ch ch ch changes

So after extensive testing yesterday...it seems that my fans are a good enough solution for leveling, dailies (with phasing), and heroics, even with the graphics turned up halfway.  I was leveling a pally near SMC, decided to turn up the graphics, and the change was extremely noticeable.  Observe:

In a way, you wouldn't think that graphics quality would affect gameplay so much as mechanics such as quests, player interaction, and the skills/spells/etc., but let me tell you that it does make your experience miles different.  After leaving my settings on Good i kept noticing the movement of the water, shadows, and just the scenery in general.  I had known it was there from playing in the past, but with the settings on Low...you just don't get to take it all in.  I've always noticed WoW for it's artistic merit.  I have a whole collection of floor screenshots collected from dungeons and cities.  My favorite location in WoW is the throne room above the Undercity.  It was the first floor that i noticed in the game, and they really outdid themselves in Wrath.  While most of BC probably had plain floors--i don't really remember them being special--the floors in Wrath were intricate.  The most noticeable example of this effecting lore, if nothing else, is the quest chain where you help Aggra save Thrall.  The Desire chapter is especially grim with the graphics turned down.

The first screenshot was taken on Fyreanjel (and granted it was not during a vision), the second i was on Luinel.  With all these screenshots i only decreased the size and added the caption, i did nothing to the contrast or brightness.  It's obvious what the graphics do for you.  It's not that you can't play with them on Low, but with them on Good you are able to immerse yourself more completely into the game.  The first time around i could not even see the kids.  If i was fighting then i could not see Thrall, i had to swim out into the center to even make him out.  On Lui it was easier to see what was going on, and my graphic card didn't crash during the cinematics or just short of me being able to finish filling a bar (i kid you not, it crashed repeatedly in the 80-95% range while i was on Fyre, which was very frustrating.  It took me forever to get past Doubt).

In other news, i met someone new while in ZG on Fyre last night, someone who actually took the time to explain fights to me (/gasp!).  I am so sick of the newer players who make stupid mistakes, blame it on the healer or tank, and are impatient and unhelpful.  This was a nice change.  I don't know if it means that i'll be finding some new friends to play with, but it made a pleasant afternoon, even when i got kicked on the last boss after they called a wipe on purpose and then voted to kick me.  The new guy was our tank and he told them to have fun waiting 30 mins. to find a tank and dropped group.  It will be interesting to see if i can do some heroics with him today...  The best wrist upgrade for Fyre is in ZA.  I have a feeling that i'm not going to be enjoying the troll dungeons very much, but if it means that i can get to raid, and can run them with people who become friends... even better.