WHU guild member Helwyr wrote up a lovely WHU 101 guide to the WHU in-game events. I think it’s safe to say everything she says here is spot on, and she even thought of a ton of stuff that I wouldn’t have (I see these things from a slightly different perspective).
So if you’re planning on attending WHU in-game events, this is the perfect prep homework of how to prepare, and what to expect.
Ahead of time
Check the guild calendar for upcoming events.
Time of event is server time, date of the event is North American. Events are planned to last about an hour but may run overtime.
Read the calendar event description. You may need to get something ready or delay doing something.
If the guild has collected something that everyone will need for the event, it is easiest to mail out the bulk of whatever it is ahead of time. For these occasions, there will be sign up sheets – lots of them – as each signup sheet only allows 100 people and usually a few more turn up. You only need to sign up once.
Get Chat ready
Create some filtered chat windows:
- one for guild chat and whispers only ,
- the other for whu channel, say, yell, emotes, guild chat and whispers
Hundreds of dwarves farting causes the chat windows to go crazy and important stuff scrolls up way too fast to read.
During the event, guild chat will be restricted to officers and will be used to direct activities. The less filtered one keeps you in the party mood. Check the guild/whisper window to catch up quickly on important information.
Event Day
Batten down the hatches, nail down the valuables
Take action to prepare for the glory of so many shiny dwarf hunters in one place. Turn off any addons that send to chat or that poll for gearscore, auction activity etc. Turn off nameplates via the interface panel. While you are in there, you may also wish to set your video quality down, its up to you.
Meetup
Meeting place for the event will usually be mentioned in the calendar. Check the guild message of the day for any last minute changes. Kharanos is a good staging area to meet other hunters pre-event. Mailbox and forge are handy and the bank and flightmaster are just up the road at Ironforge. Its a good day to arrange for crafted items or all hunter dungeons/battlegrounds as many people will be online, but as event time nears, finish up your other business and get ready to roll.
As the event time nears, guild chat and WHU channel will start to heat up. Make sure that you have ample ammunition. Turn on XP if you had turned it off. Remember to pick up your mail if the guild is sending you goodies for the event.
You will know that the event is imminent, when guild leadership switches. This will shortly be followed by guild chat being restricted to officers only.
Go Go Go
Mark guild leaders
It is helpful to put raid icons on the guild leaders when they arrive at the meeting area. It makes it much easier to follow directions like ‘Come over to me’ if you know where they are. (/tar Frostheim; /tar Minibella)
Pet Management
So many toons in one place invites lag to the party. Its worse in cities so you will notice events will pass through cities but main event activity will occur outside them.
Pets and vanity pets increase lag – so you will be asked to dismiss pets – including vanity pets – from time to time during the event. Occasionally, we will have a no pets event.
Steady…Steady…
To create those famous dwarf army migration shots, we all have to do the same thing at the same time. Frostheim and Minibella will explain the shot first. When the cameraman is ready, Frostheim will start the action by putting GO GO GO in guild chat.
We will usually have to do it a few times, so when asked, return quickly to the initial point ready to do it again.
We are having fun AND making a movie so sometimes we will be asked to do something to create a shot – put away weapons – line up – mount or dismount. If you notice other people doing something, check the guild chat and follow the instructions.
Spectators
Enjoy the limelight but don’t PVP unless Frostheim specifically directs us too.
Yes, we can take them, but remember how silly that lvl80 looks challenging the lvl5 just coming out of the starting area. The superior force has no need to prove its superiority.
Just a reminder that shooting at a flagged target, flags you so –watch where you point that thing.
Unfortunately, bandaging or using goblin resurrection machines on a PVP killed corpse, flags the healer for PVP. If you end up dying, you are going to have to run back from the graveyard. You may wish to wait to res until you are no longer flagged or the hordie is gone.
Change is the only constant.
Sometimes due to circumstances beyond the guild leaders control, significant changes may occur during the event. Change is good, right? Especially any change that means more dwarven mischief. Have another round of dwarven stout and belch your way back to serenity!
Basking in the Afterglow
Closing Ceremonies
As the final event activities close, Frostheim will announce the official new level cap. Guild leadership will then change over and guild chat will be re-opened to everyone. Hunters are free to start working on the new level target or simply kick back with a keg.
Roster Housekeeping
Over the next few days you will see many roster adjustments. As there is a new level cap, all level capped members will be reset. Guildees who have not logged in in the past two weeks will be removed from the roster. Every dwarf hunter is welcome back at any time – just ask in WHU channel for an invite when you next log in.
It feels a little weird to see familiar names being removed. Think of it as vacation not rejection and be ready to welcome them back the next time you see them.
Happy hunting until the next event!
Helwyr
A couple tips from a 4 time hunter event veteran :p
Some good video settings to minimize are view distance, character detail, texture detail and shadow detail. If that doesn’t do the trick bump down your resolution a setting.
I disable all my addons before events as they are simply not needed, but if you want to keep yours on turn off the memory hogs such as auctioneer.
BYOB. Nuff said.
Finally, don’t show up 20 minutes late and start spamming the whu channel for a summon. That’s just rude. Events are posted 1-2 weeks in advance, there’s no excuse for showing up late and unprepared.
Excellent writeup. I’ve always been tempted to join, but the level cap keeps on creeping higher and higher.
