Protective.

The emotional responses we have to our virtual world are well-documented, heck, just look at my blogroll. For some reason, my 'cohesion' button is broken, so forgive me if this veers off toward the ditch. When I checked in to my reader list, delightfully, was bombarded with great things to read, but before I sing the praises of my fellow writers, I have few things to get off my chestpiece:

In this time in my life, I can't believe I can still get my virtual feelings hurt by others. Yes, I got protective, mothering defense mode for Momokawa yesterday. That little Druid is my sixth level 85. I know...enough is enough. But she's sweet, self-righteously young, and her character represents all the confidence of youth. And, her gear is crappy. But because she is my sixth high level character, I know what to do to compensate for crap gear. No one has died in a dungeon, or in LFR if I had any control over the heals. Stand in purple goo? Sure--when I go to hit my Leap of Faith button, it's not there. Left that in the other priestly-pants pocket. 

So anyway, I ran the first part of LFR with her yesterday. Nothing dropped for her, and I'm saving the Deathwing portion to run with buddies in case a healing mace or staff drops for her. Bottom line, cocky Death Knight rolled on the gloves, and offered them to the group:

Now, he never said anything about giving them to a guild-mate, but he did say this to me/Momokawa before he dropped group:

Wait - what? Little.... Okay. In my healing gear, which includes a 346 healing mace, a 316 Rainsong, and some other junky stuff, again, I healed by face-rolling, no one died, and I know what to do. It was a record kill, by the way. For the first time in a long time, I was just glad the hunters didn't put on Aspect of the Pack during the lightening round, or only one player stood in the ice. 

And then I did something I am not proud of: I started a toon on his server to give him a piece of my mind: all I said was that was not cool to say something mean and he just said "I was going to give the gloves to a guild mate, I never said I was giving them to you." (Edited for grammar.) And then I was immediately put on ignore, which was understandable. I mean, who wants crazy players coming to your server to chide you? His logic was I didn't "deserve" the gear because my gear was bad. (Which reminds me of the stats post....) Logically, I know there was nothing I was going to accomplish by speaking to him--he wasn't going to have some grand "epiphany" or grow-up. I have known 12-year-olds who were better behaved, so to call him a 12-year-old is kind of an insult to them. Is he a grown man? /shrug

Again, on my own, without any help from the RNGs or the Swags of the world, I got enough Valor Points to purchase a new trinket, and replace my Rainsong. Should just say "Go find your own healer." 

But I did kind of hit a wall. The legions of bad parents who not only are not supervising their children as they "play their computer games" but also post embarrassing videos of said children, or embarrass them publicly in social media venues, astounds me. You. Are. Bad. Parents. There. I said it. I am judging you. And I am right.

I kept playing that scene from Fried Green Tomatoes where Kathy Bates' parking spot is taken by two young hotties, and she rams her car into them with the justification that she is older and has more insurance. That is such a cathartic scene for all of us who do the right thing, try, play by the rules, and then some cocky asshat thinks the rules don't apply to them. I know there is a huge comeuppance debuff coming their way, but they still won't "get it." They are the abusers, the liars, and the low-lifes. Must have been the theme of the week, because a few close folks in my world were also hit by the Asshat Factor. Therefore, I made us all this:

So, if you ever feel like ramming your Buick in a parking lot of the Winn Dixie, I understand. Momo is covered under a hefty malpractice insurance policy, and has no problem not spreading the leaves of love on your sorry self if need be.

Here Is Where I Make My Real Point

Recently, Tzufit from Tree Heals posted another insightful post on the aging of WoW, and its players. In a conversation last week with another, the point was made that there are studies that have been done that demonstrate the decline of manners and social graces in any virtual world or social construct. Meaning: we are all nice at the beginning, and then it turns to...you know. I have witnessed this myself many times in my real life: everyone starts off kind of shy, putting the little toe in the water, and then works to find their "place" or role in the group. I am not sure what is to be done about it, other than just awareness and honesty--let others know you are aware of what they are doing and why, and this is usually reserved for those folks who are indeed, behaving like an asshat. No one ever stops and says to the good guys, "Hey, thanks for not being an asshat!" Negative attention is better than no attention at all to most humans. 

