Bravetank Does…

Discovered Photoshop and WoW model viewer. Be afraid. Be very afraid! I already have the opening series of shots for my new TV series…

How cool is that? No- just me! Ok – well I love it anyway

In other more important news … Bravetank reached 60 yesterday!!! Those of you on Twitter will already know how giddy with joy I was yesterday evening. She started the day at 56 & finished purchasing her flying mount (which shows you how non productive in all other ways my day was yesterday). She is 61 as of this very moment thanks to Jacqlyn who kindly accompanied Anadin, myself & another player through Hellfire Ramparts & Blood Furnace this morning – both of which went brilliantly because of Jacqlyn’s great advice – don’t stand on bombs ( I am attracted to bombs like someone who’s just found her soulmate), don’t stand in green stuff (I wallow in it like it’s some sort of aromatherapy treatment), equip a sword and shield Bravetank – that type of thing!! She was really awesome!! Thanks Jacqlyn   I should also mention Anadin hit 60  (in Blood Furnace) & enjoyed a dungeon run not having to heal me. So he was all smiles for once (apart from when he died 10 times running to the instance and got a tad grouchy).

Anadin & I were also very brave yesterday & went in Lower Blackrock Spire via LFD. I had looked at a couple of You Tube videos beforehand to see if I could find my way round – but no help. Those videos all seem to cut right after every every fight to the start of the next one (so I have no idea how they actually got there) while pumping out crazily upbeat music that makes my runs seem rather sombre affairs (although I had some Christmas songs on in the background this morning which gave me a festive feel at least). I then tried to read some walkthroughs (no one can accuse me of being unprepared) but when they started talking about jumping off ledges, waiting for patrols to pass, hugging the left hand side wall and taking warlocks out – all in the first paragraph – I almost gave up. But a slice of pizza and a bit of lemon cheesecake refreshed my spirits. “Let’s just go in and try it,” I said to Anadin, “It’s the only way we’ll learn.” “That’s the spirit!” he said, sounding almost jovial, as if we weren’t going to end this run as we end all runs – barely speaking & accusing each other of being “sharp”. But you know what they say- hope springs eternal.

So we went in the dungeon & I decided honesty was the best policy – “Can someone lead us around,” I said, “I don’t know the way.” No answer. Hmmm. But one member of the group (a mage) ran left so I followed- assuming they were taking the lead. “That’s the way to Upper Blackrock Spire,” said another dps (a rogue), “This is a Lower Blackrock run.” “That’s why I asked someone to lead,” I muttered through gritted teeth while typing merrily “Ok thanks!” (thank god I don’t have vent). Anyway we all ran back & the run started properly.

It was a good run to be fair. At several points I  found myself thinking – I really like this tanking lark, I’m enjoying myself, I want to do more of these! All crazy heady stuff in the cold light of day. Even healer husband seemed to be enjoying. I was being polite and asking him if he was ready (as he patted down yet more corpses for hidden loot)and even waited by his side while he had his mana breaks. All important stuff that will be covered if we ever renew our marriage vows.  And the group were patient if a little quiet. The only problem was the mage. He was running a completely different dungeon to us. That earlier misunderstanding had just been the start of it. When we went left he went right. When we went up he went down. When we fought the mobs he held tea parties & when we took a break he did all but yell out to the whole dungeon, “Come and ‘ave a go if you think you’re hard enuff” and aggroed everything in sight. We were so out of sync we were in alternate universes -  in our one he was powerfully insane, in his he was insanely powerful. For most of the run he was either dead in some remote part of the dungeon or winning cool gear and not responding to us when we nicely said Grats. Interesting fella.

But we did it & as the dungeon was so complicated and long I really felt like we’d achieved something when it ended. Hellfire Ramparts & Blood Furnace are so much more straightforward in terms of actual layout. Why were vanilla WoW dungeons made so complex? Is this part of the dumbing down of WoW everyone complains about because if so give me more dumbing down – I like it!! In fact I think my favourite dungeon would be a straight line dungeon  – some mobs on left, some mobs on right, big boss at end, purple gear for tank (every time)! Brilliant!

And finally as we started this post with some pictures (clearly feeling very arty today)  so we shall end on one just because I want to mark the occasion forever -  Bravetank is 60. You might have heard! And this was her yesterday after buying her mount.

Yes I know – I took the picture with my bag open. Don’t ask me why. It’s her bag. She was probably looking for her lipstick or something (she’s a lesson to us all in looking our best while we kick butt….hmm says she who can’t even remember whether she brushed her hair this morning…oh husband is shaking head- I didn’t). Anyway here’s to Bravetank and the continuing road to 85 – while at the same time being an art critic, scientist and crime solver! Awesome

Cleaning off the Rose-tinted Spectacles

Reading one of the Guardian blogs the other night (I like my news presented to me in a nicely summarised fashion with a bitter slant) I came across some recent research that happier people respond more strongly to positive things in life – without in any way ignoring the negative – and this is apparently what makes them happier. They did brain scans and everything – not the Guardian by the way – I know the phone hacking scandals have shown us how low some of the media have now sunk but thank heavens brain scanning technology currently alludes them (and even if they had it most current celebs at least would be unable to produce the brain part of that exchange).

Anyway I was thinking about how this could apply to our WoW experience. None of us can really ignore the negative. I’ve tried in dungeons but I’m only human (or dwarf or draenei, never gnome). It annoys and frustrates. But are we getting the most from the positive experiences in the game? Are we focusing on them sufficiently for them to work their magic on us and turn us into much happier people?

I have come up with 5 positive …ish experiences in game that I think we need to focus on in a much stronger way to get our amygdalas quivering (and no that is not yet another Bravetank euphemism – it’s the amygdala part of our brain that responds to the positive experience apparently by getting bigger – visit my Bravetank Does Science blog for more information on this – soon to be followed by Bravetank Does Art, Bravetank Does Fashion and Bravetank Solves Crime -personal favourite). Now it’s important to note this isn’t about seeing the positive in negative experiences – it’s about really emphatically seeing more positive in already positive experiences – in other words bleeding them dry of every ounce of their positivity so they’re reduced to an empty shriven husk. Lovely.

1. Ok – number 1 – you’re out questing near a mine node. You’re a miner (this is important). You need to clear some mobs before you can get to the node. You do so and then get the ore. This is good. This is more than good in fact – this is great! At this point emote falling down on your knees, hands raised & clenched and give thanks to the WoW god/goddess of your choice that no one was around to steal that ore from you. Sit back in your seat. Smile. Maybe go and get yourself a chocolate. Then return to questing. And it won’t matter that it now takes you ten times as long to level nor that all the other nodes will now be gone because of the sneaky little gnome miner you didn’t see in the grass – no – it’s all good here.

