6 PM rolls around which means it’s time to raid.
Potions? Check.
Buff food? Check.
Drinks? Ginger Ale for me, not sure what the rest of you go with.
You get the invite to raid and glance at your party frames before doing a double take. Your name isn’t anywhere in the first five groups. Guess what? You’re in the ever elusive group 6. Your WoW Instant Messenger springs to life with a message from the boss. Looks like they’re going for a new composition which means you need to take a seat on the bench for the first few encounters.
At this stage in the expansion, compositions vary wildly based on bosses, who needs what, and number of trial players (if any). It’s pretty darn dejecting to warm the seats. It’s not done out of malice or hate. Your guild has decided on that specific configuration to get them through that specific challenge (or if it’s a farm boss, it’s they need to grab someone specifically for loot or trial reasons).
Hey, your guild is counting on you, too!
Even I, thee Matticus, gets called upon to sit. On the evenings I do sit, I have a myriad of activities at my disposal.
- Reading: It seems as if there’s not enough time for people to read as much as they want. Right now, I’m working on the third book in the Kane Chronicles (The Serpent’s Shadow). If not books, I’ll catch up on various blogs around the internet via Google Reader.
- Gaming: I don’t think I’ll be get in a full League of Legends match, but I can squeeze in a game of Draw Something or Scramble with Friends on my iPhone. On the computer, I’ll pounce onto the guild Minecraft server (I’m working on a personal fortress but I need more cobblestone).
- Alts: Great time to work on some questing or getting in some leveling time on an alt. Don’t have an alt? Great time to start one!
- Watch a movie or a TV show: Netflix anyone? Been rewatching a few episodes of Family Guy (Be a banana!). If the raiding group needs me, they can just holler. Enough time for me to pause and switch back to the game.
- Writing: So many post ideas and so many things to write, just not enough time to do it all! Great time for me to work on a post like what I do when I’m chilling on the side.
- Raiding: Raid Finder on an alt? Working on my 5th Priest now.
- Watching the livestream: The guild has several streamers now. I’ll usually have a monitor up to keep track of progress while doing one of the other activities above.
What if you need gear?
No problem! Send a tell to your raid leader letting them know that you’re really interested in coming in for a future attempt.
Here, let me write you a template. Use the terms appropriate to your guild’s atmosphere.
Dear [boss/captain/fearless leader/a**hole]
This is just a tell to let you know that I would really like to come in for the next boss. There’s an item that I want because it [upgrades an item/is off spec/is for transmog/makes my character look 5 pounds lighter than I actually am]. Could you find it in your [heart/soul/noggin’] to bring me in so that I might benefit from the spoils?
Sincerely,
Your favourite [player/monkey/badass/<class> of all time]
Anyway, tell me about your bench experiences. You cool with watching from the side? What do you like to do or work on when you’re on the bench?