Guild: Drama Breakup News at 11

I've always had since the beginning of the game a love and hate relationship with being in Guilds. So many of them everywhere, the real good ones are few and far in between and always hard to find a good one to settle into that fits your style of play. Sometimes you have to help build one from scratch. If guild drama don't get you, raid drama or a guild member you cant stand then the GM will eventually do you in I guess.

So my day off today, been a bit busy working so haven't logged on much last few days. So logged on my Paladin and found over half the guild gone. So thought that's odd, had more people last time I was logged on. Looked at the guild log and yeap it was mass desertion! So first thing I though drama maybe. Was only one other person logged on in guild to even ask if anything what happened. No response! So saw another fellow former guild paladin right there in Dalaran that I remembered from one guild OS raid.

I had gotten the guild invite to the guild by the GM when I was thinking about it not long ago. It took me a week to decide before joining the guild. Thats how much I hate joining guilds that I can think about it that long because I hate leaving just as much also. Seems the GM who also had several high level alt characters that was Naxx 25/Ulduar raid geared sold his entire account and cashed out and replacing the GM with a lower geared character it seem and with the GB on lockdown so no one can remove anything either. At least that what I was told and how I understood it. Confusing that is as well the details of it all.

Seems few to no one in guild knew what was happening and caused all kinds of drama after and people started quitting. They was already some tension in the guild as was revealed to me by one guild member due to the lack of regular scheduled raids or people not showing up as scheduled and that was a source of some tension. Some didn't get raid invites either just from being logged on and seeing how conversation flowed during raid time in guild chat. As well some people getting carried through 25 man raids as fresh 80 to get geared up and their alts as well. That was rubbing some other members. That's just what I was told since I barely done any big raid with any of the new guild due to time and my schedule. I did one or two 5 man Heroic runs with a few member and a OS raid at most. 

Stuff like this SUCKS! Stuff like this you read happen to other people on other blogs you read. So it sucks when it finally happen to you in this case me. But then it makes for stuff to write about in "My Life and Times..." Oh well AS THE WORLD TURNS in WoW. Kinda like the daytime Soap Opera's.

/guildless

Oh well in the twist and turn of "My Life and Times" might as well call it and say raiding as well is over for the summer at least or any good attempt at it for a while. As well finding a new guild right now either. I  can use less drama not more of it. So just a good time to focus on leveling the new Alt, stack up on some Emblems of Heroism, knock out stacking up on Champion Seals for the coming patch 3.2 and whatever else can pug as it comes up. At least I can afford any repair bill without any worry if have to pug  which is just about normal for me.

Back to guildless in WoW. Quiet days are here again and so goes "My Life and Times".....

Can you imagine playing WoW without the drama that goes with the game?

Death and the Aftermath

Haven't felt like really writing much of anything for over a week now. My Guild after the news that our GM Warrior/Tank Zantetsuken was quitting WoW and focusing on RL for the summer and a while the guild just died a slow death. Though Zan didn't say much else, can't help but feel much of it was related to endgame raiding, guild raider dedication and gearing, content completion but thats just my take on things.

I've being with my guild form the very beginning. I signed the original charter when we had a GM Warlock at the time, and great guy he was. He and his wife ran the guild back then. I had met them in a Heroic SH 5 man PuG and a few other Heroics way back in TBC. The guild grew and we raided Kara back then. In time RL comes for us all and our GM at the end of TBC stopped playing to deal with RL and he turned the guild over to Zantetsuken the guild Warrior MT. So the guild was reformed into another guild with most the members remaining.

Zantetsuken was a great GM and fun guy. He managed to keep a sometime disfunctional guild together dispute all the growing pains.Was always fun to raid with him or Co-tank. He had more costumes than stars. Not sure how he fit them all in his bag. He would switch them out when ever we had a raid break and he pace back and forth. Was always too funny the costumes he had. We was the guild highest achiever as well. He was a great Warrior/Tank and GM. Even when I had chances to move on to other guild, I never did. I really enjoyed raiding with our GM and liked our often disfunctional guild. Because I did I never choose to move on. We make our own choices and that was mine and was always fine with it.

When Zantetsuken decided to call it quits and that we would all have to move on to find other guilds it was really sad news. The Guild was 14/15 Heroic Naxx, 4/4 Reg/Heroic OS, 4/13 Ulduar. Some of those raids I could not attend due to my work schedule like the guild first kills in Ulduar. But sad news it was that many the people you grew and geared up playing the game with way back when in TBC was going to be no more. Many had moved on. Many stayed and helped the guild. At the guild core was most the original members at heart despite all those that came, stayed and left for other other guilds in time.

After the guild news. Many of our best players started leaving the guild. Some transfered to other servers, some decided to maybe reform the guild on a pvp server. I'm not much for a pvp server. Some left and rejoined other guild on the server. Many people quit playing WoW or not renew their accounts. Few decided to stick around until whenever. Our GM pretty much stopped logging on as well. Day by day the guild bled to what seemed like a slow death. It was really depressing!

As for myself I felt really sad for the guild and having to decide what now. I share no great love of having to find or joining guilds. I barely played for several days. Nothing  felt like fun to do.The game didn't feel fun, nothing did. Finishing up the Argent Tournament didn't feel fun anymore so I didn't do any for days. I should of being done with the AT by now. It was already feeling like a Job. It felt even less fun to fly up to Icecrown and do AT quests. The fact that the guild was dying took all the fun out of the game. So I did nothing for a few days. Eventually I decided to move on myself. Though I knew allot of players on my server, many good guilds and players in them. I just choose to move on else where. 

So I've had to put my business affairs in order and straighten out my alt banks and their AH business. I decided to scout out a new server just playing around a bit. So having done that I eventually decided to Nesingwary server which is one the newest servers as of 03/09. After being guildless for almost a week found me a new guild Vanity that's already doing endgame content. 

When a guild your apart of dies it can suck all the fun out of the game. I'll miss the old disfunctional guildies. I guess thats what made much of it all fun. Headaches and all.

