All Stories

Every story, article, column, piece, and so forth on World of Matticus ever published.

The Search Continues…

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spotlight
Image courtesy of hberends

Matt and I want to thank you for the overwhelming response we have received so far to our call for submissions – they have impressed us in terms of quantity as well as quality. We really shouldn’t have been surprised, considering the existing quality and participation we see from the community around this blog every day, but we were a little caught off guard by the enthusiasm!

We have decided to leave the casting-call open for a week. All submissions must be entered by midnight, Pacific Daylight Time on August 20th.

Again, the subject is a 500 or so word article on your thoughts about WotLK. Please use the contact form to send in your post (That way it is sent to both of us.)

The prize is a spot on the World of Matticus staff – an unpaid, glamorous job characterized by fraternization with the coolest bloggers in Azeroth, Outland, and Northrend.

Thanks in advance, and we look forward to hearing from you!

Luv,
Matt & Wyn

So You Think You Can Blog? Looking for a 3rd Writer!

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SYTYCB

Week 2

Matt and Wyn’s Week 2 Critique

Crutch: 12 (or More!) Songs for a Musical Karazhan
Veleda: The Humble Checklist
Jen: 10 Silly Timewasters
Sydera: How to Recruit a New Healer in 10 Easy Steps
Joveta: 10 Reasons Horde is Better

Tulani withdrawn
Crutch eliminated

Week 1

Matt and Wyn’s Week 1 Critique

Joveta: Dear Azeroth, I Hate You
Sydera: An Open Letter to the Badge of Justice
Jen: WTB 2m leetsauce DPS 4 MrT, lf uber CC, kkthx!
Veleda: WoW is not a Zero Sum Game
Crutch: The Last Piece of Loot
Tulani: The Dark Side – Expansion Syndrome
Rusco: It’s not you, it’s me. Yeah, no. Really.

Rusco Eliminated

Updates

August 22: Contest Closed – More Details Will be Coming Up

Original Post

I want to get straight to the point. I’m looking to add a 3rd blogger to the World of Matticus crew.

Originally, I was envisioning a contest or a competition where participants would write a weekly post and I’d let my readers vote who would stay or go. Of course, I’d have a panel of “expert blogging judges” to provide their thoughtful opinions and critique. Each week, they would have to create a post for a particular theme or in a certain style. For example, one week would be a list, another week would be an RP post or I could get them to generate their own Cosmo-ish post.

But I’m not sure if I have the interest from readers to pull off a project like this. Maybe a duel to the death on one of those floating rocks in Netherstorm would work. Who knows? Maybe I will get enough interest. I know I’d definitely I’d definitely ask Kestrel, Anna, and Phaelia to guest judge ;).

The Underdog Blogger

  • You are a motivated writer at heart
  • Ideas come to you but you’re unsure about them
  • You don’t have the technological know how or time to establish a blog
  • You’re not comfortable/confident with promoting or marketing your blog even if you had one
  • You want to be heard but don’t feel loud enough

Does the above sound familiar?

could-be-you

What I’m offering

I am offering you a chance at the microphone here on my blog. You have the opportunity to bypass problems that early blog startups face. You won’t have to worry about security, maintenance, promotion or any of that stuff. All you’d have to do is simply write. I have no expectations for you to write daily. For example, Wyn volunteers to write a post or 2 every week. She chips in whenever work and real life allow, and I still shoulder the majority of the posts. But that doesn’t mean I can’t use an extra set of hands.

You can even view this as an opportunity to learn more about blogging in more detail. The experience gained writing here could be used to help springboard your own projects down the road.

I could really use some help.

What I’m looking for and how to apply

If you’re considering this position, just understand and recognize the fact that it’s not a paid position.

This will be an exercise in creativity. In 500 words (plus/minus 50) or less, can you tell me what you are looking forward to the most in Wrath of the Lich King? Whether you are a tester or not has no relevance. Even if you want to try it for fun, by all means. Feel free to leave a comment here or contact me directly using the form (it gets my attention quicker, and that’s a big hint).

EDIT: August 18th. World of Matticus turns 1.

BETA: WI – Spiritual Guidance: Utgarde Keep and the Nexus as Discipline

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A few days ago, I had the opportunity to run Utgarde Keep with my WoW Insider colleagues. I said would do a writeup of my experience and how it handled. One instance run is hardly enough time to accurately get a feel for the spec but the initial outlook is promising. You can find the whole post over on WoW Insider.

Discussed
  • Overview of the specs
  • Impression of Utgarde Keep
  • Opinion on the Nexus
  • Divine Aegis and Rapture in a field test (I approve!)
  • 70 blue cloth gear compared to my T6 gear

Assigning Healing Strategy – Part 3: The Pivot Healer

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Welcome to the third in a 5 part series here on World of Matticus. For the next several weeks, I’ll be covering the rare topic of assigning raid heals. No one really wants to do it but it’s the most important job in the raid and I’ll provide a basic overview of the process and some advanced tips!

In case you missed it:

  1. Week 1: Recognizing Class Strengths
  2. Week 2: Double Shifting Your Healers

Last week, I discussed the concept of double shifting your healers. I instructed that it is possible to assign one person to look after more than 2 people simultaneously. This week, I’m going to discuss the pivot healer.

What is the pivot healer?

Simply put, pivot healers are single target healers that switch between two or more assignments. It’s a technique to make life a little easier for your healing lead. It’s a way to minimize idle healers and recycle them.

A case study

Still unsure of what I’m referring to? Let me give you an example.

The first dual phase fight that comes to my mind is that of Leotheras. There are two main tanks required for the encounter and they alternate themselves depending on what phase Leo is. If Leo is a demon, the Warlock tanks him. If Leo is in his Elf form, he get’s controlled by a standard tank.

In true Matticus-like fashion, I’ll park 2 Paladins and a Priest on the main tank during Elf mode. Once phase 2 hits and Leo turns super saiyan, the same 2 Paladins and Priest immediately pivot over to the Warlock tank. At this point in time, the main tank is no longer taking the brunt of the damage so the healers that were on them can be rotated off of them.

pivot

And that’s today’s lecture! Hopefully the really cheesy graphic above can help illustrate what I’m trying to say. Remember they switch targets after a phase is over and look after whoever is holding the attention of the boss!

Matticus Joins the Wrath Club

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I scored a beta key from a friend and guildie today! I’m so incredibly happy! I’ve scoured the Internet and various WoW blogs as much as I could but I could not find much beta stuff from the perspective of a Priest.

Today that will change.

I’ll post a beta journal every few days or so chronicling what I’ve been up to, what I’ve found to work, what doesn’t and such. Master Lume informs me that the name Matticus has been taken. In case my other alternative names are taken, then I’m at a loss as to what I should name my Priest.

In any case, don’t expect too much just yet. I still have exams to write at the end of the week. But after that, that’s when the real fun begins. With luck, I hope I can continue to be a tried and true source of information for all of us Holy Priests as we gradually shift towards the expansion.

Of course, I need to download the client first.

And it takes 5 years.

Canada just got cable TV and running water last week.

Two cans and a string is what consists of our Internet connection.