Sometimes you get the bear...

*Happy Dance!* We ran a flex last night, and lo and behold Mataoka's mace dropped! Now, we won't mention the fact when she was upgrading it she realized she had been wearing her agility belt the whole night…no, we won't mention that… Our GM was on a business trip so others took over, and I talked my buddy Turk into going, and Breige was there, and it was SO MUCH FUN! We didn't get through General (those damn assassins!), and now I am sure it's all because of my agility belt. My buddy Kay and her sweetie joined us, and it was truly fun - must remember these moments, too!

Anyway, still have to reforge, gem up, etc., and I got some great macros from another nice shammy in the guild I'll be trying out!

Turk gave me a nice compliment last night, that I was holding my own in heals even before the mace dropping -I'm excited about polishing up this shammy and seeing what more I can do...

Edited for Asshattery (My Own) RTMT: Learning to Read

Edited: Sorry about the last video - I didn't think it was funny --in fact, that is how some players feel/react when there's a wipe. It's hyperbolic and ridiculous. 

Here is a new video that also demonstrates how it feels to not fit in:

This is hilarious - promise

I am such a hypocrite: I love to read, but hate it too. Directions, instructions, tool tips: especially trying to synthesize tool tips. There is something that goes missing in my comprehension when I just read "Havoc Target 1, Chaos Bolt Target 2, Sit back and enjoy the show" but if I see a demonstration (thank you, young leet druid!) and practice, I get it. I should get out Icy Veins on one side of my screen, and the target dummies on the other, but really, there is nothing as good as simply playing, practicing, and using live Mogu for target dummies (besides, I might get shards!) The only way to get better at anything is to practice, practice, practice. But even then, I caution myself: no amount of practice can anticipate for every fluctuation. That is part of what makes Azeroth so infuriating and challenging. Even in the best of circumstances, (and I consider Navi's raid team this), where everyone knows their class, it's a relatively stable group of players with little turn-over, and dedicated to the team, wipes do happen, and adjustments are made, and rosters get shifted. That's is what being a team means. But Blizzard, please: keep on this path of honoring the solo player. By removing obstacles such as gear on the Timeless Isle, you've made it easier for us to try out all kinds of classes. The downside is there are a lot of quickly-geared but ill-prepared players. (See poor DK.) But that's a chance you take, Blizzard, and the Court of Public Opinion will quickly take care of them. How about if a character gets Burdens of Eternity that are extraneous, those are account bound too? How about if one character is exalted with the Cloud Dragon Mojo Dramamine Riding Club, it's across all characters? There are some things that should NOT be soul-bound, period.

But one obstacle that should never be removed is learning how to play a class in varying raid/dungeon/scenario situations. Those nuances are vital to enjoyment of any class. It is in the learning,  in the experimenting, that our brains engage. At times I believe there is too much visual vomit on screen (sorry, that's gross, I know) to really learn anything. I am really enjoying the practice and research I've done with Providing Grounds with my druid, and I want more, please. Proving Grounds is a great concept, and one of my next projects is to see how far I can get my big girls: Momokawa, Mataoka, Zeptepi, and Kellda. Ceniza, darling, your time will come. Right now however, it's fish or cut bait time for everyone else.

Oh, and kids: stay in school.

Gone fishin'

GO SEAHAWKS! Or as Stephen Colbert said it, they won the Superb Owl! Rades posted this image, and now it all makes sense:

Malfurion is THE Seawhawk! 

Wait, wait…why is this post called the ubiquitous 'Gone Fishin?" That's because yesterday afternoon I made a nice, hot bubble bath, got in, started to read, and realized I had ten minutes until the Master Angler Fishing Tournament would start, rushed out, and got Ceniza all ready. Winning that fishing tourney is the last thing I need to do to get my Salty title. I figured, incorrectly, that every breathing human would be at a pre-game party and far away from computers. I was wrong. Very, very wrong. The advent of CRZ, too, is making that chieve nearly impossible except that, well, someone does win, and every week. I asked the rogue who won how he did it, and he told me to "fish in pools." 

