To preface:  If you are reading and plan on implementing this guide, then I assume that you already know the general lay of the land of ZA.  What each boss does, what trash pulls look like, how loot works, the whole shebang.

PART 1 – Group composition

The key to a solid mount run is a well-balanced and synergistic group.  That is to say, it is a huge benefit to have classes that complement each other (e.g. Warlock and Shadowpriest, Enhancement Shaman and Fury Warrior).  When doing your first mount runs, you will want a few things:

1.  T5+ quality gear, with flasks and consumables.  If you are still decked in full Karazhan and limited/early badge gear, you will not have the health, mana, dps, or damage mitigation to make this a successful mount run.  If you are in predominantly T5 and badge gear, you will have better chances but it is still difficult.  Wearing 50/50 T5/T6 or better is highly recommended.  Regardless of gear, full consumables are highly recommended (and in my Lava Crab runs, required) – flasks (or elixirs if that’s better for you), food, scrolls, weapon oils, the whole nine.

So yeah, as the title says I'll be a little sparse in the next week or so.  I've been really sick lately, and I think it's due to stress compiling from work and from leading and co-leading a variety of raids in WoW.  I love using WoW to relax, but as of late it's been a *bit* more difficult to unwind after work by hopping right onto WoW.

I may miss Hamfist raids this week, and I may or may not miss the Lava Crab ZA mount run on Thursday.  Jury's out on that one still.

This isn't me saying "I'm leaving!"  This is me saying I'm taking a brief vacation, that's all.  Also, it's Mavandon's fault.

Much love, see you guys more regularly next week-ish! 

Why Garreth hasn't been on IRC last few days :)

Honestly, I only pay attention to the wall of green text that spews on my console about 20% of the time.  Part of the reason for this is the level of stupid it contains.  So, in the interest of reducing a bit of the stupid, here are some rules for trying to be funny.

 #1) Be original.  If I see one more "That's what she said." when someone is trying to be funny I'm going to send a million volts through your computer chair.  Trust me, I'll find a way.  Instead, come up with a clever and original way to say the same thing.  "Who's got two thumbs and Keisjaa's mom to stick them in?  <-- this guy." is getting on the right track.  But with a little thought (yes, the hard part) you can do even better.  "If you notice Allikat's pussy getting looser, sorry Shihli, that's my bad." would not only leave some people incapacitated in laughter, it would be remembered too.

#2) Use implication.  Don't just call someone a whore, imply it.  Implication causes people to use their imaginations and sometimes they imagine even worse than what you intended.  "You know why people follow Jas all the time, right?  They're hoping for a freebie." is a reasonable example.

#3) Diction.  You don't get as much respect for your attempt at humor if your spelling is horrendous and you're using shorthand for everything.  It makes you look like a hack and it isn't quotable.  "UR all my beetches cuz I pwnd al ur moms."  just makes people want to hurt you.

I think 3 rules is enough for now.  Don't want to cause any brain hemorrages.