So to all my friends: "Thanks for not being an asshat." 

And you're welcome.

Disengage.

Oh--if only.



If only.


I am contemplating intentions this morning, mine and others'. Good. Bad. Unsure. But intentions of all kinds.

Here was my intent: To go into LFR and maybe win a good trinket for my shaman. She's still sporting the acorn of agility, and while suffice it to say squirrels and their nuts are extremely agile, and it's served her well, perhaps with a new one her dps would be a big more tight.

Going back to first person -- I won two. I was with a guildmate, and just wanted to roll on whatever he might need, too, and won two trinkets. One I had, one I didn't, the Starcatcher, which -- and this is an important detail--really is for hunters in my opinion, with its haste and all-- but was happy enough.

However, I forgot to pack my shit-storm shield from the flying barrage of harassment and FUs from other hunters in the group who wanted this trinket. I was called horrible, horrible names, greedy, and more.

Here are my choices:
1. Put them all on ignore (Guarf's post-LFR suggestion, which I didn't consider during the heat and anger of the moment--more on this;
2. Tell them to go effthemselves and ride off into the merry sunset, all trinkets, all things.
3. Wish I was a disenchanter and do what other players do, and say meanly, "I'm going to disenchant this all right in front of you all and laugh."
4. Realize that this player, Bigstash, had his (or her) own issues:

The level of nerd-rage, hate, anger, and sheer player frustration on the part of this player melted me --and here is what I am not sure of--did I give into a bully, or did I take the high road? Did I turn the other pixelated cheek in kindness and empathy, or did I just get run over by a virtual steamroller?

It reminds me of third grade, and Joe ZXXXX. Yes, you Joe ZXXXX. I had a huge crush on you, and you decided to honor my 8-year-old heart by punching me in the stomach. But here is what I know about you, Joe--you are probably still very, very short. Your whole family was short. And you have a big nose. I am imagining this because third grade is pretty much where I left our villain, Joe, behind. I have no way of knowing, and no, don't look him up on Facebook. I don't give a sh8t.

To Bigstash: I get you. I really do. I understand when you're playing, life isn't going well, and you keep hitting your head on the concrete again and again and the big bossy bitches of life keep slamming you back down. Dear readers, you can call what I did a great moment of weakness or strength, but I gave Bigstash the trinket. It truly--truly--meant beyond the scope of reason to him--and that's that.

Zep looks at the big picture...

In my real life, I am not getting something I desperately need right now. Not want. Need. I too have been hitting my head on the concrete repeatedly, thinking it's going to get better, and yet, every turn of the cycle I find myself crying, angry, hurt, and diminished. But I pull my head out, look around, and say to myself, "Hey--I still have this, and that, and the other thing going for me. I got this." And I am stronger and better for it.

But---hear this clearly, "desperately need" is all a matter of perspective. It's not a kidney, or a bone-marrow transplant, or a the best cheeseburger in the world. It's just a thing, nothing else. And I will not only "make do," but make it rock.

I, too, have mentioned Gladwell's 10,000 hours on this blog, like Cynwise (somewhere on here...) and I am going to remind myself again that I am an expert at what I do in the real world. I really am.
Just play. Just. Play.

Sad to say, I am not naive enough to think that I "saved" the Bigstashes of the world. They may be used to punching and yelling through life, and "win" by their harassment. But I walked away with a huge epiphany--one about the true nature of bullying, and that it is far more complicated and simple that perhaps we understand--we are all trying to seek control, some facsimile of our happy lives. If that Starcatcher ups his DPS by even a few points, and makes the time he spends in Azeroth just a tiny bit more relaxing, that he doesn't have to prove anything, then it was worth it to me. Whether or not he gets the lesson is up to his karmic journey, not mine. My path is clear.

Postscript: I really, really like my new guild. They are fun, sweet, and for Azeroth, what I need right now. Trying not to let them down, and appreciate their patience as they get to know me, and I them. It's all good, and I will gladly go into any situation and get what they need, too.

Meanwhile:

Ceniza is working hard at getting Nozdormu's attention...work it, girl!

POI: Odysseus was smart.

