A Great guide to the Jaraxxus encounter was just posted HERE.
Read this one first before checking out the vid...
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Trial of the Crusader: Northrend Beasts
Ok guys, here it is for your viewing pleasure...the best Northrend Beasts vid I could find. Watch it. Know it. =)
*Video Courtesy of BOSSKILLERS.COM*
*Video Courtesy of BOSSKILLERS.COM*
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Sated Spotlight: Diona
Every week I'm going to try and sit down with a player--get the full scoop about who they are, what they like to do; maybe out a few skeletons if the chance arises =)
Todays Spotlight: Diona! (lvl 80 BE Priestess)About Di (Real Name: Julie)
The Co-Founder of Sated, I first met Di back in the H&G days...elite heals, always willing to lend a hand--I found myself running heroics with her and Porel on a consistant basis. Really can't say anything bad about her, she's got a great personality, awesome vent voice (haha), and is an amazing asset to the Sated team.
Shyste Asks
Q: Have you bested the shite economy? Are you currently employed?
A: Just a student for a little while. Quit my job because of poor management and getting treated like crap =)
Q: So I take it you have lots of TV time...do you have a favorite show?
A: My favorite show is The Soup on E!. I never get tired of laughing at people doing stupid things for all the world to see!
Q: Kinda like Nagu (love ya nagu)! Changing the subject, let's move on to more important things. What do you most like to eat? Drink? Adult beverage of choice?
A: Eat? Anything with chocolate =) It tastes so damn good, and can always make me feel better if I've had a bad day. As for the "adult" beverage, I'm not a big beer fan, but when it comes to doing Carbombs, I can put em away all night long! Fun to drink and I don't have to babysit my drink all night long.
Q: Mmmmm. Carbomb. Yummy. So what else do you like to do outside of WoW?
A: When I'm not sitting on my butt playing games, I generally just enjoy having fun. I enjoy anything from fishing to going out to bars, dancing and socializing all night. I have always been into sports and greatly enjoy the outdoors. Camping is one of my greatest pastimes; sadly school, work, and a lack of money hasn't allowed me to enjoy this recently =(
Q: So now that we've established your partying background, while you're out drinking, are you neglecting any little ones at home?
A: There has not been a day in my life where I have had to come home to an empty house. Currently, I have 3 dogs and a love bird. The newest love of my life is Thisbe ("lover" in greek), my 4 and a half month old pitbull puppy. She's the simply incredible =)
Q: Ok, I've digressed too far. Back to the game. Do you have a favorite WoW moment?
A: I have two. Solo healing Heigan. The only reason it astounds me to this day is because up until that night, I died during the dance EVERY single time. Yet, I somehow managed to do it over and over =) My other favorite moment is when I ALMOST solo healed Grobulus. If the blobs hadn't gotten out of control, it woulda been done and there was going to be mana to spare! =D
Q: Nice. So both moments have to do with Raiding--is that what you enjoy most in the game?
A: Yes. My favorite in game activity is raiding. I love the advancements that are made, even if they are made slowly. I also enjoy getting to work with my group of friends striving towards a common goal. And it never hurts to get a new piece of awesome gear =)
Yes. shinies are very nice...
Thanks again Jules for taking the time to sit down and chat. Stay tuned for next weeks installment of the Sated Spotlight!
Monday, August 17, 2009
DW Tanking, and Why it SUCKS
I can't take it anymore!!!!
Everywhere I look, DK's are trying to DW tank, and it makes no frickin sense! So much potential lost on stupidity...
Let's examine the basic principles of DK tanking, and why DW sucks ass. I'll try to esplain the best I can.
Why Anyone would want to DW Tank: Myths/Beliefs
1.) It Looks Cool
2.) Stats are better on 2x 1H's vs. 2H
3.) Greater TPS (threat generation)
Ok--so now you have some reasoning behind actually equipping 2x 1-handers to tank. Now, for some edu-muh-cation:
Threat:
A DK's threat (other than DnD) is based on damage. The higher the damage, the higher the TPS (threat per second). A DK's strike damage (as well as all other classes) is normalized, and based on weapon speed. Melee weapons are broken down into 3 categories: 1.7, 2.4, and 3.3--the slower the weapon, the greater the damage, thus the more threat is generated.
Now, with the inclusion of Threat of Thessarian into the Frost tree, it is semi-plausable to create a DW tank-spec. I say semi plausable, because maximizing DW costs an additional 4 points vs. its 2H predecessor. 4 points that would have to be removed from either Bladed Armor, or other beneficial points in the unholy tree. With Nerves of Cold steel, and Threat of Thessarian maxed, theoretically, strike damage would be up to par with a 2H build.
