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A Very Special Aspect of the Hare Post

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“So instead of constantly boring my friends on my personal journal (It’s over at LiveJournal) with the random things that happened to me on World of WarCraft, I’ve decided to start posting them here.”

-Aspect of the Hare, August 9, 2007

The WoW blogosphere was a lot different two years ago than it was now.

BRK (now Daniel) was on blogspot and while he was very popular, I don’t think he’d quite reached mega-star status yet. Matticus was in his bloggers’ larvae stage. The Hunter’s Mark was well established, but it was still being written by one person and not the large group of them that helm that site today. There were a lot of blogs out there that no longer operate, and several popular ones of today that hadn’t yet been conceived in the minds of their writers.

And then a WoW player whose main was a level 42 hunter at the time started a WoW blog. She knew full well that no one would read it because she didn’t think she had anything to say that would interest anyone but her, but she started it anyway on a lark.

Two years later here we are; this site averages over 1000 unique hits a day and that doesn’t include the 800 of you tuning in by feedreader. For some reason that I cannot comprehend, this blog has become an informative and entertaining hangout for a variety of hunters and non-hunters alike, and I have somehow been promoted in status from someone who simply wanted to write about a class she loved to some sort of expert on said class. How did this happen? No idea. Early exposure from BRK, Matticus, and Mania of Petopia as well as several others certainly helped, but the rest was sheer word-of-mouth. I don’t advertise my site. I don’t make particularly large efforts to gain new readers. You all have just shown up– why? I dunno– but really, it’s not bad for someone who back when she started her blog assumed that the “ravagers” everyone was talking about as being the hot new DPS pet were the wolves out of Duskwood.

And so, I’m happy to announce my two-year-blogoversary. In celebration we have an all new banner (you will have to visit the actual site to view it if you’re reading in a reader)! Yes, it is the Safety Dance picture, and yes, that’s Deadwind Pass and not Naxx. Partially because I was having a hard time getting a good, wide shot of Heigan’s dancefloor that wasn’t filled with UIs and/or players, and partially because I like the idea of it being a nod to my love for my favorite raid instance in the game.

I am also in talks with someone about a potential new site theme overhaul, so I’d finally have my own “custom” WordPress theme– I promise that if and when that does happen, the site layout will still feel the same overall– magazine-style formats and other similarly complicated blog formats always throw my navigational skills for a loop (I suppose I’m not that bright) and I just like the straightforward theme of your sidebars on the sides, your posts in the middle, and a bright blue color scheme that has been the trademark of this site since Day One.

I really have little else to say, other than a sincere thank you to my readers for all the support you’ve tossed my way through the months. I am very proud to be the head of the Aspect of the Hare community and a small part of the “Blog Azeroth” one as a whole. It’s always hard to say what the future plans are of a site like this; I can guarantee that so long as I am playing WoW, I will be blogging about it, and I’ve no doubt I will be blogging in some form or other after WoW’s time has passed. There’s nothing particularly fancy about Aspect of the Hare– no forums, no chat rooms, no online stores, no podcasts, and, very staunchly and proudly, no advertisements– but I am very happy about what I’ve managed to accomplish.

In the end, I really am just trying to follow the advice of a wise man named Paul Simon, who penned the following lyric for his song “Hurricane Eye“…

So you wanna be a writer, you don’t know how or when?
Find a quiet place; use a humble pen
You wanna talk, talk, talk about it, all night squawk about it…

Onward and upward~ ^_^

36 thoughts on “A Very Special Aspect of the Hare Post”

  2. yea brk isn’t a mega star….try telling him that when he played and telling blizz that when they added an item in game for him…..i only wish he would have listened when we told him

  4. Wow, 2 years huh? scary how time goes isn’t it? Then again it seems only yesterday that I was unwrapping the World of Warcraft box on release day…

    Congratulations on 2 years of entertaining and informative blogging!

  6. Congratulations, pike! I’ve always loved your blend of huntery articles, general wow enthusiasm and roleplaying. Oh yeah, you’re a beastmaster too!

    I love the new banner image, too! I often get the feeling that I’m dragging my pet through the dance. But…but there’s a boss over there!

    I look forward to continuing to read your most excellent words.