You know how sometimes, just maybe on occasion, I get a tiny bit grumbly? Well - you know I always bounce back with a good story, too! (It's at the end, so keep reading.)

Not feeling so hot today, but whatever it is will be fine, so don't worry about me, I'm fine, really - anyway, but made an executive decision to stay home.

Ceniza.

What's missing in this photo, hmm? Could it be....?

Oh beautiful Ceniza. You really are fun, you tricky little mage.

Took a couple of tries to get through LFRs today, and thank you to Turk for trying to help stack the odds to get that helm piece, but alas, still sporting a 378 model on my noggin.

But, as I have come to expect, Señor's Potions of Illusions have a kick to them that cannot be duplicated. He is truly a masterful alchemist.

Hanging out in Theramore:

And during the first half of LFR:

(This makes me want to be a Draenei turned NE turned Draenei back to NE)

But then the best part was the final DW fight in LFR, and I looked over at the damage meters and said to myself, "Da-AMMM! A mage doing 80K!" And my next thought is, "Please don't be a fire mage, please don't be a fire mage..." and OH SNAP - it is. "Oh, well, then, she must be in full epic heroic gear with no grass stains or missing buttons like mine...surely!" And no, her gear is a bit better, but she's well, just awesome:

Did you ever meet that really pretty, popular girl in high school, and you just wanted to hate her, but you couldn't, because she was so warm and immediately nice and friendly? The one who makes everyone feel welcome? That is Penelope. I whispered her, letting her know how much I admired her mad skills, and if she felt someone was "watching" her it would be me checking her out on the armory. I was just about to ask her if she didn't mind, to roll on the dagger in case it dropped, and if she didn't want it, and before I could ask she told me she did, and would give it to me! *The crowd goes wild*

So, cheers to new friends, and to my current friends (you're not old, people, you're "established.") I need all of you to have fun with, And besides, Señor, I need a power torrent! Please?!?!

The title of this post, for you smarticus folks, is a reference to Odysseus' ever-faithful wife, Penelope, who fought off suitors and such while she waited for his raggedy-ass for twenty years. Good to see this Penelope is not waiting around!

Revenge, pixels, and trying to be all Zen about it

This is, sadly, an all too common of a tale these days.

Tome recently posted her Unwritten Rules of WoW, and again she has found the nugget of truth by which we all have dug up. And it ain't gold.

I will try my damndest to be succinct, but not sure if brevity is the soul of nerd rage.

Yesterday morning, I overheard two young warriors speak of spending four hours "beating" a game. We all know that the never-ending of saga of Azeroth cannot be "beaten," not even by death of a character (aside from Ironfolks).

Let me tell you how I spent wasted four hours:

Monday seems to be "Lupe's Day." Whatever Valor Point I have easily capped on the other girls, sometimes, that poor little tank is left far behind.

Go into LFR, The Worms Phase. Easy, breezy, healed, holy'ed, all is well.

Go into LFR, The Cockroaches.

No.

All the good players are playing D3 are or off fishing before the next release. They no longer need the pain of LFR, and like I always, inevitably am, a day late and dollar short, and still want to get valor points and goodies for Lupe. It's my own fault, I know. But how hard can it be?

There were no less than 3 to 4 wipes because of players not single-targeting the bloody tentacles.

One, I can see. But that many?

Okay.

Guarf comes on to play D3.

Then-- then Kasarrah happened.

He's the one. He's the one who thinks he's outsmarted the system, and like Bear's encounter, queued as Holy Paladin, never touched a healing spell, Ret'ted his way, pulled the boss and wiped the raid umpteen times. His friend Jinjak was in on it, too.

I queued, requeued, many, many times. I just needed the last boss. That's it. Just wanted to see if I could get a better weapon than what I was using. Nothing more. Asked him to stop, and he told me he would roll on the loot and DE in front of my eyes. He had a blast.

Now--what's to be done?

Young leet Druid tells me, "Matty, stop playing that game! Blizzard is broken! Play D3!"

Yes, that part of Azeroth is broken, and we have all known it.

But I did not cry, I did not pout. But I was fanciful: "Kasarrah, My Name is Mataoka of Whisperwind. You Killed My Time. Now Prepare to Wipe."

