First, some quick background/catch-up information on me:

I've been pretty invisible since the FFXIV guild raids in 3.0 fell apart. To be blunt, I was disheartened not just by the raiding woes but also the crafting progression changes that were put in there. It effectively (for me) ruined the aspect of the game that I loved most, and I haven't been able to restore my interest in playing. Unless they announce RDM at some point and/or other positive game-changing adjustments, I'm not sure if FFXIV will ever be a big focus for me again. This doesn't upset me too much, however losing touch with guildies and our site here has left me a bit disappointed in myself. Most of the time away from MMOs has found me playing Rocket League or catching up on various other titles while still not making a dent in my overall library.

Anyway, one thing I've been doing all long is tracking a few titles I know in my heart can be great if they make it to their 1.0 release. One of them - Starbound - is now going to be in 1.0 as of tomorrow!!

For anyone who played this in its EA/Beta days either early on or recently, I promise you that 1.0 is a huge change and improvement on so many fronts and unless you hated the game I can almost guarantee that you'll appreciate the product they're putting out tomorrow.

I have maintained our Ravenbound server since its creation, and I plan to have it updated to 1.0 ASAP tomorrow (depending on response time from our host for any config issues they need to sort out). I strongly encourage everyone who owns the game to drop in and say hi, and maybe even play a little. If all goes smooth and I'm not stuck resolving issues, I plan to hop around with a GM character and greet folks with a unique gift or two to help their new characters get going - either in function or style.

Also, with the help of two pals we're putting together a "Homestead" which will be a planet designed to provide some basic services (much like the Outpost) and offers some storage boxes where you can drop off any gear or vanity items that you wish to give away - or you can browse through and take items that others have dropped off. If we manage to have some steady activity, this will also be a place to meet and hang out and it may even expand if we have strong activity on the server.

The server will start vanilla, and mods will be set up eventually if/when it seems appropriate and beneficial to everyone's experience. I personally believe that everyone should experience vanilla as much as possible before jumping out and exploring mods though - this isn't the Starbound you played before!

The login information posted here on the site will still work, plus I will be testing the join via Steam friends feature to see if that works for friends on dedicated servers as well. I'm expecting players from Raven as well as the C22 gaming clan, so you might see a new name or two if global chat is busy in-game. I can assure you that as always, the folks I game with are quality people and I don't expect any mishaps but all the same I'll be prepared to deal with any problems.

Thanks Ise!! Right now I think we're rolling with the Navi DRG + Ast WHM setup since that went well Tuesday, but with RL and all we'll always need extras to cover. 

Tuesday we were getting to the 2nd jump a fair bit and the boss(es) had hp in the 35-ish percent range.

Well, I went a head of you guys and spoke with Nova, and he is okej with helping out if you guys need help with your raids. =)

We have options IMO:

- If Jonas can sort out the DRG rotation and get in the required range for Savage, that's an option
- If Navi wants to DRG, she can probably get and do solid DPS as she's in a decent range with her current gear. Asteraoth could WHM in that scenario.
- If Samm comes back and still has the schedule he expected, we could take his SMN and wreck house. Except that makes us ranged-heavy...
- Probably others I'm forgetting (sorry if I missed you, but speak up!!)
- Go outside of the FC and pick up a star like Nova Nyne (if he's still looking for a group)

The real and SERIOUS challenge we're facing is that Kevin was our top DPS by far and probably well above any replacement we get. This means that as a team we will need to crank out an extra 200-300 DPS (total, not each lol) to stand a chance at clearing once we get smooth with the mechanics. Hopefully some of that will come with improving on mechanics and having better timing with combos, burst damage timing, etc.

I'd highly suggest watching rotation guides and A1S PoV / job guides to learn how to maximize for the entire fight. If just one DPS (or even tank/healer) is a little out of sync, it will bring our progress to a halt quickly. This is top-skill content and can't be taken lightly.

All that said, I still think we have a decent team and the potential to get clears. We need to keep our heads up, keep talking and have overall good learning sessions.
Go Team!!!  

Soo Kevin officially quit.....I knew that he probably would at some point, it is what it is, so with that said we have an opening for a melee dps. 

Thanks Sered. A reminder also that I'm out this Friday (9/4) to attend a wedding.

Yo I just want to say that I will be good to raid tomorrow September 1 however on Friday September 4th I close so I won't be able to log on until 9pm CST at the earliest. If you want to wait for me I'll Tank Friday night but if not you guys might want to find a fill in.

We need a rep DPS tonight (Fri 8/21/15) or a later start time...  Raven Soul got a call today for a job interview over dinner, which is kind of a big deal. I'm wishing him luck!  

Thought about starting a new topic for Alex raids, but I'll use this for now. Below is my (work-in-progress) cheat sheet for the order of mechanics in A1... those who ran w/me in 2.4/2.5 know that I love writing out the script for the fight, it helps me a ton when it comes to optimizing.

