April 2008   « Archives | Current News »

I've taken the liberty of permanently replacing the "Top 10 Pets" list with the all-new Bottom 10 Pets! From now on, users can enjoy seeing the lowest of the low; the bottom of the barrel. This new list is quite refreshing, don't you think?

APRIL FOOLS!

My human rogue hit 70 earlier this week so I'm finally in the process of grinding for my Blood Parrot. After working through the grind a bit, I decided to update and expand my Bloodsail Faction Guide guide with some new first-hand observations. If you're intending to grind for your Blood Parrot, be sure to check out the updates.

I've ammended the rarities assigned to minipets to include a new value: ultra-rare. The addition of this value enabled me to reposition some of the rarer pets, giving them a more accurate value. View a detailed explanation of pet rarity as it's currently defined by this site.

A year ago, WarcraftPets.com came online to share a wealth of minipet knowledge with the World of Warcraft community. The past year has given the site many new features, including an RSS feed, new guides, the ability for users to sign up and track their collections online, and the Top 50 Collections list. This year promises to bring many more new goodies.

I'd like to extend a special thanks to all of the MVPs who've helped to support the site over the past year. I'd also like to thank all of my regular visitors who continue to keep me on my toes with new pets, questions, and suggestions to make the site even better. It's been my privilege to bring this site to you, and that's why we'll be celebrating the site's first birthday all week long!

All the best,

As a part of this week's ongoing birthday celebration, I've decided to post a poem dedicated to minipets. I orginally posted this to the World of Warcraft general forum a few weeks ago, but I thought it deserved a permanent home here. Enjoy!

» An Ode to Vanity Pets

There's a new loot item available through the TCG expansion Servants of the Betrayer: Goblin Weather Machine - Prototype 01-B. When clicked, it summons one of four different weather effects over the head of its owner. Like most small pets, the weather effect follows along with its owner and does not affect combat.

But is it a true small pet?
At least one other database site lists this item as a small pet. But I think they've got it wrong. Why? Because WoW's in-game mechanics don't consider this weather entity a small pet. You can activate it without unsummoning your current small pet. Players have only ever been able to activate one small pet at a time (bugs aside). Therefore, the game clearly does not define this entity as a small pet. Plus it cannot be selected, so it doesn't have the in-game tag of "companion" like every other small pet. To me, this is more of a neat device rather than a pet.

So should I add it to the site?
I recognize that some of you may wish to add this "pet" to your collections. So I've chosen to let you decide. I'm asking all of you diehard collectors to vote with your opionion.

The final decision
On the evening of April 15, 2008, after one week of voting, I'll be closing this topic and I'll tally the results. If the majority of people agree that this item should be considered a small pet, then I'll add it to the site.

UPDATE: Voting for this topic has been closed.

Sometimes things happen in our personal lives that turn our reality on its end and force us to change our plans at the last minute. One such tragedy just occurred within my own life. After a brief but courageous battle with cancer, my mother passed away peacefully in her sleep last night. Therefore I will not be updating this site for at least a couple of weeks, as I will be busy attending to other matters.

The Verdict
Still, I did want to resolve the voting that I opened last week. Out of more than two hundred votes thus far, only 8 people thought the Goblin Weather Machine should be included on this site as a small pet. So you won't be seeing that device in this database, although you are still free to collect it.

Please note that while I may not be here to update the site, I will still be checking my messages from time to time. I will also be monitoring and moderating the site remotely.

I've returned from attending to my mother's passing and soon I'll be updating the site with some new content. But first, I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to contact me with their condolences. I was very close to my mom. The outpouring of support from this community has really helped. I'd like to share a quote from one visitor, Ralph from Holland, whose comment really struck a chord:

"Things like this make you put things into perspective again. Its fun to collect and enjoy virtual things, but in the end it's the persons in our lives that count most and that we should invest time and effort in."

That statement couldn't be more true. You never know when someone you love is going to pass. Take some time out of each and every day to remind the people you love just how much they mean to you. There will always be time for Warcraft.

In patch 2.4, a new kitty was added to the bedroom above Stormwind's main inn. It's a Siamese cat NPC named Fuzz. Those of you who have read my bio page may be familiar with my cat, a Himalayan (part Siamese, part Persian), who's affectionately known as "Fuzz." A few visitors to this site suggested it might be a tribute to me. It's probably just a coincidence, but I wonder…

NEW GUIDE! Children's Week is almost here, and what better way to celebrate this joyous event than with a new guide! The all-new Guide to Children's Week features a Children's Week FAQ and detailed walkthroughs for every quest, for both alliance and horde! Additionally, walkthroughs include in-game maps that pinpoint every location you'll need to visit to earn your adorable Children's Week pet rewards!