ANOTHER TIP: When the PvP flagged level 80 horde griefers show up, and they will, DO NOT attack them as this will only flag you for PvP and you’ll be killed. This happens dozens of times during the events as people don’t realize that if you attack a pvp flagged player, you will be flagged.
Ryshat – you should join! Get some heirlooms and transfer to Icecrown, that way you can level faster. A lot of people have done that, including myself.
But you don’t have to be at the max level to participate, but it helps. As long as you’re level 20 and you have a mount to get around on, it shouldn’t be a problem. When you’re running around with 200+ dwarven hunters, you don’t have to worry about aggroing any high level mobs. Think of it like running around with 200 body guards.
There will never be a better time to join in on the fun. The longer you wait, the steeper the level difference will get. We’re currently maxed out at 40. Better to join in and get what you can over time.
And as Beergasm has mentioned, you don’t have to be at the cap to participate =)
Hmmmm. Ok, sold. I’ll get my alt ready and get the transfer over. Should I level up a but locally then transfer or start out so fresh and so clean clean on Icecrown?
And I know of the gun and shoulders, but I heard there was a better BoA chest for a hunter then the obvious hunter one. A Druid or Shaman one?
NO! Level with the other hunters. New people are joining every day, everyone is super helpful, and there are supplies, gear, bags and mats in the guild vault to help you get started. Just don’t forget to pay your dues!
Right now I”m using the druid chest and shoulders that I’m borrowing from a druid I transferred to Icecrown a while back. They are sutable for hunters though, with their attack power (which is awesome for BM leveling) and stamina (for battlegrounds!). You can get a BoA bow, but it won’t give you any extra XP bonuses…..plus it’s a bow.
This should help you pick your BoA’s: http://www.wowwiki.com/Heirlooms
The hit rating on the melee leather is very helpful for leveling, as opposed to the stats we get on the mail. I’m not sure if there’s a cross-over point where the stats on the mail become better for DPS or if you’ll just want to have the heavier armor bonus after you hit 40. Definitely go with the gun for an heirloom weapon though. Dwarves get a racial bonus for using guns. As for melee weapons, if you’re really getting equipped, aim for agility or attack power. I see people using the 2H axe, which isn’t completely worthless, but it doesn’t contribute to your ranged DPS because it’s a strength weapon.
I am always torn between “of the Monkey” and “of the Bandit” greens. Since I am leveling with most of may talents in BM and using a tenacity pet…..I lean towards “of the bandit” right now for the extra Attack power
Woooooot! Helwyr!! That is an awesome write up!! As Frost said, your guide is a must read!!
I would add to often check the gvault info tab to see where to send mats. Irl sometimes takes our “point people” off line, and we have to have a different toon sorting mail:D So, check the info tabs often:D If in doubt, send mats to Minibella and she will send the mats to the appropriate toons.
On that note.. we always need leather (any level leather). And Ore.. we always neeed ore and gems.. please check to see what level we are farming at the time:D
Thank you all in the WHU!! Everyone really makes it a blast to be part of this guild!
@>—-
Bella
Definately roll your hunter on Icecrown. You’ll meet other hunters at Brewfest and in the whu chat and guild chat and we are a very helpful bunch. If you need gear runs or sone doses of Stockades xp someone usually is around and looking for some too.
It’s amazing to have such a pro hunter environment. You can ask any dumb question. And we understand as we’ve just been through it ourselves. You will find yourself feeling soooo slooooow without Cheetah and looking for more shots to fire, if youre horde you’ll get lost in Dalaran, we all did and still do. It’s fantastic.
If you want to donate to the guild that is entirely up to you. Many do send leather and ore but no profession is needed or required. Just have fun.
The melée leather with the hit is nice for leveling. For weapons I prefer te heirloom dagger. You can have 2 of the at 10 an they can each take a +15 agility enchant
Too many words… should be…
1. PAY ATTENTION to Instructions.
2. DON’T PVP (unless that is what we are doing)
3. PAY ATTENTION to Instructions… seriously.
By initiating PVP, you end up allowing the griefers to grief us. By not paying attention, you are griefing the rest of the people participating in the event.
I just transferred to Icecrown as a lvl 23. I don’t have a lot of time to play this character, but really am looking forward to taking part in events.
The WHU guildies have been fantastic! Very friendly, and helpful. Everywhere I go I see the WHU guild tag– It’s a great feeling!
Should add a section on summoning.
If you need to be summoned join the whudot channel and say something. If you are below level 10 say so in the channel so you can be invited to a party instead of a raid. Quickly accept party/raid invitations and summons. After you arrive drop group to make room for more.
If you are standing near a warlock and get a group invite accept it and start helping to summon closets or guildies.
Finally try to keep the area around the summoning stones open.
One can never know for sure what a deserted area looks like
Try to be at level cap for guild events. That confers a couple advantages:
1. You won’t die as quickly when riding to the event. We generally ride through zones considerably higher level than our characters. As you know, aggro radius depends on the level difference between the mob and yourself. If you are considerably lower level than the rest of the WHUlligans, you’ll aggro everything and be among the first to die. Then you’ll have a corpse run, have to rez when everybody has already gone past that area, and aggro those mobs again. Not a good situation.
2. If we end up doing something PvP related like the Arena event, you’re more likely to be among the last standing.