Well, "approaching" might be too strong a word...trying to sneak up on it from behind may be closer to the truth!
Morinare is now at 35ADV/38CRA, and I plan on him being at Crafting 40 by the end of today (depending on when Order shard comes back from maintenance!).
Since I'm going Helian, with it's Spellcraft 450 requirement, and, with experience showing me that high melee skills are also important (even for us spellcasting types), my plan has always been to bring Mori up to 50/50 before I really got started on the RoP. Along with that was the desire to get the final hatchie scale (I've *heard* conflicting information about the level 50 hatchie scale, with some saying its stats can't be equaled for quite some time, while others say it isn't worth the effort...any comments??).
At the moment, thanks to a happy find on the NT Consigner, as well as a few very generous adults and ancients, I've got a good set of granite scales waiting for me to hit level 40, including a couple (chest and head, if memory serves) teched for Spellcrafting; also, have a socketed Lapis Lazuli claw ready when I hit ADV38.
I *think* I'm fairly well-prepared, but, if any who have gone through the Helian RoP have any suggestions, I'd definitely appreciate them.
Other than getting some things "out of the way," is there any benefit or problem with doing a few early steps of the RoP? I believe I was told that I can still get that level 50 hatchie scale as long as I have not actually ascended to adult; can anyone confirm that?
The only other thing I can think of that I need to prepare is a "group" of adults and ancients who'd be willing to assist a slightly impertinent hatchie with his RoP...I know several of you from Dragon Channel who would happily help, if they're in-game. I'm usually in-game during the day (East Coast US time), but, can arrange to be here in the evenings and/or weekends, if that's the best time to find Elders in-game.
Lastly, I do have a copy of the Helian RoP Walk-Through, from the Crimson Dawn site, although there is the caveat that it's out-of-date.
So, is there anything more I need do to prepare myself?
Thanks!