Alexander Discussion, Round 2: Wait is this the easy mode thread?

[haroldsaxon]

A3S hasn't required world-class DPS or anywhere near perfect execution since the first weeks of 3.05, and it certainly doesn't require it now with all the gear that's available.

I think hard enrages are fine: you should be held to some standard while dealing with mechanics, otherwise we end with fights that you can borderline zombie like pretty much all the primals (including Thordan). The only thing I think the devs should do is make up their minds on the tank/healer DPS requirements.

Hell, the nearest i've got to a perfect execution personally for AS3 was last week, and i'd have got it if it wasn't for that pesky idiot putting a second AOE on me again

\o/ eh, never seen past the Add. I've heard the last phases are really rough though, usually you wipe to the AoE spam during the DPS check though.

I'd like to see more fights that are like the Void Ark Fights, most of them were quite interesting, maybe tune them up a bit etc.

Odo! I need to make an alt on Gilga to come and chat with all the old Faerie players!

But yeah, i'd like to see some tuned up versions of the Void Ark fights.

[Rocl]

i edited this because i realize it's futile

[MisterBob]

A3S is largely irrelevant as of 3.1 and based on the clear rates prior to 3.1 the DPS check was very strict. 3 or 4 of my FCs raid groups were stuck on enrage for weeks and cleared instantly after 3.1. I understand its a case of git gud but being able to do the dance should have more weight than the DPS check. Like I said I like the middle of the fight checks. Hand check in phase 2 or the hands in the final phase, I just don't like the instant FU from bosses and prefer a gradual enrage. Make the 6th Cascade require tank LB3 to survive, now groups have a decision to make, push to kill before or save tank LB to survive.

A3S' DPS check is nowhere near as strict as you think (unless you're talking week 1-3, but it should be insanely strict during that period). Check logs on fflogs prior to 3.1 and notice some of the kill times, especially the ones that have cleared A3S a number of times but not A4S yet. They still get low 12-minute kills, which gives you a 40-50 second buffer on the enrage, which is huge.

In truth, A3S was a wonderful blend of mechanics influencing DPS influencing mechanics. If you learned how to do the mechanics efficiently, your DPS went way up. Do them poorly (or do safety strats) and your DPS tanks. Design-wise it was honestly one of the best fights in the game, requiring amazing teamwork and each individual player needed to be a master of their role. Mechanics like Ferrofluid in the final phase are surprisingly clever if you understand how they really work, and the fight really tests the full gamut of teamwork and player skill.

Too bad Alexander's bosses are so un-interesting story-wise, and too bad casuals likely mean we'll never see a fight this well-designed ever again.

[Niiro]

Too bad Alexander's bosses are so un-interesting story-wise

"Ok the expansion is all about a war with ancient dragons, and we set up this bitchin floating continent zone with ancient Allagan ruins from around the world, now what are we gonna do for the raid?"

"Uh.....goblins! They talk funny! Shitty techno! Pepsi man!"

"Brilliant!"

[Kipling]

I mean, I hit escape on every raid cutscene anyway. The story could be hot garbage but as long as the fight was good it wouldn't bother me.

[AlastorTGN]

Well T13 had best of both.

I am giving Alex a chance, if Alexander moves and permantly alters Hinterlands, I'd class that as pretty epic.

[Niiro]

Only thing that's gonna change is him being a bit more and more out of the water.

aka neat.jpg-tier

For anyone that's gone out of bounds and already seen his entire body it probably won't even be that.

[Qeomash]

I really hope that the next set kills off the goblins, so the last tier can be Alexander going all holier-than-thou, "I'll melt thy bones, sear thy flesh, unshackle thy soul" on you.

[AlastorTGN]

Well, I will hope they will go a bit further after the criticisms of 1-4's story. The potential is there, tbh it could be more epic than T13 seeing as Alexander isn't bound in the Coils, he can kick up a real storm.

[Rocl]

Likely Alexander story is revelations about Mide / dealing with the Goblins in 3.2 and then Alexander's true Primalness comes out in 3.4; dealing with Mide's tempered fiancee or some shit or maybe Roundrox dies.

[Lujei]

Mide is the least interesting side-quest NPC in the game. I'd rather have more Goblins than more of her.

[Rocl]

She is, in fact, the worst

[Fryte]

/touches scar ominously

character development top-tier

[Shaano]

Just a quick opinion but 3rd leg burn with only one set of adds, let the doll blow.

4th leg are people letting first/both/no dolls blow or what. Trying to decide what to do on the 4th leg is what everyone is trying to focus on before moving onto the final phase. Also orbs in 4th leg what are people putting in?

[Kipling]

Just a quick opinion but 3rd leg burn with only one set of adds, let the doll blow.

4th leg are people letting first/both/no dolls blow or what. Trying to decide what to do on the 4th leg is what everyone is trying to focus on before moving onto the final phase. Also orbs in 4th leg what are people putting in?

We kill the 2nd doll in 4th leg to give ourselves some MP going into the final phase for rezzes/adds, since 1st adds final phase is the hardest part on healer MP in the fight. We let all other dolls blow up.

We do both sets of Orbs the same way in leg 4:

1) I eat one set solo on SCH
2) WHM gets first > ranged second > WAR third if WHM cant get

[Shaano]

I'll suggest it to my group of the balls/dolls. They want to kill both dolls and have Healer/Ranged/Healer on first balls, then Melee/Healer/Ranged on second set of balls. Any second that I am not in contact with the boss on monk I feel it's 110% worthless shit.

[AlastorTGN]

ough.

I'd like to see more fights that are like the Void Ark Fights, most of them were quite interesting,

Which ones?

Posted it in the Void Ark thread but I find these fights mechanically pretty boring bar Cuchulain and the Poison gas room (it's both sad that this room is morei nteresting then a boss but also potentionally an exciting bar to set for normal rooms in future Expert dungeons?) just as bosses in their own right, never mind the fact they don't really account for three alliances. (beyond the HP tuning ofc)

I think I'm salty that I'll be running this first thing after Maintenence ends.

[haroldsaxon]

A3S' DPS check is nowhere near as strict as you think (unless you're talking week 1-3, but it should be insanely strict during that period). Check logs on fflogs prior to 3.1 and notice some of the kill times, especially the ones that have cleared A3S a number of times but not A4S yet. They still get low 12-minute kills, which gives you a 40-50 second buffer on the enrage, which is huge.

In truth, A3S was a wonderful blend of mechanics influencing DPS influencing mechanics. If you learned how to do the mechanics efficiently, your DPS went way up. Do them poorly (or do safety strats) and your DPS tanks. Design-wise it was honestly one of the best fights in the game, requiring amazing teamwork and each individual player needed to be a master of their role. Mechanics like Ferrofluid in the final phase are surprisingly clever if you understand how they really work, and the fight really tests the full gamut of teamwork and player skill.

Too bad Alexander's bosses are so un-interesting story-wise, and too bad casuals likely mean we'll never see a fight this well-designed ever again.

The only thing I can say that I found annoying in AS3 was debuff passing before the EU server move. That was ridiculously inconsistant - some times, we had DPS pushed on top of each other and get an instant pass, sometimes we'd have people pass correctly and sometimes people would be on top and it wouldn't pass. A few things similar with the tethers, but went away for the most part when the server move happened.

I also fucking hate the goblins, but at least AS3 was designed well. If they stop making fights like that, i'll stop subbing. Maybe sooner if things carry on the way they have been.

[Eludi]

The only thing I can say that I found annoying in AS3 was debuff passing before the EU server move. That was ridiculously inconsistant - some times, we had DPS pushed on top of each other and get an instant pass, sometimes we'd have people pass correctly and sometimes people would be on top and it wouldn't pass. A few things similar with the tethers, but went away for the most part when the server move happened.

I also fucking hate the goblins, but at least AS3 was designed well. If they stop making fights like that, i'll stop subbing. Maybe sooner if things carry on the way they have been.

It never was inconsistant once you figured out how to properly do it, Eu servers also didnt make any difference to it.

[MisterBob]

It never was inconsistant once you figured out how to properly do it, Eu servers also didnt make any difference to it.

Agreed. As long as your ping is stable, doesn't matter if there's latency. Just get to your assigned location, park your ass there, and stop fucking fidgeting.