I wasn’t there…but I’m proud of my premier raiding team.

GANK Inc versus Val’kyr Twins

GANK Inc versus Flame Leviathan (4 Towers)

Gormok the Impaler

Well, patch 3.2 is live and in the mad rush to experience the new instance and raids one wonders if anyone is taking the time to actually see if they’re enjoying it.

GANK Inc made our first attempts at the 10-man instance (Trial of the Crusader) last night with almost no preparation. Did we enjoy it?

Yes. Emphatically yes.

There is something SO refreshing about learning a new encounter from scratch, picking up the Boss’ various abilities, adapting to them, tweaking your strategy and eventually getting him down. Not since Karazhan have we experienced that and even there we had checked WoWWiki for a few tips. Not this night though, oh no!

Just a quick recap for those yet to run in and die…

You face beasts captured by the Argent Crusade in a Ring of Blood style fight. The first is a Magnataur, Gormok, the second two (in our experience) Jormungars, Acidmaw and Dreadscale, and the third, which we did not reach to be perfectly honest, a Yeti type that if I knew my Lore better I would be able to name properly called Icehowl.

It took less than an hour to work out Gormok and that moment of joy as it ‘clicks’ for your party is wonderful! There is barely a break before the Jormungars appear and this is where it gets hard. Over time we worked out the various abilities but failed to down them to face Icehowl before we decided to call it and go pick up some loot from 25-man Flame Leviathan (see how to do this with 10 men here).

What did we learn?

• Some of us need better gear, so the farming of Heroics and Ulduar must continue
• We ARE capable of learning fights without relying on epic raiding Guilds for online guidance
• We can have fun together doing it and not get stressed!

This is useful information for a fledgling Guild Master like myself and I am lucky to have a good Assistant GM and raid leader alongside me. So much thanks to Lichdom.

So yes, we enjoyed it. I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight – this isn’t free Epics we’re talking here! But it is well worth getting stuck into, at least on a part time basis if you’re still kicking, fighting and clawing your way through Ulduar. Let me know how you get on and what you think too.