I Can't Get No: Satisfaction (& Titles)

There was recently a near-fatal collision at the corner of hardcore st. and casual lane. EMTs were on the scene quickly, and were able to cut off the supply of fuel to the flames.

No, really. A fairly typical argument about "earning" epics, being turned into "hardcores" being butthurt about "easy to get" T6 equiv, and now casuals being able to collect BT/Hyjal gear in pugs cheapening / not cheapening content.

I figure I'll weigh in on all this. 

I get satisfaction from this game by knowing that the team I run is good. The only way to judge this, is to compare how many other people have completed what we have (though try to see the difference between what I just said, and the idea that I need to 'feel superior' than others). When we broke into the top 2000 US guilds / the top 5% of raiding guilds, I had some genuine pride. It was based on knowing that we had overcome difficult challenges - not the gear that resulted, or having seen a particular boss. 

I don't mind that T4 raiders are pugging BT and succeeding since 3.0. It doesn't diminish my accomplishment (Clearing everything through 23% Kalecgos pre 3.0). If I used gear as a marker for what I've done, it may have. But I don't. 

Now, I think that one of the things that made 3.0 easier for me personally to swallow - was remove the ability to get titles / bear mounts. Having Hand of Ad'al is a distinguishing mark that I did a certain piece of content at a certain difficulty level, at the intended level. 

What sweetens this setup, is that I haven't seen a single QQ from someone who has done ZA / T5 / ect since 3.0, and is angry they can't get the titles. They get loot, and to see content - I get a displayable feature that doesn't have any effect on the game, except to show off. Unfortunately, there were only titles for some content: T4 (Champion of the Naruu) and T5 (Hand of Adal) - and a special mount for 4-Chest ZA. 

The BC formula, to lift attunements and gradually nerf content into pugabilitty, seems like its here to stay. All I can hope, is that there are more cosmetic bonuses for those that put in the time and effort to ride the wave of top end, challenging content. As far as I'm concerned, everyone wins. 

...thats what I say

Race Against The Patch

I wish that 3.0 had an announced release date, and if I can wish a little harder, that it the announced date would be at least two weeks in advance.

Long story short - I want to get Hand of A'dal titles for everyone who doesn't have them currently (joined us after doing T5, missed a Vial, ect). Come 3.0, those titles can't be earned.

My first priority is securing our Illidan kill, and making sure everyone can be a part of that - its our current progression, after all. He is priority one until we have killed him at least two more times. 

Beyond that, people are understandably split. Those that did joined while we were in BT want to see Hyjal / Kill Archimonde. Those that joined while we were doing Hyjal want Titles. Those that have been around since T5, want to do Sunwell.

I'm looking into ways to speed up the title process - namely trying to find guilds that would sell/share their raid ID that has Lurker (and possibly Morogrim) dead on it, so we could speed up Vashj/Fathomlord. Really, the biggest thing is the need to kill Illidan on our second night in BT, and not drag it out to a third.

The annoying part is - even if we do clear BT in two nights, that last raid night of the week doesn't seem like enough for Fathomlord, Vashj, Al'ar, Kael, Rage. (not to mention the three trips to Akama needed in there). And there is no guanretee that the following Tuesday won't be the patch, and cause things to end. 

The whole removal of ability to earn mounts/titles at 3.0, instead of Wrath, just seems like poor execution to me.