Ascent News

Farewell to Ascent

2009-02-16T17:31:00.001-06:00

Farewell, Ascent, the greatest guild I've ever been a part of. Ascent has lost too much of its raider base to continue raiding, so it's time to acknowledge where we are and let the guild retire in dignity.

I will never forget the wonderful times I've had in the guild, or the wonderful people I've raided with. We had a great ride from Karazhan through Sunwell, enjoying Horde server first kills all along the way. We've had fantastic players. We had great times. We had respect for one another. We had bad jokes. We had singing. Most of all, we had fun.

Ascent, I salute you!

-Blaed (Tahra), GM of Ascent

Kel'Thuzad conquered by 25 Ascent raiders!

2008-12-09T20:26:00.004-06:00

New Website

2008-09-08T17:43:00.004-05:00

Hey!

Well, we have our new website up and running! You can check it out via this link:

http://ascentraiding.com/

(Right click the link and select Open in New Window)

Once our current domain transfers, both addresses will point to the new website.

Reasons to Go to the New Website

Better look and feel (adios snowbunny theme!)
Content has been updated to better reflect what Ascent is about
Player DKP/Attendance plus guild news will only be updated there
Our General Policies are now available to the public

See you there!

New New Forums

2008-08-16T09:42:00.002-05:00

I've gotten the new, new forums up and running from a backup version. You can access them from the "New Forums" link on the left or here.

It's important to realize that the backup version is a couple weeks old. So if you go to log on and you can't, you'll most likely need to create a new account.

I'll be working today to recreate some of the content on the forums that is missing. We should be back in operation with normal posting, though.

Forums Update

2008-08-14T11:45:00.002-05:00

I worked on the forums last night but there are still two tables that are very unhappy. My understanding is at this point (based on the error codes) it's up to our host (Yahoo) to correct the issue. It's not something I can do on my end apparently. I sent them an email last night but haven't heard anything yet.

I've spent most of today exploring other hosting options. I have a moderately recent local backup of our forums, so I should be able to restore them into a new host's MySQL.

I'm sorry for the inconvienence this is causing everyone. The whole point of the new forums was to not have to deal with interruptions, etc.

If something comes up that you urgently need to speak to the officers about, there's a nice "Contact" link at the very bottom of this page. I check that email address very often.

Again, I'm sorry about all this. I'm working to fix things as fast as I can.

-Valyre

Forums Error

2008-08-13T08:10:00.002-05:00

When I tried checking our forums this morning, I got an error. Refreshing doesn't seem to help. I've called customer support for the web hosting provider. Apparently they've been doing some MSQL upgrades and while the tech guy wasn't sure if that's exactly what's happened to our forums, it seems like the most likely reason.

So basically my ticket has been escaladed but it's hard to say when the issue will be fixed. Hopefully they'll be back up soon.

Double the Pleasure, Double the Sunmotes!

2008-07-17T23:11:00.003-05:00

Tonight Ascent melted the faces of the Eredar Twins, a Scarlet Crusade server first! This comes after 3 nights of intensive wipage on everything from the Ledge Boss to some nice attack misclicking.

We've had an awesome run through SWP this week, 2-shotting Kalecgos and 1-shotting Brutallus before honing our tactics on Felmyst. Plus the holy paladin boot curse has been lifted - the first pair to drop in 22 weeks! That can only mean good things for the Warglaives imo!

Great job everyone! See you back here on Sunday for some cosmic wind chime luvings!

Wide-Screenie of Eredar Twins
Gazer Bonus Screenie
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

OMG RUN TO THE TREE!

2008-07-11T07:27:00.002-05:00

In a crushing blow to Kil'jaeden's fragile psyche, we have effectively taken out his reanimated pet dragon, Felmyst. When asked for comment, the leader of the Burning Legion shouted "All my plans have led to this... Honest!" between wracking sobs from behind the bathroom door.

With very solid attempts made Wednesday, plus a nail biting 1% wipe early on last night, Ascent pulled out a sweeping victory, and a true group win. Everyone did a great job keeping themselves alive, reacting to Encapsulates, and following the breath call-outs. Mass Dispels were top notch, especially with only 3 priests in the raid.

This was another Horde server first, continuing the long streak of faction firsts starting with Gruul. Three down, three to go!

Felmyst Wide-Screenie
(Right click and selection Open in New Window)

We Can Has Armored Netherdrakes!

2008-07-02T07:34:00.005-05:00

Ascent is first and foremost a raiding guild, dedicated to progression and downing new content. That certainly doesn't mean that's the only thing our guild members are interested in.

We'd like to congratulate Daymar, Jubellah, Qy, Trepidation, and Tokee for ranking in the top 0.5% of our battlegroup, Reckoning, and scoring themselves a 310% speed, armored netherdrake. Great job guys!

Full Size Screenie
(Right click and selection Open in New Window)

New Look, New Home!

2008-06-22T18:36:00.004-05:00

The long-planned forum and website overhaul has finally come! We've gone with a bit more belf look, rather than old school BT.

The most important part is we've gone with new forums. While "free" forums have served us through 2 guilds and countless heated discussions, over the past few months we've been getting a huge amount of account activation spam, the email system has stopped working, and paying for ad removal is clunky and unpredictive.

