3.0.8a — small patch, big cockup

Patch 3.0.8a has been a complete bork for many Europeans but the Blizz geeks are remaining loftily silent on the matter.

Yesterday, I along with hundreds of other players, had problems downloading the patch. Blizzard's new downloader reported the tracker unavailable. We checked firewall settings, followed the usual patch-day advice, to no effect. Dozens of threads on the technical support forums containing hundreds of cogent reports and requests for help received only a token blue response.

For some, the problem resolved itself, but for many others, including myself, we were forced to turn to patch mirrors for the download.

This in itself is fine. It worked. But it's completely unacceptable. It puts my computer at risk from malicious software and it does nothing to address the issue.

In a very polite request on the forums, I asked if Blizzard had identified the problem and taken action to fix it for the next patch. That thread was locked without response. Other such requests have received the same stoney treatment.

When hundreds of people all report the same symtoms, having had no prior issues with patching, having made no software or hardware changes, having no other perceived problems with their computer, and having followed all available official advice to diagnose and correct potential causes, you must at least accept the possibility that these are not all local issues. It does not take a genius to work out that the common factor among all of these complaints is... Blizzard. New downloader? First public appearance? Now what could possibly be causing this widespead patching failure?

I accept there are going to be problems. Blizzard rushed this patch, no surprise there. But I resent having my fault report dismissed with a condescending flick of the wrist, as if the only possible explanation is my own stupidity. Am I not paying for this service? Is it asking too much to want an official acknowledgement of the inconvenience caused? And perhaps some reassurance that we will not have to go through this trouble again at the next patch?

Herding cats, Blizzard style

What the 3.0.8 patch notes should have said:

Fixed bug with shadow word: death that would apply two stacks of shadow weaving.

Introduced bug with mind flay that applies two stacks of shadow weaving.

Sex workers call time on missing favourite

DALARAN. The female workers of Dalaran's seedy Sunreaver's inn have launched an appeal after their most popular — and generous — patron went missing.

Troll priest Dralban — who, it must be said, lives more to the spirit than the letter of his calling — was last seen five days ago celebrating the death of black dragonflight honcho Sartharion.

The girls are offering a reward of twelve northern stew and a lap dance for any information that leads to the good-time cleric's safe return.

"It's not the same without him," pouted one of the bar's many buxom wenches, picking her teeth. "Nope," agreed another. "My tips are down twenty per cent."

(Off topic) A new hope?

/serious

I'm watching news coverage of the US presidential inaugration and I'm getting goose-bumps. I'm not even American. Most of history's momentous occasions pass us by, or else go unrecognised, but it feels like I am right in the middle of this one. I've never known a public figure to ignite so much hope and optimism on such a universal scale. I know right now he is the most important person of my generation. And not just because he's the first US president to play World of Warcraft. Although I expect mages to be buffed considerably in the next patch. No matter what happens next, he has already achieved something remarkable and I wish him the best of luck for the future. Just wanted to get that off my chest :)

/serious

When guilds run out of steam

Seeing as the last post fell flat as a board, I'm back on more familiar, dear-diary angst-ridden reportage. This week, we have Guild News. (You only have yourself to blame...)

As guild news goes, this isn't terribly dramatic. It is the Switzerland of guild news. But it's still the biggest thing to happen to me in game for several weeks, so I'm going to write about it anyway.

Last Thursday it took two hours to get ten people into OS. That's right, it took longer to form the raid than to execute it. It took us time to pug a slot here, a slot there, and we bled players even as we worked to plug the holes. We finally made it in there. We hadn't even wiped when someone had to go to bed, another quit for no apparent reason, there were brbs left right and centre. It was agony, and the last straw for a guild that has been loosing members to boredom, Xbox and real life since the expansion.

We have been stuck in this vicious circle for some time now. If you aren't enjoying your experience of the game, you may look to change your circumstances (e.g. find a new guild) or find another way to occupy your time. Either way, you are less likely to be around when the next raiding opportunity arises. This is the long, slow death-by-attrition of a casual guild that has lost its momentum.

But what can you do? We are friends now, we like playing together, even though when you sit down and work out who's generally online with you the list is alarmingly small. A recruitment drive just hasn't worked. There are way too many guilds in a similar position, with more to offer when it comes to raiding. (Guild glut perhaps?)

So we have approached another guild, not so much to merge but to immerse. They will take all of our members who want to move, and in return we offer them a small but dedicated number of raid-ready players who will potentially swell their numbers enough to enter 25-man content.

It's not without its drawbacks. Many of our players have history with this other guild, and not all of it good. And a new guild means new rules, for the first time some of us will face competition for raid slots, we'll have to start performing again.

But I think the benefits outweigh that. For one, we owe it to ourselves and our members to open up raiding opportunities to those who want them. And even on a social level, a bigger guild is almost always a positive. You may not be raiding, but chances are there will be other activities, more active chat, and more people around to help you out when you need it.

We broke the news to the few members that were online last night. Mostly, I think it went down well. There were only one or two complaints of the 'we should try and make it work' variety and the most vocal of these came from a player who took their main raiding character to another guild about a year ago. The irony was lost on them.

My biggest worry now is how to pitch myself when I arrive. My game plan is clearly to get back to shimmery purple goodness, but how? Some of them have already seen me tossing out frisbees and holy balls (my new name for penance). I probably need to do some research ahead of the move. See if they are short of healers or dps, whether they have regular replenishment, and what level of dps I would have to put out to compete for a shadow slot. I'm under geared for anything but entry level raiding so it's not going to be easy. And I'd have to re-gem. Again. Sigh.

But things, I would say, on balance, are looking up.