A Genuine Thank You, a Heavy-Hearted Farewell and a Call To Arms

Ok, as much as I would LOVE to just /vanish a' la Kaiser Soze, and leave a bunch of clues, I know I can't do that! And though I'm known for my long-winded monologues, I'm going to try to keep this short and sweet.

If you're reading this, please know that I thank you. I thank you for supporting me in this experience of a blog, for rallying behind these storylines I have created and for believing in my passions. Without you, I wouldn't have stayed as long as I have.

In Search of the WoW Factor, Scarlet Crusade (A)

Join us this Friday 11th, from 9pm - 11pm Eastern Standard Time when the 100,000g WoW Factor transmog challenge show is returning to Scarlet Crusade to pay our respects to the Alliance!

Our Guest Judge for this weekend's event is none other than the creative mastermind behind Epic Weapons, forgers of the official Frostmourne and the brand new Doomhammer replicas! Join in the commentary as we get their take on the weapons on display and what it would take to craft them in the real world! And don't miss out on their new DOOMHAMMER replica, just released today!

Livestream will be held at www.twitch.tv/wowfactorshow.

2H Maces: Vanilla Outbreak!

Hiya folks! This is going to be my first, genuine attempt at brevity in these articles. I'm banking on that what my readers value are the charts, links and information provided here and not necessarily my lengthy commentary. If you want my commentary, take it into the comments and I'll be happy to deluge you with my thoughts! Read on, faithful traveler, and enjoy my review of Two Handed Maces for transmogrification!

2H Maces Differentiation Analysis

In Search Of The WoW Factor, Earthen Ring

This Friday, the WoW Factor returns to Earthen Ring! And with this weekend's giveaway, I'll eclipse a major milestone as I will reach TWO MILLION gold given away in celebration of transmog since the feature was introduced in patch 4.3. So take WoW Insider's previous article on my giveaways and double it!

We've got a 125,000g prize package on the line for the Alliance, and here's how it's going to shake out!

New MoP PvP Weapon Model Silhouettes

Just pulled from the MoP Beta files, these are silhouettes of weapons all cataloged with "PvP" and "Pandaria" labels. I'm no rocket scientist, but I think it's pretty straight-forward what these models will likely become. No textures appear to be available, at least on my screen anyway. And of course, since these are from the Beta anything is possible and could be changed. Not much to see here anyway, but since so much of the analysis I do here on DEA depends on the silhouette of a weapon model I can appreciate these pics below for what the models could become once filled in.

Exciting! Be sure to read on past the break to test your Rorschach skills on the 15+ models that have been included in the latest Beta build.

-Keel

In Search of the WoW Factor, Scarlet Crusade

The WoW Factor show is back! After a brief hiatus of RL events, the team is ready to hit the road again and this time we're off to Scarlet Crusade where a 100,000g prize package awaits, courtesy of local entrepreneur and WoW Factor fan Arida, the "WoW Marketeer". So join us this Saturday as judges Keelhaul of Disenchanting Azeroth and Noelani and Ironyca of WoW Roleplay Gear take to the streets of Orgrimmar in search of the WoW Factor. 

We've got a 100,000g prize package on the line for the Horde, and here's how it's going to shake out!

Meet the WoW Factor: Osephala

Osephala, Eldre'Thalas

Character: Osephala

Race: Draenei

Class: Shaman

Gender: Female

Location: Eldre'Thalas
Character Status: Main

Prize Earned: *This competition was inspired by the WoW Factor and hosted by the Absolute guild of Eldre'Thalas. WoW Factor judges Keelhaul, Noelani and Ironyca were on site as guest judges to the event. 

• Best Overall: 30,000g

What You Should Know: By far the best use of Ornate Mail I've seen yet. Funny enough as complete a package as this look appears, it wasn't completed until about 20 minutes before the competition began on Eldre'Thalas! 

Meet The WoW Factor: Verenous

The WoW Factor: Verenous, Lightbringer (US)

Character: Verenous

Race: Human

Class: Warrior

Gender: Male

Character Status: Main

WoW Factor Prizes Earned:

• Round 1: 1,000g
• Round 2: 5,000g
• Round 3: 10,000g
• Round 4: 1 Blizzard Store collectible mount courtesy of Icy-Veins.com

What You Should Know: Don't judge this book by its cover. Verenous is the perfect example of a pervasive tier set that has been maximized to its absolute, fullest potential through transmogrification. Read on to learn about the numerous details Verenous used to compliment his T5 and the effort it required (it's a lot harder than it looks).

