Countdown To Classic - A World Of Warcraft Classic Podcast

I'm on vacation but there is no rest for the wicked, so sit back and enjoy the end of summer with some poolside WoW Classic chatter. The show sneaks in a topical fiscal discussion regarding fresh economies and what's happening across many servers worldwide right now, while also briefly touching on the recent blue post regarding layering abuse and the gathering of mats. After that, we hear all about the evolution of raids through WoW's life cycle (and what vanilla had to offer), and balancing WoW with a minor league baseball career. Finally, the show brings it on home with a fascinating chat with former Star Wars: The Old Republic lead designer, Damion Schubert, about the making of what was another huge MMORPG, and the design philosophies that went into that game while competing with WoW, as Countdown to continues to highlight the design process of the games that have helped forge the genre over the years. Highlights Below: Calling Countdown #1 - Fresh WoW Economics w/ Sayya - 3:10 Calling Countdown #2 - Rai

The early impressions of WoW Classic are slowly starting to form and we've already seen a shifting of the meta, as the show touches on the news of Week 1 of World of Warcraft Classic. Dungeon cleaving, world firsts, layering issues and much, much more, tune in as the community sounds off on some early observations of how we'll be playing the game moving forward. Plus we get some celebs drop by as we hear from the world #2 to 60, Leshraque, as well as Luke Lafreniere stopping by again with the family in tow! Highlights Below: Calling Countdown #1 - Dungeon Cleaving & World Firsts w/ Ayle & JackTBlade - 4:05 Calling Countdown #2 - Dinging 60 w/ Alenya & Leshraque - 31:35 Calling Countdown #3 - Early Layering Issues w/ Alenya & Leshraque - 55:35 Calling Countdown #4 - Retail WoW Impressions of Classic w/ Axtel & Drednort - 1:11:30 Calling Countdown #5 - Hunter PvP w/ Raziya - 1:29:00 Calling Countdown #6 - WoW In The Family w/ Luke, Richard, Rob, & Stephanie Lafreniere - 1:43:15     Al

World of Warcraft Classic has launched!! And with all of us diving into Azeroth at the same time, the launch experience has been one that won't be forgotten anytime soon, as the servers have been smashed by a tidal wave of players wanting to get started with Classic. This week's episode of the show touches on what players went through from a variety of perspectives, and touches on a variety of in game and out of game issues.  Find out more below and listen along while you level! Highlights Below: Calling Countdown #1 - The Classic Launch Experience w/ Caboose42, Jamie, & Taladril - 3:25 Calling Countdown #2 - Classic Grind Hazards w/ Seraphina - 33:10 Calling Countdown #3 - Shadow Priest PvE w/ Ooze - 39:15 Calling Countdown #4 - The Case For & Against Protection & Retribution Paladins w/ Lestorr & Sonosuke - 1:11:45 Calling Countdown #5 - Blizzard Memories w/ Kevin Jordan & John Staats - 1:46:05 Calling Countdown #6 - Classic Respawns Explained w/ Sera - 2:26:25 Calling Countdown #7 - A

It's the final countdown..... But not the last episode of the show! It's a tour de force today as the show goes nuts for the moment we've all been waiting so long for - launch! The news doesn't stop as we cover the AMA, preparing for the madness that will be launch, the race to kill Ragnaros, and finish off our 'why your class rocks...and sucks' series with Shaman, Paladins, and Priests. Finally, the episode ends with an important update and set of thank yous, as well a thank you from the fans, and an absolute must hear special audio rip from a video that I released last week.  WARNING: THE FINAL MINUTES MAY SET HYPE LEVELS TO 11. Calling Countdown #1 - WoW Dev AMA Breakdown w/ Lokth & Rhivix - 4:45 Calling Countdown #2 - Preparing For Launch w/ Ante, Ayle, Bawlsosteel, Lokth, & Partypooper- 40:35 Calling Countdown #3 - The Race To Rag w/ Rhivix - 1:15:40 Calling Countdown #4 - Shaman w/ Ayle, Melderon & Orcbit - 1:32:00 Calling Countdown #5 - Paladins w/ Theloras & Sonosuke - 2:00:10 Callin