And yes just in case you ever wondered, I'm still the same person writing this blog who started writing it in the beginning and I only write this blog only. Read Tobold's blog  or a dozen others. Its ashame really. I actually read through many of Ferarro's guildes more so the Ret ones which are really goood. I've had her blog linked in blogs I read for some time because I read allot and lots of misc blogs or whatever is of interest. Sucks of Epic proportion though.

Twilight Zone Pt 2: Guild Office Memo.

Something was definetely in the air.

Office Memo recieved 05/18/09 0133 from guild GM Warrior. The end has come. Due to RL issue and other things related to raiding requirements and lack of guild endgame raider dedication he will be quitting WoW and not renewing his account. You may or will have to eventually find a new home.

You are now even deeper in the Twilight Zone!

I was a original member of our first guild signing the guild charter before our guild second incarnation into it's current form when due to RL issues our first GM and his wife quit. He was also a friend, was a sad time back then. I've been here from the beginning. I've seen many changes. I've stated through thick and thin when many came and went so the guild would have some good core members at heart.

I had plenty of time to move on but choose not to. I actually like and respected our GM. We've had good memories togeather all the way back in Kara. So it's sad to hear he's actually quitting.

Yet I understand it as well why he's leaving. I sometime feel it as well.

Change has come to our guild.

Really does feel like the Twilight Zone.

The Twilight Zone

Guild Life.

You WoW gaming & guild life have now entered the Twilight Zone. I have no idea what's going on these days. Lots of Guild Drama happening lately. People are quitting and leaving, not that that has ever really bothered me much. Some of our highest dpsers have left a few was g/kicked for drama reasons lately. 

But when one of our guild longest veteran/raider a Holy Paladin has left the server I know there are other things behind the scenes happening as well that I'm just not in the loop on. I have no idea what's happening either. But something feels like its happening and the guild has being feeling different as well. Especially since last Naxx 25 which was..... some weeks ago when they had a officers meeting after. Few people log on these days and only mostly for raiding since. Not many guild raid since that time either due to few people logging on as well.

You have now entered the WoW Twilight Zone....

Always liked the old tv series though.

Guild Crap!

I haven't spent a great deal of time on the live servers since in Beta. But I've logged on at times here and there to chat a little with some members of my Guild and other Officers that I know about how Beta is going and among the other things some people in the Guild asks. At times I've continue and done a few runs of ZA while in Beta by logging in just for the run if I had signed up for it. Otherwise I'm not on the live servers that much or on for any other raids.

So i logged in tonight while the Beta servers are down for the new Patch to see what my guild is up to. A few guild members I knew asked how things were going or with X class. Out of nowhere some unknown Hunter in the guild I've never met or know in any way starts giving me crap. Crap about me being in Beta and not spending time on the live server helping my guild. Crap that being in Beta I'm not even really helping my guild by being in Beta. Crap that because I'm in Beta and that does not mean jack in helping the guild progress or get ready for WotLK. Crap that i seem to be better than everyone else because I'm in Beta whatever else crap he kept saying.

I'm like...."wtf".... who the hell is this that giving me crap just because I'm in Beta and we clearly don't know each other at all in this new guild member. I've never done a run with him or seen before. So for several mins we had great green walls of text between me and some Hunter I don't even know. As well one or two other guildies in the mix as well with the Hunter none of which I knew in any way either being new members. Some the other veteran guildies clearly tried to stay out of it and a few asking the Hunter to cut it. But overall this guy seem to be clearly upset because I'm in Beta. As well as me spending time in Beta vs being on the live server to help him out or whatever else the guild may or may not need.

Why would anyone need crap like that or have to put up with it. Because I'm clearly helping my guild by being in Beta with whatever knowledge I may have the benefit of knowing about WotLK as well as playing my class. Clearly this Huntard thinks otherwise. Now I'm very laid back and cool headed. No other Senior Officers were on, so I just emailed the Warrior GM our guild MT and told him whats up and tell him to deal with it. So before I blow a gasket in /gchat I just decided to call it a night and log off. Why the hell am I getting crap for being in Beta. Too bad I don't do rants here even as the editor.

ZA: Downed Boss Halazzi for a Guild First.

Took a break from Beta for the scheduled guild raid on Saturday night. We got the first 3 bosses and on the Dragonhawk boss the Bulward of the Armani Empire shield dropped again so our guild Warrior got to get it this time which was great for him. Then off to Boss Halazzi (Lynx ), we took a few shot at and didn't get him down mostly due to totems and new raid members.

Sunday night we went back to ZA before the reset and first and only try we got Boss Halazzi down all in one flawless shot and no one even died. Sometimes that's just wired when you one shot a boss and no one dies compared to before. Everyone was really on the totems. Warrior tanked the boss and I got to play with the Lynx Spirit. But we got the boss for our guild progression, so all great now being 4/6 in ZA.

We then went off to try the next Boss Hex Lord Malacrass even though no one really knew the fight or researched it as yet. We were just glad to get the Lynx Boss really. Was fun just to see a new Boss though. But boss ended up smacking us around pretty good with all that AoE damage just all learning the fight. He was even sporting my wings while he smacked us around for the first time. I'm sure to prepare with some research next time for Hex Lord.

Defection, A Weekend & Some Pew Pew!

Long Post:

Saturday we had a scheduled ZA raid to head off to do the first three bosses and make progress on the Lynx Boss. We had a scheduled officers meeting on the calender before the raid was to take place among our few Officers and for some reason that never took place.

When I logged in the meeting was already cancelled for reasons I was unsure of. At the same time one of our Officers a good geared Resto Shammy had a bit earlier quit and defected to the very top tier guild on our server. This was a guild I'm a bit familiar with and have several friends from running Heroics that's in the BT. I even know some their Officers. The one Sunwell guild we had on our server fell apart and is no more some many weeks ago.

However as far as I know the Officer that left never said in any way why she left or anything that I can tell. Later I heard it was slow guild progression, I can agree on that. But these are the same Officers who spend lots of time playing Alts as well and never said as much. At most Resto Shammy was always the guild mama and pretty chatty and in vent and guild chat. However my dealings with her has always been minimal.

So when I looked up the named Officer she was now running SSC with her new guild. I guess she was poached maybe or made a better offer who knows. The top tier guilds on our server are all loosing people for all kinds of reasons and in massive drive to recruit.

