Oakianus wrote on Nov 10^th, 2011 at 6:12am:

The Bearded Devils have always turned into blades when they die. It's just that people are noticing it now.

Honestly, I LIKE the fact they upped the damage to the blades. Shroud is fun again.

Ran an Elite Shroud last night and we wiped on Part 4 like everyone else but a Cleric, two other melees and I on my Dark Monk (Mountain Stance for the 20% reduction in Physical Damage) made it through 5 or 6 passes before we decided to call it because of the amount of resources the Cleric was going through. We recalled out or /deathed or died fighting, reformed and did a Normal Shroud with no issues. In fact, we didn't have to pull out of the blades at all in Part 4. Part 5 was a piece of cake.

stainer wrote on Nov 10^th, 2011 at 10:13am:



It is because of me.  I am a sexy man beast.

Not really, they are just like DQ blades just different grapgics and the pattern isn't set in stone.

I am sure some of them knew to run through em instead of away.

stainer wrote on Nov 10^th, 2011 at 11:14am:


You know what you can have on your rewards list?

We split into 2 groups in part 4. 

One group with healer in West, one group with healer in East.  I noticed the blades hitting harder, but with the groupings split, it didn't seem rediculously more so honestly.

Good caster to mass hold/wail them and head on in for Harry beating as usual.

We did have the melees/myself on my FvS pull out of the blades and went for the 2nd round to guarantee mana for healing.  We had pretty well geared DPS in the group and 3 casters who knew what they were about.

Part 5 had a handful of close calls, but all in all not horribly different from a regular elite run imho.

It's the wail that dropped us.  4 sets of blades hitting twice almost immediately.  So 700+ points of damage almost instantly.  Do not bunch up.  Do not kill all at once.

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I am now serious about making HP items for my healers. That was always a "when I get the time" thing. I have the time now.

Schmoe wrote on Nov 10^th, 2011 at 11:29am:



Exactly, it's a separate and finger.  It may take a few minutes to get to Harry now.  DOOM!!!!

We completed our Elite Shroud, and honestly it feels like the devs listened for once. Yes, we got shocked in Part 4 but pulled it through in 3 rounds (we had 4 FVS). What was awesome was I pulled 3 LDS between 4 and 5 and a Pure Shavarath Iron in my end rewards list (everything else was smalls and meds). It isn't a LDS pinata anymore, but at least the rewards matched the challenge.

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That was funny as hell. I just started gasping again.

biggin wrote on Nov 10^th, 2011 at 11:39am:

Ran an elite Hound today and an elite Shroud.  Both had 4 healers.  ToD and MA regularly run with 3 healers, especially on higher difficulties.

I thought everyone was refusing to run their healers in end game raids.  What gives?  I'm seeing the traditional 2 healers, 1 bard, 1-2 casters and 7-8 DPS raid group getting tossed to shit recently.  (Yesterday in particular).

I never complain when you give me your medium bone, Jaxx.

Yah, like Jaxx said, part 5 is a cakewalk compared to 4.  Same old turn on auto attack and hit your skills as they cool down shit.  ETA: Except when you're dancing and can't hit said skills.

Epoch wrote on Nov 10^th, 2011 at 8:13am:


Might have to change your sig from Tarrant to Eladrin for that man  (just kidding Eladrin)

I ran a pug Elite Shroud last night it was well made and organized and I ended being the last one alive (full health and a DDoor for dignity's sake...no one likes to clean the blood piss and shit out of their armor after a total party wipe after all  ). Strategy is back! I love that the blades hit like a truck and that strategy is required again in one of the best raids going.

It will have to be run the old ways on Elite and is going to take some time and 4-6 rounds of careful play to survive. Sorry for the con is a dumpstat clerics and Clonks who have to look at the ground to stop from lagging out... you will die  - go buy a new computer or prepare to get your ingredients from the AH.

Less than 500 hp is now a death wish sorry drow/elfs you dont have to die in a fire, you will die a pile of goo the looks like "vince" slap chopped the fuck out of you instead.

All I will say for strategy is:

Remember those pretty blue glowing rings that used to cause auto-crit? They are your friends

Silverflame favor a pain to grind? Not anymore hello Catacombs adventure pack!

Vorpals for the Gnolls is passe? Nope now its Chic

Self Sufficiency gimps DPS? Not as much as watching from the penalty box!


I pretty much agree with Stainers message. Love the new adventures and changes to the raids (because I am in a good guild and play with good players) like the tweeks to the UI and stuff (the Art Dept guy needs to do something...), like the bank deposit 50k is enough for me, I have one bank toon sugar daddy who doles out the cash in incrimaments similar (only people making large purchases anonymously need larger deposits... dont be an ass and you can use a main to buy/sell stuff), ABSOLUTELY HATE THAT ALL MY OLD REAVER AND ABBOT LOOT IS NOT UPGRADEABLE... the Reaver can fuck himself in the ear with Blades from the Shroud, I refuse to regrind just to get striding 30 and +2 more dex on my boots, Abbot will be run only because some guildies on Paladins want litanies and I am used to old schooling the ice wand part... btw Evasion on the Abbot is cheap after the fact unless you add a ring of evasion to the loot tables, just saying. All in all the new content gets a B+ besides the no retro upgrades.