I’m happy to announce that the revised and updated “MGB4″ version of the Daily
Routine videos is now in production.

Module 9: Workflow and Daily Routine has been sitting empty for a long time. Far too long really. I appreciate your patience as I’ve wrestled with figuring out how I wanted to present this.

I finally found the way to go forward, in the process of developing the new MGB4 member site that will be going live for you when Cataclysm expansion arrives.

This means that as well as (finally) getting an updated series of Daily Routine videos and tips, you are also getting a preliminary look at some of the new MGB4 content

I’m interested in your comments, so let me know what you think. The new videos will be shorter, chunked out into smaller topics per video, with the intention that the vast pool of Blueprint method info will be easier to access, search and update.

As I write this, I’ve posted two of the new Daily Routine videos, and I’ve got two more in production (going online in the next few days). Eventually, there will be six or seven videos in this series.

• Module 9: Workflow and Daily Routine

[Member Exclusive Content]

The latest addition to Module 11: Worst Mistakes takes a look at a profit-sucking trap that even experienced auction house players fall into at times… undercutting larger stacks.

As a best practice, you know that you should be posting singles or small stacks in almost all cases. And you know that you should be pricing higher per item than the full or large stacks already in the auction house.

Conversely, it’s a big mistake to post singles at a price that undercuts the per-item price level of your competitors’ stacks.

Now posted for online viewing and downloading in the usual formats, in Module 11 of MGB3:

• Module 11: Worst Mistakes

[Member Content]

With Gold Speed Run IV complete, and a couple of weeks to spend with other things in life, I’ve finally had time to get into Starcraft 2… as I’m sure many other MGB’ers have done as well.

Several members have asked me if I’m familiar with any of the available SC2 play and strategy guides, and whether I would recommend any of them.

As usual, my answer is in the videos Below is my detailed review of the two leading online guides for Starcraft 2.

To give you the short take: these are both good guides, but each of them is best for a different audience.

Joana’s Starcraft 2 Strategy Guide (from the original developer of the famous WoW Horde Leveling Guide) is best for players who are already familiar with realtime simulation (RTS) games, such as Warcraft III or Starcraft I. It’s also best for anyone who enjoys learning through videos and demos.

• http://1ab.ca/joana

Shokz Starcraft 2 Guide is better for the complete beginner, as well as for those who prefer written, step-by-step guides. Shokz has more detail on the basics of the game, but the info is less relevant if you are trying to get to the top levels of the game in a hurry.

• http://1ab.ca/shokz

For details, examples, and a look inside the members’ areas of each guide, watch my video review (three short videos):

Starcraft 2 Guide Review, part 1 (runs 4:58)

Why would you ever want to drive prices down? After all, your goal is to sell your stuff at the highest possible price.

But what about the other end of the Pipeline… where you want to buy goods at the lowest possible price?

When you’ve got an active pipeline, with sustained demand and regular sales, but you run short on supply, then it’s to your advantage to push prices down. Temporarily.

Or consider a cross-faction pipeline. Here, you want prices to be as low as possible all the time, on the auction house where you are buying.

Here’s one way to promote low prices.

• Driving Prices Down (Module 12, Advanced Techniques) (runs 10:38)

[MGB Member Content]

Congratulations to all 32 challengers who completed Gold Speed Run IV! It was a thrilling event, and I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.

It was the most successful speed run ever in terms of both individual and collective results. The total gold accumulation of 745,369 Gold, or an average of 23,292g per challenger, was quite amazing. Can we hit 1 million gold next time?

Now it’s time for the prizes. I always like to give away something that is useful in game. This time, it’s…

Choppers!

I am awarding a chopper mount… either a Mekgineer’s Chopper for use by an Alliance toon, or a Mechano Hog for the Horde side… to each of our three winners. The mounts will be delivered by character transfers from my speed run server.

The choppers go to…

• Benfrew, winner of the single-faction challenge
• VekTor, runner-up in the both-factions challenge
• SisterOfTorment, special Rookie-of-the-Run award

The first two awards are clear enough. Benfrew not only racked up a convincing win by gold total, he also entertained and informed us all with an outstanding series of commentaries and progress reports. VekTor put aside his own aspirations of ultimate victory to develop and test excellent tools for MGB’ers (his Pipeline and Purchogram add-ons), and to give detailed instructions for playing the speed run to the max… and still came away with a huge gold total and overall 2nd-place finish.

• Benfrew’s Speed Run Log
• VekTor’s Speed Run Log

The special award to SisterOfTorment is a “wild-card” prize. I wanted to recognize a challenger who contributed to everyone’s experience of the Speed Run in a big way, and/or who earned “style points” for representing the spirit of the Blueprint method throughout the challenge. There were several strong contenders for this extra award, but in the end I am delighted to recognize SisterOfTorment for her spirited play, her excellent series of progress reports, and great results as an absolute beginner in both MGB and speed run.

• SisterOfTorment’s Speed Run Log

… plus Something for Everyone!

I also want to reward everyone who took part in the speed run and completed the full 30 days of the challenge. The whole MGB community learned a lot from your enthusiastic participation and experiences, and you deserve a big thank you from us all.

So: I am awarding full access to the “Realm Run” members’ area to all 32 speed runners. I’m hoping the info in the Realm Run series of videos (on making gold via character transfer arbitrage) may help you towards a useful disposal of all that gold you earned on your speed run server.

Congratulations to everyone!

- Jon

Here is the final Leaderboard with results submitted at the end of the day on July 31st 2010.

Prizes will be awarded to VekTor for the “Both Factions” challenge, to Benfrew for the “Single Faction” challenge, and to a third mystery prize winner (not yet determined). I will announce the actual prizes tomorrow (Monday Aug. 2).

The total gold acquired for all challengers during the 30 days of Speed Run IV was 745,369 Gold (average of 23,292g per challenger).

Both Factions Challenge

1 Jonathan Kenins, The Scryers US: Alliance 78335g, Horde 32553g, Total 110888g (increase: 51902)
2 VekTor, Ysera US: Alliance 46267g, Horde 41605g, Total 87872 (increase: 44694)
3 Captain, Shadow Council US: Alliance 69001g, Horde 14230g, Total 83231 (increase: 55963)
4 Toltec, Undermine US: Alliance 33077g, Horde 27339g, Total 60416 (increase: 31245)
5 jplineman, Mannoroth US: Alliance 39597g, Horde 5609g, Total 45206 (increase: 24446)
6 Calór, Stormrage US: Alliance 22361g, Horde 16977g, Total 39338 (increase: 17503)
7 Dragon, Uldaman US: Alliance 8631g, Horde 6838g, Total 15469 (increase: 4915)
8 Lindsey, Hellscream US: Alliance 8945g, Horde 5682g, Total 14627 (increase: 4794)
9 Bartock, Earthen Ring US: Alliance 4199g, Horde 2520g, Total 6719 (increase: 1373)
10 Wisdomone, Hydraxis US: Alliance 1290g, Horde 2620g, Total 3910 (increase: 1651)
11 auburnimp, Dragonblight EU: Alliance 1214g, Horde 1204g, Total 2418 (increase: 939)
12 arnie, Dragonmaw US: Alliance 101g, Horde 1077g, Total 1178 (increase: 0)

Single Faction Challenge

1 Benfrew, Kirin Tor US: 70325g (increase: 21782g)
2 Knowmad62, Moonrunner US: 36915g (increase: 16915g)
3 nrsratchett, Azjol Nerub US: 33812g (increase: 12914g)
4 Trop, Burning Legion EU: 30010g (increase: 15691g)
5 DrZap, Velen US: 22551g (increase: 9662g)
6 SisterOfTorment, Dragonblight US: 11842g (increase: 3121g)
7 Mahdi, Dawnbringer US: 11337g (increase: 2219g)
8 williams101, Antonidas US: 10736g (increase: 7630g)
9 wotfan2, Zul’Jin US: 10694g (increase: 5212g)
10 Rennell, Silvermoon US: 5807g (increase: 1263g)
11 Orbi, Dath’Remar US: 4923g (increase: 1726g)
12 loboblanco, Kargath US: 4521g (increase: 0g)
13 Kenny, Kel’Thuzad EU: 4330g (increase: 914g)
14 Dyemnd1, Silver Hand US: 3886g (increase: 1201g)
15 EvilTom27, Emerald Dream EU: 3868g (increase: 0g)
16 dgrove21, Trollbane US: 3166g (increase: 507g)
17 maritime407, Skywall US : 3000g (increase: 0g)
18 Brokk, Shadowsong EU: 1665g (increase: 0g)
19 Ursacmav, Stormreaver US: 591g (increase: 199g)
20 abcoachnz, Dalaran US: 118g (increase: 0g)

It looks like I missed a key part of the Midsummer Fire Festival event gold-making opportunity, when I made my earlier event gold video (see Updates & Patch Notes module).

On the last day of the festival, which coincides with the July 4th celebration in the U.S., unique “Holiday Fireworks Vendor” NPCs appear in various locations for this one day only. Most conveniently, you will find them outside the auction houses in Stormwind (Lillian Singh) and Orgrimmar (Kizzak Sparks).

These vendors sell several Fireworks and Sparklers (off-hand items) that are unique to this one day of the year. The items are non binding, so you can sell them through the year. As with all such event-specific items, this means big profits if you are patient.

The best items to stockpile and sell later are the Fireworks (note that not all of the fireworks available from these vendors are unique to the event!):

• Midsummer Ground Flower
• Red, White and Blue Firework
• Yellow Rose Firework

The Sparklers should also do well, there are three different items available (Red, White and Blue, of course):

• Red Sparkler
• White Sparkler
• Blue Sparkler

[MGB Member Content]
Read the rest…

I really like the direction Auctionator add-on is heading. The developer is deliberately keeping it simple and focused, avoiding bloated features and complexity that would interfere with getting the job done.

The latest update is terrific: Advanced Search.

This new feature (in version 2.6.3, available since early June 2010) adds a simple pop box that lets you limit your searches in the “Buy” tab by category, sub-category, minimum and maximum levels.

That may not sound like a big deal… but check out the video to see how powerful this is for building shopping lists and target lists for pipeline development.

Now online in the Tools module of MGB3, running time 10:43.

• Module 2: Tools

Gold Speed Run IV begins on Monday June 28th. Past participants already have a pretty good idea what this is all about, and how much fun it is for everyone (as well as valuable experience).

If you’re new to the Gold Speed Run, I want to help you get off to a flying start.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to open up the twice-a-month live online webinar event – normally available to MGB-Plus members only – for all MGB members.

The topic will be: how to get started with Gold Speed Run, how to make the most of the speed run, and How To Win! I’ll be presenting a plan of attack for you to follow, explaining the rules and procedures, and answering questions online.

This live event takes place on Saturday June 26th, at 4:00pm eastern time.

You need to register ahead of time to be sure of getting in (there’s a limited number of lines available for access). Details below.

[MGB Member Content]

Read the rest…

Now before you get too excited about this… the new Midsummer Fire video now online in the Updates and Patch Notes module is possible the least important video you will find anywhere in Massive Gold Blueprint!

That’s because almost every item associated with the Midsummer event is Bind on Pickup. There are lots of great items, including an exotic pet, some clothing items, and unique event-related foods. But you can’t make any gold profit from any of it.

Except… just the one thing.

Check out the video now, and see if this is something you can use for gold-making on your server.

• Module 13: Updates & Patch Notes