Raid Changes

[falkun]

Giegue is 100% correct.

• Variance caters to massive guild sizes to allow you to log on a sufficient size at any hour.
• Variance allows one guild to control every mob because it is statistically improbable that multiple targets will spawn at the same time, therefore forcing multiple forces that wish to compete into the same zone to fight for the same mob, instead of spreading them out amongst multiple targets.
• Variance increases the effort required to obtain kills/pixels beyond the point that most guilds are willing to work, and beyond a classic amount of effort.
• Variance caters to guilds large enough to track everything in window at the same time to know when they all spawn.
• The amount of boss kills guilds smaller than the #1 guild obtain is empirically higher on simultaneous repops than during "normal" weeks, and the sample size is large enough to invalidate any theoretical advantages variance provides to smaller guilds.
• Simultaneous repops historically reduce GM intervention because guilds simply move on to the next target instead of getting embroiled in a dispute.
• Simultaneous repops reduce GM intervention because all the content is killed within 2 hours instead of spread out over the week and at all hours of the day.
• Simultaneous repops are more classic than variance, especially to the extreme level P99 has taken variance (+/-48hrs instead of ~1hr).

[Sweetbaby Jesus]

Originally Posted by Frieza_Prexus [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

We call this the "Phara`Dar is up" effect

lol, I like it.

[falkun]

Originally Posted by Frieza_Prexus [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Trak was up for over 20 minutes.

Originally Posted by Fountree [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Xasten, don't you think there was some discussion about whether or not BDA would go for Trak last night?

Do you think TMO would have left Trak up if BDA was pre-camping on poop mt?

Originally Posted by Fountree [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Think you can deduce why BDA didn't bother camping out at Trak [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Frieza_Prexus]

Historically, small guilds get targets when they get a head start. Shortening the variance might help alleviate the headache of tracking, but a variance of a few hours will be catastrophic for smaller guilds. Larger guilds can easily prep around a very short variance, and there will be even more camping out at spawns. As it stands, we generally have to mobilize across the world from a central location.

However, repops and variance are two separate discussions.

I submit that (semi)regular repops are the best chance smaller guilds have to obtain high priority targets. Random unannounced repops will simply result in a batphone by all guilds, and the top guilds are clearly better at spontaneous mobilization. Pre-announce at least some (say, 2/3rds) of these repops at least 24 hours in advance. This will give smaller guilds a chance to camp out, choose targets, communicate/coordinate with other guilds and possibly form alliances.

Pre-notice gives people an entire day to move their character into position and an entire day to discuss exactly HOW the mob will be killed (the pull, strats, etc.) The biggest asset, however, is the triage and choosing of targets before hand. Imagine the following:

TMO will attempt to maximize its coverage starting, invariably, with VS and Trak (and Sev if it's convenient). This gives at least 20 minutes to other guilds to drop a target. We will periodically check with trackers the other targets and choose which to pursue.

Our general order of priority (NOT kill order,this is a DESIRE rank) is as follows:

VS
Trak
Draco
CT
Innoruuk
Faydedar
Efreeti Cycle
Severilious
Talendor
Nagafen
Gorenaire
Vox

If we see 40 people prepping for Talendor while we're pursuing Trak and VS, you can bet we'll instead head to another mob. Use the above information to inform your choices. Go for the Freeti cycle. Remember, if you kill Noble you are entitled to first engage on OoA for at least 20 minutes or first wipe.

The point is that with prior notice smaller guilds can prepare in a way that they ordinarily would not be able to. They can organize well in advance.

Lack of organization is the single biggest hurdle for small guilds getting targets.

[Ferok]

Originally Posted by falkun [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Giegue is 100% correct.

• Variance caters to massive guild sizes to allow you to log on a sufficient size at any hour.
• Variance allows one guild to control every mob because it is statistically improbable that multiple targets will spawn at the same time, therefore forcing multiple forces that wish to compete into the same zone to fight for the same mob, instead of spreading them out amongst multiple targets.
• Variance increases the effort required to obtain kills/pixels beyond the point that most guilds are willing to work, and beyond a classic amount of effort.
• Variance caters to guilds large enough to track everything in window at the same time to know when they all spawn.
• The amount of boss kills guilds smaller than the #1 guild obtain is empirically higher on simultaneous repops than during "normal" weeks, and the sample size is large enough to invalidate any theoretical advantages variance provides to smaller guilds.
• Simultaneous repops historically reduce GM intervention because guilds simply move on to the next target instead of getting embroiled in a dispute.
• Simultaneous repops reduce GM intervention because all the content is killed within 2 hours instead of spread out over the week and at all hours of the day.
• Simultaneous repops are more classic than variance, especially to the extreme level P99 has taken variance (+/-48hrs instead of ~1hr).

This is spot on. I'm not sure why the GM's are so insistent on Variance being helpful. Maybe in theory, but clearly that theory is wrong.

[Frieza_Prexus]

An ELIMINATED (as opposed to shortened) variance will be terrible in my opinion.

TMO has a spread sheet with every mob's death down to the second and sufficient force to engage multiple targets simultaneously. Cut the variance down, sure. Just don't kill it.

[Kraftwerk]

Why can't more people in TMO act like you Xasten, putting together clear discussion and being respectful and presenting a somewhat objective view. Not just flaming as hard as possible like their lives depend on it.

[Sweetbaby Jesus]

I still vote kill it. You guys can't spread yourselves too thin otherwise you run the risk of a wipe and allow BDA or someone else to slip in a trak kill or something. If we get simulated server resets then ur spawn time calculators are somewhat eliminated (Still good for 3 day spawn, etc.) and the game opens up for alot more of us to get at least 1 shot a week at a dragon, god, or mini boss. Hell, if another guild wa sup to the challenge they could even log at trak to attempt fte upon server coming back up.

[falkun]

Xasten, and Sirken, you cannot be more "catastrophic" than zero. Why are neither of you recognizing this? Giegue points it out every post.

Small guilds do not benefit from a head start, they benefit from not having to face off head-to-head, "If TMO is over there killing that mob, they cannot be over here killing the mob our guild is after."

You'll notice the other guilds got Inny, Maestro, Tal (attempt only?), Fay, and Gore. They got them because those mobs are lower on your priority list than VS or Trak. If you kill/prioritize in the order you posted (which I can believe), then the targets the other guilds got is nearly expected.

If the other guilds had further agreement among themselves, they may have even gotten additional kills. Three guilds wasting time around Talendor is stupid when other mobs are up, but BDA didn't recognize that Full Circle was there.

[Itap]

I agree with everything Giegue has said in his previous post

Originally Posted by Frieza_Prexus [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

An ELIMINATED (as opposed to shortened) variance will be terrible in my opinion.

TMO has a spread sheet with every mob's death down to the second and sufficient force to engage multiple targets simultaneously. Cut the variance down, sure. Just don't kill it.

And this is why you guys dominate, TMO's organizational skills and ability to accumulate a raid force in minutes makes it hard to beat. Planned server resets will give the smaller/casual guilds a chance at raid targets less desired by TMO