My purpose for this new Druid was to level completely using the LFD system, while going for the Classic Dungeon Master Achievement also.  You can only start queuing for LFD at level 15, so I had to quest with him from 1-15, but ever since then I have done nothing but run dungeons as a Resto Druid, with the exception of a few Holiday Quests and of course dungeon quests that are completed in a specific instance.

Last week I decided to break out of my dungeon-only grind for a short while and try healing some Battelgrounds.  I very much enjoy healing BGs and WG with my 80 Resto Shammy, so I thought I would try it with the Druid also.  I was 47 when I first started, and within the course of doing 3 or 4 BGs per day since Saturday (today is Tuesday) I am now 50.

For the life of me, I couldn’t win a Warsong Gulch BG, so that one didn’t provide me with much XP.  However, Arathi Basin turned out to be a gold mine.  Each time we won, I gained half-a-level of XP.  When I was 75% through level 49, I went into an AB game and gained about 15% just from holding flags.  When we won that round, I dinged 50 and was already at 38% into the level.   This turned out to be a great way to level from the top of your level bracket (30s, 40s, 50s, etc…) until you reach the next stage.  Now I plan to go back to LFD full time, as to not miss out on any dungeons that I still need.

At 58 you can queue for Outlands dungeons or the higher Old World ones.  I didn’t quite want to go to Outlands yet, I have been enjoying running the older dungeons and getting achievements.  So I queued for Dire Maul, LBRS, Stratholme and Scholomance.  LBRS was the first one to pop, and that was an enjoyable run.  I do not think I have ever actually been into that dungeon before, so it was nice to see something “new”.

Tonight I think I will do the same thing again and hopefully get Strat, Scholo or DM for the achievement runs.

I originally had a Druid Thunderchicken named “Netherjape” that was around 60 when I deleted him.  I tried questing with him and doing a couple of dungeons, but I just found that spec boring.  I ended up deleting him to make room for another toon.

I also had a priest for a while that I deleted due to non-play.  I forget his name, honestly.  He was also around 60 when I deleted him but he was level granted several levels through the Refer-a-friend bonus, so I didn’t actually “play” him as much as it seemed like I did.  I found him to be boring also, so I deleted him to make room for another again.

Then the LFD system opened up with a new patch….

I started a new druid and decided to level him as resto, since that is my favorite job in the game with my 80 Shaman and Pally.  You are elligible for LFD at level 15, so I had to quest with him up to there, then it has been LFD and a few dungeon quests ever since, with him now sitting at level 47.  I usually let him sit for a week or so before running him for a couple of days and burning up all his rest bonus, then I will put him down again.

Same thing with a new Priest and a new Shammy I started (I am addicted to Shammies, sue me…)  The priest I ran with some other friends through RAF again (this was my 6th experience with RAF) and we mostly did LFD leveling with those guys.  The priest is 52 at the time of this post.  My new Shammy is only 26 but I am enjoying getting SP and Spirit gear on him to be a healer through LFD.

The previous Zhevra Mount is going to be retired.

When you reach Friendly, you are able to pickup and turn in a quest to a quest giver inside of the raid.  You are able to choose a ring for whatever spec you are rolling.  The ring is then upgraded when you reach Honored, Revered, and then lastly at Exalted.  I am posting the Resto Shammy rings below because those are the ones I got.  These rings would also work for a Holy Paladin.  They have MP5 stats on them, which is technically not for a Priest, but there are no other options for healers, so most Priests will use these too…. Holy or Discipline.

Wowwiki Link

Not once have I ever grouped with a group where there was more than 1 of each class.  (1 warrior, 1 shaman, etc…)  I have been told by some friends that they have seen this, but I never have, so if I had to guess I would say the system tries to separate it so that there aren’t peeps rolling on the same items.

For the FIRST daily Heroic dungeon you run, you get 2 Emblems of Frost upon completing the dungeon.  For every heroic afterwards, you get 2 Emblems of Triumph.  Plus every boss now drops EoTs, there are no more Emblems of Conquest being dropped.  So Heroics, OS, VoA, Naxx, Ulduar, etc… are all now dropping EoTs.  It is very easy to get these built up now for some really great iLVL 232 and iLVL 245 gear.

If you are 68 or higher, you can also use the LFD system to look for non-Heroic dungeons.  The first one of every day will give you 2 Emblems of Triumph.  So now you can start storing up your Emblems for when you hit 80 by running 1 LFD dungeon every day.  Every dungeon after the first one only rewards cash.

