Dammit Zul’Gurub

In the end – I didn’t win the 3 year long poker game I’ve been playing with High Priest Thekal.  Not once did he even give me a glimmer of the Swift Zulian Tiger that I have coveted for so long.  Once my erstwhile main managed [Hero of the Zandalar Tribe] (almost solely on Tiger Boss Kills) I decided that the RNG in its infinite wisdom was simply not going to choose me or mine to ever receive the gift of orange tigery goodness.

It was a bit of a relief I guess.  No more thrashing around for 10-15 minutes every reset on every one of my 80’s.  No more disappoint when only crappy blues and zulian tiger hide dropped.  For the last 36 hours of ZG’s inclusion as a vanilla raiding zone in the game, I didn’t bother to go back even once.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the place.  ZG was my first *real* raid with a “real” raiding guild back in the vanilla days.  I can remember my very first Hakkar kill and can recall all too clearly how long it used to take to clear ALL OF THAT TRASH before the Tiger boss.  I’ve fished up Gahz’ranka, I’ve done all of the reputation quests and I’ve marveled at how even against my level 80 tanks – the Gurubashi Axe Throwers are still a pain in the ass.

Still, I wish I’d got that Tiger.

 

 

 

Farm that Tiger While You Can…

According to Blizzard – Zul’Gurub will be gone as a raid instance come Cataclysm.  So what does that mean for folks that enjoy farming old content for rare drops?

No idea.

There’s some speculation that the zone will either be turned into an outdoor elite area (kinda like Jintha’Alor used to be back in Vanilla) or that it will be turned into a 5-man instance.

Now some of us have been farming that raid for years trying to get the ultra rare Swift Zulian Tiger or the Swift Razzashi Raptor.  The big question of course is what is going to happen to those mounts?

Some things I hope don’t come to pass:

1. The mounts are gone forever
2. They get turned into rewards for some easily obtainable reputation grind
3. They become simple vendor fodder available to everyone

It’s a tough call as to what will  happen.  As typical of the rather splintered and ass-hat wearing community of haves and have-nots that make up the World of Warcraft audience, the potential loss of these two rare mounts is mixed.

The “haves” or “don’t cares” are quick to claim that everyone already has the mount and that it just doesn’t matter if ZG goes away.  The “have nots” want to punch the “haves” in their fat mouths.

My opinion is mixed.  First off, I respect the need for some loot to truly be rare.  When rare loot becomes unobtainable loot, it creates a mystique that only long time (or damn lucky) players can wrap themselves in.  It’s a reward in a way, a reward for players that through either sheer painful luck (i.e. Swift Zulian Tiger) or achievement (The Amani War Bear) can set themselves apart from the rest of the huddled and wanting masses in game.

Now, that said.  I WANTZ MAH TIGER!

With both mounts potentially going away forever I’m going to redouble my efforts.  ZG will be farmed on every reset, no exceptions.  If the mounts do go away come Cataclysm and I still don’t have mine, it most certainly won’t be for lack of trying.

But please Blizzard, whatever you do, don’t make them worthless vendor trash.  Some things do need to be rare or unobtainable.  If everything can be had by simply grinding away at reputation or dailies then what is there left for folks to hope for?  The RNG may be a bitch, but on those desperately few times she smiles on you, it truly does make the game.