2. You’re in busy Stormwind or any captial city of your choice (except for Silvermoon – there’s no positive to be found there). You see the mailbox. You know you have mail (you’re a clever little thing and you’ve become adept at noticing the little envelope in the top right hand corner of your screen). You go to the mail box and click on it, take the mail and move away. Job done. But you don’t stop there. Now you need to yell, “I’ve got mail” in chat so everyone knows (spread the joy). Follow it up with, “I’m so happy” and maybe even (if appropriate), “The auction house loves me!”. Or shout out your thanks to the people who have bought something from you. Each and every one. A poem about how beautiful the mail box is would not go amiss at this point. Now you know why people dance on it.  Don’t get down by some of the responses you get – remember your amygdala is bigger than theirs and would win in a fight any day.

3. You’re running to the boat and you catch it just before it pulls out. Don’t just tune out now and read a book while you sail across the ocean. No ring your mother or best friend. They’re probably worried that you don’t seem yourself these days, you hardly go out, you’re obsessed with that bloody game. This will reassure them. Tell them in detail how you caught the boat just before it pulled out. Describe to them the anxiety you felt on the approach- would you make it, could you do it? You could even exaggerate how big your leap onto the boat was. They’ll never know. Milk it dry for all it’s worth. They will be so proud.

4. You’re in a dungeon. You say hello and someone says hello back. This is one of the biggies. Enjoy it for all it’s worth. In WoW terms you now have a new BFF. To really get the most out of this you need to share your joy with the group. Tell them “X just said hello, I love X!”. Announce you will never forget this moment in all your life and take lots of screenshots. Also don’t forget to whisper to X what you’re doing – they will really appreciate it. When you’re booted (as you might well be) remember they have amygdalas the size of bedbugs and you will be the one smiling yourself to sleep  (early night after getting booted from 10 consecutive dungeons).

5. You roll greed on an item and win it. This is the best one of all. Really think about this. YOU’VE WON SOMETHING!! How many competitions in your daily life do you win (I’d be grateful if Michael Phelps for once refrains from posting a response – no one likes a show off). You’ve actually won something. This is huge. People have parties for less. In fact that’s what you should do. Go knock up the neighbours. Bring them in. Show them your screen. Look the item up for them on Wowhead. Put it on your toon. Model it for them in close up. Then crack open the bubbly (that will halt anyone already at the door on the way out i.e. all of them). You are a winner (ignore any accusations of ninjaring as well – cloth is perfectly acceptable on a warrior- it mops up the blood since they can’t heal themselves).

So there you have it – just five simple things to get more joy out of the already positive experiences we have in WoW. And just think- by acting in this fashion you will in turn be enriching the gaming experience of anyone who crosses your path – or at least that should be your response when Blizzard gets in touch.

The Blog Azeroth Thanksgiving Adventure

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WELCOME TO THE BRAVETANK THANKSGIVING BLOGGING ADVENTURE

You are sitting before a computer. Yes this one. The one you’re sitting at right now. Unless you’re reading this on the bus on your iPhone. In which case I think you have too much money to be riding on buses. Go on – live a little and get a taxi.

Ok so there’s you and a computer of sorts. What now?

>Look

I’ve already told you what you can see.

>Look at computer

I’d rather you examined things.

>Examine computer

There you go. Well done. The computer is showing a web page.  No that’s bad grammar. The monitor is displaying a web page. After all the computer is not some glamour model demonstrating a sports car. Anyway I digress. The web page before you is colourful with a fantastic banner. The blogger is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet online, far too critical of his own blog for some reason, generous with his praise and positive feedback to others, a fantastic artist who also does a great voice recording. Click here to visit the site and then please come back! This is only the start of your jouney.

…

Yes you’re back. Fantastic. You have earned 10 points. Don’t spend them all at once. Ok what now?

>Examine computer

Not that again. This is a dynamic user interface. You need to get creative.

>Touch computer

Getting fresh with your computer. Oookay

>Click link

Wow that was a left field stab in the dark out of nowhere leap of faith. And it worked! Remember- dynamic user interface. It’ll be all the rage at Christmas. You click on the link and get transported to an ancient tome, an ancient online tome full of wondrous adventures, insights, kindness and wisdom. What a discovery! Click here to have a good read- I guarantee you’ll have a great time here. Then come back. Remember there are points to be earned.

…

Welcome back young Indiana, I’m sure you enjoyed that. You now feel a bit parched. There is a glass of lemonade on your left and a glass of cola on your right.

>Drink lemonade

Are you just going to lean over the glass and slurp?

>Take glass

That’s better. Remember what your mother taught you.

>Drink lemonade.

You take a drink. Oooh – sharp. Suddenly you feel a little lightheaded. Your head slumps forward onto the keyboard. You lift it up & look at the monitor (or the iPhone- work with me here people). There is a new page open before you. And what a page it is. It has a reference to both sheep and diamonds. Your head spins with the possibility of  what this new world could reveal. Click here to have your entire mindset challenged and provoked.

Okay. You have been challenged and provoked. Bet you’re tired and want to watch a cartoon or something. But no- you have work to do. You also have 45 points. Don’t be pedantic now and ask how 3 sites can equal 45 points. Just open your mind to the wonders of Bravetank maths.

What now?

>Take glass

Take glass where? And yes I know that command worked earlier but remember this is a dynamic user interface. Much cleverer than the usual. I mean just think about it – how much typing have you actually done? See- very clever.

>Get glass

Not just yet. Don’t you fancy a toastie? I think there’s one by the cola if you examine desk.

>Examine desk

Lo and behold you find a toastie. Amazing. It has cheese in it. Vegetarian cheese. That’s how we roll here. You eat the toastie. After the last bite your hands start to feel strange- all tingly and stiff like…never mind. Just strange. They reach out and start typing. They are typing a web address.

>http://mapsfortanks.com/

You click here and an amazing site opens before you. It would not be an overstatement to say it holds the secrets to the world. To the World of Warcraft. Up to Dire Maul Capital Gardens at least. Your eyes widen in amazement at the maps, and the drawings on the maps. What master of the dark arts has produced these? Barely able to contain your excitement you start examining each map. Return to this page when you have satisfied your insatiable desire (ignore the contradiction in terms here) for all the knowledge in the world.

Good you’re back. Quick quiz – Where would you find Overload Ramtusk?

>World of Warcraft

Minus 10 points for stating the obvious and trying to be clever.

>Razorfen Downs

Ooh so close. 5 points for effort (and for humouring me by reading this far).

>Razorfen Kraul

Amazing. You are truly a graduate of Maps for Tanks. What now?

>Take glass

Well done. You’re catching on.

>Drink cola

You enjoy the drink. What now? (You weren’t really expecting a third magical internet occurrence were you – that would break all the rules of text adventuring parody-craft)

>Thump keyboard

Hmmm. One of us is getting a little irritable I think. Ok ok – you hit a “magic key” and the screen changes. This site is magnetic. It draws you in. What to read first? The choice overwhelms you. There is a great interview with the one they call Bravetank that you might be interested in…not pushing or anything…but honestly give it a go. See what you think. But there’s more than that there (thank god sighs every reader). This is the most sacred of sites. This is about all the blogs, all the posts, all the wisdom of this community. Click here to be taken into a world from which you will never want to return. But you’ll have to. You’re not getting those points if you don’t.