Now, there are 2 problems with this:
1.) Hit Cap
2.) Strike Normalization
Obtaining 8% hit cap for a 2H tanking build is easy. DW is another story. At 13% hit rating, DW still misses a large chunk of the time. Missing causes problems, not only with rotations and runes, but also for generating threat (especially since all Tanking 1H's are fast, thus the damage created is on par with daggers). DW tanks also need a solid amount of expertise to avoid parry-gibs. The expertise cap for DW is 64 skill (500 rating)--obtaining this number is quite difficult. If not capped, then DW tanking with 2x 1.6 speed weapons actually increases the chance of being parry-gibbed by 3.75x...
On average, dual wielding tanking weapons add an extra 2% avoidance (but lose out on AP stats like strength, which translates into damage), however, the amount of attacks more than doubles, thus increasing the chance to be parried as such. Boss parry-haste can stack multiple times, therefore attacks against you have the chance to come faster and faster. This causes more damage more quickly, and places added stress on the healers; in endgame it can ultimately cause a wipe (think steelbreaker).
Conclusion
Trading out a strong 2-hander for 2x 1-handers may lead to additional defense skill and avoidance, but really neglects the basic principles of DK tanking. Be able to hit the boss, be able to hit the boss hard (TPS), and don't be parried. DW tanking begins at a disadvantage in all of these areas. So while it may look cool, and may be functional for trivial things like heroics and SM runs (at lvl 80), it is not at all acceptable for endgame raiding.
Everyone knows you don't go full retard.
Everywhere I look, DK's are trying to DW tank, and it makes no frickin sense! So much potential lost on stupidity...
Let's examine the basic principles of DK tanking, and why DW sucks ass. I'll try to esplain the best I can.
Why Anyone would want to DW Tank: Myths/Beliefs
1.) It Looks Cool
2.) Stats are better on 2x 1H's vs. 2H
3.) Greater TPS (threat generation)
Ok--so now you have some reasoning behind actually equipping 2x 1-handers to tank. Now, for some edu-muh-cation:
Threat:
A DK's threat (other than DnD) is based on damage. The higher the damage, the higher the TPS (threat per second). A DK's strike damage (as well as all other classes) is normalized, and based on weapon speed. Melee weapons are broken down into 3 categories: 1.7, 2.4, and 3.3--the slower the weapon, the greater the damage, thus the more threat is generated.
Now, with the inclusion of Threat of Thessarian into the Frost tree, it is semi-plausable to create a DW tank-spec. I say semi plausable, because maximizing DW costs an additional 4 points vs. its 2H predecessor. 4 points that would have to be removed from either Bladed Armor, or other beneficial points in the unholy tree. With Nerves of Cold steel, and Threat of Thessarian maxed, theoretically, strike damage would be up to par with a 2H build.
Now, there are 2 problems with this:
1.) Hit Cap
2.) Strike Normalization
Obtaining 8% hit cap for a 2H tanking build is easy. DW is another story. At 13% hit rating, DW still misses a large chunk of the time. Missing causes problems, not only with rotations and runes, but also for generating threat (especially since all Tanking 1H's are fast, thus the damage created is on par with daggers). DW tanks also need a solid amount of expertise to avoid parry-gibs. The expertise cap for DW is 64 skill (500 rating)--obtaining this number is quite difficult. If not capped, then DW tanking with 2x 1.6 speed weapons actually increases the chance of being parry-gibbed by 3.75x...
On average, dual wielding tanking weapons add an extra 2% avoidance (but lose out on AP stats like strength, which translates into damage), however, the amount of attacks more than doubles, thus increasing the chance to be parried as such. Boss parry-haste can stack multiple times, therefore attacks against you have the chance to come faster and faster. This causes more damage more quickly, and places added stress on the healers; in endgame it can ultimately cause a wipe (think steelbreaker).
Conclusion
Trading out a strong 2-hander for 2x 1-handers may lead to additional defense skill and avoidance, but really neglects the basic principles of DK tanking. Be able to hit the boss, be able to hit the boss hard (TPS), and don't be parried. DW tanking begins at a disadvantage in all of these areas. So while it may look cool, and may be functional for trivial things like heroics and SM runs (at lvl 80), it is not at all acceptable for endgame raiding.
Everyone knows you don't go full retard.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Sated: A New Hope
Yesterday, in a big *raise fist against the man* sorta way, I bought a vent server. I was already guildless--so why shouldnt I be able to still talk to my friends while we ran heroics? I'd been wanting to get a private server for a while now. So I did.
As I logged on, I got a hi from "Charlie" (anonimity here)--so I passed out the vent info, and we sat talking for a bit. We told some stories about the past, spoke of things to come...and when the topic of guilds came to the table, there was a sort of, pregnated silence--an unspoken solution, if you will. We had been looking for so long, but realized we were already home =)
Sated was born.
