Current State of Affairs

Let’s start with the pug update.

H Utgarde Pinnacle: Took Van in solo (sans guildies, no one else was on) and it was completed easily. Van was low man on the recount, but still higher, if only slightly, than the tank. No nasty comments, no dramas. Frost and Triumph emblems added to the tally.

Normal ToC: Took Van in for the Triumphs and this time was on top of the recount chart. That doesn’t happen often, not that it matters much, really. This was one great group. When Eadric showed up the healer was right by the door and pulled him early. We downed him without cracking a sweat, and afterwards the healer apologized and said it was his first time in ToC. The response from the group? “No biggie. Here’s what’s about to go down with the Black Knight ……you’ll be fine.” No insults, name-calling or anything, just an understanding that we all walked in there for the first time before. So cool, so refreshing.

So the score is now:

PFTW = 14
PFTF = 4
LHB = 4


Zaphodicus

Well the little lock is all growed up now, having reached 80. His skinning is maxed and leatherworking is @ 437. Skinning is not only appropriate for a warlock (let’s face it, if you’re ripping the soul out of beasts it’s a waste not to skin them while you’re at it), it’s relaxing and oh so profitable! Little Z is now sporting a shiny dagger courtesy of Rax plus a rad and rockin’ robe from Aloir! Thanks, you two! He’s been dueling with his brother in cloth, Melivastus, and that has been a learning experience! Every time he gets a rotation that takes Mel down, he adapts and comes back and flattens him! Reminds me of the Borg in First Contact. I put my phaser rifles on a rotating calibration, but I only have so many shots before he adapts!


Little Van

The business at the AH has been slow, primarily due to Little Z’s leveling and skinning. He’s also getting away from the gear flipping because the AH cut is starting to cut too far into the profits. Gear doesn’t turn around like it used to. So what doesn’t sell gets sent off to Big Van for dis-enchanting. Those mats always fly off the AH and there is no AH cut. He’s also got quite a stock of various meats and fish from Little Z’s skinning and Van’s fishing. When it comes to Glacial Salmon, Rhino meat, and Chunks of Mammoth I have 4 words: post on Monday night. Little Van has been tasked with a new financial project by Champions, the details of which I will not go into here, as we want to take advantage of the market before too many people get wind of it. Not that I have that many readers here, but just in case so we can make our move while we can. If and when the project loses it’s steam I’ll post about it and the lesson learned can be carried forward to future opportunities by readers.


Big Van

Emblems. He wants emblems. Fishing in Grizzly Hills while waiting in queue is getting his fishing skill up and bringing in some pricy Glacial Salmon. So he is pugging and loving the role of dps. Some say that tanking and healing are the roles with the most responsibility, but I say nay to that. Sure if the tank or healer dies, everyone else will usually become un-alive as well, but I have seen groups wipe because of the tank, the healer, and the dps all equally as much. The true responsibility in a group is to know YOUR role, know your abilities, and know your limitations. That holds true for everybody in a group. But I will say this about dps: I love the lack of decision-making. Just follow, give the tank a few seconds to grab aggro, then start wailing. Watch your threat and dance the Slice and Dice boogie!


Big Z – Zaph Van Cheekymonkey

While he’s ready to jump into the fray at the mere suggestion of a guild run, he’s been either cruising the Basin or relaxing in the Filthy Animal with some Honeymint tea and naga nuggets. Someone has to make sure there’s no gnome being dropped in the soup! The old man has been letting his little bros get some of the glory for a while, but it won’t be long before he needs to run into a dungeon, screaming, “I’m the one you want! Come and get some!”