A Nice Return.

I finally stepped into a raid this expansion.  And yes, it's been a little while.

    On my rogue I had a chance to step into the Emerald Nightmare on Heroic.  She has stepped over the guild "Screaming for Vengeance" on Zangarmarsh/Hellscream realm.  I am keeping the Horde side Fear Itself guild intact, but as no one has really logged onto it recently and there are no resources in the bank I'm holding it for the name only.  I might do something with it in the future, but have debated deleting it completely.

    I had the opportunity with this guild, as I had the week off of school after passing my Security+, to go in and fight a few bosses.  We downed the Nythendra fight, then the Dragon's of Nightmare, and ended on Ursoc, but not without getting him down to 10%.  We were running the dungeon on Heroic, and while I haven't talked a lot to this guild yet, they do seem to be starting their raid team so I am happy with what was done.  So far they seem a group of nice folks, and I look forward to hopping into things with them here and there.

    My own performance was somewhat lacking.... I could see some of the rust on me as I died more than once to stupid mistakes.  My DPS was good, I actually placed closer to the top of the charts than to the bottom. As it is said though, dead DPS do no DPS, and I went down more than I should have.

    What else would one expect though after not raiding for a while, and not DPSing for an even longer period of time.

     Otherwise, life is good but slow.  I am still logging in sporadically and enjoying the game at my own pace.  I am learning and working at my new job with inContact and loving it here. I am a IT Asset Tech. Which means I am in charge of ordering and maintaining equipment and I do some good helpdesk/IT crossover.  Kids are healthy and energetic and my wife as always is wonderful.  Oh, and I have officially graduated from DATC.  Next it's on to work towards my Bachelor's degree.

     There is also Fear Itself.  I am happy that when I log in there are still some familiar faces online.  Some don't see often either.  I knew there were all sorts of possibilities when I stepped down.  I knew there might be a mass exodus from the guild, or that things might fall apart.  I hoped they wouldn't, and so far things look like they are mostly together, but time will tell if things will still be there when I am ready to full time raid again.

     Of course, I'm pretty sure I don't want to go back to being a raid leader at this point.  I am done with that part of my Wow experience.  I leave it open to anyone in Fear Itself who wants to raid lead and rebuild things in that area, but it won't be me.  I just don't have a time and energy for the stress anymore.  Even were I to finish school tomorrow I don't think I would go back to it.  I will raid, I will participate as much as I am able, but I am done being the raid leader.

     I still love this game, I still love my guild and my guildies.  It's just time for me to do something else.  The major part of my heart is still in Fear Itself and I plan on always having a presence there.  Objectively though, I don't have the time and effort in me to push raiding or guild events at the moment.  If others do, let me or Gwyndolynn know.  We will give you the resources and support to build your own raid team etc...  More than happy to.

    See you in Azeroth,
Lag

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Your Place in the World of Warcraft.

I was reminded of why I love this game this weekend.

    World of Warcraft seems to have a niche for every single player.  There is opportunity for players who just want to log on, see the story of the expansion and log off.  There is room for those who want to run dungeons, raids, and PVE content all day long.  If you like to level characters, and play different classes to keep your experience more fresh, there is a place for you as well.  Even those of you who like to PVP and cut your teeth against other players can log into the world, shed some virtual blood and log out.

    And we can all experience this on the same platform, generally without having to worry about what the folks in the other bubbles are doing.  There is of course a lot of crossover.  Some people like to touch all aspects of the game, others like their own little corner and there is nothing wrong with either approach.  I prefer light PVE and leveling myself.

    This weekend I tanked a couple of Mythics for the first time.  (Well there was that one other time...) I really hadn't dipped my toe in yet, and was pleasantly surprised to find out they weren't all that bad.  Of course we were going for level one, no stone, so it was roughly equivalent to heroics in the last couple of expansions.  Haven't not done much of this however, I found it rather enjoyable and will be looking at tanking some more soon.

