So we're finally starting to run some instance raids in LOTR. We took a few runs at Barz, and we finally worked out the strat. So now that Barz is dead, next we're gonna be working on Zurm
We also managed to discover a super secret exploit for the Barz encounter! If you wanna know what it is, keep on reading!
Most of us come from raiding backgrounds in EQ, and a lot of us have been feeling the raiding bug lately. We're trying to maintain the casual atmosphere, but we also want to raid. So we've started running Rift raids once a week. On down the road we may move up to 2-3 raid nights a week, but for now we're comfortable with just 1.
Our first few Rift runs didn't end so well. Barely a group of people 2 weeks in a row. No LMs. The past 2 weeks we've had the numbers back and the LMs came off strike, so we were finally able to get something accomplished.
Last week, we cleared to Barz. Took a few stabs at him to learn the waves. Processed the info and called it a night. Someone noticed something about the encounter though that we didn't catch during the raid, so we decided to implement it into the fight last night and see how it worked.
It seems there are 2 things you can do during the fight that really gimp out the encounter. It wouldn't amaze me one bit to see people 1 grouping this with this sploit. I like to call it Jumping the Sacrifice.
When you're setting up for your big charge it's important to delegate 1 person as the sacrifice. We use Gariyn for our sacrifice, because...well...because he's a champion. He's gonna die anyway, at least this way he can be the master of his own fate.
Now for the sploit!
Have your sacrifice run in first, with the rest of the raid ready to follow. Don't heal the sacrifice. Let him die all on his own. As soon as the sacrifice dies, your tank needs to charge in and grab Barz.
Here's the fun part...
During the fight, it's important that your tank constantly jump during the encounter. If the tank ever stops jumping, then all hell will break loose. If your tank jumps throughout the entire fight, then 2 key things happen that really gimp out this encounter:
1. The waves of adds never spawn!
2. The gnaw on yer bones ae never does any damage!
Here's some pics to help show ya...
That jumping is key! Make sure to get yer tank all jacked up on Mountain Dew and Pixie Sticks before the raid, and he'll have no problem keeping up with the constant jumping.
If you can keep your tank jumping for the 10-15 min of the encounter, then Barz will go down faster than a 2 dollar dock whore during Fleet Week.
Good luck!
As far as loot goes. I took all of it. You'd probably like for me to candycoat it and say we did something fair like random on loot or even use a DKP, but that's not how I roll. I'm the guild leader and I get dibs! When people started complaining, Zasty stepped up with a "You beyatches betta recognize!" cry that made me proud. So proud that I let him take the mace that Barz dropped. I wasn't gonna let him have the barter gem though. I had to have me some new Jordans.
Now, that's not to say I kept every piece of loot. I'm not that coldhearted. I did let people loot the shrooms and take some of the scrap ore barter items in exchange for them spending some quality time under my desk. I can be such a giver at times. Looking back at it now, I'm getting a little teared up.
After the loot, we went on to mess with Zurm for a little bit, but one of our minstrels LD'ed and never returned. While we all know that I'm just so damn good that most raids would grovel to have me healing them, it seems that the jumping exploit doesn't work on Zurm unless you have at least 2 minstrels in your raid. F'in Turbine and their high raiding standards...
We did try the Jumping the Sacrifice sploit again though, but our camera man was out of position for it this time. So instead you're just stuck with a picture of Zurm's backside. Yay for troll butt.
