3/25/2007
Ilterendi attempted Gruul before it was retuned and each time felt more random. Gruul has an area of effect knock back, but this knock back punts you in a random direction. A few seconds after, you could possibly do and receive as much as ten thousand damage to anyone near yourself. This had the effect of killing most of the raid after only a few knock backs. Once he was retuned, Blizzard lowered the damage across the board, and almost every progressive guild on Silvermoon killed him within days of each other. This is another one of those fights I look forward to and regret every time. Gruul’s loot table includes the Aldori Legacy Defender another shield that won’t drop for me! I just have really bad luck with shields. 
3/10/2007
The Nightbane encounter has gone through a number of changes since we started and completed it. Even as we farm it today Nightbane bares little resemblance to the encounter it once was. For one it’s easier, a lot easier, the minions he summons in phase two no longer have the area of effect fire damage. Without a Mage in the group to frost nova them in place it proved very challenging. The cast time on Nightbane’s fear was almost doubled, which is much more forgiving for the tank without fear ward. Lastly he just doesn’t hit as hard as he once did.
Ilterendi was the first guild on the Silvermoon server to down Nightbane. I have been to each kill since then and the one item I’ve wanted the most has not yet dropped. The Shield of Impenetrable Darkness was to replace my blue shield from Shadow Labs, but I’ve yet to see it. Such is my luck with random drops! Usually what happens is once you purchase an epic equivalent from a reputation and finish enchanting it the piece you really wanted finally drops. I’m holding out for as long as I can. Blizzard will not get the best of me!
3/8/2007
While leveling up through the Burning Crusade expansion most of my epic gear was replaced with blue quest rewards, and even some greens. Those holding onto their precious Azeroth set pieces were in for a big wake up call! As a Warrior tank I could see the renewed value that was placed on stamina and I geared for that stat more then any other. Dodge parry and defense took a back seat to twelve stamina gems and stamina enchants. My new trinket of choice was the Goblin Rocket Launcher. Even without fancy epics my focus on stamina paid off with more server first kills for Ilterendi.
After a night of trying out Doomlord Kazzak we downed him eventually. Most of the strategy is getting players to watch their mana, and preventing spectators from bombing the raid. In my and many other’s opinion the new Kazzak is not worth the time and effort required to get everyone together and under the radar of Horde trying to sabotage the kill. After Kazzak we moved to Gruul’s Lair where we defeated High King Maulgar. While not terribly exciting it was good to get back into raiding after leveling to seventy. Here’s to more server firsts! /cheers
