I hope you’ll all excuse me and pardon our dust as I start this blog anew. You see, I’m still trying to figure out exactly what I want to blog about. Any of you long-time readers who were here in the early days (all four or five of you still reading) know that I used to pride myself on teaching what I called “Hunter Kindergarten” (for lower levels) and “Hunter 101” (for freshly dinged max level hunters). This is because I loved sharing what I knew about the class with others, so they could enjoy playing it as much as I did. Plus, then I’d feel set to recommend the graduating students head on to other hunter blogs that focused more on raiding. (A moment of silence to The Hunter’s Mark, BRK, Stabilized Effort Scope, and all the others.)
Now it’s hard for me to feel that much of this is necessary anymore. Many of the nuances of the class have been streamlined or changed to the point that I actually find it difficult to play a hunter wrong. Oh sure, in the early days when your first ten levels were spent sans pet and you had a dagger or axe thrust in your hand, then you bet there were all sorts of bad habits I wanted to help new hunters grow out of. But now there’s no minimum range, you only have a ranged weapon, and you’ve got a pet right from the start. Similarly, there’s really no need to learn how to chain trap, due to how long traps last. And modern shot rotations are, for the most part, simple and intuitive, especially compared to a few of the ones from back in the day.
So what is a Pike to do?
A few people have expressed interest that I try writing about hunters anyway, because why not. Perhaps I do bring a unique spin to things. Maybe people would rather hear me talk than read a more “sanitized” Icy-Veins or WoWHead guide. I have no idea why, but hey, who am I to argue with that idea?
TLDR: I’m still not 100% sure what I’m doing with the blog yet, so please bear with me. And if there’s something you’d like me to write about, do let me know! I’m desperate for ideas.
How about you go into “how to be a good, contributing member of your group instead of just pewpewing and be damned to everyone else.” Sort of a “how not to be a ‘huntard'” thing, updated for WoD.
Hello Pike! This is the first time I’ve ever posted on your blog. However, it is not the first time I’ve read it…NO! I’m about to embark on a long story, so please bare with me.
I use to watch my brother play WoW before he went off to college, so in Dec. 2007 he got me the game for x-mas. I was so pumped. I right away made a Hunter, they just sounded so cool to me. My first dungeon in Deadmines was a nightmare. I didn’t know what I was doing, and I had my pet on aggressive the whole time. I know.
I quit playing around level 18 for a few months because I just didn’t know what I was doing. Then the WoW big started biting. So, about a couple months into 2008 (I believe) I made the decision that I was going to find everything I could about Hunters, I was going to be a damn good one too.
That’s when I found your blog. I read everything. You taught me everything I could have wanted, and more.
Around the same time, I talked my friend into playing too. She rolled a Hunter as well, and I was like, “Go read Pikes blog!”. You taught us both so much, things we would have never gotten so quickly.
When we let our pets die in instances we would whisper each other and say, “Pike would be so disappointed.” You really were our spirit guide for so much.
We got better because of you.
I even owe you for my first gun I ever got. You put up the quest in Stranglethornvale back then. I loved that gun to bits.
I haven’t played WoW in 2 years now. A lot has happened in my life in those 2 years. I’m now 23 and sure I have lots of other things that are in my life, but Idk WoW will always hold a special place for me.
About a week ago the WoW bug started in on me. It wouldn’t stop. So you know what I did? I went to this blog. I was so happy to hear that you are playing again! It felt like old times. So I talked to my friend and I ended up buying us both game time, and boom we are back in the huntering zone.
I guess the whole point of this post is for me to just say thank you. You really have been as much a part of my WoW history as the game has. Also, to let you know that just because people are not commenting, doesn’t meant they are not reading.
I love you Pike, keep on keeping on.
P.S. I bought Windshifter (I can’t wait to get a paperback version soon!) when it first came out and it is glorious. I will be purchasing your new book as soon as I’m able.
Okay. I’m done. ^_^
I have the same issue with my blog. After blogging about rogue mechanics for years, in the last two expansions I have seen no need for that. Its one of the reasons that I have a hard time blogging anymore – there is so little to say, and I don’t want to just recount my gaming adventures.
@Keryn – A group etiquette sort of thing? I can see what I can do on that front.
@Dinaer – Yep, I definitely know how that goes. I enjoy talking about my gaming adventures but there’s only so much I can say about, say… my Garrison. And class mechanics are easier than ever to understand.
@Shaley – WOW! Huge thank you for that post! It made my day 😀 I am glad that I helped somebody a little!