Not only that but one of our guild Officer who also main as one of our best geared DPS Warlock and Alt Feral Tank was not available and running SSC with our defected Resto Shammy Healer. I though how strange that was and yet it wasn't. Both the Resto Shammy and the younger Officer Warlock/Feral are often in vent together and somewhat tight, so at that point wasn't as surprising to see them both in SSC with another guild raid. Yet it was the very top tier guild on the server as well.

So as a result from earlier I guess this was maybe the reason the Officers meeting was cancelled by our acting GM since our real GM is a bit busy in RL with work and not on as regularly. Either way I just wasn't sure. So since we had a cancelled Officer meeting we started forming up for the ZA raid and now didn't have all the right people. Our Warrior tank (Acting GM) that signed up for the run was on earlier wasn't around. We were missing a Healer and one our best DPSer as well for ZA. The same Warlock also fills the OT spot with his Feral Druid in ZA as well as needed.

Our Holy Priest our best healer asked what I though about the Resto Shammy Officer leaving for another guild and then our DPS Warlock Officer been unavailable joining here both in SSC and especially unavailable for the ZA raid. I just said pretty obvious to me the Warlock is not coming back though he was still in the guild.

Eventually we formed up the raid and went and did the Eagle boss with a few other guild members that hadn't been to ZA before. Thus with a different raid makeup ended up taking three tries on the Eagle Boss before we got him down. Funny it was Boss dropped the same loot he dropped the last three times as well. We weren't able to do the Bear Boss due to short a Tank and the Dragonhawk Boss wasn't a option either. So we eventually called it a night for the ZA raid.

After that a few of us did a run of Heroic Botanica for some Badges. Somewhere during that run the Warlock Officer finished his SSC run and quit the guild then logged on his Alt Feral Tank and quit as well for the other guild with the Resto Shammy. Since I was running Heroic Botanica I barely noticed all that happened. However only noticed after when I saw a big wall of green Guild Chat text that it became obvious when the guild discussion turned to the top tier guild was poaching our geared members. But you know people make their own decision to leave as well as a choice irregardless.

I guess I knew that would happen as it did. Its sad how such things affects a guild, guild life and guild progression. No one person can progress for an entire guild as it takes team effort and geared members. But when one or two geared members are no longer there the effects are easily felt and can hamper raid progression efforts. I remember when both Officers joined the guild and how fast they got geared up.

Its sad as well to see them get geared up and leave. Maybe that was the plan, who knows. I can only be happy for them or any member in moving on to another guild they feel at home in their progression efforts. Such seem to be the life at times in small time guild city.


Sunday ZA Raid
Our raid did not get started on time yesterday. However we had both our guild Warriors logged on, not unusual either. One our Temporary Acting Guild GM and our Guild Mt Warrior. I had earlier signed up for the ZA raid since we did ZA Saturday night the Eagle Boss. Our Holy Priest schedules the ZA raids. Our guild MT Warrior wanted to go to ZA and asked me if it was ok he could go, I said fine sure be great.

The other Warrior wanted to go as well the Acting GM. So the MT Warrior whispered me that the Acting GM also wanted to go as well. It seems the though was they both Warriors needed gear from ZA to catch up in gear. Huhh???? That can only relate to me somehow as the only real Guild Full Time Paladin Tank. However I said fine about it and said go ahead and have a shot, I can sit out tonight anyway while they try the Bear and Dragonhawk Boss maybe.

The thing is this: Both our guild Warriors each run Kara FULL TIME every week full clear for one guild group each. They have just about every piece of gear out of Kara including just about all their T4. They get a full clear of badges Every Week! Though I could use gear in Kara, I have not been to Kara in months, nor do I ever sign up for Kara letting other guild tanks have a shot at loot to gear up when be. Both have more gear than me from Kara. I've only ever picked 2 pieces of Kara loot I wear and don't even own any T4 because it was always won by people that joined the guild and left short time after. Most my gear is mostly Badge gear and I have good enough gear that I don't need to really ever run Kara to say the least.

I only sign up for ZA raids and All Progression Raids. How could I possible have more gear than both Warriors or Badges to say the least to say they are falling behind in gear. Both our two guild Warriors Tanks also PvP actively and wear at times Full Gladiator gear pieces in every slot! Myself on the other hand don't PvP. I don't run Kara full clear weekly nor do I run Kara usually. They have all Kara gear already and I don't. I only sign up for progression raids and ZA.

I guess me picking up the Armani Shield & Jungle Stompers has caused some jealousy in both Warriors. I don't begrudge them both and never has EVER for having every single drop out of Kara, Side Grades on Gear, Off Hand Spec Weapons and FULL Gladiator Sets to say the least nor do I ever make it so. What the hell do I have?...... I wear Full Badge Gear in what I'm missing just run ZA and Guild Progression runs, without any T4 but don't ever cry a damn shit about it.

But it seems to come up now on ZA that they both Warriors are somehow falling behind on gear as often the defected Feral Druid was tanking as well at times in ZA at least the runs that I was in mostly. Now Imagine that. Their is not many things that irritate me to say the least, but that one assumption did irritate the crap out of me. Now you reader sure don't know me all this time for QQing with some Pew Pew do you? But I'm cool about it as long as this does not become a pissing contest and for me to have my first ever QQ in the guild or in WoW that is. So I just logged off and called it a night at that point.

Related Posts: ZA Guild Run Akil'zon to Halazzi

In Other Guild News
The Warrior who joined our guild just a few days ago that I did a run of Heroic Mech with to help him get some gear got kicked out the guild. Why do I remember this that made me pause in thought: Well this Warrior first run of Kara he signed up for got at least 4-5 Kara drops as major gear upgrades. The Trinket from Moroes dropped for him as well his first run, Moroes Lucky Pocket Watch. Hell it never dropped for me! But I remember it most because I let him have The Sun Eater running Mech just a few days ago to help him out hoping he would be a guild asset where it has never dropped before in almost a year of H.Mech. Such is my Life and Times.

