20 Questions with Rilgon of Stabilized Effort Scope

I’m very excited about having Rilgon this week. His blog Stabilized Effort Scope (aka SES) has become a beacon for Marksman Hunters everywhere. But besides the obvious accolades one can give this player and blogger. You also have to respect his passions for the game. Because of his passions, Rilgon has become one of those figures that have a tendency to polarize the player population. Many will tell you that you either love him or hate him, there really is no in between.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy reading this interview as I did doing it.

Hey Rilgon! It’s been a long time since you’ve last been featured here at the Lodge. So we have some catching up to do.

First, though let’s give the readers some background on who Rilgon is and what makes you tick.

Who Rilgon is, eh? Well, I’m a 23 year old IT professional who works way too hard in everything I do, be it for my customers, my readers, or my guild. Outside of WoW and work, my main passions are server maintenance and administration, and that’s part of what spurred me to move SES to a self-hosted platform. WoW is sort of my “fail-safe” plan for my days off – if no one wants to hang out and do stuff, WoW’s always there, heh.

So how long have you been playing WoW? And has it all been dedicated to being a Marksman Hunter?

I’ve actually been playing since the original Closed Beta for World of Warcraft. One of my college roommates was in the beta and got me hooked on it, and during a later round of beta invites, he managed to get me one. When I started in the Beta, Hunters weren’t even available as a class option yet! My first character was actually a Dwarf Mage. I rolled a Hunter when they were made available to beta testers (also a Dwarf – they’re the second best race in the game to Draenei), and never looked back. Specced Marksmanship as soon as our talents were made available to us because Trueshot Aura sounded really cool. And the rest, as they say, is history! I took a rather long break between 1.12 and 2.3 due to real life issues (trying to go to college full time + trying to work full time + trying to raid Naxxramas 60 four days a week = NEVER AGAIN), and came back because you really never can truly “leave” WoW.

Thanks Rilgon. Knowing that you’ve never had a problem keeping your views and opinions to yourself, I have to be honest I’m really excited about this, so are you ready for your 20 Questions?

Well, I think so, Brain, but it’s not a mineral.

1. Your blog Stabilized Effort Scope really has really taken off since the release of WoTLK. Do you think this is related to there really being a vacuum of MM related info out there and people were lost? Or do you think it is related to something else?

I think there’s a pair of reasons why SES took off. Firstly, as you said, there was a real vacuum of information for Marksmanship Hunters who were either diehards like I was from the Burning Crusade days who took their knocks and persevered, or were genuinely curious about trying it due to Blizzard’s attempt to bring spec parity. Secondly, and I have no problem admitting this, SES’s true takeoff wasn’t until I was linked by BigRedKitty. Probably my proudest moment as a WoW blogger, heh.

2. You know the history, trials and tribulations of being a MM hunter. Now that the tables have turned for BM hunters out there what’s your opinion for those feeling down and out about their spec today?

Don’t give up. It could take months or even years for Blizzard to give you what you deserve, but if Wrath of the Lich King has proven anything, it’s proven that it will come in time. If you truly enjoy a spec and you are in a guild open-minded enough to allow you to play it, then fight on!

3. So you’re more about spec loyalty than the spec du jour? And when we see that venom pointed at the “BM Hunters” or now the “Survival Hunters” is it more about those that enforce a Min/Max raid philosophy as opposed to building teamwork and individuality?

I’m more about what people want to play. If people want to play to be the ultimate DPS machine and float with the whim of the flavor of the month, more power to them. But my venom and vitriol comes not from people who are Survivalists or Beast Masters by choice (otherwise how could I associate with BRK or Pikestaff or Mirshalak?), but from people who force people to play something they don’t want to be. If the people are willing and acceptant of that, then fine, but people who look down on and belittle people who aren’t the spec of the moment are horrible people regardless of what spec they are. They’re the ones that earn my ire, not anyone else.

4. So let me ask you this, and please correct me if I’m wrong. You don’t feel guilds should force players into a particular Spec/Gear/Glyph combination, YET your quick to point out that if a player is not gearing with Best In Slot gear and Hit Capped are gimping the raid? Doesn’t this seem like a contradiction?

