Shroud Part IV

[slarden]

I am sure any of you that ran shroud since the U12 update noticed the painful new blades.

The combination of the blades and no ability to Rez in part IV make it by far the most challenging party of the raid. Part of the problem is simple lack of a consistent plan. When the blades close in some stay in and die while others scatter to get away from the blades making it nearly impossible to heal everyone. And then while battling devils again someone always backs into the blades and dies.

Really good DPS takes harry in one round before the blades close in which means no changes are necessary. If the DPS isn't strong enough to take Harry in round 1, has anyone found a good approach? Would an all range shroud be a possible way to go?

[sirgog]

I am sure any of you that ran shroud since the U12 update noticed the painful new blades.

The combination of the blades and no ability to Rez in part IV make it by far the most challenging party of the raid. Part of the problem is simple lack of a consistent plan. When the blades close in some stay in and die while others scatter to get away from the blades making it nearly impossible to heal everyone. And then while battling devils again someone always backs into the blades and dies.

Really good DPS takes harry in one round before the blades close in which means no changes are necessary. If the DPS isn't strong enough to take Harry in round 1, has anyone found a good approach? Would an all range shroud be a possible way to go?

When blades get somewhat close to the middle, anyone in melee range with Harry needs to run out, fast.

If it's Hard or Elite, you probably all want to run in the same direction at the same time, which needs to be prearranged.

[ka0t1c1sm]

The raid leader just needs to establish the strategy (withdraw when blades close in, designate a rallying point, etc.), and everyone in the raid group needs to listen and follow direction (that one's more of a **** shoot.).

[Hinedhel]

I've ran the Shroud on normal both with an epic-geared level-20 fighter and a non-epic level-17 monk, and my strategy has been always getting the hell out of there when the blades close in and range Harry for a while (less DPS indeed, but saves the healers a lot of trouble). My first two runs were wipes (friday and saturday after U12, when no one knew well how things went), but after that everything's going really smooth. I'm looking forward for a hard of elite run (ask Breixo or Helcias if you want to run one of those, I'll gladly join). All in all, I consider that U12 actually improved The Shroud, making it more challenging and upping the loot a tad. Two thumbs up, devs!

[dunklezhan]

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=350347

hope that helps.

[Original]

Really simple, join a group that can kill him before blades come in. And dont join the noob runs, let them suffer and learn haha

[somenewnoob]

Well without some strategy it will be a wipe. Even with some it CAN be a wipe.

Mostly, kill the devils slowly, and try to not all stand huddled around the guys killing the devils. They spawn blades.

When the blades are closing in at end of round 1.....get the eff out of there! I don't think I've seen anybody stay in and live. Run back to entrance, left, right, somewhere, anywhere, but don't stay in teh middle. If you're a melee, get out, take out the trusty return throwing axe and whack him a couple times with it before the devils come back.

Not impossible, just much harder. Luck and lag plays a big role now.

[LordPiglet]

Apparently the strategy is back to 2 casters max

Last night I saw one for Barbarians only



And this is why people sit around, because even though my FvS is off timer, I'm not breaking him out into shroud for those kinds of groups. He doesn't need anything from shroud other then larges to trade or craft on other toons.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

Joined a PUG for Hard yesterday, and it went very well.

Leader had a definate plan, and people mostly followed his advice. But it wasn't a very restrictive plan...

we separated to fight Devils. that way there is no cluster of blades and there is room to avoid them.

We made no attempt to finish in a single round. In fact he told us to expect about four rounds.
But we completed in two. (about 1.5-1.6 actually)

Pulled out way early and just did not worry about it. Ranged guys kept attacking of course, but no specific group makeup that I could tell. (although he did limit it to lvl 20s, and most people did have rather high HP, compared to the average PUG....some had low HP though)

In short... we had leadership. He had a plan. It was not a very restrictive plan. The spreading out to fight devils meant less blades grouped up on people. No rush to finish off Harry.

Worked very well.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

I've ran the Shroud on normal both with an epic-geared level-20 fighter and a non-epic level-17 monk, and my strategy has been always getting the hell out of there when the blades close in and range Harry for a while (less DPS indeed, but saves the healers a lot of trouble). My first two runs were wipes (friday and saturday after U12, when no one knew well how things went), but after that everything's going really smooth. I'm looking forward for a hard of elite run (ask Breixo or Helcias if you want to run one of those, I'll gladly join). All in all, I consider that U12 actually improved The Shroud, making it more challenging and upping the loot a tad. Two thumbs up, devs!

I think it is "sorta" an improvement as well. But...

my problem is that the players tend to respond to any change that makes things more difficult, by being more "exclusive" with who they let join their groups.
Usually with the idea that better gear means better chance of success.

This hurts many players.
Especially casual players.
it promotes elitism...which I hate.

[Stermlin]

Really simple, join a group that can kill him before blades come in. And dont join the noob runs, let them suffer and learn haha

And this is why I am getting sick of this game. It is becoming far more elitist and far less PUG friendly. You practically have to be in an uber guild with uber epiced players to get anywhere.

[elricken]

And this is why I am getting sick of this game. It is becoming far more elitist and far less PUG friendly. You practically have to be in an uber guild with uber epiced players to get anywhere.

I'm an elitist with lots of epic gear, and yet I still don't get anywhere

Just a dead server lately, takes ages to fill any lfms.

[Emag]

I'm an elitist with lots of epic gear, and yet I still don't get anywhere

Just a dead server lately, takes ages to fill any lfms.

BUT DUE BRO I'VE SEEN SCREENIES OF PEOPLE HAVING LFMS UP. oh em gee you know nothing fellow soullesstard lololol

[twigzz]

I'm an elitist with lots of epic gear, and yet I still don't get anywhere

Just a dead server lately, takes ages to fill any lfms.

Indeed, Sarlona has taken a dive since the update.

Tho it does make me play my TR more lol.

[Deathnights]

Not sure if anyone is noticing but less then 1-2 pugs in a given 18 hour period are not being posted. Why mess with normal when most pugs are horribly equipped due to being new to game, or not knowing how to play?

[JOTMON]

Apparently the strategy is back to 2 casters max

Last night I saw one for Barbarians only



And this is why people sit around, because even though my FvS is off timer, I'm not breaking him out into shroud for those kinds of groups. He doesn't need anything from shroud other then larges to trade or craft on other toons.

Not from what I have been seeing,
round 1 Melee's dead from the blades... self healing caster/healers... dot dot dot runaround like crazy.. dot dot dot...win..

All cleric/caster runs from now on. everyone else just hide in a corner and try not to die.

[Bogenbroom]

I think it is "sorta" an improvement as well. But...

my problem is that the players tend to respond to any change that makes things more difficult, by being more "exclusive" with who they let join their groups.
Usually with the idea that better gear means better chance of success.

This hurts many players.
Especially casual players.
it promotes elitism...which I hate.

I do not disagree with your sentiment at all. The point of defense for those elitists I would make, though, is that since the update I have seen several instances of players borking the run by not following directions.

I am not an elitist. I do not TR, I have *way* too many characters to gear them to the nines, and a few of my older characters are a little woeful in the HP department. That said, I do understand the frustration of some of the elite players, and the pug leaders who are concerned about their rep after leading failed raids.

It isn't about new players or even really gear or HP, it is about level of trust, and rep, gear, and HP are the more available currencies of competence in DDO. If you have those things you are less likely to be a complete tool. Not that you couldn't be, it is just a numbers game, and the value weighting for each of those currencies will vary from player to player.

That is a bit of a tangent from your point, but I thought it contributory.

[RangerOne]

What? There's something about..Blades? What?

[Stermlin]

I'm an elitist with lots of epic gear, and yet I still don't get anywhere

Just a dead server lately, takes ages to fill any lfms.

Indeed, Sarlona has taken a dive since the update.

Tho it does make me play my TR more lol.

It seems to me that the "In" players are grouping through channels now and ignoring the Social Panel. If you are not deemed good enough to be told the channel name and password then you are screwed.

[Munkenmo]

It seems to me that the "In" players are grouping through channels now and ignoring the Social Panel. If you are not deemed good enough to be told the channel name and password then you are screwed.

dunno about all the channels, but the ones i'm in tend to fill enough to guarantee, (or at least make it likely) that the group will succeed, then the lfm goes up and it's first come first served.

you may call that elitist and segregating, but much like my vod yesterday i'd rather show you how a quest goes well than explain what went wrong after we all release.