A few updates.

Okay, so what's new?

First, we also have killed Festergut and Rotface in our first week (but with a few raid members who are not in the guild, so no credit on guildox).
In our second hardmode week we had some tries on Saurfang again and on Blood Council.
Did not go that well, had to defeat Deathbringer on normal and Blood Council still stands.
I don't think the "one try and give up" attitude of some people helped.

However, yesterday I had another group with my paladin. Currently I am searching for a new group as a tank.
Well, yesterday's group actually wasn't bad. Okay, I suppose the fact that we had a few members from the top guilds on our realm (Drachensilber and Halthor en Amarth) in the raid obviously helped a lot.
We downed a total of seven hardmodes (Lord Marrowgar, Deathwhisper, Gunship, Deathbringer, Festergut, Rotface, Bloodqueen Lana'thel) and in the end also managed to kill Arthas on our first try!

Funny thing was, we had a little wipefest on Deathbringer Saurfang. The hunter in the group said that we should kill the boss on normal or he'll leave.
Now, as DPS that is somehow... well, a bad idea to do. Especially if you have rather good gear and only manage to pull around 5k DPS, when the rest of the group sits around 8-9k.
So... he leaved. We got a replacement, another hunter. Almost the same gear.
New hunter DPS? 2x Old Hunter.
Saurfang? One try with the new hunter and the bugger fell.

Well, now I have Arthas on both my raid characters down, which means I can have some fun in the hardmodes, but am practically done till Cataclysm.

Writing Contest

So... Blizzard started another one.

http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/community/contests/writing2010/

I am actually thinking of participating.

2,500 - 7500 Words until August 23rd is nothing for a hobby writer like me.

I just have to brainstorm a short plot and set it in stone before I can start to write.

My first idea would be something related to Whispering Gulch or Saronite Mine in Icecrown - you know, people in your team, friends of yours, slowly going insane due to whispers from voices only they can hear. Paranoia, everywhere.
Sounds like a good concept to me.

Another one would be about Vordrassil, the failed world tree. Sadly I don't have any information about the druids that planted him, what their intentions were, how they realized it was tainted and all that stuff.

Idea Number Three: Ulduar.
This raid instance is one of my absolute favorites. A gigantic prison of an old god, guarded by creations of the titans themselves, lost in legends.

I guess I'll first try to come up with something good about Saronite Mine / Whispering Gulch. The other ones are probably likelier to be also chosen by other contestants, although I guess some other people might be as fascinated by these two places as I am.

It's Achievement Day!

Well, at least it's for me :) Have some screenshots.

ICC Hardmodes

Was a rather successful first raid evening.

Marrowgar did take some tries, some unlucky Spike + Bone Storm targets. Deathwhisper was extremely easy, took us exactly one try. Well, we have fast learning people :)

Gunship is - of course - not worthy of further mentioning

Deathbringer...

Well, we got him down to around 18%.

Then the first people died to the mark. At least the blood beasts went extremely well, that is almost half the battle already won. In fact, I do absolutely believe that we will defeat him as soon as the healers (I switch to Shadow for that fight) figure out how to handle the marks in the Frenzy phase. Because that is when the marked people are really receiving troublesome damage.

3/12 Hardmodes in our first evening is completely satisfying for me.

That is how raiding should look like for me. I had great fun in the fights. Challenging, some close deaths prevented with my shields and some penance pew pew and when we wiped? Who cares, run in, buff up and try again :D!

With hardmodes my fun in raiding went a few levels back up.

What I wish my gear would look like....

So, I sat down and updated my gear-wishlist, now that we have access to ICC10 Hardmodes

Keep in mind, that I don't run 25 mans, so I disregarded any loot I could possibly gather there.

http://www.wowhead.com/profile=21473104

It will look like this...

So.

Unbuffed I am at 3381 Spellpower then.

Inner Fire is 174 extra Spellpower.

Flask of the Frost Wyrm and Bufffood give an extra 218 (125 + 47 mixology bonus + 46)

That would be 3773 Spellpower selfbuffed.

Sweet.

My shields would be absorbing

(base_absorb+(0.8068+0.08*BT)*sp)*(1+0.05*IMP)*(1+ 0.02*FP)*(1+0.01*TD)
base_absorb is the base absorb given the PW:S which is 2230 at the moment
BT is your Borrowed Time level
SP is your Spell Power
IMP is your Improved Power Word: Shield level
FP is your Focused Power level
TD is your Twin Disciplines level

(2230+(0.8068+0.08*5)*3773)*(1+0.05*3)*(1+ 0.02*2)*(1+0.01*5) = 8518 Absorb

Now, we can add another 5% because I have the t10 4pc set bonus.

Makes 8944 - in every place that is not Icecrown Citadel.

In Icecrown Citadel I have to include Strength of Wrynn. Currently standing at 20%, final would be 30%

20%: 10733

25%: 11180

30%: 11627

These numbers are ridiculous :D

But, because I don't really now the exact numbers of incoming damage, I guess I'll be glad about these huge shields - as will the other healers.

Killshot

Our killphoto after Caladon's first defeat of Arthas

In the picture are...

Demeon, Protection Paladin
Brinkman, Protection Paladin

Sucara, Holy Paladin
Feuerblatt, Restoration Druid
Xerian, Discipline Priest

Elementon, Enhancer Shaman
Panginator, Frost Death Knight
Albuin, Fury Warrior
Nadasky, Arcane Mage
Sormuras, Shadow Priest

I is happy priest nao.

He is DOWN.

We finally killed Arthas and so Thursday our attempts on Heroic Icecrown Citadel 10man will start.

It was about time and did take us a few attempts today, but hey - the bugger's down, and several hardmodes will surely fall.

I am really happy we killed him at last :)