The Glade 4.0

The RNG can be made smarter, however.

Look at the way they did 'Kill ... and get 10 of X...' quests.

You kill 1, you have a chance of X dropping.

You kill 100, you have a chance of X dropping... that is much better.

Or as WoW Insider summarizes it:



http://www.wow.com/2009/03/27/kaplan-on ... at-gdc-09/

A progressive drop rate on trick or treating and horseman is the best idea that comes to mind.

_________________
Once, I was a ranger
Then, I was a warlock
And a mage
And a paladin
Now, I seek to be myself

The thing about it is Raltar, when you start them, you don't really have any idea what you are getting in to. They are fun at first, then they start to drag, but you are so heavily invested that you keep trying harder and harder...

It has also become the case that the randomness has been made pretty heavily in your favor.

Heavily in your favor doesn't mean much, however, if you're one of the outliers well off the luck curve.

I, too, support the buying stuff with tons of candy method. Make it take a week's worth to buy the hat or the squashling. That's a pretty crazy amount, but it's a failsafe. Leaving it as it is basically enforces the idea of RNG screwing out the most dedicated, and I would think game devs would want the most dedicated to get the rewards.

Noblegarden is an example of overdoing the whole buying thing, making it a pretty darn easy holiday, but it's better than RNG screwing any day of the week.

RNG is also a pretty small part of the whole holiday achievement thing in the big picture. There's only a few of them out of the dozens and dozens of holiday achievements. It's kind of a shame that those few can ruin the otherwise fun and light holiday achievement experience. Last year I came very near to failing the Hallow's End achievement because of RNG, and it really does put a raincloud over the whole holiday. Just bad design to leave everything to the whim of the RNG when there's a very strict time limit on these holidays.

Raltar:

Wait so what? The whole game of WoW is self-induced. You don't have to play it. By extension of your logic, does that mean if the whole game was frustrating, it doesn't matter?

No, I still contest that the meta achievement is there to reward those who have participated in all of the festival events. Your participation shouldn't be determined by the fate an RNG casts for you. That is ridiculous.

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"It's real, grew up in trife life, the times of white lines
The hype vice, murderous nighttimes and knife fights invite crimes" - Nasir Jones

You know that it is. Knowing this, you choose to pursue it. Then you ***** and complain that the RNG is being random when you knew it would be random ever since the beginning. Don't want to deal with the RNG? Don't participate in the events. No one is forcing you. You bring it all on your self.

_________________
Los Angeles Kings 2014 Stanley Cup Champions

"I love this **** team right here."
-Jonathan Quick

Losing out on a RNG for a second year on the same item falls out of the "random" category and goes into the "**** you" category.

PS still no helm, up to 7 pets.

Well no **** **** people knew it would be random. The only other possibility is there is a set threshold for it. What people didn't anticipate was that it would be unreasonable.

FYI, I don't participate in the events nor am I pursuing the achievement. I did Brewfest, Midsummer's (not this year though) and usually do the Holiday season ones.

Think about what you are actually implying. That because the system is RNG driven as it is currently implemented and realized, some people would participate in the events just the same as others yet not get the achievement and would require another 12 months or possibly more. Do you really think that is the case? Really? And this is how it was intended to be?

Your argument is retarded: because it is what it is, people should just deal, as if it's some cosmic force no one has control over and the game design can't change. If WoW turned into a shitty game tomorrow because the developers got tired of it and wanted to go out in a blaze, would you ***** at all? Playing WoW is voluntary. Have you ***** ever about anything that you voluntarily placed yourself in? Guess what, life is voluntary to, you can end anytime you want. Should that mean when you meet an "unfair" situation, that should be your choice? Be fair at least, people are positing potential mechanical solutions to get around it (the RNG changing its threshold dynamic every time the event 'a' vs 'b' happens for instance).

For ****'s sake, sitting here listening to people ***** is voluntary, yet you do it voluntarily, then ***** about it.

So here's a good advice achievement for you that's free and not based on the RNG, chief: think before you hit submit.

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"It's real, grew up in trife life, the times of white lines
The hype vice, murderous nighttimes and knife fights invite crimes" - Nasir Jones

By Blizzard's own statements, this is how it is intended. Everyone has the same chance of completing it because random is random. Everyone has that same random chance.

