Author: Spyells

  • N’Zoth’s Ending And Ny’alotha Raid Finale Impressions (Spoilers)

    N’Zoth’s Ending And Ny’alotha Raid Finale Impressions (Spoilers)

    Disclaimer: N’Zoth’s Ending And Ny’alotha Raid will include spoilers. The post will include my opinion on the finale and the Battle for Azeroth expansion as a whole.

    N’Zoth’s Ending And Ny’alotha Raid wasn’t great. Battle for Azeroth (BFA) had problems. The expansion began by placing the faction conflict front and center. Throughout the expansions life span, we somehow ended up in Nazjatar and then in Ny’alotha. BFA had a lot going on, but that didn’t make it a good expansion.

    Storylines were all over the place. Characters gained new powers with no explanation. Villians that deserved their own expansions got shafted, and zones that deserved to be whole continents were rushed. BFA was packed with a lot of dangling thread pieces. One of the biggest head-scratchers was Banshee Queen Sylvanas.

    Somehow Sylvanas had become so strong in the past few expansions that she was able to defeat the Lich King. Suspense is lost when the audience is confused. BFA had a lot of disappointing things. So let’s dive in and take a look.

    N’Zoth’s Ending And Ny’alotha Raid Finale

    The Faction Conflict Reared It’s Head Again

    alt="N'Zoth's Ending And Ny'alotha Raid - troops waiting outside of Orgrimmar during war campaign"/>

    In the beginning, the Battle for Azeroth appeared to be about the faction conflict. Sylvanas was the main baddie, or at least we believed she was. Every new content update featured Sylvanas being more terrible than the week before.

    The Horde was in shambles. High Overlord Saurfang decided to betray the Horde and he created his own rebellion. His rebellion caused him to ally with the Alliance. The High Overlord was a traitor.

    Saurfang faced Sylvanas in the Mok’gora. The High Overlord knew he was going to lose. His plan was to make Sylvanas reveal her true colors. She hates to fail and Saurfang’s plan worked. During the fight, Sylvanas accidentally yelled that the Horde was nothing. The side-eye Sylvanas got from Bannerbae was epic. After Sylvanas slipped up, she killed Saurfang and then poofed out of the scene in Team Rocket style.

    Faction Conflict Continued.

    alt="N'Zoth's Ending And Ny'alotha Raid - anduin, thrall, and saurfang"/>

    Players do have pride in their faction, but the conflict has begun to feel forced throughout the years. Every expansion the Horde and Alliance work together to defeat a larger threat. At this point, the faction conflict is hard to take seriously. Battle for Azeroth meandered along as the factions fought a war with no purpose.

    Sylvanas burned down Teldrassil and ignited this conflict. Clearly, Sylvanas was angry with the Night Elves for some reason. Maybe the plot will make more sense someday.

    The Sylvanas drama overshadowed everything else in the plot. Both Kul Tiras and Zandalar had amazing story arcs, but they’ve been forgotten. Azeroth is still dying. Apparently, saving Azeroth wasn’t important because Sylvanas stole the show. Also, N’Zoth was a threat lurking in the background, but any foreshadowing of his character was lost. The Old God stuff crept up on the player base. Old Gods are like those creepy creatures who hide under your bed at night, but their shock value was wasted because of Sylvanas hogging the spotlight.

    Affiliate Disclosure

    Since I share awesome products with people like you, naturally my content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn some coffee money (or game time *gasp*).

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please refer to Paid for Advertising.com which explains affiliate marketing in more detail.

    N’Zoth’s Ending And Ny’alotha Raid – Sinking Into Nazjatar

    alt="N'Zoth's Ending And Ny'alotha Raid - queen azshara"/>

    Soon we’ll discuss N’Zoth’s ending and Ny’alotha raid finale, but as the expansion went on nothing got better. Fans were excited to venture to Nazjatar in patch 8.2. Queen Azshara was highly anticipated. But, when fans visited Nazjatar it was a small zone with a rushed story.

    Nazjatar could’ve been its own expansion. The Warcraft lore talks about how magnificent Queen Azshara’s kingdom is. The zone had wasted potential. Queen Azshara also was bad enough to be the villain of her own expansion.

    Players discover that Sylvanas and Queen Azshara had made a deal. Queen Azshara was working with N’Zoth. We realize during the Eternal Palace raid that we’ve all been played by Queen Azshara. Our champions unintentionally freed N’Zoth from his prison. For the first time in World of Warcraft history, an Old God was on the loose.

    Want to learn more about World of Warcraft lore? Then check out the World of Warcraft Five Book Collection by Christie Golden on Amazon.com.

    Azeroth Is Dying

    alt="N'Zoth's Ending And Ny'alotha Raid - halls of origination"/>

    Legion ended with Sargeras stabbing Azeroth. All of the Battle for Azeroth we were dealing with the repercussions of this strike. BFA is ending with no resolution to the problem. Azeroth is bleeding. Our champions still have their Heart of Azeroth but they’re not doing anything with it.

    The ending left fans with no resolution and no bridge to Shadowlands. It doesn’t make sense for our characters to run off to Shadowlands while Azeroth still needs her heroes.

    Azeroth should’ve been a major focus. There was so much going on in this expansion that it was hard to care. We had awesome characters like Wrathion popping up toward the end of the expansion. Wrathion is a fan favorite, but even his light is overshadowed by BFA’s flaws. Blizzard needs to figure out how our champions will save Azeroth before we go running off to the Realm of Death.

    N’Zoth’s Ending And Ny’alotha Raid – Old God Woes

    alt="n'zoth's ending and ny'alotha raid finale - ny'alotha"/>

    N’Zoth’s ending and Ny’alotha raid finale wasn’t what we expected. The Old Gods are based on Lovecraftian lore. So the Old Gods are literally the stuff of nightmare. A void based expansion where we focused on the Old Gods would’ve been fantastic. The Black Empire shouldn’t have been relegated to a raid.

    Players should’ve been able to explore the Black Empire in its entirety. The Black Empire is a frightening and compelling place. Just imagine the unique stuff we would’ve found in N’Zoth’s twisted world.

    The Old Gods are some of World of Warcraft’s most popular villains. Fans were shafted by Blizzard choosing to underutilize them. Warcraft’s story always made the Old Gods sound indestructible. The Titans didn’t destroy the Old Gods because their demise could’ve damaged Azeroth. The player character vanquishing N’Zoth may look cool, but it doesn’t make any sense to the lore. It’s just like Blizzard deciding that Night Elves can suddenly become undead and turn against Elune. These are major plot holes that must be addressed.

    Old Gods Continued.

    alt="N'Zoth's Ending And Ny'alotha Raid - halls of origination"/>

    The N’Zoth’s ending and Ny’alotha raid finale was disappointing. Blizzard treated N’Zoth the same way they did Bolvar, the Lich King. The story makes all of these villains seem powerful and difficult to defeat. Now it’s hard to take N’Zoth or the Lich King seriously.

    Players want the villains to be a looming threat. During the Wrath of the Lich King expansion, Arthas was an ever-looming menace. The fans knew that Arthas meant business and never once did we question his power. Blizzard has lost sight of what made bad guys in World of Warcraft a hazard.

    Sylvanas was evil, but I want to know why. When villains have a goal it makes them more interesting. Especially if the evildoer believes that what they’re doing is for the greater good. This is why we’ve had great antiheroes in the past like Illidan. A misguided criminal is way more interesting than a cartoon villain.

    To learn more about World of Warcraft and the conflict in Battle for Azeroth, check out Before the Storm by Christie Golden on Amazon.com.

    Final Thoughts

    alt="N'Zoth's ending and Ny'alotha raid - chamber of heart"/>

    Battle for Azeroth had promise but failed to deliver. Blizzard has produced higher-quality content in the past. We know the company can create epic entertainment for the masses.

    Shadowlands appears to be a step in the right direction. The teaser trailer shown at BlizzCon 2019 featured more of Sylvanas, but the concept of visiting the Realm of Death is intriguing.

    World of Warcraft had faced hiccups before. Warlords of Draenor is considered the worst WoW expansion. World of Warcraft bounced back with Legion. So it’s possible for the game to find it’s footing again.

    World of Warcraft is still worth playing especially for new players. With fifteen years of content, epic heroes, and sweeping views the game is not one to be missed. Battle for Azeroth may not have been the best expansion, but it wasn’t the worst. Azeroth will be reeling from the repercussions of BFA for many years. Azeroth still needs the help of our champions. The faction conflict has been put to rest for now, but the Alliance has disagreements among its leadership. Old Gods don’t just die. There’s a possibility that N’Zoth is still out there in some way. Maybe if Blizzard makes a void based expansion we’ll see.

    If you enjoyed this article please be sure to share it with the social media icons. Also, feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts on N’Zoth’s ending and Ny’alotha raid finale. Let me know what you thought of Battle for Azeroth too. Be sure to check out these articles: Will World of Warcraft have patch 8.3.5?, the Ten reasons to start a gaming blog, and New Customization in WoW Shadowlands and why Wrathion is cool.

    Thank you for hanging out at my hearth.

    Happy Hunting,

    Spyells

  • New Customization In WoW Shadowlands And Why Wrathion Is Cool

    New Customization In WoW Shadowlands And Why Wrathion Is Cool

    Disclaimer: New customization in WoW Shadowlands and why Wrathion is cool is an opinion piece. You’re free to disagree with me in the comments section below.

    Blizzard Entertainment is adding new customization in WoW Shadowlands. At BlizzCon 2019, Blizzard announced that players will be able to change their character’s skin tone. This is monumental news. Now everyone can play characters that look like them. Having more customization isn’t trying to be politically correct. Being a true hero in the game is important to everyone. Blizzard has realized that players from all over the world enjoy Warcraft. The alpha testing for Shadowlands began in April 2020 learn more here.

    Players may find it easier to identify with a character who knows their struggles. Diversity is a hot-button issue. The golden age of Hollywood made it impossible for people of color to have important roles. Within the last twenty years, we’re beginning to see a shift. Movies like Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians are giving people of color a spotlight. So it’s not a surprise that video games are getting in on the fun too.

