Illidan Kill Two, and Return to SSC

Our second Illidan Kill took just under an hour, from zoning to looting - something like four attempts. Considering we had a different flame tank, at least two new healers, and a handful of new DPS - it was really great. Another thing I'm particularly happy about, is that this entire weeks BT clear and Illidan kill has happened in the immediate wake of the Guild Master title changing hands. We haven't missed a step, in what is typically a guild shattering event. I'm just rather happy with everyone today: Our old GM (for orchistrating this change so well), our officers (for their continued support), and our Raiders in general (for their great performance, and confidence in me). 

I should mention - I nearly wiped us. Right before the last transition into Demon Phase, we were at ~3%. I stayed in too long, hoping we'd kill him, and built an unfortunatly large amount of threat on the demon. When I realzied I should get out of there, I ended up getting a portion of the raid shadow blasted once or twice. We still got the demons down and finished the last 3%, but I felt rather silly.

So, with our remaining two hours, I made the call to go to SSC so we can do half of the Hand of Ad'al title stuff (Fathomlord Quest, and Vial). We skipped Hydross, Lurker, Morogrim, and killed Fathomlord in two attempts (on the first, we had the hunter pet tank go down from a Cataclysmic Bolt). Considering that probably half the raid hadn't seen the fight previously, it only added to my general satisfaction.  Many people got their quest from the guy-in-a-cage.

We went to Vashj next, but were unfortunatly running out of time.  We didn't have any of the ranged DPS officers that had done assignments for sides back when we did it last night, so our Melee DPS officer had to quickly throw those together. That was unorganized, which didn't make healing assignments easy. In the end, we only did one attempt. Rather then keep the raid late on a non-progression night, I polled people, and all those that needed vials said they could make a impromptu Monday raid - so thats the plan tonight. In retrospect - we should have killed Lurker so we wouldn't have to reclear trash, but I suppose those are the breaks. 

Race Against The Patch

I wish that 3.0 had an announced release date, and if I can wish a little harder, that it the announced date would be at least two weeks in advance.

Long story short - I want to get Hand of A'dal titles for everyone who doesn't have them currently (joined us after doing T5, missed a Vial, ect). Come 3.0, those titles can't be earned.

My first priority is securing our Illidan kill, and making sure everyone can be a part of that - its our current progression, after all. He is priority one until we have killed him at least two more times. 

Beyond that, people are understandably split. Those that did joined while we were in BT want to see Hyjal / Kill Archimonde. Those that joined while we were doing Hyjal want Titles. Those that have been around since T5, want to do Sunwell.

I'm looking into ways to speed up the title process - namely trying to find guilds that would sell/share their raid ID that has Lurker (and possibly Morogrim) dead on it, so we could speed up Vashj/Fathomlord. Really, the biggest thing is the need to kill Illidan on our second night in BT, and not drag it out to a third.

The annoying part is - even if we do clear BT in two nights, that last raid night of the week doesn't seem like enough for Fathomlord, Vashj, Al'ar, Kael, Rage. (not to mention the three trips to Akama needed in there). And there is no guanretee that the following Tuesday won't be the patch, and cause things to end. 

The whole removal of ability to earn mounts/titles at 3.0, instead of Wrath, just seems like poor execution to me.