LOSTies

Posted below are the submissions received for our contest. The first three submissions are in descending order from first to third place. If you are the first prize winner, email Tides your WoW email address along with your choice of mount and pet from the Blizzard online store OR your choice of two pets. If you are second prize winner, tell Chris in-game your WoW email address and your choice of one companion pet from the Blizzard online store. If you are third prize winner, Chris shall give you 500 gold from the Guild Keep and a random pet from in-game. Thanks for all the submissions, it was interesting seeing your renditions of the Christmas Spirit!

1st Prize: Your choice of x1 mount and x1 pet from the Blizzard online store (or x2 pets if you already have both mounts)

2nd Prize: Your choice of x1 pet from the Blizzard online store

3rd Prize: 500 gold and a random companion pet (not from online store)

Ken aka Hidytwo

Cybyl

Cybyl: To me it is giving gifts and happiness to those less fortunate than you, like the orphans of Stormwind!

Mirandah

Mira: My family always believed Christmas was a time to help those less fortunate.

Joe aka Specops

Joe: Christmas is the time of giving, eating, pwning n3wbz, and riding reindeer!!

Mattie aka Marderon

As we are on the brink of Christmas, LOSTies held its town hall meeting thousands of miles away from home base in the Frozen Sea. Here is a recap of what we discussed:

New Raiding Changes:

If you would like to join us for normal Cata raids (BWD, ToTFW, BoT), the following is required:

equipped average ilvl 347+
pull 10K+ deeps if you're a deeps role
mostly pve gear
most gear pieces enchanted and gemmed
ventrilo (at least be able to hear us)
watch all anticipated boss fights or read the text based guides (links provided on right-hand side of guild blog under All things WoW, titled "Icy-veins text based raid guides")

If you would like to join us for normal Firelands raid, the following is required:

equipped average ilvl 355+
pull well over 15K deeps if you're a deeps role
absolutely no pvp gear
ALL appropriate enchants, gems and reforges according to askmrrobot.com, this includes the exalted shoulder inscriptions from Therazane's Throne and whatever helm arcanum is appropriate for your class
ventrilo
watch all anticipated boss fights or read the text based guides (link provided on right-hand side of guild blog under All things WoW, titled "Icy-veins text based raid guides")

If you would like to join us for normal Dragon Soul raid, the following is required:

equipped average ilvl 375+
pull well over 18K deeps if your'e a deeps role
absolutely no pvp gear
ALL appropriate enchants, gems and reforges according to askmrrobot.com, this includes the exalted shoulder inscriptions from Therazane's Throne and whatever helm arcanum is appropriate for your class
ventrilo
watch all anticipated boss fights or read the text based guides (link provided on right-hand side of guild blog under All things WoW, titled "Dragon Soul Text Guide" and "Icy-veins text based raid guides")

* IMPORTANT ~ One thing I forgot to mention during the meeting is that the deadline for all guild mates getting the Therazane's Throne shoulder inscriptions and appropriate helm arcanums is Wednesday, January 11th at 12am server time. I have been far too lenient in allowing people to come on raids without these really cheap yet powerful enchants. This deadline gives you more than three week's time to farm reputation with Therazane and the other faction necessary for your class. It is worth noting that if you have already reached exalted with the appropriate faction for the helm arcanum you need, their arcanums are BOA (bind on account) so you can purchase their helm arcanums for any other 85s you have. However, for Therazane you must hit friendly on each character for a weaker inscription then hit exalted on each character to unlock the powerful inscription for your shoulders.

We like to keep our raids chill, fun and respectful. We harbor no elitists in our guild. All guild mates are welcome to join us for raids so long as they are geared and know the fights. If you need help getting geared for normal Cata raids and Firelands raids, I've created two guides. On the right-hand side of the guild blog, under the "QUICKies" list of links, click on "getting geared" to be directed to the guides. I will be posting a brief guide/checklist soon covering how to get geared to join LOSTies for Dragon Soul raids.

LOSTies Raid Teams:

We've reached the point where we are just shy two people of being able to do 25-man raids. The only problem is getting everyone's availability for raiding and getting others geared. Also, a couple of the guild mates have experienced lag in 25-man raids. We will perhaps give it a go and if it is really bad, we will stick to having two separate ten-man raiding teams. At the moment, both teams are just shy of two guild mates. Team #1 will raid on Fridays and Sundays while Team #2 will raid on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Even if there are no raids scheduled on the calendar, always anticipate at least one or two raid nights to fall anywhere between Thursday and Sunday, between 6:30 and 9:30 pm server time. Having two separate raiding teams raid on two different days out of the week works out nicely because if you are unable to make it to one of your team's designated raid nights, you are more than welcome to join the other raid team on either of their raid nights should they have an opening for you on any other geared 85 characters you have.

To find out which team you have been assigned to and for more info on the two raiding teams, please click on this LOSTies Raid Teams link. For future reference, you can also find a link to it on the right-hand side of the guild blog under QUICKies, labeled "LOSTies Raiding Teams."

Raid Checkups:

If you feel you are ready to join either of the two raiding teams on any of their two raid nights and know that there is an opening, you must meet with any of the officers responsible for leading a particular raid night. Raid checkups entail:

A gear check to make sure you have all proper gems, enchants and reforges. Officers will pull up askmrrobot.com and click the optimize button for your character and compare it with your currently equipped gear.
If you are a deeps role, you will also undergo a five minute dummy trial to make sure you are pulling well over 18K deeps.
Test questions. The officer will ask at least two random questions to make sure you know the fight. Or they may ask you to give a brief summary of the fight such as explaining the different phases.

