Shroud Run (non-spoiler) planning

[phalaeo]

Was loads and loads of fun- thanks to you and your friends for allowing me to come along, and I hope I kept the spoiling to a minimum. For those of us who have ran Shrouds ad nauseum, it's very easy to just mindlessly start heading to the next objective, not realizing that may be considered a spoiler.

We made it to Part 4, where a valiant battle was fought. Unfortunately, the battle lasted 5 rounds, and a ton of resources were used, so with only 4-5 people standing, the raid was called.

I do have to say that it was the best Shroud Healing marathon I've ever participated in.... after 3 solid hours spent healing, I was desperately in need of a bio break, as well as having an interesting cramp in my mouse hand.

To the two guys who bailed - Even though I thought it was pretty rude how you conducted yourself, it's better that you left after Part 1 because your ****-poor teamwork skills were a drag on the rest of us. It was written in the LFM that it was a no-spoiler, first timer run. If that wasn't enough, it was reiterated via voice chat as each person joined. Lame behaviour on both your parts.

[Kelavam]

My friends and I had a great time running shroud for the first time. Phaleo, you were a great addition to our team, and we enjoyed having you with us.

So we started around 9:15. I had to put up an LFM because as many people as I thought would be there did not make it. I stressed in the LFM that it was a non-spoiler run as well as stressed to everyone what that meant when they joined. I had 5 spots open after the party initially formed. I admit, my first fear of forming with an LFM was mentioned in this and previous threads: There would be people to join who would either not understand or would not be able to be as patient as a blind run (blond run as a guildie called it last night) needs. Several people joined and we explained what we were doing and what we expected. We made sure to stress what a non-spoiler was, everyone who joined seemed to understand and accept. So we thought.

We had a few others join us that did a great job - I do not want to mention names without their permissions, but just so they know (if they read this) they did a fantastic job as well and we enjoyed running with them. They fought hard, followed our suggestions (no matter how dumb them might have been) and were a great crew of party members.

5 of us were brand spanking new, 2 had run it before but agreed to no spoilers, the rest were pugged out so I do not know their experience. The first attempt, part I, 2 of the puggers kept running off ahead and showing us where all the portals were. Not that that was that big of a deal, but it was showing us what to expect from these two in the future. I did ask, several times, for them to slow down and let those of us that were new to the quest lead. Phaleo did a fantastic job healing and keeping us alive, and a great job with the no spoilers.

Thankfully, at the end of part I (7 deaths, but success) the 2 zergers chose to leave. I was a little put off to the player (no, I will not name names) who said the group sucked and he we were going to fail. He left at the end of part I. Another player also bailed without saying a word. It's fine, rather they leave than continue to spoil the run for us. So we are running with 10 into part 2.

Part I was not that hard that I could tell (I might still be missing something).. We fight the mobs, take the portals down, and killed the portal keeper, killed more mobs, took down more portals. Maybe I simplified it, maybe we missed something or got lucky, but I did not think part I was that hard. I loved the Guantlet reference.

Part II was very challenging to figure out. I know it has to be hard on the people who have run it before, but it was nice that they bit their tongues as much as they did. A few hints slipped out here and there, but for the most part, I like to think we figured a fair amount out ourselves. Destroying the crystal was mentioned over party chat, but getting them all down at the same time was a party members' idea, as well as splitting them up, though I am not sure who mentioned they healed each other. After 2 battles of just beating them down and them not dying, we discovered one of our party destroyed that boss by the portal. so we dragged them all to the portal and destroyed them at the portal, only to have them regen and come back at us. Another 4th attempt and someone mentioned the crystal. No idea who, was trying not to die as I had run out of SP and was running in and out of the tree that was supplying me with 4-11 sp each time I ran through.. Took a while to get up SP needed.

So after a 5th attempt, and lots of SP spent, we managed to get the crystal at the same time as the 4 red named. We rest up, get some chests, and move into part III. about 10-15 seconds apart from each other. Let's make this quick, many of us died by wall. I landed at a 3 x 3 puzzle. I have seen this before, well, similar, in Reaver's Refuge. I was not in a hurry, did not know I was going to get killed by a wall (as it should have been, once again, thanks for the non-spoiler). The wall got all but 1 of us. (I think, I know after I died, people fell shortly after me.. Being trapped in my room, I really did not get much beyond a few comments here and there). That one outran the wall, saved one of the clerics, clickied her alive (his only clickie) and started trying to save the group. The wall hiccuped (they were following it a bit to close) and party wipe. We release out and get ready to try again.

Kids are looking for attention, will write about our 2nd attempt later.

[SaisMatters]

I logged on a little too late last night I guess. I was going to come fill a spot but never saw the LFM. C'est la vie.

