My opinionz, let me share them with you.

Hello, my name is Jive. I'm an outstanding healer, a terrible DPSer, and I raid a lot.

The above sentence might have meant something if you've been following recent kerfluffles and if I wasn't too lazy to continue..

But, you guys..

Blizzard just said I could be all those things and have a pony.. errr.. be a Tauren!

TO THE GROUND, BA-- wait, what?

3.2 Patch Notes Are Out!

No, I 'm not going to go in-depth to the current coming Priest changes.

But I will say after hearing about the beatstick Paladins got (seals removed what), I was afraid to look.

I'd just like to point out one thing.

Inspiration: The buff from this ability now reduces the physical damage taken by the target by 3/7/10% instead of increasing the target's armor.

So, this means.. let's see..

An opening Inner Focus'd Flash Heal behind a PW: Shield can almost guarantee a 13% (not forgetting 3% from Renewed Hope!) damage reduction right off the bat. That is, if you prefer Inner Focus on your Flash. I personally use it on Penance, but perhaps for heavy handed bosses I'd make a shift modifier for my Flash.

Crazy. Do I really expect this to go through? Probably not.. but if it does I don't expect it to stay long.

We're a little concerned..

..with our time management.
Have you ever reached the point in your WoW-dom where there just isn't enough time? I enjoy many aspects of the game, and I can't seem to fit everything in!

I want to raid 25's with with my guild.
I want to do 10's with my friends.
I want to get back in Arena!
I want to level alts.
I want to do dailies. (Well, this is mostly a lie. I just HAVE to do them.)
I want to be more consistent with ye olde blog.

Somehow, I only manage 1-2 of these things a week. Where did the time go? Perhaps for Blizzard, it's better my real life stay busy so I keep on payin'.

..the state of Discipline Priests.
We all know (or should know!) that a well geared and played Discipline Priest is an asset to any balanced 25man raid.

While I'll go out on a limb and say I'm a little bit of both those things, I don't find opportunity much to use that skillset or gear often in my current raids. One place I do, however, is General Vezax. Looking over reports at the end of the night, I find Discipline as a spec a little bit disgusting.. in the good way.

Even while we know places like WoWMeterOnline and World Of Logs are only estimating shield absorbs, counting their estimates as high and my own math as lowballing it, it still came out anywhere from 1/6-1/8 of damage absorbed on the tank.

One encounter does not make the spec, buuuut I think I'll just cower in the corner and wait til the nerfbat comes.

..our own DPS.
As my guild starts feeling more froggy with trying hardmodes, many of them are DPS-dependant. As Shadow, I often feel at a loss exactly how I'm supposed to squeeze more DPS out of myself. Everywhere I peek (including ye olde shadowpriest.com) seems to have varying results. There seem to be a lot of Shadow Priests like me who aren't sure, and others who are totally confident and topping the meters.

Practice makes perfect, and I am just hoping that I have enough chances to figure it out before my guild starts locking in the people they know that'll put out for hardmode. I guess I've never considered us a bursty class or one that plays well with haste, but with so many hard modes working around those two things, it's time to bust out that thing known as 'the brain' and math it up.

..that this pair is too much bacon for the pan to handle.
Awhile ago I mentioned the horrors of being a twin. Somehow I managed to forget all that, and play it up with the only other Shadow Priest in my new guild.


Can you tell who's who?

..that we keep missing the obvious.
Tonight, my 10man Ulduar group found out what it was like to get so hyperfocused on our own performance and completely forget about what Blizzard can do for us.


What a nice bunch of achieves, right? 3 Keepers on a first kill, too!

..until I explain we didn't realise we forgot to talk to Mimiron until AFTER we'd gotten the achievement. That 10% damage increase sure would have been helpful! What's even funnier (or worse?) is that during the encounter I made the comment "that when we start shaving down keepers, Hodir should be the first to go".

Does lag affect your DPS?

Many people, including myself, are behind the Blizzard technology curve. Sure, WoW's minimum requirements are ridiculously low, but they are just that - minimum requirements!

Maybe you adapted like I did. I created a spell rotation macro, and became spot on at focusing directly at my feet in two swings of the mouse. Who the hell cares what's on the other side of that blue fog anyways. I didn't really need to see the Greater Heal turntable spell effect to know it was going off.

And Dalaran? Fuck, Dalaran didn't exist.

Perhaps, in extreme cases like mine, you snapped and spent a whole lot of money on a nice new laptop.

However.

I'm here to warn you that your lag, while gone, will not be forgotten! It will still effect your DPS, if you let it! Witness!

Jive's Foolproof Method Into Convincing Your Entire Guild Purchasing A Laptop Was A Bad Idea

1(a). It's All Very Shiny
Iron Council's room looks really cool, you know? So do spell effects, when you can afford to turn them on high. While Rune of Power is an amazingly calm shade of blue, and it is in your best interest to stare at it. Rune of Death and Lightning Tendrils are also very nice eyecandy.

Especially when you're supposed to be DPSing.

1(b). VERY SHINY!
Yes, Virginia, there's even neat designs on the ceilings, and we recommend turning the camera upwards while scrambling to look at it all the event you a) aggro trash b) aggro bosses c) run headfirst into a wall for a full minute, looking like a dumbass.

2. Be Unfashionable
Did you know that the Priest Tier 8.5 robes actually have some neat designs on them? Once you realise this, you might start pulling out gear you only thought of as a swirly red/blue/black blob. However, as the rest of the raid would like to, you know, get on with their raid, you'll probably forget to take it off again. That's all right, because even with 2% hit and 10k health, you'll be the most stylish one there!

3. Revert to Old Habits
You might have been excited over being able to SEE FOREVER (echo echo echo..), but as a creature of habit, you'll ruin this the moment you enter combat. Spend a full 30 seconds fighting with yourself over zooming in and out on your toes. The image of you stutter stepping back and forth while going "NOYESNOYES" over camera view will entertain the raid immensely.

You may have decided to go back to doing your rotation by hand. Congratulations! However, this means you'll still hit the wrong key out of habit, and completely destroy your rotation in the end. But, really, who needs more then 50% VT uptime? Not you!

4. Really Piss Your Raid Off
You've spent the night crashing into walls, pulling extra mobs, dancing in place, and wearing a (stylish!) clownsuit. Your next step would be to combine all of these during a progression fight. Let's say.. Mimiron. Somehow, throughout it all, you've managed to survive to Phase 4! As your raid dies off one by one, keep it up!

And even though you have accidentally canceled Shadowform and tried to sic your Shadowfiend on the tank, somehow your raid will be amazed (& angry!) that you are one of three DPS left standing, and kill the boss!

Loot Council vs DKP

I've seen and heard a lot of back and forth about Loot Systems lately. It's made me think about my experiences with Loot Systems in general, so now I will talk about them!

My last guild ran on silent bid DKP auctions for loot, using the same values as Death and Taxes. It was a system brought over from Phoenix's previous incarnation. Having spent two years using that system, it was a little weird to leave it.

My new guild is run on Loot Council. Over the past couple weeks, I've watched my own reactions and opinions of the different systems change.

The Pros of DKP:
- Instant Gratification. I didn't have to explain myself or wait for another group of people to decide if I deserved that piece. I could simply label it as 'mine' and be done with it.

- When Opportunity Knocks.. There have been a few times, especially with weapons, that we only saw 1-2 drops of in Phoenix. Being a solid raider meant having the DKP pool to snatch it up when it did drop. Who knew we'd only ever get two Torches, or two Apostle of Argus? Spending a ton on my Torch and Argus(es, long story!) ensured I'd have one.

- Even If I Don't Want It.. So many times, I heard the phrase "Make them pay for it" and "If you want this too, I'll make you for it!" It was a reference to holding out a large amount of DKP until a contested item dropped, and either spending or pretending to spend a huge amount to make another person drop their DKP pool for it. I purposely remember going "all in" on a few pieces, or saying I was, just to be absolutely sure I got said item, or that my fellow casters would be in a bigger hole.

Which, looking over, sort of makes me look like a douchebag for liking those things about the system. But, I insist, the system worked for The Phoenix for many years, for many of these reasons. It was supported by a large raid team, where competition like that was welcome.

With Malicious, however..


The Pros of Loot Council:
- Rethinking it. Let's be honest, how many times have you picked up something that looks like a huge upgrade, only to find out you can't make it work? The Loot Council knows exactly what you've been interested in, so you'd better be pretty damn sure (and honest) with the tell you're putting in. Hmm, maybe that [Golden Widget] doesn't look so shiny now, does it?

- What're You Wearing? I've seen plenty of my Best in Slot list drop, but I find myself looking at other raider's gear more. A 3.0 BiS to 3.1 BiS upgrade for me isn't going to have the same punch as it is for someone else who never saw a Torch or Arcanic Tramplers. Though it may never drop again, I can get my ups somewhere else, so it's all right to let it ride and simply not send a tell.

- Thank You! The strangest, and possibly biggest thing I like about Malicious' loot council.. everyone says Thank You. There's also a round of congrats whenever someone is awarded a piece. While a small detail in retrospect, those two words bring home the point that raiding is a group effort. When I say "Thanks, Malicious!", I see it as thanking everyone for showing up and paying attention, and thank you for giving me this piece. With a small raid team, a little thanks and gratz goes a long way.

Not exactly alike, but the same enough..:
- I'm Waiting.. As expected, there were a lot of bids for new tier tokens and 'hot' items like weapons and trinkets. With Loot Council it's exactly the same, but with tells. Both guilds have been using their systems for about the same length, and as such, I find neither is really faster. It's pretty neck and neck.

- My Spidey Senses Tingle.. I think in most cases, both systems would end with the same person getting the same loot. Priest A who's always in attendance would have the DKP to buy [Golden Widget], would probably be awarded the same piece with loot council. However, does it mean the systems are interchangable? No.

- It's Not Perfect! And really, I don't think any loot system is. It goes back to it being impossible to completely satisfy 25+ different personalities. With DKP, there was always worry about attendance and accumulation, and was it fair if someone could bomb outbid you. With Loot Council, though I haven't seen it (yet?), it's naive to think there isn't some QQ behind the scenes over so-and-so getting the [Golden Widget] over someone else.


Because all this waxing poetic about loot systems comes down to..
Does the guild fit the system? And I do not mean this vice-versa.

I don't mean that large raid team = DKP/small raid team = loot council, either.

There's a million systems out there, and they are all customisable. A small raid team can bend a DKP or EG/GP system to their liking, and a large guild can run a large Loot Council. It comes down to the personalities in said guild, and what they feel most comfortable with. What's the mentality? And, in reality, what's going to satisfy the majority of the raid team?

For some reason, I've seen this topic spark emotions not unlike 'casual vs hardcore' and other hot WoW topics, so feel free to discuss here. Tell me why I'm wrong, or share about your loot system. I'm genuinely interested!

R.I.P. Christopher Hauck, AKA Taymar

Monday, May 11, just a day after Mother's Day and his birthday, Taymar left this world finally. I can only hope he was at peace, and that he wasn't in any pain or discomfort after his accident to the end.

I thought I had made my own peace with it, but I'm still very sad. I guess I had hoped there was a miracle in the cards, but it just wasn't meant to be. I told my partner I was upset the most over the fact that even though we hadn't talked in a few months, everyone expected him to come back.

We all knew he was near us and we talked a lot about him, just sort of expecting him to show up one day and we'd all tell him how much we'd missed him. Everytime The Phoenix was up against particularly nasty boss, someone would always say, "We need Taymar!" Then, out of nowhere the opportunity is ripped away and there's so much left unsaid.

Taymar and I didn't get along very well most of the time. While not quite oil and water, maybe like oil and vinegar. It separates, but mix it up and it becomes pretty tasty. We used to fight tooth and nail over "what being a good mage" meant, and boy was it a pain to get him to polymorph when there was DPS to be done! Don't even get me started about hit rating fight in BC. There was no end to it.

But still, he was a kind person. He was always excited about his Mage, the game, and his life, that it was hard not to be excited with him. He was always pretty cheery. Except for when he ranted about Death Knights, though. Those just pissed him off.

My first memories of him were doing guild PvP with the Watchmen, and how much I liked being part of the 'roving kill band' with him in AB. Later this would progress to WSG, which I still consider to be his battleground. Even before the accident, everytime I'd gone to WSG after he left the game, if I ever saw an Ice Barrier fly by out of the corner of my eye as a mage jumped off the Alliance balcony.. I'd think of him, and what a shame it was he wasn't here to play anymore. He loved to divebomb people from there.

At the Guild Party last year, our GM also hosted a D&D game. I'd never seen D&D played before, so I watched for a while before going upstairs and leaving the guys to 'their thing'. When it ended, they all came upstairs to tell us how Taymar had killed the 'final boss' (aptly named Kael'thas!) by using his character skills to just.. push Kael through a portal. Just like that! And that's just the type of guy he was, always thinking outside the box.

There are so many more little moments I remember, but it seems cheap to list them all here.

Over the past 24 hours people have been sharing thoughts and memories about him here.

I wasn't sure how to end this post without reverting back to my former Mage self.. they're really prone to tears, you know? I will miss him. My thoughts are with his family now. I'm going to hug my loved ones extra tight tonight, I suggest you do the same.

In closing, I'm going to share a piece of Christopher with you not even most of The Phoenix knew about. While we spent a lot of time complaining about his horrid mic.. he had such an amazing voice on the other side of it.

