When it comes to Betas, use a scattershot approach — apply for everything, *maybe* you’ll get invited to one thing.

Another target to keep in your sights, one of the incoming Turbine elf dramas: Dungeons & Dragons Online pre-beta beta signup. Really, you have GOT to get into the beta if you want bragging rights for your entire stay in a game: I was in the beta, I’m as old skool as it gets, noob. Also: Game was much better in the closed beta without all these noobs.

Or, you can lie like most people and just say you were in beta plus you’re drinking buddies with the developers so of course you’d know how this damn encounter works. Jeezus.

In other elvish news, the rumors continue to grow and mutate about World of Warcraft’s first expansion pack (read: content you have to BUY) — the details will be officially announced at their BlizzCon thingy on October 28 and 29. Missed the rumors? Go read:

Joystiq
Gaming Steve
WoW Guru forum post by some guy
The Cesspit and updated Cesspit. (and how the fuck did Vivendi get Abalieno’s phone number?)

The big thing is, of course, the max level increase. Seeing as how “learning from others’ past mistakes” isn’t a strong point around these parts, this could be painful … for everyone. One word: Kunark.

But! The bright side: we all get to return to the level grind. Yay. Plus, there’ll be more elves. Yay.

If the horde really does get a new blood elf race, there goes all our Alliance chick priests and druids. Sure, there’ll be less chatter about shoulder and helm graphics, but we need all the priests and druids we can get.