Patch 5.2 interview with Dave Kosak
Inside an old alt's vault
The latest patch 5.2 news
All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsDefeating the anxiety of running your first instance
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 30th 2009 at 5:00PM
Cassandri's writeup is an excellent read for anyone who feels that way (and feel free to pass on this post to any friends or relatives you know who've been too leery to join an instance yet). She does do some basic knowledge stuff in there, just hints on the classes and what they can all do -- and our WoW Rookie posts will help out with that stuff too -- but more importantly, she says what lots of new players need to hear: that messing up in an instance isn't that big a deal, and that playing together with others (which is the reason why we're all playing an MMO rather than a single player game in the first place) is more than worth getting past any anxiety around joining a group. I've read a lot of comments like the one Cassandri quotes in her post, too, and I'm here to tell you: if you haven't run an instance yet, it's time to stop worrying about what it'll be like and give it a try.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Virtual selves, Instances, Bosses
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
dreary Oct 31st 2009 1:17AM
I remember the the first instance I ever did- I was playing a pally then and they wanted me to tank. I ended up crying and running away from the computer cause I was so stressed out :( my boyfriend had to continue the instance for me lmao
That was years ago though and now I'm a pugging pro, hells yeah
Reuben Oct 31st 2009 1:18AM
I avoided dungeons for a very long time, but I honestly love it now. People can be real bastards, and the hardest part is being grouped wth some jackass and at the end just forgetting him and moving on. There are also those who take it too seriously. I was in Dalaran this afternoon and someone was looking for more for the heroic daily, but required an achievement list and gear inspection first. You just have to say to yourself, "Screw them" and realize that they are in the minority.
Reuben Oct 31st 2009 1:23AM
In addition, it is annoying to be grouped with someone who is unfamiliar with the instance but only says it later on, after you've wiped for the second time. As summon who has been a victim of WoW PUG verbal abuse (I think we all have,) I just calmly tell that person what needs to be done. Some people need too realize that there really isn't any reason to belittle anyone in this game.
Fairlane Oct 31st 2009 1:24AM
Can we use this space as a recruitment center? Some of you folks sound like just the kind of players my guild is looking for.
Fairlane Nov 1st 2009 12:14AM
Fairlane @ Hydraxis-A // Marauders Allegiance
Patient, helpful, mature guild looking for freshly-minted or well-seasoned 80s to bolster our raid roster. Heroics run at every opportunity, and we know the fights. If you know how to play your spec, we want you to join us in poking around Ulduar and beyond.
The above notwithstanding, this is a really nice group of folks. Several members are extremely talented players of many classes and specs. These people know their stuff and are eager to help you get more from your game.
Noctiluca Oct 31st 2009 7:52AM
These comments are exactly why I don't PUG. Ever. Can you tank for x? Nope. Can you DPS x? Nope. Sorry, I just don't PUG - and I make it well known to anything who asks so they don't ask me again. If nobody is online in my guild/friend's list, I just don't run anything. It may be an elitist attitude to some, but I've had so many bad experiences in PUGs running with people leaving halfway through instances, being stuck without healers/tanks for an hour or more, people ninjaing gear, and people just straight out being dbags - that I just refuse to do it. I run with my friends and my guildies and that's it. That way, I know who I'm playing with and I know it will go smooth.
Want the best gameplay experience possible? Get into a good guild and never have to PUG again. Just my two cents. Not trying to sound like a prick, but I just don't need the headache of a PUG.
Stuckinhouston Oct 31st 2009 11:37AM
I know I am not the only one and I was told that all healers getting that pounding heart feeling and sweaty hand. You sit here with your face glued to the screen like an old lady driving with her nose suck to the windshield thinking she can see better if she sits that way.
JuggaloChaz Oct 31st 2009 12:53PM
so yea....i feel like i am one of those guys that turns people off of grouping.
As a hardcore gamer it is pretty easy to get impatient when someone is not performing to my expectations. I don't expect perfection, just a little bit of cohesion. I've called people names, kicked people from groups, told others not to group with people, and have even labeled people not worth grouping with ever.
I am not saying it is right, i am just speaking from the point of view of a hardcore gamer.
But this article surprised me. I truly never thought about people not grouping period after having a bad run in with a player like me. Look, there are always jerks that don't know what they are doing themselves and will be mean just to conceal their own lack of skill. That is not me, but to a newbie(non derogatory, new player) it can be easy to not be able to tell the difference. When players like me acted like that we viewed it as "tough love."
"Maybe if people call them on their mistakes they won't keep making them!"
"Well if he/she wants to group again maybe he/she should L2P"
"Send me a tell when you learn how to play in a group"
We don't want to belittle you. We want you to have fun too. We want you to be geared too. My gear and skill are worthless if the rest of my group also doesn't have gear and skill, and us hardcore gamers know this.
Looking back however, I can see my what I thought at the time as justifiable rudeness as being a factor in a new player being turned off of grouping for a long time and that is not what i want.
As far as how to help i can offer how new people avoided my wrath.
As the article states, if you are unfamiliar with an instance, or even grouping at all, SAY SO IN THE BEGINNING. At that point the group can decide if they want to deal with teaching or not. When i knew someone was a a true newbie and not just stupid, i was always understanding, helpful, and constructive. But, how would i know this if i am not told?
Another big thing is this: making a mistake and owning up to it is all well and good, but what will tick a player like me off is making the same mistake...over and over. Admitting to it or not, if you are not even trying to correct what is wrong THAT is when the normally nice players like me will rage.
One last thing, EVERYONE wants to give the newbie advice, and often it is conflicting. Let everyone speak, but don't try to take it all in. Just focus on one nice player who obviously knows what he/she is doing and worry about his/her advice and just let the other 3 players say whatever. Trying to sift through conflicting advice will get overwhelming to a newbie.
I guess what i am saying is that if the players new to grouping can try to work on those things, i can try to work on being more understanding and not being the jerk that turned you off of grouping forever.
Bronwyn Oct 31st 2009 1:33PM
Just want to echo everything here. I am NOT a hardcore gamer, but I remember what it was like when I was a total noob who didn't know how to play my class and while I get that it is nerve-wracking to tell people this is your first time, I do recommend doing it. It avoids the problem of people thinking you're just stupid, and while you might run the risk of having to find another group, I think the pain of that is less than it would be if you were in the middle of an instance and you had just caused the 5th wipe and you got booted anyway, after being chewed out.
Just be willing to learn (It is MAJORLY frustrating when someone makes the same mistake over and over and over and over. If you can't do certain things after a little practice, you may just not be cut out for it).
That said, if you're an elitist, please don't assume that just because I don't have achievements I don't know what I am doing. Remember that raid achievements really have more to do with who you're running with than you personally. And this goes both ways- don't assume that because someone has an achievement that they know what they are doing. They might have been dead for the whole fight.
MightyBurebista Oct 31st 2009 2:27PM
As per my experience with running Deadmines for the first time with a VERY unbalanced PUG, this is my advice to you: don't despair if you wipe. Because never having run a WoW-style grouped dungeon in all your years of gaming, there will certainly be a learning curve associated with handling that type of environment. Hell, my group wiped an inglorious total of SEVEN TIMES before we finally got to VanCleef. You will see that the more you advance in the instances, the less likely the probability for wipes (or at least the greater probability for more than one way of preventing or recovering a wipe).
cassandri Oct 31st 2009 11:06PM
It's lovely reading this great conversation spurred on by the article which I wrote for our blog, Hots and Dots.
I think I almost deleted that article at least 4 times. I know I rewrote it at least 3 times. I really didn't think anyone was interested in what I had to say and I thought other bloggers, who talk more about leveling and alts than I, would have the topic covered and then some!
My first instances were really bad too. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be perfect. I felt that everything I did announced to the group that I was a total noob. I don't think I enjoyed the first few instances I did. I certainly can't remember them well - they whole thing is a blur.
But I sucked at sapping. I know that! (ps. for you young Rogues out there, you can Distracting Shot so they pivot around and then sneak up and apply sap from behind - it's your best chance to not get seen)
It really does distress me to know that so many people are missing out on this part of the game - it's so fun!
Perhaps when the LFG Cross-Server system launches we can either (a) start a buddy system where 4 nice people take 1 inexperienced player into a dungeon or (b) start a 5 man group where all the players are inexperienced and they can muddle through together.
I know I'd be keen to set a time to do the first. I don't know if I can convince any of my mates to join me though! They're all in it for the loot!
Otherwise if you play on Barthilas (Oceanic, US) whisper Cassandri if you need a patient healer or DPS :)