Question on the "Be Raptor" QuestFollow

Main question: Does the Lashtail Raptor Egg Fragment (http://www.wowhead.com/item=58165/lashtail-raptor-egg-fragment) have to be in one's possession to be able to obtain the Raptor Hatchling from the "Be Raptor" quest?

I completed this quest line in STV which culminated in the extremely tedious/frustrating quest of taking on the form of the Raptor Hatchling only to have it be taken away at the end. I have been looking forward to the time I reach level 85, can do the ZG instance, and redeem the hatchling as a permanent pet. I kept this egg fragment in my bags for a long time the one day was out questing and needed more bag space. Since this fragment no longer summoned the hatchling and I knew I would eventually regain the pet, I deleted it.

Yesterday I was re-reading the quest line as I will be going through it again with my alt and noticed in one of the posts a mention that if the egg fragment is gone, one doesn't get the hatchling in the ZG dungeon. WHAT?!?!?!?! If this is the case, there should be something within the quest that cautions to keep the egg fragment, imo. So I opened a ticket to ask (1) if the egg fragment is needed to obtain the hatchling and (2) if so, could it be restored. I just received a response saying my deleted inventory was too old to be able to retrieve the item. They did not answer if I needed the fragment to complete the quest.

Anyone who has successfully gained the raptor hatchling pet via this quest line, do you know if it requires the egg fragment, please? I will be absolutely sick if it does.

I don't know the exact date but it was either late December 2011 or early January 2012. Putting a new one in my bags was what I thought would/should happen as well. I just submitted a new ticket asking, again, if the egg fragment is needed to complete the ZG dungeon quest and asked, if so, if a new one could be provided.

I'm really hoping the fragment is not needed. If so, it should be in BIG RED LETTERS on the quest somewhere: DO NOT DELETE!!

Thank you, NocturnalSun. Me too! If I don't, a telephone call will be next.

Soooo kicking myself for deleting that, but had no idea it "could" be an issue later on and I REALLY want my lil hatchling back.

EDIT: Just a thought on the GMs answering tickets - does the same GM answer follow-up questions to a given ticket or is it just the roll of the dice?

Edited, Feb 24th 2012 9:29am by Azalysa

THANK YOU sooooo much, MissMandie!!! <Breathes HUGE sigh of relief> Looking forward to being reunited with Cynwyn'aka has been my main impetus to level to 85! I miss the little thing.

Thank you, Tellaria. Thank you for relating that situation - I now know I don't have to just accept that response as gospel. It will be interesting to see what the second GM says.

Ok, NOW I'm mad. I submitted a second ticket requesting for the second time that the egg fragment be replaced AND asked AGAIN if it is needed to obtain the raptor hatchling within the ZG instance. (That was answered here by a member of the wonderful ZAM community...take a hint, Blizzard, on customer service.)

So I receive a response from another GM. This one was more "upbeat" in mood and said that "if I was missing my little friend" I could go get the "An Old Friend" quest in ZG, then suggested I look up the quest on wowhead.

*Pulls hair out* So my question was STILL not answered (knowing the answer from this site notwithstanding) and no further assistance with the egg fragment being replaced.

I just sent in a THIRD ticket stating that, per quest info on wowhead that I was directed to read, I CAN'T do the "An Old Friend" quest until level 85. I tried last week and received the message that this content was not open to me yet. (As a side thought...not being able to enter the instance doesn't have anything to do with not having the Cata expac vs being too low a level yet does it? I don't think it does, but just throwing that thought out.)

After *strongly* "requesting" the egg fragment be replaced, including saying I'm pretty sure this can be done due to my experiences with similar situations in both Everquest and SecondLife, I then suggested that Blizzard read some of the comments by players on wowhead re: the "Be Raptor" quest. This piece of the quest line is so frustrating to complete (I personally spent at least 16 hours in it) that many people just gave up and some refuse to do the quest on principle of so much work/time for so little reward PLUS having the hatchling taken away when all through the quest line it was intimated it would be returned. (Technically yes...in another 50 levels!) I ended my ticket, trying very hard to stay polite, with - due to now having to submit three tickets to get a simple question answered (Is the egg fragment needed to complete the quest) I am disappointed with the level of customer service provided by Blizzard and contemplating if it is worth my time to continue.