I understand why he is frustrated. I understand that there are better ways. But those better ways aren't being implemented, so you have to deal with what you have. ***** here isn't going to change a god damned thing(though he has every right to ***** here). But you seem to think everyone should agree with him simply due to the fact that it is a frustrating method of obtaining pointless achievements. If I was in his position, I would have quit a long time ago. Nothing is worth the amount of frustration and stress this seems to be causing him. It has apparently made the game not fun. When I come across something that isn't fun for me anymore, I stop doing it, rather than pushing through the not fun stuff. No one is entitled to this stuff, anyway. Really, these are achievements(as much as I hated their introduction into WoW, other people seem to dig them, so whatever). They should be difficult to obtain or else you really couldn't call them achievements.

You think I don't agree that achievements shouldn't be random? I totally think random is stupid for this kind of thing. But that is how it is and how it will be at least until the end of this particular event. So, complaining about it here isn't going to change anything.

Also, I don't play WoW anymore. Not because I don't like it, I was frustrated with it. When I get frustrated with something, I stop doing it.

_________________
Los Angeles Kings 2014 Stanley Cup Champions

"I love this **** team right here."
-Jonathan Quick

It's not a pointless achievement in the sense that it is my only reliable way of getting a 310% mount.

Jeebus.... somebody needs a nap... (and I'm not referring to Lenas)

Finally got it on this, the last day.

Woo grats Lenas!

...now get those masks! Looking like 3 shall remain for next year...

Nice Lenas, I'm definitely glad you got it.

Noob question of the day for me: What exactly is a "summon" and how do I get one? In the context of seeing a lot of advertising like "Looking for more for Heroic Daily (or whatever) must have summons"

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“Strong people are harder to kill than weak people, and more useful in general”. - Mark Rippetoe

The summon just means you haven't done your daily to summon the Headless Horseman. Basically, it means your "virginal" for that day for the quest. The summon is just doing the daily quest.

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"It's real, grew up in trife life, the times of white lines
The hype vice, murderous nighttimes and knife fights invite crimes" - Nasir Jones

Ah got it. I was wondering what "HH" was as well since I see that a lot but that explains it. I assume that's going to be done with now that the event is over anyway.

I should probably just join a guild and learn the ropes that way.

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“Strong people are harder to kill than weak people, and more useful in general”. - Mark Rippetoe

Dash:

With Brewfest over and Headless Horseman gone, the best places for you to try for gear are:

ToC reg
Heroics
Vault of Archavon
Auction House (there are some on my server who put up iLvl 213+ armor)
Obsidian Sanctum (OS)
Naxx
Ulduar
Onyxia
ToC 10m

Heroics are 1 run / day / dungeon (until 3.3)
Difficulty level on Heroics are Nexus / VH / Utgarde Keep / Azjol Nerub / Culling of Stratholme / Halls of Stone / Old Kingdom / Halls of Lightning / Utgarde Pinnacle / Occulus / Trial of the Champion, though some would argue Occulus is harder.
ToC REG can be run and run and run since it's not heroic; you just have to reset the instance. iLvl 200 drops.
Vault of Archavon (VoA) is a PvP win / 1 / week thing.
Everything below Auction House is 1/week.

There could be some use to PvPing but unless you are on a PvP server, I think most would look funny at someone decked out in too much PvP gear.

There are two daily dungeon quests - given out near the entrance to VH - one for faction and 1 badge, 1 for 2 extra badges. The faction/badge can be completed on Normal if necessary.

I believe that's it for 'what to do as a fresh 80'.

Also, I got Hallowed on Phaedraz - yay!

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Once, I was a ranger
Then, I was a warlock
And a mage
And a paladin
Now, I seek to be myself

Having a decent set of PvP gear can be fun to use to tank instances as Ret.

_________________
Darksiege: You are not a god damned vulcan homie.

Thanks Katas that is very helpful.

Yeah I should probably try and jump in on a regular ToC run. I've watched a few youtubes and they seem pretty straight forward and easy. I'm actually pretty good at MMO's I just hate the not knowing what I'm doing part when I'm with strangers. When I saw that it started with jousting I was pretty happy, I enjoy that and I'm good at it.

I also seem to see a lot of people stipulating "gear checks" and "DPS needs to do at least 5k" or whatever they requirements are but I believe those are for the heroic instance. In fact most LFM spam seems to be for heroic level.

Do people use the LFG tool now?

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“Strong people are harder to kill than weak people, and more useful in general”. - Mark Rippetoe

Some people use the LFG channel, but unfortunately spamming the trade channel seems to be the norm.

