So clearly, I’ve been hitting the leveling on my Hordie druid pal (61 as of right now). He was 35 when I faction transferred a little less than two weeks ago. Not bad I’d say, but the heirlooms and Hallow’s End candy buckets helped a ton. Seriously, if you’re leveling an alt hit them buckets. Tons of free experience kids, and candy!

Hesston has taken a backseat lately, with the exception of some PvP and dailies to get Crusader badges. The reasons are many and varied, but chief among them is that I just haven’t been having fun on the Alliance side of things or with the guild. Since I can’t raid anymore, I really don’t fit in with Summit anymore. I play to have fun and stressing about jumping into random raids but not getting any direct reward (which is my own doing, not theirs) simply was not fun. So, I’m taking a break–from Hesston, not the game.

Recently I’ve started to date someone in my real life who is not a WoW player. She in fact has only had negative experience with WoW (a roommate who was “addicted”), and asked a valid question when I told her I play: Why?

I’d been wondering this myself after the minor issues with the guild mentioned previously, and when asked directly I didn’t have a really good answer. To me, it’s like reading or watching movies. Sure, you can give the basic answer of enjoying stories or being transported to another world. But when it comes down to it, those who enjoy either reading or watching movies or both, usually just enjoy it. Often the exact reasons can’t be quantified.

I enjoy playing and interacting with the world simply for what it is.

Some people aren’t big into the lore of WoW, and while I’m not a lore junkie, I like the story. This is one reason I decided to check out things from the Horde side with Krakattoa. I’ve played Warcraft since the first, lo-res RTS game. So to me it’s like watching the evolution of a world I’ve been paying attention to for a very long time. Missing raid instances sucks not only because of the loot, but it also feels like I’m missing out a chapter of the larger story. Most likely I will never be able to go through and clear Icecrown Citadel when it hits in 3.3, and that’s a bummer. Again, it’s like missing a part of the story. I’m sure I’ll hear and read about it, but I’d like to be a part of it.

This leads me back to the pressing question that first came up when the loot issue reared its head: Why? What am I trying to get out of paying my $15 a month and what does it matter if I do or do not get a new purple piece of gear? The truth is that it doesn’t matter in the way I am approaching the game right now. For those doing hardcore progression raiding, a new piece of gear for a few raiders can easily swing the pendulum from wiping to winning. However, skill still trumps gear and I know that I’m good at this game. That’s a bit arrogant, but it’s true. So getting more gear right now, though great, doesn’t really matter. I’m sure when 3.3 drops and I go into the new 5-man bits I can do as well as I need to, and I’ll have fun.

I do this because it’s fun. I’m not playing to supplement some empty part of my real life or to substitute any interactions or relationships I am missing. I’m playing to have fun and I’ll do what I need to do in game to continue to get enjoyment out of this thing I like so much. If that means faction transferring characters or leaving a guild I don’t feel I fit in with anymore, so be it. Because the second any of this stops being fun and more like a chore, job or obligation, is exactly when you should cancel your account and find something else more personally fulfilling.

/EndRamble

Categories: alts, guild, ooc
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I was waiting for a delivery from IKEA, and when the guys came to deliver this small but funny interaction took place:

IKEA guy (attempting to make small talk): So what’s up, you’re not watching the game?

I have no TV right now.

Me: Nope

Delivery guy looks over at computer and sees World of Warcraft on the screen, and the other two computers I have on the desk.

IKEA guy: Oh.

Goes back to dropping off boxes.

I wanted to explain that I’m not a total non-sports person, but by then they were gone. That gave me a chuckle though.

Categories: ooc
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So my tweet last week was a little vague. But yeah, after some minor drama with some guildmates I /gquit all of my toons from the guild, logged off and didn’t log on all week. I was a rough decision to make, but one I felt necessary.