(…………)

I pressed him further, and wrangled it out of him that he was using the Mastercraft Kalu'ak Fishing Pole.  Okay, cool - so Ceniza is now hanging with the Walruses, koo-koo-a-choo, and working on her rep. 

This weekend also found me needing to go into work. (But I did not. I tried. Even drove there. The next thing I knew the wheels of my truck were heading straight back home.) I am having a circular conversation about work now, and it's got to stop. I love my job, but hate the work. It has become work. Sheer, unadulterated work. In many ways, too, Azeroth has become work, too. And as much as I love writing this blog, I feel myself beginning to steer off into perfunctory. Dahahka asked me yesterday why it seems I've been so unhappy of late. /shrug Why is anyone unhappy? Things change, there are readjustments, reflection, and then we find our grit and get back to it. I'm just out of grit at the moment. That and the fact I really need to take long look at the kind of woman who gets out of a bubble bath to go fish pretend fish. 

So--things are going to be a little quiet around here for awhile - have no fear --I am fine. Just need to readjust some priorities.See you soon!

OLRG: Minigating Damage Edition

Whereby I explain my vision, my wish, my dreams for the Old Ladies Raiding Guild.

A retrospective of this week's pain:

Minigate Scandel:
This DK, this DK full of hubris and a blue sword, had us wipe about four times on Galakras. Normally, I never inspect tanks, I just don't. I don't really care. But when this young gentlemen said during the wipe in trash for the healers to do a better job, after the week of metric tons of criticism and heartache I had in real life, I took a wee bit of offense, and checked his gear. I was there on the beautiful, but foul-mouthed priest Zeptepi. And I swear, I said very nicely, "Look, I understand we're all trying to get gear, but don't criticize when you have a blue weapon." He told me that was why he was there. Now, why he couldn't go to ToEs, or ToT, and also try for something better than blue, I didn't bother to ask. He proceeded to get very defensive, and I just replied in my best customer-service-talking-you-off-a-ledge-hostage-negotiation-tone, "I understand." He kept bitching, until finally another player told him, "[she] is saying stop being a See You Next Tuesday and Love Yourself Vigorously and Tank." After all this witty banter, I did not have the heart to tell him it's "mitigating," not minigating. I can only call upon Mr. Snerguls so much in the world before others want to stab me in the eye with the Red Pen of Grammar Death.

Four wipes, we never once 'minigated' damage, and I didn't get my damn boots.

Laughing Gas:
Dethspec, for his name should reign mighty and supreme, had to shout to the raid when Kellda used her  Macros of Cookies "It's always a good idea to take candy from a stranger" and had to show the LFR how incredibly FUNNY and SARCASTIC HE IS IN VERY BIG CAPS.  Now this young player had his legendary cloak, and I was really wondering what he was doing slumming it in ToT with the rest of us peons trying to squeeze every last Titan Runestone from the cold, dead paws of Mogu.  Deth, did I make you laugh? Did you get a good chuckle? Oh, awesome! Now come over here so I can slap you, you little shit. *POOF!* You are now a grease stain on the underside of a pigeon's dropping.

*Footnote: the eighth of something may be referring to losing mass when we die… Sure I KILLED Deth with my jokes!

Not Quite Reading for Raiding:
Thursday night, I saw my buddy Turk on, and he had other obligations and wasn't planning on raiding. Also, my own cub's regular Thursday night plans were cancelled, so impulsively I got the bright idea to whisper my GM that hey, in the future, if he ever needed a fill-in for raids, I'd like to help them out. I really didn't think before I spoke, because I'm still trying to get a healing weapon on Mataoka, and haven't had a chance to reforge, etc. But all in all, I do keep four main characters hemmed, enchanted, and try to beg the RNGs for things they need: Kellda, Mataoka, Zeptepi and Momokawa. I f8cking hate Reforging. Wait, no. I don't hate it. I hate that it costs gold. Every shift in the wind, every time Chris Metzen farts, it seems my gear needs reforging. Why can't we get a punch card, say for every tenth time we get a free reforge? I know it's going away altogether in WoD, and I don't think that's the answer either. Grrrrrr…..

