The Twilight Gathering

Our aim to raid

Our piority is to have fun. Second to that is killing the blasted enemy! Third to of course enjoy the spoils (rewards).

In order for things to run smooth and that all remain having fun, we expect people to be nice with onanother, being on time, being prepared, listening to one another.


What is a Raid and how we get organised

Raids involve 12 or more people working together to accomplish some goal – usually to kill big evil nasty monsters and get nice shinies in return! However, the content is usually difficult and requires great co-ordination between the 12 people. The added danger and rewards means that tempers can get a bit frayed so this guide aims to help keep these raids a fun process for everyone!

1. Sign Up
In TTG we currently use the forum calendar for signing up to events on a 1st come 1st served basis – you should all be familiar with this by now!
Please bear in mind that certain raids have certain class requirements. If 11 hunters have signed up for the turtle run, if you sign up as a 12th hunter, it’s likely that you’ll have to concede your spot! On the other hand, do signup anyway – maybe we’ll have enough people for two raids.

Even if the raid is full, if you would like to come along, please sign up. There is a good chance that someone will drop out or not turn up and then we will need subs, or if there is enough interest then we may be able to have a 2nd raid. We won’t know if you don’t signup though, and if we see people signed up who couldn’t come we can prioritise, if necessary, for the next run.

Likewise, if you would like to come and can’t make the start time or can’t stay long – do sign up and post in comments your restrictions – it may be that we can sub people in and we really do want as many people as possible to be involved.

Raid Leaders – Please help people by listing your class requirements and (roughly) how long you think it will last in the event post.

2. Read Strategy Threads
If you haven’t been on the Raid before – please have a look at any strategy threads on our forums if you have the time – this will help you understand what the hell is going on! Raid leaders will explain things at the time, but a little extra information never hurt anyone!

Don't worry if you don't have a clue what is going on - we are all learning these raids together and every little helps! In the words of the Bush administration, at least these will then be 'Known Unknowns'!

Raid Leaders – Please try and link any threads which you regard as crucial reading.

3. Be prepared
For the top level raids you should have at minimum some morale and power potions, and a good number of the wound/disease/poison/fear cure potions (these can be bought from the healer in the 21st Hall for example). There are plenty of people in the kin who can make these so don’t be afraid to ask if you are short. Your gear should be fully repaired. You will also need to bring at least a few hope tokens. If you are at all able to, please bring along a few of the battle/warding lore scrolls, again kin members will be happy to make some for you in exchange for mats. Finally, a little bit of food never hurt anyone so if you can bring some of that too then do!

Get up and running on Teamspeak asap as raids require decisions to be communicated quickly and the best means is by voice from your raid leader. Even if you dont have a mic or dont want to talk - being able to listen to instructions will be key.

Please remember to sort all this out before the Raid starts (be mindful of the start time)! Kin members will be happy to help you with these consumables if you can’t afford the time or money to make them yourself.

Raid Leaders – It never hurts to remind people in the event notice to bring these essentials!

4. Traiting
Please try and use common sense when setting up your traits – if you are going as main tank then traiting for overpower is not clever! The time to get traits sorted is not just when we are entering stage 2 of the watcher fight for example, but well before the raid. If you are unsure how to trait then ask the raid leader or the kin, well before the start of the raid. Any specific required traits should be listed in the event posting, but raid leaders will expect you to trait sensibly regardless!

Raid Leaders: Please list any required traits (if any) in the event description.

5. Please arrive on time
As a casual kin we of course understand that sometimes RL can get in the way of even the most dedicated raider. But we also have to remember that every other member of the raid also has RL commitments and that one person 5min late to the turtle raid is wasting 11+ x5 min of everyone's time, so common courtesy dictates that you make an effort to arrive on time!

We will start sending out invites to everyone 15 min before the start of the Raid, please make every effort to be ready by that time. You can then use those 15min to check that you have everything you need, and to check traits with the raid leader. If you are not online or available by the raid start time, we will replace you with the next available person in the subs list. Remember that if you are repeatedly late for no real reason, then perhaps raiding is not for you at the moment!
WE WILL START WITHOUT YOU IF YOU ARE NOT ONLINE ON TIME!
If you know that you are likely to be coming online at close to the raid start time, then please try and make sure that you log out ready to go so we don't have to wait for you to get ready once you log on!