    This once again makes me wonder about what my particular role is right now.  I have not been playing consistently with much focus.  My horde rogue has actually gotten more attention lately than the rest of my characters, but I have tried not to ignore my Pally.  With the time investment required by artifact weapons, I don't see myself working seriously on another toon soon.  I do want to finish the class hall campaign for my demon hunter however, though I have fallen slightly out of love with her.  Which is kind of sad to me, because it's the class I've wanted forever but I find it somewhat lacking, but I can't explain why.

     By the end of the expansion I would like to find the time to play through all the different class hall campaigns.  (I probably won't but a guy can dream) I want to see the story wrapped in each and see how it effects the overall layout of what is going on. I want to experience the changes in all the classes and the specs I like to play.  Blizzard was wise to give each class it's own story this time around.  It makes people want to play multiple classes despite the new hurdles to doing so.  It makes a bit of the leveling experience different each time.  Which is good, because leveling multiple characters otherwise feel repetitive through each zone.

    What is your role in World of Warcraft and how do you play?  What drags you to your keyboard and into a virtual world?  I know I eventually want to get to raiding again.  I don't know if I will raid lead after this point, but I do miss the team dynamic of taking things down together.  Heck, one of my big frustrations is that I have to do some normal raids to go further into my artifact weapon quest line.  Gate like that are frustrating when you don't have the time to commit to a regular raid team, and if it wasn't partially a lore thing I wouldn't care.  But as it furthers the story I find it highly annoying.

    What do you all think?

Lag.

If you would like to support Ben Marble and his devious plans to teach penguins to polka consider buying one of his short stories at Amazon.com including his new short, "The Trap."

How Many Specs Does Your Class Need in World of Warcraft?

To be honest, I want to discuss this, but it wasn't my idea.

     On the latest Blizzardwatch podcast they discussed whether classes needed more specs, less specs, or were just right.  The episode (#99 that came out Dec. 22nd 2016 respectively) had a large discussion.  To summarize Anne Stickney and Alex Ziebart both felt there were classes that could use less specs.  They pointed out rogues in particular in which Assassination and Subtlety had very little difference in idea and weapons.  Matt Rossi felt that with some classes that was correct, but with others (and he cited his favorite which is Warriors) saying that they could use a couple more specs as they lost Gladiators stance which was a DPS sword and shield spec, and single minded Fury which was duel wielding with two one handed weapons.

      Honestly, you should dig in and listen to this podcast for this discussion.  It is why I want to bring it up here.

      There are three classes I have played for any amount of time this expansion.  Rogue, Paladin, and Demon Hunter.  I have toyed with others a bit, but I have to start with the ones I know.

       Paladin is near perfect.  They don't need another spec, they don't need to lose another spec.  All three specs feel good and different.  Ret doesn't feel as good as I would like it too, but damage wise it is fantastic right now and tanking feels smooth.  I don't heal on my Pally, but what I have seen of that spec was fine.

      Demon Hunter is good as well.  While I would like them to figure out a ranged spec for the class, (I think the game is a little Melee heavy when you look at the classes right now) The two it has are solid and feel different.  Tanking felt alright the couple of times I have done it and DPS is nice as well.

     Rogue I will have to agree with the hosts.  They could go to two specs and not lose much.  Roll Subtlety and Assassination in together and call it good.  I don't see a need for further specs, but unless they can make it feel different pare it down a little.

     And the next opinions are subjective as I have not played the classes extensively and I will admit upfront to possibly being dead wrong.

     Monk- Keep it as is.  Three distinct specs.  Three different roles.

      Shaman- As is, two roles, two very different types of DPS.
   
     Mage- This I can see being pared down to two specs.  I like the suggestion that you do fire and frost and mix the arcane spells into them.  Arcane has always felt weird to me in the first place.

      Warlock- I think this one needs someone smarter than me.  I think all three specs are distinct, but as mentioned in the podcast, Demonology has been overhauled into something else.  I don't know how your reface it without stepping into the demon hunter feel of things which is why the demon form aspects were removed.  The idea of being a master of demons is still cool, but I don't see why we can't have two classes taking on those aspects if they are different.  (Make your demon featured warlock fly and shoot fireballs)

      Priest-  I am going to disagree with the podcast here.  I like all three of the specs.  The idea of two different types of healing, one re-active and one pro-active interests me.  If anything I would split Discipline into two different specs and have a DPS spec for priests that wasn't shadow/void based and one healing spec that was all about shielding and preparations.  I think having Disc straddle both kind of keeps it from being it's own animal.