It was almost surreal. Word spread quickly, as if by some dark magic, whispers began appearing from the peaks of icecrown to the valleys of azeroth. And I stood, like kevin costner in a field of dreams-esque kinda way; they started to come.
Before I knew it, I had acquired 2 tanks, and 2 healers, and more would follow...
Guild Memorandum
Sated was created because by some divine intervention, a group of players that once loved to play together, had now split apart. We can't have any more of that.
A "guild", as defined by me, is a group of friends playing together with a common interest. And so it shall be (in big booming god-like voice).
Sated shall be home to good peeps, who enjoy playing together, gearing up, and progressing. All players shall be respectful and courteous to one another, and have fun playing dammit. There will be no negativity or finger pointing (unless its to laugh at someone), and players will occasionally be required to jump in and lend a hand when someone's gettin ganked.
This is our credo.
In all seriousness, I had no idea that things would move in this direction. But now, I'm glad they did. If you're looking for a hardcore, stalin-esque "you suck balls fix that chant" kind of guild, then sated is not for you. You will find that I am much more kick back, but organized none the less. When we're ready, we will focus on progression, and raids will be scheduled roughly around 9pm (like they used to be). I want people that enjoy playing together, that can have an open mind, discuss things from multiple points of view, and understand that true progression is sometimes measured in wipes.
In return, I promise that you won't find a more funner place to be =)
As I logged on, I got a hi from "Charlie" (anonimity here)--so I passed out the vent info, and we sat talking for a bit. We told some stories about the past, spoke of things to come...and when the topic of guilds came to the table, there was a sort of, pregnated silence--an unspoken solution, if you will. We had been looking for so long, but realized we were already home =)
Sated was born.
It was almost surreal. Word spread quickly, as if by some dark magic, whispers began appearing from the peaks of icecrown to the valleys of azeroth. And I stood, like kevin costner in a field of dreams-esque kinda way; they started to come.
Before I knew it, I had acquired 2 tanks, and 2 healers, and more would follow...
Guild Memorandum
Sated was created because by some divine intervention, a group of players that once loved to play together, had now split apart. We can't have any more of that.
A "guild", as defined by me, is a group of friends playing together with a common interest. And so it shall be (in big booming god-like voice).
Sated shall be home to good peeps, who enjoy playing together, gearing up, and progressing. All players shall be respectful and courteous to one another, and have fun playing dammit. There will be no negativity or finger pointing (unless its to laugh at someone), and players will occasionally be required to jump in and lend a hand when someone's gettin ganked.
This is our credo.
In all seriousness, I had no idea that things would move in this direction. But now, I'm glad they did. If you're looking for a hardcore, stalin-esque "you suck balls fix that chant" kind of guild, then sated is not for you. You will find that I am much more kick back, but organized none the less. When we're ready, we will focus on progression, and raids will be scheduled roughly around 9pm (like they used to be). I want people that enjoy playing together, that can have an open mind, discuss things from multiple points of view, and understand that true progression is sometimes measured in wipes.
In return, I promise that you won't find a more funner place to be =)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Guildless
/GQuit.
This command isn't something I take very lightly, nor jokingly toy with. Truth be told, I've really only used it once before. Ever. As Ant and I levelled through the days of SM, we were approached by a guild that turned out to be unfriendly, not helpful, and full of pre-teens trying to cyber the one female that let her self be known: /GQuit was very easy to use back then...
Fast forward to the days of Honor and Glory--a guild that has been quite the opposite. Its full of friendly, knowledgable people; H & G is where I met the people that I really do consider friends now. We've ground heroics, bested Naxxramas, honed our skills, and ventured into Ulduar. For the most part, we've done all of this, and come out the other end, unscathed.
But as of yesterday (and I say this with a heavy heart), the Honor and Glory I once knew, is no longer.
Most of the players I enjoyed playing with have moved on, with a few exceptions--and the roster that I had once known inside and out, is filled with names and faces that I don't really recognize.
/GQuit
It was one of the most difficult calls that I've ever made.
In the end, WoW is a game. I play because its fun. I play because I enjoy the company of the people I play with. I guess you could say that I've grown attached to a select few--and the "fun" part of the game hinges on playing with them.
Maybe I just want to be with my friends.
I've been approached and have the opportunity to rejoin H&G and help to restore it to the tight-knit group it once was, but I just don't know if its in me to do so. The crew that I belonged to is all but gone, and I'm thinking that it may be time to make way for the new class.
For now, I'm guildless...
