Progress…Lots and Lots of Progress

Post by Osprey 

I wish I had a screenshot of the first time I looked at Osprey on Warcrafter so I could compare it with where I am now, just to see how far I’ve progressed in that time. I’d settle for a screenie from, oh, the first part of May. Because in these past 2 months, I’ve doubled my bonus healing, have moved from mostly blues and a couple greens to almost 100 percent epics (the only blue item is a Lower City Prayerbook). (It was probably a good thing I DID look at Warcrafter: It let me know my T4 gloves were still missing an enchant!)

On Friday (I think?) 10 of us went to Kara. It was a solid group, but not necessarily our 10 best raiders. However, we were able to clear the entire place, including the animal boss (we got the bat) in about 4-4.5 hours. Twenty-two badges are nothing to sneeze at! In addition, I was able to snag the Nightstaff of the Everliving from Nightbane and the Shadowvine Cloak of Infusion from Illhoof. So all in all, a pretty nice haul!

Talonis had wanted to go, but Osprey’s healing was needed. So of course Attumen dropped his crossbow and necklace—the bow, for certain, would have gone to Tal, and probably the neckpiece as well. I cried as the bow was sharded. (I did win the resulting Void Crystal, however. Meh.) 

Earlier last week, The Oroborus headed to Tempest Keep: The Eye to try its hand at Void Reaver. That trash is hard. However, it was a good learning experience: Most of the raid had never been there before (including yours truly). Due to trash respawns, we only got one shot at VR, and it wasn’t a very good one.

Our raid leader wanted to try a new strategy, since the Arcane Orbs no longer track (I guess at one time they did?). Instead of putting ranged DPS and healers around the circle, he had us all bunch up at VR’s feet. The theory was, the Orbs would still fly out to the perimeter, and we’d be safe and snug huddling under Void Reaver. Here’s a tip: Each Orb targets a location where a raid member is standing. Guess what? Universal carnage ensued, and the fight was very, very brief. As I said, due to the time it took us to clear trash, it had repopped before the wipe, so the raid was called. I’m looking forward to trying again soon, though!

Also last week, we were able to one-shot Gruul and Magtheridon on the same night. (I know…that’s what a good raid is supposed to do, but we’re still integrating a lot of people into our raids, and things don’t exactly go as planned.) We’d tried on Tuesday, but that was a wipe-fest of massive proportions. Wednesday was VR, so on Thursday, I think the idea was to rebuild some morale among the raid and the guild. I was hoping for a T4 chest token, but the priest token didn’t drop. Still, it was nice to knock those guys off again.

Friday, as I mentioned above, Osprey healed a full clear of Karazhan. On Saturday, it was Talonis’ turn. The group did a half-clear (11 badges) but had to stop when too many people had other commitments. Naturally, nothing in the way of Hunter drops this run. Still, it was nice to get Talonis into Kara for more than a couple bosses, and of course the badges are a huge plus.

Saturday, like Friday, is a "free night" for the guild: No scheduled raid. However, we had a LOT of well-geared members online. So an interest check for a raid was done, with the result being an attempt on High Astromancer Solarian. Back to Tempest Keep! Trash clearing was a lot smoother this time through, and quite profitable: Lifegiving Cloak.

It was decided that rather than rolling /random for it, those who could use it would bid DKP since it’s such a great item for a healer. I was able to win it for 40 DKP, competing against a healadin. I donned it immediately, and put Subtlety on it the next morning. Comparing it with the Shadowvine Cloak, I’m torn. Shadowvine is clearly better for a Spirit Priest, which is the direction I’m leaning. However, I hate not using something for which I spent 40 DKP (out of 98 starting the run).

After an extended session with Warcrafter, I decided on the Shadovine Cloak for now. And yes, I corrected that glove enchant oversight before tonight’s raid. So all decked out in 15 epics out of a possible 16, I’m at 1020 gear score on Warcrafter, but more importantly, without buffs I’m at 10K mana, 1709 +healing, and 249 Mp5 (casting). 

You’ve come a long way, Osprey!