    Wrathion is the first major lore character with a darker skin tone. He refers to himself as the Black Prince. Azeroth is a fictional world so races aren’t defined by color. In the game world, your race is what you are. So a Night Elf and a Tauren are two separate races. Both races have members that are different shades, but in the game world, that’s not important.

    New Customization In WoW Shadowlands And Why Wrathion Is Cool

    Character Customization

    alt="New Customization In WoW Shadowlands - character pictures"/>
    Photo from Wowhead.com.

    During BlizzCon 2019, Blizzard announced Shadowlands as WoW’s eighth expansion. Humans will be able to alter their skin tones and features. For the past fifteen years, WoW fans could only choose pale-skinned characters.

    People of color are usually represented by the non-human races in WoW. Tauren culture borrows heavily from Native American culture. Then you have the Trolls which have an African vibe. Orcs are similar to African culture and other tribal nations. If Blizzard came up with backstories for why all the humans looked diverse it would be awesome. They would truly be apart of WoW.

    Having proper diversity in the game is important. New customization in WoW Shadowlands reflects our changing times. We’ve come a long way from pretending people of color didn’t exist in popular media. Everyone plays video games. So it’s wonderful to see everyone in their favorite games.

    Affiliate Disclosure

    Since I share awesome products with people like you, naturally my content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn some coffee money (or game time *gasp*).

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please refer to Paid for Advertising.com which explains affiliate marketing in more detail.

    Why Is Wrathion So Cool?

    alt="New Customization In WoW Shadowlands - wrathion"/>
    Photo from Wowhead.com

    Wrathion is awesome. Everything about his character is unique. He’s not afraid to be himself. When Wrathion was first introduced into the game it was during Cataclysm. Player characters protected his stolen dragon egg. When he hatched it didn’t take long for him to get busy. He’s highly intelligent and sometimes we don’t know if we should trust him. Wrathion refers to himself as the Black Prince. He has his own sense of style and loves his bling and fancy clothing.

    Fans love Wrathion’s appearance. He certainly received a glow-up from his old look. The Black Prince is into style. He also enjoys the finer things in life. His appearance has been discussed in depth by fans. Speculation has led fans to conclude that Wrathion appears to be of Middle Eastern descent and that he reminds them of Jafar. Blizzard hasn’t confirmed what inspired Wrathion’s appearance.

    Most black dragons have pale-skin in human form. There are hints to their true nature. These hints include dark hair, charcoal eyes, and black clothing. Black dragons were corrupted by the Old Gods. Wrathion is determined not to share the same fate. He’s proven to be a valuable ally in the fight against N’Zoth.

    New Customization In WoW Shadowlands Continued

    Why Is Wrathion So Cool?

    When Wrathion was first introduced I was intrigued. I began playing WoW during Wrath of the Lich King. My first character was a Night-Elf Druid. Human characters were boring and I didn’t connect to them. Wrathion is one of my favorite characters. He’s a popular character. Fans compliment Wrathion’s appearance and personality.

    Many fans have been shipping Wrathion and Anduin for years. Their ship is called ‘Wranduin’ and players are shipping it hard. They’re not a confirmed couple. It’s possible that Blizzard is creating tension in scenes to fuel the shipping rumors. More diverse representation is always encouraged, but Wrathion and Anduin appear to just be friends. There’s been no indication of a romance between the two young men. In fact, Anduin is angry with Wrathion.

    In the opening cinematic for patch 8.3, Anduin punches Wrathion. Anduin blames Wrathion for his father’s death. Wrathion betrayed Anduin by choosing to work with the Horde. The dragon helped Garrosh escape his trial. Garrosh then used the Sands of Time to travel to an alternate reality. He traveled to Draenor. We know Draenor today as Outland. When Garrosh traveled to Draenor he gave Gul’dan a way out. Gul’dan is the evil orc who killed Andun’s father Varian.

    To learn more about the WoW storyline check out the World of Warcraft Ultimate Visual Guide on Amazon.com.

    World of Warcraft is fine…So, Why Do We Need More Diversity?

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    New Customization In WoW Shadowlands was long overdue. Our world has changed and popular media must reflect that. There are WoW players who won’t see why this is a big deal. People who are used to seeing themselves in popular media are privileged. We all take things for granted. Some people will feel Blizzard is being politically correct or has an ‘agenda’. Those reasons sound like an excuse to purposefully misunderstand difficult experiences related to people of color. There’s no valid excuse for why diversity has to be a political issue. By placing characters like Wrathion in popular entertainment it sends a clear message that we exist.

    A diverse character also needs an important role in the plot. When people of color are pasted into media then it cheapens the experience. The majority of people worldwide don’t have pale-skin and blue-eyes. About two-thirds of the world’s population lives in Asia. Also, the world’s largest ethnic group is Han Chinese, and they speak Mandarin. Everyone wants to see themselves as a hero. This means allowing a character of color to have a crucial role in the plot. Wrathion was just the beginning. Blizzard introducing new customization in WoW Shadowlands is great. I’m finally excited to play a human. Shadowlands is already shaping up to be an interesting expansion.

    Before you go…

    If you enjoyed this post please use the social media icons to share it. If you enjoy Warcraftlover’s content, then feel free to learn more about how to show your support. Be sure to check out my review on the Shadowlands customization options, what’s the fastest way to level in WoW, the Will World of Warcraft have patch 8.3.5?, Will using a VPN for World of Warcraft get you banned?, and Ten reasons to start a gaming blog.

    Thank you for hanging out at my hearth.

    Happy Hunting,

    Spyells

  • WoW Patch 8.3 Visions Of N’Zoth Impressions

    WoW Patch 8.3 Visions Of N’Zoth Impressions

    Disclaimer: This post will contain my opinion for WoW patch 8.3. There is also storyline discussion for World of Warcraft in this post. So if you haven’t played all the expansions, or read the Warcraft novels then you might run into a spoiler.

    WoW patch 8.3 Visions of N’Zoth went live earlier this week. The patch started off on the right foot with Wrathion visiting Stormwind to offer advice. Players also got to try new experiences which include Lesser Assaults and Horrific Visions. We’ve also had to contend with Corrupted gear and insanity. Patch 8.3 has brought new ideas to the table. So far it’s been a fun ride.

    The best cinematic in WoW patch 8.3 is the first one. Wrathion entered the Stormwind throne room and tried to greet Anduin like an old friend. Well, the King of Stormwind wasn’t having it and he punched Wrathion square in the face. This scene had me cracking up. For the past few days, it’s what the fandom has been talking about. When Blizzard surprises us with awesome cutscenes I love it.

    What are your thoughts on WoW patch 8.3? Please leave a comment below.

    Affiliate Disclosure:

    Since I share awesome products with people like you, naturally my content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn some coffee money (or game time *gasp*).

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please refer to Paid for Advertising.com which explains affiliate marketing in more detail.

    WoW Patch 8.3 Visions Of N’Zoth Impressions

    Wrathion and Anduin…Wranduin?

    alt="wow patch 8.3 - Wrathion"/>

    Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Fans have been here for the Wrandiun ship since the Mists of Pandaria (MoP) expansion. Wrathion met Anduin when he had his adventure in Pandaria. The two hit it off and a bromance for the ages was born. You could say the two were inseparable. This is why Anduin was angry with Wrathion for having a part in Garrosh escaping trial.

    In case you forgot, during MoP Garrosh was the Warchief of the Horde. He was like Sylvanas in the sense that he was only furthering his own goals. Garrosh committed War Crimes like bombing Theramore. So he needed to be stopped. Garrosh was eventually taken into custody and was set to face trial. Except he found a way to escape. This is partly Wrathion’s fault.

    If you’d like to learn more about Garrosh, Anduin and Wrathion’s friendship, and why Anduin was angry with Wrathion then you should check out War Crimes by Christie Golden on Amazon.com.

    Garrosh used the Sands of Time to escape to an alternate timeline. This is what led to the Warlords of Draenor (WoD) expansion. Wrathion helped Garrosh by working with Kairoz and Warlord Zaela. He also knocked out Chromie and Anduin. Garrosh entering an alternate Draenor gave Gul’dan the ability to leave the WoD timeline. Gul’dan ended up on the Broken Shore. He’s an evil orc. So Gul’dan has been in the storyline for a long time. He was partly responsible for the orcs being corrupted by the Burning Legion. As we all remember, Gul’dan killed King Varian at the beginning of Legion.

    Has The Wranduin Ship Sailed?

    alt="wow patch 8.3 - maelstrom"/>

    After all of this is Wrathion and Anduin still friends? Honestly, it probably depends on where the story goes next after wow patch 8.3. Some fans only see Wranduin as a friendship and others see a romantic pairing. I’ve only seen them as friends, but I can understand why some players see a romance. Any potential romance has the possibility of being unhealthy due to both of their daddy issues.

    If Blizzard decided to make the ship canon it would be interesting, and the representation of marginalized groups in the game is always encouraged. Although, Blizzard may be concerned about China which is WoW’s biggest market. So Wranduin becoming canon might not be possible. Wrathion is already helping to increase diversity in the game. I’ll talk more about my feelings on Wrathion and the new human customization options coming in Shadowlands in a different post.

    To learn more about the events which led to the Battle for Azeroth expansion, please refer to Before the Storm by Christie Golden on Amazon.com

    Are We Going Insane?

    via GIPHY

     Anduin punching Wrathion could also be a result of N’Zoth’s influence. As we see in the cinematic, Anduin begins to see crazy visions. N’Zoth attacks the Stormwind Cathedral. Anduin doesn’t seem like himself and he’s on edge. The Old God is also influencing our player characters. The introductory questline had us adventure with Magni Bronzebeard. Several times our characters heard N’Zoth’s voice, saw creepy orange eyes, and the screen shook and went fuzzy. Magni voiced concern about the player character’s wellbeing.

