A week after wiping 7 times on Marrowgar, OC’s team started off a new week with a bang: one-shots on Marrowgar, Lady Buzzkill, and the Gunship, and one partial wipe on Saurfang before getting him.

The difference was more attitude and attention than anything else: we reiterated the important things to do before each fight, AND the things NOT to do. And folks did, or didn’t do, them.

The good: hunter loot dropped off of EACH of the four bosses we downed.

Marrowgar: Linked Scourge Vertebrae

Lady DW: Handgrips of Frost and Sleet

Gunship: Pauldrons of Lost Hope

Saurfang: Hauberk of a Thousand Cuts

The bad: OC was the only hunter, and either already had or didn’t need any of those drops….so they were sharded.

I think we set a record for shards on ICC10 for us….

I leveled my pally to 80 mostly so my guild back then, the KLA, would have a tank if needed if we were short some run in Naxx or Ulduar, and for the odd (pre-Random Dungeon Finder) Heroic.

But ‘lo, Magni was short a tank for ICC, and Alpham was called upon.

I told him he was undergeared. i200 heroic and Naxx10 gear. Only 25k hp unbuffed. Though he is defense-capped.

They didn’t care (bless them).

So, on a second night’s run into ICC10, he off-tanked the Gunship, then Saurfang. A serious lack of ranged dpsers meant Saurfang still lives; however, Alpham survived and tanked well.

Thanks to awesome heals. mostly.

But, then, seriously….how the heck can a pally geared for Naxx and Ulduar, with only a few CONQUEST emblem gear pretty much skip ToC and Triumph gear altogether and perform ably in ICC?!?

Alpham was on the back burner as OC ran into ICC. But now, I’m gonna have to make Alpham at least respectbly geared, ‘cuz I feel dam guilty tanking crap two raids above his gear level…

Here’s a few of the things I generally avoid buying and reselling on the AH:

- Items that are near or just above the next expansion, but from the last: level 56-60 Vanilla WoW, level 66-70 BC…not big sellers as folks will be replacing them in just a few levels - with quest greens, no less.

- Random “of the” blues: Unless it has Agility, or is Bandit, Monkey, Bear or some other combo of “these are the two best stats of a commonly played class”

- level x0-x5 blues: A level 20 blue isn’t going to be bought by a PvP twink; 0-5 level blues are limited to those who are willing to spend a little gold to ensure that leveling isn’t going to be slowed down by a 3-pat.

- Pally stuff on Horde and Shammy stuff on Alliance: Just not enough players buying, so be prepared for many failed auctions.

- Spellpower plate: Even on Alliance, you’re talking only Holy Pallies buying.

- Class items: Totems and such, even wands….limiting your buyer pool here.

- Enchant mats: The Good - no deposit, The Bad - Random Heroics means everyone and their brother usually has them. A good buy is still a good buy, but it needs to be a really good buy now.

- Crafted Consumables: We’re basically talking ammo and armor kits here. Cheap to make, any crafter will simply put them up for less. But leg armors are costlier, and are specifically needed if someone gets new legs, so buying low and selling high on them still works. They are the exception.

 - PvP gear (the level 78 crafted blues): Iffy..they are cheap to make, but most crafters only use them to skill up. Many folks, though, wait until 80 to PvP, and so they do sell. The pally/shammy divide still applies, but since other classes can wear the pally plate, it’s ok. But the shammy mail…well, it’s only for shammies, so beware Allyside. The trick is to wait until only a few of a type are on auction AND they are lowlow priced…and to act quickly before someone skilling up undercuts you. I’ve sold full sets in 24 hours…and also taken two weeks to sell one piece.

- Level 213/226 drops: Routinely overpriced if they appear for sale. Folks are not gonna pay 1500g for something when a night of running Heroics will net them enough Triumphs for a better piece. But they might pay a few hundred, so if you can get one for 100-200, go for it.

That’s it…how I make all the gold I need on the Auction House. NO tricks, NO fancy mods….just 3+ years of experience, some knowledge, some common sense, and a dash of psychology.

/profit

The Hammers and friends completed Sunwell Plateau Monday night, downing Kil’Jaeden. And he dropped a Legendary: Thori’Dal, the Stars’ Fury !

The first Legendary I’ve ever seen drop, and only the second I’ve ever seen in game, period.

OC was the only hunter in raid, but it’s level 70, and while a Legendary item,  it’s not quite as good as what I already have: Njordnar Bone Bow .

After a little discussion, I Needed on it, as folks couldn’t remember whether they had Greeded or Passed on the lotsa loots he dropped. The only others who could even equip it were a rogue and two warriors. So I offered to roll off among the four of us for the Legendary (which was why I Needed…didn’t want to take the chance some mage would get it vendor it ).

The rogue won (dam…woulda been nice for RP! ), and ‘lo and behold…it’s a Feat of Strength!

http://www.wowhead.com/?achievement=725

She got it when she equipped it…so I asked her if the 2 hour trade time still was on it. It was, so she traded it back to me, I equipped…and also got the FoS!

However, after I gave it back to her and she traded it to one the warriors…he equipped it but did NOT get the achievement…. >:

We know the Sunwell fights now, though (it’s tough enough to easily wipe 80s who don’t), so we’ll likely be going back…and I want it for TEH RP!!