New Player Raid Training – Tower of Despair

[Tobril]

Are you a new player wanting to try a bit of raiding? That’s awesome!

Unfortunately you face a few obstacles.

When LFM’s for raids do appear, leaders tend to presume that you’ve
ran the raid hundreds of times and they lose sight of what it’s like to be new
to the raid. They then yell at you for not “just knowing what I want you to do”
or otherwise being a mind reader.


My goal is to help alleviate this issue and run some training for raids which
have become problematic for the PUG scene. Having fun is a big plus as well.


If you are interested please respond to this thread with your character you
want to bring and short description of your build. (class split, race, PRE)

All directions will be given via spoken English. If this is an issue to disability,
language barrier, etc please let me know ahead of time and we can
probably make appropriate arrangements.


If the list fills up please sign up anyhow in case other people cancel.


Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 19:00 MST (That means 7:00 P.M. Mountain Time, 8 Central, 9 Eastern, etc)

Group 1
1 – Tobril (will tank, kite, pike, etc depending on what we get)
2 – Rosten (drow cleric)
3 – Shuhei (halfling rogue assassin)
4 – Stethos (Human 15/3/2 pal/mnk/ftr)
5 - Galcian (20 Horc Barb or Articifer)
6 - Hajnah (cleric, she needs to hit at least 18 in the next few weeks though)
7 - CheeseMilk (Kazual – ranger, or Skahtch – paladin)
8 - Micaril (articifer, he will be beaten daily until he grinds out his boots)
9 - Zzyzzxx (20 wf kotc pally)
10 - Antaka (20 halfling light monk)
11 - A Helper
12 - Another Helper


Group 2
1 – Grieve (he will bring whatever is needed)
2 – Herweg (20 Fighter)
3 – Sadcat (13 rogue/6 fighter/1 monk) // Funn (20 sorcerer) // Algorithm (20 artificer)
4 – Kior (18 rogue)
5 -
6 -
7 -
8 -
9 -
10 -
11
12

Alternates/Standby/Helpers:

Hendrik
TheDearLeader
Morphane/Naphor
Bologrubb
Yuda
Grieve
Rokkum/Ayrn
Yrruun/Bashzer/Hrruun/Sparkstar
Illendar
Erruun
Half of Eternal Wrath
The other half of Eternal Wrath
Samius (if I get him drunk enough)

Vids as promised, sound is messed up cause I'm bad at things...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO6Zenxoubg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2RlLhwkhEM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWoUyPAbIdc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onKJwbDamrM

We won again!!! (both groups had a flawless victory)

[Tobril]

Mandatory Things to Bring: (I will ask you to link items when joining, you don’t get in without them)

All characters
20+ remove curse potions (must be guild versions if you plan to use barbarian rage or madstone boots)
100% Fortification
~400+ HP (somewhat negotiable)
Boots of Anchoring

HP requirements for this one are a bit higher than I have asked previously
due to the importance of staying alive in certain fights.


Melee
A weapon with some combination of silver and good for the bosses.
(see http://ddowiki.com/page/Damage_reduction or ask if your weapon will work)

Arcane
Haste
Blur
Greater Heroism (counters fear, shavarath environmental effects provide the to-hit bonus)
Cloudkill
Web
Resist Energy
Mass Protection from Elements
Fire Shield (if kiting hot version is what you will use, otherwise cold version for lava room and end fight)
Scrolls – Reconstruct (if warforged tank, I will help subsidize this cost for your first time)

Divine
Mass Deathward
Mass Heal
Mass Cure (2+ different ones are nice)
Mass Protection from Elements
Blade Barrier
Resist Energy
Resurrection or True Resurrection (don’t use raise dead)
Scrolls – Heal, at least a stack of 100 (again, if you are poor I can help pay for these)

Artificer
Silver Weapons spell
Aligned Weapons spell
(these allow people who have a decent weapon that only has one of good+silver the ability to do a lot more damage)
Curative Admixture – Remove Curse
Scrolls – Reconstruct+Heal (I will help subsidize this cost for your first time)

Tank Healers
Spell Absorption – Mantle of the Worldshaper, Pale Lavender Ioun Stone, Scarab of Spell Absorption, etc

A mantle is sufficient, the reason for this equipment is to prevent
becoming stunned if a light monk is not present/lazy etc.


Other Class Abilities that are Awesome to Keep Running Constantly

Monk
Align the Heavens
Grasp of the Earth Dragon

Bard
Inspire Courage (any)
Spellsong Trance (spellsinger only)
Spellsong Vigor (spellsinger only)
Ironskin Chant (warchanter only)


Optional Things That are Really Nice:
DR
Healing Amplification (healer friend for warforged)
AC (60-70ish+ or don’t worry about it)
Clikies – (items that cast spells on you, Greater Heroism, Deathward, etc in case you die and need to be rebuffed)
Potions – Resist Fire/Sonic/Elec 20 (again, in case you become deceased and need to rebuff when raised)
Potions – Cure/Repair Serious, Silver Flame (help out healers a bit and/or save yourself in an emergency)
Regeneration – Tasty Ham, Pouch of Jerky, etc. “Trickle” healing in this raid is helpful
Destruction and/or Improved Destruction ("marks" a monster, will become easy to see why when you see it happen)
Be Mildly Sober – A drink or two is OK, just don’t come trashed


Things I Don’t Want You To Use:
Mnemonic Potions – It’s important to learn how to raid without relying on these,
as it’s highly likely they will be placed on a large timer someday.

Voice Chat when the leader is speaking
Voice Chat when a healer or tank is speaking

[Gizeh]

Things I Don’t Want You To Use:
Mnemonic Potions – It’s important to learn how to raid without relying on these

+1 for that. I like that approach a lot more than the "bring pots for the healers" approach that seems to be common for some of the high level raids, at least on argo.

[Tobril]

Last reserved in case I need/want it, post away!

PEOPLE WHO NEED APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR!!!


Get together somehow, whether /joinchannel Defense, LFM’s, telepathy, etc.

Do Wrath of the Flame for blood/artifacts, and Weapons Shipment for
iron/keepsakes. This should take you a couple of hours at most to get
all the pieces, run with a group to maximize pull chances.


You must also be 18th level to wear the booties, and be careful hot-barring
them because they look like propulsion and mire boots.

Just a Thought Devil's Keepsakes seem to have a much better drop rate from my experience in Sins of Attrition though I haven't been back in Weapons Shipment since the changes.

Other options would be Shroud & Epic Devil's Assault, but EDA may a bit more difficult to run for those that need boots unless some vets want to bring the boot-needers through a couple runs.

[Hendrik]

If you need an extra body, glad to lend it!

[slothinator]

Very much up for this. I would be bringing Stethos, Human 15/3/2 pal/mnk/ftr. I just got my boots, and I have a lit2 khopesh and a +4 holy silver khopesh of LOB. I'll make sure to have all the other stuff too.

BTW - thank you for doing this. Will be nice to get the first one out of the way.

[djl]

Galcian is in. I can tank Sully if needbe.

[TheDearLeader]

Hey, I'm actually off Thursdays this semester!

Remind me closer to the actual event, please, but I should be able to bring someone to accommodate. Maybe McPhail to tank the Shadows in Part 2 or something.

[Tobril]

Added people.

The last runs went really well, I’m hoping for the same this time.


I would like an experienced person to kite/tank in part 2. Future runs
we’ll give people a shot as every has to learn sometime, but as the task
is rather critical and unforgiving I would like to play it safe this run.

Alternately if a good Horoth tank applies I’ll bring my FvS and kite, but
I wouldn’t mind running my new tank if possible.

[slothinator]

Added people.

The last runs went really well, I’m hoping for the same this time.


I would like an experienced person to kite/tank in part 2. Future runs
we’ll give people a shot as every has to learn sometime, but as the task
is rather critical and unforgiving I would like to play it safe this run.

Alternately if a good Horoth tank applies I’ll bring my FvS and kite, but
I wouldn’t mind running my new tank if possible.

Question - what makes a good Horoth tank? Is this the one where the groups always want a WF? Just curious, because Stethos has 580 hp and 173% heal amp. Didn't know if that would cut it for tanking in TOD; plus he's human. I might be confusing this with another tank scenario I've heard about.

[Tobril]

Question - what makes a good Horoth tank? Is this the one where the groups always want a WF? Just curious, because Stethos has 580 hp and 173% heal amp. Didn't know if that would cut it for tanking in TOD; plus he's human. I might be confusing this with another tank scenario I've heard about.

Horoth tank, in order of my most-to-least preference:
AC, Hate, Amp (fighter/paladin defenders, various specialty AC tank builds)
High Hate/DPS+HP No-AC character (barbs, AC dumped defenders, earth stance monks)
Specialty DOT Tanks (FvS, PM)
Drunken Kittens
99% of warforged

All should have good amp, particularly the no-AC tanks. 20% + 30% minimum imo.

They should also be able to hold aggro without constantly needing intimidate, as
Horoth turning is much worse than most bosses doing so due to the DoT effects
he uses.

Decent reflex saves are helpful vs AOE attacks, and a high fortitude save to withstand
disintegrate is of utmost importance.

600 HP is a good place to start, you can work with less but it’s tricky and I don’t recommend
it to people unless they really know what’s up.



People asking for WF tanks are doing so for Suulumades, who appears in the raid
and functions basically the same as in Vision of Destruction except he doesn’t teleport.


I would have to know your AC and hate gen to have a better idea for your guy on Horoth.
My 15/3/2 could do Horoth, but it was via intim only. I think the build could do it with
modifications, but it wouldn’t be my first choice.

[elricken]

Can't guarantee I'll be around on the 26th but if I am I'll be glad to help. Can bring tank, kiter, healer, bard etc.

[Sethus]

Hey Tob. I won't be able tomake tomorrow night, but i would be more than happy to help train, or be of service in some shape or form another night. I'll keep an eye out and if any of you new people are reading this then feel free to pm me on the names below.

[Tobril]

Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 19:00 MST (That means 7:00 P.M. Mountain Time, 8 Central, 9 Eastern, etc)

Hey Tob. I won't be able tomake tomorrow night, but i would be more than happy to help train, or be of service in some shape or form another night. I'll keep an eye out and if any of you new people are reading this then feel free to pm me on the names below.

Less drinking, more calendar.

This is in a couple of weeks, which gives people time to flag, get boots, etc.

+1 for offering to be a helper though.

[CheeseMilk]

I've only ever done ToD on my ranger (nearing 20 completions) so the only experience I have with this quest is basically trash duty. I'd like to come along if you need someone with experience at clean-up, but I'm currently travelling so my internet is shaky at best.

My TR Paladin has recently hit 18, and the inspiration for me making him was a guildy tanking Horoth on his pally while accidentally leaving his Madstone Boots on, and not getting banished (yay for not rolling 1's!). I'm built to tank (DoS III, unbuffed AC 57, 684hp, 46/32/30 saves) but I'm thinking I should gear him up a bit better before trying Horoth. I'm currently wearing almost completely Cannith-crafted gear, and the only GS item I have so far is a Triple-pos DwAxe.

Should I try my hand at tanking VoD and hound first, to get some tanking experience in a raid that isn't so hard to regain control of if the tank goes down? (This is my first tank, after all) My intim is ~42 unbuffed, I'm guessing it needs to be higher, since my dps isn't great yet (even with all the additional threat I produce). I'm planning an earth II hp item and con-opp SP items, too, just need to run some Shrouds for shards. I guess I'm asking what sorts of numbers you'd be looking for in a decent Horoth tank, to give me something to shoot for.