    The new insanity effects are cool. When I entered the Horrific Visions for the first time, I didn’t expect my sanity to deplete so quickly. My first attempt for the Horrific Vision in Orgrimmar ended in me going insane. So the second time I attempted the vision I used my hunter ability camouflage. This helped me to sneak up to the guards standing outside of Grommash Hold and defeat them.

    Are We Going Insane Continued…

    alt="Thrall"/>

    Once I went inside I found Thrall waiting for me. I didn’t realize I was supposed to use the orb to reduce sanity outside. So I failed the fight. Refusing to be defeated, I tried the fight one more time. The third time was the charm and I defeated Thrall by avoiding his attacks. I love how challenging the Horrific Visions are. I’m hoping that Torghast is similar to this in Shadowlands.

    Wrathian gave us a new cloak which helps to fight off corruption. The cloak is nice but until it’s leveled up sanity still runs out fast. Corrupted gear is interesting. I only have one piece of Corrupted gear so far. My hunter had black and blue streaks running up and down his character. The Corrupted gear certainly creates a unique effect. I’m intrigued to discover how much corruption my hunter can handle. Hopefully, I’ll receive another piece of Corrupted gear soon.

    WoW Patch 8.3 Visions Of N’Zoth Impressions

    Concluding Thoughts

    WoW patch 8.3 is great. I’m excited to defeat N’Zoth in the raid Ny’alotha, the Waking City. Right now I’m not sure how Blizzard is going to bridge the gap between Battle for Azeroth and Shadowlands. World of Warcraft Game Director Ion Hazzikostas said we’re not getting a patch 8.3.5. As a player, I’m concerned about running out of content to play. Shadowlands won’t be released until the second half of the year. Maybe Blizzard is hoping players will be excited about the Shadowlands beta. It does seem as if Blizzard is ready to move on to the next expansion. This reminds me of the gap between the Warlords of Draenor and Legion. At least Legion ended up being epic. In my opinion, WoD is the worst expansion in WoW history.

    Before you go check out Will World of Warcraft have patch 8.3.5, Will using a VPN for World of Warcraft get you banned, and the ten reasons to start a gaming blog.

    If you enjoyed this post please share it on social media. Warcraftlover can’t grow without you. So please feel free to check out our Patreon. Also, please leave a comment below with your thoughts on WoW patch 8.3.

    Thank you for hanging out at my hearth.

    Happy Hunting,

    Spyells

  • Will Using A VPN For World Of Warcraft Get You Banned? (2021)

    Will Using A VPN For World Of Warcraft Get You Banned? (2021)

    Using a VPN for World of Warcraft is a risky move. Many people use a VPN for gaming because of the faster server speeds. Blizzard Entertainment doesn’t prohibit the use of VPN’s for World of Warcraft, but the company doesn’t encourage it either. The problem is some players have used VPN’s for account sharing and boosting. All of which are forms of cheating. So then what is a VPN? If using a VPN is so risky, then why do some players feel they need to use one?

    VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. A VPN for World of Warcraft gives you the ability to connect to any WoW server worldwide. The power to connect to any server is massive especially if you’re overseas. A VPN for World of Warcraft will give you access to the game in restricted environments like school or work. So a VPN allows you to bypass blocks. VPN’s also gives you the ability to play on the global World of Warcraft servers. Any content which is restricted in your region would now be open to you. VPNs also reduce ping. Ping is when you experience lag or latency in the game.

    A VPN for World of Warcraft could allow you to bypass timezones. If your busy schedule has you playing late at night when most players are sleeping, then you might want to use a VPN to access other servers. Now you’ll have other gamers to play with. VPN’s for gaming can also provide a faster experience. Professional gamers will use VPN’s in eSports competitions to ensure they’re using a fast and reliable server. Connecting a VPN for Warcraft to your home server produces faster results.

    Will using a VPN for World of Warcraft get you banned?

    How Does a VPN Work?

    alt="vpn for world of warcraft - ironforge"/>

    • Change your IP Address
    • Mask your Location
    • Cloak your IP Address
    • Gain Access to Blocked Sites
    • Encrypt Data Transfers

    A VPN can spoof your location. This allows a VPN to protect your identity and hide your online activity. About 95% of Americans are concerned about their cybersecurity. The government has tracked down criminals by using their Internet Protocol addresses. Your IP address is a specific number assigned to your computer. Think of it as your computer’s home address. Hackers and the government can see this personal information. An IP address can lead to stalking and cyber attacks. A VPN can protect you on public Wifi.

    Major corporations use VPN’s to protect their cybersecurity. For many people, a VPN is just as important as any security program on your computer. Today, users store so much personal information on their computers and online. A VPN ensures that your privacy will always be protected. VPN’s require a monthly fee to continue its services. So it’s almost like extra insurance coverage for your computer each month.

    Not all VPNs will work for your needs. You may need to try more than one company or server. A VPN for World of Warcraft must be able to access the game server. Some VPNs may slow down your game too much. You’ll want to test the ping for each VPN. Not all VPNs work in every country. If you’re planning to play WoW outside of the US be sure to research which VPN is the best option for you.

    What Is A No-logs VPN?

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    A no-logs VPN service means the company doesn’t collect any user data. You may want to keep an eye out for VPN companies that are considered no-logs if protecting your privacy is important. Most VPN companies are no-logs because the point of a VPN is to keep you safe. So they don’t collect personal details, your downloads, where you go online, or what you look up in search engines. This is crucial if your VPN service is located in countries that are apart of the five-eyes alliance. You don’t want to find out that the government has taken your data. Since no-log companies don’t keep a record you can rest assured your information isn’t being sold to a third party.

    Affiliate Disclosure

    Since I share awesome products with people like you, naturally my content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn some coffee money (or game time *gasp*).

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please refer to Paid for Advertising.com which explains affiliate marketing in more detail.

     

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    1. Express VPN

    alt="express"/>

    Pros
    • Fastest VPN service
    • Available in 94 countries
    • Access to 3,000+ servers worldwide
    • Supports Open VPN
    • No-Logs Policy
    • $6.67 per month- Check Packages
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Only offers three connections per license
    • Located in the British Virgin Islands (Five-eyes country)

     

    A great VPN for World of Warcraft is ExpressVPN. Their speed is unmatched, and they’re highly secure. On Trustpilot, ExpressVPN has a score of 9.3 out of 10 from 4,161 reviews. ExpressVPN also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee if you don’t like the service. The service is one of the few which can bypass China’s great firewall and Netflix’s VPN Radar. Express VPN also works with uTorrent so you can download large files quickly and efficiently.

    Express VPN only offers three connections per license. This means you can only connect three devices at one time. Pure VPN allows you to connect five devices whereas IPVanish VPN allows you to connect ten. Express VPN was also audited by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers). PwC is one of the four largest professional advisory and services assurance companies worldwide. Express VPN can say with confidence that they may know a customer connected to their service, but they don’t know what they did. Your security is completely protected while using the Express VPN server. You may review the audit here.

     

    2. Pure VPN

    alt="pure vpn"/>

     

    Pros
    • 6500+ servers from 180+ locations.
    • 10-multi-logins
    • 31-day money-back guarantee
    • NO-LOG Certified from Atlius and KPMG
    • Dedicated Servers for streaming
    • Dedicated Servers for downloading
    • Access 7-Netflix regional libraries US, UK, CA, DE, FR, JP, AU
    • Access Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer
    • Fast speeds
    • Special limited time offer $4.16 per month – Check Offer (Use Coupon Code during checkout for 10 % discount: warcraftlover)
    Cons
    • Support is lacking
    • Apps may run into problems
    • Located in Hong Kong (Pure VPN doesn’t answer the mainland China)

    alt="vpn for world of warcraft - pure vpn"/>

     

    Pure VPN is one of the best VPN for World of Warcraft. The service has 2,000+ self-managed servers across 140+ countries. The VPN supports BitTorrent and has a wide array of protocols to choose from. Pure VPN allows five devices at a time. They also offer support for many different Apps. These devices include Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and Linux. Usually, Pure VPN is priced at $10.95 per month, but for a limited time, you can snag this amazing service for $4.16 monthly.

    On Trustpilot, Pure VPN has an excellent five-star rating with 9,131 reviews. Pure VPN has a 31-day money-back guarantee. So if you discover the service isn’t for you then you don’t need to worry. Pure VPN offers servers in China, Turkey, and Russia. Not every VPN is available in those countries, especially because they have strict internet policies. Pure VPN offers DDoS protection and NAT firewall. This makes Pure VPN one of the best VPN for gaming. You can read my review on PureVPN here.

    General Impressions On PureVPN: Update Regarding Netflix and Other Streaming Services (May 2020)

    PureVPN has done some updates regarding streaming services since I tried it. There are now 10 Netflix regional libraries including the US, UK, DE, FR, JP, CA, AU, PL, CZ, and GR. Disney+, Hulu, and other prominent streaming services are available. Also, PureVPN is offering 10 multi-logins and a buy 1 gift 12 offer, which means after a purchase of any plan, then users can gift 12 monthly accounts to anyone they choose. Be sure to add the coupon code: warcraftlover during checkout for a 10 percent discount.

    3. IPVanish VPN

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    Pros
    • Ability to connect to 10 devices at once
    • A large number of servers in great locations
    • Automatic cycling of IP address
    • Supports Open VPN
    • Access to 1300+ servers worldwide
    • No-Logs Policy
    • Offer: 67% off annual subscription ($3.99/month; first billing cycle) + 250 GB of SugarSync cloud storage
    • Expiration: Offer ends February 29, 2020 – Check Offer
    Cons
    • Limited global server presence
    • The interface isn’t user-friendly
    • Located in the United States (Five-eyes country)

    alt="will using a vpn for world of warcraft get you banned?"/>

    IPVanish VPN has a sale going on until January 31, 2020. For a limited time, you can receive 2 years of VPN and secure storage for $4.12 per month. Usually, this amazing service is priced at $10.00 per month. On Trustpilot, IPVanish VPN has a five-star rating and 4,420 reviews. IPVanish VPN has a network that spans 40,000+ IPs on 1,300+ servers in 75+ locations. IPVanish VPN is also one of the best VPN for BitTorrent because it doesn’t restrict your freedom and flexibility to a specific server.

