Mar 25th, By EMMA, One of the things I really enjoy about playing WoW, even all these years later, is the game underneath the game. While I'm awful at math, the old D&D geek in me still enjoys considering my stats, mixing and matching gear to see how it best combines for what I'm going for (in this case, high defense and avoidance.... with the right set I can push 40% block, for instance, but it's a gimmick set, not something I'd actually tank real content in). Last night, due to my raging insomnia, which has in the past rewarded me greatly, I had a very interesting conversation with another warrior in my guild about weapon speeds, co-efficients and why I should keep tanking with my Sun Eater instead of the new dagger I just got.

Obviously I'm comfortable with my knowledge of the warrior class and the game (or I'd probably not be able to write here without crying and hiding under my desk) but there's a lot to keep track of, and it was good to have another person to bounce the relative benefits of the weapons off of. One of the benefits of this being a social game is the people: when you have good people around you, make use of them. Ask them for help for quests and instances. Go help them do the same. Heck, just talk to them. Talking about the game, heck, even just talking about why my character's name sounds vaguely like a kaiju has livened up wiping on Malacrass because the mage gone one-shotted by an add before he could sheep it again.

There are unpleasant aspects to interpersonal contact in the game... barrens chat, bad PuG's, people who clog Trade chat with their egomaniacal rantings, that one enchanter who spams with his various enchants but when you actually ask him to do one is always afk, constant 'duel me outside Ironforge, if I win you pay 10g, if I lose you get 100g' posts from people who won't actually pay up... but man, a good group of people can really override all that junk with useful sounding boards and fun times. Make sure to keep good people once you find them, because they'll make the game ten thousand times better.

Dear Blizzard,

For whatever reason, your game has been experiencing multiple server related issues in the past few weeks. Many players have seen themselves offline an abnormal amount of time, and for no apparent reason. Some realms have been brought offline for emergency maintenance and stayed that way for nearly a day. Other realms are seeing themselves either reset or become sundered down with mass disconnects that make any serious play almost impossible.
    

The 2.4 PTR is up, which means it's time for everyone's favorite pastime: complaining about the patch notes. ZOMG, more badge loot and no attunement for Hyjal? Blizzard is caving in to casuals! Another difficult 25-man raid instances? Oh noes, the gear gap is back and Blizz only cares about raiders!

But class complaints tend to be more numerous and specific. In all the hubbub, it's sometimes hard to tell exactly what's going to happen to paladins in the next patch. So here, without delay, are the four things you need to expect in 2.4:

1. Enter the Sunwell.

Whether you're sitting around picking at your toes after having cleared BT, stuck bumping your head up against SSC or The Eye, or just waiting for another 5-man, Patch 2.4 has a new PVE encounter for you. People who enjoy small groups can go to Magister's Terrace and fight Kael'thas, hardcore raiders can set foot in S

Let me set the stage for you: 25 people have been wiping for over 3 hours on Kael'Thas. Tempers are high, and patience is running low. People are consistently dying over the same mistake again and again, and there is no end in sight. But wait! You have a suggestion! With this suggestion of yours the raid is sure to get over this minor roadblock, and progress to the next stage of greatness. Now comes the hard part...

How do you get your idea to the raid leader?



While often times it'll depend on what type of raiding culture your guild has, there's a few basic rules to follow.

First, never blurt a strategy out during the middle of a fight. If your guild is cool about talking out strategies over vent during raids, wait until the wipe is over to mention something. A lot of other folks are usually busy with things, even if your dead (well, perhaps they're not busy enough!)

Second, it can never hurt to ask the raid leader permission to talk about your suggestion before you do. I find that in most raids I've been on, this is the best way to get something across. Most of the time it's greeted with a reply of "Of course, go ahead." However when the RL has something different in mind, it's his prerogative, not yours, to make the call.

Third, and perhaps the biggest, don't be a jerk about it. Much too often enemies are made out of friends by saying how such and such an idea is horrible. It never goes right, and the best thing to do is to present the idea like you're a money starved teenager asking your parents for cash.

We all have horror stories about people blurting out ideas at the worst time, and over-stressed raid leaders letting them have it. What are some of your war stories?