     Druid-is good- Four specs for four different jobs.

     Hunter- This one I think is better now that survival is melee spec.  From what I've played around with all three specs feel different enough to be justified.  No complaints.

     Warrior- I am going to agree with Rossi on one point.  I would like a sword an board DPS spec. It would make more sense to me with the warrior, but I could see the Paladin having one as well. I do like the idea of the fighter who uses his shield as a weapon as much as his sword.  I think a single minded fury spec would end up being to similar to the fury spec we have now.  Harder to justify.

     Death Knight- I would love to make the argument for a fourth spec here.  My favorite tanking was duel wielding as a frost DK in Wrath of the Lich King.  I would love to see it come back as I though at the time it had felt darn near perfect.  I can't honestly make the argument though.  Blood is a good tanking spec, and works.  The two DPS specs feel different enough that I can't say we need another choice there either, or that we might need to merge them.  Keep them as they are.

     How do you feel?  Does your class need more specs and variety, or do you feel lost with your choices and would you like it pared down to something else.  Is the three spec idea outdated, and would things work better if classes weren't limited by a number that might serve some better than others?  Demon Hunters started with two specs, how would you feel if the next class had four?  Or maybe just one?

    Where do you weigh in on this discussion?

Lag

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Getting into the Blizzard Spirit.

Merry Winter Veil you wonderful people.

     So let us start out with the thing that makes me the most excited.  This is blog post number 200 for me.  That means since my first post on 5/07/2013 I have managed to keep writing and going on this blog fairly consistently.  I won't say that I have never done something that was more fluff than substance, but I am proud of myself.  Looking at my first post, I started writing just before patch 5.2 dropped so I have been here giving my voice to the community about this game I still love since the middle of Mists of Pandaria.  I don't feel too bad congratulating myself here.  Most people don't keep writing consistently on something like this, and even though at times it has been hard, I am still here.

     The news is a little slower at the moment.  Blizzard is seeing Christmas time like the rest of us, so I wouldn't expect to hear much until January.  They did mention that they are aiming to release the Nighthold Raid on January 17th.  This means if they want to get patch 7.15 out before than it will have to fall on January 3rd, (Happy Birthday to me!) or on January 10th.  Beyond that World of Warcraft still had raiding, PVP, world quest etc... you could be doing right now.  Or you could be leveling another alt!  The leveling experience is great this time around, as long as you are willing to let characters sit and feel like they aren't progressing.  I still don't like how alt unfriendly this expansion feels.

     Winter veil is in full bloom in game right now.  Go fight your Grinch and prepare to log on Christmas morning to open up your presents in Ironforge or Ogrimmar.  We are sure to get some new toy this year and another ugly sweater. Of course with Christmas being this weekend I have to ask...

     How are you spending your Christmas break?  Assuming you have one.

     I am out of school the week after Christmas so I am looking forward to logging on some week based hours.  Hopefully I can get my family together and run a few dungeons or Mythics.  I don't see myself raiding, but if one of the groups I chat with etc... need a dps I might hop in.  Next week is going to be a big de-stresser for me.  Not that I'm very stressed right now.  School is going well, my new job is fabulous, and my family life is good.  The only thing I lack most days is time to sleep.

     I might throw a few more hours into Diablo III as well. Maybe fiddle around with Heroes of the Storm which I have never done more than poked at here and there.  I am still unwilling to throw money down on Overwatch at this point, as I don't have much time to even play Wow generally, but with everyone I work with playing it, I might give in eventually so I can torture them outside of work. Who knows?

     I have goals coming in for next year as well.  I am only vaguely aware of what some of them might be at this point, but I am getting a plan together on how I plan to progress at work and a bit at home.  I am still working on one book, editing one, and I need to get off my butt and market the other.  By June I will have something full book sized up on Amazon/Kindle.