Legendary Heroes

My recently created guild Legendary Heroes which is a PvE guild is coming along though slow coming for now, but that's fine. In a way its like a project to maybe get to build something for a change and see where the winds take it as a challenge. I'm not sure how great of a GM I'll make but I know I can lead and I think I'll do fine and in time. At least hope so.

Its taken quite a bit of effort and in some ways a distraction to maybe spending time running Heroics maybe. But its something different for a pace in WoW and at least I get to hopefully build something in preps for WotLK and do current game content as we get there.

So far I've created a guild charter and still working on it as work in progress. I created a Tabard which looks cool in design. Also figured out easily how to create guild ranks or modify them and created a guild bank for the guild with now 5 tabs. I think that's more tabs than most new guilds have but got to spend money on something. So that cost me in total around 4850g for 5 tabs with different levels of access tied to guild ranks. I'm far from broke to say the least.

For now now really as much a guild, just a bit of members lvl 10+ to 40 or so with about 36 members. Finding good quality members over time takes time and will have to go through quite a bit to get to find the good ones kinda like mining for Diamonds. I'm patient so not a big deal if things go slow for now building a guild from the ground up. I'm not chasing after this current endgame but the next so with that mindset I can take my time a bit with things as we get there. Dealing with new members especially lowbies is not the easiest thing in the world or WoW. Its a challenge to say the least in more than one ways. But its something different as far as WoW is.

I've being spending allot of time reading through various forums over at Tankspot and on the WoW forums as well. Lots of research reading, something I do allot of anyway. For now just setting sail I guess. Its something different for sure. I have time to plan and work towards the new expansion and maybe level up a new 70 maybe in the process.

A New Month & The Guild.......

I've given things a bit of time to see how it all sort out. I'm not going to do a blog entry about it either. So its here as a footnote of things. I decided as an Guild Officer to leave my guild "Alamat" tonight. Yes I did let my GM friend know, so its a bit of mixed emotions about it but It no longer something I have to dwell on either. I don't seem to have much in common with much my guildies anymore. I'm quite used to being guildless so its not a strange feeling to say the least.

I have no plans in rejoining any guild or am I considering any at this time. If I progress forward or not thats to be seen. Maybe I will and maybe I won't. I have no schedule nor do I have any time demands to deal with. I can just take the entire month off If I feel like it. Its quite possible I may do just that.

Afterall its April 1st!

In Other April News:
Blizzard has announced another Hero Class for WoTLK. Who knows a Hero Class or a April Fools Joke maybe. Blizz may have the last laugh until WoTLK is released whichever way you look at things.

MIA in WoW & A New Guild

Short quick post since be running out the door in a few min to my morning commute but have being missing in action in the blog office playing WoW a bit. So no one going to fault you for playing a bit more WoW when you can...Right?

Over the last week made a decision to move on a find a new guild considering my opportunity to run Kara is limited at best in guild. So in the end /w GM of guild nice guy the Mage and just told him being straight up of my decision and why I've come to my decision that i was leaving the guild and brave the waters to find another. He was quite disappointed though he understood and wished me well. So from there I moved on NOT blowing up any bridges in the process. Said goodbye to guildies and went on way way so I didnt have to stealth quit like most players often do. To explain in short my reason I looked at it this way: The guild is a great guild and pretty much completed Kara and already have a warrior as a MT. I really don't care about being a MT but just more about having a function and progressing. However the guild already had 10 Tanks maybe 12 with at least 6 of them being P.Warriors and several F.Druids and 2 P.Paladin Tanks if i remember. So looking at my crystal ball to my logic there really is not a place for me there even if my guild is progressing nicely and they have good people. There just is not a place for me there to be usefull or get to see and run Kara on my own merit without looking at being subbed in just so i could get a chance to pick up gear whenever i get the chance to do so.

So with that moved on for good. I decided to join another friends relatively young new guild a Warlock friend that i used to and still run with in PuG instances with when i was hitting 5 man for gear hard. His guild is much smaller and more a usefull place to be. They will be starting new in Kara at end of first week next month. Interestingly enough allot of the core people in the guild i also knew from 5 man instance in PuGs. On a small server when your a good tank you almost seem to know many people if you do PuGs allot, it sure helps to be good then. Always good to make friends in PuG's never know and on a small server you almost know everyone as your rep gets around. However the funny thing was i was the 9th signature not too long ago when he was forming his guild a few weeks ago which i helped him formed and then after left just to remain solo back then. So he was glad to have me join his guild where a P.Paladin will be needed and can make a difference. So that's that and so far so good.

Have being a bit busy running Heroics for Badges so a bit of time doing that when i can and so far Heroics are fun and not too eventfull just racking up badges. So doing that have being consuming a bit of time playing WoW, which means if playing WoW hard to be writing blog on the days when i have limited time to put some though into what i'm writing. In between trying to run Heroics i just spend my time Fishing Highland Mixed Pools to try and catch Mr Pinchy bit in the process of doing that i just catch a lot of Furious Crawdads which makes Spicy Crawdads which makes nice buff food and sells well. Well time to hit the door..

Back to Guildless..... Well I Quit

A footnote in my life's adventure in WoW. LoL. Decided to leave my guild as I rather say on Neutral terms.

I'm not even sure what to write here in my blog or how to explain on my blog. I though about making it one sentence and saying I just left my guild and I'm neutral about it. There isn't that much of a story or is there? Only knew a few officers in the guild that I sometime ran with in 5 man instance and liked me tanking for them. I really can't say I knew anyone else in the guild. They asked me for over a month to consider joining them before I gave it serious thought. Galo is a solo spirit. Never really knew anyone else there other than four of the top officers and GM. For the most part unless you really looked at who was online you wouldn't even know I was even there logged on. I never speak in guild chat unless you directly ask me something and usually never to anyone I never really know either in the guild.

For the last week or so almost everyday they want me to head to Kara with them or join them in middle of a raid. Usually I'm busy so I decline invite. I also don't want to start Kara half way into Kara. In some ways i was just checking out my guild also in more ways than one. The constant asking of whether or not I can join them in Kara wears on me after a while. My guild has about ten warriors almost all of them protection short of one or two they have recruited in over a week. A few Feral Druids also. And me the out of place lone Tanking Paladin with one Ret. The Warrior is their main tank and already have a off tank Warrior sometimes its the Druid they alternate some whichever one signed up or is on. On most days I'm on I log in I just go about doing my daily quests, a instance, herb farming or whatever. At this point I'm just focus on my new goal of getting my Epic Flying Mount. IMO that some how conflicts with my guild already running Kara.

