Respec?!

The BM nerf seems to be the hot topic since patch 3.0.8 went live, and honestly it's the first nerf that I ever actually felt full force. I went into 10 man Obsidian Sanctum with my 51/15/3 spec (which I had only started using about 3 days before the patch) and noticed a severe decrease in my DPS. I came in about 6th on the Recount meter, not far down from my 2nd or 3rd spot where I typically sat. What bothered me was the fact that the other hunter in the raid out DPSed me by almost 2k DPS. Something had to change! So I went and respeced to a 9/15/11 spec and went to 10 man Naxx. The difference was only about 300 DPS. I only moved up the DPS chart on spot, and the other hunter still did almost twice as much DPS as I did.
I'm fairly certain that part of the reason the change wasn't very significant is due to the fact that I was having hell getting my shot rotation down. I kept missing Arcane Shots, forgetting to reapply Serpent Sting, etc. I was also in a bad mood and very frustrated so that wasn't helping either. After the raid I logged off and played my DK for awhile. When I finally got back on my hunter I went back and respeced back to BM, back to a variation of my original 53/18 BM spec.
A day or so later I went to a 25 man VoA PuG and gave my BM spec another try. This time I stayed in the top ten. My lowest ranking was 7th, for the most part I started in 4th to 5th place, which is a feat for me. I don't have any fancy graphs or reports to post comparing the specs, yet. I'm going to have to do some homework and see if I can get WWS to work for me. I've never tried using it before, and I'm hesitant now because I don't want it to drag down my game performance. I guess I just need to sit down one day and give all the specs a thorough run on the training dummies and see what kind of numbers I get. I haven't even touched Survival yet. Who knows though, maybe I'll give it a shot. Till next time!

Grand Re-Opening!!

Well, I'm back!! Just to introduce myself, or to get re-aquainted with those of you that used to read my blog, I play a level 80 Night Elf Hunter on the Turalyon server. I'm currently in the guild . A rather interesting group of individuals to say the least. I recently came back to WoW shortly before WotLK was released. After playing a bit of catch-up on all the changes that were made, I respeced Beast Mastery and have been slowly climbing the progression ladder with my fellow guildmates. I'm also more involved in the PvP community than I was before, so perhaps I can provide some insight there as well.
Some changes that were made out of the game are the fact that I'm now pursuing a criminal justice degree through the University of Phoenix. Maybe all these essay writing classes I'm having to take will improve the quality of my blog writing. Another interesting tidbit since last time I wrote on this blog, my daughter turned a year old this January, and my wife and I discovered about a week ago that there will be another baby on the way. So things are probably twice as hectic now, but definitely more interesting.
I look forward to actually writing this time around and I'm hoping to get at least one post a week. Keep your eyes peeled and don't be afraid to offer any advice or criticism. I can handle it, I promise! Till next time, take care & happy hunting!

Comeback Tour?!

I've been mulling over the thought of coming back and writing my blog again. I had a lot of things happen that caused my extended hiatus. Those things have been resolved so I'm thinking about giving this whole blog thing another shot. So the three of you that actually read this thing when it was live, feel free to suggest whether or not I stay here, or resurrect my WordPress blog that I deleted. Hope to hear from you!

Farewell

I know what you're thinking..."You already quit once!! WTF?!" Well probably not, but a guy can dream can't he? Regardless, I'm not quitting...I've made the move to wordpress and my new blog address is Hunters, Inc. The first five people to update their links (are there even 5 of you?!) get a free post request and I'll post about whatever topic you request (well...maybe not any) and you'll also recieve!!! my eternal gratitude. Look forward to seeing you all at my new home, that is still under construction so bear with me. Take care and happy hunting!!

Just So You Know

If I'm not mistaken my cable internet service is going to be interrupted against my wishes in the near future so I'll be unable to play WoW or post. I'm hoping this doesn't happen, but I just wanted to warn everyone in the event that it does. I'll try and get everything back in order ASAP if it does happen, which shouldn't be long. After the first of the year at the most.

On Kiting, Zul'Aman & Gear Upgrades

I had one of the best instance runs in my WoW career the other night. It was almost as much fun as the time I went to Shattered Halls and the Ret pally was tanking and healing. This time we were in Shadow Labs, yes I'm still trying to get the Sonic Spear. The group makeup wasn't ideal by any means. Fury warrior tanking, two enhancement shamans healing, my wife's mage and myself. What made the run so great was the attitude of everyone in the group. Rather than bickering about who caused who to die, and no it wasn't a wipefest, we just resed the dead and moved on. Attitude makes a big difference when grouping. If you're in a group full of pissed of people, it's going to make the run seem to drag on and eventually you'll be in a bad mood too. At one point the tank dced and we had a 3 man pull left before the first boss. After a brief discussion, we decided that I was going to tank the pull. Mage sheeped on, I trapped one and kited the other while the shammy's healed/dpsed it down. The tank came back in the middle of the pull and was laughing when he saw that we had pulled and weren't dropping like flies. Then we aggroed the boss before we were ready so that wasn't as fun. We managed to get him down with no deaths though so it wasn't all bad. Then we got to the auditorium pulls and I accidentally broke my own trap (I'm my own worst enemy sometimes) and trap still had 2about 15 seconds to go so I decided to kite this one as well. I almost died, but one of the shaman's threw a heal my way as I ran past with the mob trailing. It made my day when the tank said that he forgot there were actually good hunters out there. I've certainly been called much worse. After that I was assigned a kiting target on the rest of the pulls. I love kiting! It's not something you can just pick up and start doing right away, it takes skill and demonstrates that a hunter at least has a firm grasp on their abilities. Now I just need to learn how to double trap when the un-break it.

Zul'Aman...Zul'Gurub's pissed off little brother. Went for the first time last night, and it was interesting to say the least. RF has only gotten to the bear boss, but we haven't focused on ZA due to the fact that we are trying to progress further into SSC. It is definitely more challenging than Kara, but still fun. We had a few wipes clearing to the bear boss, and wiped 3 times on the boss himself, but once we moved some people around and got a rhythm established we burned him down without a problem...which leads me to my rant...

Does anyone remember before TBC was released, and when you got your tier armor the only thing you upgraded it with was the next set of tier armor or nothing at all? WTF happened to that?! I know the loot in ZA is supposed to be better than the loot in Kara, it's a harder raid, of course it's going to yield better drops. The drops should not be on par with T4 in my opinion. My T4 shoulders, fully gemmed and enchanted are only slightly better than [Pauldrons of Primal Fury], which means as soon as I slap some gems on them and get the
[Greater Inscription of Vengeance] applied to them they'll blow my T4 out of the water. I'm not happy about it, and I wasn't happy that they made me take them either...they were an upgrade for the other hunter as well, but when I said I didn't want to break up my t4 gear I was told to "Get over it, you're going to have to break the set up sooner or later.", and later I shall...when I get my t5 shoulders...

/rant off

Take care and happy hunting!

A Hunter Born

DISLAIMER: This is a work in progress, changes will be made, and to be honest I'm not entirely sure the format is entirely correct. My creative writing/english class days are far behind me. If successful I will more than likely make a separate blog so as not to "clutter" this one. Here is the prologue and the very beginning of Chapter 1. Enjoy and feedback is highly encouraged.

Prologue: A Father's Wishes

The bulky wooden armor seemed to hinder every attempt to parry the rather large, albeit wooden greatsword constantly battering him. Frustration and fatigue were taking their steady toll in sweat and bruises as well. The helm slipping down over his eyes effectively blinding him was more than he could take. Disgusted, he threw his own wooden sword on the ground at his father's feet, only to be rewarded with a swift rap on the top of the head. "Stop!" he cried out in anger. His father's laughter only fueled his anger further. "What seems to be the problem, Aerislan?"
"I can't even defend myself in this armor! Why can't I just wear leather or mail armor?" he asked almost sulkily. "Because leather armor is for druids and shiftless rogues." a grin spreading across the elder night elf's angular features. Might as well be running around in one of those fancy dresses those haughty mages in Stormwind are so fond of."
"You left out gnomes and dwarves."
"Dwarves are noble creatures, a bit too uncivilized for my taste, but noble nonetheless. I'd rather not discuss the matter of gnomes. Always meddling in things that are better left alone, and the fall of Gnomeregan is more than proof of that fact, son. Besides how do you expect to battle the Horde without a sturdy suit of armor and a sharp blade, my petulant offspring." Aerislan's scowl intensified as he met his father's eyes. "There are such things as short swords and axes, father. Maybe I'll even use a bow, or a gun! Not these ungainly over sized greatswords you are so fond of." he said thinking the argument won. "I'll have none of that foolish talk from you, Aerislan. You're to become a Darnassian Sentinel and make something of yourself. I'll not have you guarding some half-forgotten hovel like our dear old Astranaar!" his father's voice had taken on a very somber, yet almost sorrowful tone. "You'll not suffer the same fate as I, Aerislan. I'll not have it." he said, almost at a whisper. "If you like, we'll forget about training tomorrow and you can go to Dolanaar to get the food and supplies for the week."
"I'm sorry father. I didn't mean to upset you." Aerislan said in a sincere voice, tinged with pity. "I might even turn a blind eye to the fact that you'll probably stop and visit with Celesx." his father said with a wink. The shocked look on his face betrayed the lie he struggled to form, and was promptly cut off by his father's laughter. "I've seen the way you float around the house after returning, and I've heard you whisper her name a time or two. Don't be embarassed, she's a comely lass, but I'll have your hide for boot leather if you tell your mother I said so. Take off your amor and go wash up, it's almost time for supper anyway."
He hastily extracted himself from the cumbersome armor and stowed it along with the pair of makeshift swords in the small lean-to shed on the side of the cottage and rushed inside to eat and go to bed, anxious to be off to Dolanaar at first light.

Chapter 1: A Son's Decision

He was already sitting at the table eagerly awaiting breakfast when his father and mother walked into the small kitchen. His mother arched an eyebrow in his direction as she entered, turning her gaze towards her husband. "Arenthal, dear, would you happen to know why our son, who usually has to be rolled out of bed on most mornings is sitting at the table looking as if he had wings he'd have already taken flight?" she asked in an amused tone. Arenthal chuckled and replied "Well, dearest Kiralin, I may have promised the boy..."
"I'm just as old as you were when you joined the guard!" Aerislan said indignantly. "Hush you!" Arenthal continued. "I might have promised the boy that he could skip training today and go to Dolanaar to get supplies for the week." Kiralin pursed her lips together, "Making a stop along the way to visit with Celesx I presume." she stated in a humorous, yet questioning tone. Aerislan blushed, betraying his intentions and suddenly found something outside the solitary window of the kitchen very interesting. His mother laughed, placing a hand on her husband's forearm. "He's almost as bad as you were when you began trying to catch my attention Arenthal."