Hardcore raiding can be a very strenuous activity, especially when your efforts and time are not rewarded with new kills or gear upgrades. Recently, my Hyjal/Black Temple guild disbanded leaving many excellent players without a home, and myself pondering my raiding future.

Raiding 5 nights a week is a time consuming and addictive past time. Not only must you adhere to strict raiding requirements and timelines, but you need to supply your character with consumables to increase performance. This means you are constantly on the short end of gold funds.

I play a Hunter, probably one of the easiest farming classes in game. When I'm not grinding mobs, or hitting up the new dailys on the Isle of Quel'danas, I'm in Netherstorm herbing netherbloom. Raiding would often see me splurging over 100g per night to increase my raid viability. After my recent guild disbanded I was faced with a decision, my in game mates were urging me to transfer and raid with them in a further progressed guild, but I'd had enough. I wanted to take a more laid back approach to the game and experience it from a "noobs" point of view.I had a few real life friends who had just rolled their first characters and hit level 70, I joined their guild. Before long I was running normal instance, Mechanar, Steamvaults, MgT, and finding myself enjoying myself a lot more than I would have if I was raiding. Part of this was because I was pumping out huge dps and impressing everyone inguild (1450 on first boss in MgT - I Know attention seeker right?) however the majority was because I was particpating in something I enjoy with people I know.

You find yourself with a real sense of achievement watching players grow and learn. The guild is currently in the midst of gearing up for Karazhan, a stage I was at almost a year ago. I plan to stay on and help them experience some end game content.

Who knows, come WOTLK I just may find myself again in a Hardcore guild, competing for server first, but this time surrounded by real life companions.