    Their many locations allow you to have unrestricted internet globally. IPVanish VPN provides encryption for all of your devices. So not only can you use their VPN for World of Warcraft, but you can also use the best VPN for streaming too. IPVanish VPN works well with Disney+ and Netflix. In terms of speed, IPVAnish VPN is slower than ExpressVPN. Your mileage may vary depending on what servers you’re accessing.

    4. Strong VPN

    alt="will using a vpn for world of warcraft get you banned?'/>

    Pros
    • Fast speed
    • Has Netflix Support
    • Supports 5 connections at once
    • Has 950+ servers in 30 countries
    • No-logs Policy
    • Strong VPN is $5.83 per month – Check Prices
    Cons
    • Assigns servers at random
    • Overpriced
    • Outdated user interface
    • Located in the United States (five-eyes country)
    • Open VPN is difficult to use

    alt="world of warcraft vpn - strong vpn"/>

    When using a VPN for gaming you’ll want to consider Strong VPN. They support 5 simultaneous connections. Also, a Strong VPN has 950+ servers. Torrenting is allowed. Strong VPN has a 4.5 score on Trustpilot with 1,635 reviews. As a good VPN for gaming, a Strong VPN will protect your cybersecurity. Being a victim of cyber hacking is no joke. Your social security number, address, credit card, and driver license numbers can be stolen. The infamous Equifax data breach which occurred in 2017 impacted 209,000+ people. Strong VPN will ensure that this never happens to you.

    Strong VPN offers a 7-day money-back guarantee. The service is great for streaming Netflix and Hulu. Setting up a Strong VPN might be difficult for a beginner. The service has many menus and the terms of service are long and convoluted. Strong VPN also collects a lot of personal information upfront including your account name, billing address, and email. You may want to try a different VPN service like Express VPN or Pure VPN for better clarity about protections.

    How Do You Use a VPN for Gaming?

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    • Download games from other countries
    • Protection from DDoS attack
    • Improve lag and reduce ping
    • Stay anonymous by encrypting your gaming traffic
    • Gain access to multiplayer games anywhere in the world

    Using a VPN for World of Warcraft is good, but you probably play other games too. In general, a VPN for gaming allows you to download games from other countries. So if there’s a game you’ve always wanted to play, but it’s only available in Japan well a VPN will give you access. What the VPN does is it that your computer appears to be in another place. Your IP is temporarily changed. So this is how you gain access to different games, and it’s how you encrypt your gaming traffic. Multiplayer games like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy, and League of Legends can benefit from a VPNs use.

    For example, a VPN for League of Legends would allow you to bypass restrictions. Riot games operate LoL from 10 servers worldwide. Some regions are unable to play LoL. A VPN lets you get around the block. If you’re traveling overseas you’ll want to use a VPN. Another example includes a VPN for Final Fantasy XIV. After a patch update 4.4, many players complained about high latency and frequent disconnects. Players believed the issue was coming from Square Enix’s side. When you’re having trouble connecting to your favorite games, then using a VPN can ensure you’ll be able to play.

    What If Using A VPN for World of Warcraft Gets You Banned?

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    Blizzard can flag your account for suspicious activity. The problem is that VPN’s state that your computer is in a different location. One critical mistake gamers make is not knowing when to turn their VPN on and off. Some players don’t use the VPN for World of Warcraft, but they instead will use it for Netflix and other services. There’s nothing wrong with this, but if you’re not using the VPN for World of Warcraft then you should turn it off when you’re playing the game. Your account looks as if it was hacked. So you’ll have to send Blizzard a ticket to explain what’s going on.

    Now some players have used a VPN when stationed overseas. Members of the armed forces may have problems accessing the game from certain countries. Blizzard is likely to reverse the ban if you explain your situation. So before you use a VPN for World of Warcraft, or any game, be sure you understand the risks. You don’t want Blizzard to assume that you’re illegally making gold, account trading, or boosting your character.

    Should I Use A Free VPN for World of Warcraft?

    A VPN for gaming should be high-quality. Free VPNs are bad to use. Most free VPNs don’t provide the same level of protection as higher-quality VPNs. You want a VPN for gaming to have networks in convenient locations, lightning-fast speeds, and unlimited bandwidth. If you’re using your VPN for your PS4 or Xbox one then you’ll want a premium service. A VPN can’t be installed on a console, but you can use a VPN to protect your internet router. Free VPNs also limit the number of servers you can access.

    Best VPN for World of Warcraft

    alt="will using a vpn for world of warcraft get you banned? - caverns of time"/>

    Will using a VPN for World of Warcraft get you banned? There’s a moderate risk of Blizzard Entertainment banning you. Sometimes Blizzard will assume your account has been hacked. A VPN can place your IP in any location around the globe. The best VPN for gaming won’t necessarily prevent you from being banned. You’ll have to determine if the benefits outweigh the risks.

    Also, connecting to some VPNs may cause WoW to be slower. The process of encrypting your traffic can slow the process. You’ll need to test different VPN servers to find the one best for you. You can read my review on PureVPN. Their program has a 31-day money-back guarantee. Most VPN companies also use a VPN protocol called Open VPN. Unless you’re tech-savvy, you’ll want to subscribe to a VPN service that uses the protocol.

    A VPN works by sending data to and from the internet through virtual tunnels. Open VPN is considered an industry standard. The protocol provides tunneling through a Secure Sockets Layer. The system has 256-bit encryption which makes it difficult to hack. Experts suggest you subscribe to a VPN service rather than try to install the complicated protocol yourself.

    Five-Eyes Countries – What you need to know

    You should also be aware of the Five-eyes (Fvey) countries. The five-eyes countries are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. What you should know is that these countries have surveillance. So if your VPN provider is located within one of the five-eyes then your information may not be as secure as you think. Be sure to read the terms of service agreement for any VPN company you consider. Your privacy is important.

    Will Using A VPN For World Of Warcraft Get You Banned?

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    Using a VPN for gaming in general poses a risk. You’ll want to consider both the positives and negatives before you make a decision. If using a VPN for World of Warcraft grants peace of mind then you should use one. A VPN can reduce ping in your games. This means your games will experience less lag. Also, a VPN can protect you from other players who would attack your system. When looking for the best VPN for WoW you also need to consider other uses. Will you be using the VPN to watch Netflix? Also, you might want to think about where a VPN company is located. There is the five-eyes, nine-eyes, and fourteen-eyes agreements you need to be aware of.

    Our cybersecurity is increasingly under threat. Using a VPN is the best way to ensure your protection. The best VPN will depend on your needs. As you’re looking for a VPN for gaming pay attention to servers. You might be interested in accessing a server from abroad. World of Warcraft has servers in the United States, China, Europe, and Korea. If you’re trying to access a server in China then you’ll want to pay attention to which VPNs offer service in China. The VPN access is restricted in certain countries.

    Final Thoughts

    Do The Benefits Outweigh The Risks?

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    The benefits of VPN for gaming far outweigh the risks. No one wants hackers or the government to gain access to private information. Everyone should use a VPN to protect themselves. Discovering your identity has been stolen is anyone’s worse nightmare. Always do your research before choosing a VPN. Be sure to read the terms of service and customer reviews. Some VPN companies have passed information over to the government. To ensure your safety always read the fine print. A VPN for World of Warcraft should be fast and secure. You can also use your VPN for consoles too. The best way to use a VPN for consoles is to install it on your router. By placing the VPN on your router you can make sure all of your internet browsings are protected.

    Some VPNs are no-logs. Remember, a no-log VPN service is what you want. You want to be sure that your information won’t be passed on to someone else. There are VPN companies that were paid by third parties to pass over sensitive data. All VPN services should mention their no-logs policy in their terms of service. The government has also approached VPN companies to find criminals. Although fighting crime is a good thing there is no filter on who’s computer may be virtually searched. Countries that are a part of the five-eyes alliance are more likely to breach your data. When choosing a VPN provider always check the location, and read the terms of service. It’s the only way to be safe.

    One last thing…

    Before you go check out the ten reasons to start a gaming blog, how to make a profitable gaming blog, and will World of Warcraft have patch 8.3.5? If you found this post helpful please be sure to share it on social media. If you enjoy Warcraftlover’s content, then feel free to learn more about how to show your support.

    Thank you for hanging out at my hearth.

    Happy Hunting,

    Spyells

     

  • Will World Of Warcraft Have Patch 8.3.5?

    Will World Of Warcraft Have Patch 8.3.5?

    Will World of Warcraft have patch 8.3.5? Visions of N’Zoth is patch 8.3 and it dropped yesterday. N’Zoth and his Black Empire have decided to conquer Azeroth. Our heroes (the players) are doing everything in their power to stop him. Patch 8.3 has introduced new armor into the game, which means the corrupted gear is a gift from N’Zoth. Players can equip a corrupted item and gain more power. All power comes at a cost though, because the more corruption on your gear the worse it gets. Enemies from the void will hunt you down if you have an excess amount of corrupted gear equipped.

    Patch 8.3 also introduced assaults and Horrific Visions. The assaults happened in Uldum and the Vale of Eternal Blossoms. So the zones look dark, have a lot of tentacles, and are creepy. N’Zoth’s Black Empire is determined to bring Azeroth to its doom. Our champions must stop N’Zoth before he turns Azeroth into his Black Empire. The Old God is based on H.P. Lovecraft’s eldritch horrors.

    Lovecraftian lore has influenced WoW storytelling for years. Old Gods have always been a major part of the story. Their plotline is meant to invoke horror in the minds of players. Imagine Old Gods as the creepy creatures hiding under your bed at night. Can’t you just imagine an orange eye peeping out from your closet, while a tentacle reaches for you? It sounds scary, right?

    Will World Of Warcraft Have Patch 8.3.5?

