Community Spotlight: Wochi and the Dungeon Dojo

By picc0 — Feb 22 2023 13:45 -03

Today, we had the privilege of chatting with the inspiring and supportive Wochi, the leader of the Dungeon Dojo. The Dungeon Dojo is a PVE community that supports new players who are looking to start their adventures in raiding or Mythic+. In fact, tomorrow, February 23rd, marks a very special community event taking place for both NA and EU respectively. Get ready for the Dungeon Dojo Invitational! Tune in to the brand new Dungeon Dojo Twitch channel to watch the action LIVE!

Learn about Wochi’s history in WoW, his passion for the Dungeon Dojo, his hopes and dreams, the Dungeon Dojo Invitational, and so much more!

Introduction: Who is Wochi?
Dungeon Dojo Origins
Growing a Community
The Main Pillars
Dungeon Dojo Invitational
The Need of Inclusivity
Thoughts on Dragonflight
Hopes for DF and Future Xpacs
What keeps Wochi Balanced?
Ultimate Hype Music
Dreams for the Dungeon Dojo
Closing Thoughts

“WoW literally means the world to me. It’s the game that gave me my wife, allowed me to meet people from across the globe, and tremendously improved my English…it will always have my heart.”

Q-1: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us today. First, we’d like to get to know you a little better. Can you tell us more about yourself and your background with WoW/gaming?

Wochi: Hello! My name is Alberto. I am originally from Italy but I moved to the UK in 2011 to live with my wife, PurplePixels, who I met while playing WoW, during Wrath of the Lich King. I started to play WoW at the very end of TBC, and I just fell in love with it from day one. I have always played Shaman. I was so inexperienced back then that I thought Taurens were the equivalent of Minotaurs, so I gave it the most menacing name: “WOCHINIMEN” which in Chinese means “I eat you”. How wrong I was!

WoW literally means the world to me. It’s the game that gave me my wife, allowed me to meet people from across the globe, and tremendously improved my English. Even if I took a couple of sabbatical years here and there, it will always have my heart.

Outside of WoW, my brother and I own a tabletop gaming shop here in the UK called Geeks Headquarters where people play games with each other, compete in tournaments, socialize, and develop hobbies and friendships – all in a very inclusive environment.

Pictured: Geeks Headquarters

Q-2: How did you get started with building the Dungeon Dojo community? What spark ignited that desire to have such a special gathering of gamers?

Wochi: Every single one of us has tried to use the LFG interface to run Mythic+, and the frustration of spending hours applying for groups and getting denied has always been so massive that many just gave up on trying. And even if they got into a key, for whatever reason, people were leaving or just being very impolite and rude. I had enough, so I created a space where these types of issues weren’t a thing – a place for everyone to learn and progress. The Dungeon Dojo is a place that doesn’t judge, does not run meta compositions, and is just friendly and easygoing if key depletion happens.

Q-3: What was and possibly still is the hardest part about growing an inclusive community like the Dungeon Dojo? What obstacles did you have to overcome?

Wochi: The hardest part is to reach as many as we possibly can. It is challenging to tell players who have been badly burnt by in-game experiences that we are here for them – to help them. The Dungeon Dojo is a safe place for them to learn and play at their own pace or to find players to push keys with.

“There is no discrimination here: gender, race, skill, and disability make no difference in the Dojo. All are welcome here….#NoClassIsLeftBehind, and we truly believe it.”

Q-4: How do you and the Dojo keep up the welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment in your community? What are the main challenges? And what are the main pillars of the community?

Wochi: The community has grown massively in the last 6 months and is still expanding, but for us, the inclusivity is still our key ethos. There is no discrimination here: gender, race, skill, and disability make no difference in the Dojo. All are welcome here. We launched a hashtag a while back, mimicking Stitch from the Disney movie: #NoClassIsLeftBehind, and we truly believe it.

Q-5: The MDI is going full steam ahead, and you decided to have your very own Dungeon Dojo Invitational. What can you tell us about your special event?

Wochi: I always think of the scene from the first Matrix movie where Neo wakes up and says to Morpheus, “I know Kung Fu,” and he replies, “Show me”. Morpheus then loads a simulation where the two fight… in a Dojo!