Anyway, I sucked. Log told me "it's not like Flex, it's different, don't stand in stuff or you'll be one-shotted." Yup, I know, but there is no way to know a fight until you do it. Not going to happen. No one learns how to drive a car unless they drive a car. No one learns how to read unless you have text in front of you. And no one gets out of foul steam if you don't even see it under foot. We did the Dark Shamans, and did finish, (no mace, of course) - first pull a really good hunter died right away. Later, I died and good have reincarnated but was waiting for Log to tell me to, in fact, at one point many of the players died. I just resigned myself to stay alive (I just read a really good raiding strat on this the other day), and was of course informed the tank out healed me. Yup. She's awesome. Really. I don't hate shaman healing, but after Disc and Druid, it feels too clunky sometimes. That and those big sausage fingers of mine. /sigh

Far and distant third...

Oh, a a great intelligent trinket dropped, and I needed on it for a split second thinking maybe this would be the turning point and go elemental. The druid asked me for it by saying "I thought your off spec was enh?" I just said it's yours if you want it, opened up a trade window and gave it to him.

WoA:

Forbes magazine just reported that WoW lost 600,000 subscribers. It's simple. No one wants to play with assholes. I don't, and I guarantee not a single one of you wakes up in the morning and says, "Hey, I would love to be entertained and judged while I'm doing it!" Nope. 

I am leveling a litle priest named Kellrose. Kellrose is lovely. She will be disc/shadow from the get-go. She has two healing spells at level 20-21. Two. Just. Two.

Good sir, you died because you ran off and attacked a crab that pinched off your cojones and it made you grumpy. I saved you the clicking finger and as soon as you said this to the party, left you with your crabs. You're welcome.

To the Point:
Old Ladies. My dear, sweet, awesome Old Ladies.
We are the oasis in the sewage of these players. We are the Valhalla in the scummy slums of life. We go, we fight, and we win. We don't yell. Nerd rage is not an option. We laugh. We make fun of the absurdity that is Azeroth. Yes, need on any mog item you want, but if there is something specific you want and you speak up, this group will oblige. I never want this to be the status quo for a fun-run. I don't want to speak for any of you, but for me-- my real life and a lot of my Azeroth life is hyped-up angst bullshit, folks taking themselves WAY too seriously at times, and if players such as Hanjizoe or Mr. Minigate, or Deth want to hear about TRUE pain, about the litany of people who experience horrific things, don't think for one second you will win with me. I'll go mano-a-mano with any of you verbally and leave you a destroyed wreck. I told a friend yesterday I am a mental paladin.

/sigh

Next Saturday, let's go to Sunwell and have some fun in the sun. How's that sound? /love

I'll even share my boyfriend with you, I love you that much!

Series: February Screenshots III

February 3: Something Orange
Tycertank from Toonacious is hosting a #wowscreenshotaday February event! These are my humble contributions.

Orange Orb is AWOL

There are two required battlegrounds in the Legendary Cloak quests. For the most part, even though I am not a PvP'er, and it really is luck of the draw who wins (although anyone you talk to SWEARS that Alliance always, ALWAYS sucks in battlegrounds), so far getting through this requirement for Mataoka and Kellda wasn't too painful. I am considering getting cloaks for both Zeptepi and Momokawa, too--purely for vanity and the animations. I may need to reconsider this, because I am not sure if I have the stamina to win both the Temple of Kotmogu and Silvershard Mines. After a few attempts this morning, my stomach is churning and I need to go find some Tums. 

/sigh

Series: February Screenshots II

February 2: Favorite
Tycertank from Toonacious is hosting a #wowscreenshotaday February event! These are my humble contributions.

Siren in Ulduar...

Siren Song

BY MARGARET ATWOOD

This is the one song everyone

would like to learn: the song

that is irresistible:

the song that forces men

to leap overboard in squadrons

even though they see the beached skulls

the song nobody knows

because anyone who has heard it

is dead, and the others can't remember.

Shall I tell you the secret

and if I do, will you get me

out of this bird suit?

I don't enjoy it here

squatting on this island

looking picturesque and mythical

with these two feathery maniacs,

I don't enjoy singing

this trio, fatal and valuable.