Now don’t get me wrong, I like the vast majority of people in my guild. They’re fun, good people that I enjoyed playing with and chatting with. However, those few that were sour grapes really just bothered me too much. I won’t go into detail to protect those that can’t defend themselves. The argument in question caused me to take a step back and realize I was letting something as silly as a video game, a collection of pixels on a screen, get me angry and frustrated.

I couldn’t let that continue.

I logged on last night for the first time since, and a former guildmate (one that I like) immediately struck up a conversation. We the subject of the upcoming patch 3.2 came up, I was reminded again why I needed to cool it with WoW. It was all “nerf this,” “nerf that,” “emblem system is lame,” etc. I hate, and when I say hate I do mean HATE, nagging about nerfs and such.

Blizzard is doing what it feels it needs to do balance classes, make the game fun for more people and above all else keep the game economically viable in a fast-moving video game business. The fact that Blizzard has managed to keep WoW playable and fun with dated graphics and technology is pretty awesome when you think about it. But, most people don’t think about it.

However, that being said, I still don’t think I am going to quit WoW cold turkey. It’s just too much fun when people aren’t being selfish, blowhard assholes. I plan to just cool it, focus on my RL career and not take anything in the game too seriously. With the fun that looks to be 3.2, I can’t just throw in the towel. I will most likely be one of those “casual assholes” who is running heroics and getting the “welfare epics” everyone is bitching about.

/cast EndBitchSession

Categories: ooc
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I thought this was coming, but I wasn’t 100 percent sure. But, due to real life career issues (positive ones) I am going to have to cut down my raiding commitments with my guild. I thought about finding a guild to fit my schedule better, but decided against it since I like the people and environment in my current guild.

While I’m certainly not throwing in the towel completely, my playtime is getting nerfed and I refuse to not be able to give 110 percent to the raid. That being said, I will still continue to post here about hunters, WoW changes and any other WoW-related nonsense I feel like bantering about.

We’ll see what the future holds for Hesston, but for now, he’s going casual.

Categories: ooc
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So it’s official, Satyricon has disbanded. Overnight the GM snuck in and disbanded while most were probably not logged in. Upon further investigation it looks like he did not disband the guild, but simply kicked everyone out except for two characters (his and his girlfriend’s alts). No doubt so that they could have the guild tabs, but I digress.

So that’s it though, the first guild that I’ve ever been a part of that made significant progress and got geared with, is no more. I still haven’t actually talked to the former GM, but he was online today. Sent him an in-game letter and a whisper, which was met with a DND message. He basically said he was tired of getting people geared only to have them leave for other guilds, which is reasonable. But to those that were dedicated and appreciated the guild, the way he just disbanded without much forethought to us does make me angry. However, this does give me a glimpse into what the game means to me and the social impact of events such as this.

Why it matters
For the last three months or so, I’ve been spending a fair amount of my time with the same people. We raided together, ran heroics together and talked on vent about various things. These were my friends and my social group, and most of us got along very well. Suddenly, it feels like I’ve those friends just wiped off the map. I know, they still exist, but somehow it seems different.

Second, lately my entire WoW lifestyle has revolved around raiding. Any profession leveling, farming or heroics I ran had the goal of preparing for or helping someone get gear for raids. Six months ago, I wouldn’t care. I’d soloed the first 70 levels of the game and enjoyed it. But now, all my goals have been thrown right out the window. I’m feeling a little lost, and spent most of the morning fishing in Zangarmarsh*.

Another reason it sucks is the upcoming release of Ulduar, the new raid. I was extremely excited that I would get to experience the new raid content with a set group, right when it came out. We’d discover our own strategies, wipe on unknown bosses, and triumph over content none of us had experienced before. Now, that seems unlikely. Even if I jump in with another group, it won’t be the same.