For two main reasons I decided to leave. This is obvious, but for right now my goal is working on getting my Epic Flying Mount. I mean that's obvious to you if you being reading this blog for a while, its a goal of mine and to be on a raiding schedule means lots of repair bill, farming raid mats for raid and I'll be forever before I get my Epic Mount. Second thing was over the course of the week I've being in my guild I noticed that no one runs 5 man for gear....... not at all. A good Warlock friend I run with that recently got invited to the guild quit because on his raid with the guild they were wiping all over Attunmen because of being undergeard so he quit in few days. Everyone getting to 70 and before picks up the Kara quest completes it the very day they ding 70 signs up and heads right to Kara in whatever gear they have. Last night a few people joined our guild... including the undergeared Hunter guy the other day from Heroic SV. I saw the name and remembered. He immediately wanted to know when he can raid Kara. Sitting quietly in the guild over time I observed all that. The priest who dinged 70 earlier in the day was that very night raiding already as well as a few others. This somehow bothered me a while and so I decided to bring it up in guild chat with the GM and Officers asking whether or not the guild has a gear check policy before heading into Kara. You barely ever see my name in guild chat.

The guild so far as I know has progressed as far as Curator. On most days they have a hard time getting up to that boss. They want to start running 2 Kara teams as of tonight when the first one is barely properly geared well for DPS. On most days you barely have 12 lvl 70 on at same time other than raid time. Guild have about 40 people or so. They are extremely short on healers let alone good healers at that as well as properly geared healers. So back to my question that I asked what's the policy on getting people properly geared before heading off to Kara in greens and lvl 60 gear. The response I got was that they have no policy for Kara unless they don't have enough DPS and sub someone else in with better gear as the Officers knows best. It was expressed to me that as the Tank I shouldn't worry as the Officers will take care of things.

Wait a minute here, Galo is a thinking man and as a Tank I do worry It my time too and repair bill if and when I decide to attend a raid. It was also said that the Tanks and Healers needed to have good gear and the Tank just needed to hold aggro and DPS do the rest. Hmmm. One the next officers said "Just hit your 5 buttons and just hold aggro". Up to that point I was seriously considering leaving the guild already. In a matter of 1 sec I though for what seem like forever and eventually came to an answer. At that very point my decision was made. So I left the guild at that point the feeling is all Neutral.

Recruited to a Guild

Many month ago when I first started this blog about Galo I have always being and still remain very much a solitary and solo player. I enjoy the solo life and the peace of mind that comes with setting my own goals going after them and achieving them with dedication progressively on my own time and on my own efforts without the pressure of being apart of any guild whatsoever. Guilds help leveling and in progression content, however its sometimes good to be a bit maverick if its to your style of play.

Solo'd all the way to 70 on my own. Did quests and figured out how to solo quests and elite quests on my own. At 70 I've managed to run all instance guildless and all in happy PuG's for the most part. Made lots of good friends from all the 5-man Instance runs and have gotten countless guild invites from friends and everyone wanting me to join their guilds for a tank spot. Have also turned down everyone that asked also for my own reasons. Often I just like to do my own thing without being bothered by a guild as a whole. More than often my goals haven't always mesh with a guild goal thus more reason to remain solo.

However one young guild on my server I have managed to tank for their members while getting gear in 5-man instance a bit. I pretty much know most of all their top guild DPS members including their GM Priest. Have tanked many instance with him before and he's a very good healer. I've run with their DPS groups before as most were doing 5-man Instance for gear. They had asked numerous times over the last month while I was collecting gear on my own running instances to join their guild. I decline usually! Often being that I really don't need a guild imposing any pressure to tank here and there let alone the pressures of getting to Karazhan while I'm working on my own gear goals. PuG's & friends were more than fine with me. Tank this instance get gear and its over with no pressure there and then I can go farm in peace on my own time. So last night I finally decided and made a decision to join the Priest in his young guild: Ascention. They were more than excited to say the least.

The Guild already have a Warrior and a Druid tank at 70, though their warrior is their MT. They also really wanted to have a Paladin tank also. As a guild they have just started doing Karazhan and have progressed up to Curator. So far it seems to be a good guild, however I'm taking things cautiously with Galo and this new guild. Karazhan sounds fun, Epic gear looks and sound great. However I have no illusions of ever been a full time raider nor do I really care all that much about Epics. I tank because that's how I started playing WoW and its fun, gear allows me to do that much better. Getting gear upgrade is great to do what my class skill is but I'm not the kind of person that go nuts over loot or Epic loot at that. I'm still not in a hurry to raid Karazhan but now that I'm in a new guild will see how things go.

Moving on to Guildless

A few days ago after some thinking decided to move on with Galo and go guildless for the time been. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do and move on for your own sake. My guild is really casual, got lots of nice people but the fact is very few people are ever logged on and only about 4 people were at 70 and never on as much either. Several are in their 60's but for the most part not many people are every on much these days like they used to. Galo was probably the most active person in the guild as far as making the daily effort to do something with his character and progress forward.

Much of my time is always spent in LFG and all my Instance runs are all PuG's so it already had the feeling of being guildless in some way always doing pickup groups. So I just decided to make a decision and move on! What ever happens going forward I can live with it and Galo will be fine. Maybe in time I find a guild more to my suiting but for now I'll just enjoy the freedom of been guildless and building up my tanking resume doing PuG's. At least I've made some friends doing PuG's.

Guild Fun: Azeroth Running of the Bulls

ForTheHerd.wmv

Yes if your wondering this was actually hosted by my Guild: It came from the Blog the official WoW Insider Horde Guild on Zangarmarsh on Tuesday night but with a lot more people involved. Yes its a official guild also. Unfortunately I missed it due to the Job thing. Working nights all this week. However It was so much FUN on FUN that the sounds of running Hoofs had the Zangarmash server reved up in FUN and laughing their asses off to no end. The rest of the server came out to kill Tauren Cows in Masses at Stormwind. Cows got Slaughtered, Grade A Beef was been made and someone forgot to set up the BBQ stand in Stormwind because it was a Slaughter house there if there was ever one at all. Send the sanitation patrol to Stormwind please!

