Q&A pulled from the guild channel this week
The same handful of questions keep landing in guild chat every time a raid tier opens, and the Venomous Abyss has been no exception, with new faces asking in every channel. Here they are, lightly tidied, with the answers that officers tend to give.
“anyone know how many bosses there are??”
Reply: Eight. The Venomous Abyss is a standard-sized tier for the current season, and it comes with the usual difficulty ladder: normal, heroic and mythic. Most teams start at the lowest setting and climb as the roster settles.
“is it ok if I’ve never raided before”
Reply: Completely. Say so at the start, and tell the leader which role you play. Most groups would rather teach a newcomer than recruit a stranger. The Venomous Abyss Raid Boosting also comes up in these threads from people with little free time who want to see the content without joining a fixed team, so ask in chat and you will hear from both sides.
“what gear do I need before the first pull”
Reply: Enough that you are not the weakest link on normal, which usually means finishing a few dungeons and the weekly activities first. Officers can inspect your character and tell you in a minute. Do not guess; ask.
“how long does a night take”
Reply: Depends on the team and the boss. Most groups plan two to three hours per session, with a short break in the middle. Early fights fall quickly. The later ones eat the clock.
“what happens if I miss a night”
Reply: Tell the leader as soon as you know. A short message in the signup channel is plenty. Teams usually keep a bench of substitutes, and nobody minds a flagged absence nearly as much as a silent one.
“do I need voice chat”
Reply: Listening, yes. Talking, not always. Many raiders keep their microphones muted unless asked something. Having the channel open means you catch the instructions the moment they are given.
“is mythic worth trying right away”
Reply: Probably not in week one. Clear normal, then heroic, and let the gear and habits catch up. Mythic punishes shortcuts, and a team that skips the middle steps tends to spend weeks stuck on a single fight.
“what do people mean by carry or boost”
Reply: It means paying a service or another group to take you through content, usually so you can collect a lockout without joining a regular team. People hold different opinions about it. Some use it for a missing weekday, others for catching up after a late start. If you wonder whether it suits you, ask a few members who have tried it and compare notes.
“can I bring my alt”
Reply: Sometimes. Most teams want main characters first, then fill gaps with alternates when the roster is short. Ask the leader before you log the alt in, and expect it to be last in line for drops.
“what if my internet drops mid-fight”
Reply: Log back in and say so in chat as soon as you can. The group will either hold a slot or carry on without you for that attempt. A quick note afterwards is polite. Repeated disconnects are worth fixing before the next lockout, so check your router and your cable.
“who decides which boss we do first”
Reply: The raid leader, usually after talking to the officers. The first boss is normally the first one in the instance, since the layout opens in order. Some teams skip around once the unlocks allow it, but newcomers should expect to follow the order on the map.
“how do I get better at mechanics”
Reply: Read the notes, watch a recorded attempt of your own and ask one specific question per night. Vague questions get vague answers. Specific ones, like where to stand during the second phase, get an answer in a second.
“will I get loot”
Reply: Depends on the system your team uses. Some use dice, some a council, some a point sheet. Read the rules before the first boss dies, not after.
“do I have to stay for the whole night”
Reply: You signed up for the whole night, so plan for it. If something comes up, tell the leader before the start, not halfway through a pull. Leaving mid-fight is the quickest way to be left off the next roster, and a replacement joining late rarely knows the plan.
“what should I do between lockouts”
Reply: Repair gear, restock flasks and food, and read the notes for the next boss. A lot of players also run a few dungeons for upgrades. Treat the days off as preparation time rather than a vacation, and the next session will feel much smoother.
“what’s the one tip you’d give”
Reply: Show up a few minutes early, with flasks and food, and with the strategy notes read at least once. That alone puts you ahead of half the room.
Reply to the follow-up: Yes, being late once is forgivable. Being late every week is a message.