New Teams

If you've been keeping an eye on GEM, you'll have noticed a recent proliferation of Karazhan runs, as the THB launched three fixed 10-person Karazhan groups recently. Team Pink, led by Katsui (Roses of Dawn), was the first. Team Blue, led by Terhen and Drennior (The One), has been resurrected and started running last week. This week sees the first runs of Wheat and Trebax's (Circle of Elder) Team Red.

With the exception of Team Pink, which already existed to some degree, the teams were created predominantly from people on the "Karazhan WAITING For A Raid Group" list on GEM (date for that is set to 10/31 currently, but I'll push it forward shortly). A complete list of the teams and their members can be found (or will be available shortly) on the the revised Karazhan raiding information page.

Not On A Team?

If you're not on a team, just because the existing teams have fixed slots doesn't mean you won't be able to go. The team leaders will be posting their events on GEM. Fixed members always get priority but they won't always be available to go. In which case, replacements will be needed. As I write this, Team Blue needs three replacements for tonight's run, as several people happen to be away today, for example. So do feel free to add yourself to a posted event, especially if they've indicated they know they will have extra slots.

The other thing to do is to add yourself to the waiting list. As raid leaders and people become available, we'll try to make up additional teams.

How Teams Are Created/Gear & Mod Requirements

Raid leaders consider several factors when making up their fixed raid groups. The first is balance. Certain classes will make or break the raid. The obvious ones are tanks and healers. No tanks and healers, then no run. The second is gear. In order to make good progress in Karazhan, all participants should meet the following minimum requirements:

1. The majority of your gear should be level 68 blues (or better), with appropriate enchantments and gems.
2. You need at least 6000 hit points unbuffed if you're a ranged class and significantly more if you're a tank (10,000+). This is because the Shade of Aran does burst damage. 7000+ is actually better.
3. You should have a PvE specification, as this includes aggro reduction.
4. You should have completed at least part of a heroic instance as they're comparable in difficulty and the need for aggro management.

If your gear is poor or it looks like your damage (for damage-dealing classes) or healing is going to be low, you probably won't get chosen for a group. For DPS classes, that's at least a sustained DPS rate of 350 and preferably 400. For healers, you're looking at least +1000 heal. Tanks should be immune to critical strikes. With only 10 people, it's not like Molten Core or Zul'Gurub where you could easily accommodate some undergeared players.

Once you are chosen, you will need to install some raid mods. At a minimum, you should have:

• Omen or KLHThreatMeter (AKA KTM)
• oRA2 or another CT_RaidAssist-compatible raid assistance system.

Even if you don't use these yourself, they're useful to the tanks, healers, and raid leaders for keeping track of what's going on. If you're a damage-dealing class, it's often important to know when you're out-aggroing the tank, so that's why a threat meter that shares information with other participants is required. Most of these can easily be found by typing in the name of the mod, warcraft, and download into Google, i.e. "omen warcraft download". Ask your raid leader or THB rep for assistance in choosing the right one or configuring/installing the mods.

The third requirement is that you're available on the nights the raid leader wants to go. Each raid leader, usually in consultation with his/her preferred tanks/healers, has chosen a set of raiding days. They are not all the same. You will need to be able to make a commitment to be available most weeks on the chosen days for that raid. Too many missing people on too short of notice can cancel a run.

Progress

Whether you're in a fixed group or not, you might be interested in how we're making out. That information is available on The One's Karazhan Raiding Progress page for each of the teams.

Summary

Let's go out there and take the bosses down in generous, kind THB style. Have fun out there!

Team Blue, lead by me and Trovlard, continued their great success in Monday's Karazhan raid. After last weeks attempts on Curator foiled by a server crash, we returned with a vengeance.

The evening began well with Attumen downed with haste and precision. Our rougish friend Moroes and his fellow guests posed little trouble to the raid, with him being downed in one attempt and zero casualties. Maiden of Virtue's holy rampage was put to an end, also on the first attempt.

Team Blue progressed on to Opera, where we fought Romulo & Julianne. Experience from the previous week helped us defeat the lovers in a single attempt. With plenty of time left, the raid went on to The Curator. Thanks to an organised, powerful DPS team, lightning fast healers and excellent execution and positioning, we managed to defeat him on our first attempt.

After just a few runs, the team has come together very well and has shown amazing potential. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish in the future. Congratulations Team Blue!

(view as slideshow)
	Curator Down!		Maiden Down!