    Ny’alotha, the Waking City

    alt="Will World Of Warcraft Have Patch 8.3.5? - stormwind"/>

    Well, the Old Gods are supposed to be creepy. N’Zoth is the last of the Old Gods and it’s up to Azeroth’s champions to stop the horror. Unfortunately, N’Zoth already has his perfect future planned out. When players enter Horrific Visions they’re seeing N’Zoth’s twisted version of the future. Darkness, tentacles, and death appear to be what N’Zoth has in store.

    The heroes of Azeroth have a lot on their plate in this patch. Soon we’ll be entering Ny’alotha which is the heart of the Black Empire. Ny’alotha, the Waking City will be the final raid in the expansion. Players can expect to see familiar faces including Wrathion, Queen Azshara, and N’Zoth himself. The raid will feature twelve bosses. Ny’alotha will unlock for normal and heroic difficulties on January 21st. Mythic and Raid Finder Wing 1 will unlock January 28th.

    Affiliate Disclosure

    Since I share awesome products with people like you, naturally my content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn some coffee money (or game time *gasp*).

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please refer to Paid for Advertising.com which explains affiliate marketing in more detail.

    Will World Of Warcraft Have Patch 8.3.5?

    Interview With World of Warcraft Game Director Ion Hazzikostas

    Patch 8.3 has been a ton of fun, but will it be so great after eight months or so? Don’t expect another patch update until Shadowlands. According to World of Warcraft game director Ion Hazzikostas, there will be no patch 8.3.5. Hazzikostas was interviewed by Millenium. The WoW game director talked about patch 8.3 and the upcoming Shadowlands expansion.

    First of all, just to get it out of the way, we currently don’t have any 8.3.5 plans — there may be some small systems tweaks or updates for stability between now and Shadowlands, but Visions of N’Zoth is really the concluding chapter of Battle for Azeroth, and we’re excited to focus our attention on Shadowlands and the upcoming beta for Shadowlands that’ll be opening up over the course of the year. – WoW Game Director Ion Hazzikostas

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    Hazzikostas also talked about the similarity between Horffic Visions and Torghast. In Shadowlands, players will be able to explore Torghast which is a repeatable dungeon experience. Torghast is similar to Horrific Visions because it’s content that players can do again and again. Each time the player re-plays the dungeon they’ll need to be stronger to advance farther within the instance. We’ll also be seeing a continuation of the lore involving the Emerald Dream. Players may remember doing Emerald Nightmare questlines in Valsharah during Legion. In Shadowlands, players will venture to Ardenweald. If you’d like to know more about patch 8.3 and Shadowlands then check out the interview here.

    Also, Wowhead interviewed Senior Game Producer Mike Bybee, and Lead Narrative Designer Steve Danuser last week. They asked them questions about patch 8.3, and for them to explain Lesser Visions, Corrupted Gear, and the Gift of N’Zoth. Check out the interview here.

    Want a fun and unique World of Warcraft collector’s item? Then check out the World of Warcraft Pop-up Book by Matthew Reinhart on Amazon.com.

    Before you go…

    Don’t forget to share this post on social media. Also, please consider joining our Patreon. Warcraftlover is made possible because of the fans. Check out Who is the Jailer in World of Warcraft Shadowlands, World of Warcraft Quizzes, and 10 reasons to start a gaming blog.

    Thank you for hanging out at my hearth.

    Happy  Hunting,

    Spyells

     

  • New WoW Classic Content February 12th

    New WoW Classic Content February 12th

    New WoW Classic content will drop on February 12th at 3:00 PM PST. The new content will be released simultaneously for all realms. WoW Classic has been a hit. There’s a ton of exciting stuff to look forward too.

    Players can look forward to Blackwing Lair. The attunement quest “Blackhand’s Command” will become available on all realms tomorrow, Friday, January 10th.

    Level 50 class quests will be available. Class trainers in capital cities will offer class-specific questlines. Each quest concludes by choosing one of three powerful rare items.

    New reputation rewards will be available. These include The Argent Dawn, Thorium Brotherhood, Timbermaw Hold, Silverwing Sentinels, and Warsong Outriders faction vendors. The vendors will offer reward items that were added in patches 1.6 and 1.7 of vanilla WoW.

    New WoW Classic Content February 12th Continued

    alt="New WoW Classic Content February 12th"/>

    New WoW Classic Content February 12th. If you complete “Hands of the Enemy” and reach Revered with the Hydraxian Waterlords you may now obtain an Eternal Quintessence from Duke Hydraxis.

    Also, the Darkmoon Faire is coming in early February. Players will begin seeing the faire set up on Friday, February, 7th, and the festivities will be available on Monday, February, 10th. Enemies and bosses will begin dropping Darkmoon Cards on Wednesday, February 5th.

    A gathering of the exotic from around the world and beyond, Silas Darkmoon has brought together the Darkmoon Faire as a celebration of the wondrous and mysterious found in Azeroth. While the Faire spends most of their time in parts unknown, they do stop from time to time in Mulgore and Elwynn Forest. When the faire is on its way barkers will stop by Orgrimmar and Ironforge to announce its arrival.

    Now that you know more about New WoW Classic Content February 12th, feel free to check out the official post on Blizzard’s website. Before you go check out the 10 reasons to start a gaming blog and the seven best quest chains in WoW Classic. Thank you for hanging out at my hearth.

    Happy Hunting,

    Spyells

  • Visions of N’Zoth Survival Guide On Youtube

    Visions of N’Zoth Survival Guide On Youtube

    The Visions of N’Zoth Survival Guide was posted on World of Warcraft’s official Youtube channel. The video reminded players what to expect in patch 8.3. January 14th is when the patch will be released. Two new allied races will be available. These include the Vulpera for Horde and the Mechagnomes for Alliance.

    Level 120 players will experience new assaults in Titan facilities. Our goal is to complete objectives that would drive back N’Zoth’s minions. After making progress then players can fight a lieutenant. Players will receive a vessel of Horrific Visions. This is a key that gives you access to instance content. One to five players can complete Horrific Visions. The visions subject you to N’Zoth’s twisted future in Orgrimmar and Stormwind. Exploring a Horrific Vision puts your sanity under attack. You’ll have to leave before you go insane. Horrific Visions have bonus areas that unlock access to stronger items.

    The Horde and Alliance also have a new peace treaty. We’ll see how long this peace treaty holds up. There are still forces in each faction who want to seek revenge. Tyrande is still angry about Teldrassil, and who knows what Sylvanas’s loyalists are up too.

    Affiliate Disclosure

    Since I share awesome products with people like you, naturally my content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn some coffee money (or game time *gasp*).

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please refer to Paid for Advertising.com which explains affiliate marketing in more detail.

    Blizzard Posts Visions of N’Zoth Survival Guide On Youtube

    alt="Blizzard Posts Visions of N'Zoth Survival Guide On Youtube"/>

    Next in the Visions of N’Zoth Survival Guide, Wrathion is back to provide players with a legendary cloak. The cloak begins at item level 470 and will allow players to venture deeper into the visions.

    Want to bring out the kid in you? Then check out the Mega Bloks World of Warcraft Sindragosa and the Lich King on Amazon.com!

    Gear has a new stat called Corruption. This power comes at a price. As a result of having too much-corrupted gear, the player character can be attacked by evil forces from the void. Your new cloak and new essences will combat the amount of corruption. The Heart of Azeroth has a new minor slot at level 75. New essences are found in assaults, Horrific Visions, and the Ny’alotha raid.

    Visions of N’Zoth has a visual update and redesign for the Deepwind Gorge battleground. New storyline quests are available for N’Zoth. You can also earn Goblin and Worgen heritage armor. There’s a new auction house. Allied race death knights are available for players who pre-purchased Shadowlands. Lastly, the Darkmoon Faire is getting an arcade edition.

    Before you go be sure to check out the 10 reasons to start a gaming blog.

    Thanks for hanging out at my hearth.

    Happy Hunting,

    Spyells

  • World of Warcraft Patch 8.3 Visions of N’Zoth Interview

    World of Warcraft Patch 8.3 Visions of N’Zoth Interview

    World of Warcraft patch 8.3 Visions of N’Zoth is a week away. We’re finally reaching the conclusion of the Battle for Azeroth expansion. For many fans, it’s a relief that BFA will finally end. The expansion had problems. Most notably with the story and gearing systems like the Heart of Azeroth. Battle for Azeroth’s issues was glaring because this expansion followed behind Legion. Legion is considered one of the best expansions. So it ranks right up there with Wrath of the Lich King.

    Patch 8.3 is called Visions of N’Zoth and is named after the Old God. In the final patch, players will face N’Zoth for a final showdown. Despite all the faction drama in BFA it’s the Old God we need to defeat. For a while, it appeared as if Sylvanas would be the final boss. She’s a compelling character but fatigue had set in for many fans. Somehow she’s now strong enough to defeat the Lich King without much effort. Look, Bolvar may not have been as strong as Arthas because he wasn’t wielding Frostmourne, but WoW’s storyline always made the Lich King appear as a formidable opponent regardless.

    Anyway, patch 8.3 isn’t dealing with Sylvanas. The patch is focused on N’Zoth and Old God corruption. Dragonflights and the void are also a prevalent theme in this patch. Players will be receiving a new type of armor called Corrupted Gear. If you put too much-corrupted gear on your character you could kill them. The introduction to this patch is lengthy at 2 hours, but Blizzard is considering adding skip functions. Wowhead interviewed Senior Game Producer Mike Bybee and Lead Narrative Designer Steve Danuser. The interview is an average length and we do find out some good information.

    Affiliate Disclosure

    Since I share awesome products with people like you, naturally my content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn some coffee money (or game time *gasp*).

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please refer to Paid for Advertising.com which explains affiliate marketing in more detail.

