A guide to instances
by Matthew Rossi 
Mar 3rd 2008 at 2:00PM
Recently we created guides to help WoW Rookies understand how instances work and their role in them. Author Palintheist over on Livejournal has done the same with a funny, informative guide to running instances for players new to World of Warcraft. Some highlights:"Mob: No need to ask the Godfather for forgiveness - a mob is a word for monster. Also known as creep."
"Healer: Who's keeping the tank from floor-hugging? Your powerful, puissant, never-to-be-offended healer. Seriously. Several classes can play this role and they all find it pretty much a thankless task, as people are very quick to blame healers when people die [but you won't, because you know better!]."
"Pat: Don't look around for someone androgynous - someone is warning you that a patrolling mob is coming closer and will probably [if it hasn't already] attack you. "
"Buff: Keep your clothes on. Really. "
"Inc: If there's no time to type "pat" or "adds", sometimes you'll see "inc", for "incoming". [Why is inc faster than pat? No idea.]"
Go take a look, it's not just written with its tongue in its cheek, it's actually pretty informative for new players to the game. Save time the next newbie run and just send them the URL.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, How-tos, Fan stuff, Odds and ends, Instances
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Soldat Mar 3rd 2008 2:08PM
Pats are wandering mobs that follow a set patrol route, true.
However, Inc for me doesn't mean a patrol. It means someone has pulled something (Accidental or not.)
You also forgot the ever important "Add."
Matthew Rossi Mar 3rd 2008 2:28PM
You might want to check out the linked article, I believe Add is covered there.
John Mar 3rd 2008 2:06PM
lol @ "Don't look around for someone androgynous"
ShuManFu Mar 3rd 2008 8:17PM
Took me a while to figure out there was no one named Patrick in my group.
TBH... the most thankless task is tanking, when things go south it's always the tanks fault never the healers, when it goes smoothly its always because of you.
Scoottie Mar 3rd 2008 2:25PM
inc is not faster than pat but it means that the pat is already aggro'd and is incoming. when someone says pat that means that it is just doing its normal thing. it can also be a forewarning to a pull in progress.
Corvikkan Mar 3rd 2008 2:41PM
"inc" is what we always used in FPS games when somebody was incoming to capture the flag, thus "inc scout bridge" in Team Fortress, or even "inc druid tunnel" in WSG. I'd be willing to bet who uses what depends on their gaming background.
Hokuto Mar 3rd 2008 2:40PM
"and they all find it pretty much a thankless task, as people are very quick to blame healers when people die"
Often because they felt like tanking a mob, usually on a heroic instance.
Yes, healing sucks sometimes... /sigh
brent Mar 3rd 2008 2:57PM
"Mob" goes back to the original everquest beta as well, before enemies had names, they had the label "MOB" standing for moving object.
Jaymya Mar 3rd 2008 3:12PM
MOB is actually short for Mobile, a holdover from MUDs.
brent Mar 3rd 2008 3:15PM
mobile thats right, same dealie.
Chris Anthony Mar 3rd 2008 4:15PM
The point, I think, was that "Everquest beta" is about 20 years too late for the origin of the term. ;)
brent Mar 3rd 2008 4:42PM
@ above
not in the context of mmo's
Sakerin Mar 3rd 2008 4:29PM
"INC" and "PAT" have two entirely different meanings.
"INC" means that there is an imminent engagement with a mob, whereas "PAT" simply means that one or more are roaming nearby.
It really isn't that one is easier to type than the other, but that they convey different pieces of information that determine what action is necessary.
Milktub Mar 4th 2008 12:11AM
I use "Pat" when a foolish member of my group hasn't chosen to fight in my pre-assigned battle area and has aggro'd the previously pointed out pat.
I use "Inc" to let my party members know that I'm pulling a mob that I will be bringing back to them.
But nice link. Brought a grin my way.