How (NOT) to be a 'Huntard' in WoW (A simple guide)

If you live on planet earth and have not been living under a rock with your fingers in your ears the whole time, it is safe to assume that you have at least heard of the MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Play Game) World of Warcraft. It's a great game and is incredibly addictive populated by many ages of players from all walks of life and all corners of the globe. However there is a blight so insidious to this universe of Orks Elves and Dwarves that the fanbase has even created a moniker for such players. This dear friends is the blight known as 'huntards' to give a little bit more explanation WoW works on a system where you pick a race and a class, i.e. rouge, monk, hunter, warrior, druid etc.The problem arises from the fact that each class is unique in some way and can take time to master. Hunters however (of whatever race) seem to get the most flack and sadly, more often than not, it's well deserved.

So without further ado here is a handy Do's and Do not's list to help make WoW a better place for you and all the other players that have ever run into a wall or mob because someone has left their aspect of the pack on.

DO: Be mindful of your aspect, Hunters all have three aspects (1, the hawk - for when you are shooting things, 2, the cheetah - for when you need to run faster, 3, the pack - for when all your friends need to run faster) I know this may sound simple but forgetting to switch from pack to anything else can actually wipe a party, as the increased movement speed can make you run into mobs or walls, not to mention the stun when you get hit. It's easy to forget in the commotions of raids but pay attention. There is also a glyph that gives you a mini pet for a little bit when you switch aspects if you need a visual clue. (or just like the tart value)Stay mindful of your aspects!

DO NOT: Leave your pets growl on in a raid or dungeon! A hunter is a DPS class and as such is there to do steady damage while the tank of the party gets butchered. Growl pulls agg (threat level) away from the tank making their life a nightmare as they try to keep the mobs attention on them. As funny as it is to see the tank lose their marbles trying to work out why they are not holding the attention of the mob, please remember that you are making their life harder and putting your team at risk of a wipe.

DO: Have your pets growl on when you are solo in the field. This is the true reason they have this ability, to tack the flack off you. When you are solo have your pet have growl on so that things munch on them instead of you. If it's hard to remember to switch it on and off use a curiosity or ferocity for raiding and tenacity pets for solo questing, that way you can leave the raiding pet's growl off permanently.

DO NOT: Multi-shot or barrage randomly, I know this sounds like a no brainer but things that hit multiple targets can get you in a lot of trouble if you don't pick your moments...

DO: Arcane shot everything in the face, lots! No really just do.

DO: Keep an eye on your focus, you can recharge it with certain shots and abilities as you level. This is a bit of a no brainer but you need this to use anything so keep an eye on it.

DO: Camp out at rare pet spawns, they are annoying and you will want at least one so find the one you want and camp it till you get it.

DO NOT: Be a dick and kill rare pets if another hunter is taming it. I mean come on! How would you like it if you were a few seconds away from getting the rare pet you always wanted and someone killed it out of spite? It happens far too often and its petty and annoying! If a hunter is taming the pet you want either walk away or be cordial and congratulate them. Don't be a giant dick!

Note: The proper use of Misdirect, Hunters have this ability where they can shift a mobs attention to a specific target. Misdirecting onto a tank and then letting off a multi-shot will make all the things you hit run at the tank, this is very useful in raids. In the field it's a great way to attention off you and back onto your pet, because if things are chewing your ankles off, odds on its all gone a bit runny... Don't, as funny as it is, Misdirect onto a healer... ever!

So there you have it a small list of things that around 80% of hunters seem to ignore, basically use your common sense, pay attention, don't be an ass-hat and you will be playing this class properly as a true hunter!

Monthly Media Review: The Endless Forest

This is my first of (I hope) many 'monthly media reviews' I have started this practice because it's relevant to my Degree. I am open to suggestions of what to review so please feel free to email me. This month I have decided to review a free to play, Arts Project / MMO / Game that I randomly found a while ago called The Endless Forest.

The Endless Forest feels more like being lost in a painting than playing an MMO but this is part of what makes it so appealing . The game itself is an art project from an independent games studio aptly named Tale of Tales located in Ghent, Belgium.

In The Endless Forest you play as a dear with a human type face that reminds me a little of Ooccoo (Picture left) from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. At first it was a bit odd to look at however it soon becomes very natural and the painterly quality of the forest is very absorbing. When you start off you are a faun for around a month in which time you can get a few different horns for a little while. When you have been a user for over a month you then mature into a stag with the potential to have lots of different horns, fur colours and masks. These are given player to player at random and the way to activate them is by eating special fruit.

One of the most impressive and quirky things is the way you interact with other dear of the forest, there is a set number of animations in a very easy to use interface that let you do things like; cry out, dance, bow, shake or nod your head, paw at the ground and so on. The lack of a text box is actually very refreshing and also means there are no such things as language barriers or spam. It is incredibly freeing!

You 'name' your dear with a little glyph that appears as a if a halo between your antlers this way you can be identified and when you 'call' for others or 'listen' their glyphs will also appear. This again is very freeing as there isn't a need to worry about a name yet it is also creative and expressive.

One of its main differences to a regular MMO is that it is completely free of the goal or quest driven monotony that has come to be staple and while I am not saying that the quest driven systems are bad it is refreshing to play a game where you do just that... play... no need to level grind or train skills, it is simply and wondrously just a place to play and explore.

Talking of exploring the forest has quite a few zones to wander around in and all of them are visually lush. It genuinely feels like walking around in a painting and in fact some paintings have been inspirational to some of the places you can explore.

The sound used in game further builds on the natural depth and beauty of the environments created, sticking with very natural or ethereal noises things that you would hear in a forest or expect to hear near a Fae circle! The sounds blend well together and offer a peaceful atmosphere, a sort of quietude that is still vibrant and alive with nature.

To summarise The Endless Forest is a very relaxing and innovative arts game, quite possibly the most interesting screen saver I have seen and something that is very much worth downloading. it's something I would consider more of an experience than a game since it's very possible to get lost in the immersive and changeable scenery. 

Here is me in game: