Anyhow, it strikes me, from time to time, how like a living thing a guild is.  It sheds cells and rebuilds itself over and over, a constant cycle.  It’s a bittersweet thing, at times.  I look around Aetherial Circle now, and I see fewer of our original faces.  The first that hits me, of course, is Sharvan.  The day I got that phone call from Diyami, it literally took me a full minute on the phone to even figure out who was calling.  After I realized what was going on, I literally dropped to my knees on the floor.  It was so sudden, so unexpected.  We were doing our damndest to get her and Diyami to the AC BBQ we held in Maine, which was a just a few months away at that point.  We were even considering springing for a ticket for them.    It’s a wound that I don’t think will ever completely heal.

Diyami and Bunnyfluff, Shar’s RL friends, ended up switching servers a while back, because they were getting so much lag on Drenden that it was mostly unplayable.  Immortus is still with us, though I don’t see him around quite as much as we used to.  Flesh and Vein, two of the guildies who made the jump to Drenden with us back at BC launch, popped back in a month or so ago, but I haven’t seen them since.  One friend (who shall remain nameless here) who was an original member, I had to gkick because of his temper.  I hated doing it, especially since he’s a RL friend.  He moved a while ago, and I haven’t been able to talk with him much recently.  Msbehavin, the warrior who was our main tank when we made the switch to Drenden (I laugh saying this now, as back then, I had almost no idea what the hell a MT was) still hops on very occasionally with his new hunter, but it’s been a while.

Then, there are those who stopped by for a time.  Pyroclasm, you nutjob, we miss you wherever you are.  I don’t care how drunk you seemed at times on vent, you were hands down the best bear tank I have ever seen.  Kyndig, despite the bad ending, you were still very much a part of the family.  Crux, you were an awesome healer, a grumpy bastard, and everyone loved you for it.  Dallin, it broke our heart when you left to raid elsewhere – I still don’t agree with your reasoning, but I won’t let that ruin the good memories.  Oz, I know you’re still around now and then, but we miss having you around more.  TJ, if you don’t hop on Owen more often I’m going to pummel you.  Laguna, you were with us for a while, and screw real life for interrupting.  Skingrad/Dokis, you were a fun couple to play with.  Nightscarab, not sure if you eneded up leaving WoW, but if somehow you ever find and read this, I hope you’re doing well.  Deoin, Jace, Hathorn, and many others.

And there are some that are still with us.  Celliana, who I think it the only remaning member of a guild we absorbed trying to get into Karazhan.  Francois/Jefferson, who I sold the Leggings of Beast Mastery to the day he joined guild for about a quarter of the AH price.  Demetria, Anarac, Lamaa, and the rest of the BBQ crew.  Doom, who is like MacGuyver, except instead of making bombs out of paper clips he makes crude jokes out of the most innocent comments.  Militades, who we picked up as a healer and who turned into an incredible tank.  Naki, who was the tank for the Black Morass run that finally got Cay and Fio their keys (I was literally at the trainer about to respec feral when Steph was like “Wait, I found a tank!”).  BRK, who isn’t around as much any more, but who still stops in and hangs out when he can.  And more, of course.

There are new faces in the guild today.  I don’t know yet how they will fit in, what memories will be built, what the future holds.

Can a guild be said to have a personality?  Can it be said to mature?  It feels that way to me.  So much has changed in AC.  I look back at our early days in BC as a young, struggling guild almost like I look back on my childhood.  Everything was new and exciting.  Downing Attumen was a major accomplishment.  Attracting prospective members was incredibly hard – we had no proven track record to show them.  We almost gave it up twice, when we’d recruit ALMOST enough to get going, and then lose one or two more to a guild that was actually raiding.

We were always close.  But (and I hate to keep coming back to it) Shar’s death was what really made it hit home.  Tragedy is like that, sometimes.  Those who remain behind draw closer together.  In a way, it felt like the first death I experienced in my family.  You start appreciating those you still have, because it truly hits you for the first time that they won’t always be there.

When WoW finally closes its doors, it will be a sad day.  I’m not sure what will happen to Aetherial Circle as a whole.  Will we go our separate ways?  Move on to the latest and greatest MMO?  Stage an armed takeover of a small tropical nation and establish the central state of a hegemony that will soon envelop the world?  I’m just not sure.  What I do know is that among the trade chat trolls, random pugged group members, gold spammers, casually known guildies, and fifteen year old basement-dwelling teenage boys, I’ve found a few gems laying hidden.  True friends who I am proud to know, and friendship that may have been built on the foundation of a game, but has transcended that and become something more.