To find out which officer will be leading which raid, look on the guild calendar and pull up whichever day you are interested in signing up for. Officers will schedule a "guild event" for the raid night(s) they will lead, so all interested can sign up. Notice! Signing up for this particular guild event will not guarantee you a slot for that raid night. It is only a method for you to find out which officer is leading what specific raid and know who to consult for a raid checkup. After a successful raid checkup, the officer will schedule an "event" for the actual raid that way they can invite only those who have completed their raid checkup and are given the OK to join.

Because our raids fall between Thursday and Sunday, if you'd like to join for a raid you must meet with the designated officer for whichever raid night you prefer before Wednesday at 7pm server time.

Also, the instructions for raid checkups apply to everyone, including those already assigned to a raid team. That way those assigned to a raid team who are missing a couple of the requirements can give their slot up to someone that is prepared for a particular raid. The only difference is that those assigned to a raid team already must join their designated team. However, if their alt 85s are prepared for the raid, they are free to join either raid teams.

LOSTies Holiday Events

Secret Santa

deadline to submit name for entry: Tuesday 20th @ 7pm server time

actual event: Saturday 24th @ 6:30pm server time

Let's all take this opportunity to show each other just how much we appreciate the true sense of camaraderie that's set our guild apart from all others! There is no minimum amount of gold/time necessary in purchasing/crafting/farming for that perfect gift for whoever you are assigned to be Secret Santa for. Just be creative! I trust everyone will be fair in thinking of what to gift their fellow guild mate. If you get stumped and need some tips as to what to get for your partner, feel free to ask me. Some ideas might be expensive enchants or a bundle of gems or nice companion pets. Look up their character on askmrrobot.com and click the optimize button to find out what they could use for raids. Also, Nicky aka Ace brought up a great idea: On the guild roster for your character's public note, offer a hint as to what to get you for Christmas in-game. Another tip: Gift wrap can be purchased from the goblin holiday vendors in Stormwind's Trade Districe or in front of the Ironforge Bank.

If you are interested in joining us for Secret Santa, you must mail Sadcap an in-game mail message before the deadline. Include your name in the message and be sure to greet him a happy holiday! Sadcap is a non-guild mate but a trusted friend of LOSTies and has volunteered to help us organize our Secret Santa event. Be sure to thank him in your message. Shortly after the deadline, Sadcap will mail you the name of who you have been assigned to. I understand many of us may be traveling or spending time with family in RL, so if you are unable to make the Secret Santa event this Saturday, you are free to either meet with your guild mate before the event or you can leave the gift with me so they can open it with everyone else at the event. Merry Chrissie, LOSTies!

Christmas Photo Shoot

Friday 23rd @ 7pm server

Everyone welcome, the more the merrier! Let's get as many of the guild mates in on this one so we can get a huge LOSTies Christmas picture! I will be handing out Red Winter Garb suits and Winter Boots. If you would like to help, I need all the Wool Cloth, Rugged Leather and Copper Bars I can get and would greatly appreciate any help you could offer!

Let's make this a professional and great Christmas photo by:

removing all gear except for the winter suits and guild tabard
dismissing all pets
removing the title in your character's name (so we can see everyone's name, only fair)
refraining from using magic abilities that will result in an unclear picture

I'm hoping to submit our Christmas picture for the WoW community site's screenshot of the day feature. Think of it as a special Christmas gift to me and all your guild mates!

Caroling in Stormwind and Orgrimmar

Friday 23rd immediately after the guild Christmas photo shoot

Let's show the alliance on our server that we can out-best them in Christmas spirit! We will not be caroling in ventrilo, so don't worry. All we will be doing is standing together professionally and typing a few lyrics to Christmas Carols in Stormwind Trade District. After a few minutes of that we will go to the gates of Orgrimmar and present ourselves in the same manner. We may die to them cos let's face it, Horde on Kalecgos server are just plain jerks. However, even jerks deserve to be treated kindly during the holidays. Think of it as our gift to them. Also, I'm sure many of them will think we're nicer and most def more kickass compared to the other Alliance guilds on Kalacgos. We will die honoring the Christmas spirit! Merry Chrissie, LOSTies!

LOSTies "Spirit of Christmas" Contest

deadline for submissions: Saturday 24th @ midnight

Who says there isn't any room for competition during the holidays? I welcome it as long as it fosters a true sense of camaraderie and helps bring joy to others! Your objective in this contest is to travel Azeroth and Outlands in search of the Christmas Spirit. Do your best in capturing the Christmas Spirit in ONE screen-shot! Be creative! Do you see it in a bustling crowd of players in a city? Or perhaps it's in the form of a creature? How about a humble abode with a meager family enjoying Christmas the best they can? Preferably, try not to include your UI (user interface) in your screen-shot. Ask guild mates in-game if you're not sure how to hide the interface. Include a caption with your screen-shot describing what the Christmas spirit means to you. Email your sumbission to Tides at wowlosties@gmail.com before the midnight deadline! Everyone's submissions will be posted onto the guild blog and the winner's submission and caption will be featured! G'luck and Merry Chrissie, LOSTies!