Looking for Equilibrium

When using the Dungeon Finder to find a group, damage-dealers (dps) endure long waiting times, while tanks and healers enjoy a much shorter time in the queue. Since the facility was introduced, this has remained the case.


One may wonder why the average waiting time for a dps has not decreased, but instead even increased, since then. Having economic insight, one may envision the three roles as three choices a dungeoneering player decides on as part of an economic decision, and also that the the three choices, on the large scale with several people, tend to economic equilibrium with each other.

Cost and benefit
When faced with a choice of activities to perform, a person makes an economic decision whenever they try to gain the most satisfaction by choosing the best activity for them. For each activity, they need to compare the costs incurred with the benefits gained. The excess of the benefit over the cost is their (accounting) profit from the activity:

Accounting profit = Benefits - Costs

How to Catch Crawfish

As part of the Cooking daily quest (daily) Crawfish Creole, the player is required to "catch [sic]" Muddy Crawfish. Due to the likelihood of a player's doing it with the day's Fishing daily, they may interpret the instruction incorrectly.

When a person obtains a fish using a fishing rod, they are said to 'catch' it. In the circumstances, the player may apply that same definition to the word as used in the quest text. Of course, doing so is erroneous.

To interpret the instructions correctly, the player must read it somewhat more literally. The literal meaning of 'catch' does not imply the use of a fishing rod, in which case, the player is encouraged to use their hands (as they would for a slow-moving ball in flight).

A baseball can (literally) be caught using a special mitt.

Technically, the Muddy Crawfish NPC is to be looted in order to obtain the namesake item for the quest. Mousing over the NPC model reveals that it can be looted. To catch it ingame, the player must enter looting range and right-click.

EDIT 14Nov11: Appended hard copy version.

Azeroth Mass Transit Network Map [Map]

With the portals in Dalaran and Shattrath removed as part of patch 4.0.3a, there will be much greater use of Azeroth's slower transportation network. The following map serves as a reference for mass transit services provided to citizens of the Alliance and Horde.

The style used in the map departs from traditional methods of accurately charting landmasses and routes; instead, it aims for simplicity. It has been inspired by the highly stylised representations of real-life transportation networks, characterised by straight lines, highly simplified geographic features and regularly spaced nodes.

Notices

• Auberdine: The recent Shattering has decimated Auberdine. All nautical activities have been moved to Rut'theran Village in Teldrassil. Darkshore can be reached by private taxi to Lor'danel.

The Faction with Deeve Spairs [Interview Transcript]

The world of Azeroth faces great upheaval, much of which political. Join me, Deeve Spairs, as we talk to representatives from both the Alliance and Horde, to shed some light on the pressing issues facing both factions and, most importantly, how our leaders will tackle the uncertain future ahead. Watch The Faction, only on Critically Analyse.

22nd day of 11(1) ES 33, hard embargo – immediate release
N.B. Spoilers for World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm after the jump

Participants

• Deeve Spairs [Deeve]
• Lady Jaina Proudmoore [Jaina]

STATE OF CATACLYSM [News Article]

Fire engulfs Orgrimmar, rebuilding costly due to scarce supplies
Political tensions mount after Thrall appoints Garrosh as acting Warchief prior to vision quest

[Pguinto-Frostmourne-US], 16th day of 11(1) ES 33, hard embargo - immediate release

N.B. Spoilers for Golden, C (2010) (World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm) and strategy guide for the Elemental Invasion after the jump

ORGRIMMAR - A devastating fire tore through Orgrimmar today after the recent dry spell throughout Durotar had escalated the [fire hazard] to alarming [levels]. People throughout the Horde territories worry about political, economic and ecological difficulties stemming from it.

Orgrimmar had suffered an invasion of fire elementals, which caused an inferno that reached calamitous proportions and burned down most of the predominantly wooden architecture. Shaman are still baffled as to the reason for the elements’ disgruntlement.

The fire may be related to the recently foiled [arson] attempts by the Doomsday Cult. They had attempted to use special devices and rituals to mass summon fire elementals to the city.

As part of the fire fighting effort, which literally required monsoonal amounts of water, able shaman arrived at the scene to commune with the fire elementals responsible for the blaze. Thrall, shaman and Warchief of the Horde, personally assisted in the effort.

Repairing the unprecedented damage sustained is challenging given the strain the city's coffers are under from drought and restricted trade with the Alliance.

Prior to the fire, citizens of all major cities had complained of minor ground tremors. It is widely believed that action by the earth elementals, or some other related phenomena, would cause a more major earthquake.

Tax-Effect Accounting 101 for Australian Businesses

Governments levy taxes on individuals and businesses to finance its activities and/or (in the economic spirit of things) discourage certain certain activities. More likely than not, a business will be required to pay tax on its income. In doing so, that business would need to look at its accounts to determine the tax that is payable (or, if they are doing badly enough, how much they can claim from the tax agency).

The amount of tax a business needs to pay is often a fixed percentage of the profit they earn. Generally, where they earn revenue, the tax payable increases, while incurring expenses decreases tax payable.

If the business is operating in Australia, among others, it would need to follow the accounting standard AASB 112 Income Taxes, which, in general, would require two things:

1. Calculating current tax payable by reconciling from the accounting profit recorded for the year
2. Calculating deferred tax by recognising the differences between the accounting and tax balances of assets and liabilities

Pictures with Leaders

30th day of 10(1) ES 33

With the Shattering looming ever closer, I figured that now would be a good time to catch up with the Horde's leaders before their worlds are turned upside down. Here I record my travels and the conversations I had with them.

N.B. Spoilers for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm and Christie Golden's World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm after the jump

Garrosh Hellscream

• Well known for: Leading the Warsong Offensive in Northrend as Overlord; challenging Thrall's leadership via Mak'gora; losing his composure near Varian Wrynn; being the son of Grommash Hellscream, damner to the original Blood Curse
• Where I found him: (32.81,38.02) Grommash Hold of Orgrimmar, Durotar, Kalimdor, Azeroth.
• What he was doing: Being appointed temporary Warchief by Thrall in a rather plain ceremony