Alright, I am starting this thread to help achieve a successful run on Kara for Saturdays, giving us 2 a week and leading to our first attempts at 25 man Raids. We have a group running Kara every Wednesday, and succeeding with enough ease that putting Kara on "Farm" is close to happening. We attempted a Kara run last week on Saturday using members who were not a part of the Wednesday run in order to try and have a second group going. The results were less than stellar. I will be making a breakdown given what's available for Saturdays in order to achieve a successful run. I have no doubt we have the ability and talent to do this with 2 groups in guild. That being said, I want to apologize in advance. I will be giving my honest opinions here, and I really hope no one gets their feelings hurt. That is not my intention, but subtlety is not something I do well, if at all. I also apologize if I miss anyone. Also, having proof-read this. It is a bit long winded. The rest will be broken down as follows. Healers, Tanks, CC/DPS, and other...
HEALERS:
A Main Healer for Kara should have a minimum 1400 healing Base, and enough mana conservation to last indefinitely under normal healing circumstances. Two Main healers are required to do this run. Three is recommended. Four can be needed when the group is new to some of the later fights. The Third and Fourth healer may or may not be on-spec for healing.
1. Caliypso: Almost 1800 Healing Base. Best "HoTs" available. Necessary for the run to succeed.
2. Solstar: As much or more Base Healing than Caliypso. Probably the most overall knowledgeable player in guild. I will strongly suggest he be willing to sign-up and cover heals, and minimal CC. Given a priest is more or less required, he is a necessary barring something I am missing.
3. Oorme: Over 1200 Healing base, and has been healing in guild a very long time. Providing he wants to go, I will be spending the next few days helping him with gear and enchants to cover a bit more bonus healing.
4. Seminole: Almost 1300 base healing. Slightly better geared than Oorme, and would be a fine thought for 3rd healer as well. However, I would STRONGLY suggest he take the time to sit down with Nepthys,(Thogg, Jehren) or Myself to go over some Shaman basics for long fights. Seminole has proven to be a fine healer, but has shown issues with mana conservation that a Shaman at 70 simply should not have.
Tanks:
A tank in Kara is a difficult curve. The Gear from heroics and 5-mans really doesn't cover what is necessary to pull it off. However the only better way to acquire it is to run Kara itself, or in the case of a Feral Druid, gather PvP gear.
1. Emeralddawn: My recommendation for Main tank. He has shown the willingness and ability to tank very effectively. He is also a Protection Specced Warrior. Probably the best idea for Raid tanking. He is mildly under geared for Kara, but not by a ton. Given a couple of lucky drops, and good heals, he could succeed in tanking Prince.
2. Xoraxe: My Suggestion for Off-tank. I strongly recommend he stay Fury specced. For the fights that require an off-tank, simply putting on a shield and switching into defensive stance. This will leave him available to deal high-end DPS when not tanking, and his gear will cover the damage taken in the dozen or so fights where a second tank is needed.
CC/DPS:
CC is needed in Kara, and given the mob types, it must be VERY specific. You pretty much need a Hunter, a Priest, and with any luck one more of either of the for-mentioned.
1. Artamos: Arguably the single best DPS the guild has to offer. His CC will be invaluable, and his damage will likely put most others to shame. Don't leave home without him.
2. Nepthys: The only one going capable of keeping up with or surpassing Artamos on Damage. He will CC the few Demon and Ele mobs that appear, and will be #1 or #2 on the DPS charts. Also, completely necessary.
3.Rakalin: If he is willing to go, he would be beautiful CC, and deal enough Damage to keep in striking distance of Nep and Art. I will be asking him personally to sign up and attend, as his damage output will be VERY necessary.
4. Traevin: My personal choice for best Melee DPS. He will not deal quite as Much Damage as Nep or the Hunters, but he will be in the top 4 or so on DPS, and his support is irreplaceable. Between Pally Buffs, and Support Heals, and Bubbles, and his witty banter. He is all but required.
5. Jaggerd: High DPS, Good gear. Knows his class very well. Will easily be in the top 5 on Damage. If he's on, take him.
6. Diafid: Knows his class, good guy, only slightly under geared. A fine choice for filler DPS.
7. Ohhenry: A bit under geared, but competent enough. Strongly suggest he work on gear, but a fine addition to filler DPS.
8. Zurk: High spirited and willing to please. A bit lacking on gear and probably shouldn't off-tank. That being said, I suggest he re-spec Fury, and shoot for 120+ Hit rating and 1600+ Attack power. If he were to do that, he would be a fine thought to fill out a DPS slot. For an Arms Warrior to succeed in Kara requires insane gear, and a LOT of knowledge about your aggro gain. Both of which need a bit of work in his case.