Meet The WoW Factor: Vrexia

The WoW Factor: Vrexia, Lightbringer (US)

Character: Vrexia
Race: Draenei
Class: Warrior
Gender: Female
Character Status: Alt (main is Imaginary)
WoW Factor Prizes Earned:

• Round 1: 1,000g
• Round 2: 5,000g
• Round 3: 10,000g
• Round 4: 1 Blizzard Store collectible mount courtesy of Icy-Veins.com

What You Should Know: "I don't just make outfits, I make NPCs and whole factions.  It's my tribute to Blizzard.  You may have seen some members of the Scarlet Crusade wandering around during the contest last night and observing. I'll leave them as easter eggs to find in the stream footage if you have it recorded." - Vrexia

Read on for my interview with Vrexia where we get some great insight into what it takes to create The WoW Factor, the story behind Vrexia's winning transmog and a bit about the player's prized posession: The Corrupted Ashbringer.

In Search of the WoW Factor, Lightbringer

The WoW Factor show is heading to the (US) realm of Lightbringer this Friday night, March 23rd! Don't miss this livestream event, to be hosted at www.twitch.tv/deazeroth. This will be the second show I have hosted on Lightbringer. The first show had a prize package of over 100,000g as well and actually had media coverage by PC Gamer Magazine! One of their editors, Gavin Townsley, was out and about with me that night, taking screens and soaking in the player-created content. Story soon, perhaps? Wait and see!

So join us this Friday as the WoW Factor judges Keelhaul of Disenchanting Azeroth and Neolani and Ironyca of WoWRoleplayGear are taking to the road to once again see who's going to rise out of the crowd and ride our wave!

Pie chart courtesy of RealmPop.com

We've got a 150,000g prize package on the line for the Alliance, revenue that was generated entirely from sales of transmog items on the local AH, as well as not one - BUT TWO collector's edition mounts from the Blizzard Store. These two mounts are being sponsored by our friends at Icy-Veins.com and will be awarded to the top two outfits of the night. Rules are as follows:

Polearms: Long Overdue

Well hey there, long time no see! Been very busy last few months but some things have transpired recently that have prompted me to get back into the scene. Most noteably among them have been my successes in leveraging my design eye to make a fortune with transmogrification as covered in PC Gamer, WoW Insider and WIRED (UK), as well as the success of the new traveling transmog fashion show, The WoW Factor where I've partnered with friends Noelani and Ironyca over at WoW Roleplay Gear and have handed my fortune back to the community in celebration of the best transmogrified looks we can find. Check out the media from the latest shows held on Tichondrius, Earthen Ring and the epic show from Proudmoore.

Polearms: Differentiation Analysis

Okay, okay /hug now let's get to it! When last we spoke, Polearms were on your minds. In fact they were at the top of not one poll, but two having outlasting both last minute surges by fans of 2H Maces (who between you and me are a force to be reckoned with, I really should get to their analysis!)

In Search of the WoW Factor, Arthas

The 85,000g WoW Factor show is heading to the (US) realm of Arthas this Friday night, March 16th! Don't miss this livestream event, to be hosted at www.twitch.tv/deazeroth. The event is now under threat of world PvP in Stormwind, and the fate of Varian Wrynn is at hand! It's time to see how good players look in these outfits while they're in action.

WoW Factor judges Keelhaul of Disenchanting Azeroth and Neolani and Ironyca of WoWRoleplayGear are taking to the road to once again see who's going to rise out of the crowd and ride the social media wave! Let us put your name in lights!

We've got an 85,000g prize package on the line for ALLIANCE players and realm-wide WoW Factor bragging rights for HORDE players who are poised to show off their finest transmog outfits! (Because being immortalized on the interwebs is WAY cooler than gold, right?)  ;)

Faction pie chart provided by www.realmpop.com

Throughout the duration of the round-robin gold giveaway on Alliance, the judges will be observing and taking note of the top ten HORDE looks present if/when they break through the gates and make their way to Stormwind Keep where the show will be held. We'll be watching, screen-shotting, vid-capping and providing commentary throughout the course of the event. Read on for more details!

