Dungeon Nights Logistics

[Maximus]

First question: How does the current day/time (Tuesday at 9pm Eastern) work for everyone with the Dungeon Nights?  Would a different day/time be better for anyone?  Keep in mind we've got people in three or four different time zones, which complicates scheduling to no end.

Second question: My intent was to have our RP story lead us into the dungeons of EotN.  At the end of each dungeon we'll either find one of the artifacts of Bahamut (guarded by one of Tiamat's minions), or a clue that will lead us on our search.  However, we don't HAVE to go to the EotN dungeons if you guys would prefer something else.  Sorrow's Furnace was suggested, and I could very easily tweak the story to take place there instead.  I know a couple of you (Elessar, Aira) don't have EotN -- and that is a concern of mine since I don't like the idea of leaving you guys behind.  What's the general consensus?  EotN dungeons, SF or even something else?

[Koren]

Tuesday nights at 9 are fine with me. However, we have to keep in mind that there are some people (like myself) that can't do a 5 hour run. You had suggested breaking it up either into 2 nights or taking care of the RP chit-chat stuff here on the forums during the week, I think that's also something that should be looked into.

As for the second bit - I don't like leaving people behind either, though, I don't want to completely rule out EotN dungeons either (maybe because I've really wanted to do some). Something can be worked so everyone can be involved at some point - we can make the stuff not everyone can get to a little of an RP side trip, perhaps done on a different night.

I like Rotscale. Sorrow's Furnace is a good idea. TotPK, UW, FoW: all are good Prophecies (and even NF and Factions accessible for two of them) places, if a little overdone.

[Aira Pyra]

I have no problems with Tuesdays at 9pm Eastern even though you guys will soon turn off DST and go an hour behind us, but 10pm still is doable for me. =)

As for the dungeon runs, I don't mind where you do them. I won't be in each and every one of them so feel free to do EotN runs! Whenever you're doing runs in a place I can get to, just let me know and I'll gladly join you guys. Alas, i cannot give suggestions as I haven't even been in one of GW's dungeon as of yet. (But soon will be) So! I'm looking forward to it. =)

[Belzan]

I have prior engagements on Tuesday Nights, but I have been able to play on occasion with you guys   I completed very few of the EotN dungeons and, frankly, I've spent little time in FoW, UW, Tombs, SF, Deep, Warrens or DoA either.  For added difficulty, we could always do Titan quests if anyone has any active (I still have Titan Source active after 2+ years!). 

I'm working on several titles in game at the moment and I'm spending a lot of time in HM.  I still have a lot of areas unexplored and a lot of skills uncapped (in everywhere but Tyria ).  Definitely keep me in the loop on things and I'll attend to what I can.  I can totally be involved in Forum RP though.

[Belzan]

Double Post

I'm confused...

Who has access to which games?  I know Aira has Prophecies and Zok has Factions, but is anyone else missing games?  Some people don't have EotN either.  It may be easier to plan events if we're all on the same page as to which RP locales we have access to in which campaigns.

Just a thought.

Belzan

FYI: I have them all

[Evelien_Ferder]

Shi is only missing GWEN, Zok only has factions. I have them all, that's the most accurated "updated" I can give right now :D

[Aira Pyra]

Yeah, I have Prophecies, Factions and Nightfall.

[Maximus]

I believe for those who are still actively participating in guild events:

Zok only has Factions, but we're trying to convince him to get the Platinum Edition (Prophecies + Eye of the North)
Aira is missing Eye of the North
Elessar is missing Eye of the North

Other than that, everyone else has all four campaigns.

[Koren]

Sorta. I have Factions, but it's not linked to my main so I only have one toon available over there (which hasn't finished that campaign yet despite the fact she's pretty much at the end). I can run around there, just not with Koren.

[Zok]

You don't need to convince me... I have $60 here with me xDD I'm just waiting till the right moment to spend it... have to pay visa T_T

[Glorindon]

Tuesday nights are generally bad for me.  I don't get home until late and then I have an early morning on Wed.  However, I don't have EotN so anything there I can't join in anyway, so please don't change the time just for me.  I'd be glad to RP on the forums about it.  Maybe if there are other items we need to collect or side quests to complete (like getting the totem axe), I can help with those on another night.

[Maximus]

Last night's dungeon run (our first OFFICIAL Eye of the North dungeon) was very fun.  A few things we'll need to consider for the coming weeks:

A two-level dungeon took us about two hours to finish (including one wipeout-and-restart at the beginning).  Granted, this was playing at a pretty casual pace and taking a couple breaks along the way, and we spent a good chunk of time at the beginning planning our team build and strategy, and then adjusting after our wipeout.  Once we got into a rhythm we started moving along at a pretty good speed.  I'd estimate you'd need about 30 - 60 minutes per dungeon level, if no one has played through the dungeon before and everyone is planning/adjusting strategy on the fly.  Some of the dungeons are five levels deep, so we'd need a good three to four hours to complete those.  Friday night or the weekend might be a better option for these, rather than Tuesday night when people have to get up early for work the next morning.  What do you guys think?

We did a lot of typing to discuss strategy.  Using voice-chat would save a good deal of time and allow for much better in-battle coordination.  For future dungeon runs I'd like us to use the alliance TeamSpeak server, even if some people don't have mics and are just listening to me (or whoever leads the team) bark out orders.   If you need help setting up TS, let me know.

Definitely not enough time to do any kind of in-depth role-playing AND complete a three to five level dungeon in one night.  We'll have to save any lengthy RP for another night or for when someone goes AFK for a few minutes during the dungeon run.  With all the coordination we need to do during the run, we'll probably be OOC most of the time anyway.

At least one person on the team should bring the Dwarf skill "Light of Deldrimor".  In addition to causing AoE holy damage, this skill also reveals secret passages and hidden treasures in the dungeons.  Every dungeon has at least two or three hidden secrets, so its worth having a character with high energy recovery (i.e. not the warrior) equip this skill and fire it off every minute or two to see what we can find.  You gain this skill from High Priest Alkar, in the Battle Depths (he's standing near King Jalis) by completing his quest to find three Destroyer Cores.

While it would be easier and faster to just read the Wiki and plan our strategy ahead of time, I really did enjoy going in "blind" so to speak and getting stomped, only to adjust our build and come back to win.  There are several tricks and traps to each dungeon, but they aren't so bad that there's only one way to beat them.  If you cover the basics (tank, nuker, healer; condition and hex removal; party buffs and enemy debuffs), take your time and play smart (pull the mobs!), and communicate well with your team (voice chat + drawing on the mini-map) you can overcome most of the obstacles on the fly with the resources at your disposal without having to resort to trick builds or "the one build to rule them all, everything else will fail."