  9. Congratulations on the completion of your second season of Huntery Blogging Goodness!

  10. I found your blog just a few months ago, looking for more info on hunter class. My hubby turned me on to WoW and I am now officially (nearly) obsessed with it. (Of course I blame him and his buddies for this.) My first toon, which I am working with a lot, is an Orc Hunter, Kiriia, now at 65, and I love her. I get frustrated sometimes cause I think, man, she’s so weak compared to hubby’s Undead Warrior (who is also a lvl 80 – yeah, I should not be comparing, but I do anyway).

    I wanted to learn more about hunters and how best to play with one and bingo! I found your blog, subscribed immediately.

    I admire your writing skills and how you simply put it all together! You’ve been a big help to me.

    My two daughters are now playing too, (both under lvl 10 LOL) and it’s a riot to help them out with stuff. We’re a Horde family (hubby had a friend to clued him into WoW, and he was Horde… the rest is history). And this way we can help each other too.

    So Kiriia is currently in BC, questing in Zangarmarsh right now, which is a lot of fun. I go back to the Barrens periodically to help out my older daughter (age 11) with her Troll Hunter. It’s hysterical to stand there and shoot the occasional arrow when she directs me to.

    Thanks for the advice, the entertainment (really, you’re an excellent writer – are you getting paid for this??), and the great info. I think I would have given up on Kiriia awhile ago if it hadn’t been for your blog – seriously. I see Kiriia in a different light – she’s a great toon, very cool, and very effective – she is so worthy! And yeah, I can’t wait to get a devilsaur! *grins*

  12. GRATS CRAZY HUNTER LADY!!!!!!! Keep it up i have turning to you only for pure hunter entertainment since Daniel left us:(

  13. For a moment there, I thought you were going to announce your retirement! I would have been very, very sad. You’re still my all-time favorite MMO blogger.

  17. Grats Pike 😉

    You are always a fun read, and that you have been blogging for 2 years and developed such a solid reader base – pretty much makes you a legend too 😉

    Kind regards

  18. Congratulations on completing another trip ’round the sun!

    On behalf of huntery-types everywhere, we love you, Pike. It’s always an entertaining read, and we’re glad you’re here.

    And bonus points for referencing Paul Simon. 😉

    ~Qellym & Stark, Spinebreaker
    ~Jajiko & Zappa, Sentinels

  21. Congratulations on two years Pike! For over a year, AotH has been greeting me every morning when I fire up my mac and I happily anticipate the next two… at least! And a very sincere “thank you” for all of it! You really are a wonderful writer.

    Llyrra (80 BE Hunter) & Max (80 Ghostclaw Mentor)
    Quel’dorei

  23. Congratulations!
    I’m glad to hear you’re planning to stick around. I love those classic wow blogs that don’t pretend to be something else than they are. If you make an overhaul, please don’t make it too fancy. keep it simple. I love it the way it is.

    Cheers

  24. Congrats on your two years! ^_^ Yours is one of the select few I have in my reading rotation. I’m still trying to figure out what direction to take mine…/sigh

  25. I’m with “Angry Raider.” I tensed up when I thought you were about to announce your retirement. It seems like half the writers in the WoW community have stopped posting over the last few months.

    I’m glad to see you’re continuing. Congratulations on two years! Keep up the great work!

  28. Pike:

    Congratulations and thank you for writing a blog that both informs and entertains.

    Blood and thunder!

    Utu

  29. Happy 2 year blog-anniversary or whatever you’d like to call it :p Literally just tuning in here to be honest, I started my hunter blog a few months ago actually I just never really set it up because I’d been using my regular blog, today I remembered the pre-raid gear list needed updating and thought well why the hell not. So I browsed several hutner websites I like to check from time to time and foudn your blog, just thought I’d say I love your layout, very cute and original 🙂 nice to know how people came about (after reading the About and FAQ page) good luck with the continuation 😀

  30. YAY- GRATS!!! I know personally the biggest reason I read your site is because you just enjoy your hunters and their wonderful furry, scaly, or feathered buddies SO much. In short you constantly remind me of the fun I have with my own hunter and his buddies, 😀

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  34. I dont know why, but your blog hates me, and wont let me post comments 🙁 Sent you an email instead!

    Here’s one last attempt to see it I can post.. *cross fingers*

    You & your blog rock 🙂

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