WoW Factor, Scarlet Crusade, Receives Sponsorship from WoW Marketeer

Great news, Horde of Scarlet Crusade! The WoW Factor team has just recently received word that we'll be hitting the road again and heading your way at the end of March! In a tremendous show of flair, WoW Marketeer (and realm local entrepreneur Arida) has offered to sponsor a WoW Factor show on Scarlet Crusade with a prize package worth over 200,000g. Stay tuned for details on day/time and how we'll be setting up the spread for this event.

WoW Marketeer on YouTube

Time to get grinding and finish out your looks!

-Keelhaul and the WoW Factor team

The Hierarchy of BoE Mail

Y'all have asked for it, you got it! The following list is my hierarchy for BoE Mail. Keep in mind this structure works for me, and may not necessarily work for you. Your faction, realm size and type can accelerate or limit your success. If available, links will send you to WoW Roleplay Gear's site, which I feel best represents why these sets can hold significant value. Otherwise they will link to WoWhead.

Enjoy!

-Keelhaul

Tier 1: 

Steadfast

Magnificent

The Hierarchy of BoE Plate

Y'all have asked for it, you got it! The following list is my hierarchy for BoE Plate. Keep in mind this structure works for me, and may not necessarily work for you. Your faction, realm size and type can accelerate or limit your success. If available, links will send you to WoW Roleplay Gear's site, which I feel best represents why these sets can hold significant value. Otherwise they will link to WoWhead.


Enjoy!


-Keelhaul

Tier 1: 

Glorious

Vanguard

Lofty

WoW Factor, Lightbringer (US) Receives Sponsorship By Icy-Veins.com

Clickity, click, click! Heads up, Lightbringer, your 100,000g show just got even juicier!

We've just received word from our friends over at Icy-Veins.com that they will be providing not one, but TWO collectible mounts currently available on the Blizzard Store. Two select players judged during the WoW Factor show will each walk away with one of these mounts courtesy of the gurus over at Icy-Veins!

Stay tuned for more details!

-Keel

In Search Of The WoW Factor, Earthen Ring Alliance

With our plan in motion to set out as a team in search of the "WoW factor" in player-created transmogrifications, Noelani of WoW Roleplay Gear and I hit Earthen Ring, Alliance on the evening of February 25th. With gold in our pockets and a plan in place to not only give 1,000g prizes to the top twenty-five outfits but also 10,000g each to the top ten, we first crossed paths with a big crowd Alliance side in Stormwind. 

The following four clips comprise our commentary and the majority of the looks we evaluated. We first identified the top twenty-five, gave them each 1,000g (25,000g in total) and then proceeded into the finals where we identified the realm's top ten outfits. Each of the top ten received a prize package of 10,000g (100,000g in total). 

What It's All About: The WoW Factor

Over 1.5 million gold in prizes, hundreds of player-created outfits captured and shared via social media, so many crazy-good looks... but what are we watching for in a transmogrified look? It's all about The WoW Factor.

With another 175,000g Earthen Ring transmog show bearing down upon me recently and the Tichondrius show looming on the horizon, I've partnered up with the expertise behind WoW Roleplay Gear, Noelani and Ironyca, to form a premiere panel of judges for these events. And what we're looking for during these shows we're affectionately calling "The WoW Factor" because that's what it's all about. It's you in the midst of a crowd, and it's time to stand out and get noticed. Have you got what it takes?!

Stay tuned for more, oh so much more that will be coming your way not only from the The WoW Factor team, but from Disenchanting Azeroth, WoW Roleplay Gear and all of our local sponsors as well who are set to take this show on the road! Look out, EU, that means you too.

Think you've got the #WoWfactor? Think your realm/faction can step up and compete with others? Want to learn more about how we've been doing it so you can host your own event? Need our panelists to take the show to your realm? Hit us up on Twitter @DEazeroth or @WoWRoleplayGear or email keelhaul@deazeroth.com directly. And stay tuned as we release more content on what The WoW Factor is all about and what you should be looking for in a transmogrified look to get noticed!

Stay classy Azeroth,

Keelhaul

Proudmoore Puts On A Heck Of A Show

You've got to hand it to Proudmoore, they really turned out in force for their most recent show! Spotlights were blazing, bloodboil was boiling and I forgot to turn off my Grid interface.  >.<  In total, the prize package weighed in at 110,000g and eleven lucky winners each walked away with 10,000g in winnings for their transmog outfits.

-Keel

Back In the Saddle