Response to Comments-Raids of Our Lives

In some ways I do tend to hold off on a lot of my complaints. However, I don't think I fester all that much. I just recognize that most people in this game have their flaws. I try not to focus on the negative for too long which is why I've been able to deal with joint raiding for so long.

It's not that it's terrible by any means. Regardless of having to deal with childish people off and on, I simply just love to raid. I love the challenge of figuring out the fights and coordinating all the players...like playing a virtual game of chess.

I love seeing the content and for once, I feel like I've really been able to experience all of the game. More than anything, I always felt like I missed out on a lot of the game by never pushing past Blackwing Layer pre-TBC.

This time around, I'm very glad and think it was worth the sacrifice to get to see and experience what I have.

The reason I posted Raids of Our Lives, the saga of Jae and Cykos, is to be honest about what it's like to raid. I want to share my ups and downs because I really don't believe it's always up, up, and up.

Not only do we coordinate raiding 25 man content with mostly "casual" players but we do it with another guild. When I had to have my huge talk with the GM of Cykos, I kept saying that we have every reason to be proud of what we've accomplished. For two small guilds to push together like this through later content is really unheard of...or rare I'd say. It's hard enough to run one guild through raids, let alone two!

And it takes an enormous amount of will power and patience to make it through some weeks, I won't lie. However, we have had our good days and regardless of emotional ups and downs, we've actually kept up progression. Two nights a week, 3 hours each night. That's a far cry from the 8 hour raid days back in 40 man content. hehe.

It goes up and down, that's the nature of conflict and conflict resolution. I actually had spoken with the cykos GM several times about the problems we have had with that particular person. I'm always honest about problems I foresee. However, he and I both don't always have the ability to fully control all of our members. We do the best we can. In this particular case, we tried to curb the situation so much that apparently it blew up back in our faces.

That personal attack he made was probably due to the slow repression he was getting from being gradually disciplined. As much as I wish I could mind control everyone, it's just not the possible. duh! Everyone knows you can only mind control one person at a time. lol.

As far as BT goes, I like it a lot. It is dark which is a stark contrast from Hyjal which I also enjoyed. High Warlord Naj'entus is a pretty impressive boss to behold for the first time. I particularly like that the instance crosses between indoor and outdoor environments. We've only made it to the 'BT Easy 3' but this weekend we are probably going to attempt Gorefiend! mwahahahah.

Contructs Constructs Constructs!

Raids of Our Lives

written about 7 days ago:
I'm going to sleep on it but I think I'm done with the alliance guild. I feel like I've been more than patient and understanding about our differences. I've forgiven lack of skill, lack of leadership, and lack of decency for almost four months now.

I've felt like always brought 110% to every raid. We've brought a static group with standards for dps, healing, and tanking. No matter how many people want a free ride into our raid, I won't let them. I stick by the ground rules and standards we set a long time ago. Why? To promote progression not digression.

While cykos floats in anywhere between 3-6 different or new people per week, we have stayed consistent throughout the last four months. Same geared people, same skilled people. All geared out with badge loot, all enchanted with T6 being merely a side-grade for the majority of us....

I got word today that their guild has nothing but distaste and dislike for our entire guild. That they don't think we contribute and that we're just in it to get loot and leave them behind. Why would they think that?

Because on the days that we're not raiding BT and Hyjal, they want to gear alts and new people in SSC and TK and we don't have the stamina to continue raiding every day of the week....just to gear THEIR guild out. How on earth does it make sense that they expect us to help them gear out their own guild mates?!!! We're NOT the same guild! And honestly, they're better off just going to kara and badge farming that trying to progress 6 hours in SSC and only getting 2 bosses down.

Then I stopped the post and ended up talking to the raid leader of cykos for about six hours. "talking" lol. more like arguing.

The anger all kind of stemmed from a general clan of hatred that was forming in his guild and all centered around one particular guy who we have all had problems with in the past. Also, this one single person was the reason why cykos has lost about 4 great raiders from their guild. They just couldn't stand him anymore. In fact, one guy got so pissed off he server transferred so he wouldn't have to be anywhere near the guy.

So this angry dude decided he'd try to push my buttons and posted in the guild forums:
So, you defend your stance to not finger pointing by pointing the finger? Isn't that a bit Hypocritical?

Also, it seems that your guild has no problem trying to blame me for holding back raid progression. This has been said on many occassions now.....maybe you should follow your own advise, or there might need to be some finger pointing about some serios lack of dps on some of the jae members, repeated wipes of raids becuse of stupid actions or insisting someone not geared / spec'd for a roll do it anyway.