Welcome back my friend. You have 66.3 points. Well done. So far you have visited four of the very best sites on the internet – all clever, insightful, entertaining and wise. I hope you have enjoyed. I know I am very grateful to the people behind each of these blogs for the support and encouragement they have given me and the entertainment and enjoyment I have had from their sites. But where to next?

>
>
>
Ok I can see you’re stumped. And maybe a bit tired. Let me offer a suggestion. Click here if you haven’t got a blog, or go to your own blog if you do. Either way start writing. And not only will you get the full 100 points (I am a fair person) but you will also become part of a wonderful community and discover parts of yourself you might never have suspected were there.

Thank you everyone – including everyone on my blogroll I wasn’t able to name and everyone I talk to on Twitter and everyone who has supported The Raggy Dolls guild and Bravetank’s adventures. And everyone who reads this blog. You have enriched my life more than you’ll ever know.

Love

Bravetank

>Exit

Goodbye. Please visit again!

It was all my fault Officer

A couple of posts back I wrote about a triumphant tanking experience in Zul’Farrak. All was looking good for Bravetank. Then she dyed her hair & bought a ram and got lost in Redridge  & I started to have some niggling little fears. Had she been poisoned by the hair dye? But it had gone well in Zul’Farrak so I was relatively optimistic going in for a second time. I refuse to go in the two other dungeons available to me right now – one of the Blackrock Depths and one of the Stratholmes – had bad enough experiences in them as DPS – the thought of tanking them makes me get the vapors (plus I did try & tank one of the early Stratholmes once – the experience is captured in one of my earlier blog posts – it was so bad I can’t even bring myself to link).

So until Anadin my husband healer gets to the point where he can accompany me into Sunken Temple I am going to keep doing Zul’Farrak. Or at least that was the plan until I went in again, heady with my first time success (beginner’s luck I now think it’s called).

We went in  – always a good start. Said the usual hellos. I think had one response so it was looking good. Actually I should say now this isn’t a bad group story. This is a bad tank story- a very bad Bravetank story. Sometimes you just have to put your hands up and come clean.

Anyway I patiently waited for everyone to collect their quests – including husband who for some reason had missed two the first time round. Don’t know how – they were standing right there. He was probably trying to get in the healing zone or something – which basically involves limbering up his fingers so he can mash as many keys at once as possible.

We started. I pulled the first group of mobs on the left (don’t worry- this blog post will not go through this run pull for pull- but it’s just important for that little thread of self-esteem I still have that you know that early on – for about 5 minutes – I was almost quite good really). We took them out and it was fine. The group was letting me pull, husband was keeping me alive (actually in fact since my recent glyph spending spree – funded by the very very generous guildee Jacqlyn – I kill the mobs so quickly he says I’m a doddle to heal). So it was going swimmingly. Until I got cocky.

We came to the first boss Theka the Martyr. Took him out no problem. He wants to be a martyr so be it. I really do love Tidy Plates by the way & it was definitely helping me attack the right thing  at this point (ie the enemy not a nearby tree).  I looked at the map & for some reason thought that Theka was the first proper boss on the map but of course he wasn’t – the proper one is the one in the cave. So I started going left – missing the cave – and someone in the group gently said – “There’s a boss up here.” For once I was confident and certain I was right (always a bad move on my part) and I kept going left. The rest kept going right. My husband stood somewhere in the middle saying to me somewhat anxiously, “They’re all going the other way.” “But I’m right,” I insisted (wrongly). But in fairness I’m not that bad a person -  I could hear they were in trouble (distant clangs in game and very near obscenities from husband) so I started to run back, but I got caught up in a fight myself- just one mob, no trouble for a multiskilling pally like me (as long as one of those skills isn’t map reading of course). Anyway as I was fighting so I was looking at their names on the left – all their health bars were quickly diminishing.  One by one they died – including husband. I felt dreadful as I was totally responsible. I’d deserted my team. I finished up my fight & ran back and did my penance by dutifully ressing them. One by one. One of the dps immediately left- couldn’t blame him/her. The others were great though. No criticism or rebuke. Even my husband did not say a word of blame – the look of disappointment he gave me over his shoulder was quite enough. “There’s a boss up here,” said one of the dps, again. This time, like a meek little lamb, I said nothing and just rode in that direction. I saw the cave and remembered it all (like Guy Pearce in Memento) and immediately started internally berating myself (and scrawling on myself reminders such as “Remember the cave” and “Turn the map the other way round.”) This caused me to mistime two pulls and barely survive the boss. “Pull yourself together Shell,” I said to myself, “We all make mistakes.” But my confidence was badly knocked indeed.

On we went down to the bit with the graves you mustn’t click on. That bit was ok & I was beginning to calm down again. But we had a new dps by then. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence he was a hunter who kept on pulling. I mean nothing against the hunter class by pointing this out- but there you have it- that was the situation – a hunter that kept on pulling.  There are good reasons why these become sterotypes. I started getting stroppy behind the keyboard but then remembered where my last moment of arrogance had led so typed instead a pleasant little request to everyone,  “Please would you let me pull. It’s easier on the healer.” (See – put the blame on the healer always – number 7 in my Tanking Road to Success book.) Anyway the group was again lovely & agreed and it was all sweetness and roses as we approached the pyramid steps.

Oh how I used to dread them. Then when I first tanked I did it easy (or the healer did it easy -not sure which of us should take credit for this, and the dps might also have something to say), so I was confident. Again big mistake. I must never ever be confident in a dungeon again. I perform better when I’m a gibbering wreck.

The mobs started running up the stairs & crazily I ran down nearly all the way to meet them. I know it had gone well the last time but this enthusiasm to see them again was completely overboard.  I then did some wild AoEs (just hitting anything on my action bar really) and next thing you know my health has nearly gone, husband is in a right tizzy trying to keep me alive, my ability to focus and hit have gone in the panic & so basically Bravetank is just madly running around in circles like a tank having a total breakdown. I think I saved myself with Blessing of Protection (I know I know – bad bad tank but self preservation kicked in – it’s in all our DNA – even WoW DNA), and alot of self healing. By now one dps was dead- yes another death on my conscience. But the rest of us got through it. The last mob was still on his dying breath and I was already typing my apologies, “I am so so sorry That was totally my fault.” It was the only way I thought. I played a shocker there. But amazingly the hunter replied, “No it was my fault I thought you’d pulled.” So we were all sweetly taking responsibility (I’m Spartacus, no I’m Spartacus etc.) and it was very heart warming (even though I knew it was all really my fault).

We did the rest of the mobs at the bottom quite quickly – although I was still having difficulty focusing even when there was only one mob in front of me! Basically I’d changed my F key to attack I think and not focus & it was really throwing me. It was all now feeling very shambolic & messy – the very thing I hate.

We then rode off to get those other 2 mobs (I know- my detail about this dungeon is impressive – I should write a contribution for WoW wiki) and then finally we were at the one with the tiara and Gahzrilla. I tried to do this right- clean up the area a bit first before hitting the gong, but in my attempt to be cool and hit and run and pull a big group together I mistimed everything & left about 4 different fights behind me so had to run back round & mop everyone up. By now I was feeling like the messiest tank ever. We did Gahzrilla fine (I have no problems on the bosses where I basically just have to stand and fight – it’s anything that requires any movement skill (or skill of any type) that seems to have me totally flummoxed!  Anyway dungeon over I thanked everyone profusely, told them they were a lovely group & apologised for the messiness of some (some!!!) of the pulls. One of the dps responded to say it was a good run so a little spark of hope flickered in my heart. Then I looked more closely at my screen – 2 of the other dps and the healer (who as you’re aware I vaguely know…) were in some random part of the last area fighting – still. I have no idea how that happened. Testosterone gone mad? I ran up to them & again had trouble focussing – maybe Bravetank was concussed? It’s the only explanation. Unless her long red hair was in her eyes. Eventually we killed the trash but my goodness what a shambolic end to a very shambolic run. Totally depressed by now & having run out of words apologetic enough I just said goodbye and left.

So basically the one dungeon I thought I could keep doing until we were ready for Sunken Temple I made a mess of. I know the answer is to just get in there and do it again today but when I close my eyes all I see are those bloody steps & those mobs swarming up towards me & me unable to focus on even one of them to start fighting (amazing I know- one hundred in front of me & I keep missing- absolutely incredible).  So not sure what to do. Maybe she can be an incredible tank just questing? If I fight more than one mob at the same time that counts right?

The existential crisis of a shaman

I know this is primarily a tanking blog but that involves actually tanking- something I’m usually avoiding (I know I know- I will tank this weekend I promise). So today I need to talk about my shaman – I have a dilemma and she’s in a crisis. It’s not making for happy gaming time.

Poor Luxmi. On paper she is the perfect character for me  i.e. she can hit things safely from a distance and heal herself  (it doesn’t get any better in my book – she is the elite version of the arcane mage – and while on that subject I really don’t get that mages can’t work up even just one healing spell. Really? Not even a “Close wounds abracadabra” or “Re-attach head to body ta dah”?  Doesn’t make sense to me.). However,  the fit is not quite right with Luxmi and I don’t understand – is it her or is it me? When I first started levelling her I was enhancement and  loved all the dual wielding, windfurying and flurrying activity. She was absolutely awesome and I kept on calling my husband over to the computer to see how fast I could kill things (“time me Pete, please, look, I’m doing it again, and again, what do you mean you’re trying to watch the football, oh be like that then”). I honestly thought this is it – leave Paladins alone I told myself (at that time Terema was going through her “if I hit it slow enough the boredom will kill the mob first anyway” phase). I was a shaman. It was in my blood. I loved the fact Luxmi could run in wolf form (made up for the elekk which I couldn’t stand). I loved reincarnation – the way she sprung to her feet immediately after dying – always to die again at the hands of the same mob but that was my fault not hers. And well water breathing & walking on water – say no more. She used to go for daily strolls on the sea just because she could.

But then I discovered dungeons (not that long ago as you know)and I ran into problems. She was in her 60s – out grinding for the Winterspring Frostsaber- which amazingly I got (the only grinding I’ve ever been good at is my teeth) & I used to go in random dungeons to pass the time. I loved the Burning Crusade ones  (for some reason I really took to Hellfire Ramparts – I think because layout-wise it’s very straightforward even for me) but soon I started fretting about melee dps. I was struggling to focus and attack in all the mayhem and got quite a shock when I saw Recount. Damage wise I was doing little more than wagging my finger accusingly at the mobs. For my shaman who could kill things so quickly out in the field she certainly wasn’t covering herself in glory in the dungeons.

So I gave her a sharp rebuke and then a bit of a motivational speech and sent her out to catch a chicken and run up some steps. She responded positively and I felt confident to put her back in the ring. But this time as elemental. First couple of times weren’t great. I used up all my mana on my biggest spells and still had low dps. I was also told in no uncertain terms by one authoritative healer to use more lightening bolt. Tetchily I tried to lightening bolt her but it wouldn’t let me. I guess she was being helpful. Anyway my dps was still poor. And while I liked showing off and saving the day with my stone elemental  I was vaguely unsatisfied.

So then I respecced Restoration (yes I throw my money away at the trainer – I’ve actually set up a direct debit with him now – easier). That went well…once. But I did not like the way Shaman healing works. By then I’d been trying out a holy paladin for a while & I really liked it. Paladin healing  suits me because I like to know what I’m healing when. There is something extremely efficient about a holy Paladin – it’s the equivalent of a firm no nonsense plaster over the knee whereas the Shaman with its earth shield, riptide & chain heals is like a doctor with too many tablets at his disposal (try this, and that, and you over there, try these etc.)

So I was left in a quandary. By now amazingly she was in her 70s & doing Northrend dungeons. I say dungeons – for the first couple of weeks it was nothing but Utgarde Keep day after bloody day. But with hindsight those were the glory days. Because I discovered the addon Elementarist and wow- my dps went through the roof. Sort of. I have to agree to letting Earthquake be part of the rotation. So again mana is a problem. But  I can enjoy the range dps, the different spells, the Ta Dah moments, really she now should be everything I want in an easy stress free dungeon experience. So why then am I now not enjoying her as much as my arcane mage? I don’t get it – she ticks all the boxes – all of them – but in terms of range dps I just wish I’d made her a mage. What am I doing wrong? Do we need WoW alt therapy?

I’m not giving up on her. I refuse to. For a start I think maybe I need to do more questing with her and get better gear so at least the mana issue can be resolved. I also think there’s something about the current Northrend dungeons I don’t like- there’s that one with the big spider & that other one where everyone attacks you.  I never thought I’d miss Utgarde Keep but I do and vanilla dungeons seem heavenly in comparison. It’s all so claustrophobic in the current ones. But I also think it’s the groups – yes here I go again blaming the groups – it’s never me . Actually this isn’t about bad groups but it is about really quiet cold groups. I say hello & very rarely get anything back. I say bye – lucky if there’s anyone there by the time I finish typing it. Once a nice group member stayed behind to give me advice on my rotation and that truly was lovely but she was far from typical. There’s a very business-like focused outlook in these Northrend dungeons – is it the justice points or the push to 80 & cataclysm dungeons?It just doesn’t feel like people are there to have fun.  Will it get better? I think I hit a sweet spot in terms of groups and dungeons in my 40s-60s – before that it was sheer horror and now it’s all  cold robotic efficiency.

So maybe it’s that. Or maybe shamans & I are incompatible. I’m just waiting for that one thing that creates a real connection between Luxmi & I. Not sure what it will be. But I’m willing to work on this if she is. I mean it could be worse – she could be a rogue.

Edited to add – MMO Melting Pot have interviewed me & it can be found here!!!!!! I was really thrilled to be asked and haven’t stopped smiling since!

Dear Diary

Found my old diary last night. I first started keeping it when I started to play WoW (Burning Crusade). A couple of the entries made for interesting reading.

Day 1

Bought a new game today – World of Warcraft and the expansion Burning Crusade. Good reviews. Not sure if I’ll get into it but prepared to give it ago. Can’t see it being anywhere near as addictive as Realms of Despair but I’m fed up of how long that’s taking to level. 50 levels. Takes forever. I don’t really think graphics add anything to a game – but I feel like trying something new.

