AoA X2

[Bu££a2k]

<DIV>A bit of background if I may. Currently our guild is raiding T5 and/or T6 once or twice a week. Mainly this consists of T5 prismatic targets and CoAA in T6. We consistently manage 2, sometimes 3, groups for each of these events (Family guild with every event being optional). In CoAA we normally get through 5 or 6 mobs before we run out of time (2 wipes total in the last 2 visits put together). I've seen very very little of T7 raiding and in our current situation we are well aware that X4 zones are out of the question at present. This only leaves AoA X2 and I think some crab in the FD (which I hear is no cake walk) open to us.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As a result I was just looking for some basic information on AoAX2 so I can decide on whether or not we should consider this zone in the future. (The new guild raids will hopefully be a great opportunity when they arrive!). </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Firstly what level are the mobs in here? I stuck my head in the door and found the 1st group of trash to be 65X2. I assume the mob levels get higher as you progress but do the mobs end up at 70+ or in the upper 60's? Also, do the mobs repop?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Secondly mob HP's. I've heard comparison of the mobs in here to PP:R in terms of their HP's, is this true and if so is a DPS heavy raid required?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thirdly loot. From some of the other threads I've dragged up with the search it seems that the loot isn't great. Is this not great if you're fully fabled or not great compared to heroic instances?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks in advance for any replies :smileyhappy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Bezze, 70 Zerk on Runnyeye</DIV> <DIV>Officer of Ascended Heroes</DIV>

[Jake_The_Lettuce]

<DIV>The only reason i can see for going into aoax2 is for the claymore questline and to get x4 access, mainly because loot is crap, trash  has alot of hp and the zone is boring as hell :smileyvery-happy:</DIV><p>Message Edited by Jake_The_Lettuce on <span class=date_text>08-04-2006</span> <span class=time_text>03:03 PM</span>

[Troubor]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Jake_The_Lettuce wrote:<BR> <DIV>The only reason i can see for going into aoax2 is for the claymore questline and to get x4 access, mainly because loot is crap, trash  has alot of hp and the zone is boring as hell :smileyvery-happy:</DIV> <P>Message Edited by Jake_The_Lettuce on <SPAN class=date_text>08-04-2006</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>03:03 PM</SPAN><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Only been in AoA x2 once, and that was to get one person in my raid group AoA x4 access, and myself my claymore update.</P> <P>If I recall, the joke I said in Raid chat was "Ah, the same interior decorator who did Palace of The Awakened was hired for here...".</P> <P>Otherwise, take a third or so of PoA...let's say the "dragon floor" levels, make the droags a bit less poplous but around, put in some drakota you need to spawn via ring events, and epic x2 dragons on the dragon platforms, you have AoA.</P> <P>Loot...if fabled drops there, again only been in once but didn't see it.  What we did see was some legendary that made...eh..okay backup gear if the guy didn't have fabled in that location.  I ended up with an okay dagger we FFAed, that went to my RP wife who isn't quite 60th, and a helm with FT II on it that makes an okay helm for backup, or if I just HAVE to have 2 more points of FT for some bizarre reason..my main is my Hoo'Luk Pally helm.</P> <P>Otherwise, no...it's mostly a quest update zone, loot..eh..stuff to sell, keep as backup or give to guildies.</P> <P> </P>

[Renpatsu]

<DIV>We did encounter the same questions / decisions as well some time before. The comparison between AoAx2 and PPtR is perfectly valid. Personal view: It's a mind dumbing raid zone with almost no nice reward, just sort of an 'access raid' to the x4 zone. The mobs don't hit too hard, DPS on your side helps definetely. The zone got repops up to a certain point. The last named had been around 70 I think, not quite sure anymore, and is the only 'interesting' fight in there.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Well, what other zones are to mention ? Temple of Scale is a zone which starts heroic, got an intermediate x2 part and ends with x4. It's a contested zone therefore got repops. Difficulty is fairly easy overall. Works quite well with T6 gear even for casual guilds and low numbers. The drops aren't that great in there, though there are some exceptions (e.g. contested, Harla). When you're not much after loot and just want to have some practice in T7, this might be an option for you.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>For your future perspective: A quite big stepping stone in T7 raiding is Lab of Lord Vyemm. One of the best raid zones in game from my perspective, fairly high level (68+ x4), quite interesting encounters for some part. The first named is not really harder than the trash at the beginning. Trash mobs may drop relic pieces.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>To sum it up: The T7 raids are quite a problem at the beginning for casual guilds. From Lab on the fun begins. Test your strength in T7 from time to time and keep raiding T6 until you feel comfortable with your T7 raid targets.</DIV>

[Bu££a2k]

<P>Thanks for the replies so far <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>Well, it seems from the replies that the raid zone isn't too difficult (for T7) but that the mobs have lots of HP's and that the loot is not great.</P> <P>One thing I'ld like to try and get clarification on is the loot. Most of our members are legendary equipped from instances with the only real fabled being from T6. If the legendary that drops in here is comparable or better to the various T7 instances (Den/Vaults etc) then it'll be worth while. I know that the various Flapping Wing items drop in AoA X4, but do they also drop in the X2?</P> <P>Moving onto Labs raid would be our real goal I'ld say but we're probably understaffed for T7 X4 raiding. Hence my interest in AoA X2 (And the new guild raids should help other guilds in our kind of situation so kudos to SoE)</P> <P>Thanks again for anymore replies :smileyhappy:</P>

[FlintAH]

The gear is really only good for resist gear.  If you cant handle Courts w/ 3 groups, then you being able to handle ascent is very iffy.  You might want to do labs first.  Practice jousting, fast debuffs, high dpsing and add management.<div></div>