Other Side of the Fence

I just wanted to open by saying thank you for all the well wishes re: the guildie who was in an accident. I don't really feel comfortable updating the world at large about the situation, but I would ask that if you are a believer in sending positive vibes (or prayer), please do so this weekend.

Now, onto the rambling. /wink

I think it's pretty safe to say it'll happen in every raider's lifetime - they switch guilds. Last Tuesday, I left The Phoenix. The guild I'd essentially 'grown up' with as a raider, full of people I considered close friends (and even family) for the past two years. Believe me when I say it was a hard decision, especially with recent events.

No two /gquits are exactly alike, and I don't think there's really any real way to write a primer on "How to Successfully /Gquit" like I've seen in the past. It's a personal choice, and no matter how graceful you might think you're being, if you were really connected to the people you played with.. it'll suck.

For the first time, I've been able to see 'the other side' of a gquit. It hasn't been the best experience, but I suppose it could always be worse. While I said there really could be no primer on how to /gquit, I know I wasn't prepared for what it was like after I typed that command.

I'm Just Not That Into You
No matter how much you've talked yourself up to being noble over the reasons for leaving, or try to sugarcoat them - they still sting. Especially after a year or more, nobody likes to hear "we just don't fit anymore".

If your former management asks you for an 'exit interview', you might as well take it. Realise that emotions are high, and it'll hurt as much to hear as it is to say. They're asking for a reason.

Being strong in your decision to leave is important, and can help organise your thoughts. Be honest, but don't be bitter. Mine wasn't the best, wasn't the worst. My former management knows it wasn't 1/20th of the bitter and bitchy I'm capable of producing, and I'm hoping they took it for what it was.

Things Will Change
Hey, guess what? When you typed /gquit, you left the guild. It seems obvious, but in a guild full of friends you just left, the idea to hang on tight might be there. It took me a few days to come to terms with this.

You made this choice. As a result, there's some things you're going to have to live without.

No matter how much I'd selfishly love to keep in touch with my former guildies through forum access and having alts in Phoenix, I have to respect the decision to have those powers taken away. I am no longer a part of that guild.

I was extremely sore in the beginning to see all of this happen. When your /gquit is fresh, every action your former management takes might seem like a personal blow. The actions taken to move on without you may seem like they're cutting you out completely.

It's not. Give it space. You need it just like they do.

Not Every Breakup Has to Be a Bad One
Think back to the time you were still in your former guild. Now, think of when someone left. How did you feel? Apply it to how your former guildies might be reacting now.

While it's not recommended or healthy to be paranoid everyone's talking about you in a not-so-shiny-light, realise it'll happen. It won't happen forever, and if you're really interested in saving these relationships, just let it roll off your back. It hurts and stings to lose a guildmate, you know this.

I think the smartest thing you can do is make yourself available. People will still want to chat if they know you're there. Maybe they just need to rant and get over it, and you should be prepared for that, too. Some will need more time, no matter much you'd really like to be speaking to them right now. Respect that. Realise that some friendships might fade, some will take time to come back to you, and some won't be as tight as before.

Don't press the issue. Don't linger around. You have a new guild that needs your attention, and they are trying to proceed with theirs. Be supportive of their efforts and celebrate their successes from afar, while moving on with your own raiding endeavours.

Life After /gquit
Don't forget about your new guild! You have a whole slew of new people who are curious about you and your abilities. Now it's time to show them why you're there and put your best foot forward.

Things will be different in your new guild, but realise they are just differences. You did, after all, have your reasons for moving. It's also important to accept not every guild is perfect, and it's not fair to compare them. My new raid leader is a little crazier than I'm used to and people have a strange affection for train sets. I hate train sets. However, I adapt.

Reach out to people for 10man groups or instances and make new friends. Realise they're not meant to replace your old guildies, but it's part of creating a healthy raiding environment for yourself.

On the same hand, still make yourself available for your old guildies. We're slowly creating a nightly habit of BSing through long-forgotten heroics or old world content after our respective raids. Just talking. I know that in time I might be able to peek at forums or put 'the mage that started it all' back in the guild. I might completely drift away from everyone, too. I'm all right with that.

I'm enjoying my new guild and the new dynamic I have with the old one. The guild I moved to was always in direct competition with Phoenix for progression, so everytime either gets a new kill it's like double the warm fuzzies. Since my partner didn't follow me to my new guild there's been plenty of jokes about spies and double agents. I think by now I've also done everything bad a new recruit can do, from DCing at important moments to wiping the raid because hey-that's-a-warrior-not-a-dk-tanking-those-rubble.

All in all, life goes on.