[LordPiglet]

I've only ever done ToD on my ranger (nearing 20 completions) so the only experience I have with this quest is basically trash duty. I'd like to come along if you need someone with experience at clean-up, but I'm currently travelling so my internet is shaky at best.

My TR Paladin has recently hit 18, and the inspiration for me making him was a guildy tanking Horoth on his pally while accidentally leaving his Madstone Boots on, and not getting banished (yay for not rolling 1's!). I'm built to tank (DoS III, unbuffed AC 57, 684hp, 46/32/30 saves) but I'm thinking I should gear him up a bit better before trying Horoth. I'm currently wearing almost completely Cannith-crafted gear, and the only GS item I have so far is a Triple-pos DwAxe.

Should I try my hand at tanking VoD and hound first, to get some tanking experience in a raid that isn't so hard to regain control of if the tank goes down? (This is my first tank, after all) My intim is ~42 unbuffed, I'm guessing it needs to be higher, since my dps isn't great yet (even with all the additional threat I produce). I'm planning an earth II hp item and con-opp SP items, too, just need to run some Shrouds for shards. I guess I'm asking what sorts of numbers you'd be looking for in a decent Horoth tank, to give me something to shoot for.

57 is too low to tank, my personal advice is to go con-opp hp and then tripple air spell points (haste clicky and +6 charisma skills).

If you have the challenge pack, I would look into bracers of the wind, Teir 3, level 16. Gives you dodge 3, blurry and you can add a dodge 1 via cannith crafting (this also makes them level 19).

If you have Reavers refuge look into some dragon touched full plate with insight on the sovereign rune.

Reavers Fate (raid) has Head of Good Fortune, which can be upgraded to give you Dodge 2, Goodluck 2 (for skills, etc) and heavy fort in 1 tasty package.

Personally, I'm big on using cavalry and ring of the buccaneer, but you can't get them until cove comes back (should be February).

As a crafter, you might look into making a +5 shield with fire absorb also. With no evasion, this will cut down on the spell damage you'd take from horoth. You can use +5 electrical absorb. for tanking sully.

[CheeseMilk]

(some excellent advice)

I learned about those Bracers shortly after writing my post, and I'm definitely going to get a set of those, probably the lvl 12 with a +1 dodge crafted on them (Epic Grim's will have my dodge 3). I do have a fair amount of gear waiting for me when I hit 20 (Swashbuckler, Cavalry Plate, 3-pc Abishai, a seal or shard away from a few other bits) so I don't want to invest too much into gear I'm only going to use for my last two levels.

I guess I'll just concentrate on levelling and save the real tanking for when I'm capped.

Thanks for your input!

[LordPiglet]

I learned about those Bracers shortly after writing my post, and I'm definitely going to get a set of those, probably the lvl 12 with a +1 dodge crafted on them (Epic Grim's will have my dodge 3). I do have a fair amount of gear waiting for me when I hit 20 (Swashbuckler, Cavalry Plate, 3-pc Abishai, a seal or shard away from a few other bits) so I don't want to invest too much into gear I'm only going to use for my last two levels.

I guess I'll just concentrate on levelling and save the real tanking for when I'm capped.

Thanks for your input!

Excellent gear waiting on you, that should help a fair amount on pushing that AC up.

[Quetzacoala]

I would love to run this with you on my artificer, but I doubt I will be able to acquire all of the materials for boots by then...

Shame really, never done TOD but always wanted to.

[LazyTigerLily]

Yay!! Thanks for posting the date Tobril!

Please put me down for this raid, though I reserve the right to fall to an alternate or helper spot if I end up doing it before then.

I would love to bring Hajnah my level 17 cleric along to learn to heal this raid. I have run it lotssa times before on melee characters and can probably help out with training melee types. Healing a raid for the first time can be a bit intimidating so is nice to do it the first time in a welcoming environment. If a cleric isn't needed I have a plethora of other characters that could come (fighter, bard, light monk and might even be able to bring my main who is an artificer by then) and help out/train if necessary.