Shockingly, and despite the fact that by all the laws of God and man our survey should have said no, I had a successful ICC-10 PUG last night!
I’ve been vaguely on the lookout for one basically for lol!badgers and low investment. I saw a shoutout in Dalaran over the weekend – “need achiv and will be gearcheck” – and briefly considered whoring myself out to that, assuming my gear and achis were sufficient, of course, but then trade immediately erupted with what seemed like half of Argent Dawn going “HE’S A BLOODY GREAT NINJA.” So I didn’t. And two hours later the same message was still floating doggedly over trade… I think I would die of mortification if my reputation on the server was so soundly trashed. I felt vaguely ambivalent about the ninja-warnings, because reputations – for good or ill – are rarely truly deserved, but it wasn’t like it was just one bitter dude, it was several, err, bitter dudes. And several bitter dudes can’t be wrong, right? Hmmm.
Given that it was the day before the server reset, so I had nothing to lose, and all I had on my dance card was “Get lost in Mara looking for Elder Brightwang”, I took a chance on a shoutout for “a priest or shaman healer.” I thought the fact that they seemed to be looking for a single healer and that they were quite specific about what they wanted boded moderately well. Although I was perturbed that having asked if they still needed the priest, the RL whispered back to check that I was available for the next 3-6 hours (which would have taken me to four in the morning). Also talk about over-committing. We’d barely been on a first date.
So I reluctantly promised 2-3 hours, and snagged myself an invite. The group was remarkably friendly and welcoming – and since they’d been so specific about wanting a priest, I asked “So, did you want a holy priest or a disc priest?” “A healing priest,” responded the RL immediately. Um. Right.
Then it became the apparent that the group was also lacking a third healer and a second tank.
“Um, you’re going to need a third healer and a second tank,” I pointed out. Because I am basically Hermione Granger.
“Really?” asked the RL. “Definitely a second tank?”
“Errr…yes, definitely a second tank. And I can’t answer for the druid here but I don’t feel like 2-healing ICC.”
“I’ll get a shaman,” responded the RL.
So we stood around for about fifteen minutes, and then I realised the RL was, in fact, combing the dregs of LFG for a shaman, despite the fact there was a holydin sitting around in the Looking For Raid interface.
“Uh, why a resto-shaman?” I asked.
“For the buffs,” came the response.
And, yes, raid comp is important but, hell, we were pugging – beggars assuredly can’t be choosers. In the end, I vigorously convinced them to take the random paladin rather than standing around indefinitely for our One Twue Shaman. I then bullied the RL into trying to get a tank – eventually he found a warrior with “36hp unbuffed” who was available for “only 2-3” hours. Did we want him? Quite frankly, if he’d said that he’d found a warrior with his underpants on his head and his knitting needles up his nose I’d have said we wanted him. There was humming and hawing in the group but I kept saying “yes!” emphatically until they took him. I’ve never seen so fussy a pug in my entire life.
Maybe I just have profoundly low expectations but it just strikes me that when you’ve been pugging for an hour or so, you take what you can get and throw yourself at the content in the hope of downing Marrowgar at the very least – and not get too concerned with the ins and outs of it. I mean, better to have an imperfect group who can give it a go for three hours than stand around for two more hours trying to get a group who can go at it for five. Okay, this is sounding less like a pug and more like an orgy…
Anyway, I was pretty sure by this stage that I’d signed myself up to an enormous pile of doom, perhaps with some attendant lols I could blog about later. This wasn’t helped by the RL stepping over the threshold, and chirping merrily: “So, who’s leading this thing?” And we all said “…” and he replied “I got it together but I can’t lead it. So who wants leader?” In the deafening silence, a stupid priest in a sissy robe who knows better said “gief.”
But, y’know, actually it was fine. It was a triple fried egg and chilli chutney sandwich of a raid: all the ingredients were wrong, but somehow it turned out right. The OT was lagging to hell, the top DPS was a profoundly grumpy bugger, our raid comp was actually a prime example of how not to do it (I think we might have been 50% paladins), the paladin healer was silent as the grave throughout, and we had a DK who was probably about 14 years old from his strange combination of eagerness and incompetence. Or, you know, he came direct from DK Special School. The druid healer had to leave during the first trash pull but we replaced him with the long-sought after shaman. It shouldn’t have come together – in any natural universe we’d have fallen over with our feet in the air – and I don’t know what it was that made it work but … somehow … it did. It was kind of amazing.