     I also will be working on getting healthier.  My work has a full sized Gym I can use at any time.  I need to take advantage of that.  I am debating with my work schedule shift, doing a workout before I go to school two or three days a week if nothing else.

    But how are you all spending your Christmas/Winterveil/Holidays.  Does anyone have any big fun plans, or are you stuck just slogging away like normal?

    Either way, Happy Holidays you beautiful people.  Remember no matter who you are the world would be a lesser place without you.

Lag.

    If you would like to support Ben Marble and his bob-sledding goblins, please consider purchasing one of his short stories at Amazon.com

Looking at a Stat Squish Soon.

Because it is out of control!!!!

     Let's be honest, there is no feeling like watching big numbers fly across your screen while you are killing the big beasty in front of you.  The feeling your character is getting more powerful is awesome and fun, and we love that feeling that we are this martial or magical juggernauts that are nigh unstoppable as we slam our way through foes.  In a game there is a cost to that.

    We are looking at the same situation now that we were in Cataclysm where the numbers our characters were putting out were hitting close to the ceiling of what the game can handle.  Add on the many new ways to get and improve armor, and that number is climbing higher even more quickly than before.  I am fairly certain we will have another stat squish at the end of this expansion.

    And that is not a bad thing.  Last time the players showed they were supportive of such a thing.  We managed to accept the feeling that we were still hitting hard with lower numbers because Blizzard did a great job of evening things out.  I imagine it will work that same way again.  I do have my normal advice to Blizzard to go with that, and yes you have all heard me say it multiple times.

    Let's do a level squish as well.

    Seriously, use the leveling experience in Legion, apply it to the rest of the world, and then squish it.  Make it so mobs level with you to the level spread of that expansion.  For example, if we make original WoW 1-30, make the mobs stop adjusting to your character after 30.  That way we can go back and still feel invincible when running older content.

    Make it, Original 1-30.  Burning Crusaide 30-35.  Wrath of the Lich king 35-40.  Calaclysm 40-45, Pandaria, 45-50.  Warlords 50-55, and Legion after this expansion 55-60.

    Do we need this you might ask?  Well, yes and no.  I mean when a new player starts, they get a character that just has to level through current content.  So, they get one main who gets the head start so they can play with their friends and become part of the end game.  That is great.  What happens though if they hit 110, and don't like the class they picked.  They are then reduced to two options.

    Pay $60 bucks, then level the last ten again, or level through 110 levels for another alt who may or may not be as enjoyable as the character they are playing.  If you are a new player and have never leveled through all the beginning areas, that is completely discouraging.  Us old hat players know that you can level through all that content quickly enough, but if you are new to the game, that looks like a daunting trip.

    I think this is partially a matter of accessibility.  When you do your stat/level squish you could throw ilevel on the pile too.  If we can pull back and lower the ilevels with the squish that could give us even more room to develop and grow.  If they do it right it like last time, the feel of the game won't even be very different.  Just the numbers our characters are throwing up when they fight.

How does everyone else feel though?  Are these opinions completely off base, or would this lengthen the longevity of the game.  Am I wrong to think there is a mental hurdle for new players to level up to 110, or am I just postulating an opinion that has no bearing in actuality? How would you all feel about a level squish?

Lag.

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The Wheel Keeps Turnin'

And the players keep playing.

     We are in the middle of many changes for World of Warcraft.  Content is flowing like never before, developers and keeping even the static content such as world quests flowing and changing.  There are more ways to get rewards and develop your character than ever before, and it feels like the world is full and populated with other players again.

    So the question becomes, looking forward how can Blizzard keep up this momentum?

    New and fresh ideas need to keep coming.  We know what the near future holds.  We are going to get mini-holidays, three full tiers of raids, and more throughout the expansion.  We are going to eventually go to Argus and take the Legion on their home ground, and we are going to have fully powered artifact weapons that we have spent hours on while doing so.  At the end, we will be looking at 8.0.  The next expansion.  And yes, it is a little soon but I am wondering what will come next.