Life has crit both Fio and I upside the head.  While it’s been crazy, we’re going to get back into the swing of things.  Life, the boredom of the content, work woes have all contributed to lack of posting.

But fear not!  I have a cookie.

We’re recruiting… DPS!  We have the healz, we have the tanks!  We’re just looking for more pewpew!  Here’s the offical forums post from your lovable Critchicken (and the GM), Fio!

Hey everyone,

Aetherial Circle finds itself in need of (mostly) ranged DPS. We’ve lost a few to the Real Life boss, and for some reason our rezzes aren’t working..

We are currently full on Priests, Paladins, and DKs, but we potentially have space for just about anyone else. As I said, we’ll be mainly looking at ranged DPS. We specifically have room for a resto and/or elemental shaman, maybe two, depending on our other response. We could also use one more hunter.

We have currently cleared all content except Sarth +3.

Now, about us. We do 25 man content, although there are unofficial runs into the 10 man content. We’re a “casual raiding guild” for all that tells you. What it means to us is that we raid 3 days a week, about 3-4 hours per raid. We’re 18+ only, and while guild chat isn’t a cesspool, you will sometimes see off-color jokes. We plan to do experience all content, but we don’t necessarily do all acheivements. Our purpose is to experience what the game has to offer, and still be able to have family, kids, and about half of a real life. For those that are curious, we use a zero-sum DKP system called SWAPS.

What we want to hear about is just a brief blurb about your experience, a link to your armory profile, and why you think you’d fit in with AC. There are no hard and fast DPS requirements or gear requirements. As long as you’ve got decent gear and know how to play your class, you’ll be fine. We raid Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday, and invites go out at 7:45 EST. If you can’t make every night, that’s fine. We’re willing to talk to people who can only do 2 of those nights. The main thing we’re concerned with is that you attend what you commit to, and you come to raid on time and prepared.

If you’re interested, please email recruit AT aetherialcircle DOT com. Yes, I’m writing it that way to avoid spambots. Consider it the pre-screening intelligence test.

Thanks for the interest all. Hope to hear from some of you soon.

So join us for the fun! <3 Stephi

EDIT:  US Drenden Server!  Totally forgot that part >.>

On to Malygos! Our second night of hardcore tries! Monday was just a warm up XD  Getting used to a fight that’s actually… well, hard.  (Sorry but Naxx was waaaaaaaaaaay too easy.)  Doling out the healing assignments… wait… 1 priest, 2 priest… pally… shaman… that’s all?

Four healers.

COMMENCE FREAKOUTIFICATION!

So, first wipe, Phase 1, adjust strat.  Second wipe, phase 3!  3D ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!  combo points not showing up arg I hate Ace’s High!  Wipe 3, 4, 5, and 6, adjust adjust adjust.

Did I mention this guy looks pretty damn epic?

Anywho, we’re on our 6th wipe, and we lose a DPS.  ZOMG and we’ve already had a 1% wipe and a 5% one in there too!  Nooo lose on teh DPS!  T.T

But then… we got our crap together, aaaaaaaaand died… except… for ONE!

Jefferson LIIIIIIIIIIIVES! AND MALYGOS DIED! WOOOOOOO!

Time to rock out with the Queen bee.  /rockout

Aetherial Circle clears Wrath 25 man!  Wheeeeeeee!

Oh, in case you didn’t see it…

OMFG WE GET IT ALREADY! /crazypants

Second try for the night, we had about 6 PuGs, and a very dead BE Nambee Pambee.

Btw, I think MrT’s Gravity Lapse is harder…. you take more damage! XD

But all in all, I’m just glad that people got their shiney new titles, and I got to get rid of that silly Vashj vial that’s been in my bank since May.

Grats Guys! <3

PS: Felt nice to raid something again too. XD  Next time though, I’m bringing the Bansidhe, Cay’s shelving is now complete.

Just in a state of…. blarg?

Summer time funk? Check. Expansion blues? Check. Raid Burnout? Double Check. Bored and not sure what to do about it? Yea, that’s us.

It was bound to happen, I would think. I know last week, after our Canadian friends went to Georgia and then home, Jas and I looked and looked for something, anything, game wise to give us that spark of interest back.

The game store was BARREN. I swear, I’ve never come across such a crappy time for games. Everything that looks interesting is COMING SOON!

Well, why not be there now damn it?! There were a few things in WoW making me really not want to log in (get to that shortly), and as much as I love Mass Effect, I can only play it so much. But all the good stuff? Spore, Infinite Undiscovery, Spore… ok, so I’m really looking forward to Spore… but you get what I mean. The nifty games aren’t here.

Jason likes WoW, but he’s not a real MMO type of person. WoW has me hooked to the MMO environment, so I figured I’d experiment. I tried four or five different trials of other MMOs…

Out of all of them (Guild Wars is still HELLA BORING), EQ2 was the only one I might consider ever purchasing (Jas, and the internet apparently, refuses to let me try FFXI). So yea… not a bad experiment… I guess. But arg. Of the other types of games I’d like to play? Store didn’t have them. I miss EBgames. Game Stop sucks. /sulk

I’d love to try the Prequel God Of War, I love that series. It’s a ton of fun, and I definitely can’t wait for the third in the series. Crisis Core also looked awesome, but again, the store didn’t have it. I don’t have anything against my PSP, but sometimes, just playing on that tiny screen just… well, it’s TINY!

So, we bought Dynasty Warriors 6 for Jas (he’s in love with that series) and Gears of War.

I. Suck. At. Gears. Of. War. HARDCORE. I keep getting myself or Jas KILLED. It’s IMPOSSIBLE to tell which big beefy guy is my F’ing team mate and which one is the bad guy!

So yea, kinda trying to keep myself occupied… it’s hard. I’m very excited about some of the games coming SOON… and excited about the expansion for WoW… but blarg.

I deleted Leilu. Level 50 shaman with 350 JC’ing and 330 LWing… I’m cursed. NO MORE LEATHERWORKERS! They’ll just get deleted. I made a horde priest in her place. Cause I needed a priest there. I’m spending a lot of time on both sides now. Another Blood elf, though I’m kinda wishing I made her a troll, but she’s 21 and I don’t feel like starting over. So, all my hordies on Drenden be Blood elves. Yarrrr.

AC has pretty much given up on the raid scene till Wrath. Why? Well, between the stress, summer scheduling, our MT burning out and what not… it was just too much. Jas and I just said too much to re work. So it’s kinda sad, people have split off to keep seeing content. Which is fine by me. But the green has gotten kinda sparse and that’s kinda sad to see. But that’s life.  Edit:  Thought I put more… anywho, some will be back, others may stay where they are.  But either way, still have plenty of friend to chat and play with.  I’ll miss it, but I don’t miss the stress.

Our friend said we’re veteran raid officers now. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. ;P But it’s something!

I need to set aside some time to redo the layout of MIRL. It’s starting to get on my nerves…

Triple dots (…) seem to be very prevalent in this post. O.o Oh and I should probably update to WP 2.6.1… but it looks really difficult! I feel like I’m gonna fudge something up.

Oh, if you’ve made a comment to one of our posts for the first time and it’s never appeared… I’m sorry. I had to go through 100 spam comments like yesterday and … GAWD. How do people filter this stuff? I know there’s some sort of addon to WP (another thing I can’t seem to figure out) called Kismet? Er something, and it makes the spam go away… er something. Rarg. Any tips oh veterans of WP?

That’s all I can type for now. Time to go to work in like 40 mins so I should get some more Darkspear Troll rep grinding done.

Toodles!

Entertaining the Canadians!

<3

Demetria and Anarac have come to visit Rhode Island and so Jas and I are showing them around. Yayness!

Some thoughts:  Yea, I know, I should probably take a break.  I have one coming up.  We’ve got some visitors from out of town coming the first full week of August, and since Jason is working all week, it’s up to me to show them around the dull and drab… I mean, wonderful New England landscape.  Yea… that’s it. >.>

Probably won’t be raiding that Wednesday XD  As for the “Ug” factor that came from Monday, it’s been settled, and I think, guildwise, we’re forging ourselves into a more coehsive whole.  The guildie came back (YAYNESS) and had a good long chat with Jas and I.  Jas put up kinda this “State of the Raid Progression” thread on the forums, and Brig was also awesome for putting up this really cool thread about everyone coming together.  It made me all teary.  He really is a Positive Warrior. XD

Good positive responses to the SotRP thread too, so huzzah for that!  One hiccup, hopefully it can be solved.  But otherwise, not everything is as dire and dreary as it was the day before.

I think another contributing factor, at least on my end, was the end to Jas’s unemployment.  He’s got a job now (did I mention HUZ-FUCKING-ZAH?!) and I was so used to that stress in the background that it was weird not having to worry about it.

Ok, that might not make sense.  It does to me, so I guess that’s what matters. ^.^

I’m also getting more and more time at my job, which, makes me one of the happiest people ever.  I love this job.  Now if only I can get back to school to get that pesky Bachelors, then Masters in Library Sciences, then, THEN I’ll be feeling hella awesome.  That, however, is very long term.

Did… did I just say hella?  /headdesk

Oh!  Something else that was all interesting and makes me QQ like a little girl:  FIO GOT A BETA KEY AND I DIDN’TT.T

A guildie of ours got him a beta key last year, and he just got his invite last night.  I expect him to be farting around with that once he gets home, before BT tonight.  So far, I have to say, I hope they do something more with the Typhoon spell… it looks like a big teal blob O.o

For now, it’s off to farm some more Primal Shadows and maybe get lucky and get that Shadow to cloak enchant (/crosses fingers).  Btw, I FINALLY got Spell power to bracers.  Cleared out the area of Geomancers three login’s in a row!  /rawr!

/hugs

<3 Cay

Playing a psychotic pit fighter NPC was also like, the highlight for my weekend.  ZOMG it rocked.  So much so that I might make a Kindred of the East and play it with Fio in his vampire game who has a similar make up to the psycho pit fighter.

MAYBE.  Still not sure, because I’m not much of a vampire person, but KoE is a different flavor of Vamp.  We shall see.

Anywho, this post started on Monday, it’s now Tuesday, and time for me to talk about what’s been on my mind lately.

I love playing WoW with my friends.  But I’m getting to a critical point.  I think I’m starting to burn out with all this raiding shit.  Yea, I know, you’re thinking, “WTF HOW?  You only raid 3 nights a week for like 3 hours!” and yea, I do.  But I’m an officer too.  So along with the raiding, I’m stratigizing with the other officers on how to approach the new/problem boss, working with a different make up of raiders each time, getting the healers in order and giving them their assignments each raid.  Doesn’t sound like a lot when you look at it, but add on top of the whole pile the stress of “What if X or Y has to cancel last second, what then?” and you’re forced to bring an alt in that’s not prepared, or X was a tank or healer or mage (we only have 1 raiding one T.T) or something important to the raid.

The stress piles up.  I hate the stress.  I thought back in SSC/TK things were bad.  It’s just gotten worse.  And on top of all that, there’s been some differences with some people on where to take the guild progression wise.  Everyone’s got their thoughts, has loot they don’t want to leave behind, etc.  Everyone has an opinion on everything.  And I have this thing where I want to try and keep as many people happy as possible.

But it’s costing me my happiness.  I’m burning out.  I don’t even feel like logging in now.  And it sucks.

I’m not saying people are horrible, no good, very bad, er whatever.  If that’s what you’re reading into this, then you’re dead wrong.  If you’re an officer or a guildleader, you probably know all about what I’m experiencing.  It’s not fun.  I was the troupe “leader” for a while in my werewolf LARP a few years back.  Being in charge SUCKS.

We downed Azgalor for the first time ever last night.  And when one of the officers made a boo boo after some Archimonde attempts, we lost a guildie from it.  Not sure if they’re coming back.  I hope so.  But it’s like, you know, we’re human.  We have human failings.  Not everything is going to be perfect every time.  But it’s like, we took out a boss that was giving us grief for the past three weeks… and we lost a guildie.  Bad event kinda over shadows the boss killing high.  : /

I don’t usually blog about this kind of thing.  It’s that negative gossip crap that just isn’t me.  But honestly, I’m looking for advice.  Because I’m tired.  I love playing with my friends, though there are some things we’ve had to sacrifice to get where we are and I’m not even sure it’s worth it any more.  I know I want our guild to hit Illidan right in the face before Arthas comes out to freeze our butts with level 80 stuff.  It’s very DOABLE too.

What do you do?

Srsly, I want to just find these people and destroy their fingers. The guy who hacked the Priest/Druid though, he was a total tool. Sitting there telling my guildies, “Give me a thousand gold and I WON’T delete this toon”?!??!?!?

WTF is that BS! Those authenticators can’t come fast enough.

Priest and Druid got their stuff back relatively quickly, I’m not sure about Kel though. Her hack-assmasterpieceofsh!tOMG THIS ISN’T SAFE FOR YOUR KIDDIES! RAAAAARG!

Ahem, anywho, her acct was hacked in the wee hours of the morning, so not sure wtf Blizz is doing there.

/headdesk

This just sucks. I hate seeing people getting hacked. Its a mental violation, all the work and time people put into these toons. Scares me sometimes. I’m not sure what I’d do if I got hacked. Other than get rip roaringly pissed off. Reformat the drive, that’s #1. After that… I dunno. I have so many toons, they’d have a freakin’ field day. Did we hit another Hacker Time? I mean, the Christmas season was rife with hacks, we had three of them in our guild alone and there were a bunch on our server. According to trade chat, others were hacked too. So WTF Blizz? If this is seasonal (hell, people are off catching some rays right?) then isn’t there a better way to handle every case that comes your way?

I’m not all that into giving constructive advice, I’m still way too ticked off.

Maybe tomorrow.