Raiding ExperienceFollow

So Sunday night I dinged 70 after a rather lengthy annoying ordeal (Arundel=poor as sh*t). Tuesday night I ran part of kara for the first time. Being as this was my first character and I had never done any raiding before it was...and experience. In light of that, I had some comments, questions, etc.

First and most importantly, a HUGE thank you to everyone on these boards for the help you gave me. I started reading at 58 and cannot overestimate how awesome it is. I had a cluster@#%^ spec, no gear, and no clue. I have special thanks to:

Nooblestick: You are like the Godfather (thats right The @#%^ing Godfather) of these boards.
Theo: On those threads that are full of important info that nonetheless became painfully boring, I could always look forward to a bit of brutal enjoyment and useful info
Demea: My build is nearly cookie cutter from your guide. You made me suck so much less and that makes you awesome

Secondly, now that the most important stuff is out of the way, I have a bunch of question about raiding (because no good plan survives first contact with the enemy).

1.) I tried to use the 3SnD/5SnD/5R attack pattern when possible, but all the bosses where immune to rupture. What should I be using as a finisher?
2.) I didn't have posions last night, but what one should I use for raiding?

Lastly, I'll put my armory up here. If nothing else, someone will get a great laugh out of it.

Linky

Notes on this:
1.) When I started the raid last night, there were the following changes:
MH = Ceremonial Warmaul Blood-blade
OH = The Stalker's Fangs
Feet = Spymistress's Boots

Again guys, you all rock!

Edited, Oct 5th 2007 2:08am by ArundelvalEstar

I don't want to use expose armor in raids right? Doesn't that ***** up the tanks?

o.O

Expose armor = no no with warrior tanks, which is the norm. And i usually run with deadly MH and instant OH. I also seem to remember that doing more long term DPS on the damage calculator.

In kara on the rupture immune mobs (not all mobs are rupture immune just so you know) i use evis as my CP dump. SnD is priority though, need that up at all times.

I failed. Had a minor brain asplosion. Forgive.

1) Use evis to dump points (as already stated). If you have all druids tanking, EA isn't a bad choice. They will appreciate it as it will allow them to generate more threat (their threat is based largely on damage). Don't use EA with a warrior tank, and if you have a warrior in the group (even if he's not tanking) generally he will be responsible for sundering.

2) Always carry a stack of max rank deadly and instant poison with you. There will also be some very limited instances where you many want mind numbing (not in kara though IIRC). For your particular gear and spec, you either want deadly poison on your main hand and instant offhand, or if you have a shammy... windfury main hand with DP offhand. What Eon said is correct about DP... you waste charges once you have a full stack. However, with a 1.8 speed offhand and a relatively low hit rating, you would probably have problems maintaining a full stack with it on just the offhand. IMHO what I listed would be a better combination for you until you gear up a bit (more hit) and get a faster offhand.

In all honesty, you have reasonably good gear for just hitting 70. However, I will say that you need to do a bit of work to make yourself more raid viable. Check out the shadow panther link in my sig. It lists the vast majority of rogue gear in spread sheet format for easy comparison. There are many things that you will be able to replace easily just by doing a quest or 2! Some general tips:

1) Use at least green quality gems. In general they cost the same as the 2g vendor gems. I have adamantite ore prospected all the time for me (to get blue gems). I know how many green gems are created. Find a good JC, and I guarantee that he'll sell you cut greens for 2g each!

2) Basic enchants are a must! I'm sure you are going to be working towards getting the exalted scryer/aldor shoulder enchant... and getting the cen exp helm enchant... but past that... you really need to enchant your gear to raid. The basics: at least have 24ap to bracers and 26ap to gloves! 12agi to cloak is pretty cheap (but your cloak isn't that great anyway lol). Round your enchants off with an armor patch on the legs (and for god sakes get different legs!). BTW... both your shoulders and helm are pretty much the best blues you are going to get in BC... they are worthy of enchants... and every upgrade past them is... what I'm saying is: work on rep so you have the option to buy them!

3) Strength is not for you! Those boots are mighty nice for druids (and gratz)... but there are BoE blue boots that are better for rogues (fel leather boots and master's treads) just to name a few. The first is easy to get from any leather worker!

Things that I would change ASAP:

1) Replace boots and pants with fel leather pieces from a LW
2) Put a 30stam/10agi patch on the new pants and 12stam (or better 12agi) on the boots
3) Replace cloak with a delicate green poncho (nagrand quest) and put 12agi on it
4) Replace all gems with at least green quality (shoulders are worthy of better)
5) Get a meta gem (the one from spirit shards is fine - 20ap is 20ap)
6) AP enchants to gloves and bracers (these enchants are cheap... arcane dust only... 10-15g max)

You're specced Combat Daggers, but you have a 1.80 speed dagger in your offhand. That's a big no-no. Find a quick dagger for faster poison and Combat Potency procs.

Also, those boots are teh suck. You don't need Dodge rating for raiding. Even the Master's Treads would be an upgrade for you. You also need to upgrade those level 61 green pants. Try for the Midnight Leggings out of heroic Slave Pens. And socket that meta slot in your helmet!

Your talent build could use some work as well. Drop the points from Sword Spec and put them into Imp Kick or Endurance.

Update:

Got some more gear after the run finished tonight. I've tried to take all your advice to heart, but its only been 2 days. What gems should I be looking for for +hit especially?

I know about the points in sword spec. I leveled with a dagger MH and sword OH )I know, I know, I didn't understand then what I do now) and a part of me really wants that to still be viable. When I get i bit more gold to my name, I'll respec again.

I am well known (hated?) among fresh 70s on my server for my uncanny ability to get what I want to drop, when I want it to drop. I did a back to back Slave Pens/Underbog run around 64 and got everything I wanted from both instances.

Feel free to rub my head for luck, although I'm not bald (yet, give it five years).