Archive for July, 2011

People often ask me if I use any addons or UI mods and the answer is most definitely yes. I am not a fan of the Blizzard stock UI and it took me a long time to find something I did like.  This is my UI.  I use ElvUI and I love it.  It is fully configurable and it comes with some fantastic features like the actionbars, tooltips, unit frames, nameplates, chat and oh so much more.  I actually love the nameplates that come with it, but I use an addon in PvP (which I will talk about later) that isn’t friendly with the ElvUI nameplates so I use Tidy Plates instead.  Out of all the custom UI packages that I have tried, this one is the easiest and lightest to use.  Highly recommended!

On to the addons.  I use a couple that are what I call “epeen” addons.  They serve no other purpose than to stroke my epeen and that makes me happy.  Might as well get them out of the way before we get into the meat of PvP addons.

• Honor Kill Tab  This is exactly what it says.  As you all know, I am obsessed with Honorable Kills, and Blizzard made it so annoying to try and check your totals.  Instead of having to go to your achievements, then statistics, then kills, etc… you can simply hit H (pulling up the same panel as your battlegrounds/arenas) and there will be a tab at the bottom, just like all the other tabs.  This one will show your kills for the day, total, battleground, world and more.
• Female Announcer  This woman will make you feel like a true stud.  With every killing blow, she moans out the Unreal Tournament killing spree sayings, getting more excited up to 10 in a row where she reaches the climax with “Holy shit!”.  If you don’t die, she screams “Holy shit!” over and over.  Very motivating and mucho epeen stroking.

Now on to arena.  I am more of a WPvP/Battleground nerd but I have been known to dabble a bit in arena.

• Arena Unit Frames  Most people use Gladius, but I really prefer Arena Unit Frames.  It does pretty much the same thing, with one major bonus… it talks!  You can set it to use sounds or speech to alert you along with text when something important is happening.  I just love the fact that it will say audibly things like  ”Shaman is drinking!” and “Warlock, trinket used!”.  It really helps in arena when things can get very intense and where text can be missed.

For general PvP, including Rated Battleground, I like the following:

• Healers Have to Die  Although I usually have no problem with picking out healers from a crowd, this is an exceptional addon.  This is also the one that doesn’t work with the ElvUI Nameplates as I mentioned before but it works superbly with Tidy Plates.  The addon will place a cross above the nameplate of an enemy healer in red, and they seem to glow.  Also, it will identify your friendly healers and announce when they are being attacked and what is attacking them.  They also get crosses above their nameplates as well.  Also, there are two sounds.  One when you happen to mouseover an enemy healer and then another when you actually target them.  This is a must-have for larger battles, not as needed in arena but it can be used and works well there too.
• Battle Herald  Just replaces the normal text in battlegrounds with a little more information, as well as audible alerts and announcements.  Mouseover in CTF games to see the EFC.  Lighter than Deadly Boss Mods in BGs.
• MikScrollingBattleText  Seeing those numbers of hits, heals and damage (and more!) scrolling around you is not only fun, but helpful.  One of my personal favorites.
• SaySapped Let the folks around you know when you have been sapped by a pesky rogue.
• Stealth Alerter Just what it says.  Lets you know who and what stealths near you.  Very handy!
• Spy This also shows when someone stealths, but it gives you a clickable list of all enemies near you.  This is by far one of my favorites but I worry it is a little heavy on resources.  I am still testing it now that it works well with 4.2.

Druid Specific Addons:

• PowerShifter  I have my forms bound but there are times I find that this right clicking of my bar gets me out of some sticky situations.  Try it out… and if you are a clicker (gasp) this is a must have.

I am currently testing BGGlad which is supposed to be like a Gladius for Rated Battlegrounds.  I haven’t had a chance to really give it a go but it sounds promising.  I will certainly let you know when I check it out.

As a Moonkin in PvP, I need all the help I can get thanks to Blizzard and their Moonkin nerfing.  These addons help a lot, and in many cases just make life a lot more fun.