Frustrations on Progression

Hi guys, another week for my wednesday dailies and achievements! Just thought to let you know what's up with my current guild and our progression. Since I joined Vagrants guild, it has been really great, we tease, laugh, socialize, raid together every week, run daily dungeons when we can and for me that is the kind of environment I chose to be with. No pressure at all, but like any other guild they are some ups and downs. Lately, we have been short of raiders to even form a 10 man group, it's kind of  frustrating and our current progression is really behind. As much as we want to push ourselves and do heroic it will not happen unless everyone will start logging in game and be online during raid nights.

We only raid twice a week Tue and Wed because that's the only available time people can play besides having to go to work, have children to take care of, and even going to school. That is one reason why the guild was created because they just want to raid casually. Totally understand that, but 4.2 is just around the corner with another raid dungeons coming up I don't know when we are able to explore it. Other members of the guild are starting to get really anxious to do heroics and getting really frustrated with other players not logging in to finish the normal content. The only bosses we need to progress are Nefarian and Al'akir.

My priest already downed Nefarian in 25 man when I was with Vanquish guild, the only Boss I needed to kill is Al'akir to get my Defender of Shattered World title. I hope before Patch 4.2 is released we can get these 2 bosses down. But despite the frustrations of other members knowing that we are behind on progression, we managed to level and got a guild achievement level 21, I am not giving up with this guild yet, I know there still many things we can do, and as being an officer I will try my best to help out.

Guild Level 21 Achievement

I also just purchased a domain to create an official website for the guild, because the old site was not used and officers of the guild can't access it because the site admin is not active in game to check the sites. So I decided to help out. We are currently recruiting for those who wants to join us. We raid 7pm-10pm (Central/Server Time) in Staghelm server. Classes we definitely need are Druid (Tank/Boomkin), Warlock, Death Knight (Tank), and any other class are welcome to apply. We need at least 1 of each classes at the moment to help our 10 man progression. and build a solid group to try out on heroics. 

Anyway, that is all I want to share this week's dailies and achievements. I just hope for the best of the guild that soon we can kill Nefarian and Al'akir before 4.2 at least in normal mode. I know we can do it! and Hopefully we can get some new recruits that will really help on our raid attendance. Thanks for reading and Have a good one!

Read More

GoodBye Vanquish, Hello Vagrants!

Hi guys, As everyone noticed Blogger was having problems and they did a huge maintenance since 20.5 hours ago, and that's one of the reason why I wasn't able to post anything. But to caught up on things I like to share to you that I left my previous guild Vanquish in Staghelm server, The reason was not that I hate anyone in the guild but I just chose to be in a 10 man environment with Vagrants guild.

I applied in Vanquish to be a raider and raided with them for at least 3months but due of cutting down some classes because we had a lot of healers I was asked to get demoted to social it was also because I was having internet and disconnection issues and I don't want to let the guild suffer if we wipe, So I totally understand. 

I was a social member then, after few months past there was an opening and I reapply, glad they considered and I raided at least a month, but the problem was they asked me to dps so I changed spec to shadow, I was learning my class and did a decent job dpsing, but one shadow priest who had disconnection issues too came back and raid, so They had to demote me again because shes back and good to raid. I know what your thingking, I've been tosed around, promoted then demoted it kinda sucks, But I stayed cool and respect there decision.

While spending my time in Vanquish, I dont want to sit and wait. So I gained a few friends with Vagrants guild and told me they needed a shadow priest to run with for 10 man content So I took the offer, been running with them for close to 2months. I also realized that why stay in a guild if I am not raiding with them anymore besides just doing dailies and running heroics. 

So I decided to join Vagrants. The schedule and just runnigng 10 man for me was far more comfortable and I was having fun. I still love all the people in Vanquish and I will not forget them, it was one of the most welcomed guild I ever been since I was playing WoW besides my own guild that I managed back in Burning Crusade. I did not regret being in Vanquish, they did taught me a lot of things and I was able to play my class better.

I could have stayed longer in Vanquish but I was not having fun anymore, I noticed there was lack of team work, too much favoritisms, and no acknoledgement to the players who also put effort on helping the guild (like myself). So that was the downfall and people started to leave the guild, there was actually about close to 10 members who left before me, so I am hoping that the officers in the guild will let other members get involved more. and not just pick and choose who you run with. We are in a guild and Team work and get acquainted with each other will get us closer and will be successful in a long run.

Now, that I am in Vagrants guild. I am happy to just enjoy raiding with 10 man content, I know it could be a challenge but it will be a strong team to go and raid. It will be fun for sure. So I am excited and willing to help out Vagrants in everything I can. I am happy to be in a new guild and It is something I can look forward to each week, and Kill some end game bosses!

