i don't know about not doing anything at all and just chatting but when Gray popped on and started talking (course, he wasn't in Start with us), I got a little distracted. But I still threw snowballs at the baddies so I don't think it mattered all that much. I think if we got everyone on vent talking, we could stay more focused so we could breeze through the instance. Like if everyone was there and agreed "Okay we're going to go over here and take out these zombies" instead of someone just typing it or whatever, it would move faster. Did that make sense?
I also get side-tracked by typing about disneyland so it's not just vent. I'll get side-tracked no matter WHAT we do.

It's not that the side tracked chat is the problem.. it's that you can't turn it off when it's in your ears. That's my only issue with Vent. I love to chat, but it's a choice to read it and it's silent. I have kids chattering away in my ears all day and after they go to bed I silence the house, pretty much. While we kept moving along, I didn't really have a problem because I had to just try to tune everything out so I wouldn't kill the party and mostly everyone would talk about what was going on in the instance... and it was incredibly funny, yes I agree. But there were at least three times where we just found ourselves standing around while everyone chatted, and it gets later and later.

I'm not putting anyone down or anything. Mostly I was worried that if I didn't get on Vent, I wouldn't be useful or would become a pain in the ass in an instance. I have a headset now but we couldn't get the mic to work. I think my settings are fubar'ed or something. Anyway... if I don't use vent, am I not welcome in the instance? And will my text chat get lost in the chatter?

Validate me. :)

Of course you don't have to use vent, silly girl, and I don't think your text will get lost in the chatter.

I really need to try out vent one of these days...My headset is a big dust collector atm!

Is there some way maybe to break the vent up into 'rooms?' I've been on vent servers before where there was a room labeled, for example, "Strath," and all the people in the raid went in there, and the folks who were footling around outside the instance could just chat while they farmed silk for the war effort rep stuff or what-all.

Keep in mind, I know very little about the operation of a server, so if that means it would cost more or take up time figuring it out that could be spent in Warcraft, ignore me, for I believe my computer is manned by magical elves who grant wishes.

That said though, please don't hesitate to let me know if I'm too chatty and you're new to an instance and need to focus. I will be happy to tone it down, and won't be offended at all. I am fully aware that I get excited sometimes on vent and talk too much. I would hate to distract anyone so much they swear off vent completely, because it can be very helpful in difficult boss encounters just for the 'inc' warnings and such. Basically, don't be afraid to tell me to shut my pie-hole because you're focusing, and certainly don't be afraid to let me know you want some silence after a loud day. It's perfectly understandable, and it certainly doesn't make you unwelcome. I enjoyed chatting last night, but I also enjoyed my first UD Strath raid with VS, and I wasn't on vent for that one.

I noticed a couple of times we did sort of dally, not to the point of being a serious problem, but a lull -- I blame myself a little because I did get really chatty Cathy on you guys, partly because it was only the first or second time I've been on a run with most of you and I got easily sidetracked with the giggles. <3 I didn't see it as a problem, per se, but Sher I can see your point pretty easily: especially when it gets late and people are sleepy. I had a blast just shooting the breeze with you guys, but please don't think you're being OMG MEEN if you speak up on nudging us along? I also would not blame you for skipping the vent altogether if you have kids eating up your chance for quiet time. My job is mostly me in a silent bubble, so I have the opposite problem. XD

Well put Lin

I created some channels on the server, none have any specific use, but can be used to split up non-essential chatter.

I'll stick to the BDSM Parlor.

Boy. I totally appreciate the feedback Lin and Ingo. Makes me feel a little less like some sort of social pariah trying to ruin everyone's fun. I was extremely tired last night too, so that didn't help much.

It wasn't my intention to make it a big deal, I was just hoping to get some sort of middle ground. I've never been on any of the higher end instances more than once and haven't played my rogue for about oh, 40 or so levels on two different characters. Ashu's got really crappy gear and I don't always know what I'm doing, so most of the raids I'm on are a wee bit stressful, and exciting, and 'wow lookit that'. The channel thing sounds awesome for someone like me, who would just like to be included in the instance information and chat in text.

I'm also not a big fan of Vent, and resisted even using it until recently. But if you're not on it, you usually get no information about what is going on...and that's very frustrating. I think there was alot of time just standing around while chat was going on...and it ended later than I thought it would. That's why I had to log so quickly at the end.

Sherica, I'm the same way. I find new instances to be stressfull and yet very fun. I'm usually concentrating on which mob to pull and how not to wipe the group, so I get very quiet. I usually use vent to call out the mob I'm about to pull and look for a bit of reassurance that everyone is ready. (Kund marking the mob helps) Now I enjoy the chatter on vent. It actually relaxes me and that Cartman stuff had me rolling, but I can understand looking for a middle ground. I think as a group, we are getting comfortable with Undead Strat, thus the vent conversations are showing that. Once we start to hit the other places that are new to us, the conversation will get alot more raid oriented.

Also last night had to have been our fastest run yet, even with the wipe.

Yeah I bet when we do an instance that we're not as comfortable with, the chatter will go down...and I know that I'm a chatterer. Please excuse me, for I only have little kids around me all day and crave the conversations of real adults. Like Cartman.

I have a question: What am I doing wrong with the Vent thing? I noticed that there are different rooms now, and I think I have to do something with the bindings thingy, because it lets me choose a channel. And I see that it's push to talk, but I'm not sure what else to do. Which rooms are for what purpose, and why won't my mic work?

Can't help you with the mic problem. I don't know if you are running a firewall. But if you are, you may have to open up a port.

As for the rooms, they have no set purpose (that I know of). They are just there so we can split into groups as needed. So if there's a Strath & Gnomer run going on at the same time, each group can have its own room.

the thing I don't understand about the mic is that my husband uses the Internet phone program Skype and he has no problem with the mic working or the headset. So I'm thinking it's something to do with my Ventrilo settings. No worries for me really, because I'd rather just type but I'd like the options.

lern2vent

Vodka + Vent = Good times had by all.

You can mute individuals as needed. I found that out quick being in a We Know ZG raid and connecting to their vent server. The absolute asshattery of some people in that guild is outstanding. Who else but a self-important fucktard would answer multiple cell phone calls on Vent with voice activiation on their mic, so we get to hear their conversations while we're raiding?

Vent is a great tool for organizing people in raids. It's faster than typing. But if it's not fun, don't use it. I'm more than happy to type out any instructions that are given on vent for those people not connected. Just let me know.

You set the key that you want to be your "push to talk" button, right?

I did that now, yes. I'll have to see if what I did worked. No vodka for two more days! :(

Hurry up Sheri, I want to hear that voice of yours.

I'm sick of masterbating to Lux's voice.....

I'm not the only one!

Ya'll I can do different accents and tones if you really need me to change it up.

Ok. So, now, when I push my 'push to talk' button, my little red megaphone thing goes green and makes a farting noise. is that right? Lux, get on Vent so I can see if this is working!!

If it's the noise I am thinking of, then yes. You can turn that litle noise off, too. In the options called "Play key clicks" I think.

got it to work now. just thank the sound gods that you can't hear me laugh. I'm loud.