Blizzard maybe releases new raid content every once in a while, but we at the Finnish Brute Force don't support this theory.We like the good old content. We just bring more people each time.The FBF hordes took over ye olde Asikkala stomping grounds again in mid-august. Now with circa 30 people.
Many flasks (namely +spirit -agility) were consumed, great feasts were devoured (+fat -vegetable) and even more bosses were downed!There was even a sigthing of a real T11 paladin protecting the flock in the middle of the night when the rest of us had already wiped.
One fool was also tricked into becoming an officer of the guild. Congratulations, Ruiti! We "wish him well" :-).
The spring approaches, but it's not time to change our ragged armors to training shorts just yet. After handling Nefarian in normal 25-man mode, we felt ready for the challenges and epics of the heroic versions of our beloved Cataclysm raid encounters. A tight six-pack's nothing compared to a shiny ilvl 372 breastplate!
I don't know about others, but Halfus had clearly scouted me well and was ready to strike at my weakest spot - my graphics card. The sheer amount of fire and angry dragons was enough to fill our hearts with despair, but after hearing the familiar "pulling...OH S#!@!", I think we all remembered why raiding is fun, and prepared for an evening of steady progress!
Halfus isn't as tough as he first seems, the kill reminded me a lot of our first normal mode kill back in December, when we were in blues. A few hours of careful planning, persistent training and articulate communication ("WTF! ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO HEAL THROUGH THAT!?") seemed to do little good, but then suddenly everything just clicked, and some lucky ones were ready to grab their first heroic pieces.
Halfus Wyrmbreaker HC
Proto-Handler's Gauntlets (Sticker)
Malevolence ((Sticker)
Storm Rider's Boots (Tac)
Helm of the Nether Scion (Eidia)
Bracers of the Bronze Flight (Gramno)
Robes of the Burning Acolyte (Odeliini)
Chest of the Forlorn Protector (Marcius)
Chest of the Forlorn Conqueror (Zende)
Chest of the Forlorn Vanquisher (Sorbus)
Finnish Brute Force didn't raid before The Burning Crusade, so we never had the chance to experience the thrill of a first-time Nefarian kill together. Now, thanks to Blizzard's lack of imagination love for old content, and Nef's and Onyxia's ability to survive beheadings, we do! The siblings had learned from their previous defeats and joined forces, although not everyone was sure why Nef was trying to drown his dear sister in lava when we entered the room. Those of us with a sibling can probably relate, I know I can <3.
The admittedly epic battle took place in a pit that was clearly meant to be a new PvP arena in Cata, but I guess after the "success" of Ring of Valor the developers thought it would be best to keep the fires and lava in PvE dungeons, no matter how fun it would be to scorch your enemies with well-timed kidney shots.
As the descending magma exposed a familiar face we saw our chance and jumped right in! Onyxia was literally shocked to see a bunch of epic-hungry wackos charging at her once again, but not as shocked as we were when we realised she doesn't have any loot left. So, to the next dragon we ran!
Visibly worried about the purple glow in our eyes, Nef flew up in the air and filled the arena with lava again! Fortunately he was kind enough to leave some pillars as safe spots for us. Well, safe until he started to bombard us with firebolts and called some nasty friends to join the party. Try to figure this guy out. "You're hot and you're cold, you're dead then you're not"...
Things got tight on the small platforms, but no one slipped or accidentally kicked any gnomes into the lava, so we made it to the final phase. The rest of the fight went beautifully, just like the whole kill. Smooth add control and healers healing their asses off (no one died!). Add impressive dps and you've got two dead dragons.
Wait...Onyxia's corpse was nowhere to be seen! So remember, the Blackwing Descent might be merely a setback...
Until then, heroics! Yay!
Nefarian
Crul'korak, the Lightning's Arc (Fárek)
Akmin-Kurai, Dominion's Shield (Zende, Marcius)
Shadow of Dread (Iipee)
Helm of the Forlorn Conqueror (Ligur, Odeliini, Iipee)
The National Weather Service of Azeroth has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Throne of the Four Winds region in southwestern Uldum until 10 pm Central Server Time. At 5:30 pm, the National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated the forming of a severe thunderstorm capable of epic-scale hail. The storm is currently holding still over the region. This is a dangerous storm. If you are in the warned area, prepare immediately for extreme hail, harsh wind conditions and ground lightning. Repeating, a severe thunderstorm warning has been issued until 10 pm Central Server Time for the following regions: Throne of the Four Winds in southwestern Uldum.
