From SL to WoW and Odyssey of 2007 in Review

As this years adventure comes to a close I have found it most difficult to focus my mind long enough to reflect on the various thoughts I've being thinking of encompassing a year to put them here. I find myself reflecting on just how this all began, how I got to here, my accomplishments and where visions of future adventures may take me from here. It has been and adventurous year in 2007 for Galo and I would also like to thank my various readers, lurkers and fellow bloggers for contributing to my adventures and success as well as making Galo much better Knight than I ever envisioned. You all know who you are. With that I close the year on 250 blog posts.

From Secondlife to WoW
This year started with me still playing Secondlife somewhat as a resident builder and landscaper and owner of a private Sim. I has visions of creating my own mythical realm there for fun and adventure. Yet after 3 years of Secondlife it was much different virtual game than I remembered with a much larger world and social enviroment. A world filled with constant over the top social drama and much delayed project completion and headaches. My friends were my only source of sanity and the only reason on days I choose to log in or play the game. They have being darely missed. However grew tired of all things fun, social and vision wise as well as with all the drama. I lost my own inspiration for the game I grew to love because of its resident created environment. In a loss for inspiration and the game I decided to instead of selling my Sim to just give it away basically to long time friend (Pae) and take a leave from Secondlife for an unknown amount of time to regain my inspiration and creativity. It was then I decided to try our this game a Secondlife friend (Willow) had been playing and kept telling me to try out called World of Warcraft. So I did reluctantly and that's how my journey started here.

Starting WoW
I started WoW on a trial account just after TBC came out playing a NE Warrior to lvl 18 and then deleted it due to alliance mentality. Decided I did like the WoW as a game bought the game disks and a TBC Strategy Guide. Joined the Horde on 02/22/07 and rolled a BE since a new race and wanting to play a Melee/Defensive character. I started a Paladin with a noble name called Galoheart. I have played this one character for and entire 11 months straight all the way to the level cap and playing entirely one spec (Protection) of the entire class of which I enjoy playing. After all I choose my Paladin to play Melee/Defensive and accomplished just that.

Starting out I never thought I could ever get to lvl 70 which seemed like a mountain to climb to forever. So I set a goal to get to lvl 20 specing Defensive or Protection at level 10. I did and I just kept setting a goal to get to every 10 level which seemed more manageable as bite size goals. Eventually I did reach lvl 70 as Protection Paladin same spec from lvl 10 just having bite size goals. I've played my Paladin entire life in one spec tree which I attribute to all my solo and tanking skills to having leveled and played my class as the one thing I wanted to play Defensive which in the end meant Tanking. Having goals will get you very far indeed.

A Helping Hand
Best advice I ever got in early 20's was from asking a lvl 70 Paladin (Corvis) a few questions on playing my class. I always remembered his name. Best advice I ever got was to "Get a fast 1H Weapon and a solid Shield" from that lvl 70 Paladin and learn to AoE. Whats AoE I asked? He told me to go and google it. So I did and funny thing thats how I discovored WoW has a Forum board, lol. But that was how I found something called WoW blogs. I found a reference to AoE at WoW blog by a guy that was blogging about his adventures in WoW at Petersblog which was the first WoW blog I ever read and read and learned from a long time leveling. During that time I found a blog called Paladin Sucks which at the time many Paladins read back then and I did as well just learning stuff Paladin of course. From that Paladin Sucks blog I found BRK as a link and found it humerous and wacky fun to read and blogs like Blessing of Kings and Kinless. A few others which are no longer around. But many of those helped me much in the beginning and in understanding playing WoW even though they weren't always my specific class. They gave me ideas of how to play WoW better. I never got to thank that Paladin called Covis, but I made it to 70 and his advice had a impact and a difference to getting there as well as blogging.

My First Instances
My first instance was RFC to try and do a quest in my mid teens. Had no idea what a dungeon was in WoW. I never could find a group or even know how to get one. So a lone warlock (mageattack) said he could and would help. I was abandoned by the warlock at the first group pack of mobs before the tunnel split direction and died also. So I went back in RFC and try slowly all by myself on a saturday morning to run RFC all by myself up to the first boss. Thats as far as I ever made it, which took over 5 hours in a dark dungeon alone. That first dungeon was the making of Ardent Defender in spirit. Next was SFK my first group instance. The group leader at the time sucked and it wasn't me. I barely knew what a tank was back then also. So we never completed SFK the run until 5 levels later. On my next SFK run I met my first friend in WoW Sendrale a Holy Paladin. She always encourged me after that leveling. She went on to be in a progressive guild to complete the Black Temple way before I got to 70. At 60 Sendrale and a few helped me a Solo Paladin to me to get my Epic Charger mount. Many thanks to her back on Rexxar server. My first instances taught me how not to suck as a player and how not to abandon players and how not to be a bad group leader. As a result other than SM Armory never ran a single dungeon until level 60 getting to Outland. I just stuck to leveling and playing solo.

