Thursday, January 31, 2008
Following the Herd
It's time to try this again. There was a community post idea over at BA about what you love about your class. I decided to do it in pictures. Let's conintinue, shall we? Click on the pictures for the larger versions. Silly sayings belong to Alamo, not me.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Myth of Selflessness, or Why Selfishness is Good for You
People tout the works of those who do things altruistically, or selflessly. Doing things for others without expecting anything in return is something respectable, admirable. It can give you a good, warm feeling inside. I am here to break it to you that there are very few truly “selfless” acts. And that, contrary to popular belief, this is not a bad thing.
The word “selfish” has a very negative connotation practically glued to it, with flashing lights and a siren. A selfish person thinks only of themselves to the exclusion of others, doing things they shouldn’t or wouldn’t had they thought of others’ feelings and reactions. This is on some parts deserved. At the same time, it is undeserved. Being "selfish" is healthy, when applied in the correct circumstances. Allow me to explain.
When you perform a “selfless” act, there is something you generally get out of it, even if it is simply the satisfaction of having helped someone or having done something you didn’t have to but that bettered someone else. This is great! Some people question if they’re doing things for others simply because it makes themselves feel good. Short answer: yes. Long answer: No, not really, it’s more complicated than that. You care about these people to some extent, or this cause, or you are troubled by an event, the list goes on and on. You have some motivation. But without the return feeling, it becomes unhealthy. Using WoW, I will now detail what I mean.
Let’s say, hypothetically, you are the main tank in a small guild. You are the best geared tank and so therefore many people want you to help them run five-mans, both heroic and normal, and are always called on when a Kara group is thrown together. You are a tank, you like tanking, so you readily agree. You’re so well-geared that these five-mans give you nothing, but you want to help your guildies. It gives you a sense of satisfaction, a warm glow. You’re the best tank in your guild. Everyone wants you, needs you, for their instances. You feel great! This is considered a “selfless act.” You don’t know these people too well, or maybe you do, it doesn’t matter. You like the thrill of being helpful.
Now, let’s fast-forward. Guildies are still asking you for runs. They’ve become over-confident, running here and there and becoming lax and lazy during the runs. Your repair bills mount because they pull stupid stunts. Your epic mount is farther and farther away. You lose the happy feeling and instead start to feel like a babysitter, ushering people through instances who simply smile and fool around while they wait for you to make the epics fall in their laps. You begin to feel used, worn out, and exhausted. You are no longer getting anything, either satisfaction, loot, or happiness from these runs. That’s right, you are now doing these runs with a hope of nothing in return. You have become truly “selfless.”
Does that second scenario seem familiar? Does it sound like that tank is about to burn out and blow up in disgust at his or her guildies and their runs? But that’s selfless! That’s the epitomy of selfless. The action is being done with no hope of anything in return. Selfless means “without self.” Does that sound optimal?
When you get nothing out of something, you begin to burn out. There’s no return. When you give and give and receive nothing back, you are “emptying” yourself of energy without reciprocation you burn out.
Being moderately selfish is better for you in the long run. And it is not bad. It is not evil to think “I won’t have fun, I don’t need this and I don’t want to do it,” and based on that decide not to. It’s healthy!
When I talk about selfishness, I want to make it clear. I mean benign selfishness, that which does not slight or hurt others overtly. I am not advocating ninjaing loot or stonewalling guildies. I do not mean you should demand compensation for what you are doing for other people. I am saying examine your reasons for doing something. Are you doing it because you want to? Or are you feeling pressured, guilted or pulled into it?
The word “selfish” has a very negative connotation practically glued to it, with flashing lights and a siren. A selfish person thinks only of themselves to the exclusion of others, doing things they shouldn’t or wouldn’t had they thought of others’ feelings and reactions. This is on some parts deserved. At the same time, it is undeserved. Being "selfish" is healthy, when applied in the correct circumstances. Allow me to explain.
When you perform a “selfless” act, there is something you generally get out of it, even if it is simply the satisfaction of having helped someone or having done something you didn’t have to but that bettered someone else. This is great! Some people question if they’re doing things for others simply because it makes themselves feel good. Short answer: yes. Long answer: No, not really, it’s more complicated than that. You care about these people to some extent, or this cause, or you are troubled by an event, the list goes on and on. You have some motivation. But without the return feeling, it becomes unhealthy. Using WoW, I will now detail what I mean.
Let’s say, hypothetically, you are the main tank in a small guild. You are the best geared tank and so therefore many people want you to help them run five-mans, both heroic and normal, and are always called on when a Kara group is thrown together. You are a tank, you like tanking, so you readily agree. You’re so well-geared that these five-mans give you nothing, but you want to help your guildies. It gives you a sense of satisfaction, a warm glow. You’re the best tank in your guild. Everyone wants you, needs you, for their instances. You feel great! This is considered a “selfless act.” You don’t know these people too well, or maybe you do, it doesn’t matter. You like the thrill of being helpful.
Now, let’s fast-forward. Guildies are still asking you for runs. They’ve become over-confident, running here and there and becoming lax and lazy during the runs. Your repair bills mount because they pull stupid stunts. Your epic mount is farther and farther away. You lose the happy feeling and instead start to feel like a babysitter, ushering people through instances who simply smile and fool around while they wait for you to make the epics fall in their laps. You begin to feel used, worn out, and exhausted. You are no longer getting anything, either satisfaction, loot, or happiness from these runs. That’s right, you are now doing these runs with a hope of nothing in return. You have become truly “selfless.”
Does that second scenario seem familiar? Does it sound like that tank is about to burn out and blow up in disgust at his or her guildies and their runs? But that’s selfless! That’s the epitomy of selfless. The action is being done with no hope of anything in return. Selfless means “without self.” Does that sound optimal?
When you get nothing out of something, you begin to burn out. There’s no return. When you give and give and receive nothing back, you are “emptying” yourself of energy without reciprocation you burn out.
Being moderately selfish is better for you in the long run. And it is not bad. It is not evil to think “I won’t have fun, I don’t need this and I don’t want to do it,” and based on that decide not to. It’s healthy!
When I talk about selfishness, I want to make it clear. I mean benign selfishness, that which does not slight or hurt others overtly. I am not advocating ninjaing loot or stonewalling guildies. I do not mean you should demand compensation for what you are doing for other people. I am saying examine your reasons for doing something. Are you doing it because you want to? Or are you feeling pressured, guilted or pulled into it?
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Seal Form Go!
Well, it was my challenge, so I should give it a go, right?What do you mean, what challenge?! Well, here it is:
Challenge:
Hypothetical situation: Blizzard has introduced a new underwater zone to WoW. Due to this, they start giving all classes underwater abilities. The druid seal form is now utilized for more than simple travel.
Your goal: Design abilities for the seal form! Is the seal a healer? Magical dps? Physical dps? Tank? Utility? CC? Something entirely new?
I'm going from the tank point of view, grabbing a bunch of different ideas from tanks all over. But not just any tank; a tank with CC.
I'd revamp the seal's abilities, for instance, and, in keeping with the other forms, give it a nice new aura.
Shapeshift into aquatic form, increasing swim speed by 50% and allowing the druid to breathe underwater, increasing melee attack power by 120, armor contribution from items by 400%, and Stamina by 25%. Also protects the caster from Polymorph effects. Grants members of your party within 40 yards the ability to breathe under water. Allows access to several seal abilities.
What? You just copy pasta'd the bear's abilities into there and added some fancy aura for breathing as if you have gills! Absolutely. Bears are tanks because of this, therefore, a seal tank needs it.
Now, on with the skills.
We're giving seals Mangle, 'cause they need it. In place of lacerate, though, they have:
Harpoon - Hit enemy for a high amount of threat. Causes 200 bleed damage over 20 seconds.
It's a lacerate without the initial damage and a longer duration. Not a big change, but necessary.
For the Pod - Charge an enemy attacking a comrade, stunning the enemy for five seconds.
That's right, it's a charge that only works if an enemy goes loose. Why? The warriors would QQ if we got everything good.
Next we have Bite, your run-of-the-mill damage attack. La-dee-da.
Fin Slap - Interrupt an enemy's spell cast and prevent spells of the same school from being cast for three seconds.
Standard interrupt.
Puncture Lung - The target begins drowning for three seconds and is unable to move or use any abilities. Fifteen minute cooldown.
Drowning does a lot of damage. Even three seconds of this is hurtful. And since they're unable to move or cast, it's gonna hurt. Thus the extensive cooldown.
But you said there was CC!
I'm getting to it.
Ah...here we go.
Bubble Breath - Encase enemy target in a bubble, preventing them from moving or using any abilities. Breaks on damage.
Yep! It's the druid's very own CC, underwater though it may be. I can already hear the shaman crying.
What about a tank's "oshi-" button? Well, here it is.
Natural Selection - Player gains 10% temporary health and 50 haste rating for fifteen seconds. All physical debuffs are inactive for these fifteen seconds. At the end of the fifteen seconds, the debuffs will resume as normal.
Wow! That's crazy! Yep, it'll make druids the must-have-tank for all these water encounters. And it will be sweet, sweet victory.
It's all gonna be nerfed in a couple patches anyway.
Others who answered the challenge:
Swiftpaw
Tabdruid
Posts of the Week
It's time once again for more posts of the week!
Sporeggar - A Tale of Two Druids
This caught my eye because, being the total noob in Outlands that I was, I completely botched my Sporeggar rep progression and it's taking me a thousand times longer just to get the transmute, let alone the pet I so desperately want. This should help anyone else from making the same mistake I did!
I feel light - Laser Chicken
A sadder sort of post...Laser Chicken is leaving WoW behind. I think he's doing it for the right reasons, even if he will be sorely missed. /salute
Fighting the intangibles - Of Teeth and Claws
This is a great article with some detailing of ZA for bear tanks, but a more important look on confidence and the loss thereof.
Arrrghhh!!! Trinkets!!! - Resto4Life
Phaelia over at Resto4Life delves into various trinkets and their returns, helping you find which one suits your needs. Like some things, the item (more specifically, its rarity) may surprise you.
On Agro Management - Elvis Does WoW
My Hunter CO details various ways to not pull mobs off of your tank, keeping you alive and doing your job, whether it's dps, cc or healing.
A Question for the Ages Leads to an Informative Post - Aspect of the Hare
Pike and Tux head to Dr. Doom to check out the increase in their dps using various trinkets and abilities. It's detailed with screenshots and the outcomes are highly favorable.
EgoRaidLeader: Five Principles to Raid By - Egotistical Priest
The Ego's RL stepped in to give everyone some fine-tuned advice on how to go about raiding. Whether you're casual or not, there's truth in there for everyone. There's more tips in the comments!
Guest Blogger: Galertruby - Need More Rage
Truly wisdom for the ages. Galertruby knows all.
6 Reasons Why I Will Never PUG a 25 Man Raid Again - World of Matticus
One of those painful, so-glad-it-didn't-happen-to-me Schadenfreude reads. In case you actually needed more reasons not to PUG raids.
He loves me, He loves me not - Gun Lovin' Dwarf Chick
A quick, helpful post on pet loyalty and getting those cute little buggers to fawn all over you.
Blog Spotlight: Three Druid Noob
He has three druids! THREE! One of each spec! This can only get more interesting.
Friday, January 25, 2008
What's in a Name?
Druid, drood, dr00d, durid, bear, bare, rawr, cat, kitty, feral, tree, trees, tree mafia, moonkin, boomkin, oomkin, featherkin, panzerkin, owlbear, doomkin, seal, manatee, cheetah, travel, caster, humanoid, spamfire, bees, dreamstate, OP, balance, boomy, resto, laser chicken, feathers, KFC...
