Comprehensive Guide To Raiding

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RAIDING 101

1. Team Speak
2. General Etiquette
3. Preparedness (Shopping List)
4. Corruptions – What Are They / How Do I Remove Them?
5. Interrupt Skills – What Are They / How Do They Work?
6. Remove Fear / Disease / Poison / Wound – How?
7. Positioning
8. Threat / Aggro Management
9. Target Assist / Target Forwarding / Auto Target

This Raiding 101 write-up is written from the perspective of the Rare Breed kin.  Each kin will have their own etiquettes and rules.

1. TEAM SPEAK

Team Speak is the preferred software used by many gamers for communicating in game as the built in LOTRO system is poor.

Team Speak 3

Initial Screen

To begin let’s delve in to the settings; Click the Settings tab. You can choose Setup Wizard and it will walk you through the basics, but I prefer to tailor the settings a bit more. Click on Identities.

You can create multiple identities (perhaps one for each character you will be playing). To start, let’s configure one default identity. Where it says Nickname, input what you would like to display for everyone to see. I have chosen Dadi (my character name). In the Phonetic Nickname enter your nickname how it sounds (this is for the computer to correctly pronounce your name). When you are done you can click OK, or you can create as many identities as you want by clicking the Add button and repeating the above steps.

When finished with Identities you will be back to the main screen. Choose Settings and then Options. When the Options screen comes up, click on Playback.

You can leave everything here as default, or customize things.

Playback Device – Default should be your speakers via your soundcard. If you want, you can choose from the dropdown.

Voice Volume Adjustment – This is the volume of the people that will be talking to you (incoming). Use the slider to adjust.

Sound Pack Volume – This is the volume for the computer generated sounds (i.e. “Dadi has entered the channel”). Press the Play Test Sound button Use the slider to adjust.

Mono Sound Expansion – You can change this to center or surround if you like. Test it out to see what sounds best.

Click Apply and then OK.

You will be back to the main screen again. Select Settings and then Options. From the Options screen choose Capture.

In most cases, the default settings are just fine.

Capture Device – You can select your microphone from the dropdown.

There are 3 options for how to capture your voice; Push-to-Talk, Continuous Transmission, and Voice Activation Detection.

Push-to-Talk – If you do not have a good quality microphone this is the best option. It is also the best option to ensure that you are only heard when you want to be. The only way for other to hear you is for you to push (and hold down) a key. If you select this option you need to set a hotkey (the button you will press to talk). Click in the big box (in the example above it says LEFT WINDOWS) and then press the key (or mouse button) that you want to use. If you want to set multiple hotkeys, click the link and you can add more.

Continuous Transmission – For gaming this is not recommended unless you are making a tutorial video or are streaming.

Voice Activation Detection – This is essentially hands free operation. However, if you do not have a good microphone (or there are a lot of background noises) this is not a good option.

Once you have made your selection, press the Begin Test button. Speak in to the microphone normally. Ideally you would like to see your voice in the green range. If your voice is too low you will need to adjust your microphone (windows settings).

I like to use Echo Cancellation; this helps reduce/eliminate reverberation resulting in your speakers playing through your microphone.

In the Advanced Options you may want to check the Voice Activation Detection while using Push-to-Talk. Essentially this will allow you to use both.

When you are done, click Apply and then OK.

You will be back to the main screen again. Select Settings and then Options. From the Options screen choose Notifications.

Notifications are the sounds/voices that get played when events happen (connect/disconnect to server, join/leave channels, private messages, etc.). These are computer generated. From the Sound Pack section you can select Male, Female, Text to Speech or Sounds Deactivated. This is really a personal preference. From here you can further customize what gets played, if at all, by double-clicking the items (i.e. Action, Channel, Server, etc.).

Click Apply and then OK.

2. GENERAL ETIQUETTE

Assuming the raid is planned in advance;

– Sign up on the website.  This accomplishes two things; it lets the leader know how many people are coming and it saves you a spot.  Many times we have more people wanting to run the raid than there are spots.

– A raid will be filled with priority in this order;

1. Classes required to successfully complete the raid.
2. Sign up time on the website (if applicable).
3. Kin chat.
4. Friends lists.
5. Kin Alliance chat.
6. Friends chat.
7. World.

– Be ready to go 5 minutes before the scheduled start time.  There is nothing IG more precious than a person’s play time and wasting it standing around waiting for you to finish another quest, cook dinner, etc. is not at all considerate.

– Read up on the raid (some good stuff on this site or you can Google it) to familiarize yourself with the general principals and mechanics of the run.

– Allot yourself enough time to complete the raid (with some time to spare in case of a fail).  Do not start a raid and then 15 minutes in to it say you have to go …

Know your limits, failing to do so can cause the group to repeatedly fail a raid;

– There are 3 difficulty levels to most raids; T1 (easiest) / T2 / T3 (hardest).  Older raids will follow the T1, T2, T2C format.

Please do not sign up for a T3 raid if;

a) You have just reached level cap and are still learning the ins and outs of your class (especially in a raid setting).

b) You have difficulty completing the same raid at T1 or T2.

It is not fair to the 11 other people in the group for you to not bring your “A game” to a T3.

T1 raids are run frequently and this is a great way to get yourself introduced to raiding, what your role would be in a given raid, and to hone your skills.

Respect the leader;

– Please listen carefully to instructions.

– Try to limit Discord chatter as much as possible; especially if it is not related to the raid at hand.

– If you have a suggestion for the leader it is best to send it via a PM or before the start of the raid; mid-battle can be distratcing.

– Never start the quest/raid by clicking on a quest ring, leave this to the leader (unless otherwise specified)

– Do not run ahead of the leader or tank unless instructed to do so.

Loot / Looting

– It is bad form to run over and open a chest … The person to open the chest will be the leader or someone they designate.

– Please watch carefully what you roll on;

• BOA (Bind On Acquire) items cannot be traded, they are bound to your character.  Never roll on these unless you can absolutely use the item yourself.
• BOE (Bind On Equip) items can be traded.  It is bad form to roll on these if you cannot use them yourself (on the character you are in the raid with) if there are others in the group that could use it (i.e. You are a Hunter rolling on a Warden shield when there is a Warden in the group).  If you want to roll on it for an alt (another character of yours), ask the group first if it is OK.

3. PREPAREDNESS

Here is a shopping list for what you should have before joining a raid (set aside one pack and always carry this so you are good to go with little notice):

NAME	MIN. QUANTITY	FUNCTION
Superior Regen Food (Cooked)	25	– Boosts the regeneration of your Morale and Power
Superior Stat Food (Trail)	25	– Boosts two stats (i.e. Might and Vitality)
Resistance Food (Fortifying)	25	– Boosts your overall resistance and gives a boost to resistance to one of the following; Fear, Disease, Wound, or Poison
Superior Coffee (Trail)	10	– Boosts your run speed
Scrolls of Battlelore	10	– Boosts the Physical and Tactical Mastery rating for the entire fellowship
Scrolls of Warding Lore	10	– Boosts the Physical and Tactical Mitigation rating for the entire fellowship
Tokens	10	– Adds Hope and buffs Resistance Rating for the fellow
Lhinestad Draught	50	– Removes disease effects from yourself
Conhuith Draught	50	– Removes fear effects from yourself
Milkthistle Draught	50	– Removes poison effects from yourself
Healing Draught	50	– Removes wound effects from yourself
Athelas Essence	50	– Recovers your morale when used
Celebrant Salve	50	– Recovers your power when used

4. CORRUPTIONS:

Essentially this is a buff that a monster can put on itself or another mob(s).  It will always have a blue border around the icon (although this can be very difficult to see).

There are 4 types of corruptions:

1) Corruptions that affect only the monster that cast it.

2) Corruptions that affect the monster that cast it and nearby monsters.

3) Corruptions that affect other monsters.

