Two Bosses Enter: Herald Volazj vs. Novos the Summoner
by Lisa Poisso 
Apr 30th 2009 at 5:30PM
While this week's Two Bosses matchup was a fairly straightforward victory for Ahn'Kahet's Prince Taldaram over the Maiden of Grief from the Halls of Stone, this week's scenario is a little farther off the beaten track: Herald Volazj (Ahn'Kahet: The Old Kingdom) versus Novos the Summoner (Drak'tharon Keep). What insanity will ensue?
Let's review the ground rules: Assume that these foes share similar levels, health pools and damage output. The battle will take place in neutral territory. For the sake of this battle, since Novos is invulnerable to damage until his shield is broken down, we'll say that each round of Novos' summons and Volazj's Insanity follows one after the other, without pause.
Don't get caught up in game mechanics and what actual players might do in each encounter. Focus your debate on the three S's: Style, Story and Scale. Consider the flavor each villainous gladiator brings to bear, leave your comment on what you think would happen and why, and then cast your vote for who you think would come out on top.
Herald VolazjYwaq maq oou; ywaq maq ssaggh. Ywaq ma shg'fhn. (They do not die; they do not live. They are outside the cycle.)
The faceless Herald Volazj belongs to the ancient race known as servants of the Old Gods (maybe even Yogg-Saron). Volazj whispers directly into opponents' minds, slowly and relentlessly driving them insane and causing them to fight one another. Novos' minions, too, are subject to these effects. They must slay the mirror images of their cohorts before they will be able to turn on the Herald – unless the Herald kills them first.
Herald Volazj must kill the Crystal Handler among Novos' summoned minions quickly and then finish off the remaining minions before they free themselves from Insanity and turn on him – all while avoiding damage from Novos himself. There are four crystals, so there will be four rounds of summoning/Insanity in this battle.
Read more about Herald Volazj's combat and review insights from players who've defeated him.
Novos the SummonerThe chill that you feel is the herald of your doom!
Novos the Summoner, the second boss of Drak'Tharon Keep, is a lich in charge of the Scourge forces in Drak'tharon.
Novos imprisons himself in an Arcane Field at the onset of battle. From within the safety of this shield, he can attempt to damage the Herald. Will his spells find their intended target?
Novos' summoned minions must fight one another in the throes of Volazj's Insanity effect, until they defeat each other and are free to attack Volazj before disappearing. Will the Herald take them down before they can free themselves?
Read more about Novos the Summoner's strategies and review insights from players who've defeated him.
The smackdown
The usual rules apply: assume that the opponents share similar levels, health pools and damage output. They are fighting in neutral territory. For the sake of this battle, since Novos is invulnerable to damage until his shield is broken down, we'll say that each round of Novos' summons and Volazj's Insanity follows one after the other, without pause.
Can you come up with a convincing scenario in the comments that will sway other readers to vote for your victor of choice?
| Neither; it's a draw. | |
|---|---|
| Herald Volazj | |
| Novos the Summoner |
Filed under: Features, Bosses, Two Bosses Enter
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
blindlinus Apr 30th 2009 5:39PM
herald volazj win's hand down. novos can summon all the mobs he wants, but volazj will have very little trouble dealing with those. as soon as insanity begins novos will have to wuickly dispatch himself. this will go on for some time, but eventually, volazj will whittle down novos. insanity clones hurt more than novos' adds
keith May 1st 2009 12:26AM
Does anyone else always see "Harold Volazj" whenever they look at that name? Because I sure do...
And, to make sure I'm not completely off topic: Harold wins, for sure.
Saiforune Apr 30th 2009 5:39PM
Herald Volazj, easy
Saiforune Apr 30th 2009 5:59PM
Lisa I was wondering when are we going to look at a bracket like the one that was during The burning Crusade? I'd like to get a jump start and see how things are turning on for this thing. I remember the old one and I really liked seeing it, when will there be a new one?
I'm just curious to see if this is organized or you're pulling two bosses out of a hat and putting the winner back in the hat?