Marrowgar took one look at us and perhaps it just wasn’t worth the trouble of killing us because he went down as willingly as an Elizabethan rent boy. Lady Deathwhisper, similarly, keeled right over. Perhaps she has a paladin phobia. And while we were in there, we picked up the weekly quest to kill a rotting frost giant (or summat) and this turned out to be our first challenge. I understand the prescribed tactics are to do it in pairs but I wasn’t sure about the debuff so in the end we stood in a sort of staggered circle and played a version of Pass the Plagued Parcel, with the infected running to a prescribed spot and the victim meeting him there, and a fair degree of attendant giggling because it was so absurd.
I think that took us three attempts… but morale was extremely high and nobody complained or minded, and it felt weirdly satisfying to be constructing our own tactics for a situation, rather than having them handed down to us from on high.
And at one point the extremely grumpy, extremely critical DPS who had introduced himself to the healing team with the words “the healers better not slack”, chastised the DK to “do more DPS” (helpful advice, that, very helpful) and complained his way through most of the fights said: “Sorry I died guys.” It was surprising, to say the least, and even a little bit heart-warming. By all accounts we should have burst into song as the credits rolled. My life has recently transfigured itself into a parable about Not Being So Fucking Judgemental, so the sudden revelation that a grumpy bugger is also a decent human being fitted the general theme of Tam Needs To Be A Better Person.
Flushed with success, de-plagued and jingling our frost emblems, we went on to finish gunship, again with no problems whatsoever. I guess the proof of the pudding (or the triple fried egg and chilli chutney sandwich) would have been DBS but it was midnight and I had to go to bed… which broke the group up. I feel a touch guilty about it but I couldn’t really hang around til Stupid O’clock in the morning for a PUG, however charming. Also probably better to leave on a note of surprising success than break up over dudgeon and failure.
And as I left the group the shaman-healer whispered me to say what a pleasure it had been healing with me – I was astounded and gratified, particularly as I hadn’t been aware of having been especially nice or especially competent. But it seriously gave me the warm fuzzies.
Of course … nothing of any interest to anybody dropped, just random bits of mail and an axe of pointlessness. But, hell, it didn’t matter.
The whole thing felt like a bit of an object lesson in, well, as I said above, not being such a judgemental prick. And even though I do have an inner wanker that wants to sneer a bit over the notion that the first half of the first wing of ICC could be knocked over so easily by a bunch of fools … he is a very small inner wanker, and he knows he’s missing the point. Mainly I’m just glad we had a measure of success and I think what it reveals is that not that content is “nerfed for casuals” or “too easy” or any of that nonsense – it shows that if you talk to each other and pull together as a team you can expect to make some, entirely deserved progress. We probably wouldn’t have been sitting on the Frozen Throne by 3am but that’s not the point either.
It’s a weird, snobbish impulse to ascribe value to things based on who and who can’t access them. There’s a huge difference in saying “you did something hard, well done” (hello, to all you Starcallers) and “anybody can do this, so it must be worthless” except people tend to put it all on the same trajectory. You see it in the way people to respond to books, to films, to each other, to everything I guess … so I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me that it’s also pretty prevalent in WoW, and also that I’m occasionally guilty of thinking this way. Sigh.
In other news, I have learned a new thing about raid leading: Being the one to say “Can we have a bloodlust now please?” is fucking awesome.
And finally, I haven’t done any cool linkage lately so here is some:
Anea has put together some advice to new bloggers – these things always make me cringe because I never do any of the things I’m supposed to, inflicting walls of text upon my long-suffering readers or, y’know, bothering to proofread. But still it’s all brilliant stuff and I’ll try to make more of an effort into putting some of it into practice.
Quite an oldish (now) post from Aggro Management – it’s a pug tale but it’s genuinely really inspiring, and cool. Trudging through the valley of darkness that is LFG it’s incredibly reassuring sometimes to be reminded that people – that the majority of people actually – are decent human beings.
Speaking of being decent human beings, there was a post (again, rather a longish time ago) from Tessy over Reflections From the Pond about naming and shaming which (like most of Tessy’s posts) gave me pause for thought. It’s true there’s was an upsurge of naming and shaming around the place – and, lately, some celebratory shout outs – and I do see where her concerns are coming from. The examples of it, I’ve seen, to be honest I’ve actually applauded – I mean the people in question have behaved so unspeakably abominably that it feels (rightly or not) that they deserve a good lambasting in somebody’s blog. The thing is, do the people we play with (especially those who behave, or treat us, badly) have a right to “privacy” in their dickishness… or are we essentially using the privilege of an audience to take advantage. And as Tessy points out, a slippery slope and misunderstandings arise… I have no answers.
This post from Dendrite about the next two wings of ICC made me chuckle.