So today we're announcing the new home of Ascent's foums! You can find them here or follow the New Forums link at the left. The old forums will be converted to read only in a week, so be sure to make a new account and update your bookmarks asap!

-Valyre

Another Day, Another Glorious Battle

2008-05-19T07:19:00.005-05:00

Downing Brutallus was the perfect end to a great week. Not only have we managed to squash all farmed content into less than 2 days, we killed the wingless pit lord on the third attempt of the evening. Yes, Brutallus, I did bring back 24 of my best friends and they kicked your butt!

Wide-Screenie of Brutallus
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

This early kill left us plenty of time to pull Felmyst... during looting, during positioning, and even during snack time. Maybe next time we'll form a bucket brigade and keep the dragon from reanimating at all. Should save us some trouble, methinks. Great job on the dps and healing, not to mention sticking with the touch of enrage we saw. Only 4 more bosses to go!

There Comes a Time

2008-04-22T09:15:00.007-05:00

When every guild must dig deep and figure out what they're made of. Is it gumption? Is it perseverance? Is it Cheese Wiz?

Last night Ascent went to that dark place, dug around a bit, and came up with a handful of raw determination and a Costco-sized can of whoop ass.

Sathrovarr the Corrupt has been defeated. Kalecgos the Blue-haired is free to go about his business, which seems to be getting busted riffling through Kil'jaeden's underwear drawer.

A huge AWESOME JOB goes out to everyone that stuck it out through all of the attempts, even when we knew going in that we didn't have the right comp. The healers were top notch, fully prepared and ready to rock on every try. I'd also like to thank all the new folks that have joined us and really stepped up to the plate.

We are now a Sunwell guild!

Kalecgos Wide-Screenie
(Right click and select Open in New WIndow)

Last Post for a While :(

2008-01-21T22:31:00.000-06:00

Why? Because we wtfbbqpwned Illidan in the face, that's why! Tonight Ascent braved the laser beams and blue balls of death to defeat Illidan Stormrage, a Scarlet Crusade Server First! I've put together a short commemorative video to mark the occasion.

Ascent, Looking Forward

But don't worry! Brysan has totally captured the fight on video, so look forward to that soon! Awesome, top-notch job everyone!

Wide-Screenie of Illidan Stormrage
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

Council Dismissed!

2008-01-08T08:18:00.000-06:00

Last night Ascent downed the Illidari Council. This was a Horde Server First, and only our second night of attempts. This was an awesome victory for the guild, putting us within 1 boss of beating all of the current end-game content. Great job!!!

Wide-Screenie of Illidari Council
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

Afterwards we headed up the stairs and said hello to Illidan. The group shot didn't come out right, but I did grab one photo.

Hey, handsome, why don't you buy me a drink?

2008-01-08T07:28:00.000-06:00

Because I wasn't born yesterday.

Last Sunday, Madame Shahraz, proprietor of the Shady Rest Lounge and Casino, was brought in under charges of fallacious behavior and brandishing four rather large weapons. Witnesses on the scene claim that she wouldn't go without a fight. "Oh my gaud! The girl was just workin' it. Look at her, runnin' like she runnin' across the border. You don't want to gettin mixed up in all that Shivarra mess." said one Miss Noxeema Jackson.

When questioned later, Detective Sonny Crockett merely pushed up the sleeves of his peach sportscoat and remarked "First a junkie, now a hooker. I think I've been in the business too long, I'm starting to fall for the players."

Wide-Screenie of Mother Shahraz
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

We Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts!

2007-12-18T07:47:00.000-06:00

All right! This chick is TOAST! To the astonishment of mostly just me, Ascent has successfully defeated Reliquary of Souls! After a rousing speech from our fearless leader, (consisting of "Let's show this prehistoric b*tch how we do things downtown... THROW IT!") a gnome was launched and the battle ensued. We came, we saw, we kicked its ass.

Art Deco, very nice.

Wide-Screenie of Reliquary of Souls
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

Mount Hyjal Cleared, Tree Saved!

2007-12-10T07:32:00.000-06:00

Horde environmentalists sprung into action last night when it became known that Archimonde had nefarious plans for the World Tree, namely creating a contemporary yet casual dining room set from it. With previous experience as Coilfang Reservoir preservationists, this battle still proved to be quite difficult. Skin-melting fire swept the ground while gusts of air threw members far into the air. It was a lot like raiding California, tbh. Praise Elune and pass the tears!

Wide-Screenie of Archimonde
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

Server First! Bloodboil is Down!!

2007-11-20T10:02:00.000-06:00

Ascent has climbed another rung in the ladder towards joining the National Association of Hokey-Pokey'ers with last night's victory over Grutogg Bloodboil. Ol'Gurtie gave us quite the experience, mixing classical polka with modern pain and suffering. But after our second night of attempts, his blood boils no more. Great job guys and girls!!

Wide-Screenie of Gurtogg Bloodboil
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

We also got some really good attempts in on Souls, making it to phase 2 a few times!