I don’t think I’ve stated anything ever precisely like that, but there is a distinct difference between choosing to play an under-performing spec because you enjoy it and having sub-par gear. My only contention is the absolute enforcement of the hit cap, but that’s due to my experience as a pre-BC raider. I was forged in a raiding environment where one missed shot (usually a Tranquilizing Shot) very well could wipe your raid. That has ingrained into my raiding habits to never be below hit cap, regardless of cost.

5. And what exactly is your beef with the Mechano-hog/Mekgineer’s Chopper being sold to non-engineers? I mean it was suppose to be a way for Engineers to recoup some of their costs as well as make some gold with their profession. But you’re pretty adamantly against such a thing? Can you help us understand this?

It’s a matter of two things. Firstly, most Engineers were never in it for the money. We were in it for the identity. We carry membership cards to the secret Engineering societies that we’re a member of (Goblin Experimental Engineering Korporation, baby!), we wear headgear that no one else can match, and we have a litany of tricks and surprises that keeps our enemies on their toes. We’re unique individuals. That’s why I was an Engineer at level 5 on my original Dwarf Hunter on launch day. Giving something that SCREAMS Engineering aptitude to anyone who has the cash to buy the parts is an insult to that streak of Engineer’s pride. The motorcycle should’ve been something that said “man, look at that guy, that’s one badass Engineer!” Instead, it says “man, look at that guy, that’s one rich mofo!”. It diminishes what the mount should’ve been.

Secondly, it stems from the fact that the motorcycle, when it was data mined during the Wrath closed beta, was the icon of hope for Engineers. We’d seen Jewel crafters with their Dragon’s Eyes, Blacksmiths with their sockets, Tailors with their Embroideries (which, in retrospect, ended up being as pathetic as our bonuses), Leatherworkers with their Fur Linings, and the like, we were angry. We had nothing that stuck out as a bonus to Engineers – the tinkers that Blizzard gave us were downgrades! They don’t stack with enchants, they don’t provide stats, and they don’t do enough to be worth it. So why be an Engineer? The answer to that was the Mekgineer’s Chopper. “Finally! It’s okay if I don’t have the bonuses that other professions provide – I can look like a badass! That’s good enough for us!” said most of the Engineering community. We were happy! We were absolved of our anger and our frustration – that was our shining hope! And then it was taken away from us and given to the highest bidder. It was insulting to an extreme. That’s why I still harbor an extreme amount of resentment towards any non-Engineer who owns one.

6. Let’s talk about PvP. I know you feel it’s ruining WoW, a point that to some degree we both agree. However, there are many, many WoW subscribers that truly love PvP play. Knowing that, and with the restriction you can’t just get rid of it, what would you recommend to Blizz so they could have the best of both the PvE and PvP worlds?

The same thing I’ve been telling them since original Closed Beta – make abilities work differently in PVP situations (i.e. Arena and Battlegrounds). That way, you can balance an ability to work within the confines of the arena without harming the balance of the game that’s been here since the beginning (i.e. PVE and the raid scene). They’ve done it for professions – Alchemists can make their very own potions that are meticulously balanced for Arena use. Why can’t they take that same level of care and attention to detail and apply it to all classes? That way, the Arena and BG players are happy because there’s real balance, and the PVE people are happy because we’re not being harmed due to the incessant cries of the other side.

7. Many probably ask, “Why are you still playing, if you hate or disagree with just about everything in the game? Are things really that bad? I mean you seem to enjoy it? And if you do hate it so much, why are you still playing?

I continue to play because, regardless of what I say, the raid design and balance teams of Blizzard are exemplary. I’ve stated that if I ever find an MMO with as vibrant and fun a raiding scene as WoW, I’ll leave. But honestly, in four years, nothing has sprung up to take that challenge. World of Warcraft has been, is, and looks like it will continue to be the premier game for PVE-minded people for the foreseeable future. I just wish Blizzard would realize that and go back to the 1.x days where we were the ones catered to.

8. We all know your best bud in game is your Wasp, Ayamiss. What is it about this pet that makes her so great? To some it’s too big and loud, but to you it’s great. What are the benefits of having Ayamiss over any other wasp, or is it just an achievement thing?