This command isn't something I take very lightly, nor jokingly toy with. Truth be told, I've really only used it once before. Ever. As Ant and I levelled through the days of SM, we were approached by a guild that turned out to be unfriendly, not helpful, and full of pre-teens trying to cyber the one female that let her self be known: /GQuit was very easy to use back then...
Fast forward to the days of Honor and Glory--a guild that has been quite the opposite. Its full of friendly, knowledgable people; H & G is where I met the people that I really do consider friends now. We've ground heroics, bested Naxxramas, honed our skills, and ventured into Ulduar. For the most part, we've done all of this, and come out the other end, unscathed.
But as of yesterday (and I say this with a heavy heart), the Honor and Glory I once knew, is no longer.
Most of the players I enjoyed playing with have moved on, with a few exceptions--and the roster that I had once known inside and out, is filled with names and faces that I don't really recognize.
/GQuit
It was one of the most difficult calls that I've ever made.
In the end, WoW is a game. I play because its fun. I play because I enjoy the company of the people I play with. I guess you could say that I've grown attached to a select few--and the "fun" part of the game hinges on playing with them.
Maybe I just want to be with my friends.
I've been approached and have the opportunity to rejoin H&G and help to restore it to the tight-knit group it once was, but I just don't know if its in me to do so. The crew that I belonged to is all but gone, and I'm thinking that it may be time to make way for the new class.
For now, I'm guildless...
Monday, August 3, 2009
Raiding 101: So you think you can raid pt. 1
So you think you can raid is intended to be a n00bers guide to beginning raiding. Despite the title, the series will include useful tidbits of goodness that should prove useful to everyone.
You've dinged 80, grabbed up some purples in heroics, maybe a tier piece or two--and maybe even stepped foot into OS or Naxx once or twice. Now that your feet are wet (and even if they aren't), let's take a look at some ways to help make you a raiding pro:
1. Communication:
Is very important in raids (which is why it tops the list). Skilled raiders may be able to navigate on their own, but split second decisions, or call outs "hey get out of that retard circle!" could save a life, or even a wipe. Ventrilo is the preferred communications program for raiders everywhere, so download it, and make sure your mic is tested and functional before you begin the raid.
2. Deadly Boss Mods (DBM):
If you have no other addons, have this one. Will effectively give you enrage timers, special abilities, reminders, etc. on screen. Even if you know the fights, and all of the tells leading to a specific boss ability, this little addon is the icing on the cake.
3. Consumables/Reagents:
Feasts, Flasks, Pots, Reagents (kings, candles, etc.); stock up, and carry some on you at all times. You never know when you might need to pop a health pot to stay alive, or might need the added dps from a flask. Remember, one flask might not seem like a big advantage, but multiply all that added AP by the number of total DPS in the raid, and you'll see a big potential.
4. Class Specific Addons:
Unfortunately, I'm not proficient in every class, so you might need to do some research on curse.com for yourself. But, there are definitely some very useful class addons to help maximize your playing experience.
For example, Runewatch, for DK's, is a useful addon that graphically represents runic power, timers for the diseases, and unholy blight uptime. This allows me to see how long i have before i need to refresh diseases, and then adjust my rotation accordingly.
Another useful addon is Needtoknow: this one is a highly customizable bar frame that allows for multiple bars, and can monitor things like self or target buffs/debuffs. On my DK this addon tracks when "unholy strength" and "greatness" proc, which allows me to summon my ghoul during this time and maximize dps. On my hunter, it keeps track of my stings, and also Lock N Load (when I get there).
My suggestion is to search around curse.com in the class section, and see if anything there strikes you as having utility. While it may not be necessary to track these things, it certainly is an improvement.
5. Ask Questions
Don't hesitate to ask. Ever.
I'm hoping that leaders will discuss strategy and details before the pull, but if there's something you're unsure of, don't be afraid to ask--you might actually jog someone's memory on something they've forgotten =p
You've dinged 80, grabbed up some purples in heroics, maybe a tier piece or two--and maybe even stepped foot into OS or Naxx once or twice. Now that your feet are wet (and even if they aren't), let's take a look at some ways to help make you a raiding pro:
1. Communication:
Is very important in raids (which is why it tops the list). Skilled raiders may be able to navigate on their own, but split second decisions, or call outs "hey get out of that retard circle!" could save a life, or even a wipe. Ventrilo is the preferred communications program for raiders everywhere, so download it, and make sure your mic is tested and functional before you begin the raid.
2. Deadly Boss Mods (DBM):
If you have no other addons, have this one. Will effectively give you enrage timers, special abilities, reminders, etc. on screen. Even if you know the fights, and all of the tells leading to a specific boss ability, this little addon is the icing on the cake.