4) Corruptions that affect players (debuffs).

Some corruptions are tiered (meaning that they stack).

When raiding it is essential to understand what corruptions are, which ones you are likely to encounter, how they affect the group, how to remove them, and who should be removing them.

Here are some examples from the Lieutenant of Dol Guldur:

He has 3 potential corruptions that stack (tier) up to ten times:

CORRUPTION NAME	DEBUFF	ICON	EFFECT
Choking Shadows	Slowing Shadows		-10-100% incoming healing +10-100% attack duration -10-100% ranged damage
Shadowy Abyss	Draining Shadows		-10-100% run speed -10-100% melee damage Heavy Shadow damage over time
Shadowy Abyss	Corrupting Shadows		+10-100% power cost +10-100% all skill inductions -10-100% tactical damage

HOW DO I KNOW IF A MOB HAS CORRUPTIONS?

The easiest way is to target the mob and look just below its Morale/Power for the Corruption Icons.  You can also use a plugin (Like BuffBars) to track buffs/debuffs.  Likely someone in the group will be yelling out to the group to remove corruptions.

HOW DO I REMOVE CORRUPTIONS?

Each class has a skill (or skills) that can remove corruptions.

CLASS	SKILL	ICON	DESCRIPTION
Burglar	Improved Startling Twist (Yellow Line)		Stun the enemy and remove Corruptions by removing an active Trick. 8s Stun Breaks target out of Dazed Removes up to 3 Corruption effects from the target
Burglar	Purge Corruption (all)		Burglars can purge the corruptions from their foes. 117.8% of Main-hand Damage Removes up to 1 Corruption effect from the target.
Burglar	Serrated Knives (all)		On use: Removes up to 1 Corruption effect from the target.
Captain	Improved Blade of Elendil		Deal an attack with an increased Crit chance, and also remove Corruption.Fellows within range gain the Light of Elendil, enabling them to deal additional Light damage. 107.2% of Main-hand + bonus Damage Removes up to 1 Corruption effect from the target.
Champion	Feral Strikes		You make a pair of savage attacks, followed by a quick off-hand swipe. All blows are difficult to parry or evade. Each attack has a chance to remove a Corruption from the target. 3 Attacks: (100 + Melee Offence)% of Main-hand + bonus Damage (100 + Melee Offence)% of Main-hand + bonus Damage (100 + Melee Offence)% of Off-hand Damage 25% chance to apply Removes up to 1 Corruption effect from the target. 25% chance to apply Removes up to 1 Corruption effect from the target. 25% chance to apply Removes up to 1 Corruption effect from the
Guardian	Improved Sting		A quick attack that will lightly wound your opponent. … Main Hand + bonus Damage Applied on removal if in combat: Removes up to 1 Corruption effect from the target.
Hunter	Improved Dazing Blow		2 Attacks: 104.3% Of Off-hand + bonus Damage 104.3% Of Main-hand + bonus Damage 5s Daze 100% break chance on damage after 1s Removes up to 3 Corruption effects from the target.
Hunter	Improved Merciful Shot		A massively damaging shot that unlocks when the target is below 50% health, removing Corruptions. 104.3% of Ranged + bonus Damage Removes up to 3 Corruption effects from the target.
Lore-master	Dispel Corruption		Removes Corruption from the foe. Removes up to 3 Corruption effects from the target.
Minstrel	Improved Herald’s Strike		This melee attack increases the effects of healing on yourself for a short time. This attack will also remove Corruption. … (Main-hand weapon) Damage Removes up to 1 Corruption effect from the target. +10% Incoming Healing Modifier
Minstrel	Anthem of the Valar		Anthem: Call upon a song to blast your enemies with an area-of-effect of light. Requires a recent Tier 3 ballad and resets your ballad counter. This attack will also remove a Corruption buff from the enemies you hit. (X) Light Damage Removes up to 1 Corruption effect from the target.
Minstrel	Piercing Cry		Your shout does light damage to your enemies and can interrupt their actions. x Light Damage Interrupts inductions Removes up to 1 Corruption effect from the target
Rune-keeper	Improved Final Word		A final word stops your foe from concentrating. This skill interrupts inductions and removes Corruptions. Interrupts Inductions Removes up to 3 Corruption effects from the target.
Warden	Reversal		Wardens have learned a particular pattern of blow that negates Corruption abilities. … of Main-hand + bonus Damage Removes up to 1 Corruption effect from the target. Cost: … Power Requires: Clears All Gambits

