First CoV respec trial

[Creole Ned]

I'd like to do the respec trial soonish. It's fun, different and it's always nice to have a respec banked (even if you still have a free one). I've completed it once on Triumph, so I at least have an inkling of what to expect.

Level range is 24-33, minimum team count is 4.

The most important thing is probably to have everyone within one level. I'm going to suggest 27 as the level, which I believe would put everyone within one level now, if Luci malefactors (and wants to do the trial again, as he did it with a PuG and assuming he used his MM).

Anyhoo, Carl is about half a level from 27, so I'll probably push for that before doing it. What say you?

[Fitty]

I say yes

[Q]

I'm in, but Thermal Corruption just hit 26.

[Paladin]

Count me out. I'll never catch up. :(

[Tai]

Keep plugging away Paladin, even I got to level 60 in WoW eventually ;)

[Paladin]

Keep plugging away Paladin, even I got to level 60 in WoW eventually ;)

Yes, but my 60 doesn't even have 1 epic mount :p

[Tai]

I got mine tuesday. showing it is possible :)

[Paladin]

I got mine tuesday. showing it is possible :)

Oh, I thought that was your second one.

[Postal]

I'm in. I should be able to make 27 soon.

[Creole Ned]

If we can get at least four of us in, let's try to have a look at this tonight. It might be doable.

[Q]

CRAZY TALK!

[Creole Ned]

So...when?

Monday evening? Another night? The trial will probably take 2-3 hours, depending on how efficient we are.

[Fitty]

I am good for any day.

[Q]

Tuesday is probably best for me.

[Creole Ned]

Tuesday it is. I'll recruit from the server if we don't get at least four showing up.

EDIT: Carl dinged 27 last night, shortly before being joined by Foe and his goons.

[Creole Ned]

* spits in general direction of thorn tree*

Okay, so now we know what to expect (agony, death, more agony). Is everyone in for redoing the last mission on Wednesday?

As far as strategeries, I think we can do it provided we don't get a whole whack of vines right in front of the tree, like the million or so we had tonight. The other thing I might suggest is to buff our defense as much as possible. This will at least reduce the chance of the tree connecting if someone does get in its line of sight (cheapest way to boost defense is to pop some Lucks - the dark purple inspirations).

It looks like the vines regenerating health may be a bug related to the AV regen fix. Not sure on that, but the regen is slow, at least.

As for taking on the tree itself, two things to remember:

1. There will be CoT ambushes several times.
2. The one-shot code will save you from any alpha if you are at 100% health. Looking back, I realize that I made a few fatal errors. I'd get in line of sight of the tree without realizing it (error #1), it would then hit me with a nasty DoT that I thought was actually coming from the vines, so I wouldn't immediately move out of the way (error #2), then the tree would zap me with its big attack and leave me all dead-like.

Looking over the combat log, the tree never one-shotted me. Its biggest attack on me was 300+ HP. Carl has 612 HP, so it was the combo of the DoT and the big attack that did me in each time. In other words, if the tree tags you at all, get out of its way pronto.

As for surviving the final AV fight, when I did the trial before, we just threw everything at it. At times the tree will shift aggro from one person to another, all you can do is duck aside if it decides you're its next target -- unless it's sufficiently debuffed, in which case its attacks may be weaker and more survivable.

I still have two Shivans left and will pop one out if and when we face off the tree directly. My drain psyche attack can also hurt its regen and I know Fitty has a good debuff, too. Henchmen should prove useful for getting aggro off us.

The remainder of the thread may be used for additional bitching. Carry on!

[Fitty]

I am actually pleased that we have to think this one out instead of the usual steamroller Team MM method.

I was still bitching like everyone else was but it will be very satisfying when we finally complete this mission.

[Sir Lucius]

My strategy of avoiding this trainwreck of a mission seems to have worked. Actually, the truth is, I've been cheating on you guys and playing the protector server.

[Q]

That's because you don't love us any more!

[Sir Lucius]

No, it's because I am a hardcore gamer (I don't have a job) so I always end up out-leveling everyone, and then it gets boring. Protector is the goon server, so there's always people to group with. I rolled an Assault Rifle/Sonic Corrupter -- it's a lot of fun.

[Postal]

I'll be on tonight. I need to get some inspirations. I can survive the first tree attack pretty well it is the next attack and the DoT that would kill me. Some heal inspirations will help that a lot.

[bridude]

grab some break frees as well.

saved me a couple times.

[Creole Ned]

So close, yet so far.

With four of us, the vine count dropped to 30, which at first seemed good. And our first run we got down to 2 vines before they started popping back up. From that point, we could only seem to get them down to around 5 before they'd start coming back again.

We gave up and abandoned the trial with nothing but debt to show for it. Meh.

I suggest we try again when everyone is higher level. Maybe the extra slots and powers will help. Or we could recruit more players to dish out damage.

In the meantime, let me say to the thorn tree: phhbttt!

[Postal]

I think we should try to all be the same level next time we go. 2 of us were a level behind I think.

[Creole Ned]

The first respec trial caps at level 33. I think we should give it another go when everyone is that level.

[Sir Lucius]

I have some advise.

The best way, from my experience, to down all the vines is to split into two groups starting at the back, and work your way around. Never attack the same vine as someone else, you'll just end up overkilling a vine and wasting time. When you get the the front, try to find places to break LOS from the tree at all times. If you hear a spines sound then you've been hit with the tree's dot and you need to pop a respite and get out of it's LOS. You'll want to try and take most of these from range. When they're all down rush the tree itself and spam your heals. Pretty soon there will be a CoT ambush, but it's probably easier to just focus on the tree if you're making good progress downing it.

[Creole Ned]

Or try bringing them all down to 1/3 health then finish them off quickly after -- if they fix the regen the vines now have.

But yes, I agree, have the team split up and work in opposite directions. I am storing any third tier damage inspirations I get at the base so we can load up on them to take out the vines quickly.

We could also do another run to stock up on Shivans.

Or maybe they will replace the vines with a little thorn tree gnome and you will only have to answer his riddle.

[Q]

I would like more Shivans.

[Creole Ned]

Here's me latest proposal on how to work this thingie:

Get Carl, Thermal and Electric Toaster to level 33. Lackey Foxy to 32 (currrently 30) and lackey Iguanatron to 32 once he reaches the minimum level 24 to take part (I think he is close to 23 now). This would give us five bodies to throw at the thing with only a one level gap. It could work. Maybe.

Shivans and Warburg nukes might be handy, too.

This all assumes everyone I've mentioned would want to do it, of course.

[Circuit]

I do want to do it. I haven't had much gaming time this week, but I can probably bust out a few levels this weekend. Iguanatron's about halfway through 23.