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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsThe Dos and Don'ts of getting a port
by Robin Torres 
Dec 23rd 2008 at 2:00PM
I'm a dork. I admit it. I love my mage and I love making portals for people, even non-tippers. In fact, you have to work pretty hard not to get a port from me. Which is why, even after decades of dealing with anonymous jerks in BBS chat rooms and on the internet, I was a little shocked at how rude a level 62 Tauren Shaman who shall remain nameless was when demanding a port from me. Maybe he just didn't know any better. So here is a little guide as to how to increase your chances of getting a port from a mage you don't know.
Don't just invite to a group without saying anything
In general, this is a bad idea for anything. You should always send a tell to the person you want to join your group for any reason before inviting.
Do make it a request
Captain Obvious is snickering in the background, but demanding anything from a stranger is not likely to get you what you want.
Do say please
You can even say PLZ if you want, though that may not work with people for whom that is a pet peeve.
Do get your levels right
A level 60 mage cannot port you to Shattrath City, for example. They can't train that Portal Spell until level 65. Mages can port you to Stonard at 35 (if they went there to get the spell) and the major cities in the old world (except Darnassus and Thunder Bluff) at 40. They get the more out of the way city at 50. And if you want to get ported to Dalaran, ask a mage who is level 74 or higher.
Do offer to pay
Portals are not free. They require a reagent that the mage must purchase and keep on hand. Since they cost 20 silver a piece, you should offer at least that much as payment.
Don't make the mage come to you
Go to where the mage is or ask where is convenient to meet.
Don't get belligerent
Even if you do everything right, the mage may not want to port you. Mages don't owe you a port just because they can do it. Just try to find another mage or get to your destination on your own. You certainly aren't going to convince the mage to port you by being angry.
The Spousal Unit later saw Mr. Rudeguywhocan'tspellchief in Orgrimmar about an hour after I refused to port him. I don't know if he found a willing mage or if he made his way from Thrallmar himself. I wish I had asked him if being that rude ever works for him.
Does rudely demanding ports work for any of you?
Filed under: Mage, Analysis / Opinion, How-tos
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 11)
Gene Dec 23rd 2008 2:18PM
I know its a little different, but as a rogue I've had similar problems with pick lock. People can be rude about it.
One time while questing a mage was tagging all my mobs that he saw me stealthing to, then right after asked me to pick a lock for him!
A Hunter I was Puging asked me to pick a lock, witch turned out to be 26 locks! After i do them all he dosn't even give me a tip!
ChefCK Dec 23rd 2008 2:18PM
My fiance is a mage, so getting ports aren't much of an issue for me. Although on occasion, he may be in an instance while I'm working a different character and will need a port somewhere. I learned that stroking a Mage's ego will get you pretty much anything. So, I have a macro set-up with:
"Pardon me almighty and powerful mage, may I purchase a port to {insert city} if you time permits?"
I haven't gotten a "No" yet. Usually it's an "lol, sure," "hehe, of course," etc.
Most of the time they won't even take my 5-10 gold tip.
miked Dec 23rd 2008 3:33PM
This would definitely work on me. ;-)
I would probably take the tip though, since you offered it... I'm not one to turn down money ;-p
jurandr Dec 23rd 2008 3:52PM
A bit of originality will definitely catch my attention. "port plz" is just so... repetitive.
Heyjude Jan 3rd 2009 2:21PM
You just showed the restraint that if just about anyone else was in your position would've just gone nuts. Most probably he is used to having a guild or family that portalled him wherever he wanted to go.
But of course he could just be a spoiled brat.
Matchu Dec 23rd 2008 2:17PM
There's so many rude players. For example, yesterday some druid was about to die to a (tagged) mob. I happily stepped in and saved her life. What did I get? "GTFO RETRD NOOB. P ISS OFF".
Yeah, thanks. Die, next time.
Arivia Dec 23rd 2008 2:53PM
On the reverse, I got chewed out by a hunter once for not coming to save them when they got into trouble in Nagrand. I was fighting something, they started having trouble and shouted out "help!", by the time I'd finished what I was doing they were dead and started sending me terribly insulting tells about me not dropping everything to help them immediately. seriously, WTF?
KT Dec 24th 2008 8:54PM
Ugh, I had that ... I was in the middle of a quest when I got a random group invite. I thought it was someone on the same quest so I just accepted it (not enough experience with this at that point) and then I see the guy is almost dead.
I have no idea where he even is, I look around and finally find him, but by the time I click to help him, he's dead. I get a whisper "Thanks a lot, FAG."
Nice.
When the guy rezzed, I saw he was much lower level than me, on quests I had already done, and he expected me to follow him around and just help him do his quests, including telling him where everything was, which I didn't remember, instead of doing my own.
I took off pretty quick and learned my lesson about accepting random group invites.
xenothaulus Dec 23rd 2008 2:18PM
He doesn't seem to bright; you should have said Sure and then dropped a Stonard port.
Mizzle Dec 23rd 2008 2:29PM
I think my biggest pet peeve when people ask for ports is that they usually don't come out and say if they are going to tip or not. If they do say so (even if it's not much), I port them happily. If they don't say so, I feel like a jerk for asking if they plan on it, or I feel ripped off when they take the port without getting anything.
The good thing is that the majority of people tip high enough that it more than makes up for those that don't tip. =)
Kalmus Dec 23rd 2008 2:32PM
What I generally do is just let them know that they need to give me at least 20s before I cast the port spell. haven't had anyone argue with that and most people give 2-5g so it works out.
Spoonman Dec 23rd 2008 2:20PM
I always port anyone who asks, but if they ask nicely then its cheaper, if they aren't well then the price goes up...
Arcaria Dec 23rd 2008 2:28PM
depends, if I'm standing right next to you just any trivial amount to show that you're not an asshole who thinks I made my mage as a service to you is generally enough. That and a thank you.
If I have to travel to you and come out of my way, which admittedly, I usually will not do then you need to come up with 20-25g. Typically though i consider it rude for someone to ask me to come to them and give them a port. It say's to me that they consider their time to be more important than mine.
I once had a guy in whisper me from Tanaris to come pick him up and port him to Org. I was in Storm Peaks at the time. Called me a dick when I refused.
hamsammich Dec 23rd 2008 2:20PM
I agree with you wholeheartedly, but I still really can't believe it had to be written in the first place.
If nothing else, World of Warcraft is my reminder that, in general, people are inherently impolite, ignorant asshats.
Sinnara Dec 23rd 2008 2:21PM
Slightly off-topic, I've never been able to understand these people who will stand around in IF for an HOUR begging for a port to SW. When you whisper them politely after the first two minutes that they'd have been in SW for free by now by taking the tram, they almost invariably reply that that's not fast enough. Of course after five minutes, the taxi bird would've been cheaper and faster, and once you hit the hour mark, they're obviously just trying to find a mage to date or something, they don't really care about getting to SW.
Slightly on-topic, I'm always as polite as I can be when asking for a port somewhere, which I do very rarely because I know the mage has better things to do than port me, and I'm usually not too lazy to get their on my own hook. I do, however, at least know what the possible destinations of a mage portal are, and you'll never see me asking for a port to Southshore or Silithus.
Worcester Dec 23rd 2008 2:23PM
About the only "service" I can provide is opening Lockboxes, and the person definitely has to be close by unless I'm just on my way to their location, and polite, of course.
What gets me is when you POLITELY ask for a common service, and the somewhat rude answer comes back quoting what seems to be a bit unreasonable price. Now I'm sure Mages and Warlocks get a ton of whispers asking for their services, but I'm begging you, if someone takes the time to be polite... PLEASE be polite back to them.
Let's all reinforce not just our armor, but good behavior too!
thepanzer Dec 23rd 2008 2:23PM
I wish Blizz would expand the maximum names for the ignore list. Granted since swapping to horde it's no longer full but I'd still like the option...
I laughed my ass off about porting rude people to random locations. It makes me want to start a mage just to random port rude jerks as far as possible from where they want to go. Is there a mage moonglade port? That would be teh awesome!
Sedna Dec 23rd 2008 2:25PM
I actually clicked on the "read more" link hoping to see the ONLY advice that guy needed:
DON'T BE A JACKASS.
In 72-point font.
But I guess the point-by-point breakdown on how to behave like a grownup is needed.
Hoggersbud Dec 23rd 2008 2:24PM
This is why I don't play a mage.
Noah Heredia Dec 23rd 2008 2:25PM
is it bad to tip 2g? cus usually after i port to wherever i give them 2g and they never complain but u guys are talkin bout 5g 10g i feel bad now =P