Episode 89 — Quick Take: What We Covered

Welcome back to Around the Mage Table. In Episode 89 we answered listener questions, dissected the latest MDI (Mythic Dungeon International) finals action, and talked about tools and prep as Patch 12.0.7 drops. This post recaps the highlights for readers who don’t have time for the full episode and pulls out practical advice for Mythic+ players, aspiring MDI competitors, and addon developers.

Listener Q&A: The Community Leads the Show

We opened with the usual banter — everything from Roller Coaster Tycoon nostalgia to stock jokes — before diving into community questions. Many of the Q&A topics touched on competitive play, addon tooling, and how the podcast team is preparing for BlizzCon and the milestone 100th episode.

Key Listener Questions

• Would the podcast team try to qualify for MDI again, and how would they prepare?
• What are reasonable goals for a guild or group wanting to push higher Mythic+ ranks next season?
• How is the TDV (Total Dungeon Value) addon progressing and what does it measure?

We answer these with a mix of realism and optimism: qualifying for MDI is possible but requires commitment, focused practice, and the right comp. For most groups, incremental goals — shaving seconds off pulls, improving consistency, and prioritizing comms — deliver the best long-term gains.

MDI Finals: Surprises and Takeaways

We watched the MDI final rounds and called out a few big moments. The match between Mandatory and the Chinese team Interrupt featured a jaw-dropping Pit of Saron pull that nearly flipped expectations. Teams like Liquid, Mandatory, and Dignitas remained strong favorites, but the finals highlighted how a single unconventional pull or a practiced route can upend predictions.

What Competitive Players Should Note

• Practice specific pulls: High reward pulls like the Pit of Saron route require rehearsal. If you plan to replicate them in pug runs, expect a learning curve and potential mistakes.
• Comms matter: On-location practice (teams practicing together) showed benefits. Tight VOIP coordination reduces errors on complex pulls.
• Keystone range: MDI rounds we watched ranged from roughly +14 to +19 keys — which shows variability in how Blizzard sets difficulty for the event.

TDV Add-on Update: What It Is and Why It Matters

Total Dungeon Value (TDV) is the project our community forked into to go beyond raw DPS meters. TDV aims to normalize runs across different key levels and comps, then score players on metrics like damage, healing efficiency, and utility. The add-on is currently in active development and is already producing useful leaderboard data.

Features & Current Limitations

• Normalized DPS/HPS: Scores scale runs against similar keys so players can compare performance fairly.
• Healing per damage taken: TDV attempts to reward efficient healing rather than raw HPS — a hard problem that has required several balance passes.
• Utility metrics: Interrupts and dispels per minute are tracked, but implementation details (successful vs attempted interrupts) are being refined.
• Live logging helper: A helper app is planned for live uploads; currently there are bugs (reload requirement after a key) being fixed.

If you want to help refine TDV: upload your logs, test the helper app when released, and provide feedback on scoring. The podcast team encouraged readers to try TDV and contribute data so the metric becomes more robust.

Practical Tips — Prepare for 12.0.7 and Beyond

With Patch 12.0.7 launching soon and a larger content drop possibly around 12.1, we discussed how players and guilds should prepare:

• Update addons: Ensure your key addons (DBM, BigWigs, Details, and TDV when available) are ready for the patch.
• Clutch comms: If you want to push keys higher, practice voice call etiquette: short, clear calls reduce mistakes on complex mechanics.
• Record and review: Capture logs and VODs. Use Warcraft Logs or TDV to analyze where deaths and inefficiencies happen in runs.
• Prioritize comp flexibility: Meta shifts happen. Practice multiple comps and learn adaptable routes rather than relying on one cheese strat.

Final Thoughts and Where to Watch

Episode 89 is a solid mix of community questions, MDI commentary, and hands-on addon updates. Whether you’re a Mythic+ pugger, aspiring MDI competitor, or addon tester, there’s something actionable in this episode — from practical prep tips for Patch 12.0.7 to how to help shape the TDV scoring system.

Want the full conversation? Listen to the full Listener Q&A episode for the uncut comms, in-depth TDV demos, and our reactions to specific MDI runs. Your support helps us keep the show running—tune in, subscribe, and drop us a question for the next Q&A!