WoW Moviewatch: The Scytheguard Recruitment Video
by Michael Gray 
May 5th 2009 at 12:00PM
It's been a little while since we've had a guild recruitment video on Moviewatch, so I was pretty happy to get a note from Horror. He told us about the Scytheguard Recruitment Video, which he'd built for his Forsaken-only roleplay guild on Sentinels.
The video's got a few good ideas behind it, and has a few things that could be improved. First, I liked Horror's idea for a voice-over. Since his guild is exclusively for the undead, starting off with that nightmarish "you can't breathe anymore" idea is a great start to roleplay. That being said, I think the opening went a little longer than needed. Anyone checking out a trailer needs fast-paced action, or they'll wander off.
I think showing snippets of Northrend is also a good idea. There's enough random footage of gameplay out there that you want your prospective recruit to know you're progressing, and enjoying current content. Otherwise, they may assume your guild's just a few friends who threw a Fraps up on YouTube. (And while there's nothing wrong with that, it might get in the way of recruitment.)
Now, this was Horror's first and only video so far, so I can see why he's using an unregistered Fraps. But if he does more videos, he should go ahead and grab the registered version, and get the watermark off the top of his video. The video looks neat, but the watermark's a little distracting.
If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.
Previously on Moviewatch
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Machinima, WoW Moviewatch
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Lornicide May 5th 2009 12:25PM
I've been wanting to fool around w/ making a video for fun, but I have some questions. I know from my research that I can do video capture (like w/ Fraps or whatever) and then edit the video into a final product.
However, I've seen some videos that appear (at least to me) to not use video capture, but instead appear to use some sort of engine that uses warcraft skins (ie character, gear, environment) to create the video. How is this done? or is video capture the only way to do this?
(Sry, couldn't figure out where else to post this) thx
garfunkel May 5th 2009 12:31PM
i'd also be very interested if someone could help Lornicide with his questions
(never tried before, but would love to start)
AishaLove May 5th 2009 1:25PM
there is a wow model viewer, people use this to pose models and make vids, then often times super impose that over a captured scene of wow, if you have a private server it's also possible to spawn any kind of npc you want even change your char model to anything.
The private server files are widely available, and it's 100% legal to run one if you own a paid account.
Lornicide May 5th 2009 1:44PM
Good info Aisha.
As for the private server, everything I've read on the forums states that's VERY illegal to run a private server due to it violating Federal Copyright laws and the Blizzard Terms of Use.
Keyra May 5th 2009 1:45PM
www.wowmodelviewer.org
Your best bet would be to have a separate installation of WoW and HALT it before it starts to install patch 3.0.2. That way, you can use the older model viewer that allows for a wider range of movements and emotes.
Just make certain you change the pathway in the .ini file (for the viewer) to point to that separate installation.
Then, download the newer viewer and use it on your current installation so that you can get the models for the DKs and so forth...unfortunately, the new model viewer has ONE emote for talking. No talk: question, no talk: exclamation...and no plans for anyone who developed it to fix this. Hence, the two separate installations.
Psyjin May 5th 2009 12:33PM
They use programs called 'Wow Model Viewer' and 'WoW Map Viewer' both available from www.wowmodelviewer.org
Lornicide May 5th 2009 12:39PM
Thanks! I'll be sure to check it out.
Braundo May 5th 2009 12:41PM
I am curious how much "current content" a Forsaken-only guild could do. Seems like it would hamper their raiding ability if they are unable to bring half of the classes in the game.
Luisette May 5th 2009 12:54PM
They (the Forsaken) have tanks, DPS, and heals. I don't really see a problem. Those "limitations" are mere challenges that any good raiding guild will be able to overcome with creativity.
Now as for the video, the voiceover was about 20 seconds too long-winded for my tastes, but the musical bit they used for the Northrend preview is my favorite part of the main theme; it always gives me chills.
Friday_Knight May 5th 2009 12:58PM
I've actually been toying with this thought lately when considering making an all undead guild on Maelstrom (RPPvP) and I think it is definitely possible. Some encounters would definitely be a little more difficult and you might be stuck to doing 10 mans but you've got all the important bases covered: Warriors and Death Knights for tanking. Warriors, Death Knights, Rogues, Mages, Warlocks and Shadow Priests for DPS. Only issue I really see is that you've only got Priests to heal. 1 Discipline Priest and 2 Holy Priests would probably do pretty good. There's other issues that come up though that would eventually cause it to collapse though. No pally buffs. No bloodlust. Would still be an interesting thing to attempt.
Dere May 5th 2009 12:58PM
Not to mention after the Wrath Gate they are at war with every faction...so i cant see how you can RP a forsaken without hating the horde, and alliance. They could however be a splinter group once the Wrath Gate happens and form an uneasy alliance with the horde factions/guild in the game to run instance after level 74ish to keep thing running as normal. After all the forsaken have always worked with the horde to get what they wanted in the end. They will just need to move away from the hardcore factions of the forsaken otherwise they would have to stay away from every NPC in the game that is not a forsaken. LOL.
Luisette May 5th 2009 1:01PM
@Dere: Wait... what? The only sect of the Forsaken that would be at-war with anyone is the Royal Apothecary Society.
Dere May 5th 2009 1:32PM
@Luisette
I guess i should have qualified my comment with Lore Noob - non RPer?
My bad i thought that Varimathias (who the horde kill if i am not mistaken in the wrath event) was the leader of the forsaken faction. Keep in mind that I have played the event from the Alliance side only, but i can't see that if it were my main city and having my allys going ape on it that i would want to be very friendly with them...even if the reasoning was that a splinter group killed some of the horde and needed to be punished. If there are other parts i dont understand i guess i can see it working, but still it would piss me off a bit to have my home city laid siege to. Just my thoughts.
Horror May 5th 2009 2:41PM
We bring in alts/mains as necessary for dungeons and raids.
Friday_Knight May 5th 2009 12:58PM
Oh, and that video? Terrible.
Bronwyn May 5th 2009 1:09PM
Pls to be offering constructive criticisms kthxbai
Seriously, it's not horrible... improvements can be made but you don't have to be insulting.
Friday_Knight May 5th 2009 1:18PM
For a guild recruitment video it was ok. Not really bad or good in any way. The narrator ramble on for just a little too long and the choice of song when it finally kicked in was poor. We've all heard that same score and chant a hundred times logging in and it's gotten a little old.
All in all it was a little cheesy, a little campy, but it's just a guild recruitment video so no one really expects it to be a masterpiece.
I should have been a little more clear. This article is the most hit or miss of all of them on this site. The idea behind it is to highlight the best WoW-related machinima on the internet to keep the readers abreast of what's going on in the machinima world as it relates to WoW. Instead it just seems to be a post of a random video every week and most of the time they're not really worth watching.
I personally don't know how you can follow as good video as Honor Kills by Azerothian 6 was with this podunk guild's half-assed recruitment video. This article blows so hot and cold I almost don't even bother checking it most weeks.
joerendous May 5th 2009 2:27PM
feel better now?
censorman May 5th 2009 1:20PM
The slowmo looked like lag and was needlessly verbose (should have been a punchy 30 seconds).
That said, the theme and "Kill Arthas" pay off was fun.
Edit it.
AishaLove May 5th 2009 1:25PM
um.... there is a water mark? I did not notice, had to go back and look and it's only a speck not even readable, so why bother? Hell just use free video editing software and crop off 2 pixels from the top and you got problem solved.