Thursday 5/18

[Erudite]

The next mission up is #14, Sanctum Cay. This is the last mission prior to crossing the ocean and arriving in the Crystal Desert, and is required to gain access to that area of the map. It's also the last mission before we start the 3-mission Ascension arc.

I know Raveneye hasn't felt well and GravenStone is expecting to experience some internet downtime and Onnie hasn't been her in a few days...so, who's planning on making it this evening?

[Lycos]

Played Lorna for about an hour last night and finished about 5 quests. She's halfway through level 5.

I have a question. So, is it worth it for me to go to all the other trainers (mesmer, elementalis, etc.) and train up on their initial skills so that I have them, or just pick one and stay with it?

[Erudite]

I have a question. So, is it worth it for me to go to all the other trainers (mesmer, elementalis, etc.) and train up on their initial skills so that I have them, or just pick one and stay with it?

It's worth it in that you'll get experience for completing the quests, which will bring you to post-Searing at a higher level than you otherwise might be. It's not really necessary, though. I've only ever done the quests for the class that was going to be my secondary, but I know a few people in LoW routinely do them all.

[Onnie]

Am Here! Present!

Sorry about that. Yes I'm in for tonight. If we aren't grouping then I'll either mission with Erudite if he's on or log in Seas Dawn and play with Lycros if he's on.

I played a bit last night but must of missed Lycros. I was just wandering around doing the chest thing, setting up Xell's stuff to hand over to Bixie or to Seas Dawn. Gwad I need to clean her/their bank account. BTW, did you guys say at some point your bank account goes to 25 slots instead of 20? Who do I have to bribe if so. Seesh I could use the space.

Got Xell some pretty new boots. I'm actually thinking of keeping them vs. doing the 1000 gold on the other gear pieces. They are 51 armor instead of 59. That's 1000 gold plus what linen costs, 120 to 160 a square. Add up I think... ummm 4 pieces for new boots or it might be 6. I got one bolt back from her old ones so at least 5.

That's a steep bill for 8 armor points which the EXTRA on DOES NOT ADD. You can have one piece and that bouns applies to the whole body, non-stacking. I got legs and main body for Xell of the 1000 plat armor but thinking of not going for it for the rest of her gear.

Also, I prefer the rogue's gear because that gear the bouns DO stack. Honstely, I don't mind having the 51 point armor you can get from collectors for other pieces because when I get to an area I can find the better rogue's version I'll want that anyways. I also just realized Xell's mask on armor bouns sucks. Heh, it was bought in AC. I saw an animal mask (Insprit +1 stackable) that I cuold trade something I think I need only 1 more item for at a collectors. Really, you can't beat the friggen price for a 51 ac item that does the samething...
Though the beach trader I don't think even sells masks (on the ac 59 points).

Oh btw Lycros, sorry about the other night when you were on. When you start the main stories missions, if you stop you have to do the whole friggen thing over again. You can't come back to the area it completely kicks you back to the very start like the whole thing never happened. Otherwise, I would of shown up dancing to see ya's ;)

--Onnie

[GravenStone]

I'm tentatively in. This should be my last night before the move and subsequent search for broadband at the new place.

[Erudite]

Okay, let's plan on meeting in Sanctum Cay at 9pm-ish EST, then.

Bonus:

Find the Restless Spirit that loiters around the rock on the beach (marked 1 on the map) and make him follow you by talking to him (he will only follow the player who carries the Scepter). Bring him with you till you meet the Vizier. Make sure to wait for him occasionally, because he is slow and will drop behind. Also, keep an eye on his health, because monsters like to attack him. After the cut scene, talk to the Spirit again to make him follow you again. Proceed to the beach, then go up the path (south and west) until you find a grave and a large headstone (marked 2 on the map). Once he is close to the headstone, talk to him and the bonus will be complete.
WARNING: Unless you protect the Vizier at the beach, you will not be able to complete the mission: he will die in 2 seconds as you approach him after completing the bonus. There are three basic methods to complete the bonus:

You can split up the party and have one group defend the Vizier while the other completes the bonus.
A longer approach is to have the entire party defend the Vizier until all waves of white mantle have been eliminated. As long as no one boards the boat, you will then be free to lead the restless spirit to the headstone. To be safe, you can go to the hills once the waves of attackers stop to eliminate any remaining white mantle.
The safest but most time-consuming approach is to do the mission and bonus on two separate runs.

[Raveneye]

A longer approach is to have the entire party defend the Vizier until all waves of white mantle have been eliminated. As long as no one boards the boat, you will then be free to lead the restless spirit to the headstone. To be safe, you can go to the hills once the waves of attackers stop to eliminate any remaining white mantle.

This sounds like the best approach.

I'm good to go tonight at 9:00pm. I'm actually kind of looking forward to it since I've been in a gaming dry spell for a bit.

I'll be on vacation June 7th-17th, so with GravenStone out for the next week or two, then me gone, we may end up either waiting a while for the Crystal Desert stuff or running it multiple times. I'm cool either way.

[Onnie]

Unless you protect the Vizier at the beach, you will not be able to complete the mission: he will die in 2 seconds as you approach him after completing the bonus. There are three basic methods to complete the bonus:

You can split up the party and have one group defend the Vizier while the other completes the bonus.

A longer approach is to have the entire party defend the Vizier until all waves of white mantle have been eliminated. As long as no one boards the boat, you will then be free to lead the restless spirit to the headstone. To be safe, you can go to the hills once the waves of attackers stop to eliminate any remaining white mantle.

I'm not sure I understand the warning. Are they saying with this:

Unless you protect the Vizier at the beach, you will not be able to complete the mission: he will die in 2 seconds as you approach him after completing the bonus.

If he gets hit once, then when you get the to grave he poofs on you before you can do something right? It says we've completed the mission so what is the problem? I don't need him hanging out giving Erudite or Gravenstone's minions acting tips or lessons. Seesh, there's your gave... See ya's!

Sorry but not quiet sure if they are saying one of us totally hangs out of the picture with him while the others fight or if we are to surround him and get anything before it can get near him that he takes a spell/punch.

--Onnie

[Erudite]

Hmm.

The Vizier has to stay alive to summon the boat, or we fail the primary mission.

The Restless Spirit has to be led to his grave to complete the bonus mission. If we lead the Restless Spirit to his grave first and don't protect the Vizier, he'll be attacked and killed to quickly for us to do anything about it.

That's my understanding, anyway. I'm sure we'll get it right by the seventh or eighth run tonight. :lowrazz:

[Erudite]

Man, that bonus is rough. Two runs, the second specifically to finish the bonus, and we couldn't get it done.

Nevertheless, I'm glad we're done with the primary mission out of Sanctum Cay and have crossed the ocean into Crystal Desert. New quests and new areas to explore, plus an elite monk skill capture in the area outside the Oasis that I'll have to look for. Some nice armor upgrades for warriors there, too, but the caster armor outside of Sanctum Cay is better. The weaponsmith has some offhand stuff for casters that looks good.

I plunked down a few platinum and got Seoman a new hammer. I had three hammers in my inventory (including the one he was using), but salvages didn't turn up any hammer grips. Still, it's a max-damage hammer with a Cruel haft (lengthens deep wound duration). If anybody has any grips laying around, I'll be happy to buy one. Preferably +armor or +health.

[Onnie]

Ack! I didn't know you guys were going back through last night! I thought maybe you were gonna do it another time due to possibly the time for Eastern. Sorry!

I'm just glad Raveneye jumped ship. Heh. I was laying there thinking, Xell... those Drakes again... just think of ALL THOSE DRAKES AGAIN! Oh gwad, and the Lisping Necro. Yeah think about that! And this "friend" that betrayed you.. wtf?! WHO IS HE? Look at all those red dots chasing Raveneye... Man there's a ton. Oh so there's this guy who obviously has NO TASTE in not only fashion but.. Hummm more red dots. And there's obviously no boat over there, where is Raveneye going? Hah! Think it's funny when the cat falls down my left thigh-high stocking that has no run in it. Bet he love it right now if kitty would get u..."

(music)

"Mmmmyyyy Friendssssss. You'sss are no lllongerssh even safeth on thees main land."

Xell to D over George's back.."Who is this friggen guy and when did he become my friend again? Since we handed over the phawt staff lewt? Why didn't we just let Z keep it and have done with it?"

--Onnie

[Lycos]

Bought and installed Factions!

Last night I worked on Lorna and got a big disappointment. I found that your primary class derives your armor options, so a Monk/Warrior is a Monk running around in nice weapons! I figured cloth armor was not going to cut it to make the warrior secondary class a worth while adventure.

Instead, I decided to go necromancer. I figured the ability to pull out some cannon fodder to take the focus off of me would be good, and the life drains would come in handy to keep the monk alive! Plus, the added dps would be nice at times.

I finished a ton of quests last night. She dinged level 6 and she is close to level 7. I have a few more quests to do before I go post searing. <insert ominous music here>

Other than that it was very productive.

By the way, what level do I need to be to hang out with you guys?

[Erudite]

Last night I worked on Lorna and got a big disappointment. I found that your primary class derives your armor options, so a Monk/Warrior is a Monk running around in nice weapons! I figured cloth armor was not going to cut it to make the warrior secondary class a worth while adventure.
Most monks that go with warrior as secondary concentrate on Tactics. It gives them access to a lot of defensive stances (helpful since the monk is a popular choice for just about everything to focus on), and a lot of the stances are group/area effective.

