Joining a Crystal Tower run, you really never know what you're going to get. You might be lucky and get three groups of people who all have a firm understanding of each encounters mechanics, but on the other hand you might get a lot of people who have never been before.
Being new to Crystal Tower you have to rely on other people to give you clear and concise instructions, which isn't always the case, as more often than not people will lose their patience and skip important battle mechanics, expecting you to fill in the blanks. They will then proceed to shout at you in block capitals, because you just killed the other twenty three people..
It's for this reason I wrote out a series of macros to help explain each encounter as quickly and clearly as possible. I've used these macros on multiple runs and have had nothing but good feed-back and commendations. I didn't think to post them here on the forums, but I've had many requests to do so, so here they are for people to use, or not;
-- CT Valefor ------------------------------------------
/a ★ Group A: Left Valefor
/a ★ Group B: Middle Trash
/a ★ Group C: Right Valefor
/wait 6
/a Tanks: Watch out for Valefor's Tail Whip. Aim him away from other raid members as you would in Amdapor Keep.
/wait 6
/a Stand on the green platforms to avoid to taking floor damage from the rising green wee.
-- CT Second Trash ------------------------------------
/a ★ Group A: Left Trash
/a ★ Group B: Middle Trash
/a ★ Group C: Right Trash
/wait 6
/a Simple trash with no unique mechanics. Clear these and we'll move on.
-- CT Cursed Eye Dira ----------------------------------
/a ★ Group A: Left Cursed Eye Dira
/a ★ Group B: Middle Cursed Eye Dira
/a ★ Group C: Right Cursed Eye Dira
/wait 6
/a Stand on the green platforms like the previous trash. Careful of the Cursed Eye's Petrification cone attack.
-- Bone Dragon ----------------------------------------
/a ★ Bone Dragon ★
/a Stand on the green platforms to avoid floor damage, just like before. One group will stay with the boss.
/wait 6
/a The other two groups will focus on the spawning adds; Platinal.
/wait 6
/a All Platinal must be killed before the boss is defeated. Platinal must also be killed apart from one another.
/wait 6
/a If two or more Platinal die in the same location, they will recieve a speed buff; meaning they can run back to the boss and cause large AoE damage before we can stop them.
/wait 6
/a Kill each of the Platinal at the end of each green path, closest to the boundry. Bad positioning of Platinal will result in a wipe.
/wait 6
/a The boss must die a total of three times. Your group locations are:
/a ★ Group A: Bone Dragon : Tank him to the far north, by the Gate.
/a ★ Group B: Middle : Kill all adds that spawn to the West.
/a ★ Group C: Middle : Kill all adds that spawn to the East.
-- CT Atomos ------------------------------------------
/a ★ Group A: Left Atomos
/a ★ Group B: Middle Atomos
/a ★ Group C: Right Atomos
/wait 6
/a Having four people stand on the platform closest to you will unlock another Groups boss.
/wait 6
/a Have both healers and two DPS stand on this platform at all times.
/wait 6
/a Your OT and the other two DPS will attack the boss.
/wait 6
/a Your MT will pull any spawning adds to your group that is standing on the pad for them to be killed.
/wait 6
/a ★ I suggest putting your ranged DPS with your healers, though it doesn't matter, so long as the enemies can be killed by whichever DPS you choose.
/wait 6
/a ★ Once your Atomos is dead, remember that you are still unlocking another Groups boss, so please don't leave your platform.
-- CT Thanatos ----------------------------------------
/a ★ Thanatos ★
/a ★ Group A: Left Pot
/a ★ Group B: Middle Pot
/a ★ Group C: Right Pot
/wait 6
/a Defend your Magic Pot and keep it healed. Kill any adds that try to destroy it. I suggest healers focus target their Magic Pot.
/wait 6
/a Only one party can attack the boss at a time; the 'Ghost Party'. Being a Ghost looks much like stealth, if your group are under this effect: kill Thanatos.
/wait 6
/a The 'Ghost Party' will change once every minute, so tanks, be ready to grab Thanatos from the previous group when it's your turn.
-- CT Allagan Bomb -------------------------------------
/a ★ Group A: Left Vassago
/a ★ Group B: Middle Vassago
/a ★ Group C: Right Vassago
/wait 6
/a Kill Vassago before moving onto the Allagan Bomb.
/wait 3
/a Make sure each Vassago are tanked as far from the Allagan bomb as possible.
/wait 5
/a Two types of adds will spawn; Napalm and Balloons. The Napalm must be killed before they reach the Allagan Bomb.
-- CT King Behemoth ------------------------------------
/a ★ King Behemoth ★
/a ★ This is the toughest encounter of the Crystal Tower and has a few notable mechanics.
/wait 6
/a The arena will emit small, constant raid damage. The damage will increase unless each of the four towers are controlled.
/wait 8
/a Tanks from each group will be chosen to click these towers the moment they light up.
/wait 6
/a During the encounter, random party members will be highlighted with a green comet symbol. If you have this symbol, run to the south side of the room until a comet spawns.
/wait 8
/a The two types of adds that spawn; Puroboros and Iron Giants, must be killed before they destroy any of our placed comets.
/wait 8
/a Finally: when Behemoth goes "Grraaargh!", he will begin casting Meteor. All 24 raid members must hide behind one of the comets before casting finishes.
/a ★ Group A: King Behemoth & Iron Giants
/a ★ Group B: Both Western Towers (Main Tank: North West. OT: South West)
/a ★ Group C: Both Eastern Towers (Main Tank: North East. OT: South East)
-- CT Acheron ------------------------------------------
/a ★ Acheron ★
/a ★ The final boss of the Crystal Tower.
/wait 3
/a Acheron has many ground effect attacks; simply avoid them. His only notable attack is Ancient Flare.
/wait 5
/a To avoid Ancient Flare each group must stand on one of the three pads to activate a shield.
/wait 5
/a I will do a call; at this point each group must run back to their pad, kill the Iron Claw defending it. Then wait for Acheron to finish casting.
/wait 8
/a ★ Group A: Left Pad
/a ★ Group B: Middle Pad
/a ★ Group C: Right Pad
/wait 3
/a Go stand on your pads now, so that everyone knows you're ready.
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I posted these for other people to use or alter to their own liking. If there is something you feel I should change or ways to improve these macros then I would love to hear your suggestions.
Obviously it's only a matter of weeks before people are running this place with their eyes closed, but until then I think it's important that everyone knows how these encounters work.
Thanks for reading!
Crystal Tower Macro Instructions
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12-25-2013, 02:56 PMAshiraCrystal Tower Macro Instructions
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12-25-2013, 02:57 PMRuri
A little over-detailed but very good idea to have macros to explain each mechanic
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12-26-2013, 11:06 AMtOnni3
good idea but should have japanese version as well ^^"
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12-27-2013, 02:08 AMLollie
Might want to add comets must be spread out, have had several group blow then all up by stacking and initial bury dmg.
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12-27-2013, 03:45 AMNash20
Very nice!
Should also add...Please Group "_" use your actual gear and stop wearing Christmas gear. Kthnx -
12-27-2013, 03:53 AMam0nThis is the English forum. It may exist in the Japanese forum already.Quote:
Originally Posted by tOnni3
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12-27-2013, 05:53 PMTua
Guildie of mine has made similar macros which he uses just once before each new part of the dungeon. Everyone in the alliance was listening when he was giving out the instructions as main offtank, but when he switched to goon for another run and did the same some randoms started making remarks about "fishing for commendations" and implying macros are for baddies and lazy people :D
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12-28-2013, 02:41 AMAshiraI did have one scenario where one person in the raid went "Blah blah blah. We know this." which then triggered a lot of people telling him/her to shut up. It then turned into a massive rage debate. I only post these instructions if there are people there who haven't been before; or if there are a lot of quiet people and the raid starts wiping. I think some people are afraid to say that they're new to a dungeon, because 'the elite' are already speed running the place and don't have time for slackers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tua
It's a little sad, but the same thing happened with Prae not long after launch. -
12-28-2013, 02:49 AMMikedizzy
That is nice! very nice job.
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01-03-2014, 12:01 AMLilysparkle
This is a great idea, and thank you for making them and also sharing them! During one of my own runs a character by the name of (I think) Hikaru Feng, had very similar macros. They were extremely informative and everyone was praising them. :)
I have sometimes thought about doing exactly this but for other dungeons, like Brayflox, etc. :) Maybe all of them.. -
01-03-2014, 06:58 AMNekodar
Please don't continue to spread the Bone Dragon to the North strategy.
Bone Dragon should be tanked in the middle to allow dps to move around properly without standing in green goo. -
01-03-2014, 10:42 AMAshiraGreat minds think alike? Haha. I have been making macros for dungeons since I first began clearing them, though I've had to get rid of some and break some down, since I was running out of space. Our Company don't use voice communication either, so I had many macros to not only explain Turns 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; but also macros to use during the encounters! If you're interested, I really don't mind sharing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lilysparkle
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01-03-2014, 10:46 AMAshiraHey Neko. I'm collecting the Monk gear from Crystal Tower, so I spend a lot of time there as one; I don't have any trouble doing DPS to the boss, it just means standing slightly closer to him during phase 3.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nekodar
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01-03-2014, 10:58 AMSylariProblem I run into a lot is a tank tanking him too far forward so melee are toeing the goo while DPSing him. Or the tank not tilting him at all so DPS can't do flank combos without stepping in the bad stuff.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashira
DPSing in the middle makes it easier for melee to reach the skeletons too. -
01-03-2014, 11:10 AMAshiraTanking him in the middle makes perfect sense from a tanking and DPS persepctive, I agree. I just prefer having him tanked to the far north, as it allows more time for the DPS to take down the Platinal, should the DPS be lacking. As with all fights however there is no single right or wrong way and I encourage both. I've made an alternative version of the Bone Dragon encounter macro for those who would like to teach the Central Tanking Method:Quote:
Originally Posted by Sylari
-- Bone Dragon ----------------------------------------
/a ★ Bone Dragon ★
/a Stand on the green platforms to avoid floor damage, just like before. One group will stay with the boss.
/wait 6
/a The other two groups will focus on the spawning adds; Platinal.
/wait 6
/a All Platinal must be killed before the boss is defeated. Platinal must also be killed apart from one another.
/wait 6
/a If two or more Platinal die in the same location, they will recieve a speed buff; meaning they can run back to the boss and cause large AoE damage before we can stop them.
/wait 6
/a Kill each of the Platinal at the end of each green path, closest to the boundry. Bad positioning of Platinal will result in a wipe.
/wait 6
/a The boss must die a total of three times. Your group locations are:
/a ★ Group A: West: Kill all adds that spawn to the West.
/a ★ Group B: Bone Dragon: Tank him in the Middle.
/a ★ Group C: East: Kill all adds that spawn to the East.