Since I missed it all I could do was laugh my ass off at all the FUN I missed because it was just too much FUNNY FUN. Hey WoW is suppose to be FUN, hang up the raid for a night and have some FUN. Its the only reason I play WoW, for the FUN. Check out the Write up over at WoW Insider linked above because that is even better over there.

Edit: Add link to the Photo Gallery.

Guild Stuff - Time Value & Other People's Time

Weekend was a bit busy for me. Its was my working weekend on the Job and thats 12hrs days at the Vaccine Plant with my 2+ hrs commute time. So focus WoW time does get limited sometimes and leveling also. But I do stuff daily to move ahead quest wise always. Sometime its Guild stuff.

So did some Guild stuff as we're now up to 44 people in guild, most seem to be OK with a few in their 40's. Guild is coming along in growth. Even had a group that was running RFK. Also helped some on their lowbie quests also. Limiting everyone to no more than 1 Alt's because I'm limiting the guild size. I have no desire to running a large guild, I have too many things to do. Guild is mostly casual, laid back and leveling guild, just like me and I make it known to them when they join. Helping lowbies is OK, but often it can be a time waster for me, its that simple been in Outland. Easier for them to get help from someone their level or close to it. People do ask me for help on quests that they are capable of doing themselves that they often claim is too hard to do themselves because it takes them too long to do. Often I'm on a Outland quest and have to decide, do i find this thing I have been looking for for 30 mins or do I Hearth to Shattrath to port to Azeroth to help them. Get over it!

Though I am helping people when they sometime may ask. I find it not as productive use of my time. Its already limited due to work schedule, questing requirements, working on the blog. New people always want help as if to test you to see how much your guild will help them I wonder before they decide to stay or not. Do new people ever wonder if you have anything else to do? People always want to wait around and cut up on jokes and have to wait on people at AFK for food and such things. I often hate that with my time. I have a lot of patience really, but such things test my patience in groups or helping people. Guild can be fun if not for the silly humor. But i know in my mind when its time to quit having one, i will give it up if not for my peace of mind.

Its a big part of the reason I really enjoy playing Solo. The only person consuming up my limited play time is .... ME. I love to have solo playing friends and when we team up its also fun and productive. If I have to wait for a group quest to do too long I move on to something else and if I can solo it later if I not find a group then I will. But I don't like waiting around. Maybe its because I'm a bit older and playing WoW than the usual playing crowd. The again, maybe its just me maybe thats like that.

Spreading Guild Wings

Headed to Silvermoon since I'm now 64 to the trainer and picked up only one new spell. "Seal of Blood". Was a bit surprised only one new spell for training. Cost me about 6g for this one. Placed my latest talent point into Deflection for more parry. Not sure how I will use Seal of Blood as yet but it sounds fun as a Horde Paladin spell.

Due to weekend work hours didn't get to quest much, so spent a bit of time buying on AH, materials needed for crafting and some other things. Picked up a few standby weapons for my arsenal to use to work on my skills at 2H to keep my weapons skills high. I haven't used my 2H for quite a while, but I like to keep my skills high for when I need to switch weapons in a fight something I used to do allot before Outland for versatility. At one time Galo proudly carried 7 weapons the whole time leveling, I used them interchangeably and rotated them in fights, kept my weapons skill high as well as proficiency in use.

Spent a bit of time working on guild management. Galo has always had his own guild since lvl 12 or so. I've switch guild once to a friend guild temporarily some time back but I created a Alt and created my current guild then for my Alt to have his own Tabard. So I'm presently in my Alt Guild (Wrath of Armageddon) as the GM. However for all the levels I been through I never had a need to recruit much but at times I did as its a relatively quiet guild. So over the weekend I spent time doing some recruiting and got enough people to double the size of guild from 18 to 35 people at various levels. Most people still low levels though but OK. Its no sweat to me. I rather have a small core team of good dedicated players with skill than a large guild. Right now its just a number increase, just hoping for quality players later. Most people always want to know "Hey how many people in your guild", "What level are they?" before they join. But I'm 40 levels higher than you does it matter that much? People always want to know if you can run them to level up on their quests or whatever. Guild recruiting is now easy! Especially when you have a mindset of a self reliant player and hope you can find people like that that's not needy.

Yeah I also got Vent, I bought it for my Guild also though I don't spend much time on it really, but at least the Guild has it. One day soon we will be a guild, right now its just a group of people most I don't really know as well as yet. However everyone wants to know, when can I come help them on their immediate emergency of a quest. You know, Galo has friends at 70 and a few, but I never call my friends and ask them for help unless I really have tried and failed enough times and i have never had to do it either. Last time I asked for help was on the paladin epic mount quest, if i could of solo the quest I would have. Everyone wants to know what can your Guild do for them, other than how can they add to your guild to benefit it to grow or get better. So I'm always skeptical when people join and seeing how long they stick around. You log out to head to work on the weekend and people quit in less than a day. I'm probably glad they quit anyway so i can replace them with better people. Just my thought. I can make a good a GM but you know they don't know that.

WoW Insider Interviews Nihilum

Courtesy of WoW Insider and a great job of it too; Here is a link to a Exclusive Interview with Awake (Nihilum 2nd in command and top Paladin) of Nihilum WoW tops raiding Guild, who recently beat the entire game. Its worth reading and its informative in the tidbits of information about what it takes to beat the game, encounters as well as some class info. Its worth reading!

Linked here.

Be a WoW Insider Gamer

Article: Game Night: It Came from the Blog

Saw this article linked above on WoW Insider earlier in the day today and though it was a interesting article. Be a great idea if you can get or have a lot of WoW Insider readers and others on one of World of Warcraft servers in particular with a common interest For The Love of The Game itself as its meant to be and been apart of something in common with other players for plain good fun and a Uber Guild, so official guild group night kickoff will be tonight at 7pm EST.

