First time through Deadmines

[lonewolfe]

Lev 22 Warlock noob here and I finally decided to try Deadmines. Went in with a pick up group of a lev 22 Warrior a 33 rogue, 27 mage and a 19 Healer.. I figured numerically we should be okay.

I had no idea what to expect. I admit it was a bit confusing before we reached the instance with all the people running around. Trying to get used to the UI ( which was too cumbersome ) and all. I guess you learn from experiience.

Once inside things seemed to go smoothly, then about half way in the rogue says She found a faster way down and disappears. I then see her die a few minutes later. Then the Warrior dies and disappears and its just me, a Priest and a Mage. We died soon after, but met up again and continued on.

We made it to the ship before we were wiped again and of course the Priest and Mage left after that. I soulstoned back hoping to find the backdoor but was trounced quickly.

Is it normal for Players to disappear in the middle of an instance ? There was very little chat going on, so I assume things were going pretty well. We made it to the ship with three clothies so I assume we would have done okay had the rogue and Warrior not quit.

Anyways, I enjoyed it but I was disappointed in the fact that we were hung out to dry in the end.

[Dynatos]

At those levels, you should have wiped the floor with the place.

Learn to communicate. If noone knows what's going on, bad things will always happen.

Soulstone the Priest, not yourself.

[lonewolfe]

At those levels, you should have wiped the floor with the place.

Learn to communicate. If noone knows what's going on, bad things will always happen.

Soulstone the Priest, not yourself.

I agree. I should have asked the Priest. Since he was the lowest level He probably had no idea I even had a Soulstone.

[Malkuron]

I agree. I should have asked the Priest. Since he was the lowest level He probably had no idea I even had a Soulstone.

Heh, don't assume they are newbs because of the level. Lots of people make new characters when they hit 60. Also, no matter level the character is, you ALWAYS ss the characters that can revive people, so that if you all die they can revive and rezz the party.

Also, I agree. With those levels it should have been a walk in the park.

[cdalman]

As others have said, communication is extremelly important. It is also very beneficial to appoint someone as the leader. It may seem obvious to some, but from what the OP described, there was no leader.

The leader should know the instance very well. Know what to expect next and can communicate that to the rest of the party. If everyone is going blind chances of wiping are much higher.

If it is a new instance for the whole party, then have a rogue scout ahead. Most wipes happen because too often players rush into rooms or fights without thinking about it first.

Another problem I see a lot (my own guild included), is players begging high lvl's to run them through an instance. While this may help them get some quests done, it does nothing to teach newer players how to handle themselves in a group or how to plan the attacks. sorry side rant . . .

Just keep at it. PUG's are always a bit tough, and players often leave mid instance. Just something ya learn to live with. Finding a few players in game at your lvl and lvl up with them helps a ton. Have fun!

[Wasabee]

I'd like to say that the higher the level the instance the less of a chance people will "peace out" after a few wipes. Unfortunatley they are still unpredictable. (Harcore Rading being an exception.)

I have seen Drakk out live a Group more times then I care too...(UBRS end Boss...)

[ArchAngelofDeath]

I'm guessing either there was very little communication at all and it was a true pickup group of relatively new players, or there were 2-3 that knew each other and were likely on vent or teamspeak talking. I don't think I have ever run an instance even at low levels with a pug where at least 2 members chatted constantly.

I wouldn't lose to much sleep over it if I were you. If you are new to the game you gained some valuable experience about pugs (pick up groups) without getting hammered or ninja looted. Chalk it up to experience, keep trying and learn all you can about your class from other warlocks. Lots of players will give you advice, especially the people in these forums.

For the record, these other guys are right, you should have mopped up in deadmines with those numbers, but dont let that stop you.

[mckie]

I has some similar issues in VC last night with my 19 priest.

First group I joined has noone over level 20. Three rogues, a mage, and me. It's a disaster waiting to happen, and I politely bow out while I'm still safe in IF.

Second group I joined looks better. It's being led by a 28 rogue, and having a 29 rogue I know how capable one is in VC. We also have a 17 pally, a 22 warrior, and an 18 warrior I think. They start without me while I am flying there and I have some trouble getting in, but make it. The 18 warrior is behind me and he dies a couple times getting in. Then the 22 warrior leaves or dies or quits or something, I can't remember. We advertise for a tank and get a 32 warrior. He asks to be made group leader, and is. We go in a little ways further, then the 32 warrior says he has to go help a friend. He is nice about it, but leaves. For some reason, group leader goes to the 18 warrior. The 28 rogue who set the group up asks to be made leader again. He is not. I don't know if there was whispering behind the scenes, but all of a sudden he logs. The 22 warrior decides to go to WSG, and we all go separate ways.