    World of Warcraft patch 8.3 Visions of N’Zoth Wowhead Interview

    Introductory Questline And Corrupted Gear

    alt="World of Warcraft patch 8.3 Visions of N'Zoth - Drustvar"/>

    The Wowhead interview begins with Mike Bybee explaining Corrupted Gear and how it compares to Titanforging. One of their main goals was to come up with a gearing system that tied into the theme of the patch. Replacing Titanforging was like the third goal on their list. The developers wanted to play around with the idea of player choice. So an example is when players could choose to side with Sylvanas or betray her. Mike also stated we’ll begin receiving Corrupted Gear right away. Players should get their first Corrupted item in the introductory questline.

    Also, in the World of Warcraft patch 8.3 Visions of N’Zoth, Mike said that the introductory questline will have some skippable parts for alts. The skippable scenarios include the Forge of Origination and Engine of Nalak’sha. At the beginning of the scenario speak to Magni and a dialogue box will appear. Players can choose an option to skip that portion of the introduction. The developers feel repeating parts of the intro won’t be too bad. Players are working on systems that their characters will need. They’ll be experiencing assaults for N’Zoth and earning reputation and currency for different factions.

    Allied Race DK New Starter Zone

    Allied race Death Knights will be playable in patch 8.3 if you’ve pre-purchased Shadowlands. Steve Danuser said that the new allied race DK starter zone is brief. Basically the zone is meant to explain why these races can be DK’s. The goal is for players to head into the game world fairly quickly and start playing the main game. For players who want to experience the original DK experience, it’s still available. These allied race DK’s were created because Bolvar was expanding his forces. He knew death was coming.

    Do you love Death Knights and Manga? Then check out the World of Warcraft: Blizzard Legends: Death Knights by Dan Jolley available on Amazon.com.

    World of Warcraft patch 8.3 Visions of N’Zoth

    Lesser Visions And What They Mean

    alt="World of Warcraft patch 8.3 Visions of N'Zoth"/>

    Mike described Lesser Visions as a future in which N’Zoth has won. Uldum and the Vale of Eternal Blossoms should feel threatening. The shrines in the vale are completely corrupted. WoW developers felt this would be more frightening in the open world rather than in a scenario. Steve said that N’Zoth is a unique villain because he has the power to warp reality. So N’Zoth is showing the player what his ideal future would look like. This shows players what the stakes are and what will happen if the heroes don’t stop him. Mike said that the Lesser Visions aren’t as structured as the Horrific Visions. So Lesser Visions occur in the open world, but Horrific Visions are instanced.

    A Reward For Keeping The Gift Of N’Zoth

    Players who kept the Gift of N’Zoth will notice slight differences in the story. It’ll be similar to players who were loyal to Sylvanas. So it’s possible players will receive different quests and cutscenes. Steve is hoping players will enjoy these extra bits of content. It’s their reward for keeping the eyeball on their heads.

    Are The Old Gods Finally Finished In The Story?

    World of Warcraft patch 8.3 Visions of N’Zoth makes us wonder if the Old Gods are finished. According to Steve, the Old Gods’ storyline is reaching it’s conclusion, especially because N’Zoth is the last of the original Old Gods to infect the world. However, the Old Gods are tied to the Void and the history of Azeroth. So there is a possibility that the Old God threat could manifest in new and unique ways in future content.

    What’s Next For Wrathion and Azshara?

    Wrathion was brought back for patch 8.3 because of his legacy as a black dragon. Nefarion became Deathwing due to Old God corruption. So Wrathion is determined to help take out the Old God threat. Wrathion is also focused on discovering what the future of dragons will be.

    Now For Azshara…

    alt="World of Warcraft patch 8.3 Visions of N'Zoth - azshara"/>

    Steve was concerned about spoiling the raid. What he did say was that Azshara’s story continues in Ny’alotha. We’ll see the repercussions of her defeat from the Eternal Palace. Azshara has made a lot of deals with powerful entities. Experiencing this will set up the themes of her character, and interesting things that could pay off in the future.

    Do you love art and the World of Warcraft? Then check out Redbubble.com for epic World of Warcraft themed art, t-shirts, phone cases, stickers, and more!

    World of Warcraft patch 8.3 Visions of N’Zoth Interview

    We’ll conclude the World of Warcraft patch 8.3 Visions of N’Zoth with the faction conflict. Mike and Steve also talked about the after-effects of the War Campaign. The Horde has reached a new level of peace, but the Alliance is experiencing turmoil. They stated that this will have an effect on the game world moving forward. We may be seeing the effects of the Battle for Azeroth for many years to come. You can check out the rest of the interview here.

    To learn more about patch 8.3 be sure to check out the developer update from November. Also, have you ever thought about starting your own gaming blog? Check out the 10 reasons to start your own gaming blog.

    If you enjoyed this news update please be sure to share it. There are social media icons in the sidebar and at the bottom of the page. Thank you for hanging out at my Hearth.

    Happy Hunting,

    Spyells

  • 10 Reasons To Start A Gaming Blog

    10 Reasons To Start A Gaming Blog

    Have you ever wanted to start a gaming blog? Well, here are the 10 Reasons To Start A Gaming Blog. Video games are the ultimate fun. You become the hero of your own story. With video games, you have the power to rule the world. It’s no wonder why so many people use video games as an escape from reality. When you can become a soldier, catch Pokémon, or create your own town then the player feels powerful.

    A blog is something you create to help other people. So if you make a gaming blog then you can share your expertise with the world. Video games connect us to other geeks who want to have fun. Gamers are laid back. If you enjoy gaming and would like to make it a career than blogging is for you.

    You might have heard that blogging takes time to be profitable. Anything worth creating will take time to work. Starting a gaming blog is a way for you to share your love of gaming with others in a new way. Here are the top 10 reasons to start a gaming blog.

    Affiliate Disclosure:

    Since I share awesome products with people like you, naturally my content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn some coffee money (or game time *gasp*).

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please refer to Paid for Advertising.com which explains affiliate marketing in more detail.

    10 Reasons To Start A Gaming Blog

    10. Fun

    via GIPHY

    Gaming is a lot of fun. Any gamer can spend hours running around a world. Video games are like virtual amusement parks and they provide hours of entertainment. As a gaming blogger, you’ll want to focus on making your blog fun. A blog is like an online magazine. The best way to spread fun is to have a social media presence. Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram are great places to begin. A gaming blog should be so fun that people want to revisit your website again and again and share it with their friends. The more interactive the gaming blog is then the more people will return. Fun is the most important part of a gaming blog.

    One way to show how fun your blog is is by using Pinterest. An epic looking pin can go viral on the search engine and bring in lots of traffic. Pinterest is one of the best ways to drive traffic to a new blog. You can use automatic schedulers like Tailwind to ensure that your Pinterest pins are being posted. What’s awesome about Pinterest is that it’s a search engine. So any Pinterest pins you create can also show up in a Google search. On Tailwind, the blogging community shares each other’s pins. Connecting with other gaming bloggers is truly the highlight of any day. All of you are spreading fun and Pinterest is a fantastic way to do it.

    9. Friends

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    Number nine in the 10 reasons to start a gaming blog is friends. You make a ton of friends when you start blogging. Some of your new blogging buddies will also become game buddies. Joining Facebook groups for fellow bloggers is a great way to share game tips and blogging strategies. Making a unique blog doesn’t have to be hard. When other bloggers see how much work you’ve put into your business they’ll want to connect with you. Some gaming bloggers decide not to blog and instead focus on selling games.

    Companies like 3DArt can build you a custom website. So if you’re interested in selling games then 3DArt is an invaluable part of your process. Running a blog is a small business. A small business owner has complete control of their success. Gamers are interactive, loyal, and creative. You’ll want to be sure to make a wonderful first impression. 3DArt will be sure to give your website the polish it needs.

    You’ll want to use services like spocket in order to sell products worldwide. Spocket is a dropshipping platform. Dropshipping allows you to sell products from a website without holding any inventory. So your website can make it easier for people in different parts of the world to access certain goods. When you make a sale you keep a certain percentage of the profit. Dropshipping is another way to help fellow gamers get a hold of games they wouldn’t normally be able to buy.

    8. Success

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    Blogging is about success. A gaming blog is no different. Your goal is to make a gaming blog so fun and interactive that people will visit it as much as they play their favorite games. Success is measured in different quantities. You may consider your blog successful once you have 100 visitors a day, but someone else might consider their blog a success after they’ve made sales. Your business goals determine how success is measured for you. As a small-business owner, you need to outline a business plan. ONce you know what your business goals are then success becomes easier to achieve.

    A successful blog needs a good host. All websites require a web host to run. A web host is a server in which your blog runs on. The best hosting makes a website run quickly and smoothly. There are two kinds of hosting. One is shared hosting which means there’s more than one website on a server. The other is managed hosting which gives your blog it’s own dedicated server and faster results. You need to determine what type of host is best for you. All hosting companies have a monthly fee. So remember to not only factor in website speed but to also consider your budget.

    Success Continued

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    A shared host is when a website has the same server as other websites. Some shared hosts are better than others. If you don’t have a good shared host, then when the website gains loads of traffic this can cause it to slow down which results in frustration for visitors. Shared hosts are more affordable though. We’ve all been on websites that move at a snail’s pace and it’s not good. Web hosting companies like Bluehost, Siteground, and Hostgator offer shared hosting services. Both hosting services start $3.95 per month, and they’re both specifically created for WordPress blogs.

    A managed host can provide you with better customer service. They also may provide backups for your blog and your website may have its own server. WP Engine, Kinsta and Liquid Web are great managed hosting options. All three managed hosting platforms start at $30 a month. Kinsta’s service is top-notch and the server load speed is fast. Warcraftlover runs on Kinsta’s servers. When you choose a host to pick the best one for your needs. A new blog may not need a managed host right away. In the beginning, your focus is on building authority and traffic.

    7. Help

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     Starting a gaming blog gives you the chance to help. On your blog, you can share unique tips and tricks for the most popular games. Visitors will appreciate learning your best gaming hacks. Helping is one of the main reasons to start a blog. It takes time to realize that your blog isn’t for you. You create your blog for your readers. Blogs are like an online magazine, so visitors come to your blog looking for something. If you’re naturally good at helping others than blogging will come easily to you. To give the best help you’ll need to market your blog effectively.

    You’ll want to create a mailing list. Mailing services like AWeber and Constant Contact can help you manage your mailing list and provide you with a place to save all of your email contacts. From their website, you can design emails and schedule them to be sent out weekly. Keeping in contact with your audience will encourage them to visit your blog often.

    Marketing services like GetResponse provide professional email templates for your mailing list. The company also provides landing pages, autofunnels, and webinars. A landing page helps you to get emails for your mailing list. Auto funnels are click funnels, and it’s a marketing strategy that can help you make sales. Webinars are great for teaching other people how to do something. So you could create a webinar explaining how to fix common blog issues and how to generate more traffic.

    6. Freedom

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    Number six in the 10 reasons to start a gaming blog is freedom. Running your own blog is a small business. As a small business owner, you have the freedom to work on your blog whenever you please. Freedom is one of the main reasons to start a blog. You’ll be able to work anywhere in the world, and you can play all of your favorite games. As a blogger, you can create business connections in the gaming and entertainment industry. These connections allow you to offer valuable suggestions to your readership.

    With all this freedom comes responsibility. As a blogger, you will become an authority in your niche. Eventually, readers will turn to you to hear your opinions. They will also buy products that you suggest. You have a responsibility to suggest the best products and services to your readers. Building trust with your readers can take time. So you want to be sure that what they see is what they get. All it takes is about 100 dedicated fans to spread the word about your website. Your blog could take off in an explosion of traffic if you treat your audience right.

    Owning a gaming blog allows you to promote brands unique to your niche. By signing up for affiliate companies like Shareasale and Awin.com you can earn a commission by joining programs that have gaming products. Affiliate companies make it easier to connect with popular retailers like Gamestop, Amazon, Target, and Walmart. These retailers have the most epic gaming gear. So you can suggest the best gaming PC or the must-have holiday gifts for gamers.

    5. Creativity

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    Having a gaming blog brings out your creative side. Gamers love being interactive so coming up with ways to engage them is super fun. Quizzes, games, and puzzles can be added to your website to add a level of spice. You’ll want your visitors to spread the word about how awesome your gaming blog is. Try to remember what types of websites make you come back. It’s probably a combination of design, information, and fun. When you master the right combination for your blog then you should see a spike in traffic. To get your creative juices flowing be sure to hook up with fellow gaming bloggers.

    If you’re not the creative type though be sure to check websites like Fiverr. On Fiverr, you can find freelancers who will make creative projects and designs for your blog. A freelancer could design custom artwork for your blog, or you could hire a freelancer to help you produce articles. Some freelancers are experts in social media management, Pinterest, and SEO. All of your business needs can be met at an affordable price. Just remember to read the reviews before you trust anyone with your blog. You want to make sure only the best quality services are being rendered for your website. As long as your gaming blog is creative, then it’ll appeal to the gaming community.

    4. Opportunity

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    Having your own gaming blog gives you unique opportunities. You will be able to attend gaming events. Gaming bloggers are sometimes able to sample new games before they hit the market. Sometimes you may receive free products to review. You can also do collaborations with other bloggers. A collaboration can grow your traffic, especially if you write a guest post for another blogger. Guest posting allows you to get your name out there. So you want to hook up with other bloggers when you can. Opportunities are plentiful and you want to make yourself available to receive them.

    When you’ve been blogging for a while you can make connections with sponsors. Sponsors give you the opportunity to earn more cash and to promote awesome products. As a gaming blogger, you could connect to programs and companies that are affiliated with your niche. As an example, Warcraftlover is about World of Warcraft. So this blog can suggest brands like Blazingboost which helps players reach the max level, and gear up their toons for end game content. Other brands you can suggest are Chairs4Gaming which offers high-quality chairs and desks for gamers. By applying the coupon code SPYELLS22 you can receive a 10% discount. Gamefly is another great service to suggest because gamers can rent video games at an affordable price. There’s also G2Deal which gives gamers excellent deals on digital products like Xbox Live Cards and anti-virus software. You’ll want your blog to be as good as it can be so you don’t miss out on any opportunities which come your way.

    3. Knowledge

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    Starting a gaming blog means you can spread knowledge. If you’re knowledgeable about building gaming computers then you can teach your readers how to do it. You could partner with retailers like NVIDIA and suggest the parts to build the best gaming PC. Then you could write a how-to piece explaining how to build a gaming computer with pictures and infographics. Not everyone who plays games is tech-savvy so your wisdom on this topic will benefit them greatly. Knowledge is a valuable asset because people are always looking to learn something new. You want readers to come to you for your knowledge and expertise. If you know the difference in sound quality for gaming headsets then you have valuable information to share.

    Gaming sometimes receives a bad reputation. People who don’t game may believe gamers are lazy or unmotivated. As a gamer you know that’s not at all true. Running your own gaming blog gives you the chance to show your love for games and your work ethic. It requires knowledge of the SEO (search engine optimization), advertising, and writing. You also have to learn how to network. In order to be successful though, you’ll probably want to know how you rank in Google. Companies like Semrush will tell you your Google rankings. They are used by industry professionals like eBay and HP. Semrush can help you be more visible on Social Media. They can spot new opportunities to help your blog grow, and Semrush can help you create buzzworthy content. Knowledge is power especially when you’re running your own blog.

    2. Inspiration

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    Owning your own business gives you inspiration. You can also be inspiring to others. Writing a gaming blog means that you’re following your passion. There are countless paths in life we can take to achieve success. By running a successful blog you’re a small-business owner. Success relies on how hard you work and how fast you master the skills of SEO. In order to be inspiring to others, you’ll need to stay inspired yourself. There’s no magic formula for writing an inspiring gaming blog. Hard work and dedication is all you need to achieve success.

    Warcraftlover began because I wanted to be my own boss. So writing about World of Warcraft was a no-brainer. Your inspiration for starting a gaming blog could be different. Discovering what inspires you to begin your blog will help you keep going. Blogging can be a difficult job. Not everyone understands the work it takes to run a small business. For those who do understand the work and dedication to create a great website, you’ll inspire them to pursue their passions too. Keep working hard on your dream and you will see the fruits of your labor.

    1. You Want Too

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    The final reason to begin a gaming blog is that you want too. Blogging is a career choice that’s not easy. You’ll work long hours. Sometimes you’ll have to bring your work with you on vacation. What makes blogging worthwhile is that you know you’re providing value to your readers. A blog isn’t an online diary. Your blog is a place to help other people. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a gaming blog or a lifestyle blog. When you decided to begin blogging, you’re sending a message to the world that you have a big heart. Blogging isn’t something you do to make money. Your focus is to help other people. If you accomplish your goals of helping your readers then the money will follow.

    Your number one priority is to make sure your blog has a focus. You’ll want to be sure that your readers know what to expect when they visit your website. Consistency is the key to being successful. Once you figure out what works then make it a point to replicate it. Being a successful blogger isn’t a mystery. What creates success in this field is hard work. If you don’t get the word out about your website then you won’t receive visitors. You can’t only rely on SEO to have a great website. Social media is just as important as SEO. A lot of blog traffic will come through popular social media websites.

    Pin me!

    Want to turn your gaming hobby into a career?

    10 Reasons To Start A Gaming Blog

    What Now?

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    The next step is to think about why you want to start a business. Your reasons may not be the 10 reasons to start a gaming blog. In business, it’s important that you have a clear idea of what you want to do. If you don’t have a niche and a clear direction for your blog it won’t work. Businesses require goals. You have to ask yourself what is it that your audience wants. Blogging is first and foremost about helping others. If you focus on monetizing your blog too soon then it may crash and burn. Your priorities must always be on your readers.

    Most visitors to your website won’t return. Your goal is to convert some of them into regular visitors. Publishing consistently and creating quality content is the first step. Once you’ve earned the trust of your audience, then many of them will spread the word about your website. Word of mouth is a powerful motivator. Your gaming blog should be high-quality so visitors feel comfortable suggesting your website to their friends. Enticing them to return with giveaways and freebies are a fantastic idea. Engaging your visitors are always the most important step. By adding quizzes and other interactive content to the website than returning visitors have something to do if you have published a new article.

    If you desire to start a gaming blog you’ll do fine. Blogging may not be the faint of heart, but it certainly takes a large heart to blog. Check out how to start a profitable gaming blog to help you get going.

    Thank you for hanging out at my Hearth.

    Happy Hunting,

    Spyells

     

  • How To Make A Profitable Gaming Blog

    How To Make A Profitable Gaming Blog

    How to make a profitable gaming blog is a hot topic. Gaming is a million-dollar industry. As a gamer, you’re probably wondering how to turn your hobby into an income. Check out the 10 reasons to start a gaming blog. Making money with a gaming blog is fairly simple. We’re going to go over the basics of starting a blog in this post. Before you can learn how to drive traffic, increase conversions, and SEO (search engine optimization) you need to create your website first.

    You don’t want to promote a blog that has no content. In the early stages of blogging, your main focus is deciding how you want your brand to look. Gaming is going to be your niche, but you can always narrow that down. There’s no reason why you can’t write your blog on a specific game. You’ll want to consider the audience size for whatever blog you’re trying to create. The audience needs to be large for you to make a profit.

    Planning your blog, in the beginning, will increase your chances of success. Blogging is a business. When you decide to become a blogger you’re making a choice to help others. It’s important to place yourself in the minds of your readers. You need to figure out what they need. By writing for the readers you’ll be providing them with value. Value is what will keep them coming back to your website. You want to make sure your website is easy to navigate. If your blog doesn’t run smoothly then readers won’t stay on the website. The majority of website visitors will leave a page if it takes longer than 3 to 5 seconds to load.

    Affiliate Disclosure:

    Since I share awesome products with people like you, naturally my content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn some coffee money (or game time *gasp*).

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please refer to Paid for Advertising.com which explains affiliate marketing in more detail.