Vids I studied in great depth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWlViWbK4GU  &  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCz7xFGQBKM

The solo Oppressor Dance

- Laser cone  (~6s after pull)
- AoE blast  (~10s after pull)
- Prey Marker  (immediately after AoE, has a cast bar)
- AoE blast  (~3s after Prey cast bar finishes)
- Line AoE  (immediately after blast, while Prey target is getting hit still)

- Laser cone  (~5s after Line AoE)
- Resin Bomb  (~8s after Line AoE)
- Laser cone  (right after resin markers pop up)
- Line AoE  (immediately after Resin Bomb)
- AoE blast  (immediately after Line AoE)
- Laser cone  (immediately after AoE blast)
- Adds  (immediately after laser)
- Prey Marker  (immediately after...)
- AoE blast  (~3s after Prey cast bar finishes)
- Laser cone  (~3s after blast, Prey target still getting hit)
- AoE blast  (~3s after laser, Prey target getting final hits)
- Line AoE  (immediately after blast)
- AoE blast x2  (~3s after Line)
- Laser cone  (~3s after blasts)
- 0.5 Summoned  (~5s after blasts)

- About 10s of no mechanics while 0.5 is walking in

~ 1m 30s for phase...


The Oppressor + Opp .5 Dance

- 3k Missile Cast Bar  (~8s after 0.5 is in the arena)
- Missile locations appear  (~5s after cast bar ends)
- AoE blast  (~8s after cast bar ends)
- Adds  (cast bar starts immediately after AoE blast)
- Resin Bomb  (~3s after adds pop, RB cast starts)
- Laser cone  (right after resin markers pop up)
- Line AoE  (immediately after Resin Bomb)
- AoE blast  (immediately after Line)
- Prey Marker x2 (immediately after... has cast bar)
- Laser cone  (~6s after Prey cast bar, targets hit by third of 6 prey missiles)
- TANK BUSTER!!!  (~3s after laser and as 6th/final prey missile lands, Hypercompressed Plasma cast bar starts... about a 3s cast itself)
- 3k Missiles land  (~3s after tank buster)
- Line AoE  (~3s after missiles / 6s after tank buster lands)

- AoE blast  (~10s after Line)
- Laser cone  (~10s after AoE blast)
- Opps fly away  (~5s after laser cone, becomes untargetable)

- Landing markers appear  (~5s after untargetable)
- Resin Bomb x8  (~8s after markers appear)
- Opps land (~10s after resin markers start, ~3s after the 8th resin)

- 3k Missile Cast Bar  (~12s after landing)

- Repeat!  (pattern is 2mins long)

- Enrage is 8m30s  (1min after 3rd jump, after adds are down and around the time the tank buster hits... this is a guess based on all the info gathered and looking at vid timestamps)


Notes Specific for Me
DPS entire 1st phase
Pop Fey Illumination after 1st laser on pull, then after every line AoE leading up to Prey x2
Use Rouse + WD when add cast bar appears, and keep on cool after that
Tank Buster is right when Prey x2 stops slamming the targets. Save an aetherflow to top off my tank
Virus on Tank Buster!
Discuss pro timing for pre-casting SS & Clemency & Adlo before tank buster goes off. Also 10s+ tank mitigation skills can be used pre-laser to lessen damage
DOT both Opps after tank buster + missile land + line AoE
As soon as Opps become untargetable, get to center and cast a Succor. Swiftcast another as they're landing

Find out what is considered magic damage, and make a plan for Fey Covenant usage
Test this out  -  https://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/comments/3i5j3x/creation_voices_for_act_cooldown_triggers/

Thanks Jonas.

I personally will be out on Friday 8/28 for a wedding (yes, on a Friday.....) - I'll do up a reminder when that week arrives.

Also, since we learned that we have more than 8 people wanting to raid (and capable of learning/handling Savage IMHO), I plan to keep Wyd's OP here updated with who is interested and who seemingly has a main slot vs sub slot - just know that depending on various things this could change. Since we all know that RL can hit at any time (remember how our last raid team went!), I kindly ask subs to be ready to jump in each night if you're available. I think Wyd touched on that in the meeting, but I feel it's good to put that out there again.

To help keep all raiders involved, I will put more effort into helping anyone on the list here get their Alex Normal gear if they need any, and work on providing tips for your job and/or Savage mechanics so you can fine tune as best as possible and be ready when you're dialed up. In return, I'd ask that all who want be involved.... ESPECIALLY subs... speak up in-game if you need/want to run Alex Normal when you're online, or do some dungeons for Eso. With Savage's current difficulty and limitations on upgrading gear, it's critical to both stay capped on tomes/turn-in items and get in practice playing together as a team. We really have to be on top of our game in order to stand a chance at clearing Savage turns.

Last, but most important of all - DON'T FORGET TO STUDY A1 VIDS !!!