BSA Supply Group has available this new 2010 Blue & Gold Banquet participation patch ($1.19). This emblem could be a fun way to encourage attendance at your pack’s 2010 Banquet.

Link

Yet another update is coming to Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood. The game servers will be down on December 10th, 2009 from 7AM to 11AM Eastern Time (Note: Times provided are for reference purposes only and may change without notice.) to apply the latest game updates.

Lots of stuff getting fixed, not everything people want – but its just another sign of Turbine’s Greatness. Patch notes further in the post.

Heres a list of upcoming fixes:

• Gameplay
• Dying in Gath Ulunn will now properly teleport you to a Defeat Circle in Gathburz instead of Durin’s Threshold.
• When trying to reform a fellowship within the Mirkwood Landing instance players would occasionally receive the error message, “You cannot invite another player inside a different public instance.” This should no longer happen.
• Skirmishes
• Skirmish: Trouble in Tuckborough is now available!
• Players who have not upgraded their accounts to Siege of Mirkwood may now enjoy 3 skirmishes per day instead of per week.
• Skirmish Soldier Cosmetic traits should now display as intended.
• The default appearances of Soldiers without cosmetic traits have been tweaked slightly. They will now be envious of their finely attired, cosmetically enhanced peers.
• Items
• The following cloaks were incorrectly assigned Radiance values. They have been corrected and the Radiance removed.
• Cloak of the Stronghold
• Sûl-Linnod
• Many Lore-masters were surprised to see their Dúnedain Staff had been changed into a Rune-stone. It has been changed back into a staff item and will no longer be called a “Dúnedain Rune-stone.”
• Loot
• Removed the Sprig of Woolly Mint from the Dol Guldur 6-man & 12-man hard-mode chests.
• Reduced the number of medallions when beating Challenge Mode Sword-hall from 5 to 4
• Increased the number of medallions when beating Medium Mode Dungeons of Dol Guldur from 3 to 6.
• Increased the number of medallions when beating Challenge Mode Dungeons of Dol Guldur from 4 to 8.
• Raids & Instances
• The Sword Halls of Dol Guldur
• It is no longer possible for players to revive and re-enter the fight once players have triggered the encounter. The gates preventing this behavior will lower in between each boss death and the beginning of successive waves of “trash mobs.” Getting caught between these gates while they are up will cause the instance to reset.
• Chests for “normal” mode boss deaths will now only spawn the first time a boss dies on “normal” mode. Any other kills of the boss in question will no longer spawn a reward chest.
• Barad Guldur
• The camera angles for the Lieutenant of Dol Guldur encounter have been adjusted to allow players a better view of the “playing field.” Viewing at greater camera distances without abrupt camera cuts to closer views should now be more possible.
• Quests
• Some quests bestowed at the Lone-lands hub at Agamaur would not appear for players who partook in the solo version of the Passage to Agamaur quest. This has been rectified and all 9 quests can be obtained once again.

Source: Lorebook Patch Notes – Volume 2 Update for December 10

~Branadoc

=================================

New Security Bulletins

=================================

Microsoft is releasing the following six new security bulletins for newly discovered vulnerabilities:

Bulletin ID: MS09-069

Bulletin Title: Vulnerability in Local Security Authority Subsystem Service Could Allow Denial of Service (974392)

Max Severity Rating: Important

Vulnerability Impact: Denial of Service

Restart Requirement: Requires restart

Affected Software: Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003

——————————–

Bulletin ID: MS09-070

Bulletin Title: Vulnerabilities in Active Directory Federation Services Could Allow Remote Code Execution (971726)

Max Severity Rating: Important

Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution

Restart Requirement: Requires restart

Affected Software: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008

——————————–

Bulletin ID: MS09-071

Bulletin Title: Vulnerabilities in Internet Authentication Service Could Allow Remote Code Execution (974318)

Max Severity Rating: Critical

Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution

Restart Requirement: Requires restart

Affected Software: Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008

——————————–

Bulletin ID: MS09-072

Bulletin Title: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (976325)

Max Severity Rating: Critical

Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution

Restart Requirement: Requires restart

Affected Software: Internet Explorer on Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2

——————————–

Bulletin ID: MS09-073

Bulletin Title: Vulnerability in WordPad and Office Text Converters Could Allow Remote Code Execution (975539)

Max Severity Rating: Important

Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution

Restart Requirement: Requires restart

Affected Software: Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Office XP, Office 2003, Works 8.5, and Office Converter Pack

——————————–

Bulletin ID: MS09-074

Bulletin Title: Vulnerability in Microsoft Office Project Could Allow Remote Code Execution (967183)

Max Severity Rating: Critical

Vulnerability Impact: Remote Code Execution

Restart Requirement: May require restart

Affected Software: Microsoft Project 2000, Project 2002, and Project 2003

——————————–

Note: The list of affected software in the summary table above is an abstract. To see the full list of affected components please click on the “Advance Notification Web Page” link below and review the “Affected Software” section.

Summaries for new bulletin(s) may be found at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-dec.mspx.

=================================

Malicious Software Removal Tool

=================================

Microsoft is releasing an updated version of the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool on Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Windows Update (WU), and the Download Center. NOTE: this tool will NOT be distributed using Software Update Services (SUS). Information on the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool is available at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=890830.

=================================

High Priority Non-Security Updates

=================================

High priority non-security updates Microsoft releases to be available on Microsoft Update (MU), Windows Update (WU), or Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) will be detailed in the KB article found at http://support.microsoft.com/?id=894199.

=================================

New Security Advisories (2)

=================================

In addition to new security bulletins, Microsoft is also releasing two new security advisories on December 08, 2009. Here is an overview:

Identifier: Security Advisory 954157 – Security Enhancements for the Indeo Codec

———————————

Summary: Microsoft is announcing the availability of an update that provides security mitigations to the Indeo codec on supported editions of Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. The Indeo codec on systems running Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 could allow code remote code execution when opening specially crafted media content. The update blocks the Indeo codec from being launched in Internet Explorer or Windows Media player. The update also removes the ability for this codec to be loaded when browsing the Internet with any other applications. By only allowing applications to use the Indeo codec when the media content is from the local system or from the intranet zone, and by preventing Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player from launching the codec at all, this update removes the most common remote attack vectors but still allows games or other applications that leverage the codec locally to continue to function.

———————————

Affected Software:

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

• Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows XP Service Pack 3

• Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2

• Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2

• Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2

• Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems

———————————

Recommendations: Review Microsoft Security Advisory 954157 for an overview of the issue, details on affected components, workarounds, suggested actions, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and links to additional resources.

———————————

Workarounds: It is possible to disable this codec by deregistering the codec. For directions on how to deregister the codec, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 954157.

———————————

Additional Resources:

• Microsoft Security Advisory 954157 – Security Enhancements for the Indeo Codec- http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/954157.mspx

• Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/

• Microsoft Malware Protection Center (MMPC) Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/

• Security Research & Defense (SRD) Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/srd/

________________________________________

Identifier: Security Advisory 974926 – Credential Relaying Attacks on Integrated Windows Authentication

———————————

Summary: This advisory addresses the potential for attacks that affect the handling of credentials using Integrated Windows Authentication (IWA), and the mechanisms Microsoft has made available for customers to help protect against these attacks. In these attacks, an attacker who is able to obtain the user’s authentication credentials while being transferred between a client and a server would be able to reflect these credentials back to a service running on the client, or forward them to another server on which the client has a valid account. This would allow the attacker to gain access to these resources, impersonating the client. Since IWA credentials are hashed, an attacker cannot use this to ascertain the actual username and password. Depending on the scenario and the use of additional attack vectors, an attacker may be able to obtain authentication credentials both inside and outside of the organization’s security perimeter and utilize them to gain inappropriate access to resources. Microsoft is addressing the potential impact of these issues at different levels and wants to make customers aware of the tools that have been made available to address these issues, and the impact of using these tools. This advisory contains information on the different actions Microsoft has taken to improve protection of IWA authentication credentials, and how customers can deploy these safeguards.

———————————

Mitigating Factors:

• In order to relay credentials, an attacker would need to successfully leverage another vulnerability to execute a man-in-the-middle attack, or to convince the victim, using social engineering, to connect to a server under the attacker’s control, for instance by sending a link in a malicious e-mail message.

• Internet Explorer does not automatically send credentials using HTTP to servers hosted in the Internet zone. This reduces the risk that credentials can be forwarded or reflected by an attacker within this zone.

• Inbound traffic must be allowed to the client system for a reflection attack to succeed. The most common attack vector is SMB, as it allows IWA authentication. Hosts behind a firewall that blocks SMB traffic, or hosts that block SMB traffic on a host firewall are not vulnerable to the most common NTLM reflection attacks, which target SMB.

———————————

Recommendations: Review Microsoft Security Advisory 974926 for an overview of the issue, details on affected components, mitigating factors, suggested actions, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and links to additional resources.

———————————

Additional Information:

Q: What versions of Windows are associated with this advisory?

A: Credential forwarding and reflection affects all platforms that have the ability to perform Integrated Windows Authentication. The Extended Protection for Authentication feature is included in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, and was made available for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008 in a non-security update released as Microsoft Security Advisory 973811. In order to fully protect authentication credentials, specific applications on these operating systems still need to opt in to the mechanism. The Extended Protection feature is not available for the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system.

———————————

Additional Resources:

• Microsoft Security Advisory 974926 – Credential Relaying Attacks on Integrated Windows Authentication – http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/974926.mspx

• Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/msrc/

• Microsoft Malware Protection Center (MMPC) Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/

• Security Research & Defense (SRD) Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/srd/

=================================

Revised Security Advisory

=================================

Microsoft has updated Security Advisory 973881 – Extended Protection for Authentication – on December 08, 2009.

———————————

Overview of Changes: Security Advisory 973881 was revised to include information about three non-security updates released on December 08, 2009, relating to the Extended Protection for Authentication feature. The three related non-security updates released by Microsoft on December 08, 2009 are:

• Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 971737 contains a non-security update that enables the Windows HTTP Services (WinHTTP) API to opt in to Extended Protection for Authentication.

• Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 970430 contains a non-security update that enables the HTTP Protocol Stack (http.sys) to opt in to Extended Protection for Authentication.

• Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 973917 contains a non-security update that enables Internet Information Services (IIS) to opt in to Extended Protection for Authentication.

———————————

Full Details: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/973881.mspx

=================================

Revised Security Bulletin

=================================

Microsoft has revised Security Bulletin MS08-037 – Vulnerabilities in DNS Could Allow Spoofing (953230) – on December 08, 2009.

———————————

Overview of changes:  Microsoft rereleased this security bulletin to reoffer the update for the DNS client on Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (KB951748) to provide strongly random DNS transaction IDs to an additional code path. Unlike the other Windows platforms, on Microsoft Windows 2000, there are two code paths for DNS transactions. The previous update only provided the transaction ID randomization on one of the code paths. The rerelease of this update provides the same transaction ID randomization to the other code path on Microsoft Windows 2000. Customers who have previously installed the update for the DNS Client on Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (951748) need to install the automatically reoffered update. No other updates are affected by this rerelease.

———————————

Full Details: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS08-037.mspx

=================================

Public Security Bulletin Webcast

=================================

Microsoft will host a webcast to address customer questions on these bulletins:

Title: Information about Microsoft December Security Bulletins (Level 200)

Date: Wednesday, December 08, 2009, 11:00 A.M. Pacific Time (U.S. and Canada)

URL: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032407802

=================================

New Bulletin Technical Details

=================================

In the following tables of affected and non-affected software, software editions that are not listed are past their support lifecycle. To determine the support lifecycle for your product and edition, visit the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Web site at http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/.

==================================

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-069

==================================

Bulletin Title: Vulnerability in Local Security Authority Subsystem Service Could Allow Denial of Service (974392)

Executive Summary: This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow a denial of service if a remote, authenticated attacker, while communicating through Internet Protocol security (IPsec), sends a specially crafted ISAKMP message to the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) on an affected system. The security update addresses the vulnerability by changing the way that LSASS handles specially crafted requests.

Severity Ratings and Affected Software

This security update is rated Important for all supported editions of Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003.

———————————

Vulnerability Identifiers: CVE-2009-3675: Local Security Authority Subsystem Service Resource Exhaustion Vulnerability. Exploitability Rating = 3, Functioning exploit code unlikely. Notes: The vulnerability does not allow remote code execution, only denial of service that a remote, authenticated attacker could attempt to exploit.

———————————

Attack Vectors: A maliciously crafted ISAKMP message while connected and authenticated to an LSASS server over IPSEC.

———————————

Mitigating Factors: Microsoft has not identified any mitigations for this vulnerability.

———————————

Workarounds: Disable the IPSec service.

———————————

Restart Requirement: This update requires a restart.

———————————

Bulletins Replaced by This Update: For Windows 2000: MS06-025

———————————

Full Details: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-069.mspx

==================================

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-070

==================================

Bulletin Title: Vulnerabilities in Active Directory Federation Services Could Allow Remote Code Execution (971726)

———————————

Executive Summary: This security update resolves two privately reported vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows. The more severe of these vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if an attacker sent a specially crafted HTTP request to an ADFS-enabled Web server. An attacker would need to be an authenticated user in order to exploit either of these vulnerabilities.

The security update addresses the vulnerabilities by correcting the validation that ADFS-enabled Web servers apply to request headers submitted by a Web client.

———————————

Severity Ratings and Affected Software: This security update is rated Important for affected releases of Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition.

———————————

Vulnerability Identifiers:

• CVE-2009-2508: Single Sign On Spoofing in ADFS Vulnerability. Exploitability Rating = 3, Functioning exploit code unlikely. Notes: The vulnerability does not allow remote code execution, only spoofing.

• CVE-2009-2509. Remote Code Execution in ADFS Vulnerability. Exploitability Rating = 1, Consistent exploit code likely. Notes: The vulnerability is only exploitable by an authenticated attacker.

———————————

Attack Vectors:

• A maliciously crafted HTTP request to an ADFS-enabled Web server (CVE-2009-2509).

• The re-use of specific data from the browser’s cache to authenticate against the Web application implementing ADFS single sign-on (CVE-2009-2508).

———————————

Mitigating Factors:

• The attacker must have valid logon credentials to the vulnerable server (CVE-2009-2509).

• An attacker can only impersonate someone whose authentication token they have been able to obtain (CVE-2009-2508).

• An attack is only possible before the session times out on the server (CVE-2009-2508).

• If the Web application uses SSL, the attacker must have access to the victim’s computer to exploit the vulnerability (CVE-2009-2508).

———————————

Workarounds: Microsoft has not identified any workarounds for either of these vulnerabilities.

———————————

Restart Requirement: This update requires a restart.

———————————

Bulletins Replaced by This Update: None

———————————

Full Details: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-070.mspx

=================================

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-071

=================================

Bulletin Title: Vulnerabilities in Internet Authentication Service Could Allow Remote Code Execution (974318)

———————————

Executive Summary: This security update resolves two privately reported vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows. These vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if messages received by the Internet Authentication Service server are copied incorrectly into memory when handling PEAP authentication attempts. An attacker who successfully exploited either of these vulnerabilities could take complete control of an affected system. Servers using Internet Authentication Service are only affected when using PEAP with MS-CHAP v2 authentication.The security update addresses the vulnerabilities by correcting the way Internet Authentication Service validates authentication requests by PEAP clients.

———————————

Severity Ratings and Affected Software: This security update is rated Critical for Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2. For all other affected and supported releases of Windows, see the subsection, “Affected and Non-Affected Software”, in the bulletin.

———————————

Vulnerability Identifiers:

• CVE-2009-2505: Internet Authentication Service Memory Corruption Vulnerability. Exploitability Rating = 2, Inconsistent exploit code likely. Notes: Limited possibility for remote code execution. Most likely result is denial of service.

• CVE-2009-3677: MS-CHAP Authentication Bypass Vulnerability. Exploitability Rating = 3, Functioning exploit code unlikely. Notes: The vulnerability does not allow remote code execution, only elevation of privilege due to bypassing of network authentication.

———————————

Attack Vectors:

• An incorrectly formed PEAP authentication request (CVE-2009-2505).

• An incorrectly formed MS-CHAP v2 authentication request (CVE-2009-3677).

———————————

Mitigating Factors: Servers using IAS are only affected if they are configured to use PEAP with MS-CHAP v2 authentication.

———————————

Workarounds: Use an authentication protocol other than PEAP with MS-CHAP v2.

———————————

Restart Requirement: This update requires a restart.

———————————

Bulletins Replaced by This Update: None

———————————

Full Details: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-071.mspx

=================================

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-072

=================================

Bulletin Title: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (976325)

———————————

Executive Summary: This security update resolves four privately reported vulnerabilities and one publicly disclosed vulnerability in Internet Explorer. The vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted Web page using Internet Explorer. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. An ActiveX control built with Microsoft Active Template Library (ATL) headers could also allow remote code execution. The security update addresses these vulnerabilities by correcting the control and by modifying the way that Internet Explorer handles objects in memory. This security update also addresses the vulnerability first described in Microsoft Security Advisory 977981.

———————————

Severity Ratings and Affected Software: This security update is rated Critical for all supported releases of Internet Explorer: Internet Explorer 5.01, Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1, Internet Explorer 7 (except when running on supported editions of Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008), and Internet Explorer 8 (except when running on supported editions of Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2). For Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8 running on Windows servers as listed, this update is rated Moderate.

———————————

Vulnerability Identifiers:

• CVE-2009-2493: ATL COM Initialization Vulnerability. Exploitability Rating = 1, Consistent exploit code likely. Notes: This vulnerability was first addressed in MS09-035.

• CVE-2009-3671: Uninitialized Memory Corruption Vulnerability. Exploitability Rating = 1, Consistent exploit code likely. Notes: None.

• CVE-2009-3672: HTML Object Memory Corruption Vulnerability. Exploitability Rating = 1, Consistent exploit code likely. Notes: None.

• CVE-2009-3673: Uninitialized Memory Corruption Vulnerability. Exploitability Rating = 1, Consistent exploit code likely. Notes: None.

• CVE-2009-3674: Uninitialized Memory Corruption Vulnerability. Exploitability Rating = 1, Consistent exploit code likely. Notes: None.

———————————

Attack Vectors:

• A maliciously crafted Web page

• A maliciously crafted e-mail

———————————

Mitigating Factors:

• Users would have to be persuaded to visit a malicious Web site.

• Exploitation only gains the same user rights as the logged on account.

• By default, all supported versions of Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Outlook Express open HTML e-mail messages in the Restricted Sites zone.

• By default, IE on Windows 2003 and Windows Server 2008 runs in restricted mode.

———————————

Workarounds

• Set IE security to High for Internet and Intranet zones.

• Configure IE to prompt before running ActiveX and Active Scripting.

———————————

Restart Requirement: This update requires a restart.

———————————

Bulletins Replaced by This Update: MS09-054

———————————

Full Details: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-072.mspx

=================================

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-073

=================================

Bulletin Title: Vulnerability in WordPad and Office Text Converters Could Allow Remote Code Execution (975539)

———————————

Executive Summary: This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft WordPad and Microsoft Office text converters. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a specially crafted Word 97 file is opened in WordPad or Microsoft Office Word. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain the same privileges as the user. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer privileges on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative privileges. The security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting the way WordPad and the Office Text Converters parse Word 97 documents.

———————————

Severity Ratings and Affected Software: This security update is rated Important for WordPad on all supported editions of Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. This security update is also rated Important for all supported editions of Microsoft Office Word 2002 and Microsoft Office Word 2003, Microsoft Office Converter Pack, and Microsoft Works 8.5.

———————————

Vulnerability Identifiers: CVE-2009-2506: WordPad and Office Text converter Memory Corruption Vulnerability. Exploitability Rating = 2, Inconsistent exploit code likely. Notes: None

———————————

Attack Vectors: A maliciously crafted Word document

———————————

Mitigating Factors:

• Exploitation only gains the same user rights as the logged on account.

• Users would have to be persuaded to visit a malicious Web site.

• Cannot be exploited automatically through e-mail, because a user must open an attachment that is sent in an e-mail message.

• A Website will prompt to Open, Save, or Cancel before opening a document, unless the user had previously unchecked the option “Always ask before opening this type of file”.

———————————

Workarounds: Disable the WordPad Word 97 converter by restricting access to the converter file.

———————————

Restart Requirement: This update requires a restart.

———————————

Bulletins Replaced by This Update: For Office XP and the Office Converter Pack: MS09-010. For Works 8.5: MS09-024.

———————————

Full Details: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-073.mspx

=================================

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS09-074

=================================

Bulletin Title: Vulnerability in Microsoft Office Project Could Allow Remote Code Execution (967183)

———————————

Executive Summary: This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in Microsoft Office Project. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Project file. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights. The update removes the vulnerability by modifying the way that Microsoft Office Project validates memory allocations when opening Project files from disk to memory.

———————————

Severity Ratings and Affected Software: This security update is rated Critical for Microsoft Project 2000 Service Release 1 and rated Important for Microsoft Project 2002 Service Pack 1, and Microsoft Office Project 2003 Service Pack 3.

———————————

Vulnerability Identifiers: CVE-2009-0102: Project Memory Validation Vulnerability. Exploitability Rating = 2, Inconsistent exploit code likely. Notes: None

———————————

Attack Vectors:

• A maliciously crafted Project file

• A maliciously crafted Web page

• A maliciously crafted e-mail attachment

———————————

Mitigating Factors:

• Exploitation only gains the same user rights as the logged on account.

• Cannot be exploited automatically through e-mail, because a user must open an attachment that is sent in an e-mail message.

———————————

Workarounds: Do not open or save Project files that you receive from untrusted sources or that you receive unexpectedly from trusted sources.

———————————

Restart Requirement: This update may require a restart.

———————————

Bulletins Replaced by This Update: MS08-018

———————————

Full Details: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-074.mspx

=================================

Regarding Information Consistency

=================================

We strive to provide you with accurate information in static (this mail) and dynamic (Web-based) content. Microsoft’s security content posted to the Web is occasionally updated to reflect late-breaking information. If this results in an inconsistency between the information here and the information in Microsoft’s Web-based security content, the information in Microsoft’s Web-based security content is authoritative.

To celebrate the arrival of the Holiday Card Patches Pattern, now available on Etsy and Ravelry for just $2. I’m putting together a list of ways that people have already thought of to use these patterns.

Because knitters are often great inventors.

A Pin – one of the first people to give the pattern a heart on Ravelry put in their notes that this could be made as a “holiday pin” which it could. That’s actually what I was originally thinking of for these designs. Here’s a photo of my bag, which as you can see has a prototype heart patch pinned to it in a punk rock fashion:

Double Sided Tree Decorations – This idea came from the pattern tester SookiesOz on Ravelry, she used the double sided knitting technique to make a double sided heart for her tree, you can see some photos of how it turned out here (if you’re a ravelry user)

Gift Tags – When I first started talking about this idea on this blog, one of my regular readers suggested that the patches could be used as gift tags, they would look super cute on top of a parcel.

Flags/Bunting - This is my latest brainwave, to string some of them together in a horizontal line, like little festive flags. I don’t have many free patches that aren’t sewn to cards at the moment, but I’ll take a photo when I get the chance.

So how will you use yours?

Here is a link to the patch 3.3 Fall of the Lich King mini-site…COMPLETE WITH PATCH TRAILER!

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/underdev/implemented/3p3.xml

enjoy!

Nick

World of Warcraft Patch 3.3 is out today.  There is a big patch download waiting for you and a whole bunch of patch notes to read while that is going on.

In glancing through the notes, a few items jumped out.

Three separate 5-player dungeons — The Forge of Souls, Pit of Saron, and Halls of Reflection — containing all new challenges and missions of discovery, await players in normal and Heroic modes.

This could herald the return of the Saturday night instance group to their alliance characters if for no other reason than to continue to be able to say we’ve done all the 5 person instances in Northrend.  Plus it might be interesting to do content that hasn’t been completely analyzed and documented.  Not that it would change our lax pre-instance research, but it would feel a bit different to me.

And I’m not sure what “missions of discovery” are.  A euphemism for “some more quests” or are we talking about something new here?  That phrase only gets used once in the patch notes.

A new feature has been added to the D3D graphics engine to improve texture management (particularly for Windows XP users). If you are experiencing random crashes related to file read errors or out of memory, this new backend may help. To enable the new backend, add the following line to your Config.WTF file: SET gxApi “d3d9ex.”

While I don’t crash constantly in Dalaran any more, I still suffer from what I call the “Dalaran Disease” where I get a texture related crash if I hang out in the city for too long.  Maybe this will fix the issue and I can finally knock-off that fountain fishing achievement.

All level 71-80 Battleground daily quests will now award 25 Arena points in addition to their current rewards.

The welfare epic state continues to grow.  What Blizzard?  Aren’t you going to toss in some arena standing with that as well?  Gimme, gimme, gimme!

Battleground Experience: Battleground experience gained is now based on the level of the player gaining experience, rather than the highest possible player level in that Battleground.

I am truly bummed on this one, since my daughter only shared this information with me last weekend.  We were getting more than 25% of a level in experience per win as level 51 characters in Alterac Valley.  Back to earning experience the old fashioned way by… you know… earning it.  Still, my druid is level 54 now and her hunter is level 55.

Meeting Stones: To use any Meeting Stone, it is only required that the character’s minimum level be 15. There is no maximum character level requirement for any Meeting Stone.

Take that EQ2!  You nerf travel with your veteran rewards, WoW nerfs travel right back at you.  Or something.

Health and Mana Regeneration: These regeneration rates have been increased by up to 200% for low level characters. As a player’s level increases, the regeneration rates gradually reduce, returning to normal rates at level 15.

Spell Mana Costs: These costs have been reduced for almost all lower level spell ranks. In general, if a spell decreased in cost with a higher level rank in patch 3.2.0, that spell now has the decreased cost at all ranks. In addition, spells learned before level 20 with reduced cast times and/or durations have even further reduced mana costs, proportionate to their reduction in cast time or damage.

Okay, I know health and mana management are really painful at lower levels, but I hope we’re not teaching people bad habits.  Oh, and where was this when I actually had some characters under level 20 again?

Haris Pilton now sells a new 24-slot bag! She has stubbornly decided to remain in Shattrath City, so those interested should seek her out there.

If this new bag is still called a Portable Hole I am going to be very grumpy.

But I should have a Corehound puppy waiting for me.  Users of the Blizzard Authenticator got them it seems.

Now which of the items in the patch notes will they have to fix with next Tuesday’s post-patch update?

Welp.  This is it.  Today is the day that patch 3.3 drops…and after the obligatory extended expanded extended maintenance, we might even be able to actually play tonight.  (Currently, servers are one hour late coming up and the clock is ticking.)  Of course, after you factor in the hours of time it’ll take for some of us to make our heavily customized UIs workable again, the obligatory server wobblies, and the massive lag, we won’t be doing much more than chilling and RPing anyway.  Which, honestly, is just fine!  Tuesday is our informal Wildfire Riders roleplay night in Stormwind anyhow, and there’s Things to be discussed…so as Anna says, why not take patch night to roleplay instead of fighting the lag, instability, and addon hell of trying to instance or raid in Icecrown Citadel?

Anyhoo.  I guess I’m in a bit of a burnout period on WoW, either that or all the crazy stuff going on in Real Life at the moment–demanding job, house move, four-year-old daughter, etc.–is doing a pretty good job of making me feel like I’m in a WoW burnout.  While I’m looking forward to 3.3 and Icecrown, I’m not ZOMGHOLYCRAP enthused about it.  Yes, I want out of Trial of the Big Round Room, badly. I need 41 more badges to get Linedan his fourth piece of T9.25 (the helm) and after that, the place can basically burn down for all I care.  And the only reason I care about that is because the warrior T9 four-piece set bonus reduces the cooldown on Shield Block by 10 seconds.  Shield Block up for 10 out of 30 instead of 10 out of 40?  That’s just sexy right there.  I’m on that like Tiger Woods on a cocktail waitress.

Icecrown Citadel itself, honestly, I know little about except for what Blizzard posted about the “gating” setup for it.  I have not researched any of the fights in advance.  I’m one of these weirdos that can watch videos and read strategies all day, but until I actually get in there and experience the fight, it’s not going to stick.  (My raid officers are going to read this and /facepalm considering I’m a tank–sorry, guys, it’s the truth.)  We’re going to walk in there at some point this week, and I’m probably going to be coming in pretty cold.  And that’s OK.  I pick stuff up fast.

And then there’s this new cross-server PUG dungeon tool whatchamacallit thang.  I’m not so sure about that.  Yes, Blizzard is offering some pretty big carrots to randomly pitch yourself into a group with four people not only from your server, but your battlegroup. But do you remember the last time you went into Alterac Valley and found yourself listening to Istabbdurmom and Mastablasta having an all-caps textspeak argument about strategy (“ALL ON O RUSH DB!!1!”  “LOL STFU NOOB CAP SF FURST”) while Poosniffa sexually harassed your female toon and Neerdraaage kept whispering you “lolololol rp server nurd u sux”?  Imagine that set in the middle of Oculus.  You will have to decide if the title of “the Patient” and a Perky Pug pet is worth running the risk of that.

OK, maybe that’s a worst-case scenario.  The pool of PUG recruits should improve dramatically in quality because of the significant rewards Blizzard is offering to subject yourself to cross-server instancing.  But still, it’s a total crapshoot.  You might end up in a group with a solid bunch of people and have an easy run.  You might end up feeling like you landed in the middle of “Beavis and Butt-Head Play World of Warcraft” and realize all four of your groupmates are probably the result of inbreeding.  Such are the vagaries of random numbers, and such will be your life in cross-server PUGs.  I might not do them on Linedan, since I don’t like PUG tanking in general due to the stress level.  But my DPS alts?  Sure, why not?  I raid with Beltar rarely, and the others never, so this would be a good way to slowly build badges and money.

There are, of course, a ton of other things in the patch–class changes, profession changes, PvP changes, etc.  But really, just like patch 3.1 was about Ulduar and patch 3.2 was about the Trial of the Art Department Originality Fail, patch 3.3 is about Icecrown Citadel.  It’s about closing the storyline of Warcraft III–Arthas Menethil’s betrayal, the fall of the North to the Scourge, the destruction of Silvermoon, Arthas’ flight to Northrend and his becoming the Lich King.  It’s the third reel.  It’s Act V.  It’s time, after all the effort, to mount the final assault upon the stronghold of the Lich King and eradicate the leader of the Scourge from Azeroth once and for all…

…at least until the next raid reset.

Litl Web-Book is an innovative and intuitive device that has made surfing the internet easier and more joyous than ever. The simple and plain main navigation screen will immediately let the users know how to use it. Usual computer administrative debris like icons, menus and folders has been eliminated and a built-in browser has been integrated right into the user interface to ensure convenient browsing. No need to resized or juggling with overlapping windows with its constant full screen view and wherever you are right now just hitting the blue litl button will get you back to your homepage. Litl is designed to maintain itself by dealing with updates, plug-ins, patches, fixes and other stuff automatically. This Web-Book is ultra portable and lightweight. Moreover, it features a built-in handle for easy grabbing and carrying throughout the home. It features HDMI compatibility which will allow you to plug it into your TV to see everything bigger.

After a few experiments, I have come to realization that The Sims 3 works best without updates and patches. The game doesn’t crash; there are no stretchy Sims; the game runs smoothly. But the moment I add one update, the game crashes to desktop with no warning after 1 hour of game-play.

The latest update v1.7/2.2 is not recommended if you don’t have The Sims 3: World of Adventures Expansion Pack. The basement feature they added with this update leaves the map looking something like this both aerial and ground view:

This is highly frustrating because it doesn’t load the lots no matter how long you wait. You also have to reinstall the game entirely. Luckily, I found a site where you can download all the older updates [which are a hit and miss as well] separately so you can have the updates you want and the ones you don’t. Just click here.

Hopefully whenever they fix the latest patch which is needed due to a lot of people getting the “error 16″ message when trying to save. They’ll have the basement feature in order. I honestly don’t believe The Sims 2 had this many errors and in a way The Sims 2 is a lot better. Sims 2 had half walls, spiral stairs, better mods, etc.

So the other day I blogged about some of the things I’m looking forward to in patch 3.3 which will hopefully hit next week.  One of those was Quel’Delar, the Sister Blade. Lodur, over at World of Matticus, had a great post about the legendary items that Blizzard has introduced in WoW so far, going back to the pre-Burning Crusade days, and while Quel’Delar isn’t technically a legendary weapon, it still has some interesting lore and a somewhat lengthy questline. Below is a brief background on the blade found at WoWWiki.  You can find more detailed information here on WoW’s official site.

“Quel’Delar, the Sister Blade is a prismatic blade forged by the night elves and the five dragonflights along with its sibling, Quel’Serrar. Quel’Delar serves as an idol of opposition against the Scourge, and the elven factions of Dalaran would therefore like to see the blade play a pivotal role in the assault on Icecrown Citadel.”

“After its creation, the sword was given to the quel’dorei and passed down from father to son until it was wielded by Thalorien Dawnseeker against the trolls and the Scourge. Thalorien eventually fell at the hands of Arthas’ lieutenants and the blade was susequently brought to Icecrown by Lana’thel, one of the followers of Kael’thas. Lana’thel originally intended Quel’Delar to be an instrument of vengeance, but after her own demise began to harbor hatred for the sword.

Now that the Ashen Verdict, alongside the Horde and the Alliance, are ready to march upon Icecrown Citadel, interest in the sword has been renewed.”

Now to get this reforged sword, you actually need to progress through a 13 step questline, taking you from the frigid planes of Northrend all over Azeroth, including the Sunwell Plateau.

Your first step to start this quest chain may actually be the hardest, that being finding the sword’s battered hilt.  This item drops from trash and bosses in the heroic version of the three new 5-man instances collectively known as the Frozen Halls.  According to comments left by players on the item’s page on WoWHead’s PTR site, the drop rate is fairly low, but it seems that it’s not bind-on-pick-up, meaning it’s possible that it could show up on the Auction House…for a price of course.  Regardless, once you’ve obtained one, you can begin you quest in earnest.  Below is a brief description of each step based on collected information from both WoWWiki and the WoWHead PTR site.  (SPOILERS AHOY!!!)

1. Take the hilt to some dude.
2. Go speak to some other dude.
3. Take some orders to yet another guy.
4. Do some laundry of someone else to get a tabard for the opposing faction.
5. Use the tabard to sneak into the opposing faction’s private area in Dalaran and grab a particular book.
6. Return book to proper individual.
7. Enter the Pit of Saron instance, grab some special ore, defeat the last boss, grab his hammer, reconstruct the blade, return to quest giver.
8. Enter Forge of Souls instance, defeat the last boss, use item in last boss’s room to temper the blade, return to quest giver.
9. Enter the Halls of Reflection instance, take sword to Frostmourne, defeat possessed sword, return to quest giver (who’s now in a new location somewhere around the new instances).
10. Take sword to some jerk at the Sunwell.
11. Take sword to some guy’s remains, fight some Scourge alongside his ghost, return to questgiver.
12. Temper the sword in the Sunwell, return to specified individual.
13. Receive quest to choose reward.

In total, it seems that there’s just a lot of running around, taking the sword to this person or that.  Besides obtaining the hilt (by not buying it from the Auction House), and completing steps 7, 8, and 9 (which don’t even look like they need done on heroic mode), the rest should be a walk in the park.  Still, there is a lot of lore that players experience while doing these quests which is very interesting, plus you get to pick from the following weapons upon completing the quest chain:

• Quel’Delar, Might of the Faithful
• Quel’Delar, Ferocity of the Scorned
• Quel’Delar, Cunning of the Shadows
• Quel’Delar, Lens of the Mind
• Cudgel of Furious Justice
• Hammer of Purified Flame
• Lightborn Spire

Honestly, with these types of rewards for the little amount or work to complete the quests, I’m not sure why anyone wouldn’t do it.  You can most likely complete it all in the span of a few nights at most, plus you receive The Sword in the Skull achievement as well.  Anyone without a 251 level weapon should definitely put this on their list of one of the first things to do once patch 3.3 hits the live servers.

Here are the Patch Notes for the Hotfix applied to Lord of the Rings Online (Siege of Mirkwood) today, December 4 2009:

• Shared Storage
• Fixed an issue that would sometimes cause item loss when placing items into shared storage from the vault.
• Class: Guardian
• Due to an issue with the skill we have changed how the "Overpower" stance interacts with shields. You will no longer be able to activate "Overpower" with a shield equipped. If you equip a shield while using "Overpower" the stance will be deactivated.

Source: Lorebook – Volume 2 Release Notes Official

As you can see the list isn’t very extensive, but I am sure they are working on the problems in the Known Issues and some new bugs that seem to have appeared since the update. Servers are up and running, I will try to keep y’all informed of future updates/changes/downtimes as I can.

~Branadoc

Toren here! This is coming a little late, but I can’t believe this year is WoW’s 5th anniversary! It really is a little sad to read back on all the interesting changes that WoW’s gone through over the years… and to think, “Wow… I didn’t see ANY of these!” I started just before patch 3.2, so the only real hardship I went through was paying all… gosh, what was it? Ten gold? Twenty? For riding training and the mount at level thirty. Boo hoo. I have to say, as a new player, I really do appreciate these changes that Blizz has made to the game. They really make it easier for people like myself, people who are busy and have only a limited play time, to hop on board and reach level 80 without having to hardcore quest every time I log on. I get to enjoy the ride without it taking forever, and while I do hate the fact that some of my friends who’ve been wowing for a while had to pay 80g for that first mount (at level 40, no less!), as a casual player, I am happy with the changes.

Well, most of them. So I’ve done a little reading up on the new patch recently over at wow.com, and it looks like the Pallys are getting nerfed… again… Look, I know we’re a powerful class and all? But goodness me. Will it never end? And sweet Jesus, don’t take away our self LoH! Restrict it from BGs like it is from Arenas, but let us PoE with it! I know that it’s come in handy a number of times in the past for me personally when I’ve found myself in over my head. It’s our signature “oh shit!” move, and it is amazing to have when you’re low on mana and oh-so-close to death. All the repair costs I’ve saved by staying alive at that last second with LoH… *sniff*

On the other hand! It seems that Priests are getting some tasty buffs in 3.3, which is great news for my little lowbie! Every cloud has a silver lining, yes? Hopefully this will make my leveling experience in shadow spec a lot more fun. Also it seems as though this change may make folks who wish to keep their priests shadow after reaching 80 a more integral part of the DPS team, which is always a plus! I increasingly find myself urging to turn away from plate in favor of my more squishy cloth friend…

Recently Kaisa and I decided that we’d take a shot at getting some Netherdrake rep and maybe working our way up to a juicy new glowie dragon mount. We finished the first collection of quests to get up to neutral, and then moved our way back to Mordenai for the quests that would take us to the next level Rep… only he didn’t have a nice, lovely exclamation point waiting for us… just the comment that we were not prepared. And goodness me, wouldn’t you know it, we weren’t. Kaisa hadn’t run these quests in a while, and I hadn’t done them at all, and so it was much to our chagrin that we discovered that we needed the highest level of flight training to move on! Now, listen, I said earlier that I know that all you long time WoW players had to go fifteen miles in the snow, uphill both ways, to get a mount, but us new folks have become comfortable with these new low mount and training costs. This being said, when I saw that training for an epic flight mount would put me 5,000g in the hole I was completely shocked! I mean, come on. It was 5g total for my first mount AND training! It was only a few hundred for my initial flight training! So I don’t necessarily think they need to lower them (although I would like that a loooooot), and I guess I don’t really have a solution here for this that doesn’t involve “plz make dis 2kg, k? k.” but I really have to say… woo. I need to take up a profession that makes more moolah.

So last night after our weekly ToC run and before going to bed, various sites started reporting that the release candidate build for patch 3.3 was being deployed to the public test realm and, as long as everything seemed fine over the next week, it would officially hit the live servers next Tuesday.   This is great news for me as I have a little time off scheduled around the holidays and my wife and I were hoping that the new cross-server instances would be implemented by then.  Additionally, by using the random dungeon feature one can run the same heroic instance multiple times in the same day.   Hopefully I can use this to my advantage and finally work on my tanking gear which I’ve neglected since the Naxx days.

As for changes to Death Knights, it seems that the DPS spec that I prefer (Unholy) will be receiving the most changes.  Scourge Strike is getting a buff, changing the build’s rotation yet again, while Unholy Blight is being nerfed on the damage over time it places on nearby critters.  Luckily the theory crafters are already hard at work figuring out the ideal builds for the patch, so come next Tuesday I should have all the info I need to respec for DPS again.

I’m also looking forward to the new 5-man instances in Icecrown.  I still need to check out some more information about the bosses in there and the general layout of the place, but the dungeons will be a good place to grab some upgrades while my guild learns the new 25-man raiding content.  Additionally a new questline for an epic sword (Quel’Delar) is mainly in these instances as well, and considering that I’m still using Naxx weapons for both tanking and DPS, an upgrade in that department is definitely needed.

So what content are you looking forward to in the next patch?

Kind of scary.  Click here to find out more details.

‘Cyclic Redundancy Error’ is usually caused by a registry issue can usually be fixed with a registry scan. But just in case you can always try these solutions.

1. You will want to attempt a hard drive installation of the game. In this process, you copy the game files to the Desktop, so that the disk, although necessary for running the game, is not necessary for installation.

1. Right-click the Desktop, select New, and select Folder.
2. Insert the Install Disk into the drive.
3. Exit any autoplay screen that may appear.
4. Open My Computer.
5. Right-click the CD-ROM drive containing the Install Disk and select Open.
6. Click Edit at the top of the window.
7. Click Select All.
8. Click Edit again.
9. Click Copy.
10. Close the window.
11. Right-click the New Folder on your desktop and select Paste. (The game files will now copy.)
12. Once the files from the Install Disk are copied proceed to step 13.
13. Upon completion, remove all disks from any drives.
14. Double-click the Setup folder.
15. Double-click on the Sims3Setup.exe icon, looks like two silver arrows and a half-cirle on a blue background. (The installation should now begin.)

2. If you got Sims 3 CRC Error then there is a 94% chance that your computer has registry problems. To repair Sims 3 CRC error you need to follow the steps below:

1. Download a Perfect Optimizer,install this error repair tool.
2. Click the Repair All Button.It will scan you pc for Free.
3. Then click the Repair All Button again and your done! It is very easy to repair sims 3 crc error.

