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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsThe Queue: Why I welcome the Dragon Soul nerf and why you should, too
by Adam Holisky 
Jan 19th 2012 at 11:00AM
Welcome back to The Queue, the daily Q&A column in which the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Adam Holisky (@adamholisky) will be your host today.
The progressive Dragon Soul nerf that was announced last night should have been expected by everyone. It's something Blizzard has done constantly, and I'm a tad surprised that so many people feel like it came out of the blue.
The progressive Dragon Soul nerf that was announced last night should have been expected by everyone. It's something Blizzard has done constantly, and I'm a tad surprised that so many people feel like it came out of the blue.
The biggest complaint I've heard is that the Raid Finder was meant for the easy modes. The Raid Finder, while good, isn't for everyone. Some people really hate pugging -- so much so that they'd rather not play the game than have to pug. There are some people who are just interested in running content with their guild, and if their guild doesn't want to run the Raid Finder, then it's normal modes.
The Dragon Soul raid nerf will do nothing more than allow a wider base to see more content -- and that's a good thing for the game, for the community, and for the future of WoW. And that is something we should all be supportive of. Even more so, there are groups struggling on various aspects of normal and heroic Dragon Soul. If you're not, that's awesome. Pat on the back, tip of the hat. But ... not everyone is so lucky.
If you're hardcore and don't want raid with the progressive nerf active, just turn it off at the entrance. Problem solved; now let's all go kill some internet dragons.
Philster asked:
What pop culture references should make it into Mists of Pandaria, and what shouldn't?
Anything about Doctor Who shouldn't make it in. Everything about SeaQuest DSV should.
Thundrek asked:
What's the Blizzard take on the SOPA bill? What would it mean if it passes for sites likes these?
Blizzard hasn't taken any official stand, and neither has Activision.
What would it mean for a site like WoW Insider? To be honest, I don't know. I do know that our parent company, AOL, has lawyers who would be heavily consulted to determine the feasibility of running content like WoW Moviewatch or Around Azeroth. We have a good relationship with Blizzard, so I don't think anything would happen on that front, but could P Diddy Puff Mommy get upset that some artist is making fun of his/her stuff in a WoW movie parody? Yup. And could that mean we'd be in trouble with SOPA/PIPA? Yup.
Either way, if it happens, we'll just have to wait and see what the particular results are.
Also, all this should only be taken for my own ramblings and not in any way a statement by the site or our parent company.
Robert asked:
How much time does a person have to spend staring at their own armory before they can be considered a narcissist?
After 11 hours. Ten hours doesn't count. It doesn't.
Grimmwrath asked:
Not sure if anyone noticed this, but a major retailer's website (wal-mart) advertised a "pre-order" of MoP, citing a ship date of April 1st. The picture wasn't even a finished box cover. What gives?
That information is horribly inaccurate and should not be trusted. Best Buy reached a new level with this when it even put out a sign advertising Diablo III's release date as Feb. 1 but later had to take it down because it was wrong. Blizzard is the only source you should trust (and well, us, when we report on what Blizzard says).
The box art itself isn't an indicator of anything, either. It's just whatever their internal graphic artists came up with. Probably made in MS Paint.
Have questions about the World of Warcraft? The WoW Insider crew is here with The Queue, our daily Q&A column. Leave your questions in the comments, and we'll do our best to answer 'em!
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Reader Comments (Page 7 of 12)
Vschrijen Jan 19th 2012 11:41AM
I'm in one of the most casual raid guilds you could imagine. People who don't play to their best in the time they get. And we still down the normal bosses fairly easy in Dragon Soul. I truly can't believe how anyone can have a problem with normal mode. Nerfing it is pointless.
Just because the developers nerf content over the years doesn't mean it is the right way to go about it. Content needs to be challenging and I can't wait to some day enter Heroic...if at all. Having to deal nerfed content will not make it fun. So I hope that talking with the aspect will work well to get an unnerved and properly challenging experience.
I can't see how making content easier helps improving the community. You just get more obnoxious twats to deal with in PuG's. HAs been so in the past and its getting worse every few days.
Noyou Jan 19th 2012 11:46AM
It's a 5% nerf dude, and it is optional.
The Dewd Jan 19th 2012 12:08PM
I guarantee your guild isn't nearly as casual as you might think, then.
slim1256 Jan 19th 2012 12:39PM
What both those guys up there said... seriously.
Why can't the anti-nerfers just get over themselves?
Sinderion Jan 19th 2012 2:22PM
you're still whining. It's not about "I should be able to play this and no one that isn't as good as me should ever be able to ever". You've had your run, for several months. Blizz has found they're not happy with the % that is completing it, so, when those who can do it unaided have had their months of farming it for months, they pass it on to the next level of players. It's a game, not a right of passage, or material achievement.
I'm sorry if maybe you dont have any real achievements in your life to be proud of and thus must cling desperately to your access to Wow end bosses.. Even then, you still have the infallible (usually) date on your achievements to compare with the dates the nerfs go live. There's really nothing to complain about here at all. Maybe get some coffee? get a better nights sleep? I'm pretty sure that's all it is.
/QQ @ QQ'ers QQing. Wait that means I'm qq'ing too, dangit! -fail
Zanathos Jan 19th 2012 6:10PM
Funny how so many people deeply concerned about nerfs are worried about "improving the community"
SamLowry Jan 19th 2012 11:33PM
Didn't Hitler want to "improve the community"?
Puntable Jan 19th 2012 11:44AM
I have a question about "Bads". You probably have one in your guild. He's the guy that no matter how much you help him with his gear and spec, he has half the DPS that he should.
What do you do when you get one in your random dungeon or LFG? Offer advice? Let him slide through? Or are you "that guy" that vote-kicks him right before the last boss?
Do you think there is room for very casual players, or "Bads" in the game? If your dungeon is doing fine with him there, isn't it fine to carry him along for the ride?
Nina Katarina Jan 19th 2012 11:58AM
I defend the 'bads' and I have no problem carrying them if they look like they're making a sincere effort and the content isn't cutting edge. I vote-kicked some pvp-geared folks when Cata heroics were still hard, but on the whole I look at sub-par teammates in a 5-man as a chance to stretch my skills in order to compensate.
Killik Jan 19th 2012 11:58AM
If it's really bothering me, I try a private whisper and very tactfully bring up one, single thing they could do to get more dps. Real example: "Oh, I just noticed - think maybe the poison has expired on your daggers." (lvl 85 Rogue doing 4k dps for most of a heroic)
There's about 50% chance they'll be happy with unsolicited advice. Continued real example: "F*** you, you elitist p*****! I don't pay my money for you to tell me what to do!! F**** you!!!" *ragequit*
(Weird thing was, his guildie stayed in the PUG, clearly quite embarrassed)
SparkysShocker Jan 19th 2012 11:58AM
omg are you in my guild? Last night we had this very problem we were carrying player A for 3 hours of wipes on Blackhorn and his dps was very sub optimal for his gear level we helped him the night before with gearing issues and tole him to work on his rotation. When on of our better raiders logged on we immediately sat player A and downed the boss after 2 more attempts and those were the late players 1st 2 attempts on the boss ever in non LFR. Player rage quit the guild and constantly cries about gear even though he has literally been given loot to try and close the skill gap. He came back to the guild where we were telling him that if we were still doing 25mans and not 10s because our guild fell right before 4.3 we would be able to hide him but in a 10 man raid everyone on most fights have to do their job. Which is my point is if "Bads" dont get in the way then they are fine but if they inhibit the group its time to leave them behind, especially if they have been offered help.
The Dewd Jan 19th 2012 12:09PM
We've got some folks like that in my guild. Usually it's not so much skill as it is that they just don't have time to worry about things like rotations/gems/gear/etc because they are quite busy in real life. Ultimately a lot of it comes down to if our RL is willing to include them in a raid or not. We generally won't raid if we can't get 10 solid players. Individually, in things like 5-mans, the people who can't/won't learn their class tend not to get a lot of folks who want to run with them - unless they outgear the content so much that you can carry someone.
I have no problems carrying folks, especially my friends, if it's not a big deal. If it's gonna make/break the chance of success in an instance or raid, I just won't go. Not because I'm mean but because I've got better things to do than wipe all night.
eel5pe Jan 19th 2012 12:12PM
In LFG as long as they are really trying, they'll find I have a loooooooooong streak of patience in me. But I have had to kick people out of my raid because they were underperforming. It becomes an issue of the good of the many if they're holding us back.
laudickj Jan 19th 2012 12:56PM
@ Nina
I find it ironic that you will defend a person who, according to puntable, is just a bad player, but yet you automatically kick someone in PvP gear. I have healed heroics/raids/LFR on my priest in full PvP gear with a few PvE pieces and I have been complemented many times on my healing. I also dps on my hunter and DK in PvP gear with a few PvE pieces and I am always towards the top of DPS or at least in line with the rest of the DPSers who are in full PvE gear. HOWEVER, not only do I do a good job of healing/dps, I also know how to use m utility abilities on all m classes.
Before I get downvoted and flamed, I know I am making generalizations and I am not saying that PvErs don't know how to use their utility abilities, but usually people that are good at PvP and/or have a lot of experience at PvP are more aware of whats going on and they know how to react and can react faster.
tl:dr - I would rather have a good PvPer than a bad PvEer
Sunaseni Jan 19th 2012 12:57PM
I don't mind "bads" in my group. They're probably good people who are incredibly bad at the game, which I really can't fault them for too much. Even if they are below the tank in DPS, I can more than make up for it.
I can't stand assholes, though. Running with a bad player just makes the dungeon take longer. Running with an asshole makes the run DREADFUL.
Pyromelter Jan 19th 2012 2:53PM
In a 5-man dungeon, you can normally just carry a bad dps'er. I let him slide through, it's no big deal, as long as the bosses are dying and we aren't wiping. The only time I vote kick is if a dps is doing something really dumb like ninja pulling or being a complete racist douchenozzle.
"Do you think there is room for very casual players, or "Bads" in the game? If your dungeon is doing fine with him there, isn't it fine to carry him along for the ride?"
There is definitely room for very casual players as well as "Bads." In most 5-mans you need just one really good dps'er, and he can carry the other 2 lesser geared or lesser skilled players (excluding harder dungeons that require sheep-pulls and stuff). If the dungeon is doing fine with a sub-par dps, it is indeed fine to carry him or her along for the ride. As long as I'm having fun and bosses are dying, the fact that there is a straggling performer doesn't bother me, and I don't see why anyone else should be bothered by it.
Draelan Jan 19th 2012 5:42PM
My patience with less apt players depends heavily on the situation.
If they aren't doing so well, but are at least friendly, I am far more likely to be friendly and patient in return. If the group is just being dragged down too far to reasonably finish, I will either ask them to leave or I will apologize and leave myself.
If they're not doing well and are completely silent, that's alright, too, so long as they can follow basic instructions such as "kill skull first" and "sheep moon". If the group can't afford to carry this type of person, I don't feel particularly guilty about voting to kick them.
If they're not doing well and refuse to follow even basic instructions, my patience evaporates very quickly. I have no qualms whatsoever about kicking these types if they're problematic.
And then we have the assholes... they may be terrible players, or they could be our top-performers... if you're an ass, I will HAPPILY agree to the inevitable vote to kick you. These type of people also seem to be the most likely to believe themselves "above" such silly things as "instructions" and "fight mechanics".
Culhag Jan 19th 2012 11:44AM
Q4tQ : is allowing UI modifications the exception or the norm for MMOs ?
It was controversial that TOR doesn't allow it. It seems so essential for WoW but I was wondering how widespread it really is among MMOs...
zackwbrandon Jan 19th 2012 11:50AM
Rift built it in. TOR forbids it. WoW encourages (and in some circumstances requires) it. There does not seem to be a standard among post-WoW games. I think customization is required for a game to maintain success. Providing players 'choice through play' is the way of the future for games to stay afloat.
MikeLive Jan 19th 2012 11:58AM
Addons are most certainly not required for WoW, I know plenty of people who do just fine without them (myself included, not counting conveniences like summoning random mounts, displaying bags as a single window, etc). I'm not big on TOR myself, but I think they made the right choice with addons. WoW would have a much nicer community if addons like DBM or Recount should be banned entirely, the only thing they seem to create is severe elitism.