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Robin Torres

Los Angeles - http://cosmic-geek.com

Robin Torres juggles multiple alts across multiple servers, a geekling, a loot-addicted husband and a yarn dependency.

Drama Mamas: Choosing between preferred class and raid leader

Drama Mamas Lisa Poisso and Robin Torres are experienced gamers and real-life mamas -- and just as we don't want our precious babies to be the ones kicking and wailing on the floor of the checkout lane next to the candy, neither do we want you to become known as That Guy on your realm.

Happy Presidents' Day, if you are in the United States! Otherwise, happy Monday.

We are getting in letters for an all-new results edition of Drama Mamas, but we could still use some more. If you have written the Drama Mamas and we have answered you in print, please send us an email at robin@wowinsider.com. We will compile the responses in a future column, once we get enough of them.
What's up Drama Mamas?!

Today I come with a problem of sorts... I'm part of this guild where we were all pretty close and get along great, we have been that way throughout cataclysm and I feel sorta connected to these folks.

Now about a month or so ago a few of our core raid members that were originally on the team I was part of quit the game. That caused a rift in our guild and the leader of our second raid team stepped up to the plate and now leads our core group (as well as the guild but that's a different story). While we were trying to figure out who makes the cut for our first raid group we held try outs of sorts and in the group was myself and the rogue from the second group (we both play rogues so we needed to see who got the spot). Well I was beaten by the rogue of the second group by a slim margin so the leader decided to take him on as a regular.

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Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Guilds, Drama Mamas

Breakfast Topic: Do you have a crush on a minor NPC?

Two trolls
Ah, romance. Love is truly in the air when so many romantic topics keep cropping up. Recently with the Drama Mamas, we tackled the topic of roleplay romance. Commenter musicchan suggested that in order to avoid the awkward, one-sided crossover from RP love to OOC, players could fall in love with minor NPCs. When Blizzard asked about in-game NPC couples, Cynwise confessed to a crush on Auctioneer Jaxon. Love is in the air, indeed.

I have a crush too. Makavu, the troll banker in Orgrimmar's Valley of Spirits, has a way of saying things that makes my bank alt swoon. Nobody says okey-dokey like he does. I think Auctioneer Ziji may be jealous of our romance. She seems pleasant enough when I conduct business with her, but she watches grimly as I flirt with Makavu. I suppose it is possible that my love isn't returned. Who knows the workings of a troll's heart?

Sassy Hardwrench isn't a minor NPC, but she isn't a major one either. Maybe I shouldn't mention the fact that my mage Tizzy thinks she's dreamy. Tizzy couldn't express her feelings when Sassy was her Executive Assistant -- what with sexual harassment cases being what they are -- and now Sassy runs her own place. She's out of Tizzy's league.

Do you have a crush on a minor NPC? Which vendor or guard makes your heart beat faster? Or does your character have a romance in every city? Heroes often tend to have groupies, after all ...

Filed under: Breakfast Topics

It came from the Blog: Join us for a party on the Love Zeppelin

Goblin on zeppelin with heart
Unfortunately, Love is in the Air doesn't really lend itself to an all-levels event. Many of the achievements require rather high levels to complete, and the Dangerous Love quest line can't be picked up if you've already done it in a previous year. So I've decided to go literal with this holiday and take our love into the air.

The It came from the Blog family of guilds will be holding a party on the Love Zeppelin -- and you're invited!
  • When: Thursday, Feb. 16 at 11 p.m. EST (8 p.m. PST, 9 p.m. server time)
  • Where: Meet near the flightpath in Orgrimmar on Zangarmarsh (US-PvE-H)
  • Who: Any level Horde player, clothing optional
  • How: Ask any member of It came from the Blog for an invite
  • What: Fun, dancing, party games, love -- something for everyone
We will not be forming a raid group for this event, but we will have a chat channel set up as usual. So join us this Thursday night for the Love Zeppelin. Here, have an earworm.

Please join us on Zangarmarsh (US-PvE-H) in It came from the Blog. Any member can invite, so /whisper Roblinator or any online member. You are all welcome as long as you play by our simple rules -- basically, don't be a funsucker! Visit the guild FAQ for more details.

Filed under: Events, It Came from the Blog

Breakfast Topic: What is your class theme song?

In a past edition of The Queue, evoxpisces asked,
If each class had its own theme song, what would they be? Or at least what genres would each represent them?
Some commenters answered with their opinions, but I didn't read them because I wanted to form my own list without anyone's influence. What do you think of my list? What theme song or genre would you choose for your class or all classes?

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Breakfast Topics

Drama Mamas: When roleplayed love is in the air

Drama Mamas Lisa Poisso and Robin Torres are experienced gamers and real-life mamas -- and just as we don't want our precious babies to be the ones kicking and wailing on the floor of the checkout lane next to the candy, neither do we want you to become known as That Guy on your realm.

I think it is long past time for another results edition of Drama Mamas. Some letter writers have already sent me the outcome of our advice, which is always wonderful. But we could still use some more. If you have written the Drama Mamas and we have answered you in print, please send us an email at robin@wowinsider.com. We will compile the responses in a future column, once we get enough of them.

On to the drama ... This week, we have another RP romance conundrum.
Dear Drama Mamas --

I've recently started roleplaying on Wyrmrest Accord, and I really love it! It's a fun way to meet new people and really get into your character, even if I only do it somewhat-casually. However, I have an issue that I need some help with. When I first joined my roleplaying guild it was fine and dandy, but one person in particular gave me more attention than anyone else. I was fine with it, as we were in character and my character was single and all, so I flirted a bit and over time our characters started a (somewhat) romantic relationship.

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Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, RP, Drama Mamas

Breakfast Topic: How do you handle real-life interruptions?

AFK Goblin
You just can't take a picture of yourself during Love is in the Air without a heart on your head.

I actually don't like the phrase "real life" when describing what happens in the physical world because it implies that the interactions we have in Azeroth aren't real. Captain Obvious says that WoW is not a single-player game. When we are playing Mass Effect, we don't affect anyone else if we get up to take a bio break or comfort a child. But in World of Warcraft, if we are in a group of any size, we affect others every time we AFK.

The phrase "real life is more important than WoW" is a mantra we hear all the time, and it is true in that you shouldn't shirk responsibilities in the physical world in order to play. However, if you have committed yourself for a period of time to other players, it is the same thing as committing yourself to any group of people in the physical world. Breaking that commitment falls under the same etiquette umbrella, whether in game or out.

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Filed under: Breakfast Topics

Breakfast Topic: How and why did you leave your previous guild?

Guild gathering
I have no hard data, but my guess is that guild hopping has greatly decreased since the advent of guild reputation and perks. If you're going to leave a max-level guild that you are at least friendly with, you usually have a really good reason. In fact, I think many people stay in guilds far too long just because of the time investment in gathering reputation.

But guild levels haven't always been around, and many people who played before Cataclysm guild hopped. I've never been one for bopping from guild to guild. I like to get comfy in a guild and stick with it. Taking time to properly choose your guild helps, but sometimes guilds devolve into places you don't want to be. I've been rather lucky. Of course, the WoW Insider family of guilds is my main home, and it's a rather wonderful place to be.

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Filed under: Guilds, Breakfast Topics

Drama Mamas: Choosing between raiding and friendships

Drama Mamas Lisa Poisso and Robin Torres are experienced gamers and real-life mamas -- and just as we don't want our precious babies to be the ones kicking and wailing on the floor of the checkout lane next to the candy, neither do we want you to become known as That Guy on your realm.

In the video above, Candace's friends are off having fun without her. Since she is unwilling to find her own fun, she takes a portal to Mars to hang out with strangers -- and breaks into song. There are parallels with this week's letter (except for the song part).
Hi Robin & Lisa,

I'm finally writing in with my own dilemma. Since I started playing this game in mid-Wrath, I've played with my girlfriend and our mutual friend. We have a strong bond and truly enjoy playing together, and GF and I have even met our friend IRL. In Wrath, I led our 10 man raid group, and we loved every minute of ICC. Once the Cataclysm was upon us, we expected to continue raiding. However, things rarely work out as planned, and we missed T11 completely, mostly due to the dissolution of our guild. Eventually I became frustrated with lack of progress and quit the game for a while.

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Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Drama Mamas

It came from the Blog: Lunar Lunacy 2012 snapshots

Lunar Lunacy in Moonglade
Last week, the It came from the Blog family of guilds celebrated our second annual Lunar Lunacy. We gathered in Orgrimmar at the Lunar Festival area near the flight path. The minimum level to participate was 10, so that we could organize a raid in order to make good use of guild perks.

With participants from level 12 to 85, we got the following achievements: Some players also got the Frenzied Firecracker and Rocket's Red Glare achievements while we were organizing the raid.

Then those of us with all of the sub-Cataclysm Azerothian flight paths completed the Elders of Eastern Kingdoms achievement by following the Overachiever's Guide to the Lunar Festival, only abandoning one non-flying person along the way. (Sorry, Pricecut!)

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Filed under: Events, It Came from the Blog

Drama Mamas: How to find gaming buddies

Drama Mamas Lisa Poisso and Robin Torres are experienced gamers and real-life mamas -- and just as we don't want our precious babies to be the ones kicking and wailing on the floor of the checkout lane next to the candy, neither do we want you to become known as That Guy on your realm.

We've talked before about how to leave your guild, but what happens after that?
Hey Drama Mamas!

Today i write to you lovely ladies with a problem that I have been wrestling with for almost 4 years: finding someone to play World of Warcraft with. Here is the high and low of it, or rather the long and short:

Four or so years ago my brother starts playing a game that I considered to be a money sand trap: World of Warcraft, I cannot honestly say I was friendly to the franchise as at the time I was Neverwinter Night's personal slave (still am sometimes) but to make a long story short (too late) I was persuaded to take a vacation to Azeroth and I have never left. I fell in love with the planet and its people and while my hearth stone will always be set to Neverwinter, I am really enjoying my time in Azeroth.

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Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Guilds, Drama Mamas

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