Arust and I went backpacking last weekend, where I learned how shockingly, profoundly out of shape I have become. However, there were important WHU questions to discuss whose answers could only be found via a trek to the wild.
Arust & Frostheim retreat to the wild to seek answers to the deep hunter questions.
So we hiked through deep boreal forests rich with the scent of peat, lush with ferns and moss-covered trees. We hiked along ridgelines scattered with wild blueberries, atop high rocky balds with magestic views of Lake Superior, and along burbling rivers in deep valleys.
And we talked about WoW. We discussed the progress of our 10-man group, the spreasheet errors that lead to an overstating of the agility vs armor pen issue, how patch 3.2 will weaken armor pen vs agility further, new things we want to 2-man together, and on and on.
We spent a half hour picking wild blueberries on a high ridgeline, which made breakfast the next day awesomesauce.
The big issue of discussion was what should our panel topics be for the convention we were invited to speak at? I told one of the convention organizers that we’d have an answer for them after the weekend. So Arust and I decided we’d come up with a good five or six topics during the backpacking trip, and then bring them to the WHU to see which ones you’d think would make good panels.
Before I get to the list, here were the criteria: we will have a projector, sound system, and internet access so we can be in-game at the panels. We wanted to try to find topics that were not hunter-specific so that any WoW-fans could find them enjoyable. And finally, anyone likely to attend such a panel probably already plays WoW. Thus we don’t want anything that is any kind of “an introduction to WoW” or geared at people who don’t play much.
So here is our topic list:
1.) Soloer’s Guide to Molten Core
Arust and I will two-man all of Molten Core during the two-hour panel and discuss how to solo each boss, what mobs can be skipped, and how you can solo your way to your very own Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker. Obviously Arust and I will have to test this out first and verify that we can 2-man all of it (I think we can) and see how quickly it can be done. Maybe we can pre-clear some of the entry trash.
Our campsite on the first night.
2.) The Science of Broken
We use a modified version of the FMEA (Failure Modes Elements Analysis) to determine which is the most broken class in WoW. The audience and panel members identify potentially broken abilities of each class and then assign them their three FMEA numerical values to scientifically determine what is, in fact, the most broken class in WoW!
3.) If It Ain’t Broke, You Haven’t Looked Hard Enough
This panel is an open discussion of how WoW can be improved. Audience and panel discuss cool things that should be added or changed about WoW. Pet gear? Guild Halls? Better Alt management? Paint a picture of the dream of what WoW could be. After the panel, the WHU will submit the panel suggestions to Blizzard’s suggestion forum.
4.) Collesium Raid
This panel is an actual Collesium 10-man raid. Panel members explain the fights and tell stories of the many wipes of raids past, answer questions, and the audience can watch the raid in progress as they move through content. Will they wipe? Will they get a first kill? Will the Hate Tank reach some kind of rage-filled apotheosis to divinity?
5.) Theorycraft 101
We discuss the basic concepts of theorycrafting and show how to collect data from in-game, and how to use that data to scientifically determine what abilities or glyphs or talents are better than others.
6.) Street Interviews: What Does the Average WoW Player Know?
The audience comes up with questions of WoW knowledge that the average WoW player should know. What’s your total /played time? Where is Wyrmrest Temple? How many subscribers does WoW have? Then we take to the streets of Dalaran and interview strangers in-game, to see just how knowledgable the average player really is.
Our data collection suggests that Lake Superior is indeed cold. Around 34 degrees F (1 degree C).
Having found the answers we sought in the wild depths of the Superior Hiking Trail, we could finally return to civilization and internet access. First however, we leapt into Lake Superior to verify that, yes, it is frickin’ unbelieveably cold. Then we went so some crazy place to get a pie shake, where they literally put a slice of pie in the blender with your shake. This is a brilliant idea and needs to spread.
At any rate, there are our six options for panels we could host at the con. I haven’t been told how many panels the con wants us to do, so I’m guessing it’s pretty open. Let’s assume for the sake of arguement we want to just do three panels.
Which three should we do?
I like 1, 2 and 5. I think 3 would be my fourth choice. I think that 6 would be problematic without you having gotten stuff pre-recorded ala Jay Walking from The Tonight Show, because you know how people get in game, they don’t want to talk to people who are harassing them
And if you did get some people you knew, then it wouldn’t be as interesting since it would seem more like you rehearsed it. With the prerecording you could at least try to ask random people and keep the ones that actually answer and didn’t blow you off in game.
