Over four years and seven months ago our developers brought forth, upon Azeroth, a new hybrid, conceived in mockery yet dedicated to the proposition that all classes are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great balancing war, testing whether our class, or any class so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met here on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it as the final resting place for those who would play our class with no intent of weathering the oncoming storms. It is altogether fitting and proper that we, the children of Retribution, should do this.
But in a larger sense we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we can not hallow this ground. The brave men and women, active or gone, who struggled, here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The World of Warcraft willl little note nor long remember, what we say here today, but can never forget what they did here before and that which remains for our cause. It is therefore in our charge, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored Paladins we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these Paladins shall not have fought in vain - that this class, no longer under Kalgan, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that development of the players, by the players and for the players shall not fade from the World of Warcraft.
Stand with me, brothers and sisters. Stand with me and fight for great justice!
My fellow Retadins
My name is Tharvolde and I have been given the honor of writing for RetPaladin.com. Some of you may already know me. Others may have never even heard my name. Regardless of your membership therein, I’d like to to take this opportunity to provide a background on myself. I will attempt to cover as much ground as possible but will keep my history confined to bulletted lists. What follows is limited to my WoW experience:
While working at a small game studio as a 3D Developer / Modeler, I was given a copy of World of Warcraft on December 1, 2004 (7 days after it’s North American launch)
Prior to Burning Crusade, I leveled (in this precise order) a Human Priest, Orc Shaman, Human Paladin, Gnome Mage, Human Rogue and Orc Rogue all to 60.
I raided on my Gnome Mage within a world top 100 guild (at the time) called <Everlasting Vendetta> on Dark Iron
Upon the release of The Burning Crusade, I leveled (in this precise order) a Blood Elf Paladin, Undead Mage and Tauren Druid all to 70 and took my Orc Rogue to 70 as well
I raided on my Blood Elf Paladin within a world top 200 guild (at the time and still today) called <Simple Math> on Andorhal. Midway through my stay in this guild, I was responsible for winning the guild leadership over to the concept of finally taking a Retribution Paladin to their raids. It was an arduous task which was met with rampant ridicule but to this day they have not only raided with a Retribution Paladin but have sought to quickly replace every Retadin that has ever left the guild (the reasons for this are neither here nor there)
Upon the release of Wrath of the Lich King, I took my Blood Elf Paladin to 80 and casually raided Naxxramas 10 and 25 while shifting my focus more to PvP
Prior to the release of patch 3.1, I decided to reroll a fresh Retadin Alliance-side within BG9. This Retadin was named Tharvolde originally was on Ysondre in a guild called <Lamentation>. Within BG9, I competed around 2200 in all three brackets.
Responding to a post on Arena Junkies requesting a Retadin for 3v3 cleave within the Cyclone BG I transferred Tharvolde to Stormscale to play with a two-time Gladiator Resto Druid and Arms Warrior. Tharvolde then became “Brewser” (because I’m a drunken dwarf that hits hard lol…..) and I am still here to this day. I am currently competing at well over 2200 in two of three brackets (2v2 and 3v3) with a 5v5 MMR currently situated around 2100. You can check out my armory at: http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Stormscale&n=Brewser
I am passionate beyond conceivable sanity about Paladins and particularly about Retribution.
With that, allow me to provide a bit of personal background as well:
I turn 27 on the 10th of August
I have a great carreer as a Flex / LiveCycle consultant in the IT industry
I am the proud parent (yes, they’re like kids to me) of two rescued dogs
I was at one time a published poet
I was one of three authors at wowpaladin.org, a Paladin-dedicated site that, prior to being closed by the site owner due to personal reasons, received upwards of 10,000 unique hits per day
During the Burning Crusade, I was the auther of a Retribution raiding guide on the official Paladin forums that reached 27 pages and sat on the first page without a sticky (WTB blue representative for the Paladin forums) for four months.
Thanks to Megaphone for the opportunity to serve the Retribution community and thanks to all of you for your continued support of this site. Megaphone and I have many great things planned for RetPaladin.com in the near future (soon ™) and I look forward to helping in any way I can.
For great justice!
July 28th, 2009 - 11:03 am
Welcome!
July 28th, 2009 - 11:04 am
Welcome to retpaladin!
July 28th, 2009 - 11:25 am
Welcome. I look forward to your writing.
July 28th, 2009 - 11:29 am
Hey, what was your pally’s name on andorhal with Simple Math? I’ve called that server home as well. Looking forward to great articles.
July 28th, 2009 - 12:02 pm
Looking forward to your contributions!
July 28th, 2009 - 12:23 pm
Good luck, Tharvolde.
I know you’ll strike hard our foes and inspire true fear in the heart of infidels.
