Hello and welcome to our new regualr feature on the guild site the AIE Community Spotlight.

This interview is written by Nick Spencer (Hikikomori). So read and enjoy and we hope you get to know some of these featured guild mates.

How did you get into playing World of Warcraft?

Uh, well I knew about Warcraft III so I thought World of Warcraft was another RTS (Real Time Strategy).  Then I saw the "Make Love not Warcraft"  episode of Southpark and that's what got me into World of Warcraft.  So I played it, liked it, and have been here ever since.  I guess that's a pretty common story.

How long have you been playing World of Warcraft?

Well I started in Christmas of 2006, so I guess that's about three and a half years now.  Wow, three and a half years, it's been on and off, but yeah man.  It's crazy when you think about it.

What is your favorite part of World of Warcraft?

Well, I guess for me it's the social aspect of World of Warcraft because, a lot of the things I do in game I couldn't do without people to hang out it with.  It just wouldn't be fun.  Before finding the social aspect of World of Warcraft I used to be really into leveling.  I have 10 times more fun hanging out with people now.

What is your favorite Dungeon?

Hmm that's a good question.  Honestly, I really like Icecrown Citadel.  The bosses are great.  Taking down the Lich King and the story behind that is really cool.  It's definitely the most exciting time I've had so far. 

Do you have any alts?

Yes, I have nine alts in the guild [AIE, Alea Iacta Est: Earthen Ring, US]  and 6 of them are 80.  The rest are above 60 at least, and I have a couple of Alliance toons but they're all Dwarves and no one cares about all that. 

How do you define yourself in game and IRL? (In Real Life)

Well, you know my big thing is that I like to be a pleasure around people.  This is a social game and in real life a big aspect of life is being social.  I try to be the same person no matter whether I'm in game or out of game.  When I'm around people I cheer them up or help them out.  That's what it's about for me.  I'm a person that cares about other people.  Being a friend or friendly to other people is what it’s about for me.  Everything you do reflects who you are, so I try to be a good person in the game and out of game.

What makes you unique among other players?

I guess the way I play is a little different obviously, since I'm visually impaired.  I have to find a way to play and I have to use certain addons.  I don't have to use a controller to play but I've found that it helps to use a controller.  A lot of my play-style depends on the people I'm playing with and trying to perform to my best in a raid. I'm still making sure that I'm doing what I need to do for the team.  (e.g.  Running out of the fire, killing a mob, doing this and that).

Which class is easiest to play with your setup/hardest to play with your setup?

Believe it or not, playing a Mage is pretty easy.  Pretty much in combat playing a Mage is cake.  Death Knights are pretty easy too.  Any class with as few spells as possible is easy but that's not always the most fun. 

I have to say though, freaking Druids dude.  I hate trying to play them.  Druids are fun but it’s hard because there's so much to do with all the different forms, and all the spells you have to put on your action bar.

Do you have any special programs or addons that assist you in game?

My game is a little bit dependent on certain addons, namely Fontifier.   When I first started playing the game I noticed the font was too small. During the initial excitement of the game it didn't really matter but after that I had to find something for that.  Fontifier increases the font of the game and implements different fonts.  It makes it more legible.

The biggest difference for me is the controller. Pinnacle Game Profiler , what that does is it recognizes the controller and maps out and binds the keys on the controller.  I stumbled across a few videos and instructions online.  I use an Xbox 360 controller.  It has a built in thing called shift command which I have set to L and R triggers.  It makes all my buttons combine to do other things.  It's how I move the mouse, open panels, bags, and maps.  The A button equals 1 on the keyboard and when you press the A button plus the trigger equals 5 on the keyboard.  If you configure all of them, you get 4 actions per button, more spells with direction keys, whole new set of spells, up down left and right spells, and add in shift commands you end up with about 30 combinations that I use.   With a couple more addons, you’re suddenly saying "Holy crap I can do a bunch of stuff now".

O Pie gives me access to different things in the game.  If I press a key, bound to different "slices", it'll open up a circle and there's a bunch of spells in that radius.  In a professions pie, I mouse over with the joystick and it opens up that profession.  Do the same with auras and quest items, and I can make custom pies.  It's not good for use in the middle of a boss fight but it gives me more flexibility once it's set up.  It's a constant process of finding more efficient ways to improve my game ui and make it more accessible.  I'm always finding new addons so I can be more comfortable.

Do you make use of any visual and audio queues in game?

I play on a 32' inch TV screen for starters.  I use different addons like Decursive.  DBM (Deadly Boss Mods) has sounds and Mik's Scrolling Battle Text notifies me of my cool downs.  I use Omens, Skada and Prat which is a huge one for letting me know when people are talking in guild chat which is constantly.  Sound is a huge help when you get it memorized.

What’s your Addon Size look like?

51.32mb in addon memory. 


How is using an Xbox 360 controller different than using a mouse and keyboard setup?

Well I don't get carpal tunnel because the controls are all right there.  I don't have to finger dance or manage uncomfortable hot key setups.  It's nice using a controller.  I've been playing consoles for years since I was four.  When I first started I thought to myself "Now I'm playing World of Warcraft, my first computer MMO game, and I have to use the [WASD] crap, I'm not happy with that" but I did that for a couple months, and found something else.  It's just a lot easier.  There's no stretching or having to look down at the keys. 

What was your first console?

I had an NES and an Atari.

How do you play World of Warcraft?

I'll give away my dirty little secret.  Paladins are supposed to use FCFS (first come first serve).   Paladins have a bunch of spells and the way to get the best DPS is to hit the first one that is up.  I don't want to look at my bar the whole fight so I try to plan it ahead of time.  I have a spam macro, with one button for my AOE spells and one button for my attacks.  I use cast sequence, which people hate, and they're going to insist that I'm wrong because I don't use shift style.  I just didn't get much results the other way.   


Just to ask for those that doubt your spam macro what’s your average DPS?

I get around 8 to 10 k which is good enough for me.  It doesn't suck. 

What is your internet connection like?

Time Warner kicks butt I hate to say that but my connections usually good though.   

What is the upside/downside to using a controller?

I've got four 360 controllers.  I'm using one that's kind of janky ((adjective) inferior quality; held in low social regard; old and dilapidated; refers almost exclusively to inanimate material objects, not to people).  It's not as bad as the others.  I've worn out my share of controllers.  I've got buttons that aren't as springy and the joystick is all crazy.  My dudes have walked off the edge of cliffs before. 

Do you ever have hardware problems while playing like batteries going dead?

Batteries always seem to go out during a raid like during Hodir.  I had to change in the middle of the fight but I survived amazingly.  Every time it dies it's always during a raid or a group or something important.  It can be a problem.  I use rechargeable batteries so they can be temperamental.  I've learned to keep a spare set on a different controller ready to switch quickly.  I've got like three game systems and they all need batteries.

Does it cause any funny moments that are unique to your play style?

There are all kinds of stuff that I do.  I've probably ganked more people than I meant to.  I never mean to, not knowing someone else is going after a mob, I don't see them there, and I run up and kill it.  Then they probably think I'm a jerk.  I've face pulled more times than you can imagine, because I thought someone was a tank and nope.  I've fallen into lava.  Controllers have died and sent me flying, and I've gotten stuck everywhere.  I got the icons on portal and teleport mixed up so I teleport myself instead of my party. 

What has been your experience through World of Warcraft?

It’s been fun.  When I first started playing, I was a small fish in a big pond, nothing major.  It used to be all about World of Warcraft.  Now it’s AIE.  You hear it all the time but what I've gotten from AIE alone was worth the whole experience.  What I got from the people, always look forward to logging in and hanging out.  It's a positive experience over all.

Do you find it necessary to be open about being visually impaired?

The first time that it became a necessity I was in a group with Lanctharus and he's talked about it on the podcast.  I was running Utgarde Pinnacle with Lanctharus, Wurmwood and I forget who else.  We came across Skadi the Ruthless.  Usually I have to say things, like if they can tell me if he was on the left or coming on the right because I can't see the drake and I thanked them.  Afterward I had to say why because I'm visually impaired and you're making it easier for me.  In our 25 man I may ask if I can do a certain task in a fight, because it makes it easier for me.  I don't' want to be a liability but I don't want people to feel like they're forced to make accommodations for me. I try to work with it and do what comes best.  

Have you had any experience with past guilds or players having negative reactions?

Yes and No.  The last guild I was in, most of the negative came from Pugs(Pick up groups), because they could care less of you.  A couple of guilds that I was in shortly, frowned upon it or didn't understand.  The last guild I was in, the guild leader was cool, and because of the way I handled myself he wanted me to be the right hand man in the guild. So I helped out as second in command in a 300 member guild which used to be a big number but it was fun.  I wasn't a raider then, I just knew how to talk to people and keep things fun.  Eventually things just happen and you shift and that guild went away.  It was a good year and then I joined AIE.

Questions from Kephas:

Is there anything I haven't thought of that you think people should know about?

If you close it, close it with this.  The biggest aspect that improves my experience in this game is the people.  The help people give, it’s the best experience I could ever have and that's where AIE comes in.  That experience makes playing World of Warcraft better and more meaningful.  I never raided till I joined AIE.  I didn't know anything about it.  I'm in ICC now and it's because of the people I'm with.  What they've shown me and taught me makes it so much more than what it is.  That's the moral of the story kids.  Be cool, be helpful and it'll make the experience so much better.  

I like to have fun and would love to talk to anyone anytime if they have questions they want to ask. 

Defining who I am, my faith inspires me personally.   

[Afterword]

I've known Kephas for a substantial amount of time in game.  He's always been a good guy to talk to and a great guy to go kill mobs with. 
He's always down to help out especially when you're looking to level an alt and you don't want to go to Mauradan or Sunken Temple.  That's a story for another time (Grrrr long instances).  He's a very tolerant and accepting person.  It's always fun to have a DPS race in our raid, though he's still kicking my butt.  He's always down for a challenge whether it’s running alts through instances, two manning Zul' Gurub or hanging out and talking while farming nodes (He prefers Icecrown while I prefer to farm Sholazar) it's great when you can just hangout with people and relax the day's stress away.  Even if PVP'ing in Wintergrasp and taking over Alliance cities for fun is how you relieve stress.  (I'm coming for you Space Goats!)