Blizzard Authenticator out of sync issues

I'm posting this here because I could find no mention of it on the Blizzard forums, etc. I have recently been having problems with my authenticator. It started off that I would not be able to login and two or three tries (of new keys generated from my authenticator) would get me in, and it slowly got worse from there. I was to the point last week that I had to get the code from my authenticator then wait about 30 seconds before hitting Enter, or I would get an authentication failure. So I e-mailed blizzard to ask them what to do. I got back the most horrible response.


Hello Alex,

Thank you for contacting Blizzard Billing and Accounts Services, If you are requesting that the Battle.net Mobile Authenticator be deactivated from the account due to receiving an error upon login that the Authenticator code entered is invalid, please try using the "Resync" button to see if that resolves the issue.

If you were unable to remove the authenticator using the "Resync" option, please submit the following documentation in order to deactivate the Battle.net Mobile Authenticator:

- A legible photocopy of the identification of the registered account user. Only a government issued photo ID or Birth Certificate will be accepted for the registered user. (School IDs are *not* accepted.)

- A copy of the TOU (Terms of Use) form found here: http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/BNETTOUFORM

You may send the information 3 different ways:

**EMAIL**
- Email as an attachment to Billing and Account Services: AccountServices@Blizzard.com
- Use the account name as the SUBJECT line
- Attachment must be under 5MB
- Attachments must be in JPG, GIF, or BMP format.
- Make sure that all attachments meet the recommend requirements. Security concerns may cause files with other formats or files that are too large to be filtered or deleted without response.

**FAX**
- (949) 725-0701

**MAIL**
- ATTN: Blizzard Authenticator
Billing & Account Services
Blizzard Entertainment
PO Box 18979
Irvine, CA 92623


To assure prompt processing of your submission please review the following tips:
- Be sure to include *ALL* of the requested documents. Missing or incomplete information may cause delays.
- Print and manually sign the TOU form. *DIGITAL SIGNATURES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED* Processing will not proceed without the proper legal acknowledgement of the Terms of Service.

If you have any questions regarding this procedure, please e-mail our Billing and Account Services department at billing@blizzard.com or call us for live assistance. Billing representatives are on hand to take your call between 8am and 8pm Pacific Time, 7 days a week at 1-800-59-BLIZZARD (800-592-5499). Customers in Australia should call 1-800-041-378.


Ciro E.
Billing and Account Services Representative
Blizzard Entertainment


-----Original Message-----
From: alex@cresswell.org
To: web.support@blizzard.com
Sent: 1/20/2010 7:00:54 AM
Subject: [en]World of Warcraft -- Other -- Authenticator

Contact Information -----------------------
Name: Alex Cresswell
Email: alex@cresswell.org



System Information ------------------------
IP: 209.163.254.38

Request ------------------------------------
Product: World of Warcraft
Category: Other -- Authenticator

Description --------------------------------

Beginning this week my authenticator has been causing me to not be able to login immediately. It seems that my authenticator is out of sync with the server, because if I enter the code from the authenticator and immediately try to login I get authentication failure, but if I try again and enter the code and then wait about 15 seconds before logging in I get in fine. Is there a way to re-synchronize my authenticator with the server? Is this a common problem?


So after receiving this I was even more frustrated. I know that the mobile authenticator app has a 'Resync' button, but that gets me nowhere with my hardware authenticator. So I decided to see if I could get it fixed myself. I got it to work, and here's the solution in case you need to do the same:

From the main page on worldofwarcraft.com click on Account Management, and login. After login click on Home, then click on Change Security Options. This will get you to the page where you can remove your authenticator. You will have to enter two codes, and then will have to enter the serial # and the code to add it back again. I believe the server side requires two codes in case your authenticator is out of sync so it can verify that it's the right authenticator, and adding it back will sync the 'time' on the server side to the internal 'time' on your authenticator.

Hope this helps!

Gearing up with Emblems of Frost

This is my follow-up on part 1 of my gearing guide for your Arcane mage. In this post I'll cover how to spend your Emblems of Frost.

