Luftstreitkräfte
03-06-2014, 08:12 AM
Hey all,
I am not an expert at Gemstone by any means but I had some quick tips for anyone who won a ticket and feels like they're in a bit over their head. Hope this stuff helps guys. I'm open to any criticism and will make changes based on everyone's feedback, but this is my quick little guide for those that aren't familiar with merchant events. The key thing is, don't waste the slots you win on sub-par items.
Preparing for the event
Don't burn your coins on purchases pre-event unless you're getting project pieces together. You'll want a set of 7x+ fusion armor, a 7x+ perfect weapon, a 7x+ runestaff (preferably fusion) going into any major event. Vanilla weapon pieces are just not acceptable, and in my view, neither are elegant or superior unless you're positive you'll win a forging upgrade spot at some point. If you want Voln or Ithzir spots, make sure your armor project piece has no zests/fusion/scripts of any kind.
There's more advice below, but this is the general set of items I would recommend being prepared with. As for weapon and armor bases, don't be too outside the box if you're looking for profitability. There's a reason certain stuff costs more - it works better.
Read this link, it teaches you everything you need to know about what services go where on an item:
http://www.krakiipedia.org/wiki/The_Charts_of_Clarity
This may also help, it's from GM Finros and has a fairly comprehensive list of item add ons:
http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Hunting%20and%20Combat/Weapon%20and%20Armor%20Discussion/view/160
Have at least 40m coins going into the event to ensure you can get everything you need done and buy a spot or two if you feel like it. If you win padding or weighting, you may need much more to get your nice items worked on. Make sure to work out something with friends so you have a backup coin supply if needed.
Involving your house/clan
Talk to your people. Figure out what they want, and if they're trustworthy and you've dealt with them before, offer to hold onto an item or two in case you win a spot. Negotiate some pricing pre-event. Make sure they're online and available during crunch time. Make sure you have a friend available in case you need to buy some coins, especially during the padding/weighting raffles. Do you want to get stuck failing to upgrade your dream item, and resort to a backup, because you failed to prepare the proper cash flow? Friends don't let friends waste spots!
Selling spots
If you win a spot for anything and wish to sell it, immediately go onto lnet and the AOL chat and post that you're selling. People in the room in-game are going to whisper to you, and their offers are usually lower than what you could get out of it. Tell them to talk to you via lnet or AOL, and tell them you can post their offer as a bid, not a BO, assuming it's meeting your minimum bid. Make sure people are aware the bid does not include the cost of the item service. Ask people to bid outloud if possible. (again, via lnet, AOL, never in-game) Update the bids in BOTH chats with "going once, going twice, etc" so you maximize your potential bidders.
Sometimes private bids raise the ire of the group. Do not ever try to milk people with fake bids, especially when it backfires and your dumb ass is left without a bidder because you won your own auction. Let me repeat, here on the PC or in game, do not ever tempt fate with fake bids. If you do so, I pray that the wrath of the flying spagetti monster, God, Allah, Carl Sagan, or whatever the fuck you believe in, rains down infernally on your worthless soul.
Don't get ripped off by players who know the prices better than you.
Don't make the merchant wait - get the spot sold before it's your turn or use your own item. This bears repeating.. do not make the merchant wait. Not because you can't do it. Because you look like an ass doing it.
Cost for work
Sometimes the merchant will say the item cost outloud, sometimes not. If you're selling a spot, this is also an opportunity to profit - if the item cost 1 million coins to work on, you can say it cost 2 million, or whatever you want. Your spot, your rules. Milk 'em for all they're worth - unless it's a friend. But this can backfire too if the GM announces the price, and some consider it grimy. Try to be sensible. If the spot sold for less than you wanted, really it's okay to get another mil or two out of it within the service cost.
The preferable method: Merchants are a great opportunity to develop a good bond with others at the event. You may win a spot that someone else wanted, and later they may win something you want. Keep that in mind when taking items from people outside the event - they can only benefit you with coins. Securing an ally or two early in an event could mean picking up a key spot later for a good price.
