Orphan Week was the last thing i needed for my Violet Proto-Drake. I approached the computer this afternoon, concerned that I would be waiting another year for my new mount after hearing all this talk of how horrendous Hard Knocks is.
Instead, i entered EotS to pick up the first flag and cap it without any hostility from the opposing team, then into WSG where a cute little Gnome Mage with a cat Druid in tow would take it in turns to cap our flag, immediately drop it then pick up the next one as it spawned for a good 10 minutes.
Next was AB (which on my battlegroup consists entirely of Allies Steamrolling Horde—I still don't have my Victory in AB achievement). 5 Allies capped farm. I approached and did a /truce, and they backed off and watched from about 40 yards away as I recapped farm.
Finally, AV. 40 people all after one achievement. The dread is kicking in.
Till I reach the first tower. A group of about 20 horde and 5 allies capping, watching the other team cap, then recapping the same tower.
It's 3 hours later, and I'm flying in circles around Shattrath on a Violet Protodrake.
I'm by no means saying that every battlegroup is going to be the same as mine, nor that the complaints about Hard Knocks are unreasonable.
What I am saying, though, is that the achievement I have dreaded since WotLK was launched has, instead of sending me into hair-tuggingly furious fits of rage, has revealed to me a facet of the general WoW community that is so well concealed behind a curtain of elitism and forum trolls.
I log off tonight with the knowledge that people I have never met, and likely will never even so much as talk to, are willing to help me. If you are one of these people, I, and countless other WoW players, would like to thank you.
This (if you've bothered to read my rant) is why I think School of Hard Knocks should remain in game. I'm actually contemplating that it might be one of my favourite achievements.