     I don't think we will have another Legion based expansion after this.  It will probably be old God based, or maybe we will have to deal with Bolvar as the Lich King.  He has obviously changed in the role he now inhabits.  Whether he is truly on our side or not, defeating the Legion was probably in his best interest.  Whatever those interests are... I am not sure it will be in the living's favor.

     We could also find other stuff in the universe.  What about exploring the remains of the titan's homeworld(s).  We could have an outer space adventure that is completely different from anything we have seen before.  We may not beat Azshara this go round, and if so the naga may be something we have to deal with on a larger scale.  If she pairs up with the old Gods then it might be a bigger struggle.

    There might even be something new, something we cause if we defeat the Legion, because nature abhors a vacuum.  If they are gone, what will take their place?

     What features will the future hold?  We already have an option for Horde and Alliance to be mercenaries in PVP, will we eventually be able to blur the lines while raiding?  Will we see the end of the faction divide eventually as it ceases to make sense as we keep having to fight these bigger enemies?  Players are still, and will always, ask for guild housing or player housing, will Blizzard give in eventually?  If so how will that look?

     What do you all think the future holds?  How long do you think the game will go on?  I firmly believe if they keep releasing content like we have now, it is possible, not necessarily probable, that WoW could hit twelve million again.  What would that be like?  And would Blizzard even tell us?

So fellow players, what do you think?

Lag.

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Reinventing is Hard.

Making changes can have a cost.

     So it was a couple of blogs ago that I changed his to theornerywowplayer.blogspot.com as I felt that without me raid leading, it was misleading for me to keep posting as the ornery raid leader.  I didn't want people to click on this expecting raid updates, tips etc... I also wanted to embrace the fact I am wandering a new path in game as I am in life.  I am finding it relaxing to not have to plan and worry about getting the raid team together, doing the prep, etc...

    I still run with my family or other people here and there on the weekends.  Otherwise I am playing at my own pace, working on a few alts and trying to figure out where I fit in now.  I am actively working on my horde rogue as I had the heads up a few of the people I will be working with at my new job are on that side of the isle.  As with everything else, not planning full time raiding etc... just want the option to pop into a dungeon or something with them.  Not mention a couple people I'm working with now...

    However with this change I ran into an issue that I didn't anticipate.  This has never been an earth shattering big blog.  I have no illusions that I am in the same league as the folks at Blizzardwatch, theinstance, Tradechat, or any of the other big names.  I'm just someone spouting off a few words opinions and hoping everything is coherent when people read it.  I'm away my opinion is not always right, and sometimes is misinformed.  I try to be polite, look at issues from different angles and keep myself open minded.

    My views and rating on this blog have dropped though.  Changing the name of the website deleted every single google+ rating I had earned previous to the name change.  My views were normally about thirty on a low day, and I had hit two hundred once or twice.  Normally at least one day a week I would see a nice spike.  Once again, I know that these numbers are small.  I'm not expecting my presence to even compare to most others.

    Now a thirty view day is good.  I don't think I've broken one hundred yet since I changed.  While I don't write this to garner a lot of attention, the attention I did get made me smile.  So maybe I am a little narcissistic at the end of the day?  Who would have thought?

    So now there is nothing to do but keep trucking on.  Hopefully in reinventing all this I will find a new passion in the game and share that with all of you.  I am enjoying not being tied to the computer, or having to log in at any given time. Still plan on running things here and there with family and guild as I can, but I am not locking myself down.  It has been nice to declare a movie night with the family and not have to worry about it effecting the raid team.

     I have finally got my horde rogue to level 110 as well.  That gives me three max level characters, and one on the other side of the fence to poke at things with.  My rogue is a BE female, because you know, they have the best stealth animation in the game in my opinion.  So far running assassination, but will try the other specs shortly.

     How is everyone else adjusting at this time?  How do you recover from setbacks in game or out of game?  How should I re-invent myself?  Is there a new direction I should take anything, or should I just keep trucking on and slowly rebuild?

Lag/Ben Marble

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