“Sorry,” the high-pitched voice said, “it was fun to play today. I absolutely need to leave. I, uh, have to eat breakfast. I’ll invite someone from the guild.”
“Me too,” said a mid-toned voice. “I need to leave, too. It was great to play, though! Really good run! Your main heal is OP.”
“Seconded,” said a third voice. “I also gotta go. I got… work or something. I’ll get someone too.”
That something did some very heavy lifting.
What was one even supposed to say to that? Could anyone even—
“It was great hanging, you guys! I’m sending you friend reqs in game later so we can play some other time~” Teenamsaid cheerfully. “Message me any time to ask for help. I’m happy yo heal always.”
“If you need a tank or DPS, message me!” Feffie was quick to follow up. “I’ll add you in-game as well!”
“Send the names to me,” Vice Cap said. “I’ll add the substitutes.”
The voice chat fell silent until the fourth player from the guild PREDATOR said, “At least I’m staying?”
This voice was of a wyrmkin Rogue player called Fifsha Shah.
“Awesome!” Feffie exclaimed.
“Hey, I was wondering,” Teenam asked, “What rank are you?”
“Rank?” Memmi Bvinanka asked softly.
She was very aware that aside from Vice Cap, every other player had a predator species… and deerfolk were based on a prey animal, so she didn’t want to be too loud even if the other guild’s players had bren nice and friendly throughout Normal Misty Haven.
“Predator has ranked teams for their raids and dungeon runs,” Vice Cap explained.
“I’m B-rank. But I do A- and C-rank subbing if they’re low on DPSes.”
“And the other who just left were B-rank too?” Vice Cap asked.
“No, they’re all C-rank. The off healer that left does substitution in the third team of the B-team, though. Not often but I’ve played with him a couple of times. I think the available full-time B-ranks that could play were sent to the other party. I kind of am fluid between three ranks so I was stashed away with the mid-rankers.”
“Do you do a lot of dungeon runs?” Feffie asked.
“No. Do you? I heard it’s hard to get through Normal in less than an hour, even for high-level people. Having been in that sort of speedrun of a new dungeon was amazing.”
Feffie laughed softly. “Teenam is a world-class healer. A bit unorthodox, but that’s a nice feature and not a flaw. Keeps you on your toes.”
“You have a really good grasp of your skills. I just checked your stats and I think your build is probably pretty balanced based on your accuracy and evasion. You’re at a level where you could actually choose to specialise a bit more even,” said “world-class” healer mentioned suddenly. “I think you could learn to use Sneak and Ambush more efficiently first, though. Rogue is all about being adaptable when you get to higher tier games. You’d do fine with an average healer on Legendary, probably, but you’d die right away in Nightmare before even the first boss even with a decent healer. Maybe do a few regular dungeons, but run with nothing but your class rune. Unequip the job rune for those practice runs and do them with friends or find someone to mentor you in PvP.”
“You have a Rogue build too?” Fifsha Shah asked.
“Nah, I just noticed some moments when you could have acted a bit more calculated and tactical. It’ll be especially useful to know for PvP and if your team is doing first-time raids to recon for other teams.”
“Recon??” Memmi asked, confused.
“You know how we send on a full party into new raids and dungeons and let them just run them as best as they can and then report back,” Vice Cap said. “That’s recon.”
Teenam added, “Oh? I thought it was playtime.”
“You getting squashed by a giant hammer because you got distracted by guild chat has its uses too,” Vice Cap said coolly.
“Like what?” Teenam asked.
“Teaching by example. The entire guild knows not to lose focus because you act like an idiot in end game content.”
Teenam started laughing hard enough to be wheezing. “I’m the bad influence that shows how not to play the game? Gold!”
“Mute yourself. You’re loud.”
Teenam listened and muted the microphone, cutting the laughter off.
“Our recon is different from a more serious raid guild. We just recon to help with mechanics. A serious guild recon so they can run the raid quickly,” Vice Cap added.
Memmi wanted to ask more but the chime of someone joining the call sounded in her ears.
“Hi!” Feffie greeted them enthusiastically.
A second and third chime soon followed.
“Hi,” a grumbling voice said.
“Welcome to party two of the dual guild run,” Vice Cap said, his voice warm in a teacher-way. “I already know your names, but please tell the rest who you are, thank you. Species would also be nice to know.”
“Sija Xeenja, lynxkin,” said one voice.
Probably Runeblood, seeing as they had a ya-nya name, just like Leader. Memmi would probably not dare to call that lynx a cat, though.
“Wudar Groh, wolfkin. H at the end,” said the grumbling voice.
Perhaps a Bloodtooth based on the name, but as far as Memmi knew, this wolf could be an Iceclaw. Wolves had very similar names.
“Siegfried Gunther, human.”
Well… Memmi couldn’t exactly guess between Dreadman or Scholarian based on that, but Dreadman sounded more predator-y to her.
But one of those names felt out of place. A bit like Jules’ name. But Memmi wouldn’t judge. It was just weird whenever there was a name that looked almost normal among the lore-accurate name.
Though, according to lore, humans could have any names because they’re from outside of Velkrinni, so it was, in theory, lore accurate. Just… foreign to Velkrinni.
Even if someone came with a name like “Erect Tower” it was lore-accurate.
Extremely inappropriate an innuendo, but as long as they were human, it was fine according to lore… technically speaking.
“Sija, Wudar and Siegfried, got it,” Feffie said. “We were just talking about ranks. We don’t have those in our guild, but what team ranks are you?”
“We’re from the main party of the A-rank team,” Siegfried said, voice deep and tempo slow.
“Oh, that’s probably pretty good then?” Feffie commented lightly.
A moment later, the dot marking new messages appeared next to the guild’s server icon. Memmi tapped it. The server was currently extremely quiet, waiting for updates on how they did in the and their first Legendary run, for the first party to finish their Normal run, and to find out how Teenam would do in Nightmare and Mythmaker.
#general
Feni Kunas
Anyone know how strong a “main party in the A-team” is in competitive guilds?
“How did your Normal run go?” Fifsha Shah asked the others from PREDATOR.
Memmi saw multiple people begin writing a reply, but soon it was just Teenam.
“We finished before you by several minutes. It was a really easy dungeon. Nothing special. We’ve run more difficult dungeons.”
“Oh,” Fifsha Shah said. “Well, we had a good run.”
“Yes, we noticed,” the grumbling voice of the Wolfkin said. “I don’t remember you to be so… chatty.”
“Ah. Sorry, senior. I won’t ask again.”
Teenam Mortana
I can’t say the exact statistics, because the guilds vary in what they look for. Some look at level, some proficiency and skill trees, some at clearance stats of specific dungeons and so on and so forth. They tend to have tryouts, but those are usually for lower levels to train them to higher levels.
Memmi only listened to with half an ear as Vice Cap explained the raid rules of the run while she read what Teenam continued to write more about competitive Tales of Velkrinni.
But 5-8 years ago, the minimum level for PRDTR-A was 500. It would have increased since they, because the max level has increased. So my guess is around 650-750 now. PRDTR-S was almost 1k 5 years ago, and required specific builds, as well as stats from 50 raids or dungeons, or 100 wins in PvP tryouts, in a 2 weeks or a 95% clearance rate with some specific other data. PRDTR-A has tryouts too, but they’re raids alone.
It’s more competition internally than you’ll find externally.
They have lower level guilds in their system with “trainees” so unless you have world first or data centre first for Nightmare and/or Mythmaker, you’ll be trying our for predator 3 or 4 or whatever is their lowest tier guild these days.
The guild we’re working with today is their top guild, which has S to C. PRDTR-S is no more than 8 members total, but is often just 3 or 4. PRDTR-A supports S, B supports A and C supports B. Substitutes for a higher rank needs to be in the first or second team, unless the second party is lacking in members, substitution downward means one isn’t in the first party.
So my estimate is that Predator A-rank main party should be minimum around 850-1k, and maximum around Cap’s level. Maybe higher. Absolutely less than 1500. Over that and you’re either in S, or at the top of any of the other big serious raid guilds. Most people at that level are casual players who’ve just been around for long enough to accumulate the level, not because they’re trying to.
Teenam stopped writing for a good while, seeming to have little more to say about
“Countdown for entering Legendary is down to twenty…” Memmi heard Vice Cap say just as Teenam sent another message after having not written for a long while.
The A Rank MAIN main healer would be worse than me though, I can guarantee that. Maybe not in level but in execution.
“Fifteen… Feni, you aren’t muted yet. Get to it.”
“Sorry, G.”
Memmi watch as the countdown screen moved to the unskippable cinematic. She hadn’t been prepared earlier and got a bit rattled, but this time she just took a deep breath as her character went ashore.
You are now in Misty Haven (Legendary).
In this realm, you are stripped down to your truest self, bared to the fears and horrors of yourself and your kin
Your name is Memmi Bvinanka.
You represent the Forest Roe — the deerfolk who value community and live off the roots of the Mother Tree.
You are a following the path of a Rogue. You claim you have the experience of level 686.
Your kin’s challenge is not succumbing to your hidden anxieties. Your kin’s greatest fear is to become isolated.
Can you prove your knowledge aligns with what you ought to know? Or is your kin’s fear too great, your challenge too difficult, and your true skill lacking?
The deerfolk that appeared from the fog were happy, but only for a moment. The panic as each disappeared was palpable, leaving just one deer left, before it panned away.
The eight members of the party were human and a foxkin fighter, a deerfolk and wyrmkin rogue, a wolfkin brawler, a wood elf mage-turned-summoner, a regular lynxkin mage…
“Wait a sec,” the deep unfamiliar voice of the main tank said, the tone sounded a bit… disgusted?
…and their moon fox healer who instantly was casting buffs.
There was a hint of what sounded like mockery but could be poorly restrained anger, the lynxkin’s lighter voice came through: “Long time no see, Mortana.”
“What did I just say about the rules?” Vice Cap said. “No one talks aside from me, and main tank if need be.” He paused before adding, “Or do they not teach discipline in your guild?” in a tone that was more cordial than Memmi had ever heard Vice Cap talk.
“Oh sorry. I just got shocked. No one told us your healer is Teenam Mortana,” the lynxkin said.
“Your guild asked us to bring a main healer for one of the teams. I brought our main main healer.”
“Oh, you must be incredibly casual then. I suppose you like carrying your useless healer.”
“Yes, sure, if you think we do, then we do. Now, shut the fuck up, or I’ll kick you out, because unlike you, apparently, B4 has strict raid etiquette rules, and even stricter punishment for breaking them.”
“I’m unhappy too, Sija,” the human said, “but don’t ruin our reputation. Mute yourself and let’s get this done fast. You’re not leading the run.”
“Good job, everyone. That’s our first boss,” Vice Cap said as the frost giant fell to the ground.
You have defeated the Mystic Frost Giant
You received 1648 experience.
The next corridor has opened.
[Party] Teenam Mortana: gg
[Party] Feni Kunas: gg
[Party] Memmi Bvinanka: gg
[Party] Memmi Bvinanka: esp t being sole heal
[Party] Teenam Mortana: vc tell fifsha when to use ambush
[Party] Teenam Mortana: the timing was off
“All right, I’ll coordinate Fifsha’s skills more. Thanks for the input, T.”
[Party] Sija Xeenja: how would u know how to play rogue, mortana? made a rogue alt?
[Party] Wudar Groh: or perhaps its mortanas rogue ways
[Party] Teenam Mortana: no fihting in party chat
[Party] Teenam Mortana: np vc
[Party] Sija Xeenja: i’m not fighting
“No arguing in the chat,” Vice Cap said as the tanks pulled mobs.
Feffie was lower level and couldn’t take as many, but was willing to be more reckless than Siegfried Gunther who was being careful about not pulling too many since Misty Haven came with the risk of mobs being more difficult than the level suggested.
One trusted their healer whole-heartedly to keep them alive even if their hp ended up permanently orange.
The other trusted their skill with just as much confidence to avoid ever going below yellow.
The Brawler was cautious as well, being at the front line, while the wyrmkin was using sneak to get past the mobs.
The Mage was casting fire spells, giving a clear idea of this being someone whose fire spells were the most upgraded, which also explained the chose of the red book.
Memmi was nearby with her bow. Her shots were slower than that of most species would be, with a second of additional aim put due to the deer head anatomy.
Teenam was behind the backline, doing the Moontail Foxkin’s sacred lunar dance emote. He did absolutely nothing useful.
Vice Cap stood beside the fox, while Ateemi got ordered to cast its minimal heal buffs between the attack and special skill commands.
Suddenly several mobs appeared out of the ground poisoning the entire party. This hadn’t happened in the previous run.
[Party] Teenam Mortana: cover
Memmi had barely registered what Teenam had just written in party chat when she heard Vice Cap speak. “Memmi, shoot the fiery arachnoshroom with Sharpshot when it has finished its current attack loop. It’s likely there will be an AoE attack. Make sure to keep an eye on the ground so you don’t miss when it’s preparing it.”
Teenam moved to the midline and cast Prayer as well as Velkrinni’s Blessing and Velkrinni’s Embrace, before casting Cleanse on each member with the two Fighters first, and then in an order that didn’t make much sense followed by setting up to cast Hymn right at the midline.
“Fighters, let off-tank take the possible bosses while main takes all the adds. Feni, my summon will support you. Brawler, you’re supporting your buddy with the small fry. Fifsha, find the one with most HP from the adds and get behind it. Tell me when you’re ready. Cast Sneak to get behind them.”
Memmi noticed the slight change on the ground, seeing the AoE area. She prepared her Sharpshot.
“Mage, get your ass over to the east side and don’t cast anymore fire spells. Better weak ones than fueling the fire monsters. It’s water attacks or whacking the monsters with your book. I don’t care which.”
Teenam’s had already switched to Heal at some point and then cast a random Bind on the arachnoshroom before continuing the focussed healing.
Memmi released the skill as soon as the glow on the tip of her arrow had turned bright red.
The floor lit up.
“Teenam, AoE!” Vice Cap barked, as everyone ran away from the centre.
Teenam moved the moment he heard his name and just about avoided the attack. And immediately ran back to midline before the tanks had even had time to repositioning themselves.
By the time Feffie was back to the big shroom and the human fighter was getting aggro of the adds, Teenam had already cast a higher level version of Bind, which debuffed every enemy around him with Paralysis V and Reformation.
It made it far easier to handle the large amount of enemies. After all, they were all far above level 300, the full range being a minimum of 450 to at least Teenam’s 1k+ level.
And Teenam went back to dancing without a care of healing once more.
Because of course he did.
Author’s Note
Because I got confused for a moment while proofreading: Ateemi is G’s summon.