Picture "Twix Does the Hokey Pokey" by Molly_Loves_Pictures on Flikr

Ascent Makes a Dent

2007-11-13T07:33:00.000-06:00

Both progression bosses, Teron Gorefiend and Azgalor, have fallen beneath the crushing blows of Ascent. Teron made a valiant effort, cleaning our clocks a number of times before enough practiced ghost shrimp managed to defeat all of their constructs. Honsou's problimatic releasing of Teron in Shadowmoon Valley has been corrected!

Wide-Screenie of Teron Gorefiend
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

Likewise, Azgalor also presented a difficult encounter, especially with his ability to one-shot main tanks with a normal hit. Luckily for us, he had no such success against bears. The raid did a great job staying out of the rain of fire and dying in the off-tanking location. Sadly, by the time we all got arranged for a group photo, the body disappeared. Sawles was the only one to get a shot in transit.

Composite Screenie of Azgalor
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

We then tried Archimonde a few times. Hilarity ensued. At least for Archi it did... If you weren't burning alive, you were flying through the air at break-neck speeds. Good times! :D

Two Silhouettes on the Shade

2007-11-05T07:58:00.000-06:00

While Shade of Akama is hawt, especially in his giangantic-but-shadowy form, Ascent managed to resist said allure and wrest the spirit from Illidan's grasp. Akama was made whole on our third attempt ever on this boss. This was a great example of a team effort, with all aspects of the raid having to work together. Excellent Job!

Shade of Akama Wide-Screenie
(Right click and Select Open in New Window)

He was kind enough to drop:
[Focused Mana Bindings]
[Ring of Deceitful Intent]

The rest of the evening we spent getting the quest to beat the Shade of Akama (/bonk) and clearing fun trash to...

Zomg, It Links Now?!?!

2007-11-01T09:39:00.000-05:00

This is probably a rather unexpected post, since 99.9% of the news I do is related to downing bosses and plowing through content. Never the less, I thought this was fun enough to at least try out.

In the past, I haven't linked loot drops because of the iframe design of this page tends to mess them up unless you go through the whole right click, open in new window pain. This morning, though, after following various links in a haphazard way, I came across Big Bear Butt and his blogger code for mouseover links to WowHead. Woot! Perfect!

So here's some test links of the first loot we got in MH/BT:
[Tracker's Blade]
[Girdle of the Lightbearer]
[Idol of the White Stag]

Two BT Bosses Down, Seven to Go!

2007-10-30T07:37:00.000-05:00

Last night, Ascent stepped through a tiny crack in the side of the Black Temple, and into a world filled with... more naga. /boggle Luckily, weeks of survival training in SSC had almost prepared us for the onslaught. First order of business was to ensure we knew the path back from the graveyard.

Unfortunately, one member failed this test and had to be replaced. From there we plugged our noses with netherweave wads and continued up through the sewer system. Monsters of various sizes fell before our elite damage dealers until we reached... High Warlord Naj’entus!

After a few tries and the addition of MOAR HEALERS!!! we defeated the giant sewage crustacean! Where's the melted butter??

Naj'entus Screenie By Algos
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

A room full of height-challenged green things and 6 bugged out dragons later, we made our way to Supremus' front lawn. I have to say it was impressive, but he may want to schedule some regular waterings.

After a few tries, Supremus, the giant Kool Aid man, was defeated. (Compliments to Evidicus for the analogy, since fighting the Kool Aid guy is much less scary than facing a huge elemental that loves nothing more than pounding in your face.)

Wide-Screenie of Supremus
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

Last night was tons of fun and thanks to everyone that stuck with learning two new bosses. /cheer

One-Shotting a New Boss FTW

2007-10-23T07:21:00.000-05:00

Last night, in a surprise turn of events, Ascent killed Kaz'rogal on their very first attempt. Witnesses at the scene seemed both excited and relieved. When asked about the fight, a young rogue farted loudly then ran off in search of a new boss, a shaman yelled "HAH" then pointed wildly to the right, and a tauren warrior repeatedly roared with beastial vigor. So there you have it, folks - straight from the raiders' mouths.

Also Available Dual-Screenies: A B
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

Two Bosses Down in One Night

2007-10-22T07:19:00.000-05:00

Last night was one of those really great raiding nights you rarely come across: One-shotting a recently downed boss (Kael'thas), then defeating 2 brand new bosses in a new instance! Ascent downed Rage Winterchill on the second attempt and Anetheron on the third.

Excellent job and congrats to everyone that got loot! Tonight we'll be heading back to Mount Hyjal for another night of win!

Wide-Screenies of Anetheron and Rage Winterchill
(Right click and select Open in New Window)

Kael Defeated! Onto Hyjal!!

2007-10-15T23:08:00.000-05:00

Tonight Ascent downed Kael'thas Sunstrider, Lord of the Blood Elves. This was the culmination of many weeks work, and just in time to convert our Kael Blitz Week into Hyjal Blitz Week!

Thanks to everyone that stuck out the full consumables wipe nights. The attitude was always upbeat and everyone worked together to figure out exactly what it would take for us to win. Excellent job and congrats!

Here's some picts of the action plus a wide screenie (right click and select Open in New Window).