WoW: Patch 3.2: "Azjol-Nerub was only a setback...."

If anyone still read this blog, most notably my former fellow contributors, they'd probably roll their eyes so far back into their head as to drop a 2nd set of testicles at any mention of my unhealthy obsession: World of Warcraft. But... they don't, so I'm gonna do it. Please direct any commentary to your own sense of self-hatred and jealousy at just how much more l33t I happen to be. Real men don't need to attract women. They grind Yeti's in Alterac Mountains instead. Bitch. *sob*

Anywho, it may seem like 3.1 is still rather fresh, but 3.2 is now only a few weeks away. I'll admit, I'm one of the sad Blood Elves who have yet to down Yoggy himself, but I will say that being 8/14 into Ulduar is still pretty impressive to me considering this is the first time I'm raiding the endgame while still on the current patch-level gear (I won't count 3.0 and Naxx considering the near universal QQ about how easy it is). Nevertheless, one would think dropping another major content patch so quickly is going to overwhelm many within the casual-hardcore borderlands.

But alas, not so. While many are focused on the new Argent Coliseum raid, tier 9 faction-specific armor, and they greatly reduced levelling difficulty, I think the most intriguing aspect of 3.2 will be the end of Hero and Valor badges and the implementation of Conquest badge drops in all 5-mans! Suddenly, my favorite aspect of the endgame (if it can even be called that) is given brand new life with cravable rewards. Even my main, the poor little pally who has trudged through the Seige and Antechamber of Ulduar several times over, but has only managed to down Freya (hence awarding me no tier 8 pieces thus far), will be substantially geared up by going back to the Utgardes, Ulduar Halls, Nexus and Spider wings and the rest. Also, my alt druid will probably be closing in on Northrend about the time 3.2 drops, so in no time at all my two characters will probably be similarly geared.

Also, and from a purely geeky point-of-view, I'm excited about the direction the lore is taking in the upcoming patch, setting things up nicely for 3.3 and the Lich King himself. The Horde and Alliance are at each other's throats, while Tirion is desperately trying to hold everything together for his grand plan of a elite strike force of Azeroth's best to send against Arthas. And low and behold, who has been burrowing under the only tranquil spot on Icecrown Glacier for these past few months.... Anub'arak himself! I always thought his death in Azjol-Nerub was a little anticlimactic for such a major Northrend character, and seeing him pop up again as the final boss of the AC raid is simply awesome.

3.2 is on the Public Test Realm as we speak, and has been for a couple of weeks. Final release of the patch should probably happen sometime in early to mid August.