3. Consumables/Reagents:
Feasts, Flasks, Pots, Reagents (kings, candles, etc.); stock up, and carry some on you at all times. You never know when you might need to pop a health pot to stay alive, or might need the added dps from a flask. Remember, one flask might not seem like a big advantage, but multiply all that added AP by the number of total DPS in the raid, and you'll see a big potential.
4. Class Specific Addons:
Unfortunately, I'm not proficient in every class, so you might need to do some research on curse.com for yourself. But, there are definitely some very useful class addons to help maximize your playing experience.
For example, Runewatch, for DK's, is a useful addon that graphically represents runic power, timers for the diseases, and unholy blight uptime. This allows me to see how long i have before i need to refresh diseases, and then adjust my rotation accordingly.
Another useful addon is Needtoknow: this one is a highly customizable bar frame that allows for multiple bars, and can monitor things like self or target buffs/debuffs. On my DK this addon tracks when "unholy strength" and "greatness" proc, which allows me to summon my ghoul during this time and maximize dps. On my hunter, it keeps track of my stings, and also Lock N Load (when I get there).
My suggestion is to search around curse.com in the class section, and see if anything there strikes you as having utility. While it may not be necessary to track these things, it certainly is an improvement.
5. Ask Questions
Don't hesitate to ask. Ever.
I'm hoping that leaders will discuss strategy and details before the pull, but if there's something you're unsure of, don't be afraid to ask--you might actually jog someone's memory on something they've forgotten =p
Player Spotlight: RALLIAN
About Rallian:
Coming up in the ranks of H&G as the next big thing, Rall's tanking skills leave little to be desired. I often think of the Prot Pally as Kallion's protege, however Rall is definitely his own man. So, if you're looking for an energetic, experienced tank, look no further. Oh--and you'll almost always see Rall as either a pirate or ninja. It's kinda like his trademark, so don't be alarmed =p
Shyste Asks:
What's your favorite breakfast cereal?
hmm... anything with chocolate usually tends to be tasty. I have a lot of favorites really
All time fave band/group?
well, I don't really pay attention to singers in a band
BUT, my favorite band, is by far, Dragonforce
What do you do for fun, other than WoW?
Visit with friends, they mean a lot to me. So I spend a lot of time with them. which is funny, cuz it's usually on WoW xD
Favorite Sport?
Soccer and tennis
Favorite 80's movie?
umm... idk, I wasn't really raised in the 80's and don't think I've really watched any movies from the 80's either... so yeah...
What do you do?
I currently work at target, from 2:30 am to about 8:00 am
Favorite Kool Aid flavor?
Raspberry lemonade
Favorite Dr. Seuss book?
damn... umm... probably One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish... because it's the one that sticks out the most in my head.
Favorite cartoon character?
Beastboy, from Teen Titans
Do you have a favorite WoW dance?
Human / Pirate dance =D
Favorite WoW moment?
Anytime I overcome incredible odds... it's like an achievement all in itself
Anything you;re looking forward to, in-game?
Gearing my pally, getting my lock to 80, and of course the next patch.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Of Minced Words; from Conflation to Inflation
Somehow, something last night went awry.
What was meant to be a discussion on Guild organization, quickly turned into a debate about progression, and what the best path is. Out on the table was an organization structure much similar to that of a high end raiding guild: multiple raiding teams, including organization amongst healers, dps, tanks, etc. On the surface, I understand where players think that the top end players will be only raiding with themselves, leaving the others out in the cold...this was not intended to be the case.
Progression
When we speak of progression, we speak of multiple layers:
*Heroics (OS, VoA)
*Tier 7 (Naxx, Emalon)
*Tier 8 (Ulduar and beyond)
What was discussed by Kallion, Stone and myself, was a system designed to maximize the overall efficiency (and proficiency) of the players wanting to raid--creating 10 man groups consisting of 2 core veteran players, along with a group of similar gear level and experience. This would provide for a well run raid, but still allow a group to grow and learn to play together as a team.
What we particularly liked about this idea, is that not only does this establish consistent groupings and raid times, but it also helps move the group down the path of progression. Raiders will gear up together, learn to strategize on boss encounters, and synergize much the way that the Ulduar group did just merely months ago. Doing so also gives the aforementioned raid leaders more responsibility (and flexibility) over their group and times that they raid--and will generally get players into the raids that may have otherwise been left out.
What we typically want to shy away from, are farm runs in which 7 uber geared raiders are carrying others for gear. While it may be fine for alts of players that know the fights--there is a point when it becomes detrimental to player development. We want raids to be organized and planned (and fun =), but we don't want them to be AFK fests (dying on heigan and waiting for loot, dying on grobb and waiting for loot, dying on thadd and waiting for loot... you get the picture).
