The Liebster Award

I’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award by three different people! The first one was Neri of Mama Needs Mana, second one was Amerence of AmerPriest Blog and the third one was Marathal of When 140 characters is not enough. Thank you!

I had never even heard about the Liebster Award when I was nominated. But after reading some posts about it I learned that it’s a small token of appreciation given to up and coming bloggers. It’s a great way to find new blogs and recognize blogs you think deserve a little extra attention.
It seems like almost everyone I know about have been nominated by now, so it took a while to find some people I don’t think have been nominated yet.

General info (from Wording Well)

• This award exists only on the internet, and is given to bloggers by other bloggers
• It has German origins – the word “liebster” has several definitions: Dearest, darling, beloved, sweetheart
• It follows similar principles as a chain letter, in the sense that it should be passed forward to a certain number of people
• It can be misconstrued, depending upon your personal views, as either something wonderful (who doesn’t like awards?) or as an annoyance (a chain letter that involves work)
• The choice lies within each of us to accept it, and continue paying it forward or to refuse to accept it, thereby stopping or interrupting the chain. However, if you stop the chain, you are only hurting yourself
• Personal views play an important part in our choice to participate. Some people have refused to accept it and have made attempts to “break the chain”. There have been many people who have been nominated, yet refused to accept it, and now their blogs have been abandoned
• Variations have been made over time to the “rules”
• Marketing plays a role in accepting this award, as other bloggers are promoted
• Other awards are a part of the whole “meme“. These include “One Lovely Blog Award”, the “Sunshine Blog Award” and the “Versatile Writer Award”

Rules

1. Write a blog post about the Liebster Award
2. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog
3. Display the award on your blog
4. Answer the eleven questions that the blogger who nominated you gives you
5. Give eleven random facts about yourself
6. Nominate eleven blogs that you think deserve the award
7. Create eleven questions for them to answer
8. List the rules in your post
9. Inform the bloggers that they’ve been nominated and provide them the link to your post

 

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Questions from Neri of Mama Needs Mana

 

1. What inspired you to start blogging?
   • Other blogs I read inspired me to start blogging. I thought it would be great to have my own space to write about my thoughts on different topics and a place to share my screenshots from the Cataclysm beta which had just started when I made my blog.
2. If you won a free ticket to Blizzcon, what panels would you be most excited about seeing?
   • I would be most excited about the art panel and the sound panel because I’m very interested in the art and how the game goes from concept art and sketches to the finished game. And the sound panel because I’ve always loved the music in Blizzard’s games and I would love to meet the composers.
3. How do you balance time in-game with your ‘RL’ commitments?
   • I try to do everything that needs to be done in real life first and then play later when I’m finished with everything.
4. If World of Warcraft shut down its servers tomorrow (Or you aren’t currently playing), what would you be playing instead?
   • Diablo III
5. Are there any bloggers out there who you aspire to be like? What is it about them that you love?
   • Cymre: Has one of the greatest blogs I know about, amazing screenshots and inspiring posts. Amerence: Love the way she writes. Always fun and easy to read posts. Neri: One of my favorite blogs because she writes about gaming and other interesting topics like how it is to be a geeky parent :P
6. Are you brave enough to show us your gaming set up?
   • Sure: Asus G74S, Razer Naga, Belkin n52te Nostromo and Logitech G35
     
7. At what age would you let your children (Real or hypothetical) start playing video games?
   • I don’t have any children, yet. But I would definitely introduce them to video games at some point. Maybe some educational children’s games at first when they’re really young like 3-5 years old and other games when they’re a bit older.
8. You have a weekend of interruption free gaming ahead of you. What essential supplies do you stock up on to get you through it?
   • Chocolate and ice coffee! Maybe some homemade pizza buns ready to heat up in the microwave.
9. If you could pick any job in the gaming industry, what would it be?
   • I’ve dreamt about becoming a game designer since I was 10 years old and I haven’t given up on it yet.
10. Have you ever done any gaming cosplay?
    • Not really. But remember that I used to find sticks in the woods and make them into swords when I was little and pretend to be Link from the Zelda games. I might dress up as a moonkin if I’m ever going to BlizzCon.
11. What is the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever seen done in an MMO or multi-player game?
    • Eh… Goldshire Inn… Need I say more?

 

Questions from  Marathal of When 140 characters is not enough

 

1. Do you have a favorite(s) blogger you particularly check to see if they have posted.
   • Yes, Mama Needs Mana, AmerPriest Blog, Bubbles of Mischief
2. Mandatory question I guess.  What made you start blogging?
   • I thought it would be great to have my own space to write about my thoughts on different topics and a place to share my screenshots from the Cataclysm beta which had just started when I made my blog.
3. Is there any blog post you’re particularly proud of?
   • I’m proud of my post about the Whispering Forest because not many others knew about the even when I wrote that post and it has gotten a lot of hits since I posted it in July 2011.
4. Any advice you wish you could have given yourself prior to writing a controversial blog?
   • Don’t be afraid to express yourself
5. Pick a community manager you would love to see as an interactive NPC.
   • I’ve actually no idea as I don’t really know the community managers.
6. Is there a class or spec that you’ve never played that you’d really like to try one day?
   • I think I’ve tried every class and spec there is, but not seriously. Right now I’m thinking about leveling my 85 mage and try frost in battlegrounds.
7. Opinion on labels ie. Casual, Elite, Hardcore, can’t we all be called players?
   • We’re all players, but we play at different levels. I call myself a casual player because I don’t play a lot at the moment compared to what I did back when I raided 3 times per week and played every evening.
8. What are you looking forward to the most in WoD and would you give up a raid tier for them to improve one thing and what would it be?
   • I haven’t actually read that much about Warlords of Draenor. But I’m looking forward to leveling and learning more about the story behind it all. I want them to take the time they need to make it as good as they can. Buuut, I would give up a raid tier for an updated version of the Moonkin Form.
9. If you could have any WoW mount to ride in real life, what would that be?
   • Swift Zulian Tiger
10. If they were a playable class, would you play a Ranger? What race?
    • I doubt it, if it’s like a hunter because I’m not a big fan of the hunter class.
11. Cheesesteak wit or witout.
    • Witout