Why it doesn’t matter
In the end WoW is just a game and a vehicle to socialize. Though an extremely fun one, WoW is a game. As it stands, I’ve spent a lot of my time lately playing the game, so much so that socialization outside of WoW has dropped significantly. Granted, I moved to a new city for a new job six months ago and don’t know many people here, but perhaps all the WoW playing curbed my RL social outings so much that it might be a good thing.

Also, I’m sure I will still play and find new things to do. And I’m sure I will be able to get myself into raids, considering now I have the DPS to negotiate my way into them. The game isn’t going anywhere, it’s merely shifted.

What comes next?
I could join another guild, but I’m not comfortable with jumping into a new group of personalities, schedules and attitudes. It’d be like being forced to sit at a new lunch table after eating with the same kids all year. I have thought about it and scouted out the guilds on my server a bit, but many of them have bad reputations and too many members. I don’t want to have to compete for a raiding spot every damn week, though that may be my only choice. I’m sure I will eventually, but I don’t want to immediately if I can PuG my way into other raids for the time being.

Some members wanted to start a new guild from the remanents of Satyricon. I don’t really want to do this. The former GM did a good job of keeping tabs on people and the guild under control. He also had a career that afforded him the time to run the thing, I don’t think many others have this sort of committment. Many could hardly show up on time for 25-man raids. Also, the dedicated few that I DO want to stay with, aren’t up for this immediately either.

I have also considered switching servers. As it is I am on and RP server due to my not understanding what that meant originally. The maturity level on the server and the demographics of the players was one reason for it being difficult to find good members. Switching servers would allow me to start fresh, but that’s a bold step. I have met plenty of people on my current server that I enjoy running with and raiding with and it’d be shame to give up those connections.

We’ll have to wait and see I suppose. But tonight, most likely just more fishing.

* To cheer myself up I did jump in a PuG’ed 25-man Vault of Archavon this morning before work (knowing that I would not have a guild to go with on the normal night). Topped the damage meter by 500+DPS, got two valor badges (6 away from my new boots) and showed some folks that Hesston is no chump. Got some guild invites after, that I declined.

Hesston is going on walkabout.

Categories: guild, ooc
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Patch 3.0.8 is coming any day now, and since the first news of it dropped hunters the World of Warcraft over have been lamenting the coming changes, or nerf as it is often called.

I’ve got mixed feelings about some of the changes coming to my most favorite class, but they aren’t wholly negative. However, first a quick review:

• All Hunter pet abilities with a cooldown of 30 seconds or more are no longer on the global cooldown.
• Arcane Shot: Mana cost lowered to match the cost of Steady Shot.
• Aspect of the Wild – This aspect is now raid-wide.
• Call of the Wild: The benefit from this pet talent now applies to only the Hunter and their own pet.
• Deterrence: Design changed to grant 100% parry and 100% chance to “deflect” spells coming from the front, but prevents the Hunter from attacking. Lasts 5 sec. 60 sec. cooldown.
• Explosive Shot: Damage increased substantially, and additional scaling added to compensate Survival Hunters for the decrease in power of Steady Shot. No longer deals damage to secondary targets.
• Improved Tracking (Survival): This talent has been slightly re-designed. Now reads: While tracking Beasts, Demons, Dragonkin, Elementals, Giants, Humanoids and Undead, all ranged damage done to those types is increased by 1/2/3/4/5%.
• Kill Shot ? Cooldown reduced to 15 seconds, down from 35 sec.
• Kindred Spirits: This talent now grants only 3/6/9/12/15% pet damage.
• The coefficient of Rake (Cat) and Scorpid Venom (Scorpid) has been lowered.
• Readiness: No longer resets the cooldown on Bestial Wrath.
• Steady Shot: Now gains 10% of attack power as damage instead of 20%.
• Serpent’s Swiftness: This talent now grants only 2/4/6/8/10% bonus attack speed to pet. The hunter attack speed bonus is unchanged.
• Tranquilizing Shot has had its cooldown reduced to 6 seconds, down from 15.
• Unleashed Fury: This talent now grants only 3/6/9/12/15% pet damage.
• Viper Sting: Now drains a percentage of maximum mana.
• Volley: The damage has been reduced on all ranks by approximately 30% (including attack power scaling).

