Suggested Addons

[Dren]

I avoid Dalaran like the plague due to performance issues.  Yes, I could take off add-ons before I go there to make it better, but that is a huge PITA.  I'm just fine EVERYWHERE ELSE.  Even without most of my add-ons active it is like moving in molasses there.  I've done zero exploring there due to this and I know I'm missing out too.

This is exactly the problem IF used to have.  They didn't have quite the issue in Shattrah (slow load on NPCs only really.)  Now it is back again.

It would be wonderful to have an alternative place to go for using a bank.  That is really all I'm missing in the game right now.

At least BC had two spots...

[ClydeJr]

I imagine the Dalaran size-wise is smaller than Shatt was. So you have even a higher density of players than in Shatt. I really hope if/when they make a new expansion, they make a central city for each side. At times I think the one giant sanctuary city is somewhat silly. Plus seeing all the gnomes running around and not being able to set a single one on fire is such a shame...

[Drubear]

At least BC had two spots...

I think it's the density as well, vs. the actual city models. (You'd think with all the corners there'd be less of an issue.)

And if by "spots" you mean 2 banks - there are 2 in Dalaran above-ground as well. Not to mention the one in the Underbelly. If you don't need portal access, just bind down there and only come "up" when you have to fly out.

[Dren]

At least BC had two spots...

I think it's the density as well, vs. the actual city models. (You'd think with all the corners there'd be less of an issue.)

And if by "spots" you mean 2 banks - there are 2 in Dalaran above-ground as well. Not to mention the one in the Underbelly. If you don't need portal access, just bind down there and only come "up" when you have to fly out.

I really meant in other cities.  Yes, I would still like access to the portals, but once I hit 80 that is very little.  Vendors are everywhere and I can train my professions at the two different newb towns.  All I'm missing is a bank that is easy to get to without reloading/lag every 10 steps.  I just play the minigame of inventory management for as long as I possibly can stand it and then I bite the bullet to go clean up at the bank.

[Merusk]

In the past few days I've taken to keeping my hearth set near Dalaran but doing all my business in one of the old world capitals.  I can join /lfg or battlegrounds just as easily from IF as I can from Northrend and summoning stones mean I can avoid that shithole until I have to spend badges or turn in dailies.   Putting more polygons in less space is always a bad idea, and Dalaran loves the curves.

[Sheepherder]

Putting more polygons in less space is always a bad idea, and Dalaran loves the curves.

IMO Shattrath is worse for curves (any debug/framerate options you know of that output vertice count?).  The big probem is it's really freaking small and multi-level, so the vast majority of players will be within view distance and thus will be memory resident.  To compound matters from what I can see Blizzard uses a cell system to manage loading, similar to Oblivion (but with smaller cells), and a common characteristic of such systems is that they only use the (X,Y) plane and not (X,Y,Z), so all the shit under Dalaran like trees, rocks, and foozles are likely memory resident even if they are farclipped.  You'd have to log memory usage while playing if you want to put my theory to the test, but it seems consistent with what I see.

[Dren]

To compound matters from what I can see Blizzard uses a cell system to manage loading, similar to Oblivion (but with smaller cells), and a common characteristic of such systems is that they only use the (X,Y) plane and not (X,Y,Z), so all the shit under Dalaran like trees, rocks, and foozles are likely memory resident even if they are farclipped.  You'd have to log memory usage while playing if you want to put my theory to the test, but it seems consistent with what I see.

My guess is that is necessary.  It would not be beneficial to be flying and not know there is an herb/mining node just under you.

I did log out and shut down some Add-ons last night so I could get around Dalaran better last night.  It made a huge difference and moving was bearable.

[Drubear]

I did log out and shut down some Add-ons last night so I could get around Dalaran better last night.  It made a huge difference and moving was bearable.

In all fairness, if I'm in Dalaran I can't login with my full complement of addons. I typically have to turn off WoW Econ at the very least to even logon. ( I think there is a lot of server update requests that go out for various reasons - items/friends/whatever - and I just lag out.)

[Hayduke]

I stopped using Gatherer and started using Gathermate.  It's a lot cleaner on the map and minimap which I like.  Plus you can download the data pack and import a database to get a bunch of node locations in zones.  Questhelper was kind of helpful for leveling up, but I prefer to rely on alt-tabbing since it's more reliable.  And once I hit 80 I chucked it.

