The Classifieds: News briefs on guilds and players

Welcome to our first installment of The Classifieds, an evolution of our former Guildwatch feature. As more and more players move into endgame raiding, we thought it fitting that our guild news should evolve, too. The Classifieds gives you more of the news you can use: who's progressing, who's marking milestones, who's recruiting. But it's not only about guilds. Because we're all down there in the trenches of Dungeon Finder groups at every opportunity, The Classifieds lets you send a shout-out to that player who made your last PUG a thing of real beauty (whether through pure technical finesse or a winning attitude). And if you're curious about how WoW intersects with the world at large, we'll be passing along links to academic research studies seeking participants, as well.
Editor's Note: One thing you might notice missing in Guildwatch's new incarnation is the "Drama" section. In the interest of fostering community growth and positive interaction, we're checking the drama and negativity at the door.
Let's open the Classifieds!
RECRUITING
- <After Dark> on US Ghostlands-A is peering through the night to find more raiders during the wee hours. The group is aiming for enough to run ICC-25 between 2-6 a.m. server time. Let the coffee flow!
- In more late-night news, <Graveshift> of US Icecrown-H is looking for ICC-10 and -25 raiders for raids starting at 11:45 p.m. server time (10:45 p.m. PST). The group's path to Arthas is already well under way, and officers anticipate full (or imminent) ICC clears by press time.
- Wyrmfoe of US Icecrown-A, a casual progression 25-man raid team led by WoW.com hunter columnist Brian "Frostheim" Wood is looking for healers and DPS. Warlocks are especially needed; hunter slots are full. Wyrmfoe raids Friday and Saturday evenings, focusing on normal mode content (with hard modes and achievements as time permits).
- The relatively new casual guild <Elite Prophecy> of US Grizzly Hills-A is forming a second 10-man raiding team, with a goal of eventually joining the two teams to tackle 25-man content. Members should be 18 years or older; no prot pallies, please.
- Core raiders from <Next Level> and <Government Muscle> of US Norgannon-H have banded together to form <Presence of Mind>, a hardcore raiding guild aiming for nothing short of becoming the number one 25-man raiding guild on Norgannon. Raiders interested in hardcore raiding including Heroic and hard modes should send a tell to Joewalsh, Killakitty, XSlayers, Héctor (alt+130 for é), Thraknar or Tun for more details.
DOWNINGS
- Who you gonna call? If you need TOC-10 cleared, you can now call on <Ghostbusters> of US Nazjatar-A. The casual guild is now moving on to ICC-10. Hey guys, don't forget your Wooly Mittens!
- <Zodiac Braves> of US Khadgar-H has checked off 10-man Firefighter and is now tackling Algalon. Good luck, guys!
- <Shadows of Torment>, a new casual guild on the US Altar of Storms-H, has cleared ICC-10. The guild formed about a month ago, after a year-long partnership between <Torment> and <Order of Shadows> evolved into a full guild merger. Congratulations on a great partnership!
MILESTONES
- Happy anniversary to <Cataclysm> of US Earthen Ring-H, celebrating five years under a single GM. Congratulations to Jurdendorf and the some 400 members of Cataclysm on their long-standing teamwork.
GUILD RANKINGS
This week's top 5 Guildox.com ratings show three U.S., one Chinese and one European guild in the top five positions for 25-man progression raiding. The Euros definitely have the edge for 25-man achievements, taking four of the top five spots. (Follow the links for more extensive rankings.)
25-man Progress
- <Paragon> EU Lightning's Blade
- <V A N Q U I S H> US Blood Furnace
- <Rush> US Dark Iron
- <vodka> US Alterac Mountains
- <第七天堂> TW Silverwing Hold
- <神樣> TW Wrathbringer
- <UndisputeD> EU Azshara
- <Энрейдж> EU Гром
- <Nero> EU Antonidas
- <EF BIE EI> EU Dalvengyr
- <Casually Addicted> US Gilneas
- <Uprising> US Aerie Peak
- <Unholy Trinity> US Burning Blade
- <Adept> US Dreadmaul
- <Harmonium> US Bloodscalp
- <神樣> TW Wrathbringer
- <EF BIE EI> EU Dalvengyr
- <Progenies Infernalis> EU Aegwynn
- <Энрейдж> EU Гром
- <High Council> EU Boulderfist
- <Elysium> EU Hellscream
- <Requiem of the Ebon Rose> US Silver Hand
- <From Chaos> US Suramar
- <Vox Immortalis> US Hyjal
- <Mors Deorum> US Stonemaul
- <Vox Immortalis> US Hyjal
- <From Chaos> US Suramar
- <Saoirse> EU Kilrogg
- <Three> EU Executus
- <Elysium> EU Hellscream
WoW.com does not authenticate, recommend or verify specific research listings.
- Researchers from Saint Louis University are looking at how gamers approach fantasy races in online role-playing game. Visit the web survey online.
- Dr. Jon-Paul Cacioli at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, is conducting a study on body image in virtual worlds. He seeks males age 18 and up to complete a survey on real-world and virtual body images and psychological states. Visit the survey at Deakin University.

Anybody can slap an /ignore on those Dungeon Finder duds we'd rather forget ... What we want to know are the names on your most wanted list! Jot down their names and send them along, plus their server (or your battlegroup) and 50 words or less on why they rocked your PUG world. (Your character name is optional.)
- Cheyenne, Whirlwind battlegroup "I grouped with an awesome druid/warlock pair in Azjol-Nerub. The druid was something like ... Cheyenne? We had a pretty awful tank, and the druid (as the healer) took it in stride, and the three of us managed to make it work. It was good times." (Arnesca, US Cenarion Circle-A)
- Kielik, US Argent Dawn-A "He told us right up front that he was a new 80 with weak gear and a new spec, but he totally worked with the rest of the group, flipped roles when we needed it and ended up being the glue that made the group work." (Anonymous)
Have guild news or a Random Act of Uberness to share? E-mail The Classifieds and let us know what's going on in your corner of the World of Warcraft.
Filed under: Fan stuff, Virtual selves, Guilds, Features, Raiding, Bosses, Achievements
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 10)
Fuzzbutt Jan 13th 2010 8:15PM
Please return the drama section. I read that section every week and skimmed the others. I can understand wanting to keep an upbeat tone, but hearing about the shenanigans that other pulled was always my favorite part of the old column.
Laughter is the best medicine and the drama section always gave me my daily dose. Please bring it back!
Rich Jan 13th 2010 3:05PM
Boo!
Bring back the drama!
It was a good way to remember no matter what was going on in our group, we were not as f**ked up as other people.
Lupius Jan 13th 2010 3:23PM
"In the interest of fostering community growth and positive interaction"
No, really?
Ellarin Jan 13th 2010 3:26PM
I have to say the drama was worthwhile even if it didn't build community per se. We found a couple of ninjas trying to apply to our guild and I was able to keep them from getting in from information that we learned in the drama section.
Entropy Jan 13th 2010 3:51PM
I couldn't agree more. The drama section was the best part.
nomadic0ne Jan 13th 2010 4:23PM
Yes, the Drama section was both amusing and informative.
I DO like the "Random Acts Of Uberness" section though! I think we need to thank, encourage, and/or reward people like that.
...but definitely bring back the Drama. That's what kept me clicking on this feature!
(Heck, I'd be happy with just the Drama and Uber)
ash Jan 13th 2010 5:24PM
Sometimes drama is good, especially if its informative (or just entertaining).
BobDole Jan 13th 2010 3:07PM
/agree
dragonmordak Jan 13th 2010 3:08PM
Hmm I've been wanting to tackle ICC 10 and 25 more, but my guild is just getting to ToC and we have to get our new 80's caught up. Least we're getting further into Ulduar now. Still me and a few other 80's are ready to do ICC, but all we can do is pug and stare at ICC like a kid in front of a candy store.
Buf Jan 13th 2010 3:08PM
Boo! Bring back the drama. And Mike Schramm too! Did he get fired?
Gemini Jan 13th 2010 3:08PM
And there goes the only reason I read this column. Enjoy your two readers.
Unholypete Jan 13th 2010 3:10PM
*Chants* Drama drama :P
Dawts Jan 13th 2010 3:19PM
Yea..... Kill a good column and replace it with "news" that nobody cares about. I'm going to apply as a writer for "Gank of the day". People love drama/conflict. It's just a fact of life.
Tridus Jan 13th 2010 3:08PM
Seriously, the drama was one of the best parts of Guildwatch! It's not interesting to read 3 pages of people on servers I've never heard of defeating random bosses.
elvendude Jan 13th 2010 3:21PM
This.
Mordockk Jan 13th 2010 3:31PM
This is the same reason why Maury Povich turned his show into the new Jerry Springer. We want drama and cat fights....and paternity tests..
ZMES_Matt Jan 13th 2010 3:42PM
Mordockk, you hussie! How dare you be all commenting up in other people's posts. I thought we had sumthin'....
fullm Jan 13th 2010 3:09PM
No drama makes this column automatic fail. Move along people.
Elder Jan 14th 2010 11:59AM
The drama was the fun bit.
Rebuilding GW drama free is like saying "And here's your new Playstation, with new internet options, better blueray quality, and, for your convenience, no longer plays any games!"
Perhaps a new "Dramawatch" article? keep your happy fluffy guild recruitment and GoodPUG backslapping, but please, give us the drama we need.
Beldoro Jan 13th 2010 3:09PM
Seriously, Guildwatch drama section was my favorite part of WoW.com. Has it just been dropped or are you throwing it into another column?