Another WoW post
This here is a copy of an email I sent to a friend to explain what addons I use and why. I put it here for my own amusement and for a sort of record-keeping.
As far as I am concerned, these addons have been crucial to playing. I hope you don't mind I've compiled a few. If you choose not to use the Curse Client, just download the zip folder and place it in your addons folder, which is located in your interface folder in your root World of Warcraft folder. For almost any of these, the link I provide here will give information on how to further interact with the addon. This might include option settings, commands, and so on. Feel free to use any of these, or none at all. I don't judge addon usage.
Curse Client:
http://wow.curse.com/client/
It's not an addon, it's a client for updating addons. Just run it every now and then to keep your addons fresh and updated. The paid version automatically does it. The free version does it one at a time with your supervision, which is fine. It also allows installing of addons directly from the site and gets rid of the need for downloading a zip folder and unzipping it into your interface/addons folder.
First: Buggrabber and bugsack:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/bug-grabber.aspx
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/bugsack.aspx
These grab the bug reports that would normally spam your screen and places them in a readable format that most players never even open. It's handy for when there is a new version of WoW and someone hasn't updated their addons or there isn't an updated version to be had. These two work together to make sure your addon use is fairly smooth.
Bagnon:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/bagnon.aspx
Opens bags in one "window". Lets your see your bank when you're not there. It also lets you see other characters' bags and bank, as long as you have logged in since you've had the addon.
WoW Instant Messenger:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/wim-3.aspx
Opens chats in another window so you don't lose your conversations. Opens a different one for each person. Also keeps a log, based on your options.
Cartographer:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/cartographer.aspx
A map addon that gives you something that many people find perplexing until they get used to it: A coordinate system for maps. It's also got some other cool features, like waypoint use and other things.
EQCompare:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/eqcompare.aspx
When you hover over something or click a link, shows you the item you are wearing in that slot next to the tool-tip. It's really handy, especially in combination with the next one.
Rating Buster:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/rating-buster.aspx
Shows what those numbers on the tooltip actually mean. When something has a crit rating, it breaks it down into the actual effect it has on your crit percentage. Also shows what effects your stats have, as strength affects attack power, etc.
Quartz:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/quartz.aspx
This is a basic change to the appearance and functionality of your cast bar. Not only does it give vital information and a look inside the workings of what goes on when casting, it really helps to keep track of your buffs/debuffs. The red bit at the end of your bar is Quartz taking your latency into account when casting and shows you when you can actually start casting again.
Omen Threat Meter:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/omen-threat-meter.aspx
Remember what I told you about "aggro" and "hate"? It's also called "threat". This keeps track of that in a little window that uses bars to show who is doing the most to anger the monster. It really helps when in groups and you want to maintain aggro (in the case of the tank) or not be squashed (in the case of healers or DPS). Things like damaging the monster and healing the monster's (or mob's - mob is short for mobile) enemies - you and me!
Sell-O-Matic:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/sell-o-matic.aspx
This addon simply is the bee's knees. By default, it will sell all greys with the click of one button on the vendor's window. It is customizable to sell more stuff, such as a stack of fish you know won't sell on the AH.
SmartBuff and SmartDebuff:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/smart-buff.aspx
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/smart-debuff.aspx
Buffs are effects on you that aid you in some way, such as Arcane Intellect, which increases your intellect. Debuffs bring you down in some way, like demoralizing shout. This set of addons will aid you in making sure you have the former on when you want them, and helping to get rid of the latter, if you can. Shaman, for instance, have a couple of spells that will remove diseases and magic debuffs. One talent in the restoration tree gives them the ability to remove poison, as well. This allows you to remove debuffs by clicking on the window provided when it reports that someone is debuffed. It's pretty snazzy. If you've never had to guess who has what debuff and which button to try to press, you have avoided some headaches. While shaman don't have many buffs they can perform, it's still a handy tool.
Auctioneer:
http://auctioneeraddon.com/dl/
Auctioneer is an addon that updates with Curse. I'm not sure how that works, but this addon has been indespensible for working with the economy of the server. To make it work properly (show the current prices of items based on AH usage) you have to scan the auction house every now and then. If you want to avoid that, you can just send the stuff you want sold to me. I'd be happy to help. The download link is the one I think you have to use. I am not certain that Curse will install it properly.
Auctioneer also contains Informant, which gives a lot of customizable information in the tooltip that isn't normally there, such as vendor price (good for knowing which greys to delete!), craft usage, and so on.
The Fubar Set:
Fubar:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/fubar.aspx
Creates a bar on top and on bottom of the screen that holds various Fubar addons which display information or just has a handy place to click.
DurabilityFu:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/fubar_durabilityfu.aspx
Displays the percentage durability loss of your most damaged item. When you hover over it, gives more detailed information.
MoneyFu:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/fubar_moneyfu.aspx
Keeps track of your money flow and displays it on the Fubar.
LocationFu:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/fubar_locationfu.aspx
I like to place this one above my mini-map. It shows where you are, the coordinates for where you are, and on hovering over it, suggested locations for your level.
PerformanceFu:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/fubar_performancefu.aspx
Shows how you're doing with your computer's performance along with details about ping, latency, and addon memory usage. It's pretty handy for finding troublesome areas.
WhisperFu:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/fu-bar_whisper-fu.aspx
Shows you who last told you something and the last few things they said on hover. It's pretty handy if you lose your WIM window and don't remember the name of the who sent a whisper/tell.