The Soloist
I played WoW entirely Solo. Leveled entirely Solo. Solo'd every quest and elite quest I could or waited and went back a level or 2 ahead and did. I failed many time but I found ways to succeed eventually alone. Soloing taught me how to play my class under less than ideal circumstances and face many challenges in how to do quests while leveling. It taught me how to play well and be self reliant. It taught me how to fail but keep trying again and again to accomplishing a task. Many of those things helped me to become a good player. I was never part of a guild or joined one, had no need really. I played WoW in the dark void of WoW alone and solo. You can play and level in this game entirely solo all the way to the endgame. I did it!

Starting Ardent Defender
After some point I decided to start a blog after having reading Petersblog for a while. At lvl 47 I started Ardent Defender in tribute to all things Defensive because that talent saved me many a times soloing. My first entry was First Tales. Looking back it still reminded me of why I blog. I do it as a way to chronicle my time in WoW and just to add my own perspective on things leveling as I see it and getting to various goals. I'm not a writer but I just try my best at blogging and with Ardent Defender. I've managed to start this blog, to keep going despite the hard times leveling and just kept going. I've survived the many months where many have started blogs only to quit because of their frustration blogging or with playing their class or life issues. I just kept going. I never started this blog to Theorycraft or to be all knowing on all things Paladin or do I ever wish to be as such. There are many great WoW bloggers/Paladin of those sort linked on this blog or at Maintankadin Forums. I like to steer my thoughts on the perspective on things as I'm much better at such things.

Goals Accomplished
So I've reached that goal i set out many months ago getting to the level cap 70 Solo and Guildless as well. I did it that way and never complained about it and was just fine with it. I ran all the level 70 dungeons guildless and geared Galo in all the best Pre-Kara gear. I've build my own resume and earned the rep as a good and fine Protection Paladin Tank. Galo made many a friends along the way in earning his repuation and did it all Solo and Guildless. I couldn't be more proud of my Paladin. I'm not a DPS machine, that can pump out awesome critts and big numbers. Big numbers or numbers flying around is not my thing. Galo is a humble defender and protector of his peers, thats the game I play but I can solo just as well. I serve to shield my comrads so they can deal damage in comfort and safety while I dish out all the hate on my foes and bosses. Thats why I play my paladin defensively. I have never healed a instance and never wish ever to. I heal at my hearts content when I see the need to save someone life questing and thats just fine with Galo. I wear my plate to take the heavy blows. So I've accomplish my goal this year to get to 70 and all solid gear for the next phase of things ahead. I've done everything I set out to do this year in WoW and have no regrets. Blogging as a result has become a daily part of life a result of things some days better than others.

Well Matticus first did this since he posted his Best of 2007 a few days ago. I hate to have to follow a class act post like he did but did meant to post mine in my year post as well. So here goes.

Goals Accomplished in 2007
1. 100% maxed in all Profession. Alchemy/Herbalism/Fishing.
2. 100% maxed Weapon Expertise in every usable weapon usable.
3. Reached lvl 0-70 as a Paladin entirely spec as a Protection Paladin.
4. Completely geared for Pre-Kara Tanking from 5 man Instances.
5. Completely Uncrittable & Uncrushable geared Pre-Kara @ 12.4 HP
6. 2 Epic Flying Mount earned.
7. +5200g in the money warchest.
8. Completely Exalted with 4 Outland Factions and 7 Faction Revered.
9. Master Keyed to Kara.
10. Still Blogging - I survived!

Most Important list used as a P.Paladin
Kaziel Pre-Karazhan Tanking Gear List. Result Was: Uncrushable Pre-Kara...


Best 2007 Perspective of Ardent Defender at 70 - To me that is!
1. There Is No Tanking Shortage!
2. Does Your WoW Reputation Matter?
3. Dungeon Chaperoning
4. 12 Lessons I learned in WoW and Other MMO's

Ardent Defender Blog Statistics
1. 9 Months
2. 252 posts.
3. 41400 Site Views.
4. 102 Feed Subscribers - I had no idea.
5. 244 Visits per day average.
6. Total comments: ? (Edit Later)
7. Never once had a Ad link/display on blog.
8. Time to write/complete this year end blog entry 5 hrs.

Goals in 2008
1. Raid Karazhan for fun.
2. Try hand at PvP BG's
3. Beat up Heroic Bosses for Badges.
4. Get an Alt to 70 before WotLK.
5. Roll a Dark Elf in Warhammer.
6. Start my own Guild for WotLK run.
7. Roll a Death Knight and level to 80.
8. Level Galo to lvl 80.
9. Play WotLK and find Arthas (Galo)
10. Return to Secondlife as part-time Resident Builder.
11. Survive another year as Ardent Defender.
12. More & greater perspective from the frontlines of WoW/WotLK.

It has being a good year. Next year will bring many new challenges and perspective on things ahead in WoW and other things of interest. Looking forward to visions of things ahead with many of you in the new year and best wished to all of you in the year ahead.

*What will I be doing to roll in New Years 2008: Working on the Job helping make vaccines while your having fun.