5. INTERRUPT SKILL – WHAT IS IT?  WHAT DOES IT DO?

Interrupt skills will interrupt inductions (the time interval between when a monster starts a skill and the time that it lands the skill on you or another monster).  Essentially if you are successful it causes the monster to fail at casting its skill.

Timing is really important here, you have to watch a monster’s animation to know when it is about to cast a buff/debuff so that you know precisely when to hit your interrupt skill.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yUkRQv7KGE[/embedyt]

WHAT SKILLS INTERRUPT?

CLASS	SKILL	ICON	DESCRIPTION
Burglar	Improved Addle		Causes the enemy to fail skill attempts, and subsequent skill attempts will briefly take longer to execute.Target deals less tactical damage.Interrupts Inductions +25% Skill Inductions -10% Tactical Damage
Captain	Kick		A melee attack that interrupts enemy inductions. … Common Damage Interrupts Inductions
Champion	Clobber		Make a swift melee attack, which interrupts any induction skills being attempted by the enemy. 106.4% of Main-hand + bonus Damage Interrupts Inductions
Guardian	Stamp		Interrupts the target. … Common Damage Interrupts Inductions
Guardian	Bash		Bash with your shield to stun the target.Requires the use of Shield-swipe. … Common Damage 3s Stun Interrupts Inductions
Hunter	Blindside		A melee strike immediately followed by a close-range bow attack. 2 Attacks: 104.3% of Main-hand + bonus Damage 104.3% of Ranged + bonus Damage Interrupts inductions
Lore-master	Improved Blinding Flash		A blinding flash accompanied by a loud crack and the smell of blasting powder causes the foe to stop all action. Any damage inflicted on the target will break its stupor. 30s Daze 100% break chance on damage after 2s Interrupts inductions
Lore-master	Eagle Pet		The eagle has a special ability called “Eye peck”: when in combat with a foe, it will sometimes interrupt the enemy’s inductions.
Minstrel	Piercing Cry		Your shout does light damage to your enemies and can interrupt their actions. x Light Damage Interrupts inductions Removes up to 1 Corruption effect from the target
Minstrel	Invocation of Elbereth		Calling upon the Valar can send certain evil foes fleeing in terror for a short time.
Rune-keeper	Improved Final Word		A final word stops your foe from concentrating. This skill interrupts inductions and removes Corruptions. Interrupts Inductions Removes up to 3 Corruption effects from the target.
Warden	The Boot / Ranged Boot		A powerful kick that interrupts inductions. … Common Damage Interrupts inductions
Warden	Onslaught / Ranged Onslaught		Multiple fast attacks unnerve the Warden’s opponents and interrupt inductions. Interrupts Inductions
Warden	Wall of Steel / Ranged Wall of Steel		A weaving pattern of weapon attacks that interrupts inductions. Interrupts inductions

6. HOW TO REMOVE FEAR, DISEASE, POISON, WOUND

Effect	Icon Colour	Description
Fear	Purple	Click here (lots of them) Usually X shadow damage every Y seconds Can be a decrease in Fate or Will Can be a decrease in movement Can silence you (can’t use skills)
Disease	Yellow	Usually a drain of X power every Y seconds Can be a decrease in Might, Agility, Vitality Can be a decrease in Melee and Ranged Offence
Poison	Green	Usually X damge every Y seconds Can be decrease in Agility
Wound	Red	Usually X damage every Y seconds Can be a decrease in Might Can be a decrease in run speed

There are five ways in which these debuffs can be removed from you;

1. You can use a Draught (commonly referred to as a “Pot”) to remove it from yourself.
2. You can use a Salve (commonly referred to as a “Pot”) to remove it from yourself.
3. Someone else can use a Salve on you to remove it.
4. You can use a skill on yourself to remove it.
5. Someone else can use a skill on you to remove it.