And here you can find Windsoar being awesome in defence, specifically of BM hunters, and more generally on the value of playing the game the way you damn well want to. *cheers*
And, finally, it is Klep’s Two Year Blogday. Quite frankly, if you’re not reading Troll Racials Are Overpowered you should be – his posts are always fascinating reads, and if wasn’t for him I’d still be disenchanting my blues instead of selling them.
"if wasn’t for him I’d still be disenchanting my blues instead of selling them." No no no no no! No…. How could I have done that!? I'm such a failure. It's all over. A long time ago I made a pact with the devil (Gevlon) that I would have amazing blogging skills, and fiddlin', but I could never ever write anything useful.
Grats on the pug, I have to go write my blogwill. I leave you my stories about my DK. Larisa can have anything related to storytelling or being a nice person. Gnomeaggedon is granted all posts related to gnomes.
My recent post Razorscale with one and a half tanks
Oh noes! *bursts into tears* I didn't mean it, Klep – that was the ONE time, the only time, you've ever been useful to me. Mainly you're just interesting and completely useless
Isn't it always nice when pugs turn out to be awesome instead of fail?
My recent post Monday's Double-you Tee Eff Moment
It really is – and humbling too.
I don't know, I think if I healed with you I might think you particularly nice AND especially competent. Plus, you led the raid!
Also – and maybe this is just me, but – it sounds like I'm not the only person who might agree to do something painful or punishing simply for its potential blogability. Is that a sickness? Do we need a support group or perhaps an intervention?
*points at your blog* *laughs*
I think you win at masochism
Or entertainment … or both.
I certainly try to be nice but competence is a always up for grabs – and I didn't so much lead the raid as gently nudge it along in what seemed like a sensible direction.
Not so surprising… I've seen pugs work better than guildruns. The other day our MT asked me to join for ICC with my tank and I saw it was a half-pug, with 5 people from different guilds. For our great joy and shame we downed Festergut without much problems when our full-guild runs have been trying without success. We even tried Rotface two times since it was late and managed to get him to 50%. Not bad considering our only try as guild-run achieved only 87% or so.
I'm not sure why that would be the case – maybe it's the fact the pressure is off (nobody expects a pug to be able to down serious content) so people perform better. But, still, it is rather a mystery. I'm still rather bewildered by the fact I used to be able to 2-heal pugs through ToC and yet occasionally barely able to 3-heal guild runs through that pit of doom and tedium.
10 points for a Red Dwarf reference and calling for hero/bloodlust is probably the pinnacle of raid leading.
My recent post Kurn’s Q&A #6
(I wanted the picture of Rimmer eating the triple fried egg and chili chutney sarnie – but I couldn't find it)
And it really is. I've never understood why people would *want* to raid lead before but having the power to make 10 people big and fast at your command is AMAZING!
(snip)
It’s a weird, snobbish impulse to ascribe value to things based on who and who can’t access them. There’s a huge difference in saying “you did something hard, well done” (hello, to all you Starcallers) and “anybody can do this, so it must be worthless” except people tend to put it all on the same trajectory. You see it in the way people to respond to books, to films, to each other, to everything I guess … so I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me that it’s also pretty prevalent in WoW, and also that I’m occasionally guilty of thinking this way. Sigh.
(end snip)
You just won a poignancy award award from me…Not sure what that will get you – but damn well said.
Thank you kindly. After the pug broke up, I did say jokingly to a friend "I think I've just lost all respect for the content" and then I felt like a complete twat as that's neither true nor funny.
Hm… well, you're a better person (healer? priest?) than I am… I don't think I would've been able to step up and lead a raid, especially one of such fate-tempting proportions. Well done
(And thank you for the link!)
My recent post Love Revealed
To be fair, I didn't lead in any particular meaningful sense. I simply pointed the tank in the right direction and said "good job chaps" (or words to that effect) when the bad guys fell over. I really can't take credit for the raid – it rocked in its own special way
Tam, Tam, Tam. How can you hide in the back in your sissy robes AND be snapping out directions like a brigadier general? All this raiding is changing you…
Enjoy it!
RAWR!
Thanks for the love too
Snapping? Directing? Me?
Try: "If you wouldn't mind pulling now, please, everybody's ready." Or "Blood lust if you please." Or "Adherent in the raid, please wake up and kill it melee."
Less leading than politely suggesting
"DK Special School" Awww is it really special if they all attend?
(ok, that was mean – people being mean to me make me want to be mean to others – so wrong, I know)
Hehe – all DKs are special snowflakes
I'm special, but I try avoid going near the School, much less attending it!
Since DK's replaced 'huntards' as the most-maligned class, I thought I'd try empathy, so I rolled a hunter. Currently lvl28 and counting…. yeah, they're 'special' too.