"For the HORDE" Long Live the Horde!

Year End 2007 Faction Reputation Update

Faction Reputation Update:
Silvermoon City: Revered (7816/21000)
Thrallmar - Revered (3253/21000) - Need Exalted.
The Scryers - Exalted.
The Shat'ar - Exalted.
Lower City - Revered (1156/21000). Need Exalted for Alchemy.
Keepers of Time - Revered (3628/21000). Need Exalted for Alchemy.
Ogri'la - Revered.
Netherwing - Exalted.
Cenarion Expidition - Revered (14955/21000). Need Exalted.
The Consortium - Honored (7460/12000).
The Mag'har - Revered (8298/21000).
Sporeggar - Honored (908/12000).
Sha'tari Skyguard - Exalted.
The Violet Eye - Friendly (369/6000).
Karazhan - Master Keyed

Merry Winter Veil from Silvermoon

Merry Christmas, Happy Winter Veil & Seasons Greetings to all of you readers, shadow readers and everyone else that lurks here. With the a Blessing from Silvermoon City I wish you all a enjoyable Christmas, well wishes and always a safe holiday season.

Tankadin Gear Gems and Enchanting Guide

I was crusing around as usual on the blog beat and Honor's Code had a blog post up on a Gem and Enchanting Guide for Tankadins. His guide was also attributed to a new extended guide post over on the Maintankadin Forums which I usually spend a bit of time reading. Really makes a huge difference if you know how to gem and enchant a Tankadin gear properly. Can save you a bunch from mistakes and from using poor cheap gems to socket good tier gear as well as enchanting. Don't play cheap with good tanking gear or tanking weapons. Do it right or be a dead tank!

Tankadin Gear Improvements: A Short Guide

Posting it here obviously to everyone else that it relates to to be able to find and read both guides over at Honor's Code and at Maintankadin Forum. So thanks to Honor's Code for finding it before I did. If anything you should really read his blog too which is linked above. He does have a excellent blog for a Tanking Paladin. Both are excellent reference guides if your not already sure which enchants to use for tanking gear and from where as well as how to gem your gear for needed stats. I know I can't remember everything so from time to time I myself have to re-read stuff to be sure including the stuff I forget sometimes. Will also post it in my guide section for Paladins of course. You may want to bookmark both the thread links that way I don't have to answer everyone questions LoL. Saves me allot of time.

Alts, Making & Saving Money

Not bad for making money and almost making it all back after going broke not but a week or so ago getting the Epic Mounts. I think I can say I do OK at making money different ways in WoW and being able to hold on to it. Those dailies do help, so to your profession as well as selling skills. I use all my alts low level alts as storage bins for various things. I also was able to get a much needed 2nd bank tab slot purchased (250g) for my 1 man guild bank on Bodvar (lvl 13 Warlock). That means I was over 4ooog for savings minus bank tab cost. Bank tab has 1st tab full of herbs/gems and 2nd slot almost full of Elixirs and Flasks (Elixir Mastery). Did also buy back all the gems I sold running up to buying the Mount.

At some point maybe I think I should spend some time and write up a few money making strategies that I learn that have worked. Don't know what it is but those cloth wearing Alt Bankers my forever lvl 18 Priest and lvl 13 Warlock keep making me good money on AH selling stuff. If I keep this up I may pass Gwaendar over at Altitis who's being trying to hit 5000g to get his Epic Flying Mount. He always write interesting stuff. Waves and smiles at Gwaendar.

All my Alt Band of Brothers
Eshelon - lvl 20 Rogue
Gorias - lvl 13 Druid
Voodoolion - lvl 5 Shaman
Krathalas - lvl 10 Mage
Krovon - lvl 31 BM Hunter
Bodvar - lvl 13 Warlock (Banker)
Eternallord - lvl 18 Shadow Priest (Banker)

Some day I will give one of my Alt Brothers some love and level one of them up to 70 to prepare for WotLK before it comes out. I can use another level 70 character. Being playing my Paladin character for 11 months now straight almost time to give a Alt some love maybe.

A Random Inspection - Lvl 70 Tanking Paladin

Saw this on a lvl 70 Tanking Paladin while I was at the mailbox in Orgrimmar. I couldn't help but noticing the +5 spell critical rating/ +5 spell penetration gems he had on either. So checked his weapon and found this enchant. So I messaged to ask him why so, well he never answered. Maybe I'm missing something here but why would a lvl 70 Tanking Paladin based on his gear be wearing Icy on a prime spell damage tanking sword especially with threat generation for tanking?

A Bit Tired Lately

Haven't posted much in a few days due to feeling a bit tired lately so sorry for no regular posts. Some people have being dealing with crazy weather lately in my parts with really cold weather and dealing with that especially in my parts too in NC. However with my daily work shift cycles between night and day on a 7 day work schedule it can leave you a bit tired sometimes. Throw a bit WoW in between and your not just tired but quite a bit sleep deprived. Being both tired, sleep deprived and commuting 3hrs a day back and forth to work on 12 hr days well its easy to really feel down in the blues flat out tired. You have less WoW time and mustering up the energy to do a daily post becomes a lot more difficult to say the least. Hence no post last few days.

I also don't have a regular time I do any blog posts. I can post at any hour of the day if I can focus enough to write one. So just being resting up a bit for the last few days after long days mostly and just logging in WoW just to do my dailies out of habit and tend to AH auctions. Today was my day off. I woke up did a thing or two, did my dailies quickly on WoW log in as well as AH stuff and after logging off went back to sleep for the rest of day. In WoW I would say that's about the same as a doing a hard run at questing and XP and then crashing out at a local Inn to rest up a bit to regain health and rest bonus. Just about the same, yeah tired indeed!

Faction Reputation Update 12/15/07

I just usually do this for me to check my progress on my Faction Reputation to see where I'm at and what I may need to work on over time all things otherwise. I say state of Galo's Faction Reps look pretty good as well as my Tanking gear which is completely Pre-Kara geared from getting all those Reps. Earned every faction Heroic Key on pre 2.3 requirements for Revered. Not bad for earning all that all in PuG's and almost all of it being just about Guildless the whole time.

Faction Reputation Update:
Silvermoon City: Revered (7816/21000)
Thrallmar - Revered (3253/21000) - Need Exalted for something??
The Scryers - Exalted.
The Shat'ar - Exalted.
Lower City - Revered (1156/21000). Need Exalted for Alchemy.
Keepers of Time - Revered (3628/21000). Need Exalted for Alchemy.
Ogri'la - Honored (4345/12000). Need Revered for the extra Shield.
Netherwing - Exalted.
Cenarion Expidition - Revered (13405/21000). Need Exalted for something??
The Consortium - Honored (7460/12000).
The Mag'har - Revered (8298/21000).
Sporeggar - Honored (893/12000).
Sha'tari Skyguard - Revered (6587/21000).
The Violet Eye - Friendly (369/6000).
Karazhan - Master Keyed

Netherwing Drake at Last - A Tank and His Mount

What do you call a WoW player like me? Here it is both "Dedicated & Determined". That's about how I do just about everything I chooses to do in WoW. I set a goal and I go after it with both Dedication and Determination. I don't procasinate about it or about getting the job done I just go out and do what it takes while having FUN!

Some people wander around and wonder how do I get to 70. Other's wonder how do they make money? You tell them, they decide its too hard or take too much effort. Some say gee it takes too long to kill stuff, gee that's too much a grind. Hey its all up to you. Some say I don't know if I can do that that's too much work. Some say I hate running SV or whatever because they hate PuGs or its takes too much effort to try. Some say I run it 2 times for X gear and it didn't drop. Run it again! I ran every Dungeon till every piece of gear dropped I needed just about hit Exalted in the process too. Dedication and Determination with sustained consistent effort gets results. I ran Botanica 8 times in one day hitting Exalted with Shat'ar in the process till Boss Lag finally dropped my gear, hows that for effort.

So what, if you want something ....do what it takes! Get off you ass and quit complaining, be Determined to put the effort in and do what it takes to get the job done if that's what you want but have some fun doing it. Was it hard to get to 5200g for 300 riding skills and the Epic Windrider. No, but it took goal setting and long range effort. Was it hard to get Exalted with Netherwing from Neutral in 6 days. Took a Lots of Effort Dedication & Determination to set a goal and go out and get it done despite all else. Now I can make money faster with all the daily quests and while having the Epic Mount for Time Effiency. Mission Accomplished.

What's next: I think I'll just go out knock out my last 7k reps with Cenarion Expedition faction to get that Epic War Hippogryph Mount too, just for the fun of it. At least I will get Exalted out the way with CE for the effort. I can have a choice of which Epic Mount I fly around with on different days. I play WoW on my terms not by anyone else's rule.

Netherwing Exalted! - Exalted in Screenshoots

Time 6 Days total (That's 6 Real Life Days not WoW days) from Neutral to Exalted. Lots and lots of Egg Hunting and maxed at 16 eggs in one day. That's a damn lot of Eggs Hunting. You have to search EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME! Made back over 2500g in that time since first Epic Mount and collected over 10 primal mana from picking pollens all the time for motes on Netherwing Quests. Got Exalted with Netherwing faction after turning completing 2 daily quests and then turning in more eggs from the Egg Hunt for more reps today after only needing about 800 more reps. I worked my ass off collecting Eggs. Now Highlord Dragonmaw Galoheart. I guess that's the only title I've ever earned in all of WoW. At Exalted get to meet and I totally survived Illidan Stormrage. Can you believe it!
Rescued from Illidan Stormrage wrath and a Epic Dragonflight to Shattrath.


Quest Complete. You get to pick your own companion Netherwing Drake.

Epic Reins. Its not T4 from Karazhan as I have yet to go there. But its my Epic with my own effort and time. I put my ass into getting the job done and that's better than sitting around and complaining just why you can't put the effort in yourself to get one if you want or can't afford 300 riding skills necessaryto get there. Its all up to you and your efforts.
A Tank and his new Mount. A Main Tank should have first class transportation. Well for me thats the way I roll.
This one screenshot is thanks to HolyWarrior a reader here, I kept my word. So I went and sat on the Flight Master at Shattrath. LOL. Was funny to watch people try to click on the Flight Master while I sat on him. Was FUN! Thanks for the tip HolyWarrior.
First Flight of my new Epic Onyx Netherwing Drake. It may not be faster than my other Epic Windrider Mount at 280% speed. But its a unique Mount and it stands out among the crowd. I went for a unique color. Almost everyone I see has some shade of a blue mount.
Zoom Zoom Zoom. Taking my new ride for a spin around the block. Mission Accepted, Mission Accomplished!

Epic Endgame Guild Drama!

I'm glad people stop here to read in my little corner of the WoW blogosphere. If you have expectation of lots of drama from me, well sorry to disappoint you so far. Afterall I'm guildless in WoW remember. However many lessons can be learned in life and in playing WoW and much of it can be form the experience of others. We can write stuff about our adventure, how to play different classes and specs or theorycraft but what you can never quite convey to people is how to act in a social environment properly. A wise man one said the greatest of Wisdom is the wisdom gained from experience..... as long as its someone else's experience.

So I'll direct you over to BigBearButt blogger to get some Epic Drama & learn some Wisdom that you will no doubt learn much from. I encourage you to really read the whole post.

/cast Lay of Hands at BigBearButt Blogger

WoW Movie - 9 Crimes

Was cruising by Massively site and spotted this stunning & awesome Movie so credit them with finding it. Anyway just had to put it up on the blog in case you all missed it. Movies is "9 Crimes" is Love Crime story based on a song of the exact same name, same song actually. The story is set in Azeroth in World of Warcraft. Couldn't help see some elements of Final Fantasy in the movie also.

Awesome movie piece I say, had to watch this one a few times just enjoying it. Kudos to the director Sangkaratul for a awesome movie piece.

Sky Wrecked on Netherwing Ledge - Netherwing Revered

Well you probably wonder where I've been. Fear not I'm alive and well on my current goal of getting my Epic Netherwing Flying Mount. I just like to focus on things and get it done. So I've now attained the Rank of Commander and also Revered with the Netherwing Faction.

Pretty much have being living out in Shadowmoon Valley more so out on Netherwing Ledge for the most part since last Saturday. I barely see Shattrath City much. Running around doing the daily Netherwing Faction quests and back and forth to Shadowmoon Valley. So far I've managed to get all the daily quests done just about all 10 on most days. Did take a while to get the routine down a bit though and getting from Neutral to Revered in that time. As you gain faction rep levels with the Netherwing more and more daily quests open up to the point you can just about do Netherwing daily quests all day long as well as the other quests that become available.

I've also managed win 2 of the Skyguard races so far which are one time races I think they are for a total of 7 I think it is. First couple of times I didn't quite get the race and got knocked off my mount at high altitude and fell to my death into the void... OUCH! So far challenged and won 2 of them woot. They give about 500 reps each when won. Most of the Netherwing quests are fun in some way, yet after some time it can seem like a grind also on some the quests. Some quests are more fun than others. Running through the mines can be fun AoEing everything, though you can get tired of seeing the mines also after been in there allot. Lots of the quests are kill or collection quest for X or whack and poison the Dragonmaw Peons which is more fun. Most quests give about 25o reps each.

The other thing is hunting for Netherwing Eggs (reps) which are BoP, which can seem like fun to try and hunt down and find or can get you frustrated if you don't know where to look or how to find. Netherwing eggs seem to be randomly (rare) drops from the mobs on the ledge your kill, found when picking pollen herbs or mining (depends on trade skill for quest). Rest seem to be hidden among and between the crystal formations on the Ledge and on the floating islands. Quite a few can be found in the Dragonmaw camp in Shadowmoon Valley where one egg can at least be found IF SPAWNED in the tower behind each Dragonmaw Rider (4 Total), inside the Netherwing Whelp pen, inside a open building with the caster. Next to a wagon on the ground. Behind one Netherwing Drake on the round by a camp with a Orc. Two can be found inside the big building behind the imprisoned Elite Netherdrake. The rest you can find IF YOUR LUCKY on the floating islands and around the islands.

You have to be CONSTANTLY LOOKING ALL the TIME to find those things as they can spawn at any time. They give 250 reps each Egg. That can be fun, although time consuming and frustrating if you not know where to look. Yesterday I collected about 14 eggs most I ever found and remember exactly where I found them also. But then again, I was picking every herb and looking behind every crystal and constantly hunting for eggs all the time in between quests.

