Highlight Posts of 2009

You didn’t think I was going to finish out the year without the traditional “Best of 2009” post, did you? Here’s the top posts of 2009 based on your views, comments, and tweets.

On healing

• 5 Archetypes of the Healer – First time guest poster Lodur takes a look at the different healing archetypes and the signs to watch for.
• 4 Reasons Healing Meter Sucks – Ulkesshern guest posts with his thoughts on the flaws of healing meters.
• The Secret to Being a World Class Healer – You’re 1 click away from discovering what really great healers have in common. What are you waiting for?
• Why Play a Healer? – Professor Beej contributed a guest post on why healers play healers.
• 7 Important Healing Lessons I Learned from 1 Quest – This was written recently and has generated positive reactions.
• Healer DPS: The Good, the Bad, the Unfair – Newest contributor Thespius writes about what healers don’t often do: DPS.

On gaming and society

• On Exploits: A Philosophical Musing – Remember that whole “Ubershirt” scandal? Syd weighs in on the legitness of exploiting.
• Girls Hate Chuck Norris: On Women and Raiding Guilds – Women continue and raiding continue to be a hot topic and Syd doesn’t shy away from this either.
• Sympathy for a Griefer – There is this guy who creates a character where all he does is just grief people all day within the confines of the game.
• Archetypes of the Female Gamer, revisited – Syd writes another post that strikes a cord with you readers garnering over 200 reactions.

On guild management

• Officers: Who Watches the Watchmen? – I detail my thoughts down on officers and who or what keeps them in check from abusing their powers.
• Us vs. Them: What can I do When Guild Members Disagree – Syd writes a post on mediation between officers and the rest of the guild when differences occur.
• Friends and Raiders: Raider Accountability – Lodur tackles a guild topic on raider discipline and how to make sure the players are putting in 100%.
• The No Asshole Rule: Constructing a Civilized Guild – This post title speaks for itself.

On recruiting

• What GMs Want to See on Your App – I have seen many applications over the years. Here’s a list of things that you should include.
• 6 Ways to Reject a Guild App Without Sounding like an Angry Ex – I have also turned down applications. Here’s how to let them down gently.
• Is Applying to Multiple Guilds a Sin? – A question was asked on Twitter on whether or not players should take the shotgun approach. I provided my thoughts as well as the thoughts of others.

On raiding

• 10 vs 25-Person Content Revised – Syd changed her mind on 10 vs 25 player raids. But why?
• 6 Influential Factors in Loot Council Decisions – Want to know what goes on behind the scenes in officer chat when loot is being discussed? Here is a glimpse.
• Raid Flexibility: Preparing for the Inevitable – Players are going to leave for whatever reason. Lodur outlines some preparation steps to keep your raiding machines going.
• Pass the Parcel: When Raiders Won’t Roll – One of Mimetir’s first blog posts on loot and explains the motivations that players have to not roll.

On blogging

• Syd’s Guide to Blogging: How to Read  – Syd wrote a post for early bloggers on the topic of reading. Yes, before you can write, you have to read!
• Syd’s Guide to Blogging: Getting Started – Syd followed it up with how to actually get the ideas flowing and to begin writing.
• The Purple Kodo: 13 Points of Blogging – There are a ton of blogs out there. But how do you get noticed? How do you get people to link to you? Am I posting too much? What is a successful post? All these and more questions were answered.

To other WoW bloggers, I’d love to see you compile a list of your favourite posts that you have written over the past year and don’t be afraid to post a link in the comments to it below.

Have a safe and happy new year! I would share my New Years party stories, but chances are, this Dwarf would not remember. There was that one year where I woke up half naked with a Tauren beside me and a banana…