Grummus!

Mort · Post by **Mort** » December 8, 2003, 2:29 pm

Ok, I know most of the active posters here are Elemental or Close, but I have an honest question here. I had the highlight of my Everquest career this weekend taking down that Fat Bastard.

My question is... Is he the easiest boss type to take down? He kicked our ass first round, but we didnt give up and realized where we went wrong, went back and took him down with only 2 deaths. Most fucking fun I've ever had (EQ Wise) and look forward to doing more of these. Also, should we hit VT be before we go any further on PoP mobs?

Dont klown.... Just wondering from my fellow VV'ers if the rest of the content is this fun.

Sabek · Post by **Sabek** » December 8, 2003, 2:48 pm

Grummus used to be a ton easier when you could pull him out onto the balcony away from his guards and repops.

Now he can still do some hurt with AEs.
With it all being relative to where you are in the game, Grummus can be pretty tough.

Ashur · Post by **Ashur** » December 8, 2003, 2:51 pm

He is trivial since the advent of Pureblood/Blood of Nadox - that DOT lost a lot of sting in it's ease of curing. I remember the first time we encountered him it was nasty, same with the Plague off of the bosses in COD/Bert.

Aloriana · Post by **Aloriana** » December 8, 2003, 3:02 pm

You can get pretty far and not be VT geared. Being NToV geared or geared in ornate helps though as you need the HP/mana/dps/resists. We're Sol ro flagged with only RZ left to be elementals flagged; not quite VT keyed. I'd say that Grummus is probably easier than other pop mobs imho (although a PAIN to get to), although once you figure out how to beat Behemoth and Vallon Zek, they're not too bad if you have the dps/healing, although it's easy to whipe on both if you're not careful. I have a lot of fun on a lot of the PoP mobs

I don't enjoy Saryn as much though, as it's a LONG climb to the top of that tower.

*HUGS*
Alor =P

Pahreyia · Post by **Pahreyia** » December 8, 2003, 3:26 pm

Grummus is all about RC and AE heals. If you have those, he's a snap. Most of the PoP content isn't as nasty with the DoT AE's, although some put his to shame. For the most part, PoP is about burst DPS. If you've got that with a good tank and a decent healing force, you can handle just about anything. Luclin however is mostly about sustainable healing/dps. Fights that take 20 minutes+ aren't uncommon. Personally, I'm a stickler for progression. I would recommend VT for any guilg wanting to learn how to handle fast progression through a zone, multipulls, raid organization to complete a full clear. But, to OTB's credit, they've done damn well with no real VT experience.

Post by **Sylvus** » December 8, 2003, 3:29 pm

Grummus was an exciting fight, he was pretty tough until the first time we beat him.

As far as VT gear goes, it's certainly not necessary. Sovereign is in Time now and I think we went to VT like once or twice. We did spend some time in NToV though, and you'll get ornated up as you progress in PoP.

sarlen · Post by **sarlen** » December 8, 2003, 3:31 pm

Grummus is one of the easier to kill once you get past the dot. As far as VT being needed for PoP progression, thats a tricky question. No doubt it makes it much easier, as coming out of VT most if not all your clerics have a 5k+ mana pool and your main tanks are sporting 9k+ hit points. You can get to those much needed hit points and massive mana pools with out VT but the amount of farming in PoP zones or Luclin bosses minus VT to get it for everyone imo would take longer then the VT route.

On a server up on our time zone there is only one some times 2 guilds competing for VT with the possibility of walking away with 20+ upgrades for your guild while if you raid PoP you may get 2 or even if your lucky 3 bosses for a total of 6 upgrades.. On server up for elementals or even lower flag/boss mobs the competition is fierce with as many as 8 guilds fighting it out over these spawns.

Short answer is I guess, dont skip VT, you will have fewer people to fight it out with and walk away with more upgrades for time invested and be better equiped to deal with PoP while those other 8 guilds have moved on into the next expansion.

eOmniz · Post by **eOmniz** » December 8, 2003, 3:33 pm

We've done Grummus, Vallon, and Saryn. I'd say it really depends on your class makeup. We're melee heavy but dont have many tanks, so Vallon requires a lot of splitting for us, but if you have 5 beefy warriors and 5 clerics I'd say he's the easiest. Saryn was really easy too. I'd put all of them at about the same, depending on class make up, Grummus was easy after we started using snare glands to lock agro quicker ... MGB max extended cleric aa heal trivializes the fight as it lasts longer than the fight does.

Anyways, for HOOAC personally, with average of like 30 people, 4 clerics, 2 warriors, I'd say Grummus > Vallon > Saryn.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » December 8, 2003, 4:13 pm

TT is easier than Grummus too probably.

That dot from Grummus was pretty mean last year when he beat us down

I dont think VT is necessary at all for progression. In fact i know its not. That being said, there is a lot of nice loot there, but i wouldnt invest too much of your guild's time in the zone, because it is not a necessary step in progression.

