It is Friday and I have a few short but timely items to write about, so it is time to go into PowerPoint mode and crank out some bullet points. I will read them directly off the slide during my presentation just to annoy you.
- Free World of Warcraft Weekend
Blizzard has declared that November 5th through the 8th is “Welcome back Weekend,” which means you can log in and play WoW for free as though you were a subscriber.
Free for a while
This will allow you to check out the new starting zone experience and the level squish. I am sure a dedicated player could get a fresh character to the level cap in just a weekend.
The one thing this offer does not include is WoW Classic. See the fine print.
- WoW and Multi-boxing
Blizzard posted a notice this week that has been widely misinterpreted as a ban on multi-boxing. There are a lot of bad headlines out there that say multi-boxing has been banned. This is not technically true.
Rather, Blizzard has decided that software like ISBoxer that can be used to broadcast keyboard and mouse inputs to multiple clients will no longer be allowed. The statement specifically calls out that, and that alone, as what is being banned.
Veterans of EVE Online know what I am talking about, as ISBoxer and like software has been banned there for a while. Once upon a time there was a player who would fly a fleet of stealth bombers and do exactly timed bombing runs.
In WoW you can spot people using such software that fairly easily. The classic example from a while back was a full group of shaman moving in unison, dropping the same totems as a group, and casting the same spells at the same time.
Warnings will be issued for those using such software now, ramping to “account actions,” up to and including bans, over time.
But you can still multi-box and long as you are not using input broadcasting software. There are even some addons out there that will help you out with that. But no more ISBoxer.
- Shadowlands Beta
I think it is pretty safe to say that if I have now gotten an invite to the Shadowlands beta, then anybody who wants in can probably get in.
Something in my inbox last week
While it is getting close to the launch date there is still time to get in and provide feedback. Blizz has been posting about areas and items they would like people to try.
- BlizzConline will be Free
While BlizzCon was cancelled this year to the pandemic, Blizzard previously announced they would be doing a virtual BlizzCon, BlizzConline, February 19th and 20th of next year.
BlizzCon Online is the way I always attend anyway
In an eight minute fireside chat video with J. Allen Brack, he confirmed that the online event, which will also mark Blizzard’s 30th year as a company, will be available for free; no virtual ticket required. (~50 seconds into the video)
The Ancient Gaming Noob 