[Kelavam]

I logged on a little too late last night I guess. I was going to come fill a spot but never saw the LFM. C'est la vie.

Would have made room for you - should have /telled me, would have gotten you in for the 2nd run.

[Kelavam]

I realize now, I should have posted a recap of the shroud runs in a new thread, but at this point, I am just going to run with it. Sorry it took so long to post the 2nd run. The weekend was busy.

Our 2nd run was better. Have a little bit of preknowledge of what to expect, we filled up the spots that were missing and emphasized what our goal and intent were, made sure everyone knew what nonspoiler meant (do not tell us what to do and do not run off ahead doing everything for us) and gave them a chance to opt out of this was not what they were looking for (as we did in the first). We were filled, so we began our journey.

Part I: Went pretty smooth. I do not recall any deaths this time, but I do think it took a bit longer. It's possible we did not have portal beaters this time around. Still went smooth and we moved onto part II without a whole lot of issues.

Part II: Went far worse/longer than the first time.. Having a better idea of what to expect, we had a harder time splitting the bosses and getting them down at the same time. It took us numerous tries to get all the bosses down at the same time. I blame myself, as I sent out a few area of affect spells that might have taken one or two down prematurely. (hangs head low). After realizing this (probably after the 3rd try this time) I made sure not to cast any, but I still recall it taking about 7 tries total to get this done. I was in charge of destroying the crystal.. I almost missed it, as one of the bosses was rounding the corner as the barrier dropped.. I thought for sure it was going to cost us one more attempt.

Part III: We head into part 3, now knowing about that wonderful wall that kicked our butts the previous run. I also was made aware that there was more than 1 way out of the room. I saw the lever this time, knocked it, and proceeded to run around trying to drop all the barriers to rescue my party members. One of my guildies, who is part rogue, proceeded to do the same from her cell as well. Once we were all rescued, we went to gather at the fountain. Message appears telling us one of the fountains had been cleansed. I raised an eyebrow at the screen and asked what was going on over voice chat.. Another fountain cleansed. What the heck? Asked again, and another fountain cleansed. I was irriated as well as one of my guildies, because no one was answering. So, instead of trying to dwell on it, I started trying to figure out what was being done. I ran to the fountain and was able to acquire a vial of water. Ahhh.. Remembering the head that was in the puzzle room with me, I waited for the wall to clear and proceeded to run.. Sure enough, I saw a few rooms that had heads with water pouring out of them. Went to the next available room, clicked on the fountain, and voila! That problem solved. Noticed one of the people in the group was trying to go from room to room solving the puzzles; which clued me in this might be something that had to be done, but was not going to say anything to my group. They really were serious about no-spoilers, and since it was not something I had figured out, I was not going to say anything. I ran from room to room, cleansing fountains (After informing my party what I was doing and why) and someone informed us that if we did not solve all the puzzles first, we would lose a bonus chest.. I might have been unfair to my group, but considering this a spoiler, I proceeded to cleanse the fountains. Mission complete, but no bonus chests..

Part IV: We started off in the room with magical barriers. We buff then someone charges forward to the middle of the room and the fight begins. We fought off the first round of mobs (I am sorry if this is not 100 percent accurate, it's been 3 days and I left my notes at home). Then engage Arraetrikos. We got him down about 1/2 before he flew up and came back down again.. The gnolls coming out of the portals left me wondering what they were up to.. No one spoiled this, so we proceeded to beat them down quickly (I could not tell if they were helping or hurting us, so we just ran with it). Round II, he is down a little less because some of our heavier hitters had dropped. He was at 1/4 life when he flew off. We run through the same thing, beat down the gnolls, and then tried to beat Arraetrikos again. A lot less damage this time, as a few more people had dropped. I feel bad for Phaleo, she went through a ton of pots up to this point. I gave her 5; leaving me only 2 left. I had not quaffed a potion except for the first run, so I was not too worried about it. We followed this pattern until we had a party wipe. Arraetrikos was at a small sliver of life when we wiped. There was a secret to this battle that we were asked if wanted (after the battle) and we chose not to get a hint on how to beat him down. We recalled and chose not to do a 3rd run; people had to leave because it was getting late.

I look forward to trying again - having the group we did was fun - we did get a few hints and spoilers here and there, but it was fun and a great learning experience. I appreciate everyone who joined that group and helped us along, even the two that told us our party sucked. It takes all kinds and I was happy for the support and the challenge of proving them wrong: we do not suck, we are just new to the quest.

Making it to part IV on our 2nd attempt, I was proud of that considering everything I have read.

Phaleo, if you still need more pots, let me know, I have acquired a few more since then.