Pahreyia · Post by **Pahreyia** » December 8, 2003, 4:42 pm

Get some content on your site Voro.. It's no fun supporting a homage site that we can't make fun of.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » December 8, 2003, 5:54 pm

its not my site. blame the Danish.

specifically Leyor.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » December 8, 2003, 8:15 pm

Voronwë wrote:its not my site. blame the Danish.

specifically Leyor.

I thought he was French

Jice Virago · Post by **Jice Virago** » December 9, 2003, 12:19 am

If you have a lot of hybrids in your guild, you might want to do VT first. Pure casters can get to FT cap and 5k mana pretty easily doing nothing but POP low end content. Pure mele can net some descent workable weapons and armor purely through ornate and low end POP boss drops. Hybrids, however, are pretty limited in FT and focus options if you skip VT.

If you are in a guild domintated by pure mele, don't bother with VT (or most of Luclin for that matter). Its a total waste of time that could be better spent on more lucrative targets, like BoT minis, low end POP gods, and even tradeskilling. Even if there were zero competition for SSra named, the time you spent shard farming would put your guild halfway to elementals.

Drinsic Darkwood · Post by **Drinsic Darkwood** » December 9, 2003, 3:06 pm

Like it's mentioned above, VT is certainly not *required* for progression; it can be done, and has been done ( Sovereign is one of the best examples, and OtB is only one mob away ).

However, VT does help a lot for progression, as well as surviving a possibly bumpy start in Elementals. VT is one of the very best RvR zones in the game, if not the best. It's the best place to gear your guild fast and hard. However, it does take some work, but it's exaggerated I think. If your guild really puts some hard work into it, you can blow through emp keys / VT keys fast. We got about 45 people emp keyed in 7 days, killed emperor, then got that same 45 people VT keyed within the next 8 days and began farming VT. Thing about VT is, once you're keyed, you can gear up on VT and do PoP at the same time. VT is a 7 day respawn ( barring the TVXs near zone in... not worth the effort ). Obviously there's competition, but assuming you get VT.... you clear VT one day, then punch away at PoP for the next 6 days, then go back to VT again for the loot candybag and repeat.

In elementals you have some pretty harsh AEs ( PoFire mainly; earth/water/air aren't too bad ), and the sheer hp / mana found from VT gear helps a lot when it comes to surviving those. Personally I wouldn't suggest skipping VT, that's just my opinion though. It's really optional.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » December 9, 2003, 3:28 pm

If you can get VT to yourself then go for it. If you're going to be fighting other guilds for it it's probably easier to just skip it.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » December 9, 2003, 5:06 pm

don't skip VT...you're missing a lot if you do.

VT gear is uber and imo better than most of the elemental drops.

your guild will have an easier time progressing thru PoP with VT gear equiped.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » December 9, 2003, 5:10 pm

maybe better than ornate greatblades, but you are on fucking crack. aten loot is nice for sure, and there are very high quality items in VT.

but to suggest that the loot is better than elemental loot is nuts.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » December 9, 2003, 5:20 pm

i haven't seen any drops i've only just started EXPing in the Ele's but i've looked up shit on the internet and i haven't seen but 2 drops that would be an upgrade for me in elementals. and i have 0 AHR loots.

http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=246104

Post by **Sylvus** » December 9, 2003, 5:49 pm

Not even armor? I don't know what class you are, but I have to think you're wrong.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » December 9, 2003, 6:11 pm

not knowing what class you play, i'm going out on a limb and agreeing with sylvus and saying your gloves, hat, boots, legs, bracers, arms, and chest can all be upgraded with elemental molds.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » December 9, 2003, 7:43 pm

only bracers and gloves.

the effects on my current gear can't be replaced with elemental gear. imo.

i'm a shammy btw.

if magelo ever comes back up you can see if i'm on crack.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » December 9, 2003, 8:27 pm

Spang wrote:don't skip VT...you're missing a lot if you do.

VT gear is uber and imo better than most of the elemental drops.

your guild will have an easier time progressing thru PoP with VT gear equiped.

I skipped it other than to zone in and put it on my keyring. Funny, I seem to be doing ok in Time along with the rest of my guild who probably have 30 vt loots among them.

Like I said.. If you can farm it to your hearts content go for it. But when you have guilds in there leapfrogging others and calling in a GM to boot out other people... Doesn't sound to me like I missed a whole lot.

But if you do stay there for 6 months and then decide to flag another guild for the elementals, you may want to go back and equip them as well. Might mean you can use less clerics on mobs like Xegony and actually win...

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » December 9, 2003, 8:36 pm

Skippers!

Drinsic Darkwood · Post by **Drinsic Darkwood** » December 10, 2003, 2:27 pm

Spang wrote:don't skip VT...you're missing a lot if you do.

VT gear is uber and imo better than most of the elemental drops.

your guild will have an easier time progressing thru PoP with VT gear equiped.