I have heard many, many times how much advertising dollars are spent on companies trying to gain new customers; then poor customer service can thwart all the money spent. *Just shakes head*

It's good to know that what I am experiencing is not "par for the course" for Blizzard GM "customer service." If I did not receive satisfaction, I had planned to contact Blizzard directly to let them know my extreme displeasure. Is there a particular email or area within the Blizzard website to do so, please?

I did receive a very prompt reply to my third ticket saying:



Nothing in the response that addressed my annoyance over this entire issue (such as, "I'm sorry for your inconvenience") and the little :D emoticon seems almost facetious. That prompted yet another ticket on my part. After thanking the third GM for the information, I again expressed my disappointment in much stronger terms re: how a very simple ticket was handled. Regarding the eggshell fragment, I stated that whether it is needed to complete the quest or not, at this point simply replacing the item would be a huge step toward customer relations and even retaining a customer.

That is the last ticket I plan on submitting. If you, Criminy, or anyone could point me to the appropriate place to report these so-called "GMs" to Blizzard, I would be most appreciative.

EDIT: Since posting this, I received a response from GM #4 stating in part:



Now I'm confused. I recall the part in the quest where Mandokir shows up while I'm handing in part of the quest line at one of the STV camps and demands the egg. I *thought* the eggshell remained in my inventory because I recall looking at it and sighing that it no longer summoned the hatchling. I *thought* I deleted the eggshell sometime after the "Be Raptor" final quest in the series due to needing bag space while I was questing, but now I'm wondering. I have an alt at the appropriate level to begin that quest line. Except for the frustration of having the hatchling abducted "again" I'm tempted to run through the quest just to check it out.

Does anyone know for sure if the eggshell really *does* poof on its own?

Thank you all for your kind support and suggestions.

Edited, Feb 25th 2012 6:24pm by Azalysa

Thanks for your input, Gwen. I do feel MUCH better knowing I don't need the eggshell fragment to complete the quest.

Again, many thanks to those of you who responded to this thread. Just your support was most helpful.

No, I did not receive any email/surveys after each encounter, but each response included to contact them if their response didn't resolve the issue.

As my final "ticket" on this subject to the GMs, I sent a thank-you, specifically naming the two who provided the info initially requested and a blanket thank-you to all of them for being patient with me and remaining professional. This morning I received an email from GM #5 saying he was glad to hear everything worked out and provided a link if I wished to write anything that all the GMs who assisted could read. I do plan to do that but have not opened the link as yet.

Now I just need to work towards level 85, having the gear to enter the ZG instance, and finding a group or maybe guild by that time. That will keep me busy.

Thanks, Moonkissed...I think. I'd been reading a little bit about the instance and did see a mention of being geared properly. Since I still consider myself a relative WoW "noob," I have no idea what the proper gear would be. I'll keep my eyes and ears open on that regard.

The ironic thing is that my play style re: MMORPGs (well, EQ & WoW are the only ones I've ever played) is very casual, taking my time, poking around just to see the sights, etc. I solo 98% of the time or duo with a friend here and there, thus I level more slowly than many. In EQ I have zero interest in raiding, the end game, etc. It took 7 years of steady playing to reach level 61. (In my defense, leveling in EQ was a bit harder beginning in 1999 onward until more recently - still playing my casual style I went from 61 to level 80 in 3 months when I returned last summer - started and deleted myriad alts; spent a lot of time doing trade skills, etc. But you get the idea.)

So the only reason I have any interest in the ZG instance is to finally be reunited with my hatchling. (Good carrot-dangling tactic, Blizzard *grins*) I know it may sound silly to some, but we all have different interests and goals in games.

Good to know! I wasn't sure since after each one they'll sometimes either just send the email to me to take their survey or after our conversation they'll mention that they'd like me to participate in a short survey to evaluate their customer service. Luckily *knock on wood* I've had awesome and helpful GMs.