Whatever it is, I want you to show it off. Let's get a jump on the expansion while we talk about real-world examples from people's beta screenshots.

That's not this week, however. A special treat is lined up for you today. Vondak, a survival hunter from the Nesingwary (US) realm, has decided to let his character speak for themselves about their user interface. In lieu of a reader email and submission this week, we have a reader gallery, as Vondak takes you through the intricate parts of the "high and tight" setup.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Vondak knows presentation is everything

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Vondak knows presentation is everything originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsdefault-blizzard-uifeaturedguidehunter-addonshunter-uiuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidevondakwow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 17 Apr 2012 13:00:00 ESTAddon Spotlight: Grind in style with Factionizerhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/addon-spotlight-grind-in-style-with-factionizer/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/addon-spotlight-grind-in-style-with-factionizer/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/addon-spotlight-grind-in-style-with-factionizer/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider's Mathew McCurley brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience: the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond -- your addons folder will never be the same.

The pre-expansion stretch is a great time to work on those pesky achievements that have been sitting on your to-do list for some time. Now that your raid schedule is a little more relaxed or you are just out doing your own thing, it's time to try something new. One of those tasks that I've given myself is to finally finish up my 50 exalted reputations achievement.

I'm close -- real close. Two reputations to go, in fact, and they aren't even that hard to do. It's all about the time put in and the motivation to do it. After I logged in and opened up my reputations tab, I was astonished at how little the interface had changed in seven years. The basic setup is still intact with a few minor changes.

Factionizer was recommended to me by a reader whose email tersely consisted of just these words: "Factionizer is a great addon, put it on the spotlight." That was the entire message. After checking out the addon, I was suitably impressed not only because there is a definite need for a more robust faction window (if only for awesome in-game lore purposes) but because the addon got me thinking about completing reputation achievements once again.

Continue reading Addon Spotlight: Grind in style with Factionizer

WoW InsiderAddon Spotlight: Grind in style with Factionizer originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-guideaddonsfactionizerfactionsfeaturedguiderep-grindreputationreputation-grindwow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guideMathew McCurleyThu, 12 Apr 2012 16:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Puddinpop adds on with a larger screenhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/reader-ui-of-the-week-puddinpop-adds-on-with-a-larger-screen/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/reader-ui-of-the-week-puddinpop-adds-on-with-a-larger-screen/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/10/reader-ui-of-the-week-puddinpop-adds-on-with-a-larger-screen/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

Adding to UI compilations is a fine art we talk about on occasion here at Reader UI of the Week. Some things are easy to fit into a preexisting setup, whereas others are much more difficult, unable to fit in a premade UI's rigorous framework. Puddinpop, a blood elf paladin from the Saurfang server, has submitted a UI that features many additions to a basic RealUI setup smashed together with some of the design elements of LUI.

On top of the challenge of expanding on work already existing on the screen, Puddinpop takes the challege a step forward with a gigantic monitor. Sometimes it is just as difficult to design a UI around a much larger monitor as it is with a laptop or smaller screen. Many of the same concerns are present, just in a slightly different way. Fonts may be too small versus too large, UI elements might just never be noticed, and you could actually be straining your eyes to read too-small text. Big monitors can be a burden.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Puddinpop adds on with a larger screen

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Puddinpop adds on with a larger screen originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguidepaladinpaladin-uipuddinpopraiding-uiuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 10 Apr 2012 15:00:00 ESTAddon Spotlight: QuestHubber is awesome for the next few monthshttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/addon-spotlight-questhubber-is-awesome-for-the-next-few-months/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/addon-spotlight-questhubber-is-awesome-for-the-next-few-months/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/05/addon-spotlight-questhubber-is-awesome-for-the-next-few-months/#commentsFiled under: ,

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Each week, WoW Insider's Mathew McCurley brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience: the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond -- your addons folder will never be the same.

I've been looking for an addon as simple and straightforward as QuestHubber for years. A combination of Lightheaded and Everyquest was the go-to staple of your average Loremaster, deftly conveying the necessary information to make these questing achievements a breeze. Add Questhubber to your Loremaster toolbox, because it's pretty damn dynamo.

Well, until Mists of Pandaria comes out, anyway. You see, QuestHubber has the both fortunate and unfortunate destiny of being such a good idea that Blizzard put the thing into the game. Yep, you can now see quest hubs on your map to better facilitate your questing experience. Don't get me wrong, I adore this feature. I just can't help but feel sad for little QuestHubber, which could potentially have more options than its official counterpart.

Continue reading Addon Spotlight: QuestHubber is awesome for the next few months

WoW InsiderAddon Spotlight: QuestHubber is awesome for the next few months originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-guideaddonsfeaturedguidemists-of-pandariamists-of-pandaria-uimop-ui-improvementsquesthubberuiui-improvementswow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guideMathew McCurleyThu, 05 Apr 2012 13:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Navigator plots a course to UI satisfactionhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/reader-ui-of-the-week-navigator-plots-a-course-to-ui-satisfacti/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/reader-ui-of-the-week-navigator-plots-a-course-to-ui-satisfacti/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/04/03/reader-ui-of-the-week-navigator-plots-a-course-to-ui-satisfacti/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

Navigator of the Exodar not only has one of the coolest name-plus-title combinations I've seen yet (don't be sad, all of you Professor Oaks out there) but a slick UI to match. It's a little crowded, to be sure, but sometimes things are crowded. Sometimes we like a little bit of a lot going on.

Also, I'm going to assume that you're going with the Warhammer 40k-type Navigator in that you've just plotted the course and not actually piloted the ship, because the pilot has a lot of explaining to do. I think that I just strained a nerd muscle.

As for the title today, again I am fooled by my own supposed cleverness at four in the morning when the title of this particular article came to mind. Navigator's UI works for all three specs to accommodate any and every alt, as well as a large enough healing array for competent raid healing. The double chat box is also a great idea that a lot of people don't necessarily take advantage of. Let's see if we can work something out.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Navigator plots a course to UI satisfaction

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Navigator plots a course to UI satisfaction originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonschat-addonchat-windowdual-chat-windowsfeaturedguideminimap-addonnavigatoruiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 03 Apr 2012 15:00:00 ESTAddon Spotlight: Mists of Pandaria Beta UI upgradeshttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/addon-spotlight-mists-of-pandaria-beta-ui-upgrades-thurs/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/addon-spotlight-mists-of-pandaria-beta-ui-upgrades-thurs/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/29/addon-spotlight-mists-of-pandaria-beta-ui-upgrades-thurs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Each week, WoW Insider's Mathew McCurley brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience: the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond -- your addons folder will never be the same.

As one of the fortunate few with a Mists of Pandaria beta invite at this time, I have been excitedly snapping screenshots of some of the UI changes coming in the next expansion. While we still have not yet seen the Pet Battle system interface, arguably the biggest UI reveal this go-around, there are still a few tweaks to the game that are deserving of being pointed out. More quality of life improvements than anything, the changes to WoW so far in the Mists beta have been straightforward and welcome additions.

I figured that since this is the beta process that we as a community can provide some feedback even if you haven't had a chance to see these tools in action. Since the tools are mostly quality-of-life improvements and not "boots on the ground," experience-dependent changes, these changes are something we can discuss and hopefully make better before the launch.

Since this is the beta, things can and will change dramatically. This is only a quick look at some of the features and changes coming in Mists of Pandaria. As new features open up, like the aforementioned Pet Battles, I will be more than happy to show them to you. If you are in the Mists of Pandaria beta and want to help me out with some UI testing and screenshots or you're an addon developer looking to talk about your new Mists of Pandaria addons in the works, send me an email at mat@wowinsider.com.

