The Classifieds: Stonecore is hard
by Michael Gray 
Feb 2nd 2011 at 3:00PM
The patch hasn't take place yet, so we all still get to have the fun of heroic Stonecore. Both of today's Random Acts of Uberness come from the elemental halls of that instance, where it's far too easy to die if you don't know the exact dance steps. Oh, it can be done. It can even be done relatively easily once you are familiar with the place. But it is definitely hard. If you're not familiar with Stonecore in its heroic version, check out this Queue by Alex Ziebart. You'll quickly see why it's such a challenging place and why it's the source of the uberness this week.
Random Acts of Uberness
It's when another player lights up your night with precise play, a wicked sense of humor or unexpected generosity that your login becomes something to remember. Share your Random Acts of Uberness with theclassifieds@wowinsider.com. Keep things brief (150 words or less, please), and be sure to list everyone's character names and home realms or battlegroup.
Bendruid of Borean Tundra (US-H) My guildie and I specifically selected heroic Stonecore tonight because we both needed gear that dropped from there. Loot drops, and the tanking trinket upgrade he wanted dropped. He, the fury warrior, and the boomkin all role need on it. He loses to the druid. The druid kindly asks him if he needs it more, saying he has a feral druid spec. Bendruid of Borean Tundra (US) traded it to Orelias. I know he really appreciated it, as did I. Thanks again for being so cool Bendruid. -- Sarendipidity of Shu'halo
Dawnchaser of Dragonblight (US-A) It was a heroic Stonecore run and my first two tanks had already dropped after multiple wipes on the first boss. The third tank had never run the instance before and didn't know any of the fights. Dawnchaser came through as our healer. He explained all the fights, never lost patience with our multiple wipes, and kept spirits up with humor and joking. Despite wiping around three times per boss, we finished the run. Thanks for not giving up! -- Rioniashela of EtriggEmployment: Guild recruitment
Looking for more? Send in your guild name, realm, a link to your guild website or armory listing and a sentence or two on your guild's focus (10-man, RP, late-night raiding, whatever) to theclassifieds@wowinsider.com.
10-man raiding <Cold Fusion> of Turalyon (EU-H) is a 10-man focused mature progression guild with multiple teams (Team Proton and Team Dueteron, the two isotopes that make up the Cold Fusion reaction). Each team raids two days per week, but we are not casual in our play or progression expectations. We have a unique balance of real life and progression raiding. Currently looking for a tank (prefer paladin) and melee to add to our teams. Please see website for more info.
Adult raiding <Edge of Chaos> of Rexxar (US-H) is looking for adults who want a place to level in Cataclysm and continue on to raiding. Members are not required to raid to join.
Need moar cake <Nubcakes> of Dath'Remar (US-A) is a progression 25-man guild in need of more healers and ranged DPS. Our raid times are 7:45 p.m. until 11 p.m. server time.
Up and coming <Knights of Ancient War> of Arathor (US-A) is recruiting for all specs, roles, and levels. We are currently a level 8 guild. If you enjoy mature, intelligent conversation, Warcraft lore, theorycrafting, and enjoying your time in game, you'll enjoy your time in <Knights of Ancient War>. Players of all levels and classes are welcome to join.
Crack open The Classifieds for weekly player and community news, help finding the right guild, events of interest and more. Send us your shout-outs for Random Acts of Uberness and mail your news tips and announcements to TheClassifieds@wowinsider.com.Filed under: The Classifieds
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Necromann Feb 2nd 2011 3:05PM
I just realized that I have never done heroic corburus. I have always come in after he dies, usually bc the group wiped to the dragon. And I get h stonecore quite often.
Narayana Feb 2nd 2011 7:50PM
I think I may be in the same group...
Quasimofo Feb 2nd 2011 3:08PM
After getting Stonecore every other run with my rogue, which has yet to be successful in any way, I wised up with my up and coming tank and simply never bothered to discover the entrance. I know this requirement is being removed next patch, but that's also when they're supposedly fixing things, so should work out.
mrmojoz Feb 2nd 2011 3:31PM
Wow, considering how easy the instance is once you know the fights that is simply amazing. The only difficult fight is Ozz when the tank is eating shatters (run right when paralyze goes off!). Have a guild group you can go with? I feel kinda bad for the people stuck raiding with these folks who can't do heroic stonecore.
Kurtis Feb 2nd 2011 3:48PM
My guildies call the LFG tool the "Stonecore Finder".
Tiger Feb 2nd 2011 3:58PM
Once you do know the fights, then Stonecore isn't too bad. However, finding a group willing to stick it out while you learn the fights, especially if you're the tank, not so easy. Ozz in particular requires good management by the tank.
I was lucky enough to have a great group when I first tanked heroic Stonecore. They were patient with me learning the fights and endured the wipes on Ozz while I learnt the timing of his abilities. It was a long run (about 2 hours I think) but we got there in the end, and now thanks to their patience there is another tank out there who is competent at tanking Stonecore.
Kuro Feb 2nd 2011 4:54PM
Both Stonecore and Grim Batol do not exist to my 3rd and 4th 85's.
and damn Bliz for fixing that in the next patch.... :(
Quasimofo Feb 2nd 2011 5:51PM
Easy if you know it? Maybe. But try running it with four other people who may have no idea, won't listen, and throw a fit when something goes wrong. Try going through seven different tanks and waiting ten minutes minimum for each one. Try wiping repeatedly due to nothing but bad luck as someone gets dazed running from Coro. Nah, I see no reason to pretend this place simply doesn't exist.
Schadow Feb 2nd 2011 8:52PM
Stonecore, perhaps more than a lot of instances, was designed in the hypothetical place where everyone's internet is perfect.
In reality, once you inject a bit of latency such as we experience here in the Oceanic region, the encounters are extremely tight and unforgiving.
Oz is a particularlt challenging fight. What is supposed to be a 30-degree cone attack with no latency becomes a 90-degree cone atack with latency. Whereas running out of it is reasonably trivial with no latency, I have even died *behind* the boss.
The worm is also very nasty with latency. By the time you see the dust, the game has already killed you. It just hasn't updated to your screen, so you hop merrily out of the way and die anyway.
WTB: Truly Oceanic servers, not ones in California with an "Oceanic" sticker on them.
seanbob91 Feb 3rd 2011 12:09PM
Ah I remember my first venture into stonecore. Wiping on the 3rd boss over and over and over again not from the boss but because adds would pull from the waaay other side of the room before the boss. Only to find that the mages mirrored images were somehow pulling these adds. OMFG it was a laugh!
jfofla Feb 2nd 2011 3:35PM
Funny how Random works. I get Lost City 90% of the time on my Pally healer, with Halls of Origin filling in the remainder.
A Random has never given me Stonecore, and I am doing two or three Random Pugs a day.
LT Feb 3rd 2011 12:18PM
Have you actually discovered the other instances, LFG won't put you in them if you haven't discovered them.
majorfalcon Feb 2nd 2011 3:39PM
I'm getting really tired of WoW.com crying about how hard stonecore is.
Grow up.
Kolyarut Feb 2nd 2011 3:50PM
"Oh, it can be done. It can even be done relatively easily once you are familiar with the place."
It's like you can taste their tears. No, wait...
PS: Welcome to the internet. Please leave your random jackassery at the door.
shealle Feb 2nd 2011 3:54PM
Thanks for sharing your opinion of Wow.com's legitimate statements over expected fixes to Stonecore. I have to say I've healed & dpsd for it & its tough no doubt about it. Even with guildies. For those who are complaining that its too easy everyone who fails are losers... why don't you give yourself a real challenge with sticking with a group that struggles in there without 1) losing your temper 2) making helpful/constructive advice and not tearing down your members & 3) remember that there are many reasons someone may be struggling. I'd rather wipe & bash my head in all day with a group that tries & doesn't attack another. And oh yea, comments like you're retarded for not getting it, tank sucks, lolz umad bro aren't helpful, aren't constructive and frankly, I don't want you in my group. That rock over there? yea the one doing no dps? I'd keep them instead of you.
Kunikenwad! Feb 2nd 2011 4:22PM
I'm getting really tired of majorfalcom crying about a legitimate problem most of the playerbase is having in Warcraft. Grow up.
cyrius Feb 2nd 2011 5:08PM
I'll probably get downvoted for this but I also don't think stonecore is a big deal.
I'm a tank, and before every boss I take a few seconds to make sure everyone knows what to do and throw out some quick refreshers.
Sure if people don't know not to melee Corborus's crystals or not to stand in Ozruk's shatter you're going to wipe. Take the 30 seconds to explain the fight and save yourself half an hour of wipes.
With a little explanation you'd be surprised how easily a pug can come together.
Hidendragon Feb 3rd 2011 11:20AM
@Saeadame
While a agree with your comments and i am all for the hunters autoshot upgrade shall we call it. i somewhat disagree with your reason. Hunters may be in the same relm as warriors etc. but due to there ranged ability they can avoid much more movement required attacks (AOE i mean) Thier ablitly to stay in one spot and attack for longer compensates for kiting scenarios. This in my opinion is being introduced as a ditraction for the SV nerf but primarily to buff the Aspect of the Fox/strengthen Apect of the Hawk, depending on players styles.
Superthrust Feb 2nd 2011 3:43PM
so...i hate stonecore...even on normal. Major dislike, capice?
Whys bliz hurting the game little by little? inb4 "bawww heroics are too hard". im just saying they are breaking some of the classes, moving others to inbalances, and making the instances either poorly designed or bugged badly.
and speaking of balance..shooting while running? yeah...right..i understand in lore its possible..but come on...will casters be able to cast while moving now?
kak828 Feb 2nd 2011 3:53PM
Casters CAN cast while moving. Of course not every spell, and sometimes on a CD but there are abilities that allow them to do so. shamans have spirit walker's grace, mages have an entire arsenal of instant cast spells, warlocks have fel flame and other instant cast curses etc.