Advanced SW HM rez loci

In this post we explore the dynamics of having the chanter killed first, before anyone else attacks. This advanced technique allows for a highly deterministic outcome; group members follow a strict procedure that allows little room for chance factors to influence the result.


This is an advanced course on killing Stormwing (Besh) in hard mode, using rez loci. The main/basic technique is described in a previous blog post entitled Stormwing HM with rez loci.


Preparation:

• Group members (except cleric) remove their defensive buffs and any armour, jewel or shield that could make them evade or sustain SW's attack (*4).
• Group members (except cleric) duel each other, to lower their HP below 50%.

First Attack:

1. All group members (except cleric) stand close to each other. Cleric stands 18m away.
2. Chanter attacks SW until he (or SW) dies. During this time, cleric makes sure he is standing 18m away from SW.
3. The remaining group members (except cleric) attack SW without moving from their position.
4. SW kills the remaining group, except cleric who stands 18m away. 

Cycle of Attacks: 
Note: SW usually does two normal attacks and then an AoE. Rarely, he does three.

1. The cleric starts casting rez loci when the 2nd person dies (ie after the second normal attack), because that’s when SW will do his AoE. However, if SW attacks a 3rd person with a normal, non-aoe attack, then the cleric should cancel the casting and start again – this will be the case that SW does three normal attacks before the AoE.
2. Group members accept rez loci as soon as possible (*4). When at least one member is up, the cleric moves 18m away from SW.
3. The chanter casts WoI and attacks as soon as he/she gets up (*1). While the chanter is attacking, the rest of the group does nothing (*2). They wait until the chanter dies.
4. The rest of the group attacks (except cleric), immediately after chanter’s death. If they start attacking too early, then they mess SW’s routine and the whole strategy fails. If they start too late, SW kills the healer and the strategy fails again.
5. Back to step 1.

 Baby Stormwing

Notes: 

*1 Since the chanter will be the first to die, he will see all the necessary animations before the rest of the group, thus he will be able to get up faster than the others.

*2 While the group members (except cleric) await chanter to die, they can spam jumps (keep pressing the jump button), to break the invincibility effect. OK, I am not sure this is helpful, but it is definitely fun.

*3 If SW emits a blue colour on the floor around him and starts saying something like "My Powers..", then the cleric should slightly delay his casting. The reason is that SW will do some animation that takes about 1.5 sec before he lifts up for the aoe.

*4 If someone sustains or evades SW AoE, then there will be tornados (which will result in wipe) because suddenly there will be attacking members in two points. However there is a workaround: The rest of the group should not accept rez loci, until the remaining member dies as well.

How to treat your cleric

The cleric is a sensitive creature who thrives on making others feeling healthier/happier in exchange of appreciation. Gianna, creator of TheNoob comic, puts it well: the cleric is a "co-dependent" personality - at least 9 times out of 10.

Click Pic to Enlarge

Dictionary definition of "codependent" is: A person who is unfulfilled, constantly in relationships, is indirect, unassertive when they have a need; the person will also exhibit symptoms such as controlling behavior, intimacy problems and is a caretaker of others.

Wikipedia definition of "codependency": Codependency is a tendency to behave in overly passive or excessively caretaking ways that negatively impact one's relationships and quality of life. It also often involves putting one's needs at a lower priority than others while being excessively preoccupied with the needs of others. Codependency can occur in any type of relationship, including in families, at work, in friendships, and also in romantic, peer or community relationships.

For best results, keep your clerics out of direct 
sunlight and hand wash them with lukewarm water. 

The definitions above do sound like the average cleric. As the comic implies, the cleric:

• is insecure and needs recognition, 
• will avoid direct confrontation, 
• needs a group to lvl, 
• prefers praise over loots,
• is a caretaker of others.

One of the rare care labels delivered with each new cleric.

4 ways to make your cleric happy (and train him to follow you):

1. Reward him with a praise, each time he does something you like.
2. Do not shout at him, especially in the midst of the battle - chances are it will have a negative impact on his moral and consecutively on his performance.  In general, he is easily hurt by disapproval.
3. Make him feel useful and needed. Give him an endless supply of problems to solve. Prefer problems pertaining to you, friends, legion. Let him help you. Be truthful, he will know if you do not mean it. Make sure you spell out, often enough, that he is needed.
4. Offer him love and support. Since your cleric values love and support, he will appreciate your gesture. He won't ask you to prove any of those, so you can easily fool him.

Caution: the cleric is not an idiot, nor a masochism. Although usually his loyalty towards friends and legion is increased, he will eventually move on to a new environment if his needs are not met, if he thinks you are taking advantage of him, or simply if he is not having a good time with you.



Information on co-dependence:

• Codependency article in wikipedia
• Narcissists article in wikipedia NB: Narcissists are a natural magnet for codependents.
• Codependence article in About.com Health's Disease and Condition
• Dependent personality disorder in NIH's Medline. NB: A codependent person does not necessarily have a dependent personality disorder.
• 'Cluster C Personality Disorders', in: Diagnostical and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV, Washington: American Psychiatric Association, 4th ed. 1994, ISBN 0-89042-062-9, 662-673.
• 'Schema Therapy, A Practitioner's Guide', by J. Young, J. Klosko, M. Eishaar, Guilford Press 2006, ISBN 978-1593853723

Killing Bollvig with a bat

Bollvig Blackheart is a legendary lvl 50 boss in Heiron, friendly to Asmodians, with excellent drops. It takes an alliance of lvl 50 players to kill him. There are multiple strategies, including line of sight for the aoe and heavy healing.

Bollvig does an awful sleep skill, that disables your clerics. Usually one of the clerics stays at a distance, to dispel the other clerics (who in turn will dispel the rest of the players).

Getting to lvl 55, acquiring last stigma and better gear, makes the kill much easier. The tanks have much more damage resistance, the healers have much more healing power, the damage dealers have much more cocky attitude. The only remaining problem, is Bollvig's sleep skill.

Unless you have a bat.

No no, not that kind of bat.

Nop, not that kind either.

This is what you need:

Bat - regular mob found flying around Bollvig.

Yeap, a real (= nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation) bat. A plain mob, which will be your life insurance.

Strategy:

1. Get a group of 55ers.
2. Clean area, however let 2-3 bats alive.
3. Have the cleric build aggro with a bat, without killing it. The bat will keep hitting the cleric throughout the fight, however the damage is low.
4. Start killing the boss.

Trick:

• When Bollvig casts his sleep, the cleric will be dispelled by the bat's hits. 

Caution:

• If for some unfortunate reason the bat is killed, the cleric should immediately get a new one. 
• If one of the DDs has enmity boost gear, the bat might leave the cleric.

That's it really, you can easily kill Bollvig with just one group. For a quest, for the loots, or just because you hate him for having you wipe in the past so many times.