Stratics: We would like to welcome Rhoh from the PVP server, Venekor. Rhoh is the leader of Venekor Core team, a conglomeration of several Qeynosian players. He oversees the administration of raids from T5 - T7 and also runs the Venekor Core website.

How long have you been an active player in the world of Norrath? What class do you prefer and why?

Rhoh: The day EQ1 PVP, Vallon Zek, opened I started a PVP guild named "Da' Bashin Iggles". EQ soon out grew our attempts to destroy humans. I think we lasted about a year on that server. My recent adventuring started almost a year ago when Everquest 2 opened up some PVP servers of their own.

I have only played one class since opening day... a wizard. Pre-EoF it was a very tough and sometimes meaningless class to play in PVP content because of how resist tables worked. However, recently after EoF content was released, the way resists were counted changed. Wizards as a class have been decently entertaining. Wizards lack the abilities EQ1 wizards had for staying alive in PVP combat. However, if I'm not taken care of in Group PVP, I can bring quite a ranged punch and sometimes knock out single combatants in one shot. If I had to do it over again I would play a templar. Healers are always needed.

Stratics: What problems do you see with the current raid system?

Rhoh: Personally, I don't have any issues. Some of the raid zones and mobs are too straightforward. However, I realize that not every mob can be special. It would be nice to have raid content that might change based on what a group raiding the zone did at the start... or require more detail from each individual in the raiding group, not just a select few.

Stratics: If there was a chance for you to talk to SOE directly, what would you offer as advice to improve the raiding system?

Rhoh: In my opinion on a PVP server, raid zones should be open to PVP. Double the respawn times of the main mobs. Everyone goes and hides in their zones. Let's get our fight on.

Stratics: What are your thoughts about the Sword of Destiny quest line that was just introduced as a part of EoF?

Rhoh: I have started it. It should be fun to grind through another 3500 quests.

Stratics: Do you find yourself overwhelmed sometimes as the leader of Venekor Core?

Rhoh: CORE is a group of raiders run by participation. We have a huge turn over rate some months, while other months I keep a very steady attendance record. As a person, I'm never really overwhelmed by anything, so taking on the responsibility of CORE wasn't a huge issue. I view it like the often quoted Star Wars phrase "If you build it, they will come." At the start, it was designed to catch up with Pandemonium which has basically taken over the economics of high level raiding gear. We were turning the tide as that guild fell under some bad times and poor leadership (i.e.; cheating). After EoF came out, the huge change over to new resists and learning new mobs all over again took us all by surprise. There were many weeks I thought CORE was done. The secret to the success that CORE has had has come largely from my tank group. These six individuals have worked very hard to become what I feel is probably one of the best tank groups in the game. Supporting them, I have 10-15 people who show up for me every event. Those two combinations have kept us moving to the next objective.

After we became accustomed to EoF and what mitigation meant to us then, we turned our sights onto EoF dungeons and got our butts kicked badly. In my opinion, it was better to turn back to KoS. Get our bearings straight; figure out what we could do and push on; continue to churn the Loot ladder. Over the next couple mobs, we conquered every dungeon in Kingdom of Sky with lots of hard work and are now refocusing and retooling for a huge push into EoF content. I am excited a lot of people are stepping up to the challenge of some new adventures

Stratics: What are the current goals set for Venekor Core?

Rhoh: 20,000+ DPS Raid wide, Case closed.

CORE has and will continue to be a fun part of my life. I have met many special people. Some have come and gone and come back again. Each of us contributes what he or she can and thats all I ask. Well, maybe sometimes a bit more. Plus, I don't scream that much on Ventrilo.

Be safe.

Rhoh

Stratics: Thank you for sitting in on this interview. May Venekor Core progress through Norrath with continuing success. We look forward to hearing great things coming from Venekor Core.