I will tell the secret to you,

to you, only to you.

Come closer. This song

is a cry for help: Help me!

Only you, only you can,

you are unique

at last. Alas

it is a boring song

but it works every time.

Series: February Screenshots I

Tycertank from Toonacious is hosting a February round of #wowscreenshotaday. Always amazed at how a short little month can get so jammed-packed, but these are always fun. I'm going to back-track one day, and get a jump on the rest of the week (Saturday-Friday)

February 1: You (Click on MoMar's blog to check out a fun color transmog contest)

When I was looking at "You," (apologies for pun) I overanalyzed it and realized it didn't mean ME but YOU. The Royal We? The editorial We?

One down, 27 to go...

Year of the Horse

One breed of mounts in Azeroth I absolutely adore are horses, living or undead, flying or galloping, brown, black, grey, white, shaggy or slick. The only horse that Blizzard missed the mark on are the Worgen Gypsy mounts: 

Regardless, I love the horses in game:

So Happy Chinese New Year, everyone! For those of you born under the sign of the Horse, your characteristics are:

StrengthsPeople born in the year of the horse have ingenious communicating techniques and in their community they always want to be in the limelight. They are clever, kind to others, and like to join in a venture career. Although they sometimes talk too much, they are cheerful, perceptive, talented, earthy but stubborn. They like entertainment and large crowds. They are popular among friends, active at work and refuse to be reconciled to failure, although their endeavor cannot last indefinitely. 
WeaknessesThey cannot bear too much constraint. However their interest may be only superficial and lacking real substance. They are usually impatient and hot blooded about everything other than their daily work. They are independent and rarely listen to advice. Failure may result in pessimism. They usually have strong endurance but with bad temper. Flamboyant by nature, they are wasteful since they are not good with matters of finance due to a lack of budgetary efficiency. Some of those who are born in the horse like to move in glamorous circles while pursuing high profile careers.  They tend to interfere in many things and frequently fail to finish projects of their own. 

Hmmm…I am a Dragon, but hmmmm….

ThemeSong: The Dead Weather/Rocking Horse

Up a tree...

Before I write one more word, I saw this image from Green Renaissance the other day, and couldn't help but think of some other baby bears in Mt. Hyjal:

Okay, that is all.

Intended

This is not the post I intended-- the ones I did intend will roll off the fingers/keyboard tomorrow, most likely, catching up on #screenshotaday, Year of the Horse, and others, but this caught my eye tonight: 'JK Rowling says Hermione should have married Harry, not Ron.' The article reminded me of a conversation I had with on my of player friends from the beginning, a very intelligent gentleman who loved books and understood the nuances of fan fiction and RP. Rowling's regret is founded, however, because the player felt so strongly about Harry and Hermione, it stuck in my mind. But as someone else brilliantly explained to me, Harry had to become a Weasley: since it couldn't be by blood it had to be by marriage (to Jenny Ginny), though his relationship and both on-screen and literary chemistry fizzled, too subtle to have us, the voyeuristic audience, truly believe in their relationship. Jenny Ginny existed on the peripheral, but then again, perhaps that is where the woman who will be/is the wife of the "one who lived" needed to remain: a domestic retreat of sorts. Well, what's done is done. Perhaps it's more intriguing to feel vindicated that our original instincts for these two fictional potential lovers were spot-on than if she had written the [obvious] relationship outcome.

So--what does this have to do with Azeroth? Two things, I suppose. There is the open adoration I would show you: I hold dear the player friends who have influenced me, made me think, helped me, and been my friends in a space where others don't exist. We have a shorthand communication that doesn't need explaining. If I could do a /slash hold hand, or pick up and hug tightly, and you all could feel it, I would. The limitations on expression obstruct my intentions. Also, unlike JK Rowling's limitations on only 'one' in the end, our characters have their own narratives and interactions. Perhaps this is why we keep coming back, even if we don't admit it. We get to rewrite the ending, erase, edit, start over.

Till tomorrow: sweet dreams

Azeroth is held safe and peaceful...