Occasionally it will of course be impossible for you to turn up on time due to RL issues. If possible, please do try to leave a message on the event comments- no-one will ever hold it against you if you have a last minute RL problem. Obviously, if you are stuck in traffic, lost in a pie-factory, saving the world from an evil mastermind, etc. then you may not be able to get online to leave a message - don't worry about this, but likewise don't be upset if the raid starts without you - the people on the raid may have their own world saving to do after the raid!

6. AFKs
Please try and keep afk's to a minimum - if everyone in a 12-man raid has a 5 min break at different times, that is an hour of sitting around doing nothing! Oc course, you will need the occasional afk for bios (toilet breaks), getting more alcohol, checking your partner hasn't left you, when your house is burning down, etc. Just make sure you let people know that you are going afk and for how long - then other people can make the most of it to have a break too while we wait!

7. Raid Leader
Being a Raid Leader can be a stressful job! Imagine trying to organise 12 of us into a well-coordinated fighting unit and you can see how they can get a bit stressed. Please help the raid leader by listening to their instructions and following them to the best of your ability.

If you disagree with the Raid-Leader's strategy, choice of traits, colour of outfit, lifestyle, etc., the way to do it is not to shout in raid-chat 'Learn To Play you noob, you suxxx, I did this fight 27 times with my leet friends from the kin of no-noobs and we never did the hobbit-dance at stage32!' The best way to proceed is a tell saying 'When you have a moment, I have a suggestion for that part'. The Raid Leader will have spent some time studying/thinking about strategy for that raid so in case of any disagreement, the raid leader's decision will be final.
And a little thank you at the end never went amiss

The Raid Leader will probably designate a couple of raid assistants to help them with organising or explaining the raid. Please afford them the same respect that you would the raid leader!

Raid Leaders: Please try to take aboard suggestions from other players, and don't take it as a personal attack! If anything, trying a different strategy will either make the fight easier or show Jago once and for all that the great pie-attack really doesn't work! And a little thank you at the end never went amiss

8. HAVE FUN!

THE MOST IMPORTANT!
We are all here to have fun. Don't get too stressed about it. If you make a mistake, no problem, apologise and blame Ark Be accomodating of other people's mistakes. Be respectful of your fellow players and thank them for their efforts! Don't get too hung up about loot or repair bills, it's a game! We may or may not succeed at killing the big nasty, but as long as we have had fun, then we are all 'winners' (cue cheesy music ).
If for some reason you get into a disagreement with anyone else in the raid, or are mortally offended by Toth's beard, please try and wait until after the raid has finished to follow it up - or contact a kin officer if necessary - but out of respect for your kinmates please don't quit the raid until we are done. If absolutely necessary, you can ask to be replaced and we will try and accomodate you.

Enjoy yourself, and let's go kill some nasties


Looting Expectations:

Firstly do not loot corpses whilst the raid are mid-fight as this starts to fill peoples screens with loot rolling windows (distracting).

During the pre-boss raid mobs, the "Round Robin - Roll/Pass" option is used for simplicities sake; and the "Quality" is often left as "uncommon"

Before the boss fight starts the Raid Leader will set the loot rule again to "Round Robin - Master Looter" and there are two methods that might be used

Also the Raid Leader when using either of the following will be able to prioritise a certain item (if not already class bound) toward a class/type if the stats are more suited, and will have the ability therefore to prioritise the rolls for those classes present to whom it will benefit over non-class/types:

Roll on every boss method: Anyone who takes part in taking down a boss may roll on that boss's barter item if they need it.
Advantages: Simple rule that avoids any confusion about what constitutes a session, and keeps those that have already won something motivated.

OR

Roll once per session method: Once you have won a boss barter item, you may not roll again on a boss barter item for the remainder of the session. You can roll as often as you like until you win a barter item.
Advantages: Removes the possibility of someone getting two (or more) barter items in an evening which many feel is unfair.


The Raiding Forum Sections

The Raiding Forum

Raid Strategies

Quick and Easy Guide to Master Looting (Setting it up and Using it).