Well, okay fantasy revenge scenes aside, it's this simple. I like LFR. Blizz, make it so only the tanks can start the raid. If another player pulls the boss, he is automatically kicked, or cannot roll on loot. Period. Simple. He gets no VP, or loot. It's a simple fix. No matter how many players report the Kasarrahs of the world, nothing will change until the pixels do. Take away what gives them pleasure, that's all. They need a BIG FAT TIME OUT.

And a spanking. Not the fun kind, either, you sick monkeys.

So--after my eighth or eleventh attempt, I gave up, and started a Witch Doctor and played with Guarf. Her name is Mammawatta (Voodoo--will change to correct spelling -- I was tired last night).

I have some mighty strong mojo, ye Boss-Pulling Mo-Fos. I would tell you get a life, but that is, pitifully, your life now.

Pretty little match girl...

Took time to put together pretty outfit to match my new staff...

She shoots her wand, SCORE!

(Voice in head: Matty, you have a sh*t ton to do today.)
(Matty: yes, yes I know, but Ceniza is so much fun!)
(Voice: Okay, you got your staff, now go do the dishes. You need to go to work for a bit too.)
(Matty: Shush, Tyrande, I mean, Voice.)
(Other Voice: Yea, what is it with Malfurion telling her to hush all the time? He acts like her dad, not her boyfriend [said boiee-frand)
(i-Phone voice/Siri: Would you like me to send that message? Okay, I'll send it.")

Okay -all of you shut your pie-holes. 

Gambled and took Ceniza into the Deathwing portion of LFR this morning. At one point, thought I was queued, tabbed out, and then checked back in to realize I'd been goofing off for twenty minutes not queued. *sigh* I used the word 'gambled' because unless you go in with a Loot Buddy who doesn't need the gear but can roll on it, it's a risky proposition.

Ah, the nerd rage-tastic fan-flipping-awesomness of LFR. Before I even landed on the damn spine a player was calling for me and a rogue to get kicked because he accused of us pulling another tentacle. Not I, said the Fly. Can't speak for the rogue, but that was bullcrap. (Oh, and please tell me it's not true that we can kick mid-fight--this seems like overkill, no pun, for a small but annoying problem. I read this may happen in the expansion and thought NOOOOOo!!!OOOO!OOOooooo!!!) I think a simple fix should be: there needs to be  ready check and the fight does not begin until then. That was no one can pull the boss for fun and ensure his spot for loot. Simple fix, right. Regardless, the spine is not a dps fight, but makes folks so damn angry. Not sure why.

Sorry -- I digressed. Kind of. The thing is, I have been there many times, but my mage isn't geared yet. That is why I am there. Duh. And I got all kinds of flack for lows DPS. I finally whispered the one hunter and said, "Look, this is my fifth level 85 and I'm really just learning her--be patient please." Sometimes kindness works, because he stepped off a bit. I am well aware of my poor DPS/Damage on Ceniza, and am taking steps to correct it.

Bottom line, for the last fight I was a poor showing of around 22K, place #13 in DPS, but...BUT...(insert squee here!) I did win Ti'tahk (how you do say that? Tic-Tac? Will it make my breath sweeter?). Now I really wanted the dagger, but beggar mages can't be choosy. I have some reforgining and regemming to do now, and I am really having fun with "her."

So off I go, to the jewelry store (Matty's JC Shoppe is open for business) and the reforgers, who are always eager to take my gold. Maybe there will be time to set the world on fire, too. Just to take that staff for a test run...

(Voice: Have you updated your checkbook? Look at that dust! Go for a walk! Sort your socks!)
(Matty: SKABOOM! Problem solved (smell of lighter fluid and sulfur).

Love stinks.

Matty will NEVER be rid of this stinkin' tabard, by the by.
Getting exalted with the Kirin Tor is tougher than saving for retirement.

For those of you who know me in real life, you will even more fully appreciate this tale.