Draughts vs. Salves

Effect	Draught	Salve
Fear
Disease
Poison
Wound

Draughts

Can only be used on yourself.  I highly recommend that these are the ones you carry, not Salves.

– They are easy to use in combat (just double click them or if you have them hotkeyed, press the key)

– You do not need to target yourself (it automatically applies to just you)

– Always carry the highest level available (ID them and it will say)

– Can be purchased from a Healer, the LOTRO Store, or the Auction House

– Can be made by Scholars

Salves

Can be used on yourself or on others.

These should only be carried by more skilled players because you have to select your target (you or an ally) and in the heat of battle this can be troublesome.

– If you enable Skill Target Forwarding these can be really useful in that they will apply to your target’s target (i.e. you are attacking a boss that is attacking the tank … If you use the Salve it will apply to the tank).

– In the heat of battle you can select an ally and use the Salve on them to remove the effect (you do have to be relatively close to them).

– Always carry the highest level available (ID them and it will say)

– Can only be purchased from a Healer

WHAT SKILLS REMOVE EFFECTS?

Each class has a skill (or skills) that can remove corruptions.

CLASS	SKILL	ICON	Self / Other / Fellow	F D P W	DESCRIPTION
Burglar	Burglar’s Antidote		S / F*	F D P W	Cures a harmful debuff affecting yourself. Removes up to 1 Disease, Wound, Fear or Poison effect with a maximum strength of 100 from the target. *The Mischief-maker trait line will allow this skill to effect the entire fellowship
Captain	Muster Courage		S / O	F D P W	Removes up to 1 Disease, Wound, Fear, Poison effect with maximum strength of 100 from the target. +20% Fear Resistance
Champion	Fear Nothing !		S / O	F D P W	Removes up to 1 Disease, Wound, Fear, Poison effect with maximum strength of 100 from the target.
Guardian	Ignore the Pain		S / O	F D P W	Removes up to 1 Disease, Wound, Fear, Poison effect with maximum strength of 100 from the target.
Hunter	Purge Poison		S / O	P	Removes up to 3 Poison effects with maximum strength of 100 from the target. +… Poison Resist Rating
Lore-master	Improved Knowledge of Cures		S / O	F D P W	Removes up to 3 Wound, Disease, Poison, Fear effects with maximum strength of (Level + 5) from the target. +… Resist Rating
Minstrel	Story of Courage		F	F D P W	Effects applied to the Fellowship within 45 meters: Removes up to 1 Disease, Wound, Fear, Poison effect with maximum strength of 100 from the target. Effects applied to the Fellowship within 15 metres: + “x” Resist Rating
Rune-keeper	Scribe a New Ending		S / O	F D P W	Removes up to 1 Disease, Wound, Fear, Poison effect with maximum strength of (Level + 5) from the target.
Warden	First Aid		S / O	F D P W	Removes up to 1 Disease, Wound, Fear, Poison effect with maximum strength of 100 from the target.

7. POSITIONING

There are a few things that one must consider about where they should stand during a fight.  Some general rules;

– NEVER run ahead of the leader unless you are instructed to do so.

– NEVER get ahead of the tank.

– Tanks should always turn the monster to face away from the group because most monsters do more frontal damage than rear.

– The group should always be facing the back of the monster.

– The ranged characters should stay as far away from the monster as they can.

– Healers should position themselves between the ranged and the melee characters so that they can reach the entire group.

– Stay out of red squares on the ground (these indicate the boundary of a negative effect on players like poison, fire, etc).