So in the spirit of been apart of something like this as i think its a nice idea i created a ALT on Zangarmarsh server to be apart of it to some degree. I created a Horde Hunter and in the spirit of SecondLife and i called him "Aetius" in direct name relation to my character there also in SecondLife. I quick lvl him to lvl 6 and was able to get a invite by the guild manager to the guild. This should be fun. Read the article above and just maybe i will see you too there.

Guild Stuff & New Guild

A few days ago i eventually decided to leave my former guild and join one i had created by my alt lvl 18 priest. I don't talk about the priest here as its a Paladin blog mostly and other things World of Warcraft related.

I liked my former guild as i liked my hunter friend that is the GM. The GM girlfriend is also in his guild and there are mature players over 21 both and I'm both in game friends of theirs and we get along great and really do like playing with them both as they few of the players i really enjoy playing with. Good friends a a dime a million in WoW. They are are fun good players. Occasionally i group with them every now and then and i send them free stuff as i enjoy doing it in game as it mends bond of player friendship. I send the hunter big groupers i catch when fishing, his cat likes those. If i pick up stuff i know they can use or skill at i send it to them if i can vs selling it on AH for profit gain. Its just a way to make good with friends and not been a friend that always just ask for help on a quest or something.

The GM and his girlfriend has been moving i think to a new home and have been having some real life challenges. So as of some time ago they have been away from WoW for over a month now almost 6 weeks or so now. About 2 months ago the GM created a guild and was growing good and had a few good fundamental players and regular players some from PVP play. Anyway i had my own guild back them but it was just me and another guy in guild as i really played WoW solo. So i eventually joined my GM friend Guild and i was mainly only high lvl paladin in the guild. Soon after GM and girlfriend had been absent from WoW and wasn't sure why. No one really knew as a few people asked in Guild.

Anyway I'm like my friends and was sad to see them been gone a while. Lots of people left the guild to go to other guilds or for other reasons, lack of people around in the guild to help them i guess. Since i played a bit solo it did not bother me much guild wise as it didn't seem i was in a guild anyway due to my play style been solo play. But occasionally i helped out a guildie if they asked in guild chat. Guild eventually dropped to half its former size when GM was not around. I stayed in the guild out of loyalty to my friends the GM and his girlfriend. Eventually i started to recruit people to the guild, i didn't know before i could but i started and found i could invite people. So now i was only higher lvl person in guild and was kinda a acting GM since they were away somewhat. For some time i recruited and its really a damm pain to recruit people to guild as i also hate spam messages in general chat for guild invite. Its a pain to recruit people, especially good players. People always want to know can your guild run me through instances? Or do you help lowbies run instances? Gee.... what the heck do you as a player bring to a guild for a change.

At same time my lowbie alt 18 priest had created a guild on his own (Tabard mostly) and when i was on that alt i recruited in the Blood Elf areas as that where i was, Silvermoon, Eversong woods, Ghostland so was all players mostly my level and lowbies and noobs. So had some players but mainly alt players. But only one or 2 really active players. Too many damm atls around really. However my main was in another guild the one with my GM friend. I stayed out of loyalty and to help out and safe keep the GM guild in tack as a daily player and someone there daily. Anyway after 6 weeks of their absence i decided to leave and join my alts guild to help there as it was my own guild also. Funny thing was 2 hours after i decided to leave my GM friend guild he returns logging into WoW, imagine that. Anyway we chatted a while and i explained it all and he was glad i stayed as long as i did to keep his Guild going as best i could.

So he invited me back and i did rejoin in that session. After chatting with him a while i said it be best i really stayed in my own alts guild a while till when you really return to WoW in some regular fashion and that i could do some good been in my own guild for a while till later i could rejoin yours. So i did. Has someone in my alt guild re invite be back to it and there is where "Galo" is now. So logged on to the alt priest and made me officer or acting GM since i'm always on my main usually. So now i recruit but its to help my guild out for now to help it grow somewhat. Later i may hand the guild to someone else as GM maybe but keep both my alt there, who knows.

But for now I'm in "Wrath of Armageddon" Guild and its cool, we're growing a bit and I'm there to help out. I'm only one above lvl 40 for now, people at higher lvl harder to find to recruit as most are in some guild. I prefer quality mature players, even they are hard to find. But working on it. Hopefully i can have a decent good reputable guild, so working on it. I've got leadership skills as a GM, had 8 years of navy for that and more. But basically its just a leveling up guild and helping out the others that's there. Raiding is just now in my nature as i need to also dedicate time to work on moving Galo along.

My GM friend is gone again as haven't been around since last logged in few days ago, so i guess made right choice to just stay in my own guild for now. Life in WoW i guess. Why does everyone just want to join a guild for just the Tabard, just to get run thru's in instances than maybe to form a good guild team or be apart of one?

Guilds & Guild Relations in World of Warcraft.

My first "Grab your popcorn, cookies and soda post".

Over the weekend i did a fare share of things guild related things in my attempt to be a servant to my guild and spend some time helping out my friends (GM) guild. It was interesting in perspective the things i noticed about other players, guilds and other things guild related, somethings i was already most keenly aware of .

I've been guildless by choice much of my wow life, except to having my own guild of mostly my self mostly for the sought after cool looking Tabard. I was about lvl 15 back then when i started a guild of my own paid for on my own kill earnings & skill trade. I liked having a Tabard crest that represented me as a Blood Knight and so it was the reason i formed a guild, yet in the hope i could find good players (Adults) as members. That's a difficult task. However as the GM of my guild back then "Knights of Eternity" i didn't care much to recruit so i never really did, but i helped the others guildies out that initially signed the charter and those that stayed as best as i could, some were alt characters. When are they never not alts? However 1 guy stayed in the group from the charter days and eventually moved his higher alt (another player character on account) into it for a safe place for his other toon. So was me another guy and his higher level atl.

Basically i was a guild of one, never bothered me much. I did all the quests on my own. I never asked for help, as i did my quest whether it was easy or difficult. Often if it was difficult i did another and came back to it later when it was easier to do as i was at higher level then. I was very self reliant as a player on my own skill as i kept learning World of Warcraft (wow) fundamentals and all things wow. In my late 20's i happen to run into a guy questing in Hillsbrad Foothills i happen to revive him as he had gotten mobbed and revive him. A Paladins Touch i say.