Passing items
It's generally bad form to pass items in front of the merchant. Some of them refuse work if you do it. Assuming it's safe, step outside the main room to pass the items over. Remember, if you have a bunch of coins on you, this process may be a headache. Have a friend handy to hold coins for a moment if possible. Also, you *cannot get the same service on an item*. So if you enchanted your 8x noodle to 9x, it's not going to 10x at the same event.
I am always safe - I keep my project pieces on me. If I MA, I spread them out evenly. Why are they in your locker, the GM asks? NO WIN FOR YOU! Don't risk it.
Zests
Zests are fluff and should be removed from any item you want to have a better script added to. You have some cute zests on your armor piece? Well guess what, because of that fluff it can't take the T4 Voln, as T4 Voln is a script in that same spot. Zests are more hassle than they're worth on project pieces. Personally, I don't want zests unless it's built in like the new fusion zests.
Item limits
GMs tend to fall anywhere on the strictness spectrum. It doesn't hurt to ask, but don't hold up the show. Whenever you win a spot and have an idea what you want, have a backup ready if the 1st item you're using is uber. You never know what they'll accept and refuse. Generally they don't add things to stuff beyond 8x, or if they do, it's costly, but it doesn't hurt to try. Make sure to read the sign on the raffle carefully. Before the raffle draws, the GM will show up in NPC form usually 5-10 minutes before (sometimes earlier if they're doing work) and this is a great chance to get those last minute questions in. Try to be short, sweet, and non-annoying. If they refuse an item, immediately pass the backup item.
For this CCF event, Wyrom stated on the boards they're looking to really make people happy and work with them on their item, so the flexibility at this event will probably be high.
Idling/Camping
Be cautious about being afk in a merchant's shop. Some like Bazzelwyn get pissed off and might bolt ya. If you win a spin and you aren't present, this holds up everyone in the room and it's extremely rude and disrespectful. If you're at the keyboard, the story is much different. It's possible to get general work done if the GM randomly shows up and interacts with you. You may even win a spot. But again, some people just don't want you camping in their spot.
Alts / winning things you don't want
So you won a few tickets. Good for you. Well, try to interact and not be so zombie-like. If there's a raffle for something you don't want, or don't have a great item for, don't enter unless you're going to sell the spot. If it's something you don't want and the spot doesn't sell for much, it's good form to simply avoid entering the raffle. Don't be the guy that says, "derp, I won but I don't need this."
Players with less resources:
Should you not have hundreds of dollars to throw at a text game, I get it. At least come prepared to any major event with a 5x-6x fusion runestaff, or enhancive one without flares. It's not hard to snag a nice 2x-4x enhancive runestaff on the boards for cheap and get it enchanted up. As for armors, 5x or 6x fusion, or maybe those 4x resistance pieces from previous RTCF enchanted up might be good. Just don't waste spots on 4x. For melee, a 5x or 6x perfect is fine for a project piece. Even a superior wouldn't hurt. Network, plan ahead, and handle yourself professionally during the event.
Finding a merchant
So the crier announces a service and you're trying to get there. Follow the pack. Locate (116) or ;lnet locate well known personalities if possible. If the crier says "Cypress Grove" then type ;go2 cypress grove and see what comes up for your options if you're using lich. Keep an eye on lnet or AOL as mostly people post room numbers. But it's better form to be the guy that finds the room first, in case services are room order. Come early, leave late, you never know what they're giving away. If you MA, keep a guy in each key room so you can see what's going on. Keep notes on room numbers and merchant names.
Raffles
Use ;draffle on lich, it's a great script. Type ;draffle table and it will record the timing of the raffle. Show up a minute early. Don't undulate and giggle and keep running in and out. Go into rest mode, keep quiet and pray for the win. Type buy ticket again just in case you forgot to enter. If you're afk when you win a raffle, usually they will spin and your spot is forfeit. Just don't let it happen.
