I think I am going to make Ranting a Monday morning type of thing. I know you say how can you schedule a rant Cerias? By definition isn't it something you do when you lose control and make broad general claims that are not backed up by any substantial evidence in the heat of the moment.
Pretty much sums it up. However I get the most comments when I speak from my ass. Sooo expect more of it. Basically I have to piss people off to get them to post. Whether they get pissed off and support my general directive or get pissed off and post in contradiction doesn't matter. All that matters is that you care enough about something to post.

You know what pisses me off? The Official Rogue Forums. I have a problem with the name Official. Why are they the official rogue forums? Honestly blizzard you should appoint community run forums as the official forums. Even if it's not RogueSpot... it would still be better then directing your newer players to the cesspool of topics that is the Rogue Forums.

The World of Warcraft Rogue Forums have not seen a moderator in months, maybe years. If I could liken it to getting a haircut the Rogue Forums have a mullet. Nerf this, Overpowered that, rick rolled lol! There, just summed up 90 percent of the posts for you. At the very least Blizzard could pay for some decent moderation... it's not like your short on cash. I bet there are a lot of people that would do it for free.

It seemed like they had the right idea by making those Most Valuable Posters that post in sickly light green. Then they dropped the ball. Did they continue to make new ones? Even at RogueSpot I recognize that people leave the game or get bored with trolling the forums or put time else where.

This is such a basic element of forum management I don't understand how they can not find adequate moderation for their forums 24/7 . Out of the Millions of people and the Billions of dollars there has to be a way!

Because of this lack of moderation good information is lost by the wayside. Posts that should be stickied for new Rogue's to read is lost because the post eventually hits a limit of replies and then falls below the pruning limit and is cut from the forums.

We don't prune at all at RogueSpot I am sure you could find the first post ever posted on these forums if you really wanted too. Posts that deserve it get stickied. Hell we have an entire 2 forums of stickied posts. Those stickies are automagically listed on the front page here to your left under SI: Library.

This thread by Mephz on Mutilate should have been stickied weeks ago.
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=5103943299&sid=1
It's still being bumped zealously but its halfway to oblivion. I am writing this post 5 days before its published... but I am pretty much guaranteeing that post will not have a sticky by then either.

Is it the off chance that your post might get seen by a blue. I can understand the attraction for people posting videos. You will get much bigger exposure. But for any reasonable discussion the wow forums just don't cut it. 2 Years ago the situation might have been different. Even I had my Advanced Rogue Guide 3.0 stickied in the Rogue forums for nearly 2 years as well of a bunch of other very useful resources.

In Summary. WoW Forums Suck... RogueSpot Rocks. Get over here!

Labels: rant, wow

I'd like to thank Cerias Shadows for giving me this opportunity to guest write an article on the Roguespot blog, which incidentally hosts the best damn rogue forum ever.

My name is Psyae, and I've been writing rogue and WoW related stuff since about August of 2005, been playing WoW since the stress test and beta. You can find out more about me at psyae.com, and read more of my writing there.

What Makes a Better PvP Player?
(also applies to PvE)

You've all been there. Despite all the ganking you've done, there's still always someone, or a group of someones, who is always able to take you down. Perhaps during a particularly gruesome pvp episode, you've slammed your keyboard and yelled, "I hate this game!" Perhaps you've thought about quitting (not really seriously, but it does get frustrating). Perhaps you've heard rumors from others in your guild or circle of friends that you just aren't that good at playing WoW, maybe you should go play The Sims or something.

Well, it could very well be that you suck. It could very well be that you ought to stop playing WoW.

Or, more likely, you ought to learn the tricks of the trade in order to boost your ability to play. I'm here to tell you how.

Odds

Let's take, for example, two human AI rogues, built exactly the same way, same level, same stats, same gear. Everything is exactly the same. Now have the computer make them duel. Who will win? Is it 50/50? Yes. Why? The laws of statistics tell you it's 50/50. It has to be. It's literally random because both opponents will have exactly the same code to draw from and have exactly the same chance of winning each fight.

But. What really happens? Who knows. Rogue A might win 9 out of 10 times. Anyone know what the odds are that the rogue will win the next match? If you answered 50/50, you're right. Just because one has consistently won doesn't mean the odds change. The chance stays the same.

But that's a computer. Now take those same exact human rogues and let two real live people play them. Oboy! The factors involved now are insanely complicated and absolutely impossible to fully determine. But I'm going to cover the most prominent and adjustable factors, so that you can use them as guidelines for how to improve your odds.

Improving Odds

First, and unfortunately one of the most fundamental factors since the advent of computer-based pvp, is which player has a slower connection (i.e., more latency). This factor is compounded by a number of things: cpu speed, computer memory, hard drive speed, hard drive I/O, graphics card, video settings, sound card/settings (better believe it, I've won matches and defended flags by using sound! (sit in the WSG flag room and listen... you can actually HEAR enemies dismount upstairs coming from the ramp to the middle section)), ethernet card, router, modem, Internet connection, ISP speed/reliability, distance from WoW hub server, number of other players accessing that hub server, and many more subtle factors. You might think, aw, that's BS! But I've been playing pvp for years and years, starting with serial connections between pcs, 300 baud dial-up modems, and beyond, and I'll tell you, the difference between a 100 and 400 latency is the difference between 1st and 4th place in the Olympics (depending on what game you're playing, of course).

Second: Equipment. Not in-game, but real gear. Player using a N52? A cordless mouse (which adds its own latency), a low or high-tech keyboard? A fuzzy monitor, or top of the line? How is the person's desk set up? Laptop while sitting up in bed? PVP combat control room desk setup? Something in between? Each of these characteristics comes into play during combat, and is often ignored and overlooked by many players. How many times have you tried to turn 180 degrees, and your mouse hits your keyboard, and you instinctively lift it up, reset it, and move it again? That, friends, takes time and effort. Each of these factors has an impact on your ability to stay in control in pvp.

Third: Physiology. Needless to say (but apparently needed here), assuming both players have the exact same technology, there's a chance one of them taps the right sequence of keys just a bit faster or more correctly than the other. One will get that timing just right, while the other is off. Sure, with a couple of decent players, they may trade off on who gets that gouge in first, when both go for it simultaneously. What makes the better pvper? Consistency. What else? Ability to stay in control of the I/O (keyboard, mouse, etc.) while under stress: you get sweaty hands? constantly hit the wrong key? use a lot of point and click on your hotbars instead of setting up macros? Another physical factor is more basic: have you had enough sleep? Studies show that sleepy drivers are more dangerous than drunk ones, and cause just as many highway accidents. What's that tell you about your in-game reaction time based on sleep deprivation? Nutrition? Other health habits? Although there are raver kids out there, high on Jolt, beating the crap out of everyone in pvp, it's all part of the factor.

Fourth: Mental state. Had a stressful day at work? With the kids? With anything? Having your subconscious nag at you while trying to pvp can be a killer.

Fifth: Knowledge. Are you playing a game for the first time? Playing a class for the first time? Just reset your talent points? Just changed all your gear? Just advanced into a new level bracket? How much do you know about your opponent? Did you know that orcs are resistant to stuns? Do you know what all of your enemies' pvp trinkets do? Did you know that different classes get different types of pvp trinkets? Include in this factor "perception." Have you counted to yourself the number of seconds since that priest cast psychic scream? If not, how will you know when he'll be able to do it again? Better pvpers culminate a collection of knowledge about the game, characters, and gear, and their own observations of the actions of opponents while playing.

Sixth: Experience. If all you ever played before WoW was Starcraft, you might be great at setting up overall strategies and executing them, but you might not be so great at being able to turn constantly to face a slippery rogue, intent on getting a backstab in. By my count, I've had about 21 years of pvp experience, which includes all forms of pvp: DnD and other tabletop games, computerized jet fighter combat games, real life combat simulation games (such as lasertag, paintball, and SCA), all varieties of modern pvp games (quake, quake TF, unreal, cs, uo, swg, coh, etc.), and ten years of Marine Corps training and experience. I'm not saying I'm the best pvper out there. I get my butt kicked all the time. But I'm the type who can tell you exactly why I got my butt kicked. Exactly what I did wrong each time, and I often return the favor the next time around, having learned from my mistakes.

Seventh: Luck. Only the unlucky hate luck. I can't stand it. Luck is what makes one AI vs AI win 9 times out of 10, even though there's a 50/50 chance every round. Luck is what makes your gouge miss three times in a row. Luck is what gets you killed in two hits, or saves your life at the last possible second. Luck is something that cannot be calculated or relied upon. Just hope you're lucky.

Eighth: Percentiles. Some might throw this in with "luck." It doesn't belong there, because luck, by definition, cannot be improved. What can be improved is chance. We started off with the basic template of AI vs AI having the exact same stats. But what if one got a +1% to dodge item instead? Does that automatically make him win each round? Not by far. But does it change the 50/50 chance? YES. It does. By definition, it must. It might be by less than 1%, considering all the factors involved, but it's an advantage that cannot be overlooked. "Good" pvpers (or at least the wary ones) will research and implement as much as possible gear that increases those odds in that person's favor. The mere fact that someone happened to have acquired some of that gear and equipped it does not mean that player is a "good" pvper. Not by far. Gear, in itself, does not make anyone a "good" pvper. It merely gives that person a better chance that something will happen in that person's favor. This includes having stocks of potions, scrolls, and other buffs.

Ninth: Build. This came close to falling under knowledge, but I felt it needed its own category. The more you've played a particular class, and the more you've studied it, the more you will know about what talent builds are effective for you. You probably won't really find one that's best until you've reached level 60/70, which is why most talent guides out there are based on that level, but there are plenty of resources out there with vast amounts of information and statistics about each talent and each build. Some will say to start out with a cookie-cutter build, and go from there. Others will say just put points in what you use anyway. There's no real answer except that the best pvpers really know how not to waste these precious points on stuff they don't need or won't use. And, they use these skills all the time, with the determination to win each fight.

Tenth: Nature. You're not going to like this one, but it can't be helped. Although I'm a firm believer that everyone can become better at pvp, I'm also quite confident that not everyone can be the best at pvp. Whether or not you interpret either to mean "good" at pvp is up to you, but in every human pursuit, there are always people who are better and people who are not so better. In other words, if you've maxed out 1-9 above, and you're still not kicking pvp butt, then you might just be at your max. At least in the game you're playing. I know some people who rule in one game, and get beat miserably in another, even though the games are very similar.

[note: the concept of "common sense" is essentially embedded in a number of the listed factors]

This doesn't mean you should hang up your swords and daggers, though. The nice thing about WoW, as well as most MMORP games is that much combat relies on teamwork. If you've noticed, most of what I've said so far seems centered around the individual. It is. It's mostly a "how can I improve my individual pvp ability?" guide. However, there's an additional set of factors that apply to group pvp combat. Even if you're totally lousy at individual pvp, you could be one of the best team supporters ever.

Team pvp factors should start with the 1-10 above. To be a good teammate, you should know your class as much as possible. Perhaps you're not a "natural," but if you know your class and you know your teammates' classes, you're much better off.

Improving Team Play

1 - always pick a leader early on, and then follow that leader's strategy as a group

(good luck doing that in pickup group battlegrounds)

2 - intra-team support is extremely important, and should be a priority when arranging a raid group

3 - consider the ultimate objective in determining strategy: it's likely "getting honor", and quick wins are significantly more honor profitable than farming honor kills in a slow game, or basing your strategy on a slow defensive position

4 - have a plan (and a backup plan), but always be flexible

5 - encourage detailed field reports. Field reports (e.g., 2 inc LM) are exactly what the leader needs to make important decisions and to prepare defenders. If the majority of the raid group is reporting, the law of averages added to the volume of reports will grant the leader fairly accurate and up-to-date information.

6 - Discourage chatter and negativity. Some cheering and comments are fine, but "we'll never win!" or "the leader sucks!" or such negativity warrants quick removal or a good talking-to. Don't confuse this with reporting. "OMG, there are like 10 horde/alliance at LM, and they pwnd us!" That's potentially more informative than negative, and most let it slide unless it turns into a rant.

7 - Follow the "Leader", not the leaders. You'll have a plan, a leader, and set up teams, and will be riding to your destinations when someone will ALWAYS say (mostly in a PUG), "Hey, BS only has 2 defenders! Let's go there!" Or something. Sometimes worse. Often this person goes there anyway. Despite the potential target, if it's not the target under the plan, this is a distraction that has caused the downfall of many groups. It's the responsibility of the leader and players dedicated to winning to follow the plan. The leader should inform the group to continue as planned, but to take the new information into account. Perhaps if another target is overwhelmed, it might be good to try to take a softer target. However, that's not the place of non-leaders to decide.

8 - As a member of the group, place the highest priority on the goal, not on your personal agenda. In WSG, when I'm escorting a flag carrier, most of the time I don't stop to finish off a pursuing enemy because I am trying to apply crippling poison to ALL the pursuing enemies. If I stopped, I could get a few HK in, but it wouldn't protect the flag carrier. Apply this just about everywhere. In AB and AV, it's much more important to interrupt multiple potential flag cappers than it is to kill an individual flag capper. Chances are, you'll die doing so, but if it gives your teammates time to come to the rescue, you've done your job. (In short, don't be greedy). [of course, this all depends on your overall strategy and individual tactics, but the ultimate objective should take priority over personal objectives]

9 - Be a good individual pvper, based on the other factors. If, for instance, three horde cannot defeat two alliance of the same level (and approximately the same gear), with no interruptions, the horde haven't been doing their homework. I've seen it happen both ways, and much worse. I've seen two horde beat five alliance. The level differences weren't that great, but the alliance were falling too easily, obviously based on pvp inexperience. You don't have to be #1 scorer to be good at pvp, but you should strive to be better.

10 - Have fun. In any pvp situation, if you're playing while frustrated or angry, or stressed, or depressed, or anything, then why are you playing? It's certainly not going to help your ability, and undoubtedly you'll shout out something you'll later regret, and get people mad at you. Your pvp rank is never worth such extremes. Sure, you'll get mad because someone should have done something you think they should have, or you screwed up. Hey, it happens. Most likely, you'll quickly get over it. But if you find yourself not getting over it. Apologize to the team, and take a break after the next game. Go for a walk, relax, watch a movie or read a book to get your mind off playing. You'll find that when you later return to the game, you'll feel much better about it, and can contribute to the team more effectively, as well as optimistically.


Hopefully, you'll have gained something from my lists, if not a comparison to what you've already been doing. It's not perfect or 100% complete, but my objective is that if it helps even a few players, it's worth it.

Please feel free to visit my blog at psyae.com, where I torture my visitors with volumes of tedious rogue and WoW-related stuff.

-Psyae

Labels: pvp, wow