You can average over 150-200g a day doing the Netherwing quests. After getting my Epic Mount a few days ago I'm already back over 2000g already. But then again, I'm not spending much money on anything these days on repairs since I'm not running any Instance or Heroics or anything at this point. I get lots of /w everyday to run instances or Heroics, but most I decline. When I run through the mines I grind everthing in site (never know a eggs can drop) and I always leave with a full back of green drops, eggs and gray stuff worth lots of gold. So money is flowing easily as well as AH all the stuff that I pick up all the time. I'm even making more money than my Alts with their AH stuff so that's telling how fast the money rolls in. For now its the long haul to Exalted at which point you should be able to so some short quests to get my Netherdrake Mount. I can feel I'm real close to getting it soon.

Blog Feed

Here is the Blog Feed address on FeedBurner for those that like to read it there and at work just in case its blocked behind your firewall. So you can bookmark it from there. At work I read almost all the blogs I read on my Apple IPhone so I put that thing to good use, problem fixed.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/Ardentdefender
or
Ardent Defender

/Enjoy

Does Your WoW Reputation Matter?

Have though about this for a while and back in the days when I was leveling up and had it in mind at some point to someday write something about it. Often I think about it just roaming around Outland, while in Instances, looking at Zone Chat or LFG or just while in Shattrath musing over Trade Chat about everything in text you see scrolling by. Then again you sometime hear stories through various channels from friends or from other's who blog about their own adventures in their guilds and WoW. Matticus not too long ago did a piece about Maintaining Reputation which was interesting also which also brought it back to my mind thinking about it. So did Priestly Endeavors in a well written response to what happened over at BBB. Does your WoW reputation really matter and should it ever matter at all? Do you even care if it matters?

"In a game like World of Warcraft where players need to interact with others, social reputation is the currency. How players view you could either open doors or close them". Matticus.

"Your reputation is currency. Its one of the most valuable thing you own in game that you cannot see, yet it can be easily damaged or squandered and become very hard to repair". Galo - 12 Lessons I learned in WoW...

For a long time I've thought about this topic especially with World of Warcraft (WoW) as a very social environment game and especially where at certain points in the game you have to interact with others in group or guilds to accomplish various tasks. I myself have struggled on just how to put my thoughts here about the topic for some time let alone write it as I would like to but I'm no writer. The thing is Your WoW Reputation Does Matter! If in some way it doesn't matter to you as a WoW player, it will matter to the people you interact with in the game and that counts big time. As a matter of fact it will matter in any social environment game.

I learned a long time ago that it does matter from my days playing Secondlife when the game was barely known back then. As a very social virtual environment game where almost everything you do you have to interact with others having a good reputation was very important if you wanted help. You really had to have a good reputation if you were to survive playing that game a long time or get meaningful help from others or collaborate doing things or projects together. You only had one main account and didn't really have a alt account like you do in WoW and though you could create a second account to hide from everyone it was often a pain to do. Though WoW can be played a lot Solo much of the end game is all about group dynamics with others, guildmates or friends. To have a bad reputation is just not something you want following you around or stuck to your player identity server wide.

There are two main reputations a player have in WoW mainly faction reputation and player social standing reputation or server reputation. Faction reputation is what you gain over time questing or grinding the particular faction quests which in essence somewhat documents your progress with particular factions throughout the game. Player or server reputation is that reputation you gain with all the other players or peers on your server. To me Player Reputation is the invaluable currency you gain over time. Its the one thing you shape yourself over time through sheer effort, attitude and your player actions that become more valuable than almost anything else you can do in the game.

Yeah you can get purple Epics and you can baste in your glory of getting Epics Phat loot and about how leet you may be because of it, but loot gear will eventually be replaced in time or in a expansion. You can cheat your way into nice PvP gear piggybacking on other teams for the gear if you suck, but though you have the gear you will still suck and people will know it. What will still remain is your personal reputation of being a ass, moron, ninja or a dick or that you just plain suck in so many ways! And you have to ask your self do you as a player always want that following you around everywhere server wide, WoW Forums or in the Blogs everywhere. Think for a sec countries, companies, celebrities, nations, military, organizations all have reputations and it matters to them economically and socially as well as with the hearts and mind of people on a world stage. Your reputation in social fabric of WoW on your server will matter at some point with other players.

Player Reputation
My personal reputation wasn't something I worried about much leveling and getting to Outland, afterall I'm was a solo player and still is. Yet in the back of my mind it was there in how I interacted with other players in groups. I like to leave with a good reputation. Helping out a stranger was a easy way to turn a unknown player into a friend. Constantly ganking someone is a easy way to be on someone hate list across faction. Grouping with people is a easy way to step from the shadows and become known to other players, yet what you do in those groups will push your reputation with those players to either a negative or positive. Being a player that pays for your enchant when you request service from a enchanter gives you favorable personal rating in the mind of that player. Afterall those players are providing a service to you so pay for that service.