3. Download EA download manager [EADM], create an account on there, then you get your serial key for the game, type it in EA download manager and it will download the game and install.  A CRC error is the DVD Drive not being able to read the disc properly. It downloads pretty quick. and anyone else who is having this problem this is the way around. All you need to do is have an EA account set up, then there is a tab that says activation, this is where the serial key goes, and its that simple.

4. Run the Windows Defragmenter software on your system. Fragmented hard disk space can cause this error.

CRC errors may also be caused by a hard disk or DVD drive failing or being unable to write consistent data.

If you have run the Defragmenter software and are continuing to experience this error, please contact your system’s manufacturer for further diagnostics.

It appears that in some cases, users that are using the EA download Manager version of The Sims 3 may experience this error if their download is paused. To resolve this issue, perform the following steps:

1. Log in to the EADM.
2. Click on the red x in the upper right part of the Sims 3 download to clear the EADM cache.
3. Re-download The Sims 3; do not pause the download.

There is a new FAQ addressing this issue:
[Click Here]

Well Hopefully these solutions help. It doesn’t hurt to try them all…

Also, if you need older patches for the game because the new one you installed [v1.7/2.2] made your game worse which resulted you uninstalling then reinstalling the game. You can download the older patches here separately.

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Designed by Asilee.

If you want The Sims 3 Patches  you can download them here. I realized that the latest patch for the game is pretty messed up so I went on a search to download them separately. I only did this because people have installed the new patch [v1.7/2.2] and it has gave them nothing but trouble so they decided to uninstall the game and then reinstall but realized in order to not have that patch you would have to find a way to install everyone but that one. Even those patches are a hit and miss but they are better than the latest one.

Download Patches:

Patch v1.2.7

Description:

• Addresses some issues with Speed 2 and 3 moving too slowly. Some machines will have better results when using Speed 2 and 3 now.
• Fix to story progression on/off selection toggle.
• Fix for a possible crash with audio code.
• Fix for babysitter routing off lots with babies.
• Addresses some issues with Vsync and refresh rate problems.
• Addresses some issues with DVD authentication errors and drive compatibility on startup.
• This update deals with some issues on Mac systems that can crash the game while connecting to AFP servers.
• Fix for a freeze that can occur when Sims attempt to clean out bad food from the fridge.

Patch v1.3.24

Description:

• After getting promoted in a job with a night shift the Sim will only receive the day off if their next shift starts within 8 hours.
• Exporting and Sharing a Level 10 Gardener Sim properly maintains their special abilities.
• Fixes to Story Progression. Babies will no longer be born to single parents. Player created or controlled households are now “protected” and will no longer be removed through “Story Progression.” Warning: Story Progression will no longer remove previously player controlled Sims. Users who take control of too many Sims in the same game may experience poor performance as the neighborhood can become over populated.
• Switching between multiple saved outfits of the same type no longer has the potential to wipe out saved outfits.
• Waterlillies now have a smoother level of detail transition when zooming the camera.
• Camera memory hotkeys now properly remember floor level.
• Certain situations will now properly stop socialization and disallow asking other Sims to join.
• Bait picker for fishing has been improved.
• Sims no longer automatically exit the bathtub before receiving the “Bathe until Tranquil” moodlet.
• Sims can no longer interview non-playable ghosts.
• Addressed an issue where distant audio could occasionally be heard while the player is focused on a Sim is inside their own home.
• Changing jobs no longer fulfills the “Meet All Co-workers” Wish.
• Playable ghost teens and children are now properly assigned to a school.
• Custom paintings can now be properly placed above objects that are placed up against a wall and leave enough wall space.
• The “Call Over” Interaction is now available on seated Sims.
• Reduced the urge for neat Sims to put away fire pits.
• Neighbors will no longer gather to watch a burglar that hasn’t yet stolen anything.
• The “Maywood Glen” community lot is now properly classified as a park.
• “Omni-Plant” opportunity has a higher chance of appearing.
• Painting valued painting wishes are easier to fulfill.
• Number of Books Read in the writing skill journal now counts number of books finished instead of the number of books started.
• Sims will no longer attempt to use laptops when they are ungreeted visitors.
• “Befriend All Co-workers” wish is no longer fulfilled by switching to a job with no coworkers.
• Fixed a problem where the incorrect clothing was displayed on a Sim in the game launcher icon.
• Harvestables on harvest ready plants will not get occasionally lost during import/export.
• Opportunity to improve athletic skill will no longer appear when athletic skill is full.
• “Play a Game with Sim” wish now fulfills from “Playing Foosball.”
• Sims will now get the “Witnessed Divorce” moodlet from watching other married Sims break up.
• Stocked ponds are properly preserved when shared.
• Sims will no longer occasionally fail to walk a path involving four or more flights of stairs.
• A player is now able to complete the “Upgrade Audio Lite by LoFi” Wish.
• Prevented a game freeze that occurred when placing a lot while in “Cameraman Mode.”
• Sims no longer have the rare chance of getting permanently stuck while socializing.
• Non-player Sim autonomy now runs more quickly for Sims on screen and nearby (neighbors won’t spend time standing in their front yards or not moving on community lots)
• Fixed a rare case in which the skewer thumbnail of an NPC could disappear during a private wedding.
• “Become Enemies with Child” wish no longer appears.
• “Quit Job” wish will now fulfill if Sim gets a new job and is forced to quit the old one.
• Stairs are no longer allowed to be deleted while in use.
• Prevented a case where toddlers were allowed to escape a lot and wander freely.
• Fixed a rare case where a toddler’s teddy bear could get permanently stuck in their inventory.
• “Clean High Chair” wish properly fulfills.
• “SimLife Goggles” are no longer duplicated after moving.
• The “Raid Criminals” interaction can now be properly resumed after saving and loading while it is in progress.
• Sims will no longer get a wish to ask their husband to be their boyfriend.
• Fix for a possible crash when disconnecting headphones during gameplay.
• Relationships are properly preserved when merging a newly created household into an existing household.
• “Play with Toy” wish properly fulfills when a child Sim plays with the teddy bear.
• Fixed an error that occurred when deleting an outfit preset that a Sim was wearing.
• Lot pricing was corrected in edit town. The price of trees and bushes is now properly accounted for. Various community lot objects no longer provide negative value to a lot.
• “Woohoo” interaction now counts as a romantic interaction.
• Wish to “See Child Become a Genius” now auto cancels once it is no longer possible to fulfill.
• Sheet music can no longer be chosen from the bookshelf interactions. This prevents a situation in which Sims could no longer learn particular songs.
• Fixes a rare case where a revived ghost could become stuck in the science lab if a household was split.
• “Eat Food at Park” wish now fulfills properly.
• Parents will no longer wish to “See Sim Get Married” for their already married children.
• Kleptomaniac Sims can no longer return items currently being used by other Sims.
• Fixes a rare case in which a blank thumbnail could appear in the family inventory after a Sim had been kicked out.
• Fixes a rare case in which a blank thumbnail could appear in the family inventory after a Kleptomaniac Sim swiped something.
• ATI video driver’s “Adaptive Aantialiasing” option conflicts with ingame “Edge Smoothing.” The combination causes visual corruption. A note has been added to the readme encouraging players not to enable these two features at the same time.
• Medium-sized, high quality in-game videos can now be successfully uploaded via the launcher.
• Fixed a case where “Breakup with Sim” wasn’t correctly fulfilling.
• Fix for a case where rapidly clicking on Sim traits could crash the game.
• Toddler’s body no longer deforms when “Watching TV” after “Learning to Talk.”
• Sims can now use “Charming Introduction” on Sims invited over to a home lot.
• Gardening skill gain no longer continues if gardening channel viewing is interrupted.
• Child Sims no longer deform after “Watching a Concert.”
• Eating specific prepared meals no longer has an impact on an unborn baby’s gender.
• Fixed a hang that could occur when moving away from a house with harvestable plants growing on it.
• Merge household bed and fridge requirements are no longer enforced on lots that are being abandoned.
• Fixed a problem, where through specific timing, objects could become unusable if the game is saved while they are being placed in a Sim’s inventory.
• The Sims 3 is now properly categorized as a game in the Windows Vista Games Explorer.
• A selected object in buy or build mode now stays attached to the cursor as the player scrolls the camera with the direction keys.
• Fences no longer occlude sound.
• Terrain enclosed by walls and a roof is now properly lit.
• Puddles will properly conform to uneven terrain.
• Prevented problematic routing behavior that occurs when replacing an object mid route.
• Corrected various grammar and spelling mistakes.
• Deleted screenshots no longer remain listed in the launcher.
• “Dance Together” and “Tutor Sim in Skill…” no longer appear on Sims at inappropriate times.
• “Non-hydrophobic” Sims will no longer panic while swimming.
• The Magic Gnome text notification now displays the proper icon.
• Exposed floor tile edges have changed in color.
• Fixed a problem where counters would occasionally turn black while selecting certain objects in build mode.
• Fixed a rare instance where at map level the bulldozer tool could leave a blue hole in the ground.
• The option to “Adjust Tree Detail” now properly displays a “Restart Required” message.
• “Spying on the Cuisine” opportunity can now be fulfilled by selecting to “Eat Outside” at the Bistro.
• Refreshing doors no longer causes them to lose their front door status.
• A child that ages to a teen will no longer receive the wish to “Talk about New Job.”
• “View” interaction will not be duplicated when placing objects on the “Nearly Perfect Pedestal.”
• Up arrow can now be used when placing a house from the library.
• A faint line is no longer visible on the heads of babies.
• Fish are no longer duplicated in the fridge when moving homes.
• All dfc-gorilla (update installer) messages will now appear properly translated.
• Fix for a rare case in which a Sim could be teleported to an invalid location if the game was reloaded while they were “Changing Outfit.”
• Fixed a problem where bulldozed lots were not being properly lit at map level.
• Sims who run into obstacles placed directly in front of them, no longer get stuck.
• Babies and Toddlers will no longer be left alone if the household is split up or merged through edit town, a babysitter will be called.
• Fixed a rare case in which a Sim remains on the wrong lot after moving.
• Guitar Skill level 10 text notification no longer mentions purchasing new songs from the bookstore.
• Fixed a rare case where the social worker’s vehicle could be left behind on a lot.
• Korean GRB rating is now available to use in Windows Parental Controls.
• The Sims 3 now supports more than 2000 concurrent save games.
• Custom Music will no longer be assigned as a favorite randomly.
• Fixed a rare case where “Accept” would be unavailable in Create-A-Sim after undoing while accepting a Sim from “Play with Genetics.”
• Children Sims will no longer attempt to knock over blocks at the same time.
• Fixed child animation when putting away the birthday cake.
• Fish no longer appear on dry ground of lots that have been coverted to residential lots .
• Bulldozing a lot with collectable spawners no longer destroys the spawners.
• A family with only a toddler is no longer allowed to be saved to the library.
• Placing small objects on the front slot of the dresser will no longer block the dresser from being used.
• Sims no longer fail to view decorative objects placed on a fireplace mantle.
• Sims now build relationship through the “Tutor” interaction.
• Fixed a minor error that occurred while loading a game where the dresser was in use.
• Fix for misaligned water effects on a particular sink.
• “Likes Work” moodlet is now properly removed if “Workaholic” trait is changed or removed.
• Purchasing “SimLife Goggles” now fulfills the “Buy Video Game” wish.
• Canceling the installation of a queue of downloaded items now works properly.
• “Collection Helper” is properly displayed when picked up in buy mode.
• Fixes some cases of objects being improperly assigned type in the launcher.
• The player can no longer delete a tombstone that is being used by a ghost.
• Fixed a rare routing failure that could happen when attempting to route to an enclosed object on an inactive floor.
• Televisions no longer play video after they are burned or broken.
• Under certain circumstances, Sims will now choose smarter lot entry locations.
• “Amateur Olympics” Opportunity notification now mentions event times.
• Sims can no longer “Try for Baby” with the Grim Reaper.
• Fixed a rare case where a Sim could start painting but the canvas was not visible.
• Fixed a rare case where the police cruiser could be left in front of the police station.
• “Sabotage” interaction is now available under more conditions.
• Deeds will now stack in the inventory and a “Collect All” interaction can be used on them.
• The Riverview download now displays the proper size for the entire duration of the download.
• Fix for children playing improper animations when trying to cook.
• Fixed an error that occurred when removing the moodlet manager from the inventory of a Sim that was in the process of using the moodlet manager.
• “Upgrade Object” wish correctly filters out gates.
• Various premade Sims downloaded from the exchange are now sorting into the correct age catagory.
• Buildings will keep the appropriate lights when zooming in and out at nighttime.
• Fixed a very slow memory leak triggered by the “Fertilize” interaction.
• Adding support for the NVIDIA Ion.
• Roofing is now visible on low end Intel video cards.
• Replaced a duplicate hat style for elder females.
• Game speed no longer affects the playback of audio stings.
• NPC’s automobiles are no longer purged from inventory.
• Added support for the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250.
• Mac Only: Custom Content, Screenshots or video added to Documents/User/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/… while the game is running will now show up in the Launcher.
• Mac Only: The Mac version of The Sims 3 now supports Shader Model 3.0 graphics features. (excluding the NVIDIA GeForce 7300GT and 7600GT cards)
• Mac Only: The high lighting quality Sim shader has been enabled in Create-A-Sim.
• Mac Only: Added a warning message upon attempting to delete a downloaded world (Riverview) that associated save files will be lost.
• Mac Only: Enabled depth texture support (shadows) on all supported video cards.
• Mac Only: The user interface is no longer improperly displayed in ingame reflections.

Patch v1.4.6

Description:

• PC Only: Addressed an issue where a user was unable to uninstall The Sims™ 3 if the 1.3 update was interrupted.
• Mac Only: Fixed a problem that prevented players from installing custom content after installing the 1.3 update.
• After getting promoted in a job with a night shift the Sim will only receive the day off if their next shift starts within 8 hours.
• Exporting and Sharing a Level 10 Gardener Sim properly maintains their special abilities.
• Fixes to Story Progression. Babies will no longer be born to single parents. Player created or controlled households are now “protected” and will no longer be removed through “Story Progression.” Warning: Story Progression will no longer remove previously player controlled Sims. Users who take control of too many Sims in the same game may experience poor performance as the neighborhood can become over populated.
• Switching between multiple saved outfits of the same type no longer has the potential to wipe out saved outfits.
• Waterlillies now have a smoother level of detail transition when zooming the camera.
• Camera memory hotkeys now properly remember floor level.
• Certain situations will now properly stop socialization and disallow asking other Sims to join.
• Bait picker for fishing has been improved.
• Sims no longer automatically exit the bathtub before receiving the “Bathe until Tranquil” moodlet.
• Sims can no longer interview non-playable ghosts.
• Addressed an issue where distant audio could occasionally be heard while the player is focused on a Sim is inside their own home.
• Changing jobs no longer fulfills the “Meet All Co-workers” Wish.
• Playable ghost teens and children are now properly assigned to a school.
• Custom paintings can now be properly placed above objects that are placed up against a wall and leave enough wall space.
• The “Call Over” Interaction is now available on seated Sims.
• Reduced the urge for neat Sims to put away fire pits.
• Neighbors will no longer gather to watch a burglar that hasn’t yet stolen anything.
• The “Maywood Glen” community lot is now properly classified as a park.
• “Omni-Plant” opportunity has a higher chance of appearing.
• Painting valued painting wishes are easier to fulfill.
• Number of Books Read in the writing skill journal now counts number of books finished instead of the number of books started.
• Sims will no longer attempt to use laptops when they are ungreeted visitors.
• “Befriend All Co-workers” wish is no longer fulfilled by switching to a job with no coworkers.
• Fixed a problem where the incorrect clothing was displayed on a Sim in the game launcher icon.
• Harvestables on harvest ready plants will not get occasionally lost during import/export.
• Opportunity to improve athletic skill will no longer appear when athletic skill is full.
• “Play a Game with Sim” wish now fulfills from “Playing Foosball.”
• Sims will now get the “Witnessed Divorce” moodlet from watching other married Sims break up.
• Stocked ponds are properly preserved when shared.
• Sims will no longer occasionally fail to walk a path involving four or more flights of stairs.
• A player is now able to complete the “Upgrade Audio Lite by LoFi” Wish.
• Prevented a game freeze that occurred when placing a lot while in “Cameraman Mode.”
• Sims no longer have the rare chance of getting permanently stuck while socializing.
• Non-player Sim autonomy now runs more quickly for Sims on screen and nearby (neighbors won’t spend time standing in their front yards or not moving on community lots)
• Fixed a rare case in which the skewer thumbnail of an NPC could disappear during a private wedding.
• “Become Enemies with Child” wish no longer appears.
• “Quit Job” wish will now fulfill if Sim gets a new job and is forced to quit the old one.
• Stairs are no longer allowed to be deleted while in use.
• Prevented a case where toddlers were allowed to escape a lot and wander freely.
• Fixed a rare case where a toddler’s teddy bear could get permanently stuck in their inventory.
• “Clean High Chair” wish properly fulfills.
• “SimLife Goggles” are no longer duplicated after moving.
• The “Raid Criminals” interaction can now be properly resumed after saving and loading while it is in progress.
• Sims will no longer get a wish to ask their husband to be their boyfriend.
• Fix for a possible crash when disconnecting headphones during gameplay.
• Relationships are properly preserved when merging a newly created household into an existing household.
• “Play with Toy” wish properly fulfills when a child Sim plays with the teddy bear.
• Fixed an error that occurred when deleting an outfit preset that a Sim was wearing.
• Lot pricing was corrected in edit town. The price of trees and bushes is now properly accounted for. Various community lot objects no longer provide negative value to a lot.
• “Woohoo” interaction now counts as a romantic interaction.
• Wish to “See Child Become a Genius” now auto cancels once it is no longer possible to fulfill.
• Sheet music can no longer be chosen from the bookshelf interactions. This prevents a situation in which Sims could no longer learn particular songs.
• Fixes a rare case where a revived ghost could become stuck in the science lab if a household was split.
• “Eat Food at Park” wish now fulfills properly.
• Parents will no longer wish to “See Sim Get Married” for their already married children.
• Kleptomaniac Sims can no longer return items currently being used by other Sims.
• Fixes a rare case in which a blank thumbnail could appear in the family inventory after a Sim had been kicked out.
• Fixes a rare case in which a blank thumbnail could appear in the family inventory after a Kleptomaniac Sim swiped something.
• ATI video driver’s “Adaptive Aantialiasing” option conflicts with ingame “Edge Smoothing.” The combination causes visual corruption. A note has been added to the readme encouraging players not to enable these two features at the same time.
• Medium-sized, high quality in-game videos can now be successfully uploaded via the launcher.
• Fixed a case where “Breakup with Sim” wasn’t correctly fulfilling.
• Fix for a case where rapidly clicking on Sim traits could crash the game.
• Toddler’s body no longer deforms when “Watching TV” after “Learning to Talk.”
• Sims can now use “Charming Introduction” on Sims invited over to a home lot.
• Gardening skill gain no longer continues if gardening channel viewing is interrupted.
• Child Sims no longer deform after “Watching a Concert.”
• Eating specific prepared meals no longer has an impact on an unborn baby’s gender.
• Fixed a hang that could occur when moving away from a house with harvestable plants growing on it.
• Merge household bed and fridge requirements are no longer enforced on lots that are being abandoned.
• Fixed a problem, where through specific timing, objects could become unusable if the game is saved while they are being placed in a Sim’s inventory.
• The Sims 3 is now properly categorized as a game in the Windows Vista Games Explorer.
• A selected object in buy or build mode now stays attached to the cursor as the player scrolls the camera with the direction keys.
• Fences no longer occlude sound.
• Terrain enclosed by walls and a roof is now properly lit.
• Puddles will properly conform to uneven terrain.
• Prevented problematic routing behavior that occurs when replacing an object mid route.
• Corrected various grammar and spelling mistakes.
• Deleted screenshots no longer remain listed in the launcher.
• “Dance Together” and “Tutor Sim in Skill…” no longer appear on Sims at inappropriate times.
• “Non-hydrophobic” Sims will no longer panic while swimming.
• The Magic Gnome text notification now displays the proper icon.
• Exposed floor tile edges have changed in color.
• Fixed a problem where counters would occasionally turn black while selecting certain objects in build mode.
• Fixed a rare instance where at map level the bulldozer tool could leave a blue hole in the ground.
• The option to “Adjust Tree Detail” now properly displays a “Restart Required” message.
• “Spying on the Cuisine” opportunity can now be fulfilled by selecting to “Eat Outside” at the Bistro.
• Refreshing doors no longer causes them to lose their front door status.
• A child that ages to a teen will no longer receive the wish to “Talk about New Job.”
• “View” interaction will not be duplicated when placing objects on the “Nearly Perfect Pedestal.”
• Up arrow can now be used when placing a house from the library.
• A faint line is no longer visible on the heads of babies.
• Fish are no longer duplicated in the fridge when moving homes.
• All dfc-gorilla (update installer) messages will now appear properly translated.
• Fix for a rare case in which a Sim could be teleported to an invalid location if the game was reloaded while they were “Changing Outfit.”
• Fixed a problem where bulldozed lots were not being properly lit at map level.
• Sims who run into obstacles placed directly in front of them, no longer get stuck.
• Babies and Toddlers will no longer be left alone if the household is split up or merged through edit town, a babysitter will be called.
• Fixed a rare case in which a Sim remains on the wrong lot after moving.
• Guitar Skill level 10 text notification no longer mentions purchasing new songs from the bookstore.
• Fixed a rare case where the social worker’s vehicle could be left behind on a lot.
• Korean GRB rating is now available to use in Windows Parental Controls.
• The Sims 3 now supports more than 2000 concurrent save games.
• Custom Music will no longer be assigned as a favorite randomly.
• Fixed a rare case where “Accept” would be unavailable in Create-A-Sim after undoing while accepting a Sim from “Play with Genetics.”
• Children Sims will no longer attempt to knock over blocks at the same time.
• Fixed child animation when putting away the birthday cake.
• Fish no longer appear on dry ground of lots that have been coverted to residential lots .
• Bulldozing a lot with collectable spawners no longer destroys the spawners.
• A family with only a toddler is no longer allowed to be saved to the library.
• Placing small objects on the front slot of the dresser will no longer block the dresser from being used.
• Sims no longer fail to view decorative objects placed on a fireplace mantle.
• Sims now build relationship through the “Tutor” interaction.
• Fixed a minor error that occurred while loading a game where the dresser was in use.
• Fix for misaligned water effects on a particular sink.
• “Likes Work” moodlet is now properly removed if “Workaholic” trait is changed or removed.
• Purchasing “SimLife Goggles” now fulfills the “Buy Video Game” wish.
• Canceling the installation of a queue of downloaded items now works properly.
• “Collection Helper” is properly displayed when picked up in buy mode.
• Fixes some cases of objects being improperly assigned type in the launcher.
• The player can no longer delete a tombstone that is being used by a ghost.
• Fixed a rare routing failure that could happen when attempting to route to an enclosed object on an inactive floor.
• Televisions no longer play video after they are burned or broken.
• Under certain circumstances, Sims will now choose smarter lot entry locations.
• “Amateur Olympics” Opportunity notification now mentions event times.
• Sims can no longer “Try for Baby” with the Grim Reaper.
• Fixed a rare case where a Sim could start painting but the canvas was not visible.
• Fixed a rare case where the police cruiser could be left in front of the police station.
• “Sabotage” interaction is now available under more conditions.
• Deeds will now stack in the inventory and a “Collect All” interaction can be used on them.
• The Riverview download now displays the proper size for the entire duration of the download.
• Fix for children playing improper animations when trying to cook.
• Fixed an error that occurred when removing the moodlet manager from the inventory of a Sim that was in the process of using the moodlet manager.
• “Upgrade Object” wish correctly filters out gates.
• Various premade Sims downloaded from the exchange are now sorting into the correct age catagory.
• Buildings will keep the appropriate lights when zooming in and out at nighttime.
• Fixed a very slow memory leak triggered by the “Fertilize” interaction.
• Adding support for the NVIDIA Ion.
• Roofing is now visible on low end Intel video cards.
• Replaced a duplicate hat style for elder females.
• Game speed no longer affects the playback of audio stings.
• NPC’s automobiles are no longer purged from inventory.
• Added support for the NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250.
• Mac Only: Custom Content, Screenshots or video added to Documents/User/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/… while the game is running will now show up in the Launcher.
• Mac Only: The Mac version of The Sims 3 now supports Shader Model 3.0 graphics features. (excluding the NVIDIA GeForce 7300GT and 7600GT cards)
• Mac Only: The high lighting quality Sim shader has been enabled in Create-A-Sim.
• Mac Only: Added a warning message upon attempting to delete a downloaded world (Riverview) that associated save files will be lost.
• Mac Only: Enabled depth texture support (shadows) on all supported video cards.
• Mac Only: The user interface is no longer improperly displayed in ingame reflections.

Patch v1.6/1.7

This is the latest one.

Description:

• Fix for save file incompatibilities that result in the Error Code 16 error message while saving.
• Mac only: Fix to app forwarding so that World Adventures Mac users can download store and exchange content.

Courtesy Dominic Hobbs of WoW.com

Create Soulstone: The cooldown on this spell and duration of its buff have been lowered from 30 minutes down to 15 minutes. Cannot be used in Arenas.

I’ve always felt that the cooldown on this ability was rather long, and it’s nice to see it’s being shortened to bring it in line with the fact that instances these days are much shorter and faster than they used to be. More wipe recovery is good, no?

Affliction

Improved Drain Soul: This talent now reduces threat by 10%/20%, up from 5%/10%.

There have always been issues with Warlock threat, whatever Blizzard have said, and hopefully this will address some of them. The main problem is often that we can’t simply just let our dps drop to 0 to prevent any threat being generated, as our DoTs will continue to tick. Obviously this problem is therefore especially apparent with Affliction, which relies heavily upon DoTs, and so 20% less threat from two points in this talent will help out the spec quite a bit.

Improved Felhunter: This talent now also reduces the cooldown on the felhunter’s Shadow Bite ability by 2/4 seconds.

The developers are pushing quite hard for the Felhunter to be viable again (so Affliction will use it instead of the Succubus or mana battery Imp) and allowing the puppy’s main attack to hit more often – leading to increased damage – is a good way of doing it.

Shadow Mastery: This talent now also increases the damage done by the felhunter’s Shadow Bite ability by 3/6/9/12/15%.

As above – the more damage done by the pet, the better. Whether or not we’ll see the Felhunter become the de facto Affliction pet again I’m unsure, but it’s certainly going to be more of an option.

Demonology

Decimation: Redesigned. When Shadowbolt, Incinerate or Soul Fire hit a target that is at or below 35% health, the cast time of Soul Fire is reduced by 20/40% for 8 seconds. Soul Fires cast under the effect of Decimation cost no shards.

Right, wowee, some major changes happening here. So the current effect needs SB or Incinerate to hit a target at 35% health or less to activate it. This will be the same with the new effect, except Soul Fire will also proc it, which is nice. However, the current effect will reduce the cast time of the next Soul Fire by 60% (assuming two points), whereas the new effect will reduce the cast time of the spell by 40% for 8 seconds.

What this means is you’ll be able to cast more SF spells per proc – the number depends on your haste – meaning more dps per proc, despite the relatively slower casting times compared to the current effect. I would also assume that casting SF then refreshes the effect, so you can just keep going and spamming it, providing you don’t have to move or do anything else for more than 8 seconds. I haven’t tested this on the PTR, but if correct, we can say goodbye to the weaving technique of mixing SB and SF, and hello to constant SF spam under 35%. It’s simpler, but less interesting. Of course, we still don’t get charged any shards for Decimated SF spells.

Demonic Pact: This talent now also increases the warlock’s spell damage by 1/2/3/4/5%.

A simple buff to give us some more damage, since we Demo Warlocks are often bullied into speccing into this by our raid leaders for the bonus to raid dps, and it’s only right we should have some personal gain.

Molten Core: Redesigned. This talent now increases the duration of Immolate by 3/6/9 seconds and provides a 4/8/12% chance to gain the Molten Core effect when Corruption deals damage. The Molten Core effect empowers the next 3 Incinerate or Soul Fire spells cast within 15 seconds (Incinerate: increases damage done by 6/12/18% and reduces cast time by 10/20/30%; Soul Fire: increases damage done by 6/12/18% and increases critical strike chance by 5/10/15%). Molten Core now has a new spell effect.

Another pretty large change to dissect. The effect today (with 3 points) gives our Shadow and DoT spells a 15% chance to increase the damage of our Fire spells by 10% for 12 seconds. Lots of numbers there, but lots more coming up. So the new effect is firstly going to give our Immolate spell a longer duration – this is nice; more dps for less mana usage and less time casting. The next part of the redesigned effect will give our Corruption spell a 12% chance to trigger MC; we therefore have less chance of proccing it, as it can only be from one spell and the % chance is less, although admittedly it’s a spell we should all have up anyway.

When we do trigger it, instead of a bonus to Fire damage, we’re going to get a reduced cast time and more damage on the next three Incinerate spells cast in 15 seconds. Alternatively, we get more damage and crit chance on the next three SF spells within 15 seconds. Obviously you can cast either spell and get the respective effect, up to three times. What this change means for you in terms of dps depends on the fight really, but I suspect in general it will be a dps increase when the effect procs – the downside could be its chance to proc, which is less than it is now, as mentioned. It does definitely mean that we need Corruption up when we’re Decimating under 35% however, for the SF bonuses.

Destruction

Conflagrate: Redesigned. This talent now consumes an Immolate or Shadowflame effect on the enemy target to instantly deal damage equal to 9 seconds of Immolate or 8 seconds of Shadowflame, and causes additional damage over 3 seconds equal to 3 seconds of Immolate or 2 seconds of Shadowflame. In addition, the periodic damage of Conflagrate is capable of critically striking the afflicted target.

This is a nerf unfortunately, but let’s be fair, Conflagrate was getting pretty crazy, especially in PvP. The fact that the DoT damage (which only lasts 2-3 seconds) is a slight relief, but it looks like you Destruction folks will just have to spec Demo live with it.

Destructive Reach: This talent now reduces threat by 10%/20%, up from 5%/10%.

Similar to the threat reduction given to Affliction really.

Ruin: This talent now also increases the critical strike damage bonus of the imp’s Firebolt spell by 100%.

More dps from the pet favoured by most Destro Warlocks in PvE, whilst not increasing damage in PvP too much. This is simply balancing.

Pets

Avoidance (passive): Now reduces the damage your pets take from area-of-effect damage by 90%, but no longer applies to area-of-effect damage caused by other players.

More balancing of PvE with PvP – your pets will die far less often to those nasty bosses, but still will be killable by those nasty players.

Doomguard/Infernal: These pets now innately have Avoidance like all other warlock pets.

Again, just a balance to bring these pets on par with the regular ones.

Inferno: The cooldown on this summoning spell has been reduced from 20 minutes to 10 minutes. Cannot be used in Arenas.

Good for those few of us who use this pet to finish a fight with, or for if you need a really quick AoE stun, as we can now use it more often.

Shadow Bite: This pet ability now does 15% increased damage for each of the warlock’s damage-over-time effects on the target.

Summon Imp: This ability is now available from the trainer for level 1 warlocks and no longer requires a quest to learn.

Glyphs

Glyph of Life Tap: The effect of this glyph now has a chance of activating when Dark Pact is used.

While you should always be proccing this with Life Tap, because it’s frankly better and doesn’t prevent your pet doing damage, it will be nice to proc it “by accident” when you do use Dark Pact. I’m struggling to find any solid numbers on this, but I’ll give a more in-depth explanation.

Right now, the max level Dark Pact ability takes 1200 mana from your pet and gives it to you. Life Tap takes 1490 (modified by Spirit) of your own health, and gives you an equivalent amount of mana. Unless for some reason you have a negative amount of Spirit, Life Tap will therefore always return more mana than Dark Pact, so it really depends on your health and your pet’s mana as to which spell you use. With the new changes to the Felhunter and its Shadow Bite ability (which returns mana to the Felhunter if talented), the issue of draining this pet’s mana won’t be so much of an issue as it can keep doing damage, so if it does become the major Affliction pet, we could see Dark Pact become more prevalent than it is now. If you’re using another pet however, I would still recommend Life Tap to proc this effect; it’s also worth noting that Dark Pact only has a chance (numbers to follow) of activating the effect whereas Life Tap activates it 100% of the time.

Glyph of Quick Decay: This glyph allows for the warlock’s haste to reduce the time between periodic damage effects of Corruption.

A thrilling new glyph which looks set to help Affliction back up from the bottom of the spec pile, having this will allow your Corruption to tick faster according to haste, so while the effect will run out faster and require renewing, your dps should increase as it literally is more damage per second. Expect to need to make some changes to your Affliction rotation to allow for more regular refreshing of this spell.

Bug fixes

And to finish, a whole swathe of bug fixes…

Conflagrate: This spell will no longer benefit inconsistently from the talents Emberstorm and Improved Immolate, as well as the Glyph of Immolate and Tier 9 set bonus. Just as for Immolate, all stacking percentage increases will be applied additively instead of multiplicatively (+10% and +20% make +30% instead of +32%). In addition, Conflagrate used with Shadowflame will now scale properly from spell power.

Curse of the Elements: Rank 4 has been increased to 11%, up from 10%.

Drain Soul: This spell now deals 4 times the normal damage for all ranks. Previously it was only ranks 6 and above.

Glyph of Conflagrate: Now updates the tooltip of Conflagrate to remove reference to Conflagrate removing an Immolate or Shadowflame effect on the target.

Glyph of Siphon Life: This glyph will now modify the tooltip on Siphon Life correctly.

Glyph of Unending Breath: Now updates the tooltip on Unending Breath to indicate it increases swim speed.

Hellfire: Dealing damage to another player with this ability will now put the Warlock in combat.

Improved Shadow Bolt: This talent no longer causes a bug that removes all resilience from pets.

Soul Link: Damage transferred via this ability can now be prevented by damage absorption effects.

Suffering (Voidwalker): Ranks 5-8 had the incorrect taunt radius of 5 yards and have all been adjusted to a 10-yard radius.

Overall, it’s pretty good, and where it’s bad, it’s needed for balancing. I’m looking forward to testing the new Demonology changes in particular, and expect a report once 3.3 hits as to how everything is working. For detailed information on how the different raiding specs will perform with these changes, see the WoW.com article here.

Feel free to comment on anything I’ve missed or gotten wrong with regard to the changes. Also, what are you looking forward to most?

Vel.

As happens usually, i find out at the moment after the last, that the hot toy/pet for this Christmas is a Zhu Zhu pest – it’s a robotic hamster, possibly designed for world domination, that, of course, comes with accessories. a boatload of them. for the past few days, i have been searching (or made to search) for one of these elusive pets. i bet a trip to Peru to find an abyssinian guinea pig is likely to be both more cost-effective, and more productive. Before we assume the pseudo-obvious, let me clarify that it’s not my 4 year old that has thrust upon me the onus of finding this critter – she’s probably not even that interested in it – it’s an otherwise responsible adult, who during non-holiday times fits the “better half” phrase. Of course my “better half” did get a verbal nod to ensnaring “chunk” the white hamster, if i ever got close to one.

Make no mistake, the advantages of a robotic/mechanical pet are many, especially to those of us (me), who have made shirking responsibility a prime objective in life. These things live forever, or till the batteries run out, and then disposal is quite simple and you’re not haunted by memories of the good times you had with whats-his/her-name.

But back to the quest ifself: for a human being so far evolved that his caveman hunting instinct is not even a vestigial one, will I get one of these in time to save Christmas? Forecast is bleak. but… the hunt must go on. Thankfully, failure is an option.

Have had a few people asking me about my experiences in the patch/WA mayhem that has swept the sims community.  I had some issues with patch 1.6: visiting sims appearing as blank icons in the user panels; lots looking messy; SLOWNESS; businesses not collecting money and food spoiling quickly.

Because the hard drive with the base game on was filling up, I decided to move everything to a new drive with WA.  I backed things up to several places and then uninstalled the game.  I reinstalled, installed patch 1.7 and installed WA all on the new drive.  The only CC that I left in was .sims3pack stuff.

I then read up on CC issues and discovered a lot of people were having bother with package file CC and with mods.

I had taken out my mods folder altogether with the reinstall, so I booted the game up without it, replaced the CC on sims with something else (see Sindy and Piranha Daye in the photo for proof), then reinstated it, with the resource.cfg file in the WA folder.  I removed the nomosaic mod as it causes issues now, and I removed the chaos painting as it doesn’t work with WA.  I have no other mods and I only have a small amount of CC clothing and hair (some people who have hundreds of files are having major issues.  I have less than 30 files).

So far, my game works OK.  It’s a bit slower, but not terrible.  The food is still spoiling and I’m not sure about the businesses but the other glitches are OK.  Only I have a new glitch: the ages of my sims are all over the place (well the Dayes are, not the Lazaruses, but the Dayes have been travelling which may be the cause), so I’m g0ing to need to birthday cake some people up to sort it out.

Useful links to help you if you’re also struggling:

http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=379085

http://www.customsims3.com/forum1/YaBB.pl?num=1258836562

http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/128049.page

http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,17269.0.html

http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,17241.0.html

http://www.the-isz.com/theisz/index.php?showtopic=3567&st=0

http://www.sims3fanatics.com/news/world-adventures/handling-mods-with-world-adventures/

(Thanks to Catherine for some of the links)

Warlock Tier 10

This post will be updated as the patch notes are changed.

Well, with patch 3.3 looming ever closer I’ve decided it’s finally time to do a review of the patch notes and take a look at what we can expect, both as Warlocks and in general. Today, we’re going to look at the new features (from a Warlock point of view) that stand out to me as well as anything notable to do with other classes, and tomorrow we’ll examine the actual (much more exciting) Warlock changes themselves in detail. Here we go!

Meeting Stones: To use any Meeting Stone, it is only required that the character’s minimum level be 15. There is no maximum character level requirement for any Meeting Stone.

This is a very useful change for people who want to boost lower level characters, or even for people who previously would have been just slightly too low or high to use the stone when in a normal group and would keep the others waiting. I can also see the meeting stones being used as a method of transportation now – “Hey mister, can you summon me using that stone for two gold?”. At least it might relieve the pressure on us Warlocks to do it!

Area-of-Effect Damage Caps: We’ve redesigned the way area damage is capped when hitting many targets. Instead of a hard cap on total damage done, the game now caps the total damage done at a value equal to the damage the spell would do if it hit 10 targets. In other words, if a spell does 1000 damage to each target, it would hit up to 10 targets for 1000 each, but with more than 10 targets, each target would take 1000 damage divided by the number of targets. 20 targets would be hit for 500 damage each in that example.

This is pretty self-explanatory, but simply put, they’re preventing AoE damage spells from doing too much damage by giving the spells a damage cap. If you’re attacking 10 mobs or less, you’ll see no change from how it works currently, but if you’re attacking more than 10, you’ll only do as much damage as if there were 10, and the damage will be divided equally up between the mobs. I can see why this change is needed – Rain of Fire, for example, does some pretty crazy damage sometimes, and the dps does spiral out of control.

Pet Resilience: All player pets now get 100% of their master’s resilience.

Fantastic change for us! Our pets will be significantly less squishy in PvP now, making them harder to kill and reducing the time we’ll have to spend re-summoning them.

Lay on Hands: This ability will place Forbearance on the paladin if used on his or herself. It will not place Forbearance on others.

This Paladin change is going to be great for those of us who hate fighting them – Forbearance is the debuff which prevents Paladins from using their bubbles or wings, meaning we’ll no longer have to effectively kill one three times since they will need to choose between a bubble and a LoH. So we’re just killing them twice now.

New option – Castable Debuffs: Enabling this will cause only debuffs you have cast on an enemy target to appear.

Really, it depends on how you like your debuffs (read: DoTs) to be displayed, or even if you have them displayed at all, as to how major this change is for you. For those of us who do use the default UI to manage their ticking spells of doom, this change should help quite a bit, because unless you really care as to whether that Warrior has Sundered, you can now turn off all debuffs except your own. They should be much easier to find amongst the many with this change enabled, and indeed they should also show up larger so they’ll be easier to see, too.

New option – Consolidate Buffs: Enabling this adds a buff consolidation box near the mini-map. Very short term buffs (e.g. Replenishment) and very long term buffs (e.g. Prayer of Fortitude) are filtered into the buff box. The icons are stacked here, but they can still be seen by moving the mouse cursor over the buff box. Long term buffs will move out of the box when they are about to expire. Buffs such as important procs (e.g. Art of War, Maelstrom Weapon), cooldowns (e.g. Bloodlust / Heroism, Combustion) or limited in range (e.g. totems and paladin auras) are always displayed.

You’ll never be without your beloved Metamorphosis ever again.

Enchant Weapon – Black Magic: This enchantment now sometimes increases haste rating for the caster rather than inflicting the caster’s target with a damage-over-time effect. It is also now triggered by landing any harmful spell rather than inflicting damage with a spell.

I’m unsure as to the exact nature of this change (how much haste, how often, etc), but I do have a feeling it will be a dps increase for anyone out there using it. Putting another DoT on a target is nice, but it only affects that one creature, and I don’t think it’s affected by your spell power or anything like that. A haste increase will raise your dps against anything that you’re attacking, even if you change targets, and benefits all of your spells.

• Target Effects: When this UI feature is activated, Fear, Silence, Frostbolt, and Hamstring will all now display text over the target’s head indicating what type of effect has been applied.

Nice and easy now to see who you’ve sent screaming in Fear, and who’s still to go.

Warlock T10 2P Bonus – The critical strike chance of your Shadowbolt, Incinerate, and Corruption spells is increased by 5%.

Warlock T10 4P Bonus – Each time your Immolate and Unstable Affliction spells deal periodic damage, you have a 15% chance to gain 12% spell haste for 10 sec.

These are the two set bonuses from the Tier 10 (Icecrown Citadel raid) items. The two piece is nice, with a simple 5% damage boost to all our staple spells for each spec, and the four piece is perhaps aimed more towards Destruction and Affliction Warlocks, with some tasty hasty. However, Demonology specs which use Immolate will still benefit here, and most of them do, so this ain’t a problem. You can see what the set itself looks like at the top of the post, in case you were blind and missed it on the way down.

Overall? I’m pretty happy with all of the above, and I can’t find much to complain about. Let’s hope the same is true of next time, when we examine the fun and exciting Warlock class changes!

Vel.