I'm also using TellMeWhen to show a large popup of one of my short duration buffs so I can remember when to recast it.  I actually would like something a little more elegant like a buff fading warning, but haven't really looked at that.  Other than that I use pretty much all the standard stuff (natur, deadlybossmods, quartz, x-perl, sct, bar4)

[bhodi]

I stopped using Gatherer and started using Gathermate.  It's a lot cleaner on the map and minimap which I like.  Plus you can download the data pack and import a database to get a bunch of node locations in zones.  Questhelper was kind of helpful for leveling up, but I prefer to rely on alt-tabbing since it's more reliable.  And once I hit 80 I chucked it.

If you're more into alt-tabbing, use LightHeaded which is pretty much just user-added comments about the quest, and then use TomTom for the 'go here' arrow at the bottom of the screen and map markers. I also like how it lists if the quest is a chain, other quests in it - you can skip to the bottom quest to see if you'll even get an item that you can use / is worth it. Look at the screenshots.

You open your quests and a new window pops up on the side, you can arrow through comments, and someone inevitably has put location markers for the quest locations which you can click on and they just show up on your map. I like this, in particular for confusing locations - if it's tricky, the steps to do it are always in the comments.

[Sheepherder]

my guess is that is necessary.  It would not be beneficial to be flying and not know there is an herb/mining node just under you.

Because people have enough trouble finding ore with horizontal cell partitions in place. 

Also, link.

Specifically on the topic of Dalaran, there is no reason to not have a (X,Y,Z) format for cells, or at the very least manually partition it with 2D planes and zone info actors like you see in almost every shooter since Unreal (possibly before that, but UnrealEd was my first editor in a 3D game).

[Hayduke]

I stopped using Gatherer and started using Gathermate.  It's a lot cleaner on the map and minimap which I like.  Plus you can download the data pack and import a database to get a bunch of node locations in zones.  Questhelper was kind of helpful for leveling up, but I prefer to rely on alt-tabbing since it's more reliable.  And once I hit 80 I chucked it.

If you're more into alt-tabbing, use LightHeaded which is pretty much just user-added comments about the quest, and then use TomTom for the 'go here' arrow at the bottom of the screen and map markers. I also like how it lists if the quest is a chain, other quests in it - you can skip to the bottom quest to see if you'll even get an item that you can use / is worth it. Look at the screenshots.

You open your quests and a new window pops up on the side, you can arrow through comments, and someone inevitably has put location markers for the quest locations which you can click on and they just show up on your map. I like this, in particular for confusing locations - if it's tricky, the steps to do it are always in the comments.

Thanks for the tip, installing now.  I don't really do alts too often, but I'll give it a shot if I do.

[apocrypha]

NNnnnnecrotastic!

Can anyone recommend a good replacement for Squeenix? It still works fine but it's not being updated any more and I get all OCD when the Curse client flags it as unrecognised.

[Xeyi]

NNnnnnecrotastic!

Can anyone recommend a good replacement for Squeenix? It still works fine but it's not being updated any more and I get all OCD when the Curse client flags it as unrecognised.

Try Sexymap

Works great for me.

[Draegan]

I love Sexymap.

[apocrypha]

That looks good, thanks folks.

[chargerrich]

Must have mods for me:

X-Perl
Quest Helper
Dominoes
Mapster
Fubar
Recount
Deadly Boss Mods
Quickmark
Squeenix
Minimap Button Mod
Omen
Feed it (for hunter)
Necro (for lock)
Healbot (for healer)
Elkbuffs

Speaking of mods... does anyone else have issues in Dalaran? Things seem to go haywire in there, graphics and mods. Perhaps some code tightening is needed?

-1 for quoting myself? 

I have made some changes to my mod setup and have been very happy. Here is what I think is the ULTIMATE mod loadout:


XPERL Unit Frames - Pitbull is more customizable and probably more "pro" but Xperl is familiar now, does what I need it to do and I do not want to learn PB.

Dominos - Tried Bartender, it is certainly nice too, but dominos seems just as functional and is less of a memory hog.

Titan Bar - Switched from FuBar on a whim and actually like it better. They are both nice but I am partial to Titan.

Sexy Map - I love this map mod. It allows far more customization and given that I have been on a custom UI kick as of late, this really fits the bill. Best mini map available IMO.

SCT - Scrolling Combat Text. Once you use it you cannot go back to anything else.

Recount - Really a standard for raiding.

Gear Score - As a raid leader this is a god send. Not only does it score guildies, raiders, random people it has a command line search and will even ping others in your "database" to gather a score. For instance type /gs charactername and it will pull the score if you have it or from other guildie, party member that has it if you do not. Note that the scores are not the same "formula" as say wow-heroes. A 4000 gear score is IMO a minimum Ulduar ready score. Also while GS does account for enchants, it does not seem to score for gems. Finally there is even a plug in for recount too. Nice.

Chatter - Far and away the best chat mod for wow IMO. VERY VERY customizable and just solid.

Elkanos Buff Bars - Simple, customizable and just nice. Again with my desire to customize my UI its nice as it lets me get the look and feel I want.

Move Anything - Love this little mod. Lets me do just that... move anything, character windows, /lfg, spellbook, clock, minimap, etc.

SunnArt - Allows for a custom dashboard background (lower portion of screen). Kind of complicated at first, but allows for a seriously cool looking interface.

Deadly Boss Mod - The Standard. If you are raiding and do not have this, then you are at a SERIOUS disadvantage. I have to think that 95% of all serious raiders have this.

Omen - I use it but I seem to never really "use" it anymore. It is light weight so...



Class Specific

Healbot - Healing
Feedit - Hunter
Pallpower - duh
Necosis - Lock
ShamWoW - Shaman


Ditched:

Fubar - just like titan better. Fubar is good
Mapster - Back to bloated cartographer. If you have the memory Cart is better and i do so...
Mini Map Button Mod - Had issues with this always working right and the titan plug in does it better so its gone.
All fishing mods (fishermans friend and fishing buddy) - Just are not worth the time atm. I am only 315 so maybe once I max it I will load one up again.
Arc Inventory - This is a mod that makes something simple, more complicated. I do not doubt its power but I will take bagnon for simplicity.
Census Plus - As a guild leader I like a census program but this one is not re-sizable so it takes up most of 1900x1200 screen. Anyone got a better census mod?
Skinner - Having conflicts with it so turned it off ><
Quartz - love the look but really in the end, the standard dominos bar is perfect for my setup. Do I really need a pet casting bar?

I have other smaller mods running (about 81 in total with plugins) but thats the big ones (I am sure I am forgetting a few).

[SurfD]

I am beginning to think that i may need to find an alternative to Scrolling Combat text, since it has officially been dropped by the author who made it (he stopped playing and has no intention of updating it, so eventually something is going to break it for good)

[Ingmar]

I am beginning to think that i may need to find an alternative to Scrolling Combat text, since it has officially been dropped by the author who made it (he stopped playing and has no intention of updating it, so eventually something is going to break it for good)

Just use the built-in SCT?

[dd0029]

When the SCT guy moved over to Warhammer, I switched to Mik's Scrolling Battle Text.  Its not as nice, imo, as sct but it has some interesting features to recommend it over the built in scrolling.

[K9]

I'm using Parrot, it's a very good combat text addon imo.

[Merusk]

Tankspot offers up that one that Ciderhelm uses in all of their videos.  I'm thinking of adding that instead of the default UI SCT, because the SCT is always interfering with my ability to see if I'm standing in shit or on a rune.

[Draegan]

I use Mik's scrolling combat text as well.  It's much better than SCT.  It just takes longer to set up but you can do a lot more with it.

[Phred]

All fishing mods (fishermans friend and fishing buddy) - Just are not worth the time atm. I am only 315 so maybe once I max it I will load one up again.

Fishing Ace is what you want. Very lightwieght. Does everything useful from Fishing Buddy without all the annoying crap you end up turning off. Basically it lets you right button cast, will auto-lure and "enhance" sounds and that's about it.

I'd suggest losing the pet feeding mod and either giving your pet the talent that lets him gain happiness when he attacks or use the glyph that gives him happiness when you heal him. Either way, I don't remember the last time I fed my pets. The glyph is probably the better choice, though if you raid with your hunter Bloodthirsty is a prereq for the pet self rez which can be invaluable. . It's really hard to find 3 useful minor hunter glyphs.

Since the recent patch changes to the screen panel that show's quest info I've been looking for an improvement over Blizz's usual half assed revamp. Maybe someone can help me. What I'd like would be something like the quest display that Qhelper gives you, without all the back end crap choking up my system. I like it compact but still readable, (tried FU_Quests but that was too tiny a font with no way to adjust it. Being able to pop up the spell book by clicking the quest names would be a nice b onus too. Anyone found anything like this? The blizzard one would be a lot more tolerable if it actually disabled it's own taking actions when disable mouseover was checked but I"m getting really tired of the drop down menu showing up whenover I right button click over that area of my screen

[Malakili]

I've gone a bit lighter on the mods recently than I used to, but I am currently using the following:

Bartender
X-Perl
Quartz
Titan Panel
SCT
Druid Bar (obviously class specific)
Auctioneer
Deadly Boss Mods
Recount

I think that about covers it.  Xperl, Quart and Bartender and the main UI mods that affect the way important things like action bars and unit frames appear on my screen, and I am quite happy with them, though X-perl can be a bit of a resource hog, if you have an older system.