Continue reading Addon Spotlight: Mists of Pandaria Beta UI upgrades

WoW InsiderAddon Spotlight: Mists of Pandaria Beta UI upgrades originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-guideaddonsbuffsdungeon-finderfeaturedguidemists-of-pandarianew-buffsnew-uinew-ui-updatesraid-finderwow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guideMathew McCurleyThu, 29 Mar 2012 15:00:00 ESTBeta Testing 101: Addons and the Mists of Pandaria betahttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/beta-testing-101-addons-and-the-mists-of-pandaria-beta/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/beta-testing-101-addons-and-the-mists-of-pandaria-beta/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/28/beta-testing-101-addons-and-the-mists-of-pandaria-beta/#commentsFiled under: ,

One of the most exciting parts of the big expansion betas for the WoW community is getting to preview all of the interface changes coming in the future. Addon developers especially appreciate sneak peeks at what is changing to be better prepared for launch day with new releases and up-to-date Lua code.

As a Mists of Pandaria beta tester, it is important to test the user interface and how it interacts with the game. Here are some tips for dealing with addons and the user interface during beta testing.

Start fresh. My first bit of addon advice for the beta is to start by using no addons at all. Piling on addons at the beginning defeats a lot of the purpose of seeing if the Blizzard UI itself can handle what it is being designed to do. Take a look at the UI in a bare state, see the new features with fresh eyes, and play in that mindset for your first run-through of the content. It's part of your duty, soldier.

Continue reading Beta Testing 101: Addons and the Mists of Pandaria beta

WoW InsiderBeta Testing 101: Addons and the Mists of Pandaria beta originally appeared on WoW Insider on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>addonsbeta-101beta-testing-101mists-of-pandariamists-of-pandaria-addonsMathew McCurleyWed, 28 Mar 2012 12:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Laar goes with a tri-spec setuphttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/reader-ui-of-the-week-laar-goes-with-a-tri-spec-setup/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/reader-ui-of-the-week-laar-goes-with-a-tri-spec-setup/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/reader-ui-of-the-week-laar-goes-with-a-tri-spec-setup/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

Oh boy, do I have a treat for you all this week. Laar is our UI subject this week, and I was immediately impressed with not only Laar's courageousness to tri-spec for a heroic raiding guild but at the ease with which the World of Warcraft user interface turns on a dime. No other MMO UI out there can transform itself so quickly to become something utterly new from spec to spec.

Going tri-spec is daunting. I don't know if that's the type of dedication my brain can handle these days. College, maybe. Back then, I could multitask. Now I'm an old, sad man. Don't let my shame and sadness get you down. Let's take a look at this awesome UI!

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Laar goes with a tri-spec setup

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Laar goes with a tri-spec setup originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>action-bar-saveradd-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-examplesadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-examplesaddon-guideaddonsdruid-uifeaturedguidelaartri-specuiui-configurationui-guideuser-interfaceuser-interface-guidewow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guidewow-ui-configurationMathew McCurleyTue, 27 Mar 2012 15:00:00 ESTAddon Spotlight: A UI primer for returning WoW playershttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/addon-spotlight-a-ui-primer-for-returning-wow-players/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/addon-spotlight-a-ui-primer-for-returning-wow-players/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/addon-spotlight-a-ui-primer-for-returning-wow-players/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider's Mathew McCurley brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience: the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond -- your addons folder will never be the same.

World of Warcraft experienced numerous cataclysms over the last year and a half as Blizzard, the community, and everything in between had a weird hiccup moment. Mists of Pandaria seems to be shaping up to pull many lapsed players back into the World of Warcraft ranks, and the Scroll of Resurrection is a none-too-subtle way of facilitating that goal. Old players who thought WoW was down and out have been pulled back because of instant access to a lot of the features once reserved for the especially dedicated.

Last week, I gave you some tips on what to install on your brand new player's game in order to facilitate a smoother first-game experience. This week, we're going to address old players from all past eras of WoW's lifespan and help them get back into the game without too many bumps along the way. It's a very different game, but the core components are exactly the same. Blizzard correctly pointed out that when WoW's got you and your character's boots on the ground, the game works the best.

