All In

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:27:25 -0500

I've been known to drop a few f-bombs. They utter forth onto Vent just as a summer rain overflows gutters. Be it due to frustration, PMS, or poor play (mine or collectively) there are times when the Hobo-killer strikes.
Sindragosa, heroic(25) mode, is certainly a Hobo-summoning encounter.

While there is assuredly a learning curve, and while there is assuredly a gear check, at its core- though- Sindragosa is about: you and me. It's not a DPS race as was the Blood Queen (esp. ICC pre-buff), nor a tag-team check similar to Professor Putricide.

On top of this, Heroic modes require a drive, even more so with- an expansion is nearing. Summer is ending. The allure of either slipping into obscurity, or 'taking tonight off' increases. The toxic incentive of 'farming' increases.   I know this. The officers know this.

We'd made improvements over the past 2 weeks on Sindragosa, pushing her down to 22%. In light of that, in light of all that Sindragosa represents and represented, the officers and I asked you to join us by going All In.

We had 50 wipes available - 50 attempts to take her down. At 10g a clip, if we used all of those- and were unsuccessful- that represented virtual blood, sweat and a potential 500g a person. Nearly 12,500g on-line via guild repairs.

So on Sunday, we cleared Valrithria Dreamwalker with no problems.    A magnificent healing powerhouse 1-shot that positioned us perfectly for our objective.

And we sucked ass. We drowned in the stench of our excremental performance.   Sindragosa got in the act, as well, turning twice on the raid- while casting Unchained Magic- to wipe us. We had 8 starts to the encounter where people died on the run in (a completely inexcusable number).   We had members, really fucking good members, that played with focus of gnats, and with the results to match.
* Fail at run in?               Check
* Fail at "Big suck" run out?    Check
* Fail at Unchained magic stack management?     Check
* Fail at Ice Block Positioning during air phase? Check

We were- in a word- glorious.   And the operative word through that f-bomb laden show of colossal fail was 'we'. We sucked. I like to believe every attendee knew it, was disgruntled by it. And yet, somehow, we pushed the guild best to 18%.

When I went to work Monday- before my epic 2 hour and 45 minute commute home- sign-ups were below the threshold required. Bad raids do that: drive off attendance like an INS raid at home construction site.   At first, a few core people indicated they couldn't make it.   Then a few indicated they'd be late. I was in a great mood. And by 'great', I don't mean great.

But you know what?   We went all in. Valthorin managed to shift his work schedule around. Grombrgrgrgrgrgrggrl and Jazzies worked through their basement issue. Stara made it back from his appointment. Glass made it back from his class. Hell, we had people that didn't even know they could make it show up. All in.

To loosen us up, we cleared the raid weekly and then we went to Professor Putricide- to both get us a bit more loot and to buy time for those who were running late. And we sucked ass.   A continuation of focus problems from the night before. One wipe. Two wipes. Three. Four. Five. Holy fucking hell. Six..... Finally a kill.

An Officer- not me- stated as we left Putricide - "Ruined the night."   It looked that way. There was discussion on ending the raid- or extending the lockout.
All in.

Sometimes, if you want something- just as with some horrific Sisyphean challenge- you have to plant your heels in the sand, brace your shoulder against... the world, and fucking shove.   And be willing to do it Again. And Again. All in

And so, there it was, on our 6th attempt of the evening. Almost assuredly our last attempt of the evening. 2 attempts removed from a spectular Unchained Magic Raid wiping detonation at 14%. Moments removed from my last fucking comments of the evening: accept personal responsibility. Stand and Deliver. Before the run in- exhausted- I wondered what it would be: lingering doubts that we all have? Or faith in ourselves and each other?

We had Nixa swap to Akirah. Paperheart remained on Surrealist.    We clarified healing assignments.

We engaged. All in.
Unchained Magic - left for DPS, Right for Healers....
Air phase. To the back of the promenade.
Get into Position.   Chain heal the blocks...

Res the dead... All in

Continue DPS... watch the stacks...
Second Air phase....
Third Air phase... 36%....

Patience....

First block LEFT....
Second block RIGHT....

Patience

Oh Shit, Ozmo is blocked at the back... The raid is so fucking low on health.... Pop healing cooldowns- Divine Hymn.   Tranquility. Prayers. Beads...
Heroism. Now. All in....

.
.
.
.

Dead.

Faith in each other, it is, then.   All in, again.

Congratulations to all the winners:

* Cutrock       -[Protector's Mark of Sanctification]
* Heelius       -[Sindragosa's Cruel Claw]
* Sublimé       -[Vanquisher's Mark of Sanctification]

We are Armored Justice. Be the hero.

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