Undead Bane +8 or flares
Put this on something that's impossible to be blessed otherwise. Like a claidh or weighted weapon. Do not put this on a blessable weapon! Also the +8 is probably better than the flares. These spots will be selling for 80m+
Weight Reducing/Epic Deepening
I'd recommend stocking up on VLA enhancive cloaks for this. There's a couple out there, the newest ones from the T5 drops at EG are best (the ones with the ridiculous enhancives, but they're pricy) I got my epic deepening done on a VLA +2 aura +2 wisdom cloak, to give you an idea. Putting this on a vanilla VLA is not recommended, find something better.
X/Day Rune Tattoos, Enhancive Spell Knowledge
Don't get something available with imbeds or commonly sold potions, like 513 or 211. Get something in the Ranger or Paladin circle. Many prefer 606 or 613, but 1606 is also good and helps with fear.
Voln Armor T4 spots
Remember, the item cannot have scripts - no fusion, no zests, no Ithzir, etc. These spots will sell for 50m-100m. Get the T4 on an item with no pre-existing Voln scripts. Remember, it adds phantom padding and such, so I'd recommend the ASG being at least fulls or doubles. Don't put a T4 on a robe.
Padding
Try to pad something with pre-existing padding. Keep in mind, the service cost for this can run very high. These spots typically sell for 30m-50m. I prefer padding on fulls upward, it's probably better to get TD on robes.
Weighting
Don't put weighting on your beloved 5x vanilla bastard sword. Just don't. I would recommend a 7x or 8x perfect weapon for this service. Maybe a 3 slot fusion. Also if your item already has weighting, that may be good to do. Just use something good, otherwise sell the spot. These spots go for at least 25m.
Sighting
Don't get bow sighting, unless you have a nice bow to utilize like a sephwir or a 6x+ fusion. Sighting slots sell for considerably less as they're less in demand. At the last few events sighting was offered for 10 and they didn't even sell 10 tickets.
TD (+10)
Remember, no TD on items with flares/weighting. People generally put these on armors. Use something 6x+. Slots sell for 10m-15m. For example, I have 6x +10 TD robes with 10% resist to fire, lightning, and cold, T2 ensorcell. I plan on adding +10 more TD.
Pick-a-Bane (+12 or flares)
Some banes are much less utilized. Extraplanar, magic, grimbane are more popular than banes like bandit, giant, troll, orc, etc. Get something as universal as possible, I listed them in the most useful order. Hunt the scatter? Consider a lich bane. For fast weapons or weapons with pre-existing flares, get flares. For slow or ambushing weapons, get weighting. I like magical bane, crit weighting personally. It's good to put bane on an item with a pre-existing bane. These spots sell for 15m-20m
Enchant
Do a 4x+ claid if possible, or an uber armor piece. These can get pricy. Remember, the same item can't be enchanted twice at the event. Look at the price of the item you're enchanting at the current enchant compared to if you added one - is the cost worth it? Try to do an item that would cost a ton of premium points to enchant. These spots sell for at least 25m. I personally wouldn't put an enchant spot on a weapon unless I'm taking a 7x+ perfect or 3 slot fusion item higher. But remember, a weapon can get disarmed and it's gone forever.
Defender
Not the most popular service. Pre-existing defender items are best to do. Slots may sell for 5m-10m+
Resistance (+30)
Hugely popular. My favorite service. Do a very uber armor piece, not a shield. If it has pre-existing resists, they probably will not work on it. Doesn't hurt to ask, but do it on the official boards first. This CCF seems like a great opportunity for making something amazing.
If you hunt in OTF, might be good to get 15/15 impact/lightning.
DO NOT GET FIRE ON LEATHER ITEMS!