Really and truly, it’s all about my old-world experience. Ayamiss the Hunter was a boss that had a lot of Hunter pride attached to it – we were the ones that tanked her. We had the Agility (and thus the dodge), we had the ranged DPS, and we had the ability to make cohesive “tank transitions” via Feign Death to make sure no one Hunter got too many stings. Yeah, when she landed that job went back to a real tank, but it was the first ever experience with the mystical “Hunter tanking” that any of us ever did. I loved the Ayamiss fight, and the ability to tame a creature that looked just like her? Something I wouldn’t pass up for a fleet of hogs.

Plus, she’s a great asset in the absence of a Boomkin or Feral Druid – minor armor debuffs are powerful DPS increases for physical DPS, and if I can bring that, I’m gonna. It’s just more “invisible DPS” that I bring to the table!

9. Speaking of achievements, ever since they were introduced into the game, they have been surrounded with controversy. What’s your view on them? Is it fair to use them as a guage for player competency? Just what do you think?

I think that some are good enough barometers of skill – You Don’t Have An Eternity, The Twilight Zone, The Immortal/The Undying, things like that. A lot of them that people try to use are not (Shocking!, The Safety Dance) – they hinge upon 9/24 other people, and even if you can dance the Heigan Dance/do Thaddius transitions from now to the end of time and never err, your achievement can be denied because of one other person’s error. Not cool for gauging skill.
My view? If it gives me a cool title, a cool pet, or has a cool name, I’m gonna go for it. (See: My work for Guardian of Cenarius, The Argent Champion, Higher Learning, They Love Me In That Tunnel, and various other Bronze Dragonflight-associated reputations) But I’m not a person who goes “omg this has an achievement I HAS TO DO EEEET”. That can be seen in my sub-3500 achievement score.

10. Alright, enough heavy stuff. Here’s a question I have, what give us 3 of your Highest Highs and 3 of your Lowest Lows.

My highest highs, at least in an in-game sense, were
1: Obtaining the schematic for and crafting my very own Core Marksman Rifle in MC – the very first one on my server.
2: Downing Princess Huhuran for the first time.
3: A last-second kill of Vaelastrasz the Corrupt – last man alive, and my Arcane Shot just barely manages to do enough damage to Vael to kill him… moments before I explode due to Burning Adrenaline.

My lowest lows:
1: Being out rolled on the Crown of Destruction from Ragnaros by a Fury Warrior who days earlier had sworn he wouldn’t roll.
2: Ashjre’thul, Crossbow of Smiting dropping on the ONLY BWL raid I missed in over a year
3: Going three months without success against the Four Horsemen in Naxxramas, the last week of which culminated during Finals week of my Sophomore year (and this is what caused me to finally quit WoW)

11. Knowing that you’ve been in the game since pre-beta (yes, he’s ancient folks); it means you have had a lot of time to do some VERY un-Rilgon things. What might be something that would surprise everyone, what is that skeleton you keep hidden?

I was a spell damage Hunter back pre-BC. Yes, I knew how to play and how to gear, but it was my little joke with our guild. We got NOTHING but caster drops (Seriously, 10 weeks of double Netherwind, Nefarion? Go die again). So, instead of letting it get turned into more Nexus Crystals, I took it for shard price. You name it, I had it – Staff of the Shadowflame, Talisman of Ephemeral Power, Robes of the Battleguard. I was more geared as a “mage” than most Mages on my server. And it was a blast. Can you say 1500 damage Arcane Shots, followed by a 900 damage blast from my Arcane Infused Gem? (Bear in mind this was at 60!)

12. What are your feelings on this whole “Hero” class thing? Good idea, bad idea?

I like the concept. I just hope that their implementation improves – there are a lot of DKs who hit 80 and have no idea how the hell to play their class. (Then again, there’s a lot of 80s period who don’t…)

13. What class would you like to see added to the game and how would you like it to play?

Tinkers! It would have three trees – one revolving around power armor piloting that would be a tank spec, one revolving around explosives and clockwork machinations that would be a DPS, and one revolving around alchemy and mad science that would be a healing class.

14. I know you have an affinity for Goblins as a playable race, is this really something you’d like to see? If so, how would that work? A single Neutral class? Horde with a balanced Alliance race or vice versa?