Less than two weeks to go. So much to talk about.  So little time. Countdown is back with even more classy talk this week, as we cover the pros and cons of Warlocks & Rogues.  We also break down the server list, whether or not #nochanges can go too far, Kevin Jordan stops by again to give his take on some of the latest news, and speed levelling legend Joana returns to discuss the Race To 60 along with fellow speed leveller Alenya. And finally, the show gets about as classy as it will ever get in discussing the practicality of using adult diapers during speed runs.  And it's about damn time. Highlights Below: Calling Countdown #1 - Breaking Down The Servers (Pre-Name Day) w/ Nemesis, Riggz, Saturnalia, Soniti, & TianSG - 3:40 Calling Countdown #2 - Warlocks w/ Darealmarkymark & TianSG - 34:30 Calling Countdown #3 - Rogues w/ Bawlsosteel & Sonosuke - 1:08:50 Calling Countdown #4 - Can #NoChanges Go Too Far? w/ OhGee & North - 1:42:10 Calling Countdown #5 - Kevin Jordan On The Issues - 2:15

It's August, 2019. Classic is close. Are you still struggling with the huge decision of what class to play in Classic? Flipping coins around the house deciding between options?? Well, Countdown To Classic is here for you, as the show enlists some of its favourite guests from the previous 115 episodes to enlighten you on why the class you may be leaning towards rocks.....and sucks.  We cover the good and the bad behind Druids, Warriors, Mages, and Hunters, with the other classes to come next week. Along with those great chats, the show opens up by covering the upcoming stress test, the choices that go into picking your server, and how many servers Blizzard might be rolling out. The show is also blessed to have the person who is the subject of the first WoW Classic meme along for a chat, as the one, the only, Thex drops by to talk about what's in a name for name reservation day. Highlights Below: Calling Countdown #1 - The Final Stress Test w/ Galgamere & Taladril - 3:50 Calling Countdown #2 - Reserving N

It's the last episode of Countdown To Classic before release month dawns on us, and so the show is taking one last chance to enjoy the calm before the storm of content coming in August and onwards. Today, we kick off with some awesome in game advice, but then bring it down a notch as we get zen with a bunch of 'external' topics about World of Warcraft Classic. So sit back, relax, and let Countdown soothe you.....just before we turn it up to 11. Calling Countdown #1 - The Art Of Ranking In Phase 2 w/ Sowleye - 3:00 Calling Countdown #2 - Guild Reunions w/ Bissy87, Blez, Jormundir & Sonosuke - 48:10 Calling Countdown #3 - Asking Your Partner To Play w/ Rhian & Roo - 1:20:20 Calling Countdown #4 - The Psychology Behind The Classes - w/ Soap - 1:43:35 Calling Countdown #5 - MMO Gamer Personality Test - w/ Taladril - 2:07:30 Calling Countdown #6 - Chatting w/ PlatinumWoW - 2:25:45 Calling Countdown #7 - Supplementing With Forums w/ Sawyer - 2:39:30     Also listen @ Spotify here (Spotify takes a couple

It's raining notable names over at Countdown To Classic as Josh sits down for a bunch of epic one on one chats. First, we hear from Madseason, of the immensely popular Madseasonshow YouTube channel, as he sits down for a tavern chat covering a variety of WoW Classic topics as we get a bit of a deeper insight into his thoughts on Classic and what makes him and his character tick. Next, MMORPG icon, Brad McQuaid, stops by for a lengthy chat covering his thoughts on the state of MMORPG's, game design philosophies, and some meaty chat another highly anticipated MMORPG that he's currently working on in Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen. After that, Athalus, the founder of WoW Radio, checks in to talk about the wild ride of setting up the first ever World of Warcraft talk show, discovering & working with TotalBiscuit, and leaves with a fun announcement about his plans for Classic. And finally, we talk with SneakyB4rd, who's not a celebrity outside of the show, but it's his second time on the podcast so he's a celebr

Beta is done and so it's time to give some final thoughts on what was a critical window of time for WoW Classic's development process. The show extensively covers the winners and losers of the beta, which includes a twist that would make M. Night Shymalan cringe! After that the show goes on to break down the sneakily huge blue post regarding crit suppression with the theorycrafters, vanilla dungeon designer John Staat's is back for part two of his epic recap of the making of Karazhan, and then we hear all about what's happening with Countdown To Classic guild options. Highlights Below: Calling Countdown #1 - Winners & Losers of Beta w/ Ayle & Nano - 3:50 Calling Countdown #2 - Crit Suppression News w/ Melderon, Steppenwolf, & Vilius - 1:11:55 Calling Countdown #3 - The Making of Karazhan (Part Two) w/ John Staats, Norfair, NostalgiaDad, & OkieSooner - 1:56:50 Calling Countdown #4 - Countdown Guilds w/ Jamie & Saturnalia - 2:42:50   Buy ‘The WoW Diary’ by John Staats on Amazon @ https://w

