The Classifieds: Beat the heat with the Ironman Instancing Challenge

The Classifieds brings you weekly updates on news from around the WoW community. Have guild news or a Random Act of Uberness to share? Send it to TheClassifieds@wow.com.

Looking for a refreshing, silly and utterly engaging way to slip through a sweltering summer of pre-expansion doldrums? We have just the thing: the Ironman Instancing Challenge. Ever heard of naked Deadmines races? It's like that -- on steroids. Here's the best version of this event we've yet seen, from <The Risen> (Thorium Brotherhood [US-H]):

• Start with your character completely naked in Ragefire Chasm. Using only the gear you pick up during these runs, clear your way through every 5-man instance in WoW.

• You can Ironman alone or with a group. Eventually, groups become necessary.

• Any class abilities (like pets) are available at all times.

• Any mats needed to use class abilities/buffs are also fine.

• Screenshot every final boss you kill; it's on the honor system. All kills should be accomplished according to the gear rules of Ironman Instancing.

• You are welcome to farm instances for gear -- but again, you can only use gear picked up during Ironman Instance runs.

• You cannot instance with anyone not participating in the Ironman contest.

• The winners are the first five people to successfully clear every instance.

<The Risen>'s prizes include a special guild ranking for the winners -- a guild tradition and year-round reminder of the fun. Send us your best screenshots from your own Ironman Instancing Challenges and we'll share them here in The Classifieds.

And speaking of, let's crack open The Classifieds ...

Random acts of uberness

Who rocks your PUG world? Send in your shout-outs to theclassifieds@wow.com. Keep 'em short and sweet (150 words or less, please), and be sure to list everyone's character names and home realms or battlegroup (armory links earn you hugs!).

Dejavu (Norgannon [US-A]) I'm dragging my feet on The Test Of Righteousness and was up late one night prowling around Westfall. My Pali was a lvl 29 at the time and I could get quite far into Deadmines but not all the way to the Mast Room for some oak. So I started chatting up people landing at Sentinel Hill, looking for some assistance. I was met with a lot of silence and a couple of "Sorry, no time now. GL"'s, but no help. Finally, Dejavu, a Night Elf (I think) around my lvl ran by to catch a bird to Duskwood. My request for assistance was met with silence until she landed, then she responded that she'd be right back. Dejavu backed me up all the way to the Mast Room and kept the excess varmints off my back. Now I need to get over to Shadowfang Keep for a bloody hammer! Thanks, Dejavu! Your're cool! -- Eamardrick, <Rogue Guardians>, Norgannon (US-A)

ToGC PUG, Illidan (US-A) I would like the chance to again thank all the folks I raided with this past Friday. I joined a 10 ToGC pug and the entire raid went unbelievably smooth. So smooth in fact that we ended up getting "A Tribute to Insanity". This was all due to a group that kept cool headed and pointed out the differences in the fights before each pull. No yelling in vent, only calm direction and tips. I cannot remember their names but if they read this I'm sure they will know who they are. -- Mandalore, Illidan (US-A)

Shaae, (Cenarion Circle [US-H]) Hi, I've just gotten back into WoW after a rather lengthy hiatus to finish up my degree. I was nervous about starting in on heroics again with random healers, I'm a tank, but made the jump anyway. I was lucky enough (or random enough) to have Shaae from Cenarion Circle pop into my group. With her assistance we were able to finish 3 randoms with some undergeared dps, including an Oculus run that saw a blue drake drop. I was sad when we had to quit because of connection issues, but wanted to share what an awesome healer I had found. Shaae, if you're ever on Ravenholdt, I'd love to tank for you. Hope to see you in randoms again! Thanks -- Khaorashim, Ravenholdt (US-H)

Agonize (Dawnbringer [US-A]) Well, I don't know if this really counts as an act of uberness, but I did want to pass along a story. After months of grinding heroics--and subsequently getting really burned out on it--as my guild tries to build it's first ICC10 team, I got in a random with Agonize, Dawnbringer US, a fresh 80 DK who's enthusiasm reminded me why grinding heroics can actually be fun. Namely, those rare times that we get into groups with people we actually like. It seems Agonize had never run Culling of Stratholme, even on regular, and when she not only won the roll for the mount, but also got her Dungeonmaster of Northrend achievement, her profuse thanks to the rest of the group (she told us she felt like a princess--a nice change of pace from the standard "ty for the run") has given me a more sunny outlook on future randoms. So I'm just using this opportunity to tell Agonize I should be thanking her. And also apologizing for having to let her die that one time. If we weren't on different realms, I'd probably let you bill me for the repairs. -- Chanis, Galakrond (US-A)