Absolutely would kill to have playable Goblins. And ideally, I think you’d have both Horde Goblins and Alliance Goblins. They work for both sides (although obviously favor the Horde), but they couldn’t be overtly Horde characters, as that would disenfranchise their Alliance customers, and vice versa. No, you’d be able to, at character creation, choose a Goblin as your race regardless of faction, but you’d be forever locked into your faction choice (Alliance or Horde). It’s the most elegant solution, IMO.

15. A ton of MMO’s are out there. Some have “failed” and are limping along, some are successful, but none can touch WoW at the moment. What will it take to push WoW off the top spot?

The same commitment to polished, spanning, and “epic” large-scale PVE content that Blizzard provides without the harm that WoW does to the PVE community through its forced duality of balance (that provides no real balance at all). If this “WoW-killer” is to have PVP, it needs to be balanced in a vacuum against itself, and not harm PVE balance.
And if it DOES have PVP, it needs to be like the damn War of Emperium from Ragnarok Online. Now THAT is PVP.

16. So let’s talk about SES a bit. Do you have a vision for it? What do you want and/or hope to see happen with it?

I don’t think my vision has really changed – I want SES to be to Marksman what BigRedKitty.com is to Beast Masters – an iconic figure in the Blogosphere that they can look up to, idolize, and say “I learned to play from him!”. Obviously, this is a very, very lofty goal, and probably something I’ll never achieve, but it’s what everything I do works towards.

17. Who are some hunter’s that you truly admire and look up to? What did they do to earn your respect?

BRK, for being “the” iconic Hunter. He iconifies what I started a Hunter on the Live servers to be – that damn Dwarf in the vanilla opening cinematic with the badass bear and the rifle. Pikestaff (aka Tawyn) for being almost a mother figure to all of us – where BRK is the leader and the icon, she is the nurturer and the storyteller. Cheeky, Wertez, and Shandara, for their creation (Cheeky) and maintenance (Wertez and Shandara) of the spreadsheet, from which springs all of our might and confidence. Howitzer, for being the original Godfather of Marksmanship, and whose shoes I’m constantly told I’m struggling to fill in his absence. Mania, for her absolute dedication to the cataloguing and analysis of our pet companions. Negathle, for being able to be what I wish I could be – an extremely successful raiding Marksman Hunter.

18. What are the 3 things you think every new hunter needs to remember?

Firstly, focus and dedication are the keys to this class – regardless of your spec, the difference between a good Hunter and a poor Hunter is determined by your effort and attention – this has been true since Molten Core. Next, in a party or raid, you are the engine of the group. Tanks are the frame of the group, healers are its gasoline, and DPS in general are the tires, but we drive it forward with our trapping, our aggro management, and our pulling aptitude. Don’t be afraid to take charge! Lastly, be who you wish to be. Unless you are content being molded into someone else’s image of who you are (and if you are, great), be yourself and take no second-guessing about it.

19. So how much of all this is Rilgon the Player vs. Rilgon the Character? Is there a separation of the two?

Everything I do is who I am. I have the same mindsets and mantras in real life – give 110% all the time, be yourself regardless of circumstance, never pass up a chance to lead – but Rilgon the character is just a virtualization of me that I diddle around with in my spare time. I just happen to be pretty good at what that virtualization does.

20. Final question… You’ve seen beta’s, patches, and the growth of WoW, so what content does Blizz need to do to make the game even better going forward?

It needs to challenge and engage everyone involved – yes, even those blasted PVPers. But it also needs to temper that with the care and deliberation to never harm one subset of the population for another’s benefit. There needs to be more 5-mans, more raids (with more hard modes – Ulduar is great in this regard), more battlegrounds, and a resurgence of focus on the Arena to carefully balance it once and for all -without upsetting PVE balance.

Thanks Rilgon! I’m glad we got a chance to get together and do this. Any last thoughts for people out there?

Some people tend to think that what I say are edicts or orders – they’re not, and they never will be. I give people my own perspective of the game, the class, and everything that entails. It’s up to my readership and everyone else to glean from it what they find useful, disregard what they don’t, and challenge me to bring my best game as I challenge everyone to bring theirs – whatever that may be. Above all, it is our effort that defines who we are.