As for Collesium, I’d say it’d be hard to guarantee that you could get everything logistically organized for that, but it’d be cool if you could pull it off. I think with molten core, you can at least guarantee both participants will be there
The options that I liked, gut reaction, were 2, 4 and 6. I think the “Jay-walking” bit could be hilarious, and it would show social interactions in game for those non WoWers that might be in attendance. Done over trade chat might be a way to garner more answers?
I’d also be curious to see the FMEA scale, and to watch another raid group do their stuff. Even experienced players in the audience might learn something just from seeing how other people do it.
Molten Core? /Yawn. Sorry guys.
Superior Hiking Trail is awesome, I am very jealous you got to pick wild blueberries- this will be the first year I’ve been unable to do so QQ.
My only thought is to make sure the 3 panels are appreciably different from one another. Variety should garner more interest. #’s 2 and 5 seem both to be enough in the theorycraft vein, despite their different intentions, that I’d hesitate to do both. Either one on their own could be excellent, however.
Seems like you and Arust 2-manning MC might end up being too hunter-specific though, which you said you wanted to avoid. Some aspects could translate to other classes, yes. But not all.
Otherwise, they all seem like excellent ideas. Have fun!
1- soloing MC.
2- street interviews… but this is kinda like… i dont know if i want to know how ignorant average people are. i know how bad i was… its not a fun thing to see.
3- pie shakes
Not that I’ll be there (I’ll be stuck in rainy UK) but if i were, I’d most like to see an ‘in the flesh’ guide to theory crafting. I still don’t get it and I think it’s be a hell of a lot easier to pick up if you can actually see someone doing it.
Also, what flavour pie was it? I need to try this.
I think 2, 3, and 5.
5 is probably the strongest reason for you two specifically to be there. I think a lot of people don’t get the scientific approach to theorycrafting. They just hear key phrases like “armor pen is a worthless stat” and run with it. The key to being the best you can be at your class is to test things to really learn how mechanics work.
2 is a good continuation of the science theme because it lets you do a real analysis of the game. Hopefully you can help people see things through a developer’s eyes where just because some skill looks like it sucks on the surface doesn’t mean there’s not something more broken.
3 would be a fun wish-list, and has a chance of being heard by Blizzard since it’s not just random whining on the forums.
5 is my first choice, and I agree that most people would probably be there knowing you for your theorycrafting. Definite must.
2 is a great idea and as people pick out abilities they THINK are broken you can then discuss why and maybe even show them that they aren’t that bad.
6 sounds like a lot of fun, my only concern is getting people in Dalaran to co-operate with you.
4 would be my back-up option. Some people just don’t get to raid, and seeing one in it’s entirety would be cool. At the same time, people could experience first hand the shenanigans that go on in your 10-mans. Only problem im seeing here is potential time needed.
sounds fun.
2, 5 and 6 look good to me.
I would love to see you to do MC, if there’s a need for filler. My first 3 choices, imo, would be 2, 3, 5.
I agree with the above argument that 2 and 5 are both in the theorycrafting vein, but this is ya’lls piece de resistance! Ya’ll are truly masters of the theorycrafting and we’re all here because we love you mad stories and expertly (and exhaustively) tested theorycrafting.
And as much as I hate to admit it, the world (of warcraft) doesn’t revolve solely around hunters (though it should!), and so it would be quite enjoyable (and knowledgeable) to be able to review what TRULY is broken with each class. In PvE AND PvP, knowledge is power, and we, as hunters, would do well to know just where other classes are suffering or OP’ed at.
I’m a fan of 1 and 5. If I had to pick a third, broken sounds good.
3 would be great to help out blizz and get people involved and thinking about how Wow can be changed and improved.
4 would be very interesting to see how to proceed through the Collesium and to see all of you in action.
6 I think would be a very interesting panel. It would certainly gather a crowd if done properly. You might have to prerecord it like previously stated.
Sidenote- Where are you guys from and what part of lake superior were you hiking near? I happen to live just north of the Twin Cities, MN and I was in Grand Marais this weekend enjoying the north shore just as you were.
Nice write-up; It’s nice to look in my outlook and see your guys RSS feeds.
I like 5; then 1 ; then 4
Ubrhunter — we’re from the cities, and we were hiking from split rock up to silver bay.
Oh ok cool. I haven’t really met anyone who plays and lives that close to me (other than friends of course). That is a great trail, of course you can’t really go wrong anywhere on the north shore lol.
Hmm, I like 5 and 6.
Then you can post names of idiots and I can avoid late night drunken heroics with them.
A fine plan Frost, as hateful as Hrist. You’re evil.