Also, I was trying out Rift MMO yesterday, So Far it looks great! and I love the quest line. its always interesting to explore new mmo game. I have yet to find out more of it in the upcoming days. Just don't want to lose my attention to World of Warcraft because it is still my number 1 mmo game. =D Have a good one guys!

Read More

The Few, The proud, The Elite Raiders.

Hi guys, Today's Latest News is about my guild in Staghelm server. Lately, we just lost a great player in the guild and It was a sad day for everyone, because we really didn't know what happened as he only left us a message in the forums by saying "I am leaving the guild. Thank you for the invite and letting me raid here." It makes me ask myself Why? Is it really because the lack of motivation of other raiders/leadership that drives another player to just guild quit?

One of our guild council in Vanquish named Shadow shared a great thoughts about Elite raiders. In response to his post, I will follow his format and will have similar discussion of what he posted in our forums. "There is ultra simple order to things if you want to be of this Elite Raider" and To his knowledge people try to skip to get there, So he call this orders the "PEAKS". So I will share my point of views based on my own raiding experiences and narrate what "PEAKS" means to me too. 

Every now and then we often hear players saying "I want to be an elite raider" or something along those lines. I've been raiding since long before it was popular and one thing never changes. Everyone wants to eat the cake but no one wants to go through the steps of making it (or Pie if you like that better). 

P for Preparation = Every raider know there classes inside and out, that includes specs, gears, gemming, min/maximizing gear, having a decent offset of gear (like in my case I am primarily shadow spec and DPS but I also have decent gear to heal if needed. so that when they ask me to heal based on raid compositions it is much easier than looking for another healer.) Also especially now that is Patch 4.2 gearing really is not a problem. Now a days it is so easy to grind tokens and get decent gears off vendors or even just running 5 man Heroic dungeons.

E for Effort = "If you don't bring your A game every time for every second you are in the raid you are crippling yourself and the guild as a whole". I totally agree with this, It is like if you constantly dying in a fire, you probably better just to sit out because In my opinion E is also for being an Exceptional raider. if you need to fix any errors, learn from this survive and do better. If your DPS is low do not rely on someone else to point that out, fix it. If you are coming in last on DPS or heals find out what you can do better.

A for Adapt = "More fights are coming where you will need to do things you are not used to." Some fights now a days are mechanic based and not tank and spank. Like for me I only started to DPS when Cataclysm has released, Being a shadow caster besides healing was a great challenge for me I had to know rotations keeping my dots up so that I can put out great numbers based on my damage output. 

So the dummy's in Stormwind help me practice and when the next raid comes I am more adapt pretty much to any boss fights, It is also same situation where the raid leader yells to ask you to click one of the Gong's in Atramedes fight even though you have not done it before but you can adapt to the situation and next time you go there you will feel more confident and comfortable. And also if you made a mistakes in raids, just admit it and fix the issue. As Shadow said: "Save the drama for your Momma, if you are sucking it up on whatever admit it. If you can't fix the issue if you get replaced don't pout, go do some research Become and asset not a burden."

K for Knowledge of Fights = "I can't stress this enough if you are waiting to hear from a raid leader on what the overall "jest" of a fight is then you are doing it wrong." For me, Being a raider is a must  to have  knowledge of the fights. Why in the world come in the raid and wait for raid leaders to explain the fight to you that you should already know at least the basics of the fight right? I suggest being resourceful is also a key, watch boss fights through videos so you can understand the fights better.

S for Skills = "Raiding is like Gatorade is it in you?" If its not then you have to sharpen what you do until its reactionary. The guilds in Top 100 i.e Ensidia or Paragon didn't just wake in the morning and downed a content, but rather they found people with growing skills and made plans. In my opinion working and raiding in PTR helps a lot. In the raiding environment you have to put in the work to get good. This means you might have to step out of your comfort zone and talk to someone of your class and ask how it is they do what they do. 

I myself didn't know how to play a shadow priest until I asked one of our great shadow priest in the guild to help me out. and It improved my skills immensely, I was grateful that I asked for help and did not regret anything at all. Now I am also padding the meters when I am raiding with Vagrants guild in 10 man content. Also, We are not perfect though, I totally understand if someone f*cks up a lot, because we all do. But learn from your mistakes and try to fix it.

One of my guild mate Gardorian replied "End Game Raiding, is not everyone's thing. it takes a lot, a whole hell of a lot... many of us have played and played and worked up to this level and are proud to have become players that possess the skills needed to see and down content only 5-10% of players ever get to see. We can be then 1-3% of players that see ALL of the content, however for this, we need people to look at them self, see where they are lacking and work on it or come to realization that end game is not the place for you. People don't join the NFL or NBA because they like playing ball, they worked for it and they perform.