Day 2

This game is beautiful. Woke up this morning and ran around in Elwynn Forest in the rain. Just ran around enjoying myself. Until the bears found me. But anyway it was the running I remember. So relaxing. They say it releases endorphins. Spent so long doing it I ran out of time to really go out for my run today but it doesn’t matter. Enjoying the game.

Day 4

Well Terema is doing very well. Well sort of well. Well ok – she’s been killed by every single Harvest Watcher she’s walked by but that’s alright. Petrius – husband’s character- is a warrior. Unlike Terema the Pally he cannot heal himself. This has led to many heated debates about the merits of both characters. We settle them with duels. Which I win. Every single time. He is already spending a fortune in potions and learning the dying art of applying first aid in the heat of battle. Feeling a bit guilty that we both have the game now and two monthly subscriptions. But I think we’ll save money going out and stuff so it’s economical really. Frugal you might say.

Day 6

God it takes ages and ages to kill anything. Should I be using a shield and one handed mace as Ret? Don’t know. Don’t understand my talents. Can barely understand my bags. Can’t wait for my mount at 40 though!!! Apparently there’s a really complicated quest I have to do. But that’s as it should be – you should earn something as good as a mount and not have it too early or too easy. Will need a group. That will be a problem. I love playing an MMMMORPPPGU (or however you spell it)  but I don’t like people. I just like them in the background. For a bit of company if I’m ever really desperate. But that’s all. I ignore everyone who asks me to duel (unless it’s husband having another masochistic moment) and I don’t know how to use the chat channels. And I’ve not done Deadmines yet. Everyone on the chat channels seems to want to do Deadmines.. The armor looks ok but not sure I’d like that dungeon stuff. Walked in once just for a peek and ran back out of there really quickly. Need better gear and there’s the auction house but not gone in there yet because I don’t know what to do.

Day 10

I have no money. I spent it all in the auction house. There were some real bargains there.

Day 11

Oh my god I really trusted Abercrombie! I can’t believe him. I really felt for the old guy. How could he? I feel so ashamed I unleashed Stitches. Can’t show my face in Duskwood – they are really angry with me. Found some werewolf creatures called Worgens (why?). How come Wow doesn’t have playable werewolves and vampires?

Day 12

I hate Stranglethorn Vale. I miss Duskwood so much.  I even miss Abercrombie now. He was misunderstood. Who wants to level in a jungle. And Booty Bay has an odd vibe. Met my first Horde. I was scared.

Day 15

Dear God what is this place Desolace. I’ve never seen anything so hideous. I am never ever coming back here again. Just won my hundredth duel with Petrius. Why would anyone play a warrior?  It’s getting silly now.

Day 20

Mount day!!!! And the quest isn’t needed any more. Petrius lent me 90 gold to buy a horse. Went to Eastvale Logging camp & bought one. It’s great. But I wish there was a special Pally one like there used to be.

Day 20 Part 2

Visited my trainer. Aarghghh. There is a special mount. I’ve wasted 90 gold. And Petrius is charging me interest. This is a total and  utter disaster. Nice mount though. Ran up and down the Cathedral steps a few times showing off.

Day 26

Had to run past some Horde to reach an elevator in Thousand Needles. Terrified. Absolutely terrified. They caught me and I ended up being flagged PvP. Never been flagged PvP before. My heart was in my mouth for the next 5 mins but nothing happened. I stayed behind a rock. Don’t think I could ever play on a PvP server. Still not done any grouping or dungeons. But I think it’s ok. I’m what they call a soloer. Started reading more about WoW online. Alot of people write about it. Obsessed.

Day 30

I hate Shimmering Flats. I miss Duskwood. Why can’t every zone be like Duskwood. Or Menethil Harbour of course. I’d have a holiday home there if I could but I’d spend Halloween in Duskwood. Definitely. I think there’s a connection between me and Mor’laidim that I just can’t forget.

Day 34

Do you know I think I just might make it to 60. Been for a look at the Dark Portal. What would it be like going through there? Can’t imagine. So excited. Also saw my first Draenei. Took a photo.

Day 40

I’m through. And it’s…well..the sky is impressive. But there’s a lot of fighting. And orcs. I miss Stormwind so much. Went to Shattrath and wasn’t able to move for an hour the lag was so bad. Why is Hellfire Peninsula so slopey?

Day 40 part 2

OMG the gear, the gear. It’s incredible. Glad I didn’t waste time in dungeons now.

Day 42

Can’t kill a thing. My experience is going up so slowly I can barely see the line change. This is painful. I hate the Outlands. Have rolled a new character – Luxmi the Draenei Shaman. She is awesome. Can melee, heal and range. Terema has no range. Exorcism only works again undead. So so annoying.  I have to practically give things a hug before they hit me.

Day 47

Patch 2.3. OMG. Terema is killing things so quickly. I love playing her. Poor Luxmi. Oh well. I will go back to her I won’t be one of these people who has alts languishing unfinished forever. But Terema – she is awesome. All the forums are saying Ret Paladins are “OP” and need to be “nerfed” but surely it’s just our time now. Can’t I enjoy it for a bit?

Day 50

Not long for a flying mount. Not long for a flying mount. I’m giddy with excitement. But I’ve nearly finished Outlands. Where will I fly? Northrend I guess – looking forward to the new expansion and  enjoying my mount there. Pity I couldn’t have had it at 60 though to have enjoyed Outlands more. Nagrand is beautiful but I’ve fallen off those rope bridges too many times now for it to be funny.

Day 55

Zombies. Zombies everywhere. This is fantastic. The world is changing before us. I can’t go into the cities anymore. I’m hiding in Zangarmarsh. I guess this is what it would be really like if some sort of virus hit the world. We’d all avoid the real cities and hide out in remote places.

Day 56

They found me! It’s easier to give in and just be a zombie. That’s probably the stance I’d take in real life too. I’m weak.

Day 57

I can’t buy anything, fly anywhere or do anything. When is this going to be over????

Day 60

Bought Wrath. It’s great. If you like Vikings and that sort of thing. Music’s very loud and annoying in Borean Tundra but found myself humming it later. Went back to Outlands to buy my flying mount – can’t wait to use it.

Day 60 Part 2

Day 65

I like these people in Grizzly Hills. Feel like I can really trust them

Day 66

Why won’t they stop chasing me? Why?

Day 70

Is it weird I’ve never been in a dungeon? Soloing is viable – isn’t it? Read some blog posts that say I’m missing out. But you can’t believe everything you read in a blog (particularly blog posts about finding long lost diaries…).

Day 74

I think I’m going to hit 80 in IceCrown . Not very picturesque is it? I’m going to build rep with the Knights of the Ebon Blade – they have cool boots.

Day 76

OMG rep grinding- kill me now. Sod the boots. There’s got to be more to life than this.

Day 80

I’m 80. Whoohoo!  No more bloody levelling. No more experience bar. No more grinding. This is fantastic. Can do anything I want now. The world’s my oyster.