I feel the Dungeon Dojo Invitational is like a final exam for many after so much training or a way to prove what they have learned and achieved over the past several months. Everyone is welcome – teams from NA, EU, and OCEANIC realms were allowed to enter, or players could queue solo hoping that someone makes a team.

“There is always a need for safe places for players who are sometimes scared to even set foot into a dungeon or raid for fear of getting shouted at. We exist to fix that and to allow more people to enjoy this challenging content!”

Q-6: During Break the Meta, your community was one of the big supporters that helped gamers achieve the +15’s timed for the Shrouded Banner toy. Have you noticed a growing interest in the Dojo and the need for more inclusive Mythic+ communities?

Wochi: Break The Meta was an amazing event to show that no matter what class you pick, you can still achieve high results. The Dojo is the king of the off-meta (especially when we run keys without a single Battle res in true hardcore mode). It has also put a big spotlight on us as a community that can achieve so much. There is always a need for safe places for players who are sometimes scared to even set foot into a dungeon or raid for fear of getting shouted at. We exist to fix that and to allow more people to enjoy this challenging content!

Q-7: On that note, how do you like Dragonflight so far? What are your favorite and/or least favorite aspects of the expansion so far?

Wochi: Dragonflight has been an absolute blast and possibly one of my top 3 expansions of all time (Wrath, Legion, Dragonflight). It is a breath of fresh air with sooo much to do, a fantastic first raid, and a world that feels alive once again. The only flaw I can see is that perhaps this first season of Mythic+ has been truly steamrolling many groups with the spike in difficulty. Perhaps this Mythic+ season has not very been “new player friendly” in terms of this complexity.

Q-8: What are your hopes and dreams for Dragonflight or future WoW expansions?

Wochi: I hope that Dragonflight will keep its steady progression of content and awesome things to do. And for the future…well…Did you know there is still a sword planted in Silithus?

“Thanks to my wife, PurplePixels, I have learned how to keep myself cool. We all want to enjoy ourselves when we log in…Even in the most depressing moments when bosses just don’t want to die, I always remember that we are here to have fun.”

Q-9: How important is it to you to keep your inner middle and stay “Zen”? What helps you to stay calm and balanced?

Wochi: Thanks to my wife, PurplePixels, I have learned how to keep myself cool. I was much more “shouty” back in the old days, but I quickly realized that people respond poorly to that. Especially in a raid environment, this attitude brings only grief. We all want to enjoy ourselves when we log in, and that's why the “mean old GM” left and a more moderate and understanding leader was born through the directions of my wife. Even in the most depressing moments when bosses just don’t want to die, I always remember that we are here to have fun.

Q-10:Do you have any playlists or special songs that you would love to share with us? Are there any WoW songs that get you really hyped?

Wochi: For general chilled content like transmog and mount farming, I always load up StreamBeats by Harris Heller (DMCA FREE). For raid sessions, I tend to use the PretzelRocks app, loading a synth-wave playlist (Fury Weekend and Scandroid being the main artists).

“I would love for the Dungeon Dojo to become the focal point of a project to rebuild the spirit of the WoW community from the ground up – no longer based on personal greed achievements, but for the greater good of all players…”

Q-11: Everything is possible. What are your dreams, wishes, and hopes for the Dungeon Dojo and its future?

Wochi: I would love for the Dungeon Dojo to become the focal point of a project to rebuild the spirit of the WoW community from the ground up – no longer based on personal greed achievements, but for the greater good of all players…no more gatekeeping content to anyone, but including each and every WoW player that wishes so. And why not write our name in WoW history!

Q-12: Do you have any advice for new players looking to make their foray into the Mythic+ community? Any tips for how to get started and to find friends to play with?

Wochi: Join our Dungeon Dojo Discord! Don’t be afraid to ask for anything – look for content to run in our chat, jump into a key when people ask, and ask questions. We are always there to provide answers and support!

About the Author

Picco is an old-fashioned WoW gamer that started back in Vanilla and has played ever since. She is a healer by heart and is currently maining Restoration Druid. She loves Mythic+ and has a great passion for events like the MDI and TGP. Picco is part of the KeystoneMasters team and enjoys jiggling around with ideas for fun new formats of community tournaments. She is also a Mod for several streamers and guilds, particularly during the RWF. Outside of WoW, Picco is a Sprout in FF14, where she explores with her Lala Summoner.