Less than seven weeks to launch and there's more to talk about on the show than ever! Listen to Josh discuss a wide range of topics with the listeners, who continue to call in for a fun chat. Today, Hunter extraordinaire Zeroed stops by to chat about all of the Hunter issues that have reared their ugly head in the beta, causing concern for everyone wanting to roll their beloved ranged class in Classic.  Vanilla dungeon designer John Staats stops by again for part one of an epic two part conversation about the making of Karazhan, which while not being playable in vanilla, was very much a part of the vanilla design process. Next, we unite former nemeses in a call about vanilla raid history, as members of famed guilds Nihilum and Death & Taxes stop by to bury the hatchet and fondly reminisce about their feats back in the day.  After that, we go over some detailed theorycrafting about warriors, warlocks and priests amongst others, and then finish up speaking with the host of the fantastic podcast 'Convert To

Did somebody call in about Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker?!? Countdown To Classic is back again as we inch another week closer to launch day, and we've got more topical issues and game related chatter for you. Callers from far and wide hit the show up to discuss the minutiae behind using Thunderfury, a pro-world buffs reply, and Twitch sensation Dr. Lupo stops by to talk about his history with WoW and give his thoughts on how well WoW Classic and streaming will mix. Then we hear from a couple of European players who have concerns over the recent news from Blizzard about EU servers, and finally, vanilla dungeon designer John Staats is back again to discuss the making of Wailing Caverns. Highlights Below: Calling Countdown #1 - The Ins & Outs of Swinging Thunderfury w/ Zorn - 3:00 Calling Countdown #2 - Leave World Buffs Alone w/ Fahq - 25:15 Calling Countdown #3 - Vanilla Memories & Streaming Classic w/ Dr. Lupo - 51:00 Calling Countdown #4 - EU Server Mayhem w/ Arun & Ghob - 1:31:0

With the beta now being 6 weeks old, those who have been fortunate enough to spend time with it have begun to notice a few things which warrant a conversation about their implementation in WoW Classic.  Today, the listeners touch on some of those points. We first hear all about melee leeway and get some further commentary on the layering examples that we've seen pop up thus far.  This is followed by a correction from an IT expert on the technical side of layering as touched on in earlier episodes. From there, we hear all about how the AV weekend went, and then about a couple of server firsts in the third stress test from a pair of speed runners. And, finally, we hear once again from vanilla WoW dungeon designer John Staats, all about the making of Scholomance. Highlights Below: Calling Countdown #1 - Melee Leeway Commentary w/ Ayle & North (Feat. Lokth) - 2:50 Calling Countdown #2 - AoE Leeway Update + Layering Commentary w/ Ayle & North - 33:10 (layering chat starts at 38:10) Calling Countdown #3 -

The beta rolls on and brings with it a couple of fresh talking points for the show and its listeners to tackle this week with Josh. Warsong Gulch has been open for a couple of weeks now in the beta and Arathi Basin just opened days ago, and with those come the bloodthirsty PvP testers looking to see how things perform on the battlegrounds. After that we break down stream sniping, after some comments made by streamer Sodapoppin ignited the forums this past week on the issue. Then, we welcome back vanilla WoW level designer John Staats, for the first of a lengthy ongoing segment all about the design of vanilla WoW's instances.  Listen in to part one of this series, as John tells us all about how he built one of the most beloved dungeons in MMORPG history, Blackrock Depths. The show then rounds out with a great call with a sitting member of the state of Maine's House of Representatives, about that one time that WoW got caught up in politics, and also a follow up call from last week, for a slightly different angl

Countdown To Classic has a bit of everything for you today as we touch on beta news and talking points as well as a couple of class conversations. Josh talks with the listeners on whether or not Blizzard should invoke the ban hammer for trolling streamed events, and covers off on more beta impressions as we dive deeper into what Classic has to offer. Next, Josh talks to a number of hardcore Warrior theorycrafters in relation to the latest blue post from Blizzard about hit caps and the solved and unsolved mysteries behind the numbers for melee classes in Classic. Finally, a pair of experienced Priests join the show to convince Josh that his choice of rolling with the light (or shadow) is the right way to go for his main on release day, as they discuss Priest PvE gameplay at length. Highlights Below: Calling Countdown #1 - Trolling, ToS, and Streamer Content - Should Blizzard Get Involved? w/ Ayle, Corazu, Roo, & Shlapshtick - 2:45 Calling Countdown #2 - More Beta Impressions, 3 Weeks In w/ Lokth & Sa

Stress test #1 of World of Warcraft Classic is in the books and the Countdown To Classic listeners are here to regale you with their tales of the experience. After hearing all about C'Thun & Hogger messing with people (that is if they even got in at all!), the show then  brings you a one on one chat between Josh and a beloved Classic content creator, Frostadamus.  Frost chats all about himself, grinding/farming, the economy, and the AH in a great intimate chat. Following that, the show goes off piste slightly, as a bunch of listeners call in to discuss a topic that has everyone talking lately, Game of Thrones! Why the hell is GoT being discussed on a WoW Classic podcast?!? Well, the crew highlights the parallels between GoT and WoW, the references in game, and also can't help but touch on some thoughts regarding Season 8 and the finale (FULL SPOILER WARNING!). Finally, we touch on a quick call regarding a caution to those Classic fans who are going through school when the game launches (given that release

It's time to break down the first playable version of World of Warcraft Classic that we've been given as the closed beta dropped this past week. Josh speaks with Defcamp & Polydox in a call recorded after two days spent with the beta, and then takes another call from Ayle after six days with the game, as the callers cover off on bugs, PvP and whether or not the game is fun and running well. After that, Josh hears from IT professional Linkson, who stops by to give further clarification on exactly what Blizzard's proposed 'layering' system entails, explaining it further to the listeners. And, finally, in saving the best for last, vanilla WoW class designer Kevin Jordan stops by for the last instalment in his fantastic 'Ask Kevin' series, as he sits down with the Countdown community to discuss WoW, MMORPG's, the gaming industry and Blizzard in a candid, final interview. Highlights Below: Calling Countdown #1 - Beta Impressions Day #2 w/ Defcamp and Polydox - 3:05 Calling Countdown #2 - Beta Impressions Day

CAN YOU SAY RELEASE DATE BABY??!!?  Blizzard finally delivers the news that everyone had been eager to hear with a release date for World of Warcraft Classic, and brings a number of other huge news items along with it. Josh gets a handful of dedicated listeners on the line to breakdown the news while it was piping hot and fresh, and the group discusses sharding's lesser known cousin 'layering', closed beta, and cross-realm battlegrounds amongst other topics that came to light. After that, former vanilla WoW class/talents/abilities designer Kevin Jordan is back for his final class breakdown as we rip through the design history of Rogues in vanilla WoW. Finally, we hear from a few listeners all about what the predicted reception of Classic will be from the retail crowd who haven't already made the commitment to try the game out. Highlights Below: Calling Countdown #1 - Release Date, Closed Beta, Layering, Cross-Realm Battlegrounds w/ Ayle, Jamie, Jhakobi, Jigantor & Viv- 5:30 Calling Countdown #2 - Kevin

It's a Triple P kind of day over at Countdown To Classic as we discuss Paladins, Podcasting, and Playing Roles (that's kind of cheating, I know). Listen as as three very experienced and knowledgeable players, Theloras, Smiter, and Sonosuke, talk listeners through the minutiae of Paladin PvE across all three specs, in what was a very extensive and enjoyable chat. After that we hear from a group of passionate RP-PvP'ers who want their voices heard all the way in Irvine, CA about why Blizzard should reconsider their position on not having RP-PVP servers at launch. And, finally, the show is lucky enough to welcome some WoW Podcasting royalty in Star Mike (World of Warcast) & Rho (Realm Maintenance), along with two newcomers to the podcasting game in Allen & Anthony (The Classic Casual), to discuss the history and fun of podcasting about World of Warcraft. Highlights Below: Calling Countdown #1 - Paladin PvE with Theloras, Smiter & Sonosuke - 3:35 Calling Countdown #2 - RP-PvP Players Call For Change

Countdown To Classic calls in the big guns as the show welcomes a very special guest, and an MMORPG heavy hitter in Scott Hartsman. Scott shares stories about competing against WoW as the technical director for Everquest and Everquest 2, as well as trying to trying to break away from the pack during his time as CEO of Trion Worlds with Rift.  He also gives some great thoughts on WoW Classic and the potential future of the MMORPG genre as a whole. The great chat keeps coming as the episode also hits on the big news we got recently about Blizzard's stance on progressive itemization in Classic with Nano (Nostalrius Core) & the listeners, as well as going through the design history and thought process behind making Priests in vanilla WoW with former class designer, Kevin Jordan. Highlights Below: Calling Countdown #1 - Progressive itemization news with Nano, Fredmunroe & Ante - 5:10 Calling Countdown #2 - A History of Everquest vs. WoW & the future of MMORPG's with Scott Hartsman (EQ/EQ2/Rift) - 35: