Curse

TheDave · May 15, 2005, 06:54 PM // 18:54

Im sure i got the name rite, but sorry if i havent, its one of the 3 test for ascension, the 3 crystals 1, well heres what i gotta say, ive played some hard levels and hard games in my time but that really takes the piss, ive tried it 4 times now, and iv always gone in with lvl 20's, im only 19, but i went in with 3 warriors and 2 monks once, and we got upto where the 2nd crystal is, where ya go left after cutscene, and we got to those sages, and we just couldnt kill em, the regen rate is bull on them, every1 who i talk to in elonas reach they all say the exact same thing, this mission is near enough impossible, plus theres always some noob who leaves half way thru.

Zorlag · May 15, 2005, 07:33 PM // 19:33

It's really hard I agree. I've been trying it with henchies and got as far as going in to last base but got swarmed... It should be possible but everything has to go right and some speed running ability would be very helpful. Longbow is handy for getting aggro from one group at a time. I'm playing with Me/Ne with Domination and Inspiration as skills.

horohoro08 · May 15, 2005, 08:09 PM // 20:09

elona mission is driving me nuts. i tried it for more than 10 times, maybe i have bad luck, i ALWAYS team up with noobs who say "lets lure them" then he runs in dies, then another perosn goes in res, while going in, mobs come out and we get killed.... EVERYTIME that happens.

for those who passed this mission, can u tell me exactly how to beat it, i tried zoning it, tried to kill everything, tried to sneak and non of those strategy worked, so, PLEASE tell me how to beat it

Zorlag · May 15, 2005, 09:57 PM // 21:57

Success!!! Finally got through it with henches only. Went for right side crystal first (one that is guarded heavily, I just ran behind the mountain, pulled few groups and finished them, went in killed guards and returned the crystal. Then easier one, once again didn't hurry too much, pulled mobs with longbow. Didn't go through main gate but used side entrance to get in and out and finally slipped between hordes of mobs to victory. 9 minutes left on clock... phew.

Siliticx · May 15, 2005, 10:50 PM // 22:50

henches > players in elona really

TheDave · May 16, 2005, 12:53 AM // 00:53

Well thats exactly what happens with me, when playin wiv players i say ill lure them with my longbow because im a Ranger/Warrior with the speed skill, very very handy, anyways i always get ppl who run into a group of about 10 enemies, then we get slaughtered, but i tried with henchman once and got levered, probs because i didnt use my normal tactic, lure small groups first, but ill try henchman again, ill let u guys know how it goes.

Kershent · May 16, 2005, 05:29 AM // 05:29

Here's how I've done it (I've gone through it successfully twice, once for me and once for a guildie):

For the first (easy) minotaur part, tell the casters to kite as soon as they get aggro. Once you get into the first area with a small pool of water in the center, STAY THERE, and pull the minos that run in the next area into that spot to kill them. Repeat until the area is mostly clear, then proceed forward as normal.

When you get to the crystal part, always go right first. It's more difficult, and you'll waste less time if you fail. The key here is to pull one group at a time, and to prepare for your return. Usually, going right up the middle on the way back is the easiest, so you might want to clear out one or two groups there. Approach from the far right, grab the crystal and return. The left is much easier, and is done about the same way.

The thing I have to stress here is repetition with the same group. This is not something you can do on the first try with a group (well, I'm sure it's possible, but unlikely). When I did it the first time, it took 5 tries. The second, 3 tries. It's best to start your own group. Ask for players who know how to use teamwork. It's not likely that you'll filter out the idiots by requesting that, but you WILL let everyone know what you expect of them. Flesh out your group with whatever you want, but I would suggest high-damage, since you'll have to be able to tear into groups quickly.

I hope that helps somewhat for everyone still stuck.

vai demine · May 16, 2005, 04:21 PM // 16:21

Here are some thoughts on Elona Reach (and the ascension trials in general).

The Forgotten have some wicked healers (the sages and some bosses) that will drop Word of Healing on their teammates frequently. They should always be the first ones to be taken down. A good team will consist of something close to the following: 2 tanks, 2 nukers, 1 healer (maybe 2) and some support.

You'll need the tanks to pull and soak up the damage. They really need to be taking the damage. The Enchanted Swords and bows can be pretty dumb sometimes, they'll stay with one target until they get pulled into another one. Use that to your advantage, make sure that the tanks do the pulling and damage absorption. Any decent healer can keep up with two players being beat on (especially if you're only taking on one group at a time, in which case there are max two creatures hitting each tank, or three or four hitting one tank).

You'll need the nukers to drop down insane amounts of damage on those healers (bosses and sages). This helps with two things: obviously you'll take down the healer. Not so obviously, when you drop the healer quickly, you're saving your own healer's energy (can you tell I'm a monk??) because you can drop the rest of the group pretty quickly, without allowing them to drag the battle on. Most good groups die because their healers run out of energy and can't keep up with the constant flow of Damage-Heal-Damage-Heal. Taking those sages down quickly will end the battles faster and save your monk's energy pool.

Generally speaking, you should take out the enemies in this order: healer-caster-tank (sound familiar??). In Elona Reach specifically, the groups usually consist of the following: sage, cursebringer, two enchanteds (sword or bow). After the initial burst, the enchanteds don't really deal that much damage, so if your healer can soak up those first couple hits, it's pretty easy to maintain someone's health that is being hit by enchanteds. The cursebringers are another story, they keep dealing big damage throughout the battle. And they like to target casters (since they have good range themselves). That's why you need to take them down as soon as you drop the healers.

And if all else fails on Elona Reach, just cheat. There is a bug right now (at least until the Devs drop their next update on us...) that allows your team to get through the gates without actually opening them and starting the timer. Even good groups start rushing towards the end because that timer is tick-ticking their lives away. That's when you get into trouble, when you try to take on more than one group at a time. So if you can get rid of that pesky timer, your life will be a whole lot happier. Here's a step-by-step on how to cheat this mission.

-Go through the minotaurs like normal and get to the point where you talk to the Ghoslty Hero (cinematic) and he starts the timer. DO NOT TALK TO HIM!!! That is very important. Once you talk to him the timers start, so just don't do it! Go ahead and drop your first vision crystal on the ground here, you won't need it yet.
-Move up to the closed gate as a group. Push forward against the gate like you are trying to walk through it (which is what you are trying to do). Strafe ('Q' and 'E' buttons by default) back and forth while pushing forward against the gate, making sure to collide with your teammates.
-When you collide, there is a chance that one of you will 'pop' through the closed gate. It only happens when you collide, though, so you'll end up leaving someone behind (the last person has no one to collide with). You CAN use pets as a collision, and they won't get through, so take a ranger pet with you and you'll all get through that first gate.
-There is another gate to get through (I'd suggest the left gate). Since none of your pets made it though the first gate, you're going to have to leave someone behind for sure now. Follow the same steps as above until five of you are through.
-There you go. You're into the arena with no timer. Proceed to take out all those baddies one group at a time. Be careful of those patrols, make sure you hit a group while the patrol is away, and pull them away from where the patrol will be. Because your tanks have to be in melee range, if you don't pull the group away from their normal position, the patrol group will be aggroed by the tanks' presence when they get back.
-Once you've obtained both the crystals, cheat your way back through the gates (yeah, you'll be leaving someone behind again but it doesn't matter now). Talk to the Ghostly Hero to get the cinematic and start the timer. Pick up the crystals and talk to him again. Viola--you win!!

Vai

isk · May 16, 2005, 07:18 PM // 19:18

This mission is hard. Ive gained a full lvl (18) while trying to complete the mission. I must have done it over 20 times by now and im sick of it. I have a pretty good idea of what to do by now but obviously I always get grouped with at least one guy who is a jerk or has never played this mission before.

I say "skip the cutscene, it buys us valuable time" yet still Im forced to watch that cutscene again cause some doesnt care about others but only himself and his enjoyment. I say "careful, dont lure too many" but of course some guy runs ahead and lures 3 groups at once. Its so damn frustrating.

Im not saying this mission is too hard, but the group and teamplay needs to be perfect to complete the mission. And perfect groups and teamplay are hard to come by. The difficulty must be toned down considering the high densitiy of complete idiots playing Guild Wars.

Ive tried with henchmen as well but havent even retrieved 1 Vision Crystal with them. Ive read the tips and tricks and they are all based on having a good group that listens to you.

What can I do?

SereneD · May 17, 2005, 01:48 PM // 13:48

This quest is hard. TOO hard. After trying 5 times with the henchies and another 20 times with a PUG, I decided to try a new tactic. I am attempting to solo it with no henchies. So far I have been able to get 80 % done with returning the LAST cystal. I never attack a single mob, I only use sprints, stances and plague touch to get rid of the cripple from Hamstring. I can get the right crystal 90% of the time. The left one(or easier one) is actually harder to get back using this tactic. Once I complete the quest solo, I will post a screenshot.
I wish I could complete this quest the way it was designed, but it was designed for a dedicated group(guild group) to complete. There is absolutely no room for error when some fool in a PUG ventures too close to a patrol or doesn't move out quick enough to path between patrols. Ascention quests should not require that a full group work together flawlessly.

Smoky · Jul 21, 2005, 03:14 AM // 03:14

This is one tough mission! I have been at it for a while and the first crystal is now easey. I haven't found the second, I keep getting lost and too much in a hurry. If you are an Elemental like me this is how you get the first 2 crystals.
Good group for me is Healer, Protector, Brawler, Warior, Mage or Archer.
Never rush, you have enough time to do it. First: take first crystal to bottom of hill and drop it. go right where the worms are and kill them. Pick up crystal and take it to circle to get Priest. (A Monitor will be there or near there which you kill) now follow priest to spot where he sets a spell - drop the crystal. 2 Monitors will come from behind which you kill (They were there when you brought don the crystal). The Priest will continue walking and lure the group to you and him. You should be able to finish them off if you are not too close to priest. You continue through now and if Priest is alive follow him and you can clean up. The priest will always set a spell before battle so that will give you a hint of incomming. Follow this and you make it easily to the gate and timer. Now comes the harder part! when you get to the top of stairs, turn left and down to the left gate. Have all your spells ready! Hit tab key a few times untill you targe the Sage lizzard. There will be 3 Lizard things and should be close enough that when you go in you can attack the sage and kill him first then the other 2. This will allow you now to cross easey and up to next step where there is a bunch. Watch the Lizzards! they will come up slow and go realy fast down. You wait untill they are up and near you and wipe them out. only the 3 will be there. Sometimes there is a Sage on other side of fence who comes after you which is totaly unfair since he can hit you but you cant get him. hmmmm The next step should be going up and killing last bunch that are near crystal and you get them the same. The Sages are the key! GET THEM FIRST then the other 2 lizzard buddies after that the swordsmen are easey if your healer is alive. Get Crystal and head back same way. You may have to drop it once to fight 2 more lizzards but that souldnt take long. You should have at least 10 to 15 minutes left When you deliver the Crystal. You will have to make 2 trips if you play with henches like me. You may be able to stash the first hard Crystal and a team player may be able to carry one, don't know? You can come back the same route the second time and turn right after you cross the wide open and get on hill. The second crystal should be there somewhere. I need to get killed few times more to find out.
Hope this helps someone.

Deathlord · Jul 21, 2005, 03:54 AM // 03:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smoky

This is one tough mission! I have been at it for a while and the first crystal is now easey. I haven't found the second, I keep getting lost and too much in a hurry. If you are an Elemental like me this is how you get the first 2 crystals.
Good group for me is Healer, Protector, Brawler, Warior, Mage or Archer.
Never rush, you have enough time to do it. First: take first crystal to bottom of hill and drop it. go right where the worms are and kill them. Pick up crystal and take it to circle to get Priest. (A Monitor will be there or near there which you kill) now follow priest to spot where he sets a spell - drop the crystal. 2 Monitors will come from behind which you kill (They were there when you brought don the crystal). The Priest will continue walking and lure the group to you and him. You should be able to finish them off if you are not too close to priest. You continue through now and if Priest is alive follow him and you can clean up. The priest will always set a spell before battle so that will give you a hint of incomming. Follow this and you make it easily to the gate and timer. Now comes the harder part! when you get to the top of stairs, turn left and down to the left gate. Have all your spells ready! Hit tab key a few times untill you targe the Sage lizzard. There will be 3 Lizard things and should be close enough that when you go in you can attack the sage and kill him first then the other 2. This will allow you now to cross easey and up to next step where there is a bunch. Watch the Lizzards! they will come up slow and go realy fast down. You wait untill they are up and near you and wipe them out. only the 3 will be there. Sometimes there is a Sage on other side of fence who comes after you which is totaly unfair since he can hit you but you cant get him. hmmmm The next step should be going up and killing last bunch that are near crystal and you get them the same. The Sages are the key! GET THEM FIRST then the other 2 lizzard buddies after that the swordsmen are easey if your healer is alive. Get Crystal and head back same way. You may have to drop it once to fight 2 more lizzards but that souldnt take long. You should have at least 10 to 15 minutes left When you deliver the Crystal. You will have to make 2 trips if you play with henches like me. You may be able to stash the first hard Crystal and a team player may be able to carry one, don't know? You can come back the same route the second time and turn right after you cross the wide open and get on hill. The second crystal should be there somewhere. I need to get killed few times more to find out.
Hope this helps someone.

Um... it was nice and all, but what is up with you responding to a post that is more than 2 months old. How did you even FIND this post?

Little Thom's Bro · Jul 21, 2005, 04:16 AM // 04:16

actually this mission is not that hard even a few low lvl character can do this. I see alot of people trying to rush to get the crystals. You have alot of time 30 mins is enough time to even do the bonus. With the first crystal u can just rush it very easy and simple, just make sure you are not being chase by the minotaurs or else skip the video to fight them. Then for the second and crystal start that one from the right its alot harder get it out of the way. Kill as many patrol in the right so it wont rush you later when you are trying to return the crystal. For the third crystal dont aggro the patrol on your right and just kill the only patrol on your left. Run though and you will face a patrol going back an forth lure them out and dont aggro the patrol that going in the cliff coz that will give u a problem. Then kill the boss right next to the brigde so it will be easier for your return. Then battle through the last boss and get the last crystal this should be easy.