Uh, no. You obviously haven't looked at much elemental gear at all. Talisman of Vah Kerrath can't really be replaced in elementals ( but definitely substituted for ), but other than maybe a few Aten loots, there's something better for every slot in elemental planes than anything found in Vex Thal. For every Focus in VT, there's pretty much some equal or better in elementals. I highly doubt you have items in every "armor" slot that is better than Rosrak's, except your chestslot. As far as chest pieces go, the pickings in elementals are pretty slim. For everything else, however, I'm going to have to agree that you're on crack.

Aslanna wrote: I skipped it other than to zone in and put it on my keyring. Funny, I seem to be doing ok in Time along with the rest of my guild who probably have 30 vt loots among them.

Like I said.. If you can farm it to your hearts content go for it. But when you have guilds in there leapfrogging others and calling in a GM to boot out other people... Doesn't sound to me like I missed a whole lot.

VT can be skipped, that's for sure, but I'm going to agree with Spang that VT loots DO help you out in elementals, especially at the start before the majority of your guild has a near-full suit of ele-gear. However, with PE there, SI there occasionally, team japan still farming now and then, and even Pravus-Storm going there it's... well... crowded to say the least.

Aslanna wrote:But if you do stay there for 6 months and then decide to flag another guild for the elementals, you may want to go back and equip them as well. Might mean you can use less clerics on mobs like Xegony and actually win...

lol~

brenen · Post by **brenen** » December 10, 2003, 4:48 pm

I go by the moddo, get access to as many mobs as you can to upgrade your guild. Get Seru keyed, Learn about ring events.. Get all the BoT Tower keys. Get Saryrns Key. Get VT Keys. Anything thats an upgrade, so you have more options when your raiding stuff.

As far as skipping VT:

We are at the point where I believe we can beat Rallos and become elemental flagged, and yet emp would still be a priority for us. We do currently have a 9k tank and an 8.5k tank. All of our clerics have near 5k mana and ft11. However, the shear loots per hour that VT allows makes it worth it to me.

That all being Said, I believe in doing any mob that offers your guild a substantial upgrade. And doing that mob as much as your time allows. Sure you have to prioritize. It all depends on the kind of time your willing to spend, and your guilds current AA's. Get all your guild between 200-300 AA's and your notice a difference even greater then VT gear IMO.

SI, DD, LoV, Two Japanese guilds all VT keyed.. and OtB and AG all emp keyed.. VT is going to be a pretty packed for the next three months.

Mort · Post by **Mort** » December 10, 2003, 6:40 pm

Thanks everyone for giving good, honest replies. Im not as into getting VT keyed as I was considering it's gonna be a mess in there for awhile. Back to PoP for me!

/cheers

P.S. If any of you do any backflagging and need a 65 Mag, by all means gimme a tell prz!

Ducru · Post by **Ducru** » December 10, 2003, 7:13 pm

Drinsic Darkwood wrote:Like it's mentioned above, VT is certainly not *required* for progression; it can be done, and has been done ( Sovereign is one of the best examples, and OtB is only one mob away ).

However, VT does help a lot for progression, as well as surviving a possibly bumpy start in Elementals. VT is one of the very best RvR zones in the game, if not the best. It's the best place to gear your guild fast and hard. However, it does take some work, but it's exaggerated I think. If your guild really puts some hard work into it, you can blow through emp keys / VT keys fast. We got about 45 people emp keyed in 7 days, killed emperor, then got that same 45 people VT keyed within the next 8 days and began farming VT. Thing about VT is, once you're keyed, you can gear up on VT and do PoP at the same time. VT is a 7 day respawn ( barring the TVXs near zone in... not worth the effort ). Obviously there's competition, but assuming you get VT.... you clear VT one day, then punch away at PoP for the next 6 days, then go back to VT again for the loot candybag and repeat.

In elementals you have some pretty harsh AEs ( PoFire mainly; earth/water/air aren't too bad ), and the sheer hp / mana found from VT gear helps a lot when it comes to surviving those. Personally I wouldn't suggest skipping VT, that's just my opinion though. It's really optional.

Started a post about this, then saw Drinsic's. That says it all. I have much love for VT, actually.

Spankes · Post by **Spankes** » December 10, 2003, 9:02 pm

I hate VT with a passion, but there is no better place to equip a guild ultra fast...so long as you know when to leave~

vn_Tanc · Post by **vn_Tanc** » December 11, 2003, 5:30 am

VT is like pulling fucking teeth. It is the epitome of all that was wrong with the luclin expansion. Ugly shit brown and dark grey scenery, 3 mob model variations, HP out-the-ass high-AC mobs (hit attack and go afk, just remember to hit /disc aggressive twice per fight cos they last long enough) with little in the way of interesting abilities (even less interesting now seeing as the mudflation of 2 more expansions has trivialised them to some extent). If the loot rained down in an even slightly less disgusting torrent the zone would be empty and deservedly so.

If I were ever to set foot in EQ again VT is the one raid zone I would never revisit. I'd rather fight Sontalak all day long in nothing but bronze armour and a langseax.