Other:
All this being said, these are only my opinions, and may be taken as such. That being said, if only Artamos is available for CC, I STRONGLY suggest you down, Huntsman, and Maiden. After that, call it a day with a few Epics, and Badges, and try to fill the CC slot for the following week. I wish you all luck, and apologize terribly if I missed anyone, or anything.
HEALERS:
A Main Healer for Kara should have a minimum 1400 healing Base, and enough mana conservation to last indefinitely under normal healing circumstances. Two Main healers are required to do this run. Three is recommended. Four can be needed when the group is new to some of the later fights. The Third and Fourth healer may or may not be on-spec for healing.
1. Caliypso: Almost 1800 Healing Base. Best "HoTs" available. Necessary for the run to succeed.
2. Solstar: As much or more Base Healing than Caliypso. Probably the most overall knowledgeable player in guild. I will strongly suggest he be willing to sign-up and cover heals, and minimal CC. Given a priest is more or less required, he is a necessary barring something I am missing.
3. Oorme: Over 1200 Healing base, and has been healing in guild a very long time. Providing he wants to go, I will be spending the next few days helping him with gear and enchants to cover a bit more bonus healing.
4. Seminole: Almost 1300 base healing. Slightly better geared than Oorme, and would be a fine thought for 3rd healer as well. However, I would STRONGLY suggest he take the time to sit down with Nepthys,(Thogg, Jehren) or Myself to go over some Shaman basics for long fights. Seminole has proven to be a fine healer, but has shown issues with mana conservation that a Shaman at 70 simply should not have.
Tanks:
A tank in Kara is a difficult curve. The Gear from heroics and 5-mans really doesn't cover what is necessary to pull it off. However the only better way to acquire it is to run Kara itself, or in the case of a Feral Druid, gather PvP gear.
1. Emeralddawn: My recommendation for Main tank. He has shown the willingness and ability to tank very effectively. He is also a Protection Specced Warrior. Probably the best idea for Raid tanking. He is mildly under geared for Kara, but not by a ton. Given a couple of lucky drops, and good heals, he could succeed in tanking Prince.
2. Xoraxe: My Suggestion for Off-tank. I strongly recommend he stay Fury specced. For the fights that require an off-tank, simply putting on a shield and switching into defensive stance. This will leave him available to deal high-end DPS when not tanking, and his gear will cover the damage taken in the dozen or so fights where a second tank is needed.
CC/DPS:
CC is needed in Kara, and given the mob types, it must be VERY specific. You pretty much need a Hunter, a Priest, and with any luck one more of either of the for-mentioned.
1. Artamos: Arguably the single best DPS the guild has to offer. His CC will be invaluable, and his damage will likely put most others to shame. Don't leave home without him.
2. Nepthys: The only one going capable of keeping up with or surpassing Artamos on Damage. He will CC the few Demon and Ele mobs that appear, and will be #1 or #2 on the DPS charts. Also, completely necessary.
3.Rakalin: If he is willing to go, he would be beautiful CC, and deal enough Damage to keep in striking distance of Nep and Art. I will be asking him personally to sign up and attend, as his damage output will be VERY necessary.
4. Traevin: My personal choice for best Melee DPS. He will not deal quite as Much Damage as Nep or the Hunters, but he will be in the top 4 or so on DPS, and his support is irreplaceable. Between Pally Buffs, and Support Heals, and Bubbles, and his witty banter. He is all but required.
5. Jaggerd: High DPS, Good gear. Knows his class very well. Will easily be in the top 5 on Damage. If he's on, take him.
6. Diafid: Knows his class, good guy, only slightly under geared. A fine choice for filler DPS.
7. Ohhenry: A bit under geared, but competent enough. Strongly suggest he work on gear, but a fine addition to filler DPS.
8. Zurk: High spirited and willing to please. A bit lacking on gear and probably shouldn't off-tank. That being said, I suggest he re-spec Fury, and shoot for 120+ Hit rating and 1600+ Attack power. If he were to do that, he would be a fine thought to fill out a DPS slot. For an Arms Warrior to succeed in Kara requires insane gear, and a LOT of knowledge about your aggro gain. Both of which need a bit of work in his case.
Other:
All this being said, these are only my opinions, and may be taken as such. That being said, if only Artamos is available for CC, I STRONGLY suggest you down, Huntsman, and Maiden. After that, call it a day with a few Epics, and Badges, and try to fill the CC slot for the following week. I wish you all luck, and apologize terribly if I missed anyone, or anything.