Overall this post has a lot of things that we can learn from each other especially those who are in Raiding environment. It is just matter of preparation in performing well, have knowledge of fights, putting extra effort, being resourceful, adapt to any environment, expanding your skills and also helping others. but being an elite raiders doesn't means being an ass in raids But It is about US being the best We can to be Elite Raiders..I know they may have some bad days of raiding, but everyone will try harder to succeed. It also encourage the guild to do better in progression, actually not only in my guild but to others as well. I acknowledge Shadow for the thoughts and made me realized how important it is to be a raider and to become an Elite Raider.

Read More

Day 1: Introducing Amerence the Priest!

Hi guys, I stumble upon Spellbound's blog and read about what she proposed the 20 days of WoW Blogging Challenge. It was interesting enough that seeing all the pingbacks and comments from other bloggers, I immediately commented without hesitation and decided to join. I like these challenges its entertaining and fun. So today, Day 1 it is all about Introducing yourself, here goes...

My name is Christine but most of my friends and family call me by my second name Wendy. My home country is  in the Philippines but I currently reside in Iowa right now, I am a healthcare provider for 5years, I am trying to finish Nursing but I think I will change course soon, health care is too much for me, my back is hurting and it's a very stressful job, I know its a very in demand career but it is not something I really like doing for long time, I am more interested in Culinary arts, and who doesn't love cooking!? well, I am anyway. and also Web designing, probably when I go back to California where my family are I will start taking classes for web designing, but well see!

Yes, I am Asian and loves to play an online game, but I am not a Gold farmer!!! lolx, before I started playing World of Warcraft, I played several pc games before like Diablo, Counterstrike, Starcraft and then a year before World of Warcraft was launched I was playing Ragnarok Online in Chaos server where I actually met and knew my boyfriend for 4yrs now (I still play Starcraft and Counterstrike, also playing Shakes & Fidget). My boyfriend and his best friend was actually the ones who push me to try and play World of Warcraft so I did, I started playing around September of 2006. My first toon that I actually created is on my boyfriend's account and I named her Henrieta, but since my boyfriend had to play his rogue Urashima, I decided to bought my own account and that is when I started playing Amerence my priest.

To know more about me, I actually just going to link you my About Me page for more details i.e guild history etc, I don't want to make this post too long and end up a wall of text afraid you might get bored. But I am glad to be one of the million subscribers of World of Warcraft MMO game. I will probably still be playing the game after 10yrs or so, don't know... but right now I am happy where I am right now currently in the best guild with friends in Staghelm server. Look forward until the next challenge for upcoming Day 2 - Why you decided to start a blog? Have a good one guys! =D

Read More

Thursday Updates on Guild Progression

Hi guys! another day, another post! today is Thursday for Guild updates. My guild over at Staghelm server, Vanquish has been around since vanilla days. I joined the guild roughly around October of 2010, but after 2 months being in the guild I decided to be in social status because I am focused in school and I don't want to put too much time playing at that time. Vanquish is a very competitive raiding environment, a lot of good players that actually knows how to play their classes. Despite any circumstances the guild will still move on in doing progression no matter what happens, I admired the guild's motivation and determination. Because I know we rarely see guilds now a days that will stick through thick and thin. (I had been too many guilds, and from my past experiences. Vanquish is a guild that is willing to take risks and will try until it succeeds.)

Edit: I forgot to mention that we finally able to reach Guild level 25 last night, it was awesome and the Battle.net Account bind Lion mount I love! Congratulations Vanquish! yep yep hooray! =)

Even though I'm a social member of the guild and rarely get an invite to join the 25 man raids, I am observing and still support the guild achievements. Cataclysm has brought a lot of good features for the guild system, and has changed the members outlook towards progression. For raiders, raiding the end game content and others running classic dungeons are still a good sign that the members are working together to help the guild's reputation and progression status.

I am happy to be part of my guild accomplishments and have no regrets being in the guild. Also based on rankings before Patch 4.1. Vanquish is currently Rank 4 in the server, killed 4 Heroic Bosses so far and still progressing. We did lost a few guild members last week due to military, work, school and just quit playing the game, but we are recruiting for those who are interested to join. click here for more information about the guild recruitment policy. I wish Vanquish best of luck and always keep up the good work! Below is the latest boss kill shot edited by me.

For all the guilds out there, I wish you Good Luck! Thank you for reading this post! until tomorrow for some random thoughts! Have a good one! =D

Read More