First off, I'm going to assume that you have a full set of ilevel 232 gear including 4 pieces of Tier 9. Whether or not that is true you should still be able to take away something useful from here, and if you don't have the gear then check out my previous post on gearing up to ilevel 232 gear. I would still recommend running the Heroic 5-man Icecrown Instances for your chance at the Battered Hilt until you are lucky enough to get a weapon from Icecrown Citadel itself.

So you've got a whole stack of Emblems of Frost, and want to know what to buy first? Well the answer is going to depend a lot upon what pieces of Tier 9 you have. What's that, you have all 5 pieces? Well then, let me list the order you should go for then:

1. Bloodmage Shoulderpads (Shoulders) - 60 Emblem of Frost - You should still be using your 4 piece Tier 9 set bonus.
2. Bloodmage Robe (Chest) - 95 Emblem of Frost - This is a nice jump from the Tier 9 chest, and will get you to the Tier 10 2-piece set bonus.
3. Bloodmage Leggings (Leggings) - 95 Emblem of Frost
4. Bloodmage Hood (Head) - 95 Emblem of Frost
5. Circle of Ossus (Waist) - 60 Emblem of Frost
6. Volde's Cloak of the Night Sky (Back) - 50 Emblem of Frost
7. Gloves of False Gestures (Hands) - 60 Emblem of Frost
8. Maghia's Misguided Quill (Trinket) - 60 Emblem of Frost

Patch 3.3 guide to gearing your Arcane Mage

I have wanted to do one of these posts for a long time, so I finally sat myself down to get it done. What I'm going to provide you with here is a Best-in-Slot (TM) list of gear that you can get doing current 5-man Heroic dungeon content, excluding Emblems of Frost. I'll follow up next week with the Emblems of Frost post. For each slot I'll list several options, and how to get them, either what dungeon they are from, or how many Emblems (and what type) it takes to get them. So kicking it all off, it's best to start with a weapon isn't it? Of course the Staff wielders are at a disadvantage because their DPS is going to be slightly lower than the Main Hand/Off-Hand mages, but to each his own.

If you are a sword or dagger wielding mage, then you'll want:

1. Seethe (Main Hand)- drops from Devourer of Souls in Heroic Forge of Souls

2. Chilled Heart of the Glacier (Main Hand) - drops from The Captain's Chest in Halls of Reflection

3. Spectral Kris (Main Hand) - drops from The Black Knight in Heroic Trial of the Champion

If you are more of a Two-Hander type of mage then you have:
1. Engraved Gargoyle Femur (Two-Hand) - drops from Sourgelord Tyrannus in Heroic Pit of Saron

2. Unspeakable Secret (Two-Hand) - drops from Forgemaster Garfrost in Pit of Saron

Right along with that Sword or Dagger you'll want a fancy off-hand. Here are the best:

1. Shriveled Heart (Off-hand) - drops from The Captain's Chest

2. Handbook of Obscure Remedies (Off-hand) - 25 Emblem of Heroism

Wands:

1. Brimstone Igniter - 25 Emblem of Triumph

2. Soulsplinter - drops from Falric in Heroic Halls of Reflection

3. Coffin Nail - random drop from ICC dungeons

Head:

For the head slot I recommend one of the non-Tier pieces since the non-Tier head is better than the non-Tier pieces for the other slots, but you do need to get your 4-piece Tier bonus, so make sure you pick up those Tier pieces!

1. Hood of Fiery Aftermath (Head) - 75 Emblem of Triumph

2. Hood of Smouldering Aftermath (Head) - 75 Emblem of Triumph

3. Sunstrider's Hood of Conquest (Head) - 50 Emblem of Triumph

Neck:

1. Arcane Loops of Anger (Neck) - drops from Devourer of Souls in Heroic Forge of Souls

2. Evoker's Charm (Neck) - 19 Emblem of Conquest

Shoulder:

1. Sunstrider's Shoulderpads of Conquest (Shoulder) - 30 Emblem of Triumph

2. Very Fashionable Shoulders (Shoulder) - drops from Bronjahm in Heroic Forge of Souls

3. Frayed Abomination Stiching Shoulders (Shoulders) - drops from Marwyn in Halls of Reflection

Back:

1. Disguise of the Kumiho (Back) - 25 Emblem of Valor

2. Kurisu's Indecision (Back) - drops from Eadric in Heroic Trial of the Champion

Chest:

1. Sunstrider's Robe of Conquest (Chest) - 50 Emblem of Triumph

2. Ancient Polar Bear Hide (Chest) - drops from Ick in Heroic Pit of Saron

3. Embrace of Madness (Chest) - drops from The Black Knight in Heroic Trial of the Crusader

Wrists:

1. Bracer of Worn Molars (Wrist) - drops from Falric in Heroic Halls of Reflection

2. Wraps of the Astral Traveler (Wrist) - 60 Emblem of Valor

3. Wristguards of Subterranean Moss (Wrist) - drops from Ick in Pit of Saron

4. Bindings of the Wicked (Wrist) - drops from Champions in Trial of the Champion

Hands:

1. Sunstrider's Gauntlets of Conquest (Hands) - 30 Emblem of Triumph

2. Touch of the Occult (Hands) - 28 Emblem of Conquest

3. Marwyn's Macabre Fingertips (Hands) - drops from Falric in Halls of Reflection

4. Handwraps of Surrendered Hope (Hands) - drops from The Black Knight in Trial of the Champion

Waist:

1. Braid of Salt and Fire (Waist) - drops from Ick in Heroic Pit of Saron

2. Sash of Potent Incantations (Waist) - 28 Emblem of Conquest

3. Essence of Anger (Waist) - drops from Devourer of Souls in Forge of Souls

4. The Confessor's Binding (Waist) - drops from Confessor's Cache in Trial of the Champion

Legs:

1. Sunstrider's Leggings of Conquest (Legs) - 50 Emblem of Triumph

2. Legwraps of the Master Conjurer (Legs) - 39 Emblem of Conquest

3. Rimewoven Silks (Legs) - drops from Scourgelord Tyrannus in Pit of Saron

4. Leggings of the Haggard Apprentice (Legs) - Confessor's Cache / Eadric's Cache in Trial of the Champion

Feet:

1. Prelate's Showshoes (Feet) - drops from Sourgelord Tyrannus in Heroic Pit of Saron

2. Ice-Steeped Sandals (Feet) - drops from Forgemaster Garfrost in Pit of Saron

3. Boots of the Crackling Flame (Feet) - drops from The Black Knight in Heroic Trial of the Champion

Rings:

1. Ashen Band of Destruction (Finger) - Friendly reputation with Ashen Verdict, gained through killing anything in Icecrown Citadel, definitely worth killing trash just to get this ring

2. Band of the Invoker (Finger) - 35 Emblem of Triumph

3. Band of Channeled Magic (Finger) - 25 Emblem of Valor

4. Sinner's Confession (Finger) - drops from Confessor's Cache in Heroic Trial of the Champion

Trinkets:

1. Talisman of Resurgence (Trinket) - 50 Emblem of Triumph

2. Abyssal Rune (Trinket) - drops from Confessor's Cache / Eadric's Cache in Trial of the Champion

3. Sundial of the Exiled (Trinket) - 40 Emblem of Heroism

4. Nevermelting Ice Crystal (Trinket) - drops from Scourgelord Tyrannus in Heroic Pit of Saron

Frustration with guild progress

Since back in November when I posted about downing Jaraxxus in 10-man, our guild has been blocked of any progress. It's not that we haven't tried, we have spent several nights attempting the faction champions. We've been back in Ulduar, to try a full clear, and have been suffering wipe after wipe on bosses that we have downed before. (Hodir, Thorim, and Freya have been the latest setbacks) We have yet to attempt Mimiron, General Vezax, and Yogg. We have had several attempts at Marrowgar, all met with lots of wiping. So the frustration has been building for sometime, and I'm starting to look at what else is available, because I'm seriously doubting the guild's ability to clear ICC before the next expansion. So far it has been frustrating to say the least of it. The people in the guild are all very fun to play with, but in the end I play Warcraft to see current content and take down bosses, that's why I play, and what I enjoy doing. So I'm currently LFG (looking for a guild). I'd really prefer not to have to server transfer, and there look to be several really good guilds on Aggramar, so after I get the best 5-man and badge gear that I can get for my mage, I'll be putting in some applications.