But first, before we begin with the article proper, I wanted to proclaim victory for the WoW community with regard to AoE looting. Blizzard has announced that AoE looting will be making the release of Mists of Pandaria, and I could not be happier. I've been championing AoE looting for some time now, and I want to send the happiest thoughts possible to the dev who got this feature on the launch list. You have no idea what types of quality of life changes that this will bring to everything from old raid farming to time spent waiting around in dungeons.

Continue reading Addon Spotlight: A UI primer for returning WoW players

WoW InsiderAddon Spotlight: A UI primer for returning WoW players originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-guideaddonsadi-bagsadibagsark-inventoryarkinventoryatlas-lootatlastlootdungeon-finderfeaturedguidenew-playersold-playersraid-finderscroll-of-resurrectionscroll-of-resurrection-rewardswow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guideMathew McCurleyThu, 22 Mar 2012 20:00:00 ESTReader UI of the Week: Mnemonics' versatile shadow priest UIhttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/reader-ui-of-the-week-mnemonics-versatile-shadow-priest-ui/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/reader-ui-of-the-week-mnemonics-versatile-shadow-priest-ui/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/20/reader-ui-of-the-week-mnemonics-versatile-shadow-priest-ui/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider and Mathew McCurley bring you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which spotlights the latest user interface addons. Have a screenshot of your own UI that you'd like to submit? Send your screenshots along with info on what mods you're using to readerui@wowinsider.com, and follow Mathew on Twitter.

I know a shadow priest or two, and for the most part, they are pretty decent folk. Since there are no shadow priests in my immediate vicinity, I am hoping that for now I am safe from retribution if anything I say in the following article will offend their delicate shadow sensibilities. Don't hurt me, please.

Mnemonic's UI original struck me as cluttered and odd but quickly manifested into order when I took a look at the raid screenshot. Odd, yes, that the raid screenshot was the one to bring clarity and light to an otherwise incomplete assessment. As you'll soon find out I liked Mnemonic's setup and admission that maybe, just maybe, the extreme level of minimalism that many go to with regard to their UIs isn't for everyone.

Continue reading Reader UI of the Week: Mnemonics' versatile shadow priest UI

WoW InsiderReader UI of the Week: Mnemonics' versatile shadow priest UI originally appeared on WoW Insider on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Mathew McCurleyTue, 20 Mar 2012 20:00:00 ESTAddon and UI tips for new WoW playershttp://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/addon-and-ui-tips-for-new-wow-players/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/addon-and-ui-tips-for-new-wow-players/http://wow.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/addon-and-ui-tips-for-new-wow-players/#commentsFiled under: ,

Each week, WoW Insider's Mathew McCurley brings you a fresh look at reader-submitted UIs as well as Addon Spotlight, which focuses on the backbone of the WoW gameplay experience: the user interface. Everything from bags to bars, buttons to DPS meters and beyond -- your addons folder will never be the same.

Can you believe there are people out there who have yet to play World of Warcraft? It's totally true. In an attempt to be investigative and thought-provoking, I've begun writing a few pieces on bringing brand new MMO players into World of Warcraft more than seven years after the game's initial release. For the purposes of experimentation and all that jazz, I turned off every single addon while my ... subjects ... toiled away.

It was uncomfortable at first watching an addon-less screen, but bearings were gotten and life went on. However, there were a few points of the user interface that were not necessarily troubling to my brand new player, but moreso gave a feeling of being "lost" on the screen during moments of tense combat or heavy movement.

I wrote down the observations that I believe new players can benefit the most from. With little to no customization needed, these addons and tips can greatly enhance a new player's starting experience while removing some of the tedium of certain tasks mixed with hard-to-explain concepts. Maybe we can even get some of these features in game as part of Blizzard's new player initiative.

Continue reading Addon and UI tips for new WoW players

WoW InsiderAddon and UI tips for new WoW players originally appeared on WoW Insider on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>add-onadd-on-configurationadd-on-guideaddon-configurationaddon-guideaddonsaddons-new-playersfeaturedguidenewnew-playernew-player-addonsnew-player-talentsquest-helpersell-o-matictalentswow-add-onwow-add-on-guidewow-add-onswow-addon-guidewow-addonswow-guideMathew McCurleyThu, 15 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST