Note: if you have never stepped foot inside of Icecrown Citadel, and would consider anything relating to the plotline therein to be a spoiler, please do not read further today as it contains a small spoiler.
It’s the little things that can make or break a raid.
The guildie who turns everyone into bunnies or ninjas or pirates as you wait for your last raider to log in.
The nekkid danceparty screenshots for especially hard-won victories.
Ever since working on Chromaggus in Blackwing Lair, I’ve had my own small tradition: before a final or near-final boss fight, I make a basic campfire.
Back in the day that small spirit increase helped my druid eek out another few smidges of heals I’m sure. 4 1/2 years later, it helps rekindle the focus and excitement of inching closer to a kill. And it provides a great visual marker on the floor for whatever it is we’re doing.
The first night we stepped foot in Icecrown citadel, however, a new tradition was born for me, due to this exchange started by Highlord Tirion Fordring:
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- Highlord Tirion Fordring says: Our march upon Icecrown Citadel begins now!
The Lich King says: You now stand upon the hallowed ground of the Scourge. The Light won’t protect you here, paladin. Nothing will protect you…
Highlord Tirion Fordring says: ARTHAS! I swore that I would see you dead and the Scourge dismantled! I’m going to finish what I started at Light’s Hope.
The Lich King says: You could’ve been my greatest champion, Fordring. A force of darkness that would wash over this world and deliver it into a new age of strife.
The Lich King says: But that honor is no longer yours. Soon, I will have a new champion.
The Lich King says: The breaking of this one has been taxing. The atrocities that I have committed upon his soul. He has resisted for so long, but he will bow down before his king soon.
Highlord Bolvar Fordragon says: NEVER! I… I will never… serve… you.
The Lich King says: In the end you will all serve me.
Bolvar! Here in ICC? Without thinking, in that split second, I yelled in reply: “BOLVAR! We will save you!”
And that became my rallying cry every first night in ICC, when we would hear that exchange. And finally, once we faced the Lich King, my rallying cry each night.
On the few occasions I did not make it to our weekly raid (vacation, or being sat out when we have an overflow of DPS), it got back to me that my battle cry was yelled in my stead. To say this warmed my heart immensely doesn’t even begin to capture how it felt to hear that.
The night we defeated Arthas, I changed things up a bit. I said, “Bolvar! We will save you, TONIGHT!” And we did.
A small tradition, to be sure, but one that gave my raiding throughout ICC a purpose. Bolvar Fordragon had long been my most beloved hero of the Alliance, and thus inspired this small tradition, that I will remember always.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has made their own raiding traditions. What are yours?
I’m a campfire starter too! 😀
My recent raiding tradition is to throw down a train right before the boss and then let Lil XT race everyone’s train wreckers to destroy it. It gets everyone nice and angry so we’re ready to kill him. Granted, I’ve been given countless choices on ways in which I could die, or places in which I could burn for various amounts of time. I find it quite hilarious, personally. My wife looks over at me, “Was that you with the train?” I look back with a smile, “Do you really have to ask me that?” I laugh as her eyes roll and then we get down to business.
My long standing tradition for Alliance though is to use my nifty little questing rod I got back in my 20’s to turn myself into a Furbolg and then cast Mirror Image as we’re running in. There’s nothing like leading an army of Furbolg onto the field of battle. I only wish taking damage didn’t break it as it’s not quite so fun leading an army of Furbolg as a Human. 🙁
I also drop a fire…except only before Putricide. I don’t know why, but just Putricide (regularly).
I hit my random pet macro.
I sneeze Swine Flu onto the raid.
😀
I don’t raid anymore, but one thing that always happened is whenever I’d drop a summoning stone (go warlocks!) my priestly friend and I would summon random people that were standing next to us.
That or we’d trade vendor trash around the raid. It was always interesting seeing the reaction of initiates to that one. 😛
I’m also one who throws down the Train + Lil’XT combo. It’s genius!
I remember being really bummed that exalted Timbermaw rep only gave you the Timbermaw Ally trinket that summoned one to fight for you– I wanted a reusable costume!
I totally forgot to mention my random pet macro. I get pushy tho and request other folks bust out with black cats or stinker as the case may be if I get one of those two by doing so…I have a screenshot from Naxx with 4 stinkers chasing my black kitty…
Hehe. That reminds me of my old guild that *always* had a leather ball tossing around.
FORRRDRRRIIINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG