Alterac Valley Strategy Guide - Part Four

I have lead many Alterac Valleys. By "leading" that means I was the one giving instructions to the raid and, while some people did not follow instructions, most did, and consequently, I enjoyed a good number of victories. Those were in the days long before Burning Crusade, when you had to grind to Exalted to buy decent gear. Back when matches lasted hours. When leadership in an AV meant the difference between victory and loss.

How to lead an AV

While games generally do not last as long and reputation is no longer an issue, leadership can still determine the outcome of the match. This guide will focus on how to lead an Alterac Valley to increase your chances of victory.

It takes a special type of person to choose to take the reigns of a raid. To be honest, I'm burnt out on it... I've lead MORE than my share of Molten Core and Blackwing Lair raids... and that was with Ventrilo... I still find myself doing it from time to time in AV... but I try to back off or I'll start to lose my enjoyment of the game.

Here are some helpful tips to those of you who would like to know how to herd cats in AV. If you can take the reigns, you can mean the difference between victory and defeat. If you can't than you leave everyone to their own devices.

Contrast: Can you hear the words that are coming out of my mouth?

Being "heard" in AV is your first hurdle. Many people turn off BG/Raid chat because it's full of spam. Many people who leave it on don't read it. You can use BG/Raid chat to shout orders but your chances of being heard in BG/Raid chat are limited. Sometimes, however, all caps can help provide the contrast you need to stick out from the spam.

Alternatively you can use general chat. This can work but unfortunately people often tune out general chat or turn it off completely because the major cities are full of spam. Another issue is that fact that AV's color scheme is white. That makes the white general chat text not stand out against the background and reduces the chance of it being read. Again, caps can help you be heard.

The last alternative is to yell. This is good because it contrasts with BG/raid and general chat. However, people don't often read it either because there are NPC's constantly yelling back and forth. NPC's, however, do not yell in all caps so using caps can help you be heard.

If people tell you to "stop yelling" because you're using caps tell them to fuck off, caps is not yelling. The only reason they're angry is because you got their attention... and that's your goal.

I usually used general chat to lead AV's but it's up to you to make your own call.

Be Decisive: I'm not interested in arguing. I'm interested in winning.

If you know what needs to be done simply begin typing instructions in our chosen way (yell/general/BG). The nature of horde players, however, is to often heckle and question and second guess because everyone and their mother knows what's best except for the guy with the balls to give orders.

If you need to push SP GY say so and say HOW (top path, valley, etc.) but make sure you are certain that is the next step on your way to victory. People will second guess you and if you're not sure of yourself than you're making a decision that isn't right. If your making a decision that isn't right you're jeopardizing your chances of victory. That's one burden of a leader... to make the call that needs to be made, even when he's not 100% sure despite those on the sidelines telling him he's wrong.

Ignore the people who will try and knock you off your pedestal of leadership. Leaders are unique people and often draw animosity from people who don't have the strength of character to lead. Do not let them get to you and do not try to explain yourself. If you want to be a leader, LEAD. You can explain yourself when time isn't an issue. In the meantime, people will listen to you or they wont and that's all there is to it.

Lead by Example: people will follow... sometimes... maybe

If your telling people to take Stonhearth bunker you best be first in that bunker or dead. If you're telling people to defend Iceblood graveyard you best be defending Iceblood graveyard or dead. BE WHERE YOU ARE TELLING PEOPLE TO BE.

I don't care of it's your favorite thing in the world to charge across the bridge into the alliance base... if Frostwolf Keep needs defense you had better be there or you will not be respected as a leader.

Be magnanimous: Do not be a douchbag.

There is a difference between;

"Hey you stupid motherfuckers. Will you please get your shit together, mount up, and ride into the North Bunker so we end this goddamn game you pathetic retards?"

And

"When you res at SP GY, mount up as a group and ride into the North Bunker. We've got this game!"

People respond to directions that are consistently good-natured. While inside you may be frustrated and angry you have chosen to lead an AV. You have given up the right to go ballistic on people... the other 39 people have not.

If you take a leadership position and break down ONCE and start name-calling and bitching it will take enormous effort to rebuild your damaged reputation... people remember the bad. They quickly forget the good.

Take responsibility: Build your followers one brick at a time

If you gave an order which results in setting you clearly on the path to losing, take responsibility for that by announcing your apology to everyone in the BG. While some people will tell you;

"ya, you fucked up. You suck"

Most will understand that shit happens and, by taking responsibility for it they recognize you more readily as a leader. The next AV game you may be playing with some of the same people and, if you choose to lead again, they will be more apt to follow a leader who stood up and took responsibility than a leader who sought to blame something other than himself.

Hell, I recommend taking responsibility for shit that isn't even your fault. People follow leaders who readily take responsibility and if you say something like;

"I should have been at SP GY with you guys. I'm sorry. I'll be there on this next attack."

OTHER people in the raid will think; "maybe if *I* had been at SP GY we would have it." And you get their internal wheals going.

Don't compete: Unless the current leader is clearly a retard

 

Being a leader is a tough job and, especially in WoW where there are hundreds of people ready to slam you with a sarcastic comment, second guess you with a hidden insult, or flat out broadcast that they hate your guts. If someone other than yourself has taken the reigns of leadership do NOT be one of those people who stand on the sidelines contributing nothing but negativity.

If you believe the leader is not doing a good job feel free to make suggestions in a direct and constructive way. Even though you are not the self-appointed leader of the AV, you still show leadership qualities and contribute to the success of the game. If your input is constructive and helpful people will see that in future games and more readily follow your lead.

If the leader happens to be a complete retard DO NOT heckle. Just make suggestions and if your suggestions are followed, good... if not, the unfortunate reality is, you have been knocked up a peg by standing on the back of a leader who failed. It isn't nice, but it is the truth.

That's my guide to being a leader in AV. While these lessons can be applied to just about anything AV and other 40-man raids is where it tends to be most applicable. I hope this guide helps some Horde AV leaders step up to the plate to get Vindication's AV's winning more than loosing.

Tagged with: Alliance, Alterac Valley, AV, Horde, Strategy Guide, World of Warcraft