I always pay well for my own enchanting and I retain those enchanters as friends also. They also return the service when I need help. Players learn just who you are over time as a server is only so big. That reputation as it becomes more well known will eventually follow you all throughout the game. As everyone bottlenecks at level 70, people will remember who you are and what reputation they have of you as a player. At some point all that adds up to influence whether they decide to group with you, invite you to a guild or run instances with you. In some way that's if people remember you at all. People on my Ignore list for being a complete ass are just not ever remembered, afterall they are on my /ignore list. I've grouped with some people in PuG's for which I'm famous for running instances as that I will never group with again. Do you think it helps that person when they themselves are now in LFG? I remember a bad healer I had once in Botanica that I walked out the Instance from. Think I will ever group with him again? Thing is it could be any player.

When I got to 70 I was a good player but because I often played Solo and did everything Solo including many group quests many people on my server didn't really know just who Galo was. Some did, but many didn't! I also lacked a lot of group experience, but I still knew how to work in group mentality wise, I knew my role. At 70 I spent a lot of time building up my tanking resume, running instance after instance and sharpening my skills in groups. Over time I made lots of friends with other players. Often I get asked by many players to come help on group quests or Tank for them or their guilds. People know they going to have fun when you show up for a run and they give you benefit of doubt when you make a silly mistake. I get asked in so many ways to come join this guild or the other because people notice you over time and think your a good player. Hey that right there is good REPUTATION.

Good player reputation is the currency like gold you just can't buy it. You can buy a Ebay lvl 70 with stats, but your still a unknown and unproven player like this Warlock. You have no history with other players and in a PuG your just that another random player. Good reputation takes time to gain but will get you group invites, instance invites and the benefit of a doubt with other players that you have a good reputation with. People will seek you out on their friends list for advice but if you have the reputation for being a ass they you have no such luck. You already squandered it, your currency is worthless. The only means you have of repair is a server transfer and start over or in the Blizzard Witness Protection Program with a name change to hide your identity.

Guild Reputation
Guilds are a dime a dozen lets face it. Good guilds are hard to find, yet good guilds with great players and reputation and player mentality are even rarer to find also. The Players that make up guilds eventually make guilds what they are or what they will become over time with good Officers. The better the personal reputation of the players in the guild the better the overall guild reputation. If the players in a guild suck or are known to be asses then very easily you can have a guild as a whole with a negative reputation. I can't think of any good reason why a player will go out of their way to form a guild to recruit people, recruit players that suck or suck badly in reputation to tarnish a guild reputation server wide. Why would players want to be identified with guilds that's subpar or suck badly I would never know.

Some people get into bad guilds initially without knowing much about the guild or its members. Eventually sooner or later they leave for better guilds or to get away from negative players so as not to be tainted. A bad guild reputation is just plain bad for guilds, a headache for the GM and Officers and bad for group moral and even worst for server reputation if you wish to survive as a guild. A bad guild reputation in my opinion will eventually lead to death of a guild by negative reputation through guilt by association and drama. You only have to hear what happened over at BBB to his guild Kara run with another rival guild on his server. Other good players getting a bad reputation through guild by association is a bad predicament to be in. I as a player could not in good standing be associated with that guild that stole their Kara ID its just bad reputation and I spent too much time grooming my good reputation to have some idiot place me and my guild in a negative light. Reputations do follow players and hence either enhance a guild reputation or eventually bring it down. Yet guilds do need to protect their reputations also and thats up to all its members.

Perspective
Some players may say, well its my $15 a month to play WoW and I can play how I want and be however I want to be and have a negative rep if I want to. Yeah and that's true. On the other hand player also exercise the right not to be identified with those players that or to have their actions ruin their fun of the game and hard earn reputation. Your reputation does matter, you can shape it to how you desire it to become. You can have a reputation as a good Healer by not sucking as a Healer and knowing how to play your class and having good healing gear. That will get you put on many players friends list. You can make many friends as a Tank by being just as good and a effective tank with good maintained gear, knowing encounters, running instances well with minimal deaths and executing good pulls and having smooth runs that are fun. People always want to have good tanks on their friends list when they can't find any in their guilds or in LFG.

Other people get good reputation for showing up on time or being reliable or good for their word. You think player reputation is not important, try to get a group in LFG or in your own guild when many other players personally know you suck as a player or have bad reputation or unskilled. Some may not tell you, but they will exercise their right and just not group with you. On the other hand a few good players decide to do a Instance run or raid and people jump at the opportunity to run with those people. Reputation Matters! Reputation hard earned in any social environment needs to be groomed and protected. A damaged reputation whether its player personal or guild reputation is mightily hard to repair and often costly. Often costly for the player as they eventually stop playing and quit. Bad for guilds as players don't want to be associated with guilds with bad reputation and the players that remain are often termed guilty by association with guilds with bad reputation.

In the end those guilds fall apart and get disbanded, yet the players that were known to be apart of those guilds do carry with them the stigma of been apart of those guilds and find that hard to leave behind. Player Reputation is your currency with other players and maintaining that reputation leads to long life playing WoW, having good friends in a fun environment and enhancing guild reputations.

