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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBlizzCon 2009: Premonition live raid
by Michael Gray 
Aug 22nd 2009 at 11:30PM
You've probably heard of Premonition, one of the big raiding guilds that everyone follows in "the raiding scene." Among other things, Premonition is the group known for being the first guild in the U.S. to complete Alone in the Darkness. They were also special guest stars this year at BlizzCon 2009.
Similar to other WoW related panels, the stage hall in which Premonition performed was way too small for the sheer number of people who showed up. We stood shoulder to shoulder and necks to backs in order to fit.
Unlike other live raid displays, Premonition's live raid performance was crafted specifically for this convention. Premonition fought a series of four boss teams, with each boss team having at least three members. Some of the bosses featured during the raid included the a team of dragons, Brutallus, Infernus, and other stars from Outland.
Premonition's only real wipe happened when they faced down Thaddius, Anub'Rekhan, and Patchwerk. That three-boss team managed to get Premonition down on their first attempt. After only a bit of recovery, the star raiding guild picked themselves up and easily defeated the trio.
The final bout, however, was with a very special guest star from the old world past. Updated and beefed to represent his full power as a level 80 raid boss, this nightmare memory was met by the audience with howls of joy and nostalgia.
Hogger had appeared.
Despite their skill and coordination, Premonition stood no match against the Gnoll of Gnolls. While noone can dispute Premonition's skill, there are just some basic truths to the world. Hogger is the king boss.
BlizzCon 2009 is here! WoW.com has continuing coverage, bringing you the latest in Cataclysm news, live blogs, galleries, and reports right from the convention floor. Check out WoW.com's Guide to BlizzCon for the latest! Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Raiding, BlizzCon
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Otome Aug 23rd 2009 12:01AM
It keeps telling me the viewer limit was reached. How lame, I wanted to see a top end guild wipe on Hogger.
Gath Aug 23rd 2009 2:56AM
http://www.filefront.com/14359967/premo-blizzcon.flv
Otome Aug 23rd 2009 3:07AM
Thanks Gath.
Otome Aug 22nd 2009 11:49PM
GG Blizz, that's how Hogger was meant to be.
Wulftracker Aug 22nd 2009 11:52PM
WTF is up with the Blizzcon crowd?
Just saw the Ozzy Concert on PPV, and the poor guy was looking like he was almost in tears at one point because the crowd was practically dead.
He pulled out the stops, tried to get people to get loud and sing along, and practically nothing. Audience participation for 3 seconds at a time, then nothing. IT's OZZY OSBOURNE for crying out loud people. You could see the frustration on Ozzy's face, to the point my lady and I thought he was going to walk out on the show.
Ozzy was Epic
Crowd at Blizzcon EPIC FAIL!
Keeoto Aug 22nd 2009 11:56PM
You do understand that for live performance broadcasts, they turn down the volume on the audience don't you?
LiquidChaos Aug 23rd 2009 12:15AM
Yeah I noticed the same thing. I'm a big Ozzy fan and was thinking, wow, is this crowd so young to not even know half the songs or lyrics? Must be too much kiddie pop on for people to listen to nowadays. He seemed kinda upset and frustrated by the looks of it. I took screenshots during the broadcast of the 7yr old playing during Crazy Train, that was awesome! I was even chanting OZZY! OZZY! OZZY! here at home. I think a lot of people nowadays don't know what a real rock concert is like sadly.
LiquidChaos Aug 23rd 2009 12:23AM
WTB Edit button...
Also, they do not actually turn the crowd down, the mics are highly directional and only pick up close sounds. This prevents the mics from picking up as much of the crowd as possible to prevent the audio from being one big blur. I do sound work for a local band and work with these kind of mics a lot. But the crowd was really kinda blah. Only maybe a third were really singing back lyrics. If everyone was you would have heard them very easily from what the mics do pick up.
Suzaku Aug 23rd 2009 8:14AM
I don't doubt that a lot of people weren't digging it. As much as the people who *make* WoW are metal fans who no doubt love Ozzy...
Just think of how many raid videos have shitty techno music. There were a lot of families and kids in attendance, too, I'm sure.
Sargenus Aug 22nd 2009 11:57PM
He's old. I kinda think he always looks like that nowadays. Anyway..
I agree. The crowd was a little...boring. But, maybe it's because it's BLIZZCON, not one of his concerts? He was a GUEST in a convention for VIDEO GAMES.
Inc me getting voted down for the truth, though...
kia Aug 23rd 2009 12:09AM
Nah I think Keeoto has it right. They turn the volume down on the crowd. I got the PPV Blizzcon last year and I spent the whole time thinking... eh? the crowd is so dead? They bust their guts to get tickets then limp through it like dead fish? Then I had that whole 'they turn down the crowd volume' thing explained to me and it suddenly all made sense lol.
@Wulftracker: I think Ozzy looks like he struggles because .. he struggles. Anyone who watched the Osbournes or any other of his TV appearances can see that.
Thyrial Aug 23rd 2009 12:09AM
Elwynn Forest was only a setback!
Dightkuz Aug 23rd 2009 5:07AM
Is it really necessary to repeat it? Once isn't enough? Sheez...
halophoenix Aug 23rd 2009 12:29AM
Verily, Hogger is the Omega Gnoll.
arilasWL Aug 23rd 2009 12:40AM
"While noone can dispute..."
Noone is not a word :/
dark.phantom5 Aug 23rd 2009 2:41AM
Well, they're talking about Peter Noone. Peter Noone can't dispute Premonition's skills.
http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Noone
Picviewer Aug 23rd 2009 12:41AM
There's a raiding scene? jebus people it's just a bunch of other twats mashing buttons and hoping their RNG hits for more than the critter does or dishes out so you can defeat it or heal.
Draol Aug 23rd 2009 12:46AM
Prepare to be downrated into oblivion.
Otome Aug 23rd 2009 12:49AM
Of course there's a raiding scene. Where else would Scene Kid Cat hang out?
In case you forgot: http://www.blogcdn.com/www.wow.com/media/2009/06/cats_by_anik.jpg
Speedmonkay Aug 23rd 2009 12:49AM
This had to be one of my favorite moments of BlizzCon. It also seemed to draw one of the largest crowds. I was on second row in the front and there was people wall to wall, in seats and on the floor and an endless sea of people behind me.
Being a raider it was very awesome to see a extremely skilled raid guild in action. I was very awesome of them to throw an event like this together.
Noone expected a level 83 Hogger !
The small peak at the GM panel was also very awesome ... gotta love the check box for "God Mode" :)