So, my playing has been somewhat limited because of work, family and other stuff.  Usually, when I log in most of my kin, especially the ones with whom I usually run, are already fully fellowed and questing, doing instances and so on.  So, I have spent a fair amount of time lately with PUGs to try and do instances.

PUGs are a funny thing you know.  And not really recommended for the faint of heart.  If a decent group, you can have fun and meet new friends and allies.  But, if just a couple of members are annoying, or don’t know their class, or dont’ want to pay attention - wow - it is really a suck fest - especially for a minstrel.  When it is good - its fun - but when it is bad it is oh so so bad.  So, I had a run in the 16th Hall hard mode with a  PUG - this is probably my 4th run in there out of which 3 have been successful.  And, it went great (esp for a PUG) until the last boss, and then not so good and then one of the champs killed a couple of the bugs.  So, that meant the end of hard mode and the end of about 2 hours of work.

By that point, its late and I am getting close to logging out.  However, some of my kin had finished up their GS runs and we suddenly put together another try at the 16th Hall.  And with them it was a very smooth, fast run.  After that run, the captain dropped out, but we changed out our burg for her captain and added a hunter, and it was even smoother and oh so sweet.  And it was fun all the way through - and gone was the mega stress I had been under as a minstrel in a PUG - sure the champ died a couple of times - but I said sorry - could not keep up on heals and that was that - no feelings of failure or suckage as a class.  They know I know how to play - I don’t have to defend or pretend.  I know they know how to play - and moreover, like a well oiled piece of machinery - we are greater as the sum of our parts.  We all know how we play, we instinctively anticipate each other.

And that got to me thinking - that’s really when a fellowship is at its greatest - when it is composed of friends and kinmates who will go to wall for you - as you will for them - who will do one more run even though it is 1:00 am ’cause its for kin.