Time to clean up my inventory and learn to play my character again after being away for over a year.

I’ve had:
- people pulling bosses while clearing trash.
- pulling trash while killing a boss.
- deliberate abuse of fight mechanics (like holy paladins taunting bosses at crucial moments).
- the usual loot drama.

I’ve never used the ‘Report Language’ feature so much.

Having said that, give it a go! I think it’s WoW’s best attempt at a story-based raid and the settings are quite interesting. Just expect to hate humans when you’re done.

I am tired of the DMF, but I already have all of the pets and was less interested in the Mounts (though I think I may have gotten the Bear…I cant remember). My wife is stocking up on tokens incase they ass more rewards later.

I dont know if you are US or EU, but if you are US, I would be happy to run an instance or two with you.

And fear not, AoE looting is definitely coming in Mists of Pandaria! Plus, the cinematic was amazing.

As far as the journal goes, it’s great, but it was actually reading through it that gave me that ‘sticker shock’ moment when I realised how much people were expected to know (sticker shock is the feeling you get when you ask the price of something and find that it’s way way higher than you were expecting ).

I haven’t run heroics yet, because my DPS gear is crap, and I don’t tank for strangers. My guild wants to run the new heroics with me soon, so we’ll see. I have done them all before, as I quit playing in December, so my EU paladin healed in there before. Tanking is another matter though.

As for remembering all the abilities of the bosses, have you checked out the dungeon journal yet? It gives a summary for every single boss, including what to watch out for, for tanks, DPS and healers. Makes it easier. No more going to wowhead to read strategies, hee.

I’ve had a very similar experience to you, I think. Ok, I’m back, what do I do? When I’d unsubbed, I’d been doing Firelands dailies. I found myself totally unmotivated to head up there.

Darkmoon Faire – they’ve made it better, to the extent it’s something I’ll now go back to (if only to hand in the items I’ve found that gave me quests) but some of the stuff they were selling did look fun. Didn’t spot heirlooms, so will have to check that out.

I ended up doing some LFD and guild-runs of the new content, where I spent my time with a mixture of “Wait, how do I play a feral druid again?!”, “What the hell is going on here?!”, “Wait, Illidan – wtf!?” and “Do I get to listen to this NPC/actually read the quest text, or do I need to run after the others?” On the LFD runs, I’d always say hi and mention I was just back with a Scroll of Resurrection. Noone else would generally say anything except “Hi”, and on one boss out of two dungeons, I got one fight explained to me.

I also signed up for a guild raid, and spent over an hour watching vids of bossfights against bosses with meaningless names. Maybe they’d have meant more if I’d not taken a break? Guild, obviously, was as friendly as ever and explained the fights. Annoying to find one fight has a Very Important Lore Cutscene that you must immediately cancel out of, as the bossfight has already started!

Also missed many of the SWTOR things you mention. And the graphics in WoW seemed very odd after SWTOR and other games.

Did one LFR where, when I jumped in, we were about to start on Deathwing. No explanation (fair enough), but no mention whatsoever of tactics, priorities, healing orders, anything. The only communication was “Anyone else looking for ?” We did DW part one, then wiped on part two, then we killed Deathwing. Anti-climactic, compared to Wrath – but then, I’d worked bloody hard in Wrath to get to the point where our raid were fighting Arthas. This was log in, click button, appear at final expansion boss.

Actually he does, if you’re carrying Warglaives he’ll say something extra – “Curious weapons you wield…such power. You seem prepared”