Some Thoughts on "Gearing Up"

[Lissa]

I've been a bit frusterated lately, and figure that it's time to bring this out into the open, as someone has to. I'm willing to take any backlash that comes of it, so I figure I'll bring it up.

As we raid, we hear a lot about how gearing up is good for the raid. How every little bit helps. I agree. Might set helps tanks tank longer. Prophecy helps Healer heal longer. I'm glad to see these items going to their intended purpose, helping move along to bigger challenges.

Where my frusteration lies is that there more that could be done to help people 'gear up' that isn't a hope on a drop in a 40man raid. Because let's be realistic. Those drops, while fantastic, are few and far between.  Which brings me to my point.

We are a raid group in mostly blues, but still with some greens. It's past time to fix that. Especially with our hunters and mages. In almost all of our raids, the hunters/mages comprimise roughly 1/2 of the raid, more or less. Rogues aren't too far behind, either. Look at what those people are doing now, and imagine how much better it could be if they were 'geared up' very well.

I can't speak for the mages, but I'd be willing to bet that there are items that almost every single one of them would like that doesn't require more than 9 other people to get. Same with the hunters. The 8th piece set bonus for BeastStalkers is +60RAP...that's like getting a second  Barbarous Blade. Just for wearing some gear that is actually good. I know that most people are down on the "blue" sets, but for hunters, ours is actually good for us. And aside from the chest piece, not a single piece requires more than 4 other people to get...if you can get a good class balance.

We've been good with running UBRS to try to help a couple of our tanks find the Draconian Deflector. Let's see if we can extend some of that goodwill in other directions, too. I realize that some of the other places folks need to go doesn't have tons of phat lewtz in it for them, and I know what it's like to do a run without a likely chance of getting something "good for you." But even in 15 man raids, most people walk out with at least some stuff that they can sell for some gold. There is always something of that nature to be gained, if folk need incentive to go. There's always the fact that an elusive purple might drop. Didn't Brain Hacker (a purple axe) drop in UBRS the other day? With all the times I've run UBRS, I've never seen a purple drop there before.

I know that part of the problem is simply a straightup lack of healers, period. But there must be some way to work around this. We have enough healer types, it's just getting them together. And most 5man or 10 man places can be easily done with a druid and a pally of the caliber of guild/alliance mates we have.

So folks, this is a plea of sorts...Let's help each other gear up. Let's help folks get the blues they would like, while we all wait for those pretty purples from MC and beyond. As ever, if I'm on and I have the time, I'm always more than willing to fill in a group slot.

X-posted to the CA Forums.
[right][snapback]86602[/snapback][/right]

Yep, a lot of places I still need to hit with both Taha and Lissanna. It seems like lately DM has taken a back burner (and there are atleast 5 items I'm looking for out of North and West for Taha along with the various patterns out of the goblin's box). I'm also generally trying to find certain enchants too (as you know from the camping of the Deadwind Warlocks the other night looking for a 1 in 250/300 drop) that can help out.

Pretty much my list of things for Taha
Robe of Everlasting Night (Drop off Immol'thar in DM West) or Alhanna's Embrace (fat chance that's going to drop, but it drops from Ras)
Sublime Wristguards (Drop off Mol'dar and Slip'kik in DM North)
Heliotrop Cloak (Drop off Mol'dar and Slip'kik in DM Nort)
Ogre King Crown (from the King in DM North)
Staff of the Ogre Magi (from Tribute)
Dragonrider Boots (Rend in UBRS) or [strike]Malaki's Footwraps (Malaki in Strat)[/strike]
Deadwalker Shoulders (Rattlegore in Scholo)
[strike]Bonecreeper Stylus (Gandling in Scholo)[/strike]
Maiden's Circle (a pair would be nice, BoE ring, hard to find, shows up rarely on AH and usually very expensive).
Any recipe from the goblin's box in DM North that isn't Mooncloth Gloves
Various enchants all over the place (+5 to one hander, +9 to two hander, +9 Str to bracer, Crusader, ect).

Kinda funny though, Lissanna's list is much shorter, but it's just about all in BRS (BS Gloves cause they're the only good mail gloves for a hunter, Painweaver Band, Emberfury Talisman, and Dal'Rend main hand).

I'm pretty much up for going anywhere and willing to help out.