Fire resist can be added by a ranger (Virilneus can do 95% or something nutty). Wyrom personally recommended impact resist. Puncture is very popular. I would recommend slash resist for the rift. Crush is also good. 15 slash 15 lightning may be a good idea. Personally I don't like splitting resists- I would go full 30% impact, lightning or slash. Spots sell for 20m+
Add flares (Increase potency of mana/acuity, or add rare flares to weapons, armor, and shields)
Use a 7x fusion runestaff if possible, otherwise use a 7x vanilla runestaff. Get acuity. I personally like elemental flares because they'll flare on casts of support/disabler spells where acuity won't help for that - acuity will only help AS/CS. But for resell, acuity is the way to go. These spots sell for 5-10m+
Flares on melee weapons are better on fast weapons because the flare will show up more often, but again I would really recommend doing a runestaff as it's more useful and has better profitability when a flare is added.
As for elemental flares, I prefer disruption or acid, because they hit everything generally. Remember fire/plasma flares will light gas on fire and won't work on fire critters. Cold won't hit cold stuff, etc. Web is nice if you can get it, it's unbalance with a chance to web which is pretty sweet.
Flare and bane spots are the most commonly wasted spots, as people add one and then get it removed later for something else. Keep that in mind.
Alterations:
Have an idea ready. Have a backup idea ready. If they are refused, make a change within 30 seconds. Don't hold up the event.
Final thought
Respect the GMs, respect the GMs, respect the GMs. Remember, this may not be your last event, you want to leave an impression that you are thoughtful, prepared, and respectful of their time. These are people who volunteered to do this, so show them the utmost respect and thank them thoroughly when your work is complete.
Respect each other, it goes a long way.
~Drew aka IW aka Jaeden
(player of Zentalin)
I am not an expert at Gemstone by any means but I had some quick tips for anyone who won a ticket and feels like they're in a bit over their head. Hope this stuff helps guys. I'm open to any criticism and will make changes based on everyone's feedback, but this is my quick little guide for those that aren't familiar with merchant events. The key thing is, don't waste the slots you win on sub-par items.
Preparing for the event
Don't burn your coins on purchases pre-event unless you're getting project pieces together. You'll want a set of 7x+ fusion armor, a 7x+ perfect weapon, a 7x+ runestaff (preferably fusion) going into any major event. Vanilla weapon pieces are just not acceptable, and in my view, neither are elegant or superior unless you're positive you'll win a forging upgrade spot at some point. If you want Voln or Ithzir spots, make sure your armor project piece has no zests/fusion/scripts of any kind.
There's more advice below, but this is the general set of items I would recommend being prepared with. As for weapon and armor bases, don't be too outside the box if you're looking for profitability. There's a reason certain stuff costs more - it works better.
Read this link, it teaches you everything you need to know about what services go where on an item:
http://www.krakiipedia.org/wiki/The_Charts_of_Clarity
This may also help, it's from GM Finros and has a fairly comprehensive list of item add ons:
http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Hunting%20and%20Combat/Weapon%20and%20Armor%20Discussion/view/160
Have at least 40m coins going into the event to ensure you can get everything you need done and buy a spot or two if you feel like it. If you win padding or weighting, you may need much more to get your nice items worked on. Make sure to work out something with friends so you have a backup coin supply if needed.
Involving your house/clan
Talk to your people. Figure out what they want, and if they're trustworthy and you've dealt with them before, offer to hold onto an item or two in case you win a spot. Negotiate some pricing pre-event. Make sure they're online and available during crunch time. Make sure you have a friend available in case you need to buy some coins, especially during the padding/weighting raffles. Do you want to get stuck failing to upgrade your dream item, and resort to a backup, because you failed to prepare the proper cash flow? Friends don't let friends waste spots!
Selling spots
If you win a spot for anything and wish to sell it, immediately go onto lnet and the AOL chat and post that you're selling. People in the room in-game are going to whisper to you, and their offers are usually lower than what you could get out of it. Tell them to talk to you via lnet or AOL, and tell them you can post their offer as a bid, not a BO, assuming it's meeting your minimum bid. Make sure people are aware the bid does not include the cost of the item service. Ask people to bid outloud if possible. (again, via lnet, AOL, never in-game) Update the bids in BOTH chats with "going once, going twice, etc" so you maximize your potential bidders.