A player named "Love," a priest, was in LFR with our Miss Zep yesterday. Apparently this player is not only Love the Love Fool, but Lucky in Love, too. S(he) won everything. (Restraining desire to type in all caps): All the Loots. Gloves, ring, legwraps, weapons, gift bag, M&Ms will only the green ones left, and not only that, but that little engenue was a far and distant 9th in healing stats, while our hard-working, mana-drained Zep was neck-in-neck for spot #2 (ended up being #3), but bronze medals work on the podium, too. Yes, I have the screenshots to prove it, but alas, am a little Recount/Skada shy at the moment.

My and cross-dressing rogue's theory about players whose gear or skills may not be quite up to snuff are blessed by the RNGs, but then there are the exceptions like our dear I Like Bubbles. She's awesomesauce and lucky. Silly Zep: the RNGs are bored and like to play pranks. Take it in stride, and have a good laugh. By the time you win those legwraps you so foolishly gave away last week, you'll have enough valor points to buy some shiny new ones.

Zep did however get a head slot token, so obtained a helm for her shadow priesty-ness. Maybe with those stacks of intelligence she'll be smarter.

Theme song: The Girl Got Hot/Weezer

Guest Post: Deathwing, or: How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the LFR

By way of introduction, I am Isabeaux (also known as Guarf), loyal and undeserving friend of our hostess, Mataoka.  I’m a hunter.  I hunt things.  Based my class gear, I’m also supposed to stalk things.  Giants, Dragons, Gronns (what, now?), Wyrms; yep, I stalk them all. I’m also a raider.  Not a particular good one, but a raider nonetheless.  Based on some of our conversations, Ms. Matty offered me the opportunity to Guest Host and, I suppose, see how it goes.  I’m thinking of this as a pilot.  Perhaps I’ll get picked up for a limited run as a mid-season replacement.  Dream big, that’s my motto.

Patch 4.3 brought a lot of changes.  An updated Darkmoon Faire, new heroic dungeons, and a brand, spanking new raid, Dragon’s Soul.  This is the last major content patch of Cataclysm, and none of these things are altogether surprising.  Looking back to Wrath, the last patch added new heroics and a raid as well.  In lieu of the Faire, there was a new weekly fishing contest!  So, really, sounds like much the same, right?  Actually there are a lot of differences.

Starting with the new heroics, is it just me, or do they seem really, no, that’s too mild, say rather, exceptionally easy?  Yes, there are a couple bosses with ‘trick shot’ mechanics (looking at you, Azshara.  You big, blue, beautiful bitch*), but once you crack the code, a group of drunken marmosets can generally stumble their way through to Valor Points and Firelands level gear in 30-45 minutes.  For those that remember it, this was certainly not the case with the ICC heroics when they came out (“Halls of Reflection? We’re all going to die!”).  More recently, ZA/ZG in their first level 85 incarnation still brings back ugly memories (“Kill the ghosts!” “No, tank the ghosts, kill chains!” “Oh God, so many!”).  Well, shucks, I’ve got no problem with free loot and easy Valor.  I filled in the couple weak spots in my gear the first couple days (Shoulders, my precious, precious shoulders).  By week 3, my alts had amassed enough Valor to get the 2 BoE pieces, and my hunter was in good shape to start raiding....

The Dragon Soul!  The last raid of Cataclysm, where we finally put paid to the former Aspect of Earth, Deathwing!  Epic, epic battles that will take significant skill and gear to overcome!  Or, not. The bosses seem awfully milquetoast (the first few, at least. I’ll grant they ramp up a bit at Ultraxion) for the lieutenants of a demi-god, but that’s just me.  I’m OK with that.  My guild is semi-casual, with a fair bit of coming and going in the roster, so we generally finish up the last boss in a raid on normal mode just as the next tier arrives.  Perhaps we might actually venture into heroic modes for once.  Maybe.  This one time.

I didn’t raid in Lich King, but as I recall from the chatter, ICC was not easy upon release.  Guilds struggled to get things dead for a fair bit of time until a series of gradual nerfs (“to the ground,” as the kids say) made it accessible to essentially anyone.  For years, people had been complaining that only a tiny minority of players (“paying customers!”) were actually able to see the entire game.  Raid content was accused, correctly, of being locked away from the literally millions of people that play but don’t have 2 or 3 hours uninterrupted play time, 2 or 3 nights a week, during prime time.  The ICC nerfs were Blizzard’s response:  “Yes, you can see ICC.  Months after release.  If you can find a PuG.  And people aren’t anal about that pesky Gearscore add-on.”  It was, in my opinion, a sub-optimal solution.