Wow, druids have a lot of monikers. I don't even know them all, probably. What's interesting is there are more for Moonkins than any other druid spec, and it's the most underutilized!
Did I miss any? Can you think of any more?
Added by others:
space turkey - Phaelia
laser pigeon - anonymous
restro - nilianil
Wow, druids have a lot of monikers. I don't even know them all, probably. What's interesting is there are more for Moonkins than any other druid spec, and it's the most underutilized!
Did I miss any? Can you think of any more?
Added by others:
space turkey - Phaelia
laser pigeon - anonymous
restro - nilianil
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Blog Azeroth!
So there's this awesome new place to hang out. You've probably seen it pop up on a bunch of blogs, and now mine! Astounding. Why is this happening? Well, now you can know!It's called Blog Azeroth. Now, you've probably all gotten the same spiel, but! I want to do it too. I want to be part of the "in" crowd and invite you all to read further and then join a great community!
So, how's it work? The oft-quoted Phaelia says,
Blog Azeroth was created to facilitate the exchange of information and foster community among Warcraft blog authors. While we all appreciate and thrive upon building our own separate communities of readers and — in some cases, members of the class upon which we have focused — we are all part of the same community. Many of us struggle with the same problems, be it the cumbersome migration from one blog platform to another, knowing what stats are the most helpful, or gold spammers trying to take advantage of a publicly available platform. By sharing what we’ve each learned individually, we increase our collective knowledgebase. And all without having to hunt down an e-mail address or post a comment in an attempt to contact each other!
That's right!
I don't know where she got the idea!
;)
Encouraging Bad Habits with Good Healing
I have an obsessive need to see everyone's hp bars at full. It's true. I was running Steamvaults with a mix of PuG and guildies when one of our members had to go (it was kind of late). So, we asked our Hunter CO, Harl, to fill in for us. He was nice and gracious and logged off his little priest so we could use his amazing BM dps. Now, I knew he wasn't in the group prior, I knew he wasn't in the instance and he wasn't even in the same zone, but, since we were in battle, immediately as he joined I noticed there was a small chunk of his life missing and I tried to toss him a lifebloom. I was upset when it said "Out of Range." I told my guildmates and they laughed, and Harl thanked me for trying to save him.
You might be thinking, "That's all well and good, but what does it have to do with the title of the blog post?" Well, I'm getting to it.
Due to my excessive need to make sure everyone is alive and well and performing optimally, I cover for others' mistakes. I do overgear for 5-mans. I'm at 1299 +healing with enough mana to ride through most bosses with no innervate or trinketing. Now, some mistakes are honest and unavoidable. The pet got feared into another group. That's what I'm here for, the honest mistakes. I'm geared up as much as I am so that I can keep you alive. It's what I live for, honest. I tried to BG on my hunter and was frustrated with my inability to fill the flag carrier's health bar while he was being attacked.
What I'm really addressing is the attitude that occasionally carries over with a healer who is well-geared and over-geared for an instance. People start to get sloppy. "I can handle the threat because of my gear." No, handling the threat implies you are making sure you are not generating more than the tank, especially when it's a tank who needs practice and wants practice. Making things hard on him is not going to instill confidence.
Unfortunately, due to my obsession with not letting people die and my fear of being yelled at, I cover for others' purposeful mistakes as well as innocent ones, as I'm sure many do. It's difficult sometimes to just let your teammate die because they are playing the "who has more threat" game, because healers tend to feel responsible, and they are often held accountable when the group dies. Unfortunately, when people see that they can pull these stunts and get away with it, it just reinforces the idea that they can do it again, and that it's acceptable. Meanwhile, the healer is chain-chugging pots and innervating and working their butt off to make sure everyone in the party stays in tip-top shape in case another pat is pulled. At the same time, the feral druid shifted from kitty to bear to play taunt tug-of-war with the warrior and the hunter is meleeing with his pet unrezzed for half the instance, while the mage wands the CC.
Maybe these are your guildmates, and they're just trying to have some fun and relax. Explain, calmly and clearly with no accusatory language, that you are not having fun, you are not able to relax, and you are using valuable consumables to try and keep them alive while they have their fun. If there is a guildie who is being "trained," as it were, explain that this is setting a bad example and is not helping them to improve their skills. Help them understand that it is not a good idea to screw around in level 70 instances, even if they're geared from SSC and beyond, especially when there are lesser-geared members along. If they continue along the same path, let them die. When they become upset, tell them you explained it and you cannot use your time in such a way. If you're feeling charitable, give them one more chance to fix it. But remember, your repair bill, especially as you start getting to the point where you over-gear for instances, is oftentimes more expensive than what you will get from the instance. Remind them of this.
If it is a PuG, you owe them nothing, and you do not owe them an increase in your repair bill. Explain that you cannot finish it with the group, and leave. Do not be derrogatory or accusatory, simply state that you cannot finish, and leave. If you feel like maybe they will listen, then explain the situation. If it does not improve, you can leave with a clear conscience.
You might be thinking, "That's all well and good, but what does it have to do with the title of the blog post?" Well, I'm getting to it.
Due to my excessive need to make sure everyone is alive and well and performing optimally, I cover for others' mistakes. I do overgear for 5-mans. I'm at 1299 +healing with enough mana to ride through most bosses with no innervate or trinketing. Now, some mistakes are honest and unavoidable. The pet got feared into another group. That's what I'm here for, the honest mistakes. I'm geared up as much as I am so that I can keep you alive. It's what I live for, honest. I tried to BG on my hunter and was frustrated with my inability to fill the flag carrier's health bar while he was being attacked.
What I'm really addressing is the attitude that occasionally carries over with a healer who is well-geared and over-geared for an instance. People start to get sloppy. "I can handle the threat because of my gear." No, handling the threat implies you are making sure you are not generating more than the tank, especially when it's a tank who needs practice and wants practice. Making things hard on him is not going to instill confidence.
Unfortunately, due to my obsession with not letting people die and my fear of being yelled at, I cover for others' purposeful mistakes as well as innocent ones, as I'm sure many do. It's difficult sometimes to just let your teammate die because they are playing the "who has more threat" game, because healers tend to feel responsible, and they are often held accountable when the group dies. Unfortunately, when people see that they can pull these stunts and get away with it, it just reinforces the idea that they can do it again, and that it's acceptable. Meanwhile, the healer is chain-chugging pots and innervating and working their butt off to make sure everyone in the party stays in tip-top shape in case another pat is pulled. At the same time, the feral druid shifted from kitty to bear to play taunt tug-of-war with the warrior and the hunter is meleeing with his pet unrezzed for half the instance, while the mage wands the CC.
Maybe these are your guildmates, and they're just trying to have some fun and relax. Explain, calmly and clearly with no accusatory language, that you are not having fun, you are not able to relax, and you are using valuable consumables to try and keep them alive while they have their fun. If there is a guildie who is being "trained," as it were, explain that this is setting a bad example and is not helping them to improve their skills. Help them understand that it is not a good idea to screw around in level 70 instances, even if they're geared from SSC and beyond, especially when there are lesser-geared members along. If they continue along the same path, let them die. When they become upset, tell them you explained it and you cannot use your time in such a way. If you're feeling charitable, give them one more chance to fix it. But remember, your repair bill, especially as you start getting to the point where you over-gear for instances, is oftentimes more expensive than what you will get from the instance. Remind them of this.
If it is a PuG, you owe them nothing, and you do not owe them an increase in your repair bill. Explain that you cannot finish it with the group, and leave. Do not be derrogatory or accusatory, simply state that you cannot finish, and leave. If you feel like maybe they will listen, then explain the situation. If it does not improve, you can leave with a clear conscience.
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