– Try to keep the monster within white squares on the ground (these indicate a negative effect on monsters or a positive effect on players)

– Some monsters will place a coloured eye over the head of a player (can be pink, blue, yellow, red).  Generally these eyes represent a negative effect that will hit the player and his/her surroundings.  You will need to run away from the group (leader will tell you where is best).  Usually upon expiration a “puddle” or “cloud” drops at your feet; you need to get out of it.

– In some cases the monster does distributed damage … it will be necessary to literally all stand on top of each other in a ball to mitigate the amount of damage each person receives.  The leader will let you know when this is needed.

– In some cases monsters will “punt” you (knock you flying backward).  Always be aware of where your back is facing (the direction you will fly if punted).  Often it is best to have your back against a wall so you do not get knocked off a ledge, tower, or thrown in to a different room with more mobs, etc.

8. THREAT / AGGRO MANAGEMENT

Threat

Threat is generated by all classes. It is a numerical value that is assigned to you during battle that decides whether a monster attacks you or not. Monsters attack the character with the highest threat value (unless someone uses a skill over-riding threat). You cannot see this number as it runs in the background of the game. It is often referred to as a threat table. Threat can be generated in three ways; 1) Doing damage to a monster. 2) Healing a character that is doing damage to a monster. 3) Using a skill that generates threat. Threat needs to be further defined:

Raw Threat (RT) At the start of a battle everyone has zero raw threat. As soon as an attack is made you generate raw threat. Let’s say as an example that you do 1,000 damage; this may generate 1,000 raw threat.

Perceived Threat Modifier (PTM)

By default everyone has a perceived threat modifier of 100% (1.00). You can equip traits or use skills that will increase your perceived threat modifier.

Perceived Threat (PT)

Your perceived threat is your raw threat multiplied by your perceived threat modifier.

PT = RT * PTM

Example:

Raw threat of 1,000 and a skill was used to raise PTM by 28%. Your perceived threat would be: PT = 1,000 * 1.28 PT = 1,280.

The monsters will attack the player with the highest PERCEIVED THREAT (some exceptions will apply; i.e. some monsters ignore threat). Therefore your Perceived Threat Modifier (PTM) plays a VERY important role in tanking; the higher, the better.

Aggro

Aggro is short for aggravation or aggregate and is commonly used in game to describe who the monsters are attacking; the person with aggro (the most threat).  It is important that you understand which of your skills will generate threat and which will reduce threat.  Each class will vary, so study yours so you know how to control the amount of threat you generate.

9. TARGET ASSIST / TARGET FORWARDING / AUTO TARGET

Target Assist

Make sure this is enable.  Go to your Options > Combat Options and then check the box that says; “Show Assist Window” and click Accept.

A Target Assist Window will now show on your screen.

This is a very useful utility in any group setting, not just raids.  The idea behind this is that one (or more) person is designated as the Target Assist (or TA for short).  The rest of the group should be targeting (killing) the same mob as the TA.  This quickly burns down one mob at a time.

The fastest way to ensure you are targeting the correct mob is to click on the mob in the Target Assist Window.  When one mob dies and a new one is being targeted it is necessary to click it in the TA window.

When there are multiple TAs the leader will tell you which one you should be following.

Target Forwarding

To use this you must activate it in your options.  Go to your Options > Combat Options and then check the Enable Skill Target Forwarding box and click Accept.

This option can be particularly useful in two ways;

– Targeting an ally’s target and reducing your threat.  Just click on an ally (usually the tank) and you will attack whatever target they attack.

– Targeting a mob and using Salves or Skills to help an ally (the target of the mob).  You can assist whoever the mob is attacking just by targeting the mob and using a skill or salve.

Auto Target

This is a very useful skill when you just want to go from one mob to the next.  However, this skill can also get a group wiped in no time by accidently shooting a mob that you did not want to.  If you are a key masher … Disable this during a raid.  If you carefully plan out which skills you use and can control what you attack, enable it.

Go to Options > Combat Options > Select or Deselect the box > Accept.

If you have found this information to be helpful please consider making a small donation to buy me a coffee (or beer).