<Nethergard Watch>, (Burning Blade [US-A]) After a long day of not-so-successful Alliance pvp in Arathi Basin (The Call-to-Arms), I decided to hit one last BG in the hopes of getting the daily BG bonus. Contained in this AB was a group of <Nethergard Watch> from US-Burning Blade who were bored and decided to semi-premade. Well, sufficed to say that after a long day of getting crushed by horde, it sure felt good the be the one dealing out the hurt. Thanks <Nethergard Watch> for making my day! -- Tyradar, <The Illuminati>, Earthen Ring (US-A)

News: Around the WoW community

Death march Interested in becoming part of something ... larger? Chamber of Aspects (EU) will be holding a death march for death knights on June 19-20 at 12:00 server time. Level 80 DKs are invited to gather outside the gates of Orgrimmar for an organized procession on their Acherus' Deathchargers from Razor Hill to Orgrimmar, where the entire group will then summon their Armies of the Dead. The event, open only to level 80 DKs, will be recorded on YouTube. Contact Solostaren in game for more information or visit this thread on the EU forums.



Celebration of Life If something a little more lively is more your style, enjoy the video above from the recent Fandu'talah lo Shar -- Celebration of Life festival on Argent Dawn (EU).

Survey says ... Sadie Cole, a grad student in psychology at Harvard University, is seeking respondents for her research into who becomes an MMO gamer and who doesn't. Take the survey if you're interested in contributing.

Kicking off this week's round of anniversary announcements is <Thunderbrew Guard> of Steamwheedle Cartel (US-RP-A), celebrating its fourth year together this month. "Thunderbrew Guard does a little bit of everything: 10-man raids, heroics, PvP, achievements, old-school raids and instances and in-game social events, all on a casual schedule and with the understanding that fun, friendship and good brew comes before loot and progression," writes their rep. ... Turning five this month is <Dawn of the Undead> of Turalyon (EU-H). "We're a guild that has over 100 active accounts and tries to keep a nice balance between being a 'social guild' and also one that enjoys a couple of raids a week," writes officer Kazilk. "From the days back in MC, pvping in Southshore / Tarren Mill, the sad passing of our founding Guild Leader Zombina, clearing TK & SSC, we have seen an awful lot in our time. But lets not mention the weeks / months we spent on the first two Molten Giants all those years ago :)." ... And look who's turning one: It's <Elwynn Police Dept> on Rexxar (US-A) -- who's celebrating, of course, in Elwynn Forest!

Employment: Guild recruiting

ICC-10 <Meatball of War> (Spinebreaker [EU- H]) seeks one or two healers and the same number of ranged DPSers to solidify its weekly raiding schedule. Raids three nights per week plus low-numbers retro raiding (BWL four-manned, Kara soloed, Mag two-manned, etc). "We're all adults and have a somewhat risque sense of humour," writes their rep, "so you'd need to be fine with that."

ICC raiding <Method> (Dragonmaw [US-H]), with members from across the U.S. as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, is looking for ICC-experienced and -geared raiders. Raids ICC-25 Tues./Thurs. 8:30-11:30 p.m. server time, ICC-10 other evenings.

Semi-casual ICC-10 <Scare Bears> (Firetree [US-H]) is progressing through ICC-10 with a weekly ICC-25 PUG. Raids Tues./Thurs./Sun. 9 p.m.-12 a.m. server time. "We're looking for fun, outgoing people who are serious about progression," writes their recruiter. "We desperately need healers and a tank or two, but all classes and specs are encouraged to apply. We run an EPGP loot system."

Personals: Looking for more

Here's an irresistibly friendly entry for the Personals section from a player on Azjol-Nerub (US):

The Classifieds brings you weekly updates on player and community news, help finding the right guild, who's making waves in the WoW community and more. Email your news and Random Acts of Uberness to TheClassifieds@wow.com.