Instead, I decided to go necromancer. I figured the ability to pull out some cannon fodder to take the focus off of me would be good, and the life drains would come in handy to keep the monk alive! Plus, the added dps would be nice at times.
That works, too. ;)

By the way, what level do I need to be to hang out with you guys?
With the front-running group? We're all capped at 20. Probably 15 would be a decent range, but levels aren't going to be what holds you back. The level cap is pretty easy to achieve. It's the missions you'll have to get through to catch us. There are some you can skip if you aren't concerned so much about the plot, although you'll be missing out on some fun stuff if you do. Don't worry, though. We'll help you get caught up. :lowrazz:

[Onnie]

Yes don't worry about catching us since the main group only plays so far once a week on Missions together. For example, there's several that Xell needs to go back and do. But Bixie is hanging out so she can help catch you up to the main group and do quests with you. I think Bixie is level 12, but she has a young friend that needs to catch up to her so all is good. Also doing the quests leveling will race by. It really isn't the pump and grind. Plus, the exp is delivered via your level vs. the monster... at least I don't think it's via the Top level in the group then broken down. And on the missions you'll get straight 1,000 exp, another 1000 for the bonus. Some of the quests have 2,000 exp etc. so it's not really hard to get to the main group.

And yeah, we'll help ya's. In fact, a nice way to level up without noticing it is to just WALK to places just for the new gear. ;) Heh. I can help with that as well.

--Onnie

[Raveneye]

My Mesmer/Ranger is only Level 7 with one or two missions done, so he can always set aside time to run early missions with Lycos or whomever. My Oblivion addiction has tapered off lately, so I may be on GuildWars slightly more often than just the "group Thursday", especially if I happen to see Factions for under $40 anytime soon.

[Raveneye]

Man, that bonus is rough. Two runs, the second specifically to finish the bonus, and we couldn't get it done.

Nevertheless, I'm glad we're done with the primary mission out of Sanctum Cay and have crossed the ocean into Crystal Desert. New quests and new areas to explore, plus an elite monk skill capture in the area outside the Oasis that I'll have to look for. Some nice armor upgrades for warriors there, too, but the caster armor outside of Sanctum Cay is better. The weaponsmith has some offhand stuff for casters that looks good.

Despite our snafu of not protecting the Viz the second time through (I gave it a valiant effort!) I think we did OK. I'm REALLY glad that jumping on the ship apparently rezzed all you guys, as it would have been embarassing to have sailed off without you. :lowlol:

The second time through, after upgrading to the 91AL armor pieces (71+20phys) and redistributing some attribute points to get 11 in both Sword AND Strength (which all my skills are based off of) I noticed a BIG improvement in both my damage output and my ability to soak it up. Case in point, the Lightning Drakes went down like bowling pins the second time through.

[GravenStone]

I think the second time through on the drakes though, we managed to chop down the far pair just before the other mass showed up. Helps to only have 5 angry critters gnawing at your ankles rather than 7.

I suspect I know where we may have gone wrong on the second bonus try. I wandered over to the cliffside hoping to find a direct path to where my map showed the family plot to be. When the spirit followed me over, he may have also tried pathing to that destination, and thus wound up stuck while we ran around on the beach below him. I think the next try should be with whoever has the spirit tagged to them running to graveyard while the rest of the group clears that first wave of mobs along the way. They can then fall back to protect the vizier because once you're past that initial group, you appear to be out of the pathing for futher aggro. Ideally it shouldn't take more than a couple minutes once we reach the beach/dock area.

[Erudite]

I want to go kill this bug (Kepkhet Marrowfest (http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Kepkhet_Marrowfeast)) in Prophet's Path, the first explorable area outside of The Amnoon Oasis. She has the monk elite, Mark of Protection (http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Mark_of_Protection) and also drops Kepkhet's Refuge (http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Kepkhet%27s_Refuge), the first green item we've had the opportunity to get. ;) (Although it's only useful to Lycos right now, I guess, as he's the only monk primary.)

[Raveneye]

I'm jealous, Warrior Elites don't start popping up for a while yet. Also it seems that is the only "unique" item dropped in Cystal Desert. I say we tag this as a group effort for a Thursday outing (or similar) as it will give us all good experience for the zones to come.

We're entering the part of the game where farming, running missions/zones for elites and items, and improved group tactics are all going to surface. We won't be able to win missions through sheer brute force much longer. I may have to revisit my character build and try to refine skill sets to use in particular situations.

[Lycos]

Thanks guys! :D