My good buddy Matt just wrote an article likening himself to “Samwise the Brave”. The noble friend, no matter the circumstances, who is willing to swallow his pride to bring up the team. It’s admirable. It’s considerate. It’s exactly what I would do…
…for certain people.
A friend, alt or no alt, who needs some help getting geared. Maybe it’s his/her first 80. It’s all good, because I know this person. I understand that he/she is not trying to take advantage of the time and effort that I’ve put into the game for selfish benefit. I’m more than willing to lend my knowledge to help make them a better player. Because let’s be honest, you’re training a new class of raider/gamer when you do this. I, myself, have 2 friends that I’m leveling alts with. I teach them about kill orders, focus-firing, and CCing. My hope is to get them ready for hitting 80 so they can come into raids with us.
Likewise, a new 80 who lays it all out up front. Totally honest about their gear or their skill, and isn’t a jackass about it. Someone who is looking to the veterans for guidance. An under-cap tank that wants me to heal them through the early heroics to get some basic gear. A dps or two that may need the fight to go on longer than usual because they can’t quite pull their weight yet. I have no problem taking longer on a fight because they’re working on their rotation and getting numbers up (though that’s also what Target Dummies are for).
However, I can’t heal stupidity.
I’m serious. I may try to throw heals, but my finger goes numb and can’t press the hotkey. I could try to shield, but the mouse button turns to stone. It’s immovable. I won’t hear that “click”.
Flash Heal won’t work on a tank that tells me he’s Defense-capped, but admits later that he’s only at 510 Defense while trying to tank the upper-level heroics. “I needed a healer to carry me through so I can get PhAT lEwtZ”, they may say.
Prayer of Mending just refuses to bounce to that one DPS player that ignores the “Targeting You!” over the mob’s head, or dismisses Omen because it’s too distracting. With all of the “aggro drop” skills that are available, utilizing them might break the healing immunity that seems to have plagued my heal targets. Assisting the tank takes 1.5 seconds.
My new battle is trying to Shield the player that constantly hollers out “GO” while the tank is marking targets, or while the healer is drinking, or the other DPS are figuring out any CC that may be needed. It’s especially difficult when that player has the “Patient” title next to their name. Apprently that’s just a front, like a pub is a front for the Dwarven Mafia. My PW:Shield is simply answered with “Invalid Target”.
I always try to be a great player to run with. I’m always willing to help, if needed. If you need a fight explained, sure. If you need some advice on a talent or gear choice, no problem. However, if you find yourself a version of any of the latter three examples, then I have to apologize for the ineffectiveness of my heals. I can’t control them! =D
Cheers,