The "5k required" stuff you're seeing is likely for PUG raids. Not a single heroic is going to need that kind of output. You're much more likely to see 2-3k in a 5 man, and if it's all PUG, don't be surprised to see even lower.

Your best use of time would be farming ToC regular and the heroic daily at least once a day. When you aren't doing those, work on your reputation with Knights of the Ebon Blade, and Sons of Hodir. They will give you the best helm/shoulder enchants respectively at exalted. The Hodir dailies can also be a good source of cash once you're finished with the Argent Tourny dailies.

Make sure you always do PUG runs of the Vault of Archavon. There are 3 bosses there, all of which could get you Tier 7/8/9 pve gear, or tier 7/8/9 pvp gear. Each boss drops a few pieces from each set and it's a very easy raid. No reason not to be doing the 10 and 25 man versions every week.

If you want, head to Sholazar and befriend the Oracles.. Once you're honored, you can buy an egg that will hatch in 7 days. You can get 3 unique pets and there's a small chance at hatching a Green Proto Drake mount.

4 pets
Tickbird
White tickbird
Snake
Proto Drake

_________________
Once, I was a ranger
Then, I was a warlock
And a mage
And a paladin
Now, I seek to be myself

If you were on my server you could be on the receiving end of Tickbird Giveaway Day! Coming soon!

I haven't looked for ret pallies, but on my rogue I noticed that by getting every piece of gear out of the 5 man ToC dungeon, on both regular and heroic difficulties, I would completely gear myself out except for chest and cloak. This does include an offhand dagger bought with champion seals, but still... that's kinda crazy! Just ToC!

I guess that new dagger they added in 3.2.2 is kinda rare though... haven't seen it yet. May just be RNG screwing with me!

Personally, I avoid VoA pickup raids like the plague. They seem to be the cesspool of PvE and PvP players on my realm.

Nothing but people screaming at each other.

I found between badge gear, crafted, and what I pick up doing Heroics, I easily made decent Prot, Ret and Holy sets.

_________________
Darksiege: You are not a god damned vulcan homie.

Once the Icecrown 5 mans come out, getting 245 lvl gear should be a snap.

I have noticed after quitting in February and coming back about 2 weeks ago that 5 man DPS hasn't increased that much. When I left, the best I saw was maybe pushing 4k with optimal set-up with buffs and 3k would often easily top everyone else with the average being more around 1.8k-2.2k (PUG's mind you).

Now, the average is more around 2.5-3k but I still see plenty of people below 2. However, I did PUG Nax25 with a seemingly casual group and people were absolutely blowing up the meter. I cracked into the top 10 and finished 5th overall, and 5th averaging all the boss encounters, but holy crap some people were hitting over 6k easily and this is a PUG, which I would expect to be a good 33% below an organized raid.

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"It's real, grew up in trife life, the times of white lines
The hype vice, murderous nighttimes and knife fights invite crimes" - Nasir Jones

Yeah right now my daily routine is 23 dailies including the argent tournament valiant quests, I'll finish up Darnassus tomorrow then two more to go for the Crusader title. Plus the Chillmaw/Citadel etc quests there.

Then the 6 Ebon Blade dailies, 7 more days of that til exalted. Sons of Hodir I'll be exalted in 3 more days. Finally, Wyrmrest Accord which will take me... forever, ok 23 days but I bought a tabard so I'll wear it in case I get any instances.

It's good money and will get me some good stuff. I'll try for ToC if/when I see it.

Oh as for DPS, I'm using Recount and hitting Boss level training dummies and coming up with about 2,000 on that. Is that fairly accurate? Granted that's a stationary mob that doesnt do anything.

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“Strong people are harder to kill than weak people, and more useful in general”. - Mark Rippetoe

I did the grind for rep in heroics wearing the tabards. It didn't take me 23 days for all four (Ebon Blade, Wyrmrest, Kirin Tor and Argent Crusade) that way, so I think you should be able to do the one is in less. Of course, I quested all the way through Icecrown and had a boost to Ebon Blade.

Hodir on the other hand ... now that was f'king painful doing it 6 dailies at a time, before you could turn in the Relics and get the rep booster from the daily dungeon.

Don't worry about your numbers that much; even if you PUG Naxx 25, people are going to slaughter it most likely because you'll have Ulduar and 25 HToC geared people along.

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"It's real, grew up in trife life, the times of white lines
The hype vice, murderous nighttimes and knife fights invite crimes" - Nasir Jones