Avid stormchasers that we are, the brave team of FBF headed out immediately to ensure the safety and property integrity of the warned area. Much to our surprise, the forming thunderstorm was not the result of global warming or other expected phenomena. Instead, arriving at the general region we found a completely deranged Djinn orchestrating the storm. Luckily, our disappointment for the lack of an epic thunderstorm of the century was slightly alleviated by the possessions that the Djinn was (somewhat reluctantly, though) willing to relinquish.
Al'Akir
Star Chaser Legguards (Belnazar)
Lightning Well Legguards (Eidia)
Here in FBF we are loving and caring people. Indeed we adore cuddly little kittens, owlings, bears, wolfmen and gnomes. Nevertheless even we accept the fact that when a pet bites the master it must be put down.
With utmost regret we inform that Chimaeron had to relocate to a ranch in Mulgore. There on those greener pastures he makes countless new friends and can play all day.
And no, Timmy, you can't visit him.
Chimaeron
Massacre Treads (Itza, Ligur)
Chaos Beast Bracers (Belnazar, Eidia)
Pip's Solution Agitator (Odeliini)
As much as we would've wanted to go play with our brand new armadillos, this huge, half-naked guy with two heads and extra eyes just looked too disturbing to be left alive.
The tricks of the Twilight Council had messed up our heads, but we quickly remembered that standing in suspicious ground effects is not usually good for your health and average item level. Cho'gall went down, and with oily hands we reached under his loincloth to find a mighty mace. Err... Oh yeah, and another damn belt.
Cho'gall
Coil of Ten-Thousand Screams Preda)
Battleplate of the Apocalypse Marcius)
Hands of the Twilight Council (Haidi)
Kilt of the Forgotten Battle (Eidia)
Twilight's Hammer (Alfenster)
Mantle of the Forlorn Conqueror (Zende)
Mantle of the Forlorn Vanquisher (Gramno, Fagina)
Up high! To the ground! Orbs, flame, lightning, water pools and shared health pool. The ability potpourri also known as Twilight Ascendant Council was broken down phase by phase. After gathering himself together, the monstrosity was broken down again.
And even then, all the king's horses and all the king's men Couldn't put the Elemental Monstrosity back together again.
Ascendant Council
Dispersing Belt (Sorbus)
Arion's Crown (Illyria)
Feludius' Mantle (Belnazar, Eidia)
Gravitational Pull (Marcius)
When facing a big old burning dragon who happens to be a little bit visually impaired, or in other words, blind as a frikkin' bat, you might feel sort of... overpowered. Naturally it was only fair to level the playing field. Thus everyone played blind-folded (or gouged their eyes out - player's choice)! The whole term "faceroll" got a whole new meaning as the wee and large lads and ladies of Finnish Brute Force mashed their hands and faces on their keyboards in an attempt to bring Atramedes down.
And down he went. The magical trick was using the HUEG MALLET which you hit them gongs with... on Atramedes. And it took us hours to figure that out. For shame!! Fortunately Loots of the epic kind soothed our minds.
Atramedes
Ironstar Amulet (Marcius)
Legguards of the Unseeing (Marcius)
Bracers of the Burningeye (Odeliini)
Bell of Enraging Resonance (Odeliini)
Battleplate of Ancient Kings (Ligur)
I find the effort of writing the names down of all the bosses we down during our progress raids rather tedious. That's why I'm not even going to tell you which bosses we downed! Check out the cool pictures (and their headers for eazymodez) and try guessing yourself!
Maloriak
Cloak of Biting Chill (Antlion)
Belt of Arcane Storms (Odeliini)
Flash Freeze Gauntlets (Whitefoxbank)
There were some twin drakes, a bunch of djinns or somesuches and a kinda birdlike something that we oneshotted. Eazies! Anyways, they're all dead now and we have moar purplz! Now I can afford that spelling teacher and start writing propah "Kings English" instead of this l33twow-stuff.
Valiona & Theralion
Valiona's Medallion (Odeliini)
Drape of the Twins (Cerebear, Belnazar)
Dragonheart Piercer (Tipetsu, Sticker)
Conclave of Wind
Tempest Keeper Belt (Iipee)
Planetary Band (Ruiti)
Sky Strider Belt (Itza)