The logic here is that these changes bring hunters more in line with other DPS classes and specs. Understandable, seeing that hunters seem to reign supreme in that area for the most part. However, I also see it as a way for hunters to have to get more creative with their shot rotations, gear setup, abilities and pets.

Hunters are often chided by the other classes due to the ease at which they can dish out the high DPS. Recently I have come across the spamming hunters, as I call them, the one’s that just jump in and spam volley or one other ability. Sure their numbers are top of the charts, but their ability as a player is negligible.

The change to the damage output to volley will aid in weeding out these players. My hope is that these hunters will grow tired of their character since the DPS is no longer tops, because they no longer know how to do high DPS, and they reroll. Therefore, creative players and those that know the class better become more of a commodity.

I love volley, when it is necessary, but never rely on it. Personally, I try and use everything in my toolbox. I even keep an entire bag full of various gear of equal level in order to mix and match to coincide with the situation.

Regarding several of the other changes (like steady shot and several other BM-related talents), while some seem a little questionable, I’m thinking in the end it will be a good thing. What better time than now to try out different specs, gear setups and new pets than now.

It will make those that really love the class stand out instead of every hunter being a copy of a copy of a copy.

That being said however, I’m going to miss KITT doing tons of damage. Might be time to level that stupid moth.

Categories: hunters, ooc
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So I did it. I bit the bullet, took the plunge, leaped off the cliff; call it what you will, but old Hesston has joined a new guild.

There was not any drama really with the old guild. And all told I was pretty proud that we took down the Four Horsemen and Patchwerk in the same night. However, it just didn’t feel right. So I said my goodbyes, explained to the few that asked the reason for my leaving and then gave a quick /gquit. A few minutes later I contacted my new guild leader and was met by that ominous drumroll.

So now, I am an official recruit of Satyricon.

My arrival was met with many a hearty “hello,” “welcome” and “congrats.” Along with the warm welcome, the officers and assistants gave me all of the contact information and channels to go to for guild inquiries. So far, I’m loving it. Right now I am only a recruit, but once I show that I’m not just going to cut and run, I move up in the ranks. It sounds serious, but they seem like good folks and more relaxed than most raiding guilds. Basically, serious when they need to be, cool otherwise.

I ran with some members of the group for the first time, in Drak’tharon Keep. I don’t have an accurate WowWebStats report because it was mixed with data from a run I did before, with a different group in the Halls of Lightning (which was pretty impressive I might add).

However, if you look at some of the numbers against the bosses in Drak’Tharon, I think I held my own DPS wise.

• Novos the Summoner – 2,321 DPS
• King Dred – 1,743 DPS
• Prophet Tharon’ja – 1,323 DPS (I think the transformation mucks up the DPS meters a little)

Not bad, considering the Boomkin was much better geared than I. All in all, I think I proved myself as being able to be a contributing member to the team.

Now I’m not one to be totally focused on the numbers game. “Contributing” means a lot more than just putting up big numbers. However, when your primary contribution to a team is DPS, you want to make sure you are headed in the right direction.

I still think there are some issues with my shot rotations and what not. And of course, more purply gear will be great.

Tags: guilds,ooc
Categories: guild, ooc
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Welcome to “Out of Character”, or OOC for short. This will be a regular feature where I, the puppet master that controls the mighty Hesston, will step from behind the curtain and talk about game aspects; be they dungeons, raiding, game mechanics or whatever. Basically, it’s my stage to bitch and rant. I promise they will be few and far between.

Today I’m going to talk about communication, or rather, lack thereof.

I was pretty much a WoW greenhorn all the way up to, and including, Outland. Didn’t run instances much and rarely grouped for quests unless absolutely necessary. My time constraint lent itself to solo play, as I couldn’t commit to a guild. Save for the company of my pet, I was always solo (no jokes please).

