Soldiers of the Cross

Just in case you didn’t know, Blizzard launched the Cataclysm expansion earlier this month and Soldiers of the Cross, one of the largest Christian guilds in Warcraft is prepared!

Every time a new expansion is released, we go through a shift in the guild.  This isn’t a bad shift, but it causes many “hardcore raider” types to question why they are in this guild, and some to become frustrated.  Here’s why: Soldiers of the Cross is a “casual” guild, focused more on community and enjoying the game, than progression.  For many, when the level cap raises, it will take them weeks, if not months to reach that cap; based purely on the limited time they play.  For some, the race to the level cap is a short one, and they find themselves waiting on the rest of the guild to “catch up” so the new heroic content can be experienced regularly and we can go back to the way it was before the expansion; setting up our raid schedule.

With that said, expansions also bring about new opportunity. Opportunity to bring on new members, as they experience frustrations in the transition in their current guild.  In fact, the largest player base changes, happen during these expansions (not counting silly drama break-ups) and even though we may lose some to the lure of epic gear “right now”, we gain more from .  Opportunity to learn new things and teach others how to enhance their game-play or knowledge of their role.  There is also opportunity to minister to some, who are experiencing real-life challenges.  So many new opportunities, it’s almost mind boggling.

Right now, we are focused on unlocking as many guild rewards as possible and leveling the guild base.  Soldiers can help out by reading the guild MOTD (message of the day), as our leadership is posting the next, guild wide objectives to accomplish there.

Also, making the transition from regular 85 runs to heroic 85 runs requires more skill and gear than ever.  Be sure you are questing and completing end of chain quests to obtain some blue gear that’s comparable to what drops off the bosses in lvl 85 runs.  Quests will not only increase your guild rep, but your cashflow and gear base, so it’s a win, win – win!

Lastly, please… stop running dungeons like we’re still in WotLK (Wrath of the Lich King).  Until we are all decked in epics again, we need to be very cognisent of our group makeup and the crucial roles our class/spec plays in the group: controlling mobs, assisting the tank and healer are very critical.  Gone are the days of rush in and slay them all… for now!

With all this happening, we’re still Christians playing an online game together – so let’s not forget that we’re together in this.  If you find yourself frustrated, simply communicate with the team – preferably with several members and/or officers on vent so you can get some ideas about how to keep moving forward with a positive attitude until we have the same 40-50 lvl 85 players with gear and experience that we had before the expansion.

Two notes:  be sure to get out and see all the new areas – they are simply stunning!   That, and have a boat-load of fun!

Is there anything you would like to add?