On Raid Scheduling:
It isn't as easy as one may think. Its easy to calendar a couple of raids. Difficult to get people to show, frustrating when they don't, and even more so when someone is left out. During my brief stint as a raid coordinator, I got to see this firsthand. And, believe it or not, players will send feedback to you both good and bad. Thankfully, most days were filled with good mail messages--but there were days with bad. Players that were left out, players unhappy about a loot roll or decision, etc. For this reason, the multiple group format was an attractive way to get other players involved in the whole process--there are some leaders out there in H&G, that we're aware of, and it would be nice to watch them take a team and make it successful.
Perhaps the ability to paint this picture clear is what was missing last night. Either way, merger or no merger, if you care or if you don't, this message needed to come across the right way; the way it was originally intended. If it was perceived as elitist, or seemed as though we were leaving players to fend for themselves, I do apologize. I think that one of the attributes that makes Honor and Glory as unique as it is, is our willingness to help our guildies-- heroic runs, gems, chants, general knowledge, levelling runs--and I would hope that no one would ever assume that that would ever stop.
What was meant to be a discussion on Guild organization, quickly turned into a debate about progression, and what the best path is. Out on the table was an organization structure much similar to that of a high end raiding guild: multiple raiding teams, including organization amongst healers, dps, tanks, etc. On the surface, I understand where players think that the top end players will be only raiding with themselves, leaving the others out in the cold...this was not intended to be the case.
Progression
When we speak of progression, we speak of multiple layers:
*Heroics (OS, VoA)
*Tier 7 (Naxx, Emalon)
*Tier 8 (Ulduar and beyond)
What was discussed by Kallion, Stone and myself, was a system designed to maximize the overall efficiency (and proficiency) of the players wanting to raid--creating 10 man groups consisting of 2 core veteran players, along with a group of similar gear level and experience. This would provide for a well run raid, but still allow a group to grow and learn to play together as a team.
What we particularly liked about this idea, is that not only does this establish consistent groupings and raid times, but it also helps move the group down the path of progression. Raiders will gear up together, learn to strategize on boss encounters, and synergize much the way that the Ulduar group did just merely months ago. Doing so also gives the aforementioned raid leaders more responsibility (and flexibility) over their group and times that they raid--and will generally get players into the raids that may have otherwise been left out.
What we typically want to shy away from, are farm runs in which 7 uber geared raiders are carrying others for gear. While it may be fine for alts of players that know the fights--there is a point when it becomes detrimental to player development. We want raids to be organized and planned (and fun =), but we don't want them to be AFK fests (dying on heigan and waiting for loot, dying on grobb and waiting for loot, dying on thadd and waiting for loot... you get the picture).
On Raid Scheduling:
It isn't as easy as one may think. Its easy to calendar a couple of raids. Difficult to get people to show, frustrating when they don't, and even more so when someone is left out. During my brief stint as a raid coordinator, I got to see this firsthand. And, believe it or not, players will send feedback to you both good and bad. Thankfully, most days were filled with good mail messages--but there were days with bad. Players that were left out, players unhappy about a loot roll or decision, etc. For this reason, the multiple group format was an attractive way to get other players involved in the whole process--there are some leaders out there in H&G, that we're aware of, and it would be nice to watch them take a team and make it successful.
Perhaps the ability to paint this picture clear is what was missing last night. Either way, merger or no merger, if you care or if you don't, this message needed to come across the right way; the way it was originally intended. If it was perceived as elitist, or seemed as though we were leaving players to fend for themselves, I do apologize. I think that one of the attributes that makes Honor and Glory as unique as it is, is our willingness to help our guildies-- heroic runs, gems, chants, general knowledge, levelling runs--and I would hope that no one would ever assume that that would ever stop.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Let's Talk About Stats, Baby
...All the good things and the bad things, that may be.
As of late I've noticed more and more players un-gemmed and un-chanted--so this post is a straight up attempt at educating everyone on how to tinker (enhance) your gear.
Raiding in PvP Gear:
Any hardcore raider is gonna tell you, "Don't do it." Now I'm going to tell you why. PvP gear is stat-weighted for PvP; this means stam is typically weighted higher, and you gain resilience at the expense of other, necessary stats, such as critical strike or hit rating, spell power, etc. Since hit rating is unnecessary in PvP, raiding in this gear could effectively render you useless. So, while it may be easy to get, if you really want to raid, I suggest grinding heroics, and grabbing some coin to pickup the crafted epics for your class. You can use addons such as Atlasloot, or check the armory to find the heroics that you can benefit from. Worse comes to worse, the badges will always do you good.
Gemming:
This is one area where many players can improve. First I want you to ask yourself, "what is my goal?" My answer to this is: "to increase my dps." If you're a dps player, I hope your answer is the same. That being said, lemme lay down the basics:
Melee DPS- Ret Pallies/DK's/Warriors
Hit>Expertise>Strength
This is what you need to gem for. Period. Hit Rating until 8%, Expertise to at least 15 skill, then all STR.
Now let's talk about why:
A. If you don't hit the target, you're not dps'ing
B. If you get parried, you're not dps'ing
C. Strength scales much better than any other stat. 1 Str= 2 AP.
Never gem for attack power. Ever. Ever. I'm serious. Never gem for crit either. Crit comes from gear, and raid buffs already give you a nice crit boost--No top of the charts dps ever gemmed for crit. Trust me on this.
Which brings me to the issue of sockets. Rule of thumb here, is to make sure your meta gem is activated, and then ignore all the other colors (JC's can use their dragons eyes for this). Socket bonuses suck; +4 stam, or +5 crit at the expense of 32 AP is just retarded. And everyone knows you don't go full retard.
Enchants:
Many enchants require Reputation. Do the dailies. Grab a tabard. Its worth it.
You can chant every single piece of armor you wear. Let's start at the top:
Head
DPS:
Arcanum of Torment Ebon Blade (Reverred) AP/Crit
Caster:
Arcanum of Burning Mysteries Kirin Tor (Reverred) SP/Crit
Heals:
Arcanum of Blissful Mending Wyrmrest (Reverred) SP/Mp5
Shoulders
Unless you're a scribe, you're gonna have to do the Sons of Hodir questchain for this slot. Its a long grind, but worth the epic shoulder chant. Epic enchants require exalted rep, but there are some available at honored.
DPS:
Greater Inscription of the Axe AP/Crit
Caster:
Greater Inscription of the Storm SP/Crit
Heals:
Greater Inscription of the Crag SP/Mp5
Back/Cloak
There aren't too many attractive options here. +22 Agi, +23 haste are about the best...unless you're a tailor.
Chest
+10 All stats. This is the only chant, and its expensive due to the mats-- I strongly recommend you to find a nice guildie for this one.
Bracers
Some options here: +15 expertise, +50 AP, +23 SP...
Hands/Gloves
+44 AP, +20 hit, +28 SP, +20 Agi
Waist
Add an eternal belt buckle...gives you an additional gem socket /ftw
Legs
Epic choices here...
DPS:
Icescale Leg Armor AP/Crit
Caster:
Brilliant Spellthread SP/Spirit
Boots/Feet
Either AP or hit/crit for your choices here. Not much else worth it...
To see the biggest improvement, get yourself hit capped (except healers), and then gem for your "Golden Stat." I promise you'll notice a difference.
As of late I've noticed more and more players un-gemmed and un-chanted--so this post is a straight up attempt at educating everyone on how to tinker (enhance) your gear.
Raiding in PvP Gear:
Any hardcore raider is gonna tell you, "Don't do it." Now I'm going to tell you why. PvP gear is stat-weighted for PvP; this means stam is typically weighted higher, and you gain resilience at the expense of other, necessary stats, such as critical strike or hit rating, spell power, etc. Since hit rating is unnecessary in PvP, raiding in this gear could effectively render you useless. So, while it may be easy to get, if you really want to raid, I suggest grinding heroics, and grabbing some coin to pickup the crafted epics for your class. You can use addons such as Atlasloot, or check the armory to find the heroics that you can benefit from. Worse comes to worse, the badges will always do you good.
Gemming:
This is one area where many players can improve. First I want you to ask yourself, "what is my goal?" My answer to this is: "to increase my dps." If you're a dps player, I hope your answer is the same. That being said, lemme lay down the basics:
Melee DPS- Ret Pallies/DK's/Warriors
Hit>Expertise>Strength
This is what you need to gem for. Period. Hit Rating until 8%, Expertise to at least 15 skill, then all STR.
Now let's talk about why:
A. If you don't hit the target, you're not dps'ing
B. If you get parried, you're not dps'ing
C. Strength scales much better than any other stat. 1 Str= 2 AP.
Never gem for attack power. Ever. Ever. I'm serious. Never gem for crit either. Crit comes from gear, and raid buffs already give you a nice crit boost--No top of the charts dps ever gemmed for crit. Trust me on this.
Which brings me to the issue of sockets. Rule of thumb here, is to make sure your meta gem is activated, and then ignore all the other colors (JC's can use their dragons eyes for this). Socket bonuses suck; +4 stam, or +5 crit at the expense of 32 AP is just retarded. And everyone knows you don't go full retard.
Enchants:
Many enchants require Reputation. Do the dailies. Grab a tabard. Its worth it.