I think Blizzard agreed, because, now we have a different solution, the brand, spanking new Raid Finder.  It slices! It dices!  It lets anyone that can manage to earn a fair bit of gear (or cheat it, Mr. Ungemmed, Unenchanted PVP armor guy) see the very latest, first run, premier edition raid content! Just press the button and strap yourself into the queue!  SEE the strange and wonderful ping-pong boss!  RUN in a circle on a platform in the sky!  RIDE the mighty Skyfire to battle along side the Aspects against Deathwing himself!  Wow, it’s possible I’ve been spending a bit too much time with the Darkmoon carnies.

But wait, there’s more!  “Dragon Soul Lite” will give you 500 Valor Points, and 384/390 gear!  Better than Firelands!  Nearly on par with the normal version!  Get your tier set bonuses!  Best of all, we’ve toned down (WAY DOWN) the difficulty, so the aforementioned marmosets can find their way through with minimal herding.  Wow! Who wouldn’t want to go?

And therein, I believe, is where our problems begin.

To be continued.

Editor's Note: I consider myself proud to be among the Drunken Marmoset group.

Conspiracy Theory.

More than a handful?

"I HAD IT IN MY HAND!" my hunter friend shouts--I laugh so much my shoulders shake. Yes, another adventure in LFR. He was reaching and rolling for the Vinshanka, Jaws of the Earth bow.

"Let me guess...lowest dps won it?

"Nope, actually..."

"...fourth lowest. To be fair, it will help him."

Of course.

Now - discussing the derping psychology of Blizz, here is where the conspiracy theory-crafting happens: is there something more than Murphy's Loot Law at work here? Did Blizz somehow stack the decks so that low level performers in LFR would get the loot? Are they truly behaving like crack dealers, breaking bad, and giving the noobs a taste, so they're successful and keep paying their monthly dues? Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me (nods at Woody Allen).

Now, I was thinking (I do that sometimes) last night that one thing that would really be, interesting (?) is to only allow those who are top activity performers in their class during LFR roll on loot. Talk about a true competition. No kicking allowed - just focus on performance only. If players heal at the same output, then all may roll on healer gear, for example, or if there are more than one hunter, but all the dps is within a margin in order to be allowed to even roll on a bow, or warriors and hunters on guns. Since we're already in competition for loot anyway, why not make it more interesting? Every one has off days, are trying to do better, etc. I'm not suggesting this happen in every LFR, but a "King of the Mountain" sort of option would give this an edge that has been lacking in the past.

Just a thought.

Dark side of the test tube.

Okay, at the risk of Guarf in his "man voice" telling me I am obsessing, I need to share this story. (One shaman's obsession is another dwarf's shrug.)

First of all - moral to the story: listen to instincts. I had come home after a long day, trying to explain that Fantasia the Disney movie was NOT Fantasia the wayward American Idol singer, and that naked animated fairies showing innocent butt-cheeks do not demand giggles (especially since most of the audience watches Family Guy and Tosh.O regularly, and laughed over fairy fannies?)

Exhibit A: Fantasia the movie:

 Exhibit B: Fantasia the singer:

Anyway.

Whatever.

I  just wanted to have my own fanny meet couch, laptop, and a pick ax and farm some ore.

That did not happen.

Went to LFR with about five other guildmates. All was fine. No loot, of course. Got to Wrymrest, with the globby things. Tank does or doesn't do something, I don't know. We wipe. Next globby group - we wipe again, someone pulled something (pull my finger is more like it), I get accused of pulling it, even though I was hitting marked target, and promptly kicked. No trial, no Miranda rights, nothing. Guildmates are indignant on my behalf, and try to kick tank, but no luck. And to add insult to injury, was kicked while dead, so got an empathic pat on the back by the angel, took the rez sickness, repaired, and cried. (Was it my mood? The 169 repair bill? The injustice of it all? Or, being out of Grey Goose vodka?)