Screenshots - Cleaning up Netherwing Mines

Netherwing Quests are fun, worth lots of gold too. Sometimes it can feel like a grind. Dust off that Petrified Lichen Guard with that Thorium Shield Spike on it = Big Win pulling everything in sight. I just love to run thru the mines and clean up the whole place Tankadin style. You always leave with a full bag of stuff. Netherwing Eggs, Green drops and junk worth lots of gold.

Week Update 12/07/07

Its been another one of those week on my work rotation schedule every few weeks where I work all week and all night on 12hr schedule. So with my long commute time back and forth to work on weeks like those there isn't much time to play WoW. However I do spend a lot of time thinking of the game. Anyway haven't done anything much this week, barely even had time to try and do 1 daily quest at that or any daily blog posts. Its almost 5pm in the afternoon and I'm just waking up for the day. However working on a blog post for the weekend and will put it up when I'm finished working on it, should be a interesting one.

12 Lessons I learned in WoW and other MMO's

This lesson challenge has been going around from all the way over at the Bronze Kettle as a challenge to just five bloggers. Yet its original starting point is unsure. It has spread like a plague to many other WoW bloggers tasking some of us to come up with five lessons learned from either playing WoW or other online games over 5 years. I read about this over at GMW. While no one has tagged me as yet, I just have that feeling it would just be a matter of time it reaches my little corner in this community. So I'm going to be a team player and post my own lessons as well. Least I can be is be a team player in good fun even if I have yet to be tagged. In no particular order.

1. Your reputation is currency. Its one of the most valuable thing you own in game that you cannot see, yet it can be easily damaged or squandered and become very hard to repair.

2. Friends are important in games. They can become more valuable that the game itself. Often they become the reason you log in and play long after you stop enjoying the game. WoW is the current MMO that I play. However SecondLife was my first MMO since 2004. I don't play there as much but i still log in from time to time and spend time with friends even though I've forgotten how to do everything else.

3. Having a good set of Bags is one the most valuable things in starting out at low level. Do i need to say more!

4. World of Warcraft is damn addictive plain and simple! That's just obvious.

5. Its not always the gear or spec of the player class, often its just the sheer skill of the person at the keyboard. How many times have we seen that play out.

6. Don't Panic! If the tank or player is confident in his ability back him up as best you can when thing look bad. Just don't panic you can often get through the encounter just fine if you just don't panic. Tank runs into Shattered Halls and pull the whole first room, don't panic it must be a P.Paladin

7. Some players are just total jerks and are best avoided. Will save you from being contaminated.

8. Being prepared is very important and save you a lot of wasted time and effort. Try Raiding and not being prepared. Try to run and encounter and being undergeared.

9. The importance of having a good and stable Internet connection. Try Raiding or running a Instance with a player with a bad one. Who still used Dial Up these days?

10. Setting some goals for your character will save you a lot of time wondering all over the place and not getting things done.

11. Don't socket expensive high level gear with cheap inferior quality gems! Be amazed what you see on some people when you inspect their gear.

12. You don't have to be a no it all. People will gladly give you all the advice you need to know if you sincerely ask for their help and not be a jerk. They will even write it down for you to read.

Ahh well I got twelve. Only meant to do 5 so did a few more than required. Oh Well I always go the extra mile for effort. There it is I did my part in being a team player.

*So who will I TAG? No one though I can think of many people's blog I do read. I just offer the challenge to be a Team Player in this Community and do yours. We all get to have fun together with this.

Zoom Zoom Zoom - New Epic Flying Mount.

Zoom Zoom Zooming with 300 riding skills and my new Swift Purple Windrider - Epic Flying Mount and Galo has joined the Epic Flying Club. No this is not that Mazda commercial with Zooming cars. This is me Zoom Zoom Zooming around Shadowmoon Valley with faster flying transport. Zoom Zoom Zoom! You really should get one!

Goal setting and Dedication will get you a lot of things if you put some sweat and time into it. Earned this with time and effort. Goal accomplished! Cost 5000g for riding skills and 200g for the Epic Flying Swift Windrider (Purple). My mount matched my armor color and my cold steel blade. Zoom Zoom Zoom. First thing I did was to farm for about 2 hours at faster speed all over Outland. Filled back up the herb bank already. Lol. Now all I need is to kick myself in gear and get one those Super Zooming Netherdrake Mount and fill back up my Alt Gold Reserve Bank. Soon!

Sold off part of my Herb Bank reserve. Sold lots of Primals I had sitting in my Alt Bank for forever and farmed a few Primal Fire. Sold all my extra gear gems I wasn't using right now which was allot. Sold valuable stuff I just wasn't using or yard sale. Sold various pots I had sitting in the Bank and a few Flasks. Did some daily quest over 3-4 days. Basically just sold the stuff I had sitting in my Alt Guild Bank really. Got my Hunter to 31 and was then able to transfer him and my lvl 18 Shadow Priest (Banker) off my old server of Rexxar to my current with quite a bit of gold spilt between them.

Zoom Zoom Zoom. Need a Netherdrake Epic Flying Mount.