Having cleared Naxx (if you didn't know this, where have you been?!) the next stop for guild is the Eye of Eternity. There's a post with schedule and tactics here.

If you think you're undergeared then let someone know and we'll do a couple of ToC runs. You really should have virtually all level 200+ gear, and a fair few epics too. Given that we've been running Naxx for ages, most people should have no problem with this.

Let's go DoGs!

Patch 3.2 comes with lots of epic lovelliness. So much so in fact, that it may soon become apparent that running Naxx is no longer the best option for gearing up the DOGS.

The new 5 man instance, Trial of the Champion, is very quick, and a total of 5 epics drop from every full clear, which takes about 20 mins on average. If you're quick though, you can run this up to 5 times an hour - that's 25 epic drops per hour. Assuming the averages work out, potentially that's 5 epic items that you personally acquire. Per hour. Crazy.

These drops are on par with the drops from Naxx10 (item level 200. If you want some tier 8 level drops, you need to run Trial of the Champion on heroic mode, which you can do once a day. Same number of drops, but they are item level 219, and you also get 3xEmblem of Conquest, which you can use to purchase more tier 8 level gear.

Finally, we might now also have a chance of clearing Naxx. The raid lockouts are now extendable, so that if we don't complete it within a week, we can extend the lockout so it doesn't reset and we can carry on the following week without having to re-do all the bosses we've already cleared.

Everyone is pretty well geared now, and along with the new 5 man dropping ridiculous amounts of gear, i think it's not exaggerating to say that as a guild we will be ready for Ulduar once we've finally taken down the final boss in Naxx.

Comments on the forums please!

Last night, a semi-deadly band of aspiring old WoW gents assembled between 8 and 9pm with a view to attempting a run at the first (easy) boss in the Vault of Archavon. Nerves indicated that hopes of success were not high.

Unfortunately, the next wintergrasp was due, and it was clear that by the time everyone logged in and was ready, the VoA raid would not be available.

It was decided that a run at the first wing of Naxx should be tried instead. At this point, nearly all hope of any success was diminishing fast. This was the first organised DoGs guild raid since pre-Wrath. A full-on 10 man tier 7 raid? How could we even hope to get through the trash?

How we were wrong.

The DoGs spanked it all the way through the spider wing without breaking a sweat. Onto the plague wing and it was only Heigan that interupted the relentless assault. Moving onto the Military Wing, all but the last boss encounter was thoroughly demolished.

Half the entire raid had never even set foot in Naxxramas before. Darfaider pulled some moves out the bag and once again illustrated his tanking prowess by seamlessly picking up a boss once main tank Mikvonschpik died at the hands of Maexxna half way through the encounter. No one even blinked. Turious continued to surprise all with his higher-than-it-should-be- dps, Blueshaman again brought his incredible utility to the group, and Wattzeez only wiped the raid once, and even then it was nearly midnight, and after he confessed (under duress) to consuming more beverage than he'd originally admitted (!).

Purple was the colour of the day. Loot dropped for virtually all members of the raid, and well deserved they all were too. Congrats to all. Irrespective of the drops, all who were there are now more equipped to continue the onslaught of Naxx.

The forums are already lighting up with further tales of what everyone could agree was something special.

http://deadlyoldgents.guildomatic.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=15

http://deadlyoldgents.guildomatic.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17

It is surely now only a matter of time before Naxxramas falls at the hands of the Deadly Old Gents, and the brows of the occupants of Ulduar start to show more than a few beads of perspiration.

Look out. We're coming.

Last night, the DOGs cleared OS10 and downed Sartharion as a guild for the first time!

Well done to all who were there. It was a very tidy run, with no wipes, and only a couple of people died throughout the whole instance. Sarth himself went down with ease! Textbook.

Darfaider showed how far his tanking has come along, holding aggro across the board and showing his gear is up to taking some heavy damage. Blueshaman and Wattz healed seamlessly where 3 healers are the norm, and Turious put out some heavy DPS for someone who has just dinged 80.

Congrats to Stridor for his shiny new Tier 7 gloves, and Backstabbath for his badass new fist weapon.

Special thanks to Eros for leading the raid, would have probably been quite messy without him.

Next stop Vault of Archavon. Look out!

Have put the forums in place. Use them as much or as little as you like!

Let me know if you think of any improvements.

Mik