Valartha May 1st 2009 1:24PM
The bracket setup: http://www.wowinsider.com/2009/02/05/two-bosses-enter-the-wrath-season-lineup/
ccbutch May 1st 2009 7:44AM
http://www.wowinsider.com/2009/02/05/two-bosses-enter-the-wrath-season-lineup/
seanfury Apr 30th 2009 5:39PM
REALLY? Novos is a JOKE. He'd summon a hundred little undead and Volazj would use Insanity and go "hey look, all the little undead just killed each other", and then proceed to do the same thing to Novos and it would be GG.
The_Reflection Apr 30th 2009 5:42PM
This seems very cut and dry to me. Volhazj has the upper hand with insanity and shadow bolt volley. If he's smart he would focus on the crystal handlers, while insanity and his volleys take care of the trash. Once Novos is attackable, he just has to stay out of the blizzard and wait to trap Novos in his own mind then nuke the crap out of him.
Winner, Herald Volhazj.
Zeplar Apr 30th 2009 5:46PM
Insanity is really not that hard a phase considering Novos doesn't have a tree healer messing him up.
So I'll have to give this to Novos.
Remember, though, that the really hard part about Volazj (at least before we got all epixed and stuff) was the trash guys just before him. Those things hit HARD.
Zeplar Apr 30th 2009 5:46PM
To add to that, I think Volazj will win the vote because he's harder for PLAYERS, but if we are really considering him being against Novos, you have to remember Novos doesn't have a healer during Insanity.
skreeran Apr 30th 2009 7:23PM
He won't win because he's harder.
He will will because the Great Old Ones are beyond mortal comprehension.
Phng'lui mwgl'naf Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn.
ccbutch May 1st 2009 7:38AM
The adds don't have to deal with a healer but they also don't have the cc/survivability that players do. It's just a random minion being attacked on all sides by all the other minions plus a copy of Novos, the crystal handler doesn't have a chance at survival.
Meanwhile Novos will be bombarded by his own minions and while they will be fairly easily dispatched once he's out of his own insanity he will end up joining the insanity of his minions and have to face a copy of himself. Novos is going to have to kill his copy many times over along with dozens of minions while Herald Volazj sits back reading a newspaper.
By the time Novos gets out of insanity entirely he'll be easy pickings for Volazj.
Figworth Apr 30th 2009 6:03PM
Servant of the old gods > Lich, plain and simple.
Siaperas Apr 30th 2009 6:04PM
If you assume Volazj's whispering during the encounter is really about the Scourge, as per one of the theories out there, then you could assume Volazj is also going to bring a little extra hatred for Novos into this fight. I picture Volazj putting extra effort into killing Novos, who being a cocky liche would take Volazj too lightly.
About halfway through the battle, as Novos realizes the true danger he's in, he opens up with everything he has. Unfortunately, it's too little too late, and Volazj secures victory.
Zipboom Apr 30th 2009 6:13PM
That is not dead which can eternal lie.
And with strange aeons even death may die
I'm backing Herald Volazj to win the tourney.
ROB13 Apr 30th 2009 6:21PM
I laugh, Volazj will win and here is how the cards will be played.
Volazj and Novos will meet in combat, Novos being the wimp he is will drop his Arcane Shield and start summoning the undead. Volazj will blow through all of those with his Shiver and Shadowbolt Volleys. Enter the Crystal Keepers, this is were Volazj will make use of his Insanity.
With the Crystal Keepers going Insane, they will probably release Novos, leaving him in open. Their Flashes of Darkness will probably cut a chunk out of each others and Novos's HP, but to give Novos some credit, he will probably whip them out with his Blizzard and Arcane Blast. Once the Crystal Keepers are out for the count, Novos will then be out in the open, allowing Volazj to slaughter him with some of those broken Mind Flays.
Destructured Apr 30th 2009 10:39PM
Just had to throw my two cents in that Herald Volazj is the most awesome boss battle I've ever participated in. It keeps me going back to Old Kingdom.
skreeran Apr 30th 2009 7:17PM
Harold Volazj.
Because he's even slightly related to the Cthulhu mythos.
Smoe May 1st 2009 3:55AM
Under insanity, each of Novos' minions would have to fight a replica of all of novos' current minions. Novos himself will also have to fight a replica of himself as well as more minions. Novos will most likely die on the first insanity reguardless.
skreeran Apr 30th 2009 8:43PM
QFT, although I don't think Novos would have to fight a copy of himself.
I never had to fight myself when I fought Harold.