Third group, I get in with a 28 warrior that I have done VC with before. It was a bad experience, not due to him but another player in the group. We get a nice team together - a 26 warrior, 22 mage, 20 semi-twink rogue, and me. Looks good, except the mage won't stop pulling. In fact, he likes to pull huge groups so he can rain down AOEs on them. He punctuates each close call with "Oh yeah" or "My AOEs are badass". After killing the foreman, I am trying to remind the group of the pats coming from behind us. The mage won't listen, and runs ahead to agro a huge group and bring them back. As you all know, in addition to the pat coming from behind and the guys waiting on the other side of the door, another pat comes from ahead. I call for a wipe and try to hide, but there is nowhere to run. We can't keep the 15 guys off of us, and of course wipe.

In the graveyard, the leader immediately kicks the mage - no comment, no further warnings - just gone. We all breathe a collective sigh of relief. Then, we get a 34 warrior to join up and simply blaze through. It was as nice of a VC as I've gotten to do with any toon. Only at the end, despite my warnings someone got up too high and pulled Greenskin early. I got to the wheel and waited... when it looked like we had the upper hand, I dropped in the heals and we made it without a death. Then VC was cake.

As a bonus, I got both the ring off Smelter and Cookie's wand.

[lonewolfe]

Thanks for the insight guys.

Yeah we were doing okay until the highest level char took off solo, then died. Then our Tank disappeared as well.. So it's just me ( Lock ) a Mage and a Healer and we did okay until we got to the Ship.

Just a little frustrated that the other two quit on us. But I did learn a lot and it was a pug, so I understand this happens.

Overall it was fun. Now I'm about to finish the remaining Defias Brotherhood quests so when I go back in I have more to look forward to.

[Morollan]

Another problem I see a lot (my own guild included), is players begging high lvl's to run them through an instance. While this may help them get some quests done, it does nothing to teach newer players how to handle themselves in a group or how to plan the attacks. sorry side rant . . . Judging by LFG, there are very few people who do Deadmines now with a group of the appropriate level. Everyone seems to want a lvl 60 to help them through and, as you say, this does nothing for new players.

[Bigairbrucey]

I stopped running people through lower level instances for this reason ..people need to l2play or they will be worthless later on

[Fursphere]

I'll run a guildie through for fun with my 60 fury warrior. But I know this lowbee is also an Alt....

I just tell him to put it on free-for-all, and to have empty bags at the start, and let him loot everything kill. A full clear takes like 30 minutes with my warrior. By full I mean every single mob, even going back for the pats that come from behind.

But I refuse to help PuGs or random lowbees in VC. They need to figure it out on thier own, like everyone else has said.

I used full cleared VC with two 60 hunters (me and a guildie) in 15 minutes flat, with two lowbees in tow for loot hounds. lol

[swaldman]

FWIW, I'd consider the lvl22-28 groups that people have mentioned as being rather overpowered from DM... it should be quite doable from lvl17-18, IIRC.

Sadly people always like to do things in Easy Mode... this is why I fear that come the expansion, PuGs will want all lvl 62+ for scholo...

[Wasabee]

I hate that! People always want to be at the least on the High End of an instance level Range.

That's probably why people comment that really learning to play your class doesn't start till you are raiding at level 60. (Which I could see as a valid point!)

With TBC it'll be fun to "help out" 60ishes run current "end game" content.

[NOYB]

The most important thing that people need to learn is patience. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a group wipe because, "This is DM/VC it's EZ lawl." Then, someone inadvertantly aggroes and causes a train. (Gnomeregan anyone?)

Another important thing to remember is that the warrior should probably be higher level than the other DPSers. If the warrior is 18 and the rogue is 24, I can promise you that the rogue will be stealing aggro from the get-go. Making him pretty worthless as a "tank."

Yet another thing to keep in mind is that the lower level people have a larger aggro radius. That 24 rogue may have walked through an area, but that 18 warrior will pull mobs he wasn't even aware of. This is why it's important to keep the lowbies in the rear. Let the pullers do their job.

[SmartBartje]

Heh, luckily I've learned how to play, and still learning from instances. I have a 40 Hunter, and I'm collecting the full Scarlet set + the 3 rest items from Herod. I didn't even kill Herod once, but everytime I encounter him, it's much fun and wen I die, I learn and understand why I die and why it went wrong. And I don't feel like going with a 60, since I enjoy the excitement of killing a cool boss with my bare hands, and my group of lvl 34~40.

Really, it's more fun to LEARN from your mistakes. Yippee!

[Thoragord]

I dont see the point in going through an instance late because then all the good loot isnt all that good anymore. Besides a challenge is the best part. My first VC group was a pug with me a 19 pally, a 15 pally, a 24 pally, 18 rogue. Later when we started having trouble we got a 39 mage to help. we still wiped at VC and had to get offline after that but we made it to him and I know if we had another shot we would have killed him. Actually I have yet to make it all the way through VC.