Day 81

Can’t think of anything to do. Been to Storm Peaks but what’s the point in killing things if you don’t need the experience. Bored.Think I’ll level Luxmi.

Day 82

Whoohoo Luxmi if 65. Won’t be long before she gets her flying mount. She’ll be 80 before I know it. I love this game!

Bravetank update: At point of writing Terema is 84 with 4 more blocks to go and Luxmi is 74. I’m great at this game aren’t ! Never been back to Desolace though!

Lost in Redridge

A few quick things to update today. Where do I start?

1. Hair colour! Of course I have to start there – I spent my youth dying my hair. My mother didn’t like it- particularly when I did silly things like only covering half my hair (by accident – it would have been cooler had it been on purpose) and so looked crazily two toned. One boy from school told me it looked like I’d sacrificed a chicken on my head. And no- in case you’re wondering – we don’t do that kind of thing in Wales. We use an altar like normal people. Things came to a head (won’t ask you to pardon the pun- just enjoy it) when I dyed it jet black – my mother told me to tell people I’d done it to raise money for charity….

Anyway… Bravetank has gone auburn. A very different look. It’s taken years off her to be honest. She looks like a tank you can trust now. Takes pride in her appearance, shines her shield…that sort of thing. She also got a new pair of earrings. Yes Bravetank is now a girly girl.

2. Mounts -huge drama yesterday when it seemed (to me) the game had glitched and I hadn’t ever been offered the 2nd Paladin mount. I searched all through my abilities and spells, every single one of my bags, then illogically my talents, the dungeon finder,  anything & everything I could click on no matter how mad it was. Nothing. I couldn’t figure it out. So I went to Eastvale and bought a swift brown steed instead. It was not the same. I rode around on her rather morosely. Not even my hair made it look cool. So on a bit of a whim – having remembered I was exalted with Ironforge (they love me there)- I went and bought a gorgeous ram instead. Bravetank looks great on that! And it’s really made her much more in tune with her dwarven heritage (see I am working on her roleplaying backstory). Then I came across a paladin trainer and clicked on him out of curiosity (I click on everything – it’s the best way to make friends) – there were about 5 things I hadn’t trained in. Nothing major but…yes you guessed it – summon charger was one of them. Stupid stupid error. Thank god I hadn’t finished my angry letter to Blizzard. Anyway I still prefer my ram so that’s definitely my current mount of choice (in honour of my Grandma Helga Dwarfy – see the story is getting more depth already and I clearly have a way with names).

3. Redridge horror – the third thing that happened was that I had an adventure in Redridge. Now at 51 I don’t expect to have adventures in Redridge. In fact I don’t expect to have to go there. I left that behind me when I levelled in the same way as I left Northshire Abbey (apart from worship on Sundays), mail (apart from the stuff that comes through the post) and walking (apart from in dungeons & even that makes my leg crampy). I’ve hardly ever levelled a character there. I find it too …well…red. That’s the only word for it. And ridgy. Red and Ridgy. Now what is that area called again? I forget. In actual fact I think there are too many red dusty firey zones in WoW. They are bad on our poor mounts’ feet and they make my T zone shiney. My favourite zones are the wintry autumal looking zones (don’t fear- I won’t launch into another poem about Autumn) like  Terokkar Forest and Dustwallow Marsh and before Cataclysm the Wetlands. I get snow blindness in Winterspring, hot and bothered in Stranglethorn Vale (plus I don’t like the gorillas tickling me – they are buggers for that), scared witless in any of the Plagueland areas and filled with total and utter nihilistic despair in Hellfire Peninsula (that only many frequent upgrade green armor items can overcome -WoW shopping therapy). Anyway Redridge (oh yes that’s what it’s called) is one of the red dusty places I like to avoid. But yesterday I needed to get to Swamp of Sorrows – I’m a hero and the board had posted my instructions. Looking at the map it looked like there was a way to it via a new area in Redridge. I called over to my husband, “Can I get to Swamp of Sorrows through here?” He looked at the map and replied, “Yes.” Now this is important for later. He looked and confirmed yes. So off I merrily, innocently and trustingly went- looking forward to some levelling time in a swamp (a wartorn area is Azeroth- there’s not much for any of us to look forward to really – swamps are as good as it gets). Anyway I get to Redridge and immediately see a group of elites. I quickly start walking backwards with my hands held up in a gesture of surrender but then realised they were level 19 elites. Not sure what that converts to in real money but it shouldn’t be anything a level 51 should fear – not even Bravetank. So up I rode to them brazen as you like. They turned a bit nasty but my ram put a spurt on (my panicked yelps as good as any tug on the rein) and we were away.  Off I went in what looked like the right direction – how wrong I was. My fingers saw the danger before my eyes (not sure how- it’s never happened before) and I halted the ram in time to stop us hurtling to our deaths off a cliff. There was another way down but that was filled with murlocs. Low level murlocs admittedly but still too much trouble for what was clearly not the way to the swamp. So I tried to find another way through- but all I could find were mountains. I tried another way- back to those elites (they offered me a coffee this time- even they couldn’t be bothered to fight). Another way- the murlocs – quietly going about their murloc business.  Another way- mountains. I was going round and round in circles. My fingers were exhausted. My ram was begging me to take him back to Dun Morogh or at least let him jump off the cliff. Eventually my husband noticed my despair (my head was buried in my keyboard at the time) and he came over. “What are you trying to do?” he asked. “Get to Swamp of Sorrows, I told you,” I said, articulating every single letter and breath in between letters through gritted teeth with audible sighs (quite an impressive combination – try it!).

“You need to go to Duskwood for that, I told you.”

“I know you used to have to go to Duskwood,” I said, “But I thought I’d found a new way and you confirmed it.”

“When did I confirm it?”

“When you looked at the map, I pointed out where I was going and you said yes.”

“Oh right- well I wasn’t really listening, I was distracted. You should have known that.”

Words fail me! No they don’t. Here they come. How??!! How can I tell when he’s really listening and talking to me and when he’s not. He seemed to be listening. He was looking at the map, answering, generally responsive. How on earth am I meant to know when that means proper listening and when it means he’s effectively unconscious as far as my conversation and presence goes. But of course if his beloved football team scored at that point he would be amazingly conscious, alert and able to write expertly about all aspects of the goal on Twitter. Grrrrr (words really have failed me now – I’ve gone feral instead).

Anyway the whole thing made me very very fed up! I hearthstoned back to Stormwind a defeated woman and ended up hanging around the dwarven district getting back to my roots.

Very frustrating. I can only hope Bravetank’s auburn hair has not made her lose all sense of direction. I was bad enough in dungeons before. But if I can’t find my way out of Redridge what hope is there for me!

On a more positive note – I’ve been meaning to link to this for ages. Danslate – fellow blogger whose great blog can be found here recorded my script The Case of the Bloody Five a few weeks ago & it is now on You Tube. You can find it here. Please go along and have a listen. I’m amazed at the voices he can do and how he brought it all to life. It’s really great, I loved listening to it & I’m honoured he did it.

Right- I’m off to study a map of Azeroth. Those complex zones will not defeat me again!

Confident Kindness

You know sometimes when something happens and then the next day something similar happens and you think ooooh that’s the universe telling me I must get on my Bravetank blog and write about that tonight (you’ve all been there I know) even though I should be ringing my mother who’s not very well- food poisoning we think  (and yes I will ring her I promise once I’ve done this – she’s not going anywhere with that food poisoning anyway and I must not encourage dependency because I’ll pay the price when she’s in her 90s and expecting me to go down the shops for her – I mean I’ll be in my 70s then – who’ll be going for me?). Anyway that weird universe thing happened to me today so I thought I had better write about it or run the risk of a third, less subtle message (burning bush, blindness on the road to work, nothing from Santa – that sort of thing).

Yesterday I stumbled across a Twitter debate about tanks needing confidence. I won’t say who was debating – I feel kind of bad enough that I read it without commenting and now I’m writing about it on here- like some sort of sneaky opportunistic twitter thief  – but in my defence the universe said I had to so I have no choice (is that the perfect excuse or what – although I suspect many serial killers have tried it yes?). Anyway I didn’t really agree that tanks have to have confidence – I mean I’m Bravetank after all – agreeing with it would have been like denying  my own existence & I’d have probably started to disappear like Marty McFly in Back to the Future. But I had other pressing concerns (ice-cream to eat) so did not think much more about it. But then today in a conversation with a friend the question of whether you have to be arrogant to be an effective leader came up and I thought Oh – that’s very similar to what was being said last night – if you replace arrogance with confidence, leadership with tanking, and my friend with Twitter – yes practically exactly the same thing. So clearly the universe wants me to think about this. So I am.

So what do I think? Well- let’s deal with the arrogance and leadership question first and then think about how/if it applies to WoW and tanking (can you tell I used to lecture – I use the same structured approach with my husband when explaining why the kitchen counter should be wiped down before placing the shopping bags on it- he appreciates the instruction I’m sure – I can tell because he becomes so overcome with love for me he has to leave the house for several hours until he has a better grip of himself…).

Anyway I hate arrogance. It suggests a “full of me, I’m the bees knees” (what does that really mean?) attitude and an ego out of control. I do not think such people make good leaders. In fact in my experience they are very unpleasant to work with, full of deluded self importance and make very ill informed decisions (I’m not talking about anyone I know here, absolutely not, of course not – how much more wide eyed and innocent can I look?)  But I do believe to lead you need to have self-belief and confidence – in your decisions, your vision, your strategy. This doesn’t mean not consulting with anyone or not discussing with your team. And if definitely doesn’t mean being afraid to admit you don’t know something or need to take advice. But it does mean understanding that you are ultimately responsible and accountable and that you need to take action and make decisions – you need to lead. But none of us are all powerful or all knowing (well I am sort of I admit but that’s only because I’ve watched so much Buffy it’s rubbed off on me). Sometimes we have to take a leap, make a decision that might not be right, make an assessment of the facts and decide what the right course could be and then go for it, fearlessly and confidently so that the team are in turn reassured that your direction is solid. This doesn’t mean not having any doubts deep down – I’ve had my share of sleepless nights (I’m the major shareholder in fact – do you want to buy some?) over some of the decisions I’ve made- but you do have to make them as a leader and then you must ensure your team work with you to do everything they can to deliver the right results (you know – motivation, engagement, chocolates – that sort of thing).

This could apply to tanking – notice “could” – because I have a different theory. Certainly one view might be that to be a tank you have to believe you can tank, have confidence, make all the decisions, once made go forward in the dungeon with assurance and aplomb – shield forward and all that – so everyone feels safe and secure in your presence and not like lambs being led to the slaughter (it was cruel of that DPS to make sheep baaing sounds when I took charge yesterday). Even if we don’t use the word arrogance here  we could certainly use the words self-confidence and self-belief. But does a tank absolutely need all that? Oooh controversial question.  Everyone sit back and gasp (or yawn and scratch – I don’t mind). Isn’t it more the case that dungeon groups need someone to do that- but that could just as well be a dps or the healer as the tank. Why is it assumed that it should be the tank?

Some reasons for this could be:-

1. The tank should pull and therefore should know in what direction the group need to go and  what tactics to use. Ok yes, but anyone knowledgeable in the group could guide the way and explain tactics. It does not have to be the tank.

2. The tank has to control the pace of the group so should be in charge. Yes fine – but the healer sometimes controls the pace too (sometimes quite emphatically by sitting down and refusing to move until they’ve had their picnic). And if dps are slow that in turn will impact on the pace no matter how much the tank might want to push it (there’s nothing more tragic than three burnt out dps, a mana starved healer and a tank crying “Come on we can take them , I know we can!”)

3. The tank is always the dungeon guide. This is the deliberate mistake answer because of course they aren’t if someone else selects it. But I do have a question – are they dungeon guide by default if no one else does it – or does that go to the highest level in the group? I don’t actually know the answer to this one so it could be regarded as a Bravetank competition if you like. Noticed yesterday in Zul’Farrak that I had been appointed dungeon guide (did you hear by the way- I did Zul’Farrak!!!!!  For the full effect of that imagine me all bloody faced and slurring into a mike, “I did it Adrian I did it!” & you’ll have some idea of what I felt like yesterday.) Luckily no one in the group paid the slightest bit of attention to the flag so I was able to get my neurotic head out of the map and actually do some tanking.

So I can’t think of any reason why the tank should always be the leader and should always be all knowing and confident. And tanks who are learning really can’t be. But yes the tank must be willing to tank (it’s really silly queuing as a tank and then trying to heal -particularly if you’re a DK or Warrior, or going in as a tank and then just wandering around the dungeon with fabric samples in your hand deciding whether to redecorate or not). And all tanks should try really hard and make a bloody good go of it (not stand there weeping and stomping on their shield). But that goes for everyone (there is no stomping on shields in my groups – I just won’t tolerate it. But you can grind your knuckles if you have to.) It’s no good having a dps hiding behind a rock just as it’s no good having a healer so frozen in terror they couldn’t even tickle a mole let alone whack one. So the willingness to try hard and not go to pieces behind the monitor is needed of us all. But similarly it is ok for a tank to say, “I’m learning, any help you can give would be great,” just as it’s ok for a dps to say, “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong with my rotation, I’m doing what is recommended but it’s not working, can anyone advise please,” and it’s ok for a healer to say “Lol dude I forgot to tell you I was afk and then I meant to press flash but I hit cleanse” (no it’s actually not ok for the healer to say these things & I’m still annoyed about it but he’s about to bring me in a bowl of popcorn so let’s just let bygones be bygones).

What all people need (no matter what role) is the willingness to co-operate with each other and be kind to each other. And what more experienced players need is the willingness to give advice and guidance patiently and kindly, while what the less experienced need is the willingness to listen and learn and take such kind advice gracefully.  You see how often the word kind appears here. I feel like launching into a rendition of, “I want to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.” I know how cheesy it all sounds. But just because it’s cheesy does not mean it’s not true. That would be to deny the existence of the cheese and tomato pizza I ate earlier and I couldn’t possibly do that (the scales tomorrow won’t let me). It’s true. People should be kind. And if they were everything else would fall into place.

Ahhhh – so maybe this is what the universe wanted me to think about! But oddly it made me do it while enjoying myself typing and not ringing my poor mother. How strange. Oh well- the universe moves in mysterious ways. I’ll ring her later after Coronation Street – definitely!

Azeroth’s Dylan Thomas

Big day today!!! Bravetank hit 50. I know – most people reading this are probably thinking- is she still only 50! It’s taking her ages. But Terema is 84 and a half so it’s not all bad – I’m just spreading myself too thin that’s all (as the butter said to the toast …totally made that joke up – who says comedy is hard). By the way  that 84 and a half thing goes back too my childhood. I used to sign all my poems that way when I was young e.g. “Michelle, Age 9 and a half” etc – I don’t know why I thought future generations would find the age I wrote my poems so important- I think even then I knew I needed an excuse of some sort to explain their standard.

Quick example:-

Autumn (By the way – they always used to make us write about autumn when we were in school- start of the new school term and everyone’s spirits were high. All the teachers thought maybe just maybe they’d have another Dylan Thomas on their hands. And not just in the drinking stakes. I also wrote quite a bit about snow. Did you know it was white? My poems make that point over and over again. And it’s bright. Did you know that too? Helpfully that rhymes with white. The poems used to write themselves. I have no summer poems though. By the time the summer term rolled around the teachers were all fed up and were happy to let us play board games and watch Superman for the hundredth time. Anyway Autumn went as follows:-

“The Autumn leaves are falling/Softly to the ground/The wind blows the leaves /Though they don’t make a sound/Brown leaves, red leaves/They all are falling to the ground/Of all the seasons that we see/Autumn is the best for me.

Hmm. In fairness I think I was about 8. Obviously very obsessed with leaves and rhymes. The last but one line is definitely wrong – all I know is it rhymed with “me”. Husband will moan if I demand we go upstairs to ransack the cupboards to find my old poetry book.

While I’m on a roll – I won a prize for this one:-

Hurray Hurray it’s St David’s Day/Children are dressed in a fine array/Girls wear daffodils, boys wear leeks,/The dragon stands tall on its towery peak./We’re all so excited we shout Hurray/Because you see it’s St David’s Day

It was St David’s Day. In case that bit had escaped you! I was about 8 then too. My dad gave me the towering peak line. I remember him saying it proudly in the kitchen when we were doing the dishes and brainstorming (what rhymes with leek??? meek, streak, PEAK, oh my god we’ve got it!). It was a family affair. I won points for my House. Like in Harry Potter we had school houses. (Are school houses posh by the way? I am from a very working class area so it seems weird to me now that we had Houses – or maybe Harry Potter has just made them seem posh? Like they’ve made magic seem easy & made it so much harder to explain to children that waving a stick at an angry dog and shouting Expecto Patronum is not the best form of defence.)

Anyway where was I? I’m rambling today. It’s the excitement caused by Bravetank hitting 50 that’s done it I’m sure.  Plus I’ve had six cups of coffee this morning and 5 chocolates so I’m totally caffeinated and sugared up. I am going to the gym later though so all those keeping a watching brief on my weight can breathe a sigh of relief.

Anyway Bravetank and 50. I did it in a cowardly way I have to confess – I did it by questing. I had a thought last night. My healer husband is constantly complaining that my health goes down too quickly (too quickly because he’s far away looting & can’t run back to me in time but I’m not going there again today). But it suddenly occurred to me that because I pick which dungeons I go in & don’t trust the random finder I don’t get my little satchel, and because I run the same dungeons quite often I don’t get many gear upgrades. This means my gear is not that great. (I know this isn’t rocket science  but I’m quite proud I finally figured it out!). So I did a couple of quests today and got upgrades for a few things plus bought myself two imperial plate items and had imperial bracers given to me from very kind guildee Jacqlyn (thank you!!!!!). So I’ve decided to do both questing and  dungeons to get the best out of both worlds. Plus it was really relaxing running round the Badlands and Searing Gorge attacking dwarfs, spiders and doing something weird with chickens. Like Saturdays of old – before I got into WoW.

But I am taking my life into my own hands questing as Bravetank because I’m on an RPPvP server. That means at every corner I run the risk of someone emoting something dramatic or a sharp blow to the head – both equally unpleasant. Not sure why I picked an RPPvP server originally. That was back in the day when Bravetank was Sparci and I fully intended her to be ret. Then I had my Road to Damascus moment (or Road to Duskwood in my case),  decided I wanted to be in a tank, got a shield, went in the Stockades, caused a wipe at Hogger & then fled. A legend was born. But before that I think I just wanted to try a bit of world PvP. Still sort of excited at the chance it could happen.  But nervous too (in fact from now on just assume I’m nervous about everything – much much easier. I’ll report differently by exception.). But so far I’ve hardly seen anyone around. The Cauldron in Searing Gorge is not the hip swinging place it used to be. I did bump into one scary horde person when I was suffering from resurrection sickness (too lazy to corpse run) but he left me alone because  I wasn’t worth any honour I assume. But it was tense for awhile and I think I showed myself up a bit by trying to hide behind a questgiver.  But that’s been it so far. And role play has been even less. I’ve seen a bit of it happening in Stormwind but not that much. Not sure how you can join in anyway. What’s the protocol? Do you whisper someone OOC (see I know the lingo) & say what’s the story, can I play please? Or do you keep everything IC (you’re all impressed now aren’t you – actually I looked that one up- I typed IIC and then couldn’t work out what the second “I” was for!) and start talking and hope they all play along or is that frowned on? I’ve not even got a backstory for Bravetank yet. I know all the cliches you’re meant to avoid so that’s no problem (no love child of Jaina and Thrall here though they are trying to adopt me). As my poems above show original is my middle name…. Actually that’s given me an idea. Maybe Bravetank could be a frustrated poet or something, forced to run dungeons to get enough money for a quill, ink and parchment. Maybe she could emote totally in poetic  form….?! Yes. Perfect! And happily enough it’s still Autumn so I have my opening lines sorted. And soon it’ll be winter. Azeroth needs to know that “snow is sparkling and white/ and in the sun is very bright.” Dylan Thomas eat your heart out!

Peer Review

I’ve been thinking about peer review and how powerful a tool it can be if correctly and appropriately used (i.e. no anonymous scrawled comment left on the desk stating “I hate you and your mother is a whore” -  that feedback is inappropriate and unless supplemented by important information about how the individual’s whoring mother could improve her cost/income ratio it is frankly unhelpful.

Anyway I have been thinking about how there could be a peer review system in dungeons. A brief little survey (just 60 secs of your time to complete) could pop up at the end of the dungeon allowing you to rate your four fellow dungeoneers in a number of categories. Those dungeon members that score well will automatically go to the top of the queue when they next queue for a dungeon. Those that score poorly will be cast into the burning pits of hell.