Eventually we both solo'd it seemed and kept running into each other at different places and did some mutual quests togeather. It was like forming a friendship somewhat. He played well as a player and to my liking as someone that would be a good quest partner. I still had my own guild as my own identity. I often consider myself like a mavrick. Needing no approval and on one's own.

In the early 40's my friend formed a guild it seemed. I guess i took notice that he did and so it was him and his GF. He somewhat asked me if i like to join but i declined as i told him i had my own guild (I was still a guild of 1). He was surprised that i had a guild, he never knew it seemed and i never said much about it. Afterall i never recruited either. But i was liking my friend as a player and as a good hunter. Eventually later in thought i decided to give up my beloved guild name and join my friend and his GF guild then. It was like leaving a partner behind now. My friend guild was now about 30 people it seemed, cool.

Friend and his GF played all the time we kept chasing each other in levels, yet i often continue to solo my quests much just my play style. To me its easier to quest solo, where ever i decided to go and quest, that's where i went. Often my friend the GM would ask if i need help and would help if i needed help. However i was ok with my quests, i was fine on my own effort. Yet some quests were not so easy, but tried them i still did and when was too difficult i came back later and did no problem. Some meant death a few times to accomplish but i never asked much for help. In my failures or death many things "Galo" learned and figured out himself. Experience is learning and learning is experience!

For the last few weeks i haven't seem my GM or his GF loged on much. Maybe they gotten married or something. Hmm, its usually hard to quit WoW just like that so maybe they started on some new alts, who knows. Anyway their are plenty of ranks in my guild and i never care much for ranks a a individual player, deeds matter more to me as a player and how you are known by your reputation matters more to me then. Apparently it also seemed that not much people have logged on either in our guild, i notice some here and there. I guess i'm the most consistant daily player in the guild now it seems as i keep progressing daily. Actually its not bothering me much that no ones around, most the time its just like when i'm soloing. Some time here and there i see the guild chat pop up and someone asking for help, usually a pre-teen level or mid teem level member. I help if i can, often usually been pestered for help or to run someone thru somewhere. Why?? Why not go do it yourself or with a group at your level?

I've began to wonder just how much members in my guild are alts. Thinking of it i won't be surprised if at least 80% of members are alts. Only people i really knew were the GM and his GF and the nuking friendly mage just a few higher levels up. However its seems i'm one of the most senoir member of the guild now. GM is off to somewhere else and the guild numbers have dropped from 35 to 20 members apparently or oddly enough at that.

I hadn't noticed i had the ability to recruit members, no one told me i could before. But it seemed i was also high ranking in the guild and had ability to recruit members. So in a attempt to save my friends guild i started recruiting, which is a big task in itself. Often you take them as they come because of low numbers in guild and to add to the guild numbers. Good players are hard enough to find. New prospects often want to know.... How many lvl 70's you have? Does it matter much? Doe's it matter when less than lvl 20 anyway?

So over the weekend recruited a few noob lowbies. Higher level members or mid level members are harder to recruit because everyone is in a guild by then or stuck with friends of some sort. Those people are much harder to recruit into a guild even if your good. Recruiting is just allot of work. However i manage to recruit some lowbies (low level players) into the guild.

I guess perspective starts here. I've always had a perspective on lowbies in guild, previously having my own guild and often watching other people in guild who always at the drop of a hat seem to be in another guild or ....well i'm in my friends guild. What's interesting and funny is, after you recruit someone into a guild at the lowest level just how soon they start whispering to you or in guild chat if you can come help them with a quest because their quest is too hard or they don't know where to find so and so or they now powerfull enough to kill some guy in some tower, cave or place. Whatever!! Often people whisper in guild.......can you run me thru so and so Instance? Would you please run me thru so and so place? Can you give me 1g or some silver? Hey... you higher level can you lend me some gold? Help, Help, can you help me? Very annoying.

You know...... i have no problem helping or aiding someone, but i'm damm well sure not gonna hold your hand, baby sit you and do your quest for you just to appease you. As a personal policy i don't run anyone thru dungeons or any places if i can help it. World of Warcraft don't need more weak players!! I don't need to be contributing to help foster a atmosphere of weak players either that can't fend for them self or do their quests on their own to learn how to be good players. Its why PUG stinks!! Most the time anyway. It seem when new players are in guild and it seems they're usually alts, everyone wants to be run thru dungeon instances, levels ahead of their level or paid run thru's and keep pestering higher levels about it. You know, when i was that level i never asked anyone to do quests for me or aid me. I did it myself and in that learned how to be a good player or play stratergically. I would do a quest at least four times before i ask for help, thats just me.

I realize why some players are guildless, why some quit their guild, why some don't answer in guild chat, or whatever it is. Noobs can drive you nuts asking or demanding you help them because they are now in your guild. My best guess, lots of these people are kids and often kids less than 15 years of age or so, just my guess. Its tough been in a guild with a bunch of kids. Its also tough been tough to kids, a fine line also. But I rather be in a guild with mature adults, just makes for better functioning and reasoning usually. So i had to deal with a bunch of this over the weekend and wasting allot of time recruiting members who demand you help them or they /gquit guild because you won't help them on their quests or run them thru a dungeon instance. Actually i refuse to do so! Quit if you want to and its best if you quit and find another guild to leach on, someone else's problem. I've basically had it with that kind of attitude.

Personally i've never asked the GM of the guild who's a Hunter, who's almost same level as me for any help. If we happen to be doing same quests at same time then great, we can group up and do it. But i attempt my quests on my own and own effort. If i keep failing to complete the quests only then i ask for help and i hardly have ever had to. Often its just i can't find a specific spot or something. Guilds can be funny, noobs can drive you crazy. The problems with guilds is there is soo many damm alts in World of Warcraft. Everywhere almost all guilds are filled with lots of alts and alts lowbies asking for help to be run thru places as if its their rite to be run thru places on your own time. Don't count on me running anyone thru places!