You can chant every single piece of armor you wear. Let's start at the top:
Head
DPS:
Arcanum of Torment Ebon Blade (Reverred) AP/CritCaster:
Arcanum of Burning Mysteries Kirin Tor (Reverred) SP/CritHeals:
Arcanum of Blissful Mending Wyrmrest (Reverred) SP/Mp5Shoulders
Unless you're a scribe, you're gonna have to do the Sons of Hodir questchain for this slot. Its a long grind, but worth the epic shoulder chant. Epic enchants require exalted rep, but there are some available at honored.
DPS:
Greater Inscription of the Axe AP/CritCaster:
Greater Inscription of the Storm SP/CritHeals:
Greater Inscription of the Crag SP/Mp5Back/Cloak
There aren't too many attractive options here. +22 Agi, +23 haste are about the best...unless you're a tailor.
Chest
+10 All stats. This is the only chant, and its expensive due to the mats-- I strongly recommend you to find a nice guildie for this one.
Bracers
Some options here: +15 expertise, +50 AP, +23 SP...
Hands/Gloves
+44 AP, +20 hit, +28 SP, +20 Agi
Waist
Add an eternal belt buckle...gives you an additional gem socket /ftw
Legs
Epic choices here...
DPS:
Icescale Leg Armor AP/CritCaster:
Brilliant Spellthread SP/SpiritBoots/Feet
Either AP or hit/crit for your choices here. Not much else worth it...
To see the biggest improvement, get yourself hit capped (except healers), and then gem for your "Golden Stat." I promise you'll notice a difference.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Auriaya Down!
Another week, another boss killed. We're really rolling over these guys at an exponential pace. With the full weekend before the reset, I definitely think we'll see a few more fall. Ignis is on notice, as well as Thorim and Iron Council.
Good Job Guys!
And as a bonus:
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Player Spotlight: SHYSTECHRIS
(Shystechris)Name: Shystechris (BE Death Knight)
Alt1: Shysteshot (lvl 24 Tauren Hunter)
About Shyste:
A Dark Archon of Honor and Glory. Epic DPS =), will tank when I'm asked. Got into gaming a couple of years ago via the 360; COD4 and L4D--then was dragged into WoW by Antslock and Moonicknight. Rolled a Paladin my first round, was into it ok until I learned about the Deathknight. I wanted to carry a sword and smack shit with it, so I switched.
Alt1: Shysteshot (lvl 24 Tauren Hunter)
About Shyste:
A Dark Archon of Honor and Glory. Epic DPS =), will tank when I'm asked. Got into gaming a couple of years ago via the 360; COD4 and L4D--then was dragged into WoW by Antslock and Moonicknight. Rolled a Paladin my first round, was into it ok until I learned about the Deathknight. I wanted to carry a sword and smack shit with it, so I switched.
Shyste Asks Himself:
What's your favorite breakfast cereal?
Unfortunately, I don't usually have time to eat a good breakfast these days--as a kid, my fave was Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Now, its Basic 4.
All time fave band/group?
This one's a toss up between Weezer, Third Eye Blind, and Jack's Mannequin/Something Corporate.
What do you do for fun, other than WoW?
Hangin with friends, golfing, going to concerts and sports games--camping, fishing, the list goes on...
Favorite Sport:
Don't really have a favorite. What I watch: hockey, football, golf, tennis, and baseball if its live.
Favorite 80's movie?
Oh, where to begin? Princess Bride, Spaceballs, Real Genius, Lost Boys, Breakfast Club, License to Drive...so many good ones to choose =p
What do you do?
I'm a banker by trade (9 years)...but that may change. I dunno. Have 2 qtrs left for my bachelors, but i'm still paying on the college I've already had--this economy has kinda got me stuck.
Favorite Kool Aid flavor?
Raspberry Lemonade is the schizz. Always brings out my kool aid smile.
Favorite Dr. Seuss book?
Cat in the Hat. Hands down. Watched a kid perform it at National's (Speech & Debate) back in highschool--awesome. It was always my fave.
Favorite cartoon character?
Hmmm...so many growing up. Gonna go with either Danger Mouse or Kit from Tale Spin.
Do you have a favorite WoW dance?
I like the way undead rock out, but I also like the Tauren's dance....its a toss up.
Favorite WoW moment?
Tanking KT and the adds. Out DPSing better geared players. Coming back in Arena to kill a pally after the bubble; these are all things that make me happy. New achievements, new boss kills, new feats of strength, each new one is a fave WoW moment.
What are you looking forward to, in-game?
Unfortunately, gear can hinder a players ability somewhat--but with the new gear structure in 3.2, I really think we'll be able to compete with more progressive guilds. We have the talent, now we'll have access to the tools. I'm looking forward to downing Algalon--wrapping up hard modes, and trying to piece together Vala'nyr. I'm looking forward to downing the coliseum, and working toward that server first. I think we can do it. =)
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