Hey there — I’m Raymond Diaz, and I run hackpledge.org. If you’ve found your way here, chances are you’re either looking to improve your skills in World of Warcraft, or you’re just curious about who’s behind this site. Either way, welcome. I’ll try to keep this honest and simple, just like I do with the guides I write.
How It All Started
I grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and like a lot of people in the early 2000s, I got hooked on WoW during its golden days. I started playing around the end of vanilla and really got pulled in during The Burning Crusade. I was never part of the biggest guilds, and I wasn’t a streamer or someone with a huge online following. I was just a guy who loved the game and wanted to learn more about it every day.
Back then, finding good info wasn’t easy. You had to dig through old forums, filter out bad advice, and hope the person posting knew what they were talking about. I’d waste hours wiping in raids because someone said, “just stack and burn,” without explaining the real mechanics. That frustration stuck with me — not just as a player, but as someone who wanted to make the game better for others.
Why I Built hackpledge.org
For a long time, I worked in IT and spent my days writing technical manuals and troubleshooting systems. I learned how to explain things in a way that made sense, even to people who weren’t experts. Over time, I started to think — what if I used those skills to write gaming guides that didn’t talk down to players, didn’t overcomplicate things, and were based on real testing?
That’s what gave me the push to launch hackpledge.org in 2021. I started small — just class builds and dungeon tips — but readers kept reaching out with questions. The more feedback I got, the more I realized there was a need for clean, tested, and realistic advice. Not theorycrafting for the top 1%, but solid help for regular players who want to get better and enjoy the game more.
How I Work
I do everything on the site myself. That includes testing builds, writing strategies, reviewing patch notes, and answering emails. I’ve played every class, but my main is a Druid — usually Feral or Resto, depending on the raid tier. I also run Mythic+ almost daily and keep a close eye on tuning changes, even the small ones most people overlook.
When I write a guide, it’s based on real experience. I don’t copy-paste from other sites. I run the content myself — sometimes multiple times — until I feel confident in what I’m saying. That’s how I make sure what you read on hackpledge.org actually works in the game.
What Makes This Site Different
I’m not trying to compete with the biggest gaming sites out there. I don’t have a staff. I’m not chasing clicks with fake headlines. I’m just trying to build something useful, honest, and long-lasting. If a guide is wrong, I fix it. If a reader spots a bug or bad link, I update it. That’s the kind of attention I wish more gaming sites offered, and I try to make it part of everything I do here.
People often ask if I’m ever going to turn this into a team project or monetize it more heavily. Maybe one day. But right now, I just enjoy writing for the people who come here looking for real answers. Whether you’re brand new to WoW or have been playing for 15 years, I hope you find something here that helps you enjoy the game more.
What Else I’m Into
Outside of WoW, I’ve always been into strategy games and RPGs. I’m a fan of turn-based combat, older Final Fantasy titles, and games like Divinity: Original Sin 2. I’ve also spent more time modding Skyrim than actually finishing the game. When I’m not gaming, I like to take photos around Jacksonville, walk my cat Peaches (yes, she walks on a leash), and drink way too much Cuban coffee.
I’m also a big fan of writing in general. I used to write short stories, mostly for myself, and even tried my hand at a novel years ago — it wasn’t great, but I learned a lot. These days, most of that energy goes into hackpledge.org. Every guide I write, every news update I post, it all goes back to that same goal I had when I started: help people play better and have more fun.
How You Can Reach Me
If you ever want to get in touch — whether it’s about a guide, a game issue, or just to say hi — you can email me directly at [email protected]. I read every message and try to respond as soon as I can. You can also send something to my mailing address if that’s more your thing:
Raymond Diaz
hackpledge.org
Thanks for Being Here
Starting this site was a leap for me. I didn’t know if anyone would read it or care what I had to say. But the feedback I’ve received has been incredible. Readers like you are the reason I keep doing this, and I’m grateful for every visit, comment, and email. Whether you found this site yesterday or have been following along since the beginning, thank you for being here. Let’s keep pushing forward, one dungeon at a time.
— Raymond