As far as I am concerned, these addons have been crucial to playing. I hope you don't mind I've compiled a few. If you choose not to use the Curse Client, just download the zip folder and place it in your addons folder, which is located in your interface folder in your root World of Warcraft folder. For almost any of these, the link I provide here will give information on how to further interact with the addon. This might include option settings, commands, and so on. Feel free to use any of these, or none at all. I don't judge addon usage.
Curse Client:
http://wow.curse.com/client/
It's not an addon, it's a client for updating addons. Just run it every now and then to keep your addons fresh and updated. The paid version automatically does it. The free version does it one at a time with your supervision, which is fine. It also allows installing of addons directly from the site and gets rid of the need for downloading a zip folder and unzipping it into your interface/addons folder.
First: Buggrabber and bugsack:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/bug-grabber.aspx
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/bugsack.aspx
These grab the bug reports that would normally spam your screen and places them in a readable format that most players never even open. It's handy for when there is a new version of WoW and someone hasn't updated their addons or there isn't an updated version to be had. These two work together to make sure your addon use is fairly smooth.
Bagnon:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/bagnon.aspx
Opens bags in one "window". Lets your see your bank when you're not there. It also lets you see other characters' bags and bank, as long as you have logged in since you've had the addon.
WoW Instant Messenger:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/wim-3.aspx
Opens chats in another window so you don't lose your conversations. Opens a different one for each person. Also keeps a log, based on your options.
Cartographer:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/cartographer.aspx
A map addon that gives you something that many people find perplexing until they get used to it: A coordinate system for maps. It's also got some other cool features, like waypoint use and other things.
EQCompare:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/eqcompare.aspx
When you hover over something or click a link, shows you the item you are wearing in that slot next to the tool-tip. It's really handy, especially in combination with the next one.
Rating Buster:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/rating-buster.aspx
Shows what those numbers on the tooltip actually mean. When something has a crit rating, it breaks it down into the actual effect it has on your crit percentage. Also shows what effects your stats have, as strength affects attack power, etc.
Quartz:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/quartz.aspx
This is a basic change to the appearance and functionality of your cast bar. Not only does it give vital information and a look inside the workings of what goes on when casting, it really helps to keep track of your buffs/debuffs. The red bit at the end of your bar is Quartz taking your latency into account when casting and shows you when you can actually start casting again.
Omen Threat Meter:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/omen-threat-meter.aspx
Remember what I told you about "aggro" and "hate"? It's also called "threat". This keeps track of that in a little window that uses bars to show who is doing the most to anger the monster. It really helps when in groups and you want to maintain aggro (in the case of the tank) or not be squashed (in the case of healers or DPS). Things like damaging the monster and healing the monster's (or mob's - mob is short for mobile) enemies - you and me!
Sell-O-Matic:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/sell-o-matic.aspx
This addon simply is the bee's knees. By default, it will sell all greys with the click of one button on the vendor's window. It is customizable to sell more stuff, such as a stack of fish you know won't sell on the AH.
SmartBuff and SmartDebuff:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/smart-buff.aspx
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/smart-debuff.aspx
Buffs are effects on you that aid you in some way, such as Arcane Intellect, which increases your intellect. Debuffs bring you down in some way, like demoralizing shout. This set of addons will aid you in making sure you have the former on when you want them, and helping to get rid of the latter, if you can. Shaman, for instance, have a couple of spells that will remove diseases and magic debuffs. One talent in the restoration tree gives them the ability to remove poison, as well. This allows you to remove debuffs by clicking on the window provided when it reports that someone is debuffed. It's pretty snazzy. If you've never had to guess who has what debuff and which button to try to press, you have avoided some headaches. While shaman don't have many buffs they can perform, it's still a handy tool.
Auctioneer:
http://auctioneeraddon.com/dl/
Auctioneer is an addon that updates with Curse. I'm not sure how that works, but this addon has been indespensible for working with the economy of the server. To make it work properly (show the current prices of items based on AH usage) you have to scan the auction house every now and then. If you want to avoid that, you can just send the stuff you want sold to me. I'd be happy to help. The download link is the one I think you have to use. I am not certain that Curse will install it properly.
Auctioneer also contains Informant, which gives a lot of customizable information in the tooltip that isn't normally there, such as vendor price (good for knowing which greys to delete!), craft usage, and so on.
The Fubar Set:
Fubar:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/fubar.aspx
Creates a bar on top and on bottom of the screen that holds various Fubar addons which display information or just has a handy place to click.
DurabilityFu:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/fubar_durabilityfu.aspx
Displays the percentage durability loss of your most damaged item. When you hover over it, gives more detailed information.
MoneyFu:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/fubar_moneyfu.aspx
Keeps track of your money flow and displays it on the Fubar.
LocationFu:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/fubar_locationfu.aspx
I like to place this one above my mini-map. It shows where you are, the coordinates for where you are, and on hovering over it, suggested locations for your level.
PerformanceFu:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/fubar_performancefu.aspx
Shows how you're doing with your computer's performance along with details about ping, latency, and addon memory usage. It's pretty handy for finding troublesome areas.
WhisperFu:
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/fu-bar_whisper-fu.aspx
Shows you who last told you something and the last few things they said on hover. It's pretty handy if you lose your WIM window and don't remember the name of the who sent a whisper/tell.