No more LFR. No. More. Do not care if there are loot and valor points, or Deathwing himself invites me to tea. I am really done and over with witnessing and experiencing time and again some fat a**hole sitting on his nerd pole shepherding the sheep to do the whole pitchfork and torch gig. Enough. And, I want Blizzard to do something about it. What? Not sure. Maybe if one gets kicked by damage/dps was in the top ten, they pay for your repair bill. Or, you get a few valor points. Or they give you a new damn pony. I am not talking about the disconnect kick or the super low performer kick, just the kicks that are more like a roundhouse to the face for fun and spite than anything else.

Thinking of going to Aylied's house in Stormrage and leaving a bag of flaming poo on his doorstep.

(The top warrior died too, and pulled the first goopy group, by the way. Just being a tattle-tell, I know.)
So, I was relating this anecdote to my cross-dressing rogue, and he related this to me, just how groups are known to behave, with substantial scientific data, in the face of authority. Morality and ethics are the first things to go. PLEASE: I am NOT comparing getting kicked from LFR to the Holocaust. The only psychological question that I am pondering is all levels of human mob mentality. And, it's an interesting study to read up on, if you're into that sort of thing, you know, human psychology and whatnot.

Milgram Experiment: The experiments began in July 1961. Milgram devised his psychological study to answer the question: "Was it that Eichmann and his accomplices in the Holocaust had mutual intent, in at least with regard to the goals of the Holocaust?" In other words, "Was there a mutual sense of morality among those involved?" 

So, if you are looking for the most beautiful enhancement shaman in all of Azeroth, she is probably hitting rocks with her mining ax, doing a quick dungeon, transmogging some outfits, or having a Grey Goose martini. Cheers!

LFR and the Single Shammy

Your fortune teller reads the lines, and your prospects look smelly.

With great power, comes great responsibility, or something like that. One thing I Like Bubbles, or any of you, will most likely never experience in LFR is what happened to me Friday night. I guess I have kind of a thing about capping out Valor Points before the Monday night 'turn-into-a-pumpkin' server deadline. I tend not to procrastinate, but usually it's not a matter of procrastinating, but more I just have too much to do. (As you can see above, going to Archie McPhee's in Seattle is top of the list. Who doesn't need a set of tentacle finger-puppets?) Anyway, when I say great power, LFR is truly power to the people: went in with my buddy warlock who was playing his rogue. He is just as adept and awesomesauce on his rogue as his is on his warlock. His gentle good humor and kindness is always welcome. Friday night I was wiped out (no pun): I can't even tell you in a way that you would believe me what happened at my job on Friday--it was a Greek comedy/tragedy from morning until evening, and I swear with my barnacled fingers I am not being hyperbolic. I mention this only to set the stage: wanted to get through some dungeons, be on my way, and have a glass of wine. He talks me into a LFR group. We go. We wipe. Tank doesn't do something or someone doesn't push the button, whatever. We wipe again. Most of the DPS is below 10K. I'm doing over 20K, and am sixth. Not great, but in the top ten. LFR is a FUBAR experience for me--like putting twenty-five prima ballerinas on a stripper stage and there's one pole. It's a mess visually. And without the benefit of mutual or shared Vent, not a lot of communication happens. People start to get kicked. And then....dun dun dun...I got kicked. WUT? My friend said that the message on the kick screen said, "She looked at me funny." And this shows me how far I have come with WoW: I think it's hilarious. Kind of an Amy Poehler/Seth Meyers REALLY?!?! moment. So, once again, the best of players, and the worst of players, only exacerbated by the great unwashed and ignorant, dysfunctionally trying to work together for a common goal.

Moral of the story? I don't know. Will I try it again with a random group and not guildmates? Perhaps. When I peruse Mr. Robot for my main characters, Mataoka, Luperci, and Zeptepi, there is a lot of gear from Firelands and now Dragon Soul that those chicas 'need.' But then again, no one "needs" tentacle fingers. You just want them.


Postscript: My friend went back in, and then left during the fight. :)

Theme song: LMFAO:I'm Sexy and I Know It