The casual flavour is really hitting us hard over here and our raids have been struggling for a while.  So, I had to make the hard call this week and announce that we were stopping 25s for the mean time and would be running 10s until we regrouped.

There are many reasons for this, a large one being that forcing 25s has been sucking the fun out of the game for not just me, but for many people, and it felt like we were flogging a dead horse.  We weren't short on numbers per se (we were still fielding a full team every night just and recruiting hard) but the lag compounded with the motivation and we came to a point where the officer team really were not leading any more.  So, for the first time in the history of the guild, we are not raiding 25s and we are not doing "progression" content.

This has had a dual fold effect.  Some people instantly left for greener pastures - some people I didn't expect, and others I did.  I am honestly hoping that the people that have stayed and rallied will forge a strong solid core of friends to move forward with in the future.  Some people are putting their feelers out still and this week's raiding is a bit all over the place.  The lag isnt great, and people are "not logging on" and a few guildies have said they have seen apps around the traps. 

The other effect is that we will be working on hardmodes in 10s.  I am gunning for at least 2 IDs to clear and kill the Lich king *puts fingers in ears* LA LA LA NOT LISTENING WANNA SEE LORE UNFOLD!!  This will get people familiar with fights and strats in a smaller, less laggy environment and with a tighter knit group.  Then, in a couple of months when we have numbers again, I am HOPING that we will just be able to waltz in and smash face.

At least, that is the plan I have in the back of my mind.  Whether or not we can pull it off?  NFI!

I will muse on the hows and whys of the decision in the near future, but at the moment, the wound is still a bit raw to talk about.

On a practical note, please sign up for raids on the main raid nights.  Keep your 10man ICC IDs free for guild runs.  This week, you are free to PUG ICC25, but next week, numbers permitting, we might try and rally a 25 guild run for clear out the first wing - probably on the Monday.  But again, all this is dependant on signups.

And please, if you HAVE PUT APPLICATIONS IN ELSEWHERE let me know your plans?  If you have ALREADY MOVED A TOON TO ANOTHER GUILD tell me what your plans are for the alts you have left in HoS (I can think of 2-3 people who fall into this category already who haven't done me the courtesy of telling me what they are up to.  Guys, you have a week before I gkick your toons)

It's always hard to see old friends decide to stop raiding.  Especially officers of such long standing as HairyHippy.

And Hairy has been here from the start.  Originally he was the mini Steelwing and eventually, when Steel retired, took over with flair and penache, helping HoS reach the dizzying *cough* heights of success that we are at right now.

But life changes and friends need to adjust for that.  Hairy's life has changed and he is making the changes he needs to keep going.  So he has stepped down as RL and officer to join the ranks of the Free Citizens.

I would like to thank Hairy for all the blood, sweat and fur that he has put into helping me run this guild.  For putting up with my random rantings about complete bollocks to keep me sane and for dealing with qqing raiders by giving him a piece of his mind and not tolerating crying.  We will miss his calm, cool, no bullshit leadership, but mostly, we will miss him.

Also, there is a post here that you might want to read about other changes to the leadership structure.  I will miss him too.

One of the hardest things about running a guild is seeing friends leave.  We spend a fair bit of time with each other, by choice, and when people decide to go it can be both a relief and a curse to everyone.  But please, if you need to go do your thing in RL, if HoS cant provide the raiding environment you want, or you just don't feel you fit in, come tell me or Hesh.  Either we will work it out or I can help you find a place to call home elsewhere. The only thing I ever ask of anyone is honesty in their communication with me and the guild.  I, or anyone else, am never going to resent you for your choices.  What I do resent is that you make your choices without telling me and I find out second or third hand.  That WILL result in removal from the guild, possibly before you have a chance to say bye.