 

Questions from Amerence of AmerPriest Blog

 

1. When did you start blogging, what it’s all about and why?
   • I started blogging in July 2010 because I wanted a place to write down my thoughts and share my screenshots from WoW. I also wrote a lot about moonkin back then when I raided 25 man heroic as a moonkin.
2. Post your most favorite Screenshot of all time!
   • This one from the Whispering Forest faerie dragon event
     
3. Favorite city in WoW you hang out to and why?
   • My hearthstone is set to Shrine of the Two Moons and I spent a lot of time in Orgrimmar when I’m at the auction house. But I think my favorite city is Dalaran because it’s smaller, has an auction house and not a lot of people. I should spend more time there.
4. Do you play other games besides WoW? Any console you using besides your PC?
   • Diablo III
5. What’s your favorite Transmog gear?
   • The Feralheart set
     
6. How many WoW characters in game do you have? Do you equally play them a lot?
   • I have 5 level 90s, 7 80-85 and a ton of lower level characters. I don’t play them all. My favorites are my druid and shaman.
7. What’s your current achievement score? What’s the most favorite one and why?
   • 16480. The old titles The Immortal, Hand of Adal and Champion of the Naaru because they are now Feats of Strength and I remember all the fun I had getting them.
8. What was the most memorable experience since you started playing WoW?
   • Joining the guild Ash and getting to know a bunch of awesome people <3
9. How many total deaths of critters do you currently have? What are your thoughts about these creatures since they can battle now with your own Pet collections too.
   • 24937. I don’t kill those you can battle.
10. First word comes in mind when you think about WoW and why?
    • Raids, because I used to raid a lot, for years, but not anymore
11. Warlords of Draenor is coming up soon, it’s the new expansion everyone is talking about, what are your expectations and why?
    • I haven’t actually read that much about it, to be honest. I’m waiting until the beta, and if I don’t get in, then I might not read anything at all, just wait for the release. But I hope the new world PvP zone will be fun as I think it’s time PvP got some love. I’m also looking forward to the new flexible raid system because it might be easier to find a guild to raid with 1-2 times per week where you don’t have to worry about missing raids once in a while because I want to play more casual. I also hope they’ll update the Moonkin Form in Warlords of Draenor.

 

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11 random facts about me

1. I’m half Filipino, half Norwegian. Born and raised in Norway.
2. I used to be a huge Brann supporter (Norwegian soccer team) and I went to every home game and even some away games for years.
3. I don’t have a driver’s license but I hope to get it some day
4. I used to practice Taekwondo and I miss it
5. I love metal music and used to go to a lot of concerts

   

   GWAR live, Copenhell Denmark 2011

6. I have asthma but I hope I’ll get better when I start to exercise more
7. I used to be part of a small amateur theatre group and I had a secret dream about becoming an actress, but I kinda gave up on it. I might get back into amateur theatre as a hobby some day and I’ll always keep my eyes open for auditions in my area.

   

   Me with the green cape

8. I’m open to the possibility that what we call ghosts exists because people I know, trust and believe claim to have had some in their house
9. I have a cat of the breed Maine Coon, her name is Bonita and she’s brown tabby with white

   

   Bonita

10. I’ve always wanted a tinker horse because they are beautiful and I would like to learn more about horses
11. I haven’t played an instrument since I played the alto horn and the transverse flute in the school band and the piano at home. But I would love to start playing an instrument again.

 

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I nominate these bloggers

Lyrestra of Alts Etc
Cidien of Cidien
Salvira of Miss Salvira’s Hangout
Saz of World of Saz
Batinna of Batinna games – response
Askevar of You Yank It, You Tank it: Blog of a Tanking Death Knight Lady
Ashunera of Wind Lashed
Nightwill of Info from Nightwill the Altaholic
Vaylen of Legacy of the Brew – response

 

11 questions for the nominees

1. When did you start playing WoW and why?
2. What was your first computer/console game and what do you remember from it?
3. If you were to enter the costume contest on BlizzCon, what would your costume be?
4. What is your best WoW memory?
5. What’s the most “noobish” thing you’ve done in WoW?
6. Do you play any games besides WoW?
7. When did you start blogging and why?
8. Is there any piece of advice you wish someone had given you before you started blogging?
9. Is there a blog post you’re particularly proud of?
10. What is your favorite WoW secret (hidden place, pop culture reference, easter egg)?
11. Which zone or area in WoW reminds you of where you’re from and why?

 

Congrats! Have fun :)