You don’t have to PUG any spots to do LFD.  Form a 5-man group of friends, and join LFD as group and let the game pick the dungeon for you.  You will see get the credits for the Emblems I’ve listed above.

Icecrown Citadel will feature a massive five-player dungeon sprawling across three wings of the citadel’s foundation. While the Lich King’s attention is focused on the Argent Crusade and the Knights of the Ebon Blade ripping through the front gates, players will be tested as they assist Jaina Proudmoore (Alliance) and Sylvanas Windrunner (Horde) in infiltrating the citadel through an alternate entrance.

An epic quest line will present adventurers with the task of weakening Icecrown Citadel’s forces, requiring that players defeat the challenges in each dungeon wing before venturing into the next one. Normal and Heroic versions of the dungeon will be accessible to players, although each wing will be considered a separate instance; therefore, on Heroic difficulty, each wing will have its own separate lockout timer. All-new rewards — including item level 219 (normal) and level 232 (Heroic) loot — will be offered to those who destroy some of the Lich King’s most formidable allies.

The Forge of Souls
Serving as the first wing in this expansive dungeon, the Forge of Souls will quickly put players to the test of carving through the Scourge stronghold into deeper, more treacherous locations. Jaina will command Alliance forces, and Sylvanas will direct Horde forces. The goal is to ruin the twisted engines known as soul grinders found in this portion of the citadel, and then players can advance — that is, if the Horde and Alliance forces can overcome the foes who confront them.

Bosses

• Bronjahm, the Godfather of Souls: An instrument of reckoning, Bronjahm watches over the engines in the Forge of Souls. He must be killed if the soul grinders are to be destroyed.
• The Devourer of Souls: As the chief operator of the engines found in this wing, the Devourer stands guard over the souls stolen by the Lich King.

Pit of Saron
Accessible only to those who have laid waste to the Forge of Souls’ unholy operations, the Pit of Saron will bring Horde and Alliance forces deeper into the Lich King’s domain. Players who venture here will immediately be confronted by the lord of this lair, Scourgelord Tyrannus. But defeating him will not be as easy as it seems. Before they can present a threat to Tyrannus, the adventurers, instructed by their leaders, will need to free enslaved allies who have been trapped by the Scourge. Until that happens, Tyrannus will leave all adversaries to his minions, workers of the citadel’s mines. Perhaps the challenges here will lend clues as to the whereabouts of the Lich King’s private chambers outside of the Frozen Throne, deep within the Halls of Reflection.

Bosses

• Forgemaster Garfrost: A master of Scourge weaponry, the forgemaster hauls stocks of saronite ore and other precious materials to the cold forges where the mechanisms of death are born. With a host of rime weapons and exotic alloys at his disposal, it could get cold in here.
• Krick and Ick: Zombies serve as mindless muscle in the Pit of Saron’s mines, stockpiling metals for Forgemaster Garfrost, and Krick — a devious leper gnome — supervises the operations from atop Ick, Krick’s ghastly means of transportation.
• Scourgelord Tyrannus: Tyrannus is a terrible force who will no doubt demonstrate his powers to those brave enough to enter the Pit of Saron. The scourgelord must die if players hope to make their way into the third and final wing of this dungeon.

Halls of Reflection
With Jaina and Sylvanas leading the way, adventurers who make it as far as these frigid halls will quickly recognize the weapon that lies ahead: Frostmourne, the corruptive, legendary device of the Lich King himself. The Lich King’s private chambers are within reach, although they may be the death of anyone who ventures there.

Bosses

• Falric and Marwyn: Captains for Arthas Menethil in life, Scourge commanders for the Lich King in death, Falric and Marwyn will be summoned to the Halls of Reflection for one purpose: destroying all intruders.
• The Lich King: Sylvanas, thirsty for vengeance against the corrupted prince who sentenced her to an existence as an undead monstrosity, and Jaina, eager to find a flicker of Arthas’s soul locked somewhere within the Lich King, have brought their hand-picked allies to this final confrontation. Arthas’s true power may only now be discovered. Is there any hope in this mission, or does only death await?

When you reach Exalted with Netherwing, an additional quest shows up on Netherwing Ledge where Illidan actually comes and talks to you, threatens you, and the drake that flys over Shadowmoon Valley all the time (I forget his name) comes and rescues you.  He takes you back to Shat, you turn in the quest, and choose 1 drake out of the 6 or 7 there, and that is the drake you have from now one.  I see no other way to get an additional drake, at this point.  The drake doesn’t cost any money.

I chose the Onyx Drake, pictured below.