My recent post What to do about 10-man raids in a 25-man Guild?
I'm just wondering who told you about the special DK school. Was it Chas? I'll bet it was. He is going to have to return the secret handshake now!!
It's been so long since I've done a pug raid not lead by one in my guild, that I lost feeling on just how great a feeling it must be. Back in the day I used to lead people through Kara. And having people thank me for being so awsome as to give them orders… Is a weird weird feeling. But not one that I could not get acustommed to.
For me the trash was always the hardest, when I was leading. Everyone usually had an idea on how to handle the bosses. "i know my part", but on trash. Oh boy, trash was another story
My recent post "Want to buy Tiger protection too? I have a lovely Rock for sale
Not the secret handshake! Nooo!
I think I probably over-sold myself when I said "lead" – I think I should probably have said "politely suggested occasionally." It hardly required anything from me beyond administration, I would have probably have shrivelled up and failed horribly had it need, y'know, actual proper leaership. I'm not sure the stress is worth the buzz – and actually I think following orders well is as much a skill as giving them. Although being able to ask for blood lust is AWESOME.
You're funny Tam.
You lead the group – own it!
No, it wasn't progression, but still, that's exactly what leading is. In fact, I think it's safe to say you were a better and more effective leader than Mr. MoarDots!1!!11!!
And yes, this is Hine. >.< someone stole my name on Intensedebate.
My recent post What to do about 10-man raids in a 25-man Guild?
Nice, I daren't step up and lead PuG Wailing Caverns, let alone high end raids!Nice, I daren't step up and lead PuG Wailing Caverns, let alone high end raids!
I'm so proud of Tam, he's growing right infront of our eyes *sob*.
To be honest, I sometimes think leading is not leading – all I did was nudge people along so I can't really take credit for it. It was less leadership than a few polite suggestions now and again. I don't know what I'd have done if it had required more from me, or if I'd actually have been able to, y'know, lead properly. In short: I think I got bloody lucky.
Thank you so much for the link! ^^ You have no idea how much you made my day (with the post as well as the link).
Sounds to me like you’re on the slippery slope to becoming a full-time raid lead! Resist the pull! There’s no turning back once you’re there.
Always a pleasure
Ye gods, no, I am the bottom of the barrel of potential raid leaders! Flee! Flee my polite suggestions!
Thank you so much for the link! ^^ You have no idea how much you made my day (with the post as well as the link).
Sounds to me like you’re on the slippery slope to becoming a full-time raid lead! Resist the pull! There’s no turning back once you’re there.
Thank you so much for the link! ^^ You have no idea how much you made my day (with the post as well as the link).
Sounds to me like you’re on the slippery slope to becoming a full-time raid lead! Resist the pull! There’s no turning back once you’re there.
Thank you so much for the link! ^^ You have no idea how much you made my day (with the post as well as the link).
Sounds to me like you’re on the slippery slope to becoming a full-time raid lead! Resist the pull! There’s no turning back once you’re there.
Thank you so much for the link! ^^ You have no idea how much you made my day (with the post as well as the link).
Sounds to me like you’re on the slippery slope to becoming a full-time raid lead! Resist the pull! There’s no turning back once you’re there.
Thank you so much for the link! ^^ You have no idea how much you made my day (with the post as well as the link).
Sounds to me like you’re on the slippery slope to becoming a full-time raid lead! Resist the pull! There’s no turning back once you’re there.
Thank you so much for the link! ^^ You have no idea how much you made my day (with the post as well as the link).
Sounds to me like you’re on the slippery slope to becoming a full-time raid lead! Resist the pull! There’s no turning back once you’re there.
Thank you so much for the link! ^^ You have no idea how much you made my day (with the post as well as the link).
Sounds to me like you’re on the slippery slope to becoming a full-time raid lead! Resist the pull! There’s no turning back once you’re there.
Thank you so much for the link! ^^ You have no idea how much you made my day (with the post as well as the link).
Sounds to me like you’re on the slippery slope to becoming a full-time raid lead! Resist the pull! There’s no turning back once you’re there.
Thank you so much for the link! ^^ You have no idea how much you made my day (with the post as well as the link).
Sounds to me like you’re on the slippery slope to becoming a full-time raid lead! Resist the pull! There’s no turning back once you’re there.
Thank you so much for the link! ^^ You have no idea how much you made my day (with the post as well as the link).
Sounds to me like you’re on the slippery slope to becoming a full-time raid lead! Resist the pull! There’s no turning back once you’re there.
[...] on the other hand has an against-all-odds ICC PUG success. No yelling [...]