However, on the off chance I was allowed to or somehow squeezed into a dungeon or raiding group, I let it be known that I was unfamiliar with dungeon/raid X and that instructions, orders or whatever would be necessary and welcomed. Some would gladly offer and let me know to “trap square, kill skull, don’t stand in the gout of flame shooting from the floor ,” while others would give me a swift /kick and a “…get lost nub.” To those that were willing to teach and offer instruction though, I listened intently and was able to become a competent dungeon runner toward the end of my TBC days and just a few instances into Northrend.

Now I would be a liar if I said I was an experienced raider/dungeon master. I still have not gone through many of the tougher instances (for their level) that many seasoned players cut their teeth on in both vanilla and TBC days. However, I would call myself an experienced Northrend dungeon runner/raider. Since the release of Wrath I’ve leveled to 80, been to (but not through) Naxx, ran most of the heroics several times over, helped topple Archavon the Stone Watcher and have managed to gear myself quite well. I use macros and key bindings and know, for the most part, where I should stand to lay down my MQSRDPS*. I’m proud to say that I’ve got at least some chops.

Now, I’m finding myself in the position, which I don’t mind at all, of being the one giving the instructions at times. Several times in last two weeks I’ll ask the obvious question before a dungeon: “Who’s hasn’t been here before?”

I never assume, and never hold it against someone if they haven’t been to a dungeon. After all, I was that person not too long ago asking questions. What I’m noticing however, is that even when folks say, “what do we do?”, they rarely listen (or read) what you say. They ask, you tell and then the wheels fall off the wagon and the encounter goes belly up.

A recent example would be an attempt at the Oculus, an instance I am familiar with both by running it sucessfully and watching the guys from Project Lore run through it on beta. The final encounter with Ley-Guardian Eregos is a tricky one. There are several ways to play the encounter, but when asked, I ran through a scenario that I’ve had success with.

I explained timing the time stops (I choose during his enrage), decided on a rotation for them, explained his planar shift ability (heroic only), what to do with the adds and the temporal shift/rift thingie that I would be spamming on the back of the amber drake to increase damage to Eregos.

Ready check?

“KK”

“OK”

“KK”

Seems like we are a go. First attempt, time stop goes off as soon as the tank pulls, we come out of it, adds show up, enrage…wipe. Second try was very similar. Then third, then fourth.

Right before the fifth attempt, someone finally pipes up.

“Maybe we should time stop only during the enrage and kill the adds.”

Brilliant, I say. Why didn’t I think of that? I ask them what they were doing when I explained the whole deal, right after they asked.

“Bio”

“Drink”

“pewpewlolznub dragons FTW!!! ZOMG!!”

/facepalm

Right-click –> Leave party

Like I said, I don’t mind helping/tutoring/walking people through how to become a better player. I myself still ask that of the elite folks on my server when I see them, because I’m still learning. Again, some are cool about it and some are not. The ones that do talk I listen to their sagely advice and apply it to my own adventuring. Because of that, I’ve become a phenomenally better player than I was just a few short months ago.

Blizzard put the communications tools in WoW for a reason people, use them. If you ask a question about a dungeon, quest or raid, pay attention to the answer. It only serves to benefit you. There’s no reason not to and the answer is most likely forthcoming in that little scroll of text in the lower-left portion of the screen, right under the LFW notices and “guys, there are horde in Stormwind!!!1!1!”

Not listening, or being known as someone that ignores instructions and communications, is an easy way to get yourself uninvited to groups and raids. And unless you plan on doing most of the game solo (which is fine), it’s going to be very difficult to see all the great content and get the good loot.

*Massive Quantities of Sustained Ranged Damage Per Second (H/T BigRedKitty)

Tags: chat,ooc
Categories: heroics, ooc
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