Sorry Alachia, but I'm not buying your bullshit anymore.

p.s. I will bring whatever alt to a raid I want to if it will beneft the raid more than my main. Don't even think of feeding me any crap about it because you and other memebers of jae have brought alts on several occassions...you included. So live by the rules you try to impose on others or sit down and shut up.
"name removed"

lol...where to begin in responding to him??? I was livid. Calling out my guild for low dps? is he insane? WWS shows jae brings the pain every single time! well over 1000-1300dps avg. So not sure what grade of blow someone sold him.

As for the alt thing. His argument is that you should be able to bring an alt as long as you kind of know how to play the class. As for dps? His quote to me was "as long as you're not at the bottom, it should be fine".... LOL. I guess unfortunately for him, I have crazy standards for my raiders. Regardless, the rules were established long ago..no alts.. only mains unless we need you to progress (aka healer alts).

He just didn't like the rules and thought I was out to get him or something. It wasn't personal, it's business.

In any case, he finally pushed me over the edge (so much of the larger picture story here I'm leaving out about his failed tanking efforts, his failed alt dps efforts, his calling my guys aholes, his overall negative attitude, telling people he hates them...blah blah blah). I pretty much told the cykos GM, I'm done raiding with them.

This just wasn't worth the pain anymore. But after our six hour long talk, it was established that the "clan of hatred" did not represent all of cykos and I shouldn't take out my frustration on the entire guild. He was right, I did kind of take one guy's attitude and behavior out on the whole guild.

Later, we worked it out that this guy would no longer be welcome to the jae/cykos raids. His negativity was too pervasive and really damaging the relationship between the alliance.

Tonight was our first raid without him. I felt like the entire character of our raid was different. Like night and day. I try to be fair and patient and understand character flaws, but sometimes bad eggs really do spoil the bunch. For the first time in a long time, I actually enjoyed the raid.

Oh yeah, healing gear FINALLY dropped in BT [Shroud of the Final Stand]! SO yeah. good night tonight. There was no yelling, no bitching, no negativity. I'm actually happy after raiding for once! Instead of annoyed, frustrated, and livid, I was proud and felt good about the raid. :D

And the sad thing is that I never had anything personal against this guy at all. In fact, it was his own guild master who told him he couldn't bring his alt...why he went postal on me, I'll never really know...such is life in WoW.

(this post should be a mini cast, called Raids of Our Lives)

Photosynth Launched!

I'm so excited!

Back in Episode 28, I talked about being able to hyperlink and compile consciousness and I used the Photosynth demo at TED to illustrate how I thought it might be possible. How it would be a matter of establishing minute data points regarding thought related to context together.

Long story short, Microsoft Photosynth is finally released to the public as of two days ago. (and yes, it comes with all the usual Microsoft bugs). However, it is AWESOME! I <3 it!!!! New app love of my life right now.

So far I've only been able to establish 90% synth at best. It's a matter of making sure you have proper overlap between pictures. Vacation pics will never be the same again!

Here is my first synth: My Kitchen/Dining Area

Dragons in Flight, still a delight?

(current wallpaper)

We ran Karazhan last night with the guild. We were two people short so we brought in two pugs. I made the huge mistake of not asking the pugs if they had ever been to Karazhan. One was a frost mage and the other was a fury warrior. Both were horrible dps, around 400dps on avg. The warrior had at least been in Kara before so he knew what to do for each boss.

The mage, however, had never been to Kara. At first we had our suspicions but he kept giving us clues. For example when we went to the Opera event, he got on the stage and said "hey! I'm on broadway!!"

Then when we went to Nightbane and when the dragon's bones landed on the balcony, he goes "WoW!!!"

And when we went to Shade of Aran and we gave the run down of what NOT to do, he was running around in circles during the Arcane Explosion. :D Which actually we were pretty happy about because it meant he couldn't wipe us during Flame Wreath. :D

And while it was a little annoying to have a complete newbie (noticed not spelled noob because I'm not trying to be insulting) in Kara with us, it was refreshing to see that kind of enthusiasm again. I forgot how delighted I was the first time I saw Kara.

WoTLK Cinematic

Brrrrrrr. Makes me cold just watching it! What a well produced trailer! I'm so excited!



HQ Version:http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wrath/intro.xml

BT High and Bye?

(current wallpaper)

We made it out of the cellar of of BT and into the courtyard. It's not that pretty an instance but it is finally nice to see what all the fuss was about. I'd almost say I'd be content to call it GG here. :)

Supremus was a fun fight but the actual raiding situation is slowly deteriorating as I'm finding I have less and less patience for cykos. While they provide us with the people we need to continue to progress, I start to wonder how much more I'm willing to put up with. The punk baby attitude has gotten better but the general blame-game, low moral attitude has escalated in its place.