    How To Make A Profitable Gaming Blog

    Where To Begin

    1. Pick a Niche
    2. Register a Doman and choose a Host
    3. Install WordPress
    4. Pick a Theme and Customize your Blog
    5. Add Necessary Plugins
    6. Write Your First Post

    Let’s Break Down Each Step

    1. Pick a Niche

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    The first step in how to make a profitable gaming blog is to pick a niche. As you’ve already decided to make a gaming blog that is your niche. But, the broader the niche the more competition you have. Competition isn’t exactly a bad thing, because you want to know there’s an engaged audience looking for your content. Your goal is to stand out from the other gaming bloggers. Find a micro-niche within the broader niche to increase your chances of making conversions. A micro-niche will give you the ability to become an expert in your field.

    A conversion is what you want your audience to do. When a visitor comes to your website each article should have a specific purpose. You might be writing a game review, but what do you want your visitor to do? Are you trying to make a sale, or are you looking for them to sign up for your newsletter? Having a micro-niche can help because if there are fewer bloggers talking about your area of gaming then more readers will flock to your website.

    Examples of A Micro-niche:

    • Building Gaming PCs
    • Analytics (examining the state of the gaming industry such as stock trends, etc.)
    • Specific Games (especially if the game has a large following)
    • Gaming Chairs
    • Video Game Reviews and Product Reviews
    • And much more!

    Within the gaming niche, you could become an expert on many specific topics. As long as you can provide value to your readers, and you’re able to suggest products and programs they can use it should work. Your niche is the first thing you should be thinking about when you want to start a blog. If you know what the direction is for your blog then you’re already on the right track.

    2. Register a Domain and Choose a Host

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    The next step in how to make a profitable gaming blog is to choose a domain name for your website. A domain name should be something easy to remember. You want readers to not only return to your website but to also suggest your blog to their friends. In order to have domain authority with Google and other search engines, it’s better to own your own domain.

    Some hosting providers like Bluehost will provide you with a free domain when you pay for their hosting services. Bluehost and Siteground are good hosting companies for first-time bloggers. When you’re just now starting your website you’ll want to keep costs low. Your website traffic will take time to grow so you won’t need to worry about joining managed hosting companies like Kinsta or Liquid Web from the beginning. It can take up to 6 months to a year before you began to make a real profit. So you’ll want to factor in the budget. There are two types of hosting websites. One is shared hosting and the other is managed.

    What to Look For in a Good Host:

    • Support
    • Speed
    • Price
    • Security
    • Ease of Use

    What is shared hosting?

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    Shared hosting is when your website is run on the same server with other websites. When your website is new shared hosting should be fine. Most shared hosts are cheaper than managed hosts. A shared hosting website like Bluehost or Siteground may only charge $3.95 a month. With that price, you receive a free domain for a year and an SSL certificate. An SSL certificate makes it possible for your website to send encrypted information between a web browser and a web server.

    What is managed hosting?

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    Managed hosting is when your website has it’s own server. A managed host usually has faster website speed. They may offer backups to protect your website data. Managed hosts have better customer support. So you’ll receive a more hands-on experience if you have questions. One problem with managed hosting is the cost. Managed hosts like Kinsta and Liquid Web start $30 a month. The price is determined by how many website visitors you have. A website with more traffic will need a better server.

    3. Install WordPress

    WordPress is considered the best option for running a blog. There are other options including Blogger and Wix, but most bloggers use WordPress. As a result, WordPress has thousands of plugins created to help your blog run smoothly. A plugin is like an App for your blog. Some plugins are a necessity like your SEO plugin which allows search engines to find your website. Other plugins are optional.

    To install WordPress, you’ll need to follow the instructions from your hosting provider. You should be able to log into your hosting website and install your WordPress from there. Be sure to speak with customer service if you have any questions. If you’re transferring your website from a different host you’ll also want to speak with customer support to avoid any problems.  A transfer can cause problems with your website, so you want to make sure everything will be okay.

    How To Make A Profitable Gaming Blog Continued

    4. Pick a Theme and Customize your Blog

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    What to look for in a good theme:

    • Ease of use
    • Matches your niche
    • Menus are attractive and not clunky
    • Free vs. Paid
    • Good customer service

    After WordPress has been installed it’s time to choose a theme. As a gaming blogger, you’ll want your website to be visual. A good idea is to check out popular gaming websites and pay attention to how they’re designed. You want your readers to connect to your blog’s identity. WordPress has themes for you to download, but there are companies that make themes for WordPress blogs. A couple of suggestions for you to try is Superb Themes and Elegant Themes. Both websites offer WordPress specific themes.

    Some themes are free. Premium versions of themes are of better quality. It’s not easy to find a free theme that doesn’t have an error of some sort. Hosting isn’t the only thing that matters when it comes to your readers. If your theme is hard to navigate they might give up and leave your website. A theme should always match your niche, be simple, and give your blog a unique look. All themes can be customized.

    After you choose your theme you’ll want to decide what colors and fonts to use. You’re giving your blog it’s own unique identity. Readers will be able to recognize your brand by the little touches you add to your blog. The look of your blog can also seep into your marketing efforts like creating Pinterest pins that match your brand. So you want to put thought into how your blog is going to look. There’s a certain feeling you want your visitors to have by coming to your website.

    5. Add Necessary Plugins To Your Website

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    Plugins are like apps for your website. Some plugins are a necessity for your website to function. A plugin every website needs is for SEO. SEO means search engine optimization. An SEO plugin ensures that your website can be found by search engines. Your website will need to have meta-tags and meta-descriptions. All websites need to submit a sitemap to search engines. The best SEO plugin to use is Yoast SEO. Yoast does more than make your website discoverable by Google. The plugin also offers advice on what your posts are missing. For example, if your content is lacking a keyphrase then Google won’t rank it. Besides Yoast SEO another option to use is All In One SEO.

    How to Add WordPress Plugins To Your Website

    To install a WordPress plugin you need to visit the admin area of your website. You can find the admin area at https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin. When you log into your admin panel you’ll want to view the menu on the left side of the screen. Repeat the steps below for any plugin you add to your website.

    Step by step

    • 1. Visit the admin area of your website: https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin
    • 2. Find the ‘Plugins’ section in the menu
    • 3. Click ‘add new’ plugin
    • 4. Type ‘Yoast SEO’ in the search plugins toolbar
    • 5. Click ‘install now’ under the Yoast SEO
    • 6. Then click ‘activate’

    6. Write Your First Post

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    Now that you’ve got the basics of how to make a profitable gaming blog it’s time to write. Content is the number one reason visitors will return to your website. As a gaming blogger, most of your content will be focused on that niche. Your first post won’t be your best because it takes time to learn what makes quality content. Knowledge of SEO and other technical factors of running a blog will also take months of practice. At this stage, your focus should be on producing content.

    To write a blog post you’ll need to visit the wp-admin area of your website. In the left menu, you should find a section labeled posts. If you click on that section you’ll see ‘add new’ at the top of the page. Before you write your post to be sure to pick your keyphrase. A key phrase is what visitors type into Google when they have a question. The best way to ensure you’re choosing the right words is to use a keyphrase tool like Semrush.

    Semrush will tell you how likely a key phrase is to bring in traffic. Your goal is to choose a key phrase that’s a low hanging fruit. You don’t want to pick something like ‘the most popular video games’ because everyone is writing that. The higher the competition is for a keyword, the more likely your website will end up on page 5 of Google. Page 5 is no man’s land. A keyphrase should have the potential to rank highly because people are searching for it, but not many bloggers are using it.

    Write your first post continued

    When you’ve determined what your keyphrase is then you can begin your post. Yoast SEO will tell you at the bottom of the post whether or not your SEO is good. If the smiley face is red or orange then you need to follow the instructions Yoast is giving you. Those instructions will help your blog rank better in search. Each post should use H2, H3, and H4 headers. The headers make Google happy so use them. Every post also needs a meta-description. Yoast gives you the option to include your snippet at the bottom of the post. Be sure to include your key phrase in the meta-description.

    What if you can’t think of anything to write?

    Don’t worry if you can’t think of anything to write. Work on other parts of your website first. Each blog needs an about page, an affiliate disclosure, and a privacy policy. A first post could simply be an introduction to the website and what you hope it will accomplish. As a blogger, your job is to help others. No matter what part of the gaming niche you’re focused on, try and find out what your audience wants to know. Write several posts on it and eventually, you’ll begin to see traffic.

    How To Make A Profitable Gaming Blog

    Extra tips

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    Now you know the basics of creating a profitable gaming blog. Blogging takes time to master. Don’t be discouraged if your traffic is low for the first six months. As a new blog, Google doesn’t trust your website. Every website goes through the Google sandbox. After six months to a year, your website should begin to see traffic growth. Relying only on Google isn’t a good strategy. Google changes it’s algorithms all the time. Many bloggers have been hit by famous Google updates like Penguin or Panda. When Google updates its algorithm it forces you to learn new SEO strategies to get your content in front of your audience.

    One way to get around this is by using Pinterest and pay-per-click advertisements. Pinterest is a search engine, not a social media website. A Pinterest pin has a key phrase, an eye-catching image, and a link to your blog. The best way to use Pinterest is by using schedulers like Tailwind. Pinterest isn’t a miracle worker though, and it can take a few months before you see real traffic gains. At least with Tailwind you’re able to connect with other bloggers. Fellow bloggers share each other’s pins which can put your pins in front of more people

    Pay-per-click (PPC) advertisements are Google and Bing Ads. When you run a PPC campaign you want to use Semrush to figure out which key phrases will be most successful. Bing Ads are easier to use than Google Ads because Google doesn’t accept as many advertisements. Keep the bids low. The goal is to gain as much traffic to your website as you can without spending too much money. PPC campaigns are something a beginning blogger wouldn’t be ready to use right away. Every business will require an investment, but before spending money on advertising be sure your website is ready.

    If you have any questions please leave a comment below and I’ll help you out. Thank you for hanging out at my Hearth.

    Happy Hunting,

    Spyells