My the Light be with you.
Romberg
July 28th, 2009 - 12:46 pm
Good read and good luck to you.
July 28th, 2009 - 12:59 pm
Great, I am looking forward to what you have to contribute as a writer!
On a more personal note…..
What breed of dogs did you rescue?
July 28th, 2009 - 1:22 pm
Thanks for the support, all!
Dormouse
About three years ago I rescued a male, 65lb Shepherd/Collie mix named Odie and a year and a half ago my girlfriend and I rescued a female, 45lb Shepherd/Lab mix named Lexi.
July 28th, 2009 - 1:25 pm
Deathnighted
My Paladin’s name on Andorhal was Synovia but don’t tell Grouch - he hates me hahaha!
July 28th, 2009 - 1:26 pm
Nice take on the Gettysburg Address; I’m sure that Abe Lincoln would’ve played a Ret.
Lookin’ forward to some good posts.
July 28th, 2009 - 1:27 pm
Welcome friend. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the eventual fate of we Sons of Retribution, particularly with such grim circumstances looming on the horizon.
Out of curiosity are you currently testing a Retadin on the PTR? I would love some hard data on the recent nerf. I’m a fledgling Paladin (only achieved the hallowed 80 a month ago) and the thought of a nearly 400 dps subtraction from my 2250 is… disturbing.
July 28th, 2009 - 1:34 pm
Dristan
I have been doing quite a bit of testing and I’ll be sure to put some numbers up. I’m working on another post as I write this regarding my thoughts on Retribution’s near future so I’ll be sure to include some actual data comparing Live to the latest PTR build to support my case.
July 28th, 2009 - 1:44 pm
Words of wisdom and inspiration. Welcome!
July 28th, 2009 - 1:49 pm
Looking foward to some of the #’s you have compiled. Good luck , hope you serve the Ret community for many years
July 28th, 2009 - 1:55 pm
Grats, Tharvolde! I look forward to your posts.
July 28th, 2009 - 4:14 pm
I also look forward to your posts, just don’t pull a Ferraro on us >.>
July 28th, 2009 - 4:45 pm
@ Tharvolde
Excellent, can’t wait to see them.
July 28th, 2009 - 4:52 pm
Welcome. and congrats.
July 28th, 2009 - 5:11 pm
after reading the 2nd and 3rd paragraph of your speech twice to figure out what the hell you said, i have a headache. Although i am sure you will live up to your name and i will read 3 times just to get the info i need. BUT NO MORE THAN 3
July 28th, 2009 - 5:13 pm
I’m interested to hear your thoughts on the SoV/SoCorr nerf.
To the ground, baby!
July 28th, 2009 - 5:27 pm
Rence
No worries! I purposely laid out some personal information in th post so you all can take some added comfort in knowing that I am who I say I am lol.
Sesshoumaru
It was my introductory post
and as such I was trying to be elegant! Give me time and I think you’ll see my posts will generally be to the point and informative 
July 28th, 2009 - 6:25 pm
sounds like a winner to me =d
July 28th, 2009 - 7:38 pm
Glad to have you on board. I had no doubt that whoever Mega and Slayton let step up to the platform would be quality and your record shows it. I’m a fan of literature myself so I enjoyed your introduction =D
Sadly due to financial issues I can’t play right now, but I still keep up with whats going on with the class and the community and I look forward to your contributions.
July 29th, 2009 - 1:45 am
Wall of text crit me for over 9000.
Welcome anyhow, looking forward to seeing some of the information you can contribute.
PTR is not making me feel so good in terms of dps in pve.
I really have little trust for blizzard at this point.
July 29th, 2009 - 2:17 am
Welcome and I wish you the best of luck while representing retpaladin.com
Can’t wait to see your thoughts on the PTR condition of retribution!!!
July 29th, 2009 - 8:49 am
As a U.S. History major I approve of your parody sir.
Unfortunately I only pvp on my Warrior now, my ret paladin is what I raid on nowadays. But welcome aboard. And other Retpaladin.com members, please no hating on me for deciding that I had enough of the paladin rollercoaster in pvp
July 29th, 2009 - 1:27 pm
on behalf of, well, myself, i welcome you! always nice to have more writers on this website.
now you can share your insights into how we are going to pvp in 3.2 with us! :p
July 29th, 2009 - 1:50 pm
“Nice take on the Gettysburg Address” - LOL wow ty.. because I felt really dumb the after the 2nd time I had to read it and still didnt understand what I was reading. That’s the problem with getting used to playing WOW you get comfortable with short easy to read comments lol.. amirite.. see told ya.. At any rate welcome to Retpaladin.com I look forward to reading your posts!
July 29th, 2009 - 2:03 pm
Welcome, I’m looking forward to hearing from you, especially in regards to the PvP scene.
July 29th, 2009 - 3:15 pm
Woot! A new heroe for Ret paladins everywhere has arrived.
July 29th, 2009 - 11:30 pm
That’s just painful to read. At least everyone else enjoyed it.
July 30th, 2009 - 1:04 am
Give the man a break! Sheesh…just becuase he chooses to utilise linguistic elements composed of more than 3 syllables in his opening post to the community, he is suddenly besieged and berated by bumbling web-gremlins, too long used to communicating in “lols” and “omgs”, lazy aberrations against all expression and a mockery of the language that spawned them! Begone with your QQ, say I! More long words and sentences like winding mountain paths: they may be a more difficult climb for the lazy, fat valley-dwellers among us, but those of us nimble and resolute enough to chase them to their summit are rewarded with a blaze of meaning like a firelit sunrise. Bravo, sir! Fear not, some of us enjoy big words! I speak for them, and welcome you! :p
July 30th, 2009 - 1:39 am
Nice use of a Historic speech
I like ya already. I’m looking forward to reading your insights and most of us are thrilled to have you aboard.
Salaam
July 30th, 2009 - 3:23 am
“Give the man a break! Sheesh…just becuase he chooses to utilise linguistic elements composed of more than 3 syllables in his opening post to the community, he is suddenly besieged and berated by bumbling web-gremlins, too long used to communicating in “lols” and “omgs”, lazy aberrations against all expression and a mockery of the language that spawned them! Begone with your QQ, say I! More long words and sentences like winding mountain paths: they may be a more difficult climb for the lazy, fat valley-dwellers among us, but those of us nimble and resolute enough to chase them to their summit are rewarded with a blaze of meaning like a firelit sunrise. Bravo, sir! Fear not, some of us enjoy big words! I speak for them, and welcome you! :p
”
Please never post like this again.
Im here for information, not reading thru 4 sentances that could be one.
July 30th, 2009 - 3:51 am
“Im here for information, not reading thru 4 sentances that could be one.”
*I’m *through *four *sentences
13 words, 4 mistakes, that’s a 30% failure rate. I’d say you’re pretty symptomatic of the people I was complaining about in my post.
I’ll write however I damn well please, this is the internet and I don’t have to dumb down my words to “OMG LOL IR WRTIEING ON TEH INTARWEBS” to suit you or anyone else too lazy to be bothered reading and writing properly. Don’t like it, don’t read it, and especially don’t ride the WHAAAMBULANCE to QQ TOWN about it.
July 30th, 2009 - 4:29 am
Frog’s correct. Let’s cut out the editorial and instead just list things with bullet points.
Who needs an entertaining read or personal take on how things are for our beloved class when simple bullet points give the necessary information which would be covered by a simple copy&paste of patch notes negating the need for any site other than worldofwarcraft.com
July 30th, 2009 - 6:25 am
All
Take it easy! I see merit on both sides of this “argument” so I’ll do my best to strike a nice balance. I intentionally opted for a wordy introduction as it is precisely that: an introduction. Being an introductory post about a new writer there wasn’t to be any hard data regarding Retribution or theorycrafting or observations to be made - rather it was just me introducing myself to the community.
Future posts - like the one I’ll be putting up today regarding my thoughts on Retribution’s near future - will be more directed and to the point.
Talk to you all soon!
July 30th, 2009 - 6:48 am
@ Ashram
Well said!
@ Tharvolde
Please don’t feel obliged to dumb down the way you write your posts just because a couple of people may have to read it two or three times to get the message. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of brain exercise.
@ Frog
Pretty words make Frog’s head hurt!..
July 30th, 2009 - 8:08 am
Fellow retribution paladin and defender of the literary influences that have made our world what it is today, I greet you sincerely. The time for deep insight peppered with humor and vastly rich references both subtle and obvious are indeed at hand. I have proudly grown to appreciate and value the paladin community. And this is indeed a community; therefore, we must band together, us few, we band of brothers (and the sisters out there), because the dogs of war have been let loose. I shall simply quote the Greeks that I may offer but a verse.
“Ten soldiers wisely led will beat a hundred without a head.” Euripides
July 30th, 2009 - 8:10 am
Kitron
Well met!
July 30th, 2009 - 9:23 am
GL Tharvolde -
Who was your mage on DI if you don’t mind sharing? DI was a fun place, but I’ve since been on horde side :-p
July 30th, 2009 - 10:42 am
Saphynne
My Mage’s name was Slaughter and I fully remember the epic world PvP battles with (now ).
August 1st, 2009 - 12:43 pm
MOVE ZIG FOR GREAT JUSTICE!!!!!!