(Shade of Akama down! 3rd boss in BT)

So back in Hyjal, the Tank takes 4 crushing blows, only puts up shield block once, doesn't use HP, HS, or Shield Wall or anything and goes ballistic on the healers when he dies. It's pretty shameful actually. First, blaming is retarded. It never solves anything. Second, don't point fingers if you refuse to acknowledge every aspect of something going wrong.

This is a progression raid. Mistakes happen, there is a learning curve for every fight. Stop acting like the world is coming to an end after one wipe! LOL!! GRRR!

The day we actually moved forward in BT should have been a really fun and good day and we should have left that night feeling really good. But the bastard turned it into a "YOU GUYS SUCK!" ending. And although I am able to control parts of the outcome, I honestly don't have the energy to keep on top of this four year old's temper tantrums. He sent me an apology the next day but still...I feel like I'm gonna get battered wife syndrome soon. LOL. I can put up with a lot actually. I've developed a high tolerance for this type of attitude in the game...it's just should I?


So see more content and continue to fight Mother Russia? Or quit while we're ahead?

World's End Tavern, Now Showing...

I like the new performances in the World's End Tavern Inn, Lower City Shat. The comedian showing isn't that funny but he has a few good one-liners. HOwever, The Level 80 Elite Tauren Chieftans band is pretty cool to watch. You can hear announcements in Shat for the events at the top of the hour when they happen. They don't play every hour though so keep your eyes open! \m/

Learn before you Speak

(forest of raiding resto druids)

A dude (who shall remain nameless) was complaining last raid day about druids healing the main tank for High Warlord Naj'entus. He said that druids make horrible main tank healers and that only paladins and priests should heal the MT.

WHY do people make such broad and ignorant statements? This guy has like 5 level 70 characters and he plays them all on a regular basis but none of them consistently. Because he switches in and out so much he never really learns the true fundamentals of each class and it shows in his poor tanking skills and lack of knowledge about healing dynamics. Just because you have most of the classes, doesn't mean you're an expert at all of them.

I have six level 70 toons now and I'd only say I truly know two of them inside out and only the healing spec, my druid and paladin. I try to pick a class and play it consistently for several months to try to learn the nuances of each ability and encounter.

I can heal fine on my priest but I still feel like I could improve a lot on her by learning what to do per situation. It's also one of the hardest healing classes to play by far. The shaman I'm picking up fast but don't have enough boss/fight experience with her to say I could play her to a T.

So back to druids. Out of all the healers I've played, druids are by far the most efficient healers. This doesn't necessarily translate to best healer of course but are they capable of Main Tank Healing? Yes, absolutely.

Every boss fight has it's own unique set of data in regards to damage done to the Main Tank and at what frequency. There are many occasions where multiple HOTs (heals over time) on a tank will benefit the tank more than higher HPS (heals per second) that the paladin and shaman can easily provide.

Any time there is a silence or healing immobilization to the raid, having rolling HOTs ticking during that period saves the tank. Any time a tank takes steady and consistent damage from boss hits, a druid is more than able to keep up the tank.

For large bursts, I do prefer a paladin or priest on our tanks for faster recover but every boss fight has a different set of requirements. You can't blanket statement a fight for every encounter in the game. That's just ignorant.

So go my forest friends! Thrive!!!! Flourish and multiply! hehehehe.

Black Temple

One always jokes about the all mighty Black Temple Instance ever since it was patched into TBC. Even though Sunwell is out, BT remains the infamous instance of TBC. Back when we started the jae/cykos raid alliance, a few of us started to think more about Black Temple. We were trying to gauge how long it would take us to step foot inside the instance.

It then occurred to us that none of us had ever been to BT. Here's this massive instance that sits on the ghostly edge of Shadowmoon Valley and at the time, I couldn't have told you where the entrance was.

"Where is the entrance to BT?" So a few of us went out there back in early June and found the entrance. This looming threatening instance with ominous looking gates and what is the entrance?? A tiny crack in the side of the wall! lol. I remember thinking it was the oddest thing I'd ever seen.


So tonight about two months later, we fought our way to High Warlord Naj'entus and defeated him. It feels good to finally have a BT boss down. At least I got a chance to experience Black Temple which I honestly never thought I would a few months ago. And we did it with only ONE resto shaman in the raid!

We used the buddy system to deal with Naj'entus spine. It's this huge needle spine he pins someone with that ticks for like 2800-3k a second. You gotta loot it off the person's body and then save it for when he bubbles up to pierce his bubble. It's actually a pretty fun fight. Once the bubble pops, he does 8500dmg to everyone in the entire raid. I guess I like it a lot because it's a healer fight mostly. It's a tough one for druids too because most of the raid needs instant healing not gradual. These are times I wish I could switch out my resto shaman for my druid. She just needs about 400 more bonus healing and she could heal BT well.
Loot drops: Halberd of Desolation, Ring of Calming Waves

AV Ques

Either they've decided to renumber the AV games or somehow the tabard and pet incentives have really gotten people into the BGs. Too bad quantity does not equal quality for the alliance in our Battle Group!

Olympic Pet

Quite possibly the most awesome pet in the game besides the sleeping panda! It's incredibly easy to get and is in honor of the celebration of the 2008 Olympics in Bejing. It's great WoW did something to commemorate the event.

Competitor's Tabard: win or lose a BG
Gold Medallion (summons dragon pet): chance in getting in-mail by winning a couple of BGs

Zhevra Mount, U Suck Blizz!

What is "Recruit-A-Friend"?
Our new friend referral system allows you to recruit some of your friends to join you in World of Warcraft by sending them an invitation email containing a trial activation key.

DUH blizzard, how do you think you got to 10 million plus subscribers?? By people like me and others like me who have referred their friends to the game. I know I have referred at least 8 direct people to the game. From them, I know at least six for sure were referred to by them.

How can I earn the exclusive in-game mount?
For each person you refer who upgrades to a retail version of World of Warcraft and purchases two months of game time, you will be able to give a character on the account you sent the invitation from an exclusive in-game zhevra mount.

LOL. So I guess our reward for playing the game for almost four years is getting to play more wow??? sweet! awesome. Hey, maybe for us who have been completely devoted to this game Blizzard could add something special...you know, like more rep grinding! >:P

What in-game benefits do we get while the accounts we play are linked?
1. Characters on both accounts can summon each other once per hour.
2. While adventuring with your linked friend/family member, you will each gain triple experience.
3. For every two levels the new player earns, the new player can grant one free level-up to a lower-level character played by the veteran player.

Celebrate good times, come on! WOOT! Let's celebrate! Good times! Come on!
LOL. Sweet, now power leveling companies can really celebrate!

Okay. Yeah. I'm a little bitter that this stuff isn't retroactive. I'm also bitter that they're more or less giving perks to the newer players of wow who haven't really shown any loyalty to the game yet.

Friends that Play Together...

The other night I made Flipmax stay up extra late with me to do dailies. I didn't need the help, I just wanted to torture him. lol. Anyhow, I felt bad about it so I sent him this picture the next day at work.

Being friends in wow is a not as easy as people think it is. It does take a lot of work and communication. Any time communication falters, friendships usually start to nose dive.

So I don't necessarily agree with the saying "Friends that play together, stay together" so much as I agree that "Friends that play together and stay together are very lucky"

Epic Vendor

So I cleared out most of my banks last week including the guild bank. They were all a mess and it was driving me crazy.

One of things I hate the most is vendoring epics. I know I'll never use them again but it always feels so darn wrong to sell them for chump change.

However, my druid has so many outfits. Resto spirit gear, Resto normal, Resto PvP, Boomking, Feral Attack, Feral Tank, and then the costumes of course. :)

When I'm clearing out her old gear and selling it, I always /cry that I'm not at least an enchanter on that toon.

sPORN

"Build a better Being" is the slogan for the exciting and upcoming EA game release of SPORE. However, I'm sure they didn't mean for it to get interpreted as "Build a more well endowed Being"

The concept of this game is pretty exciting. Anyone who has ever felt wow characters always felt too static will love this game. You start out as an amoeba and work your way up through dna consumption and evolution to constantly grow and modify your character. It's from the producers of The Sims so obviously this sounds a bit familiar but on a more primal and dog-eat-dog level.

However as The Sims Online wasn't able to escape from the perversity of the masses, neither has this game.

For their pre-launch promotion, they opened up character creation to everyone. What some people came up with were strange and grotesque versions of boobie monsters, epeen monsters, self fornicating monsters, etc...

So now the game is being dubbed sPORN instead of Spore by the gaming community. LOL.

To read more about the game, here is the Official Site

And to see the NSFW video of some of the more memorable sPORN creatures:
http://io9.com/5018089/best-of-sporn-a-love-song-%5Bnsfw%5D