Sometimes private bids raise the ire of the group. Do not ever try to milk people with fake bids, especially when it backfires and your dumb ass is left without a bidder because you won your own auction. Let me repeat, here on the PC or in game, do not ever tempt fate with fake bids. If you do so, I pray that the wrath of the flying spagetti monster, God, Allah, Carl Sagan, or whatever the fuck you believe in, rains down infernally on your worthless soul.
Don't get ripped off by players who know the prices better than you.
Don't make the merchant wait - get the spot sold before it's your turn or use your own item. This bears repeating.. do not make the merchant wait. Not because you can't do it. Because you look like an ass doing it.
Cost for work
Sometimes the merchant will say the item cost outloud, sometimes not. If you're selling a spot, this is also an opportunity to profit - if the item cost 1 million coins to work on, you can say it cost 2 million, or whatever you want. Your spot, your rules. Milk 'em for all they're worth - unless it's a friend. But this can backfire too if the GM announces the price, and some consider it grimy. Try to be sensible. If the spot sold for less than you wanted, really it's okay to get another mil or two out of it within the service cost.
The preferable method: Merchants are a great opportunity to develop a good bond with others at the event. You may win a spot that someone else wanted, and later they may win something you want. Keep that in mind when taking items from people outside the event - they can only benefit you with coins. Securing an ally or two early in an event could mean picking up a key spot later for a good price.
Passing items
It's generally bad form to pass items in front of the merchant. Some of them refuse work if you do it. Assuming it's safe, step outside the main room to pass the items over. Remember, if you have a bunch of coins on you, this process may be a headache. Have a friend handy to hold coins for a moment if possible. Also, you *cannot get the same service on an item*. So if you enchanted your 8x noodle to 9x, it's not going to 10x at the same event.
I am always safe - I keep my project pieces on me. If I MA, I spread them out evenly. Why are they in your locker, the GM asks? NO WIN FOR YOU! Don't risk it.
Zests
Zests are fluff and should be removed from any item you want to have a better script added to. You have some cute zests on your armor piece? Well guess what, because of that fluff it can't take the T4 Voln, as T4 Voln is a script in that same spot. Zests are more hassle than they're worth on project pieces. Personally, I don't want zests unless it's built in like the new fusion zests.
Item limits
GMs tend to fall anywhere on the strictness spectrum. It doesn't hurt to ask, but don't hold up the show. Whenever you win a spot and have an idea what you want, have a backup ready if the 1st item you're using is uber. You never know what they'll accept and refuse. Generally they don't add things to stuff beyond 8x, or if they do, it's costly, but it doesn't hurt to try. Make sure to read the sign on the raffle carefully. Before the raffle draws, the GM will show up in NPC form usually 5-10 minutes before (sometimes earlier if they're doing work) and this is a great chance to get those last minute questions in. Try to be short, sweet, and non-annoying. If they refuse an item, immediately pass the backup item.
For this CCF event, Wyrom stated on the boards they're looking to really make people happy and work with them on their item, so the flexibility at this event will probably be high.
Idling/Camping
Be cautious about being afk in a merchant's shop. Some like Bazzelwyn get pissed off and might bolt ya. If you win a spin and you aren't present, this holds up everyone in the room and it's extremely rude and disrespectful. If you're at the keyboard, the story is much different. It's possible to get general work done if the GM randomly shows up and interacts with you. You may even win a spot. But again, some people just don't want you camping in their spot.
Alts / winning things you don't want
So you won a few tickets. Good for you. Well, try to interact and not be so zombie-like. If there's a raffle for something you don't want, or don't have a great item for, don't enter unless you're going to sell the spot. If it's something you don't want and the spot doesn't sell for much, it's good form to simply avoid entering the raffle. Don't be the guy that says, "derp, I won but I don't need this."
Players with less resources:
Should you not have hundreds of dollars to throw at a text game, I get it. At least come prepared to any major event with a 5x-6x fusion runestaff, or enhancive one without flares. It's not hard to snag a nice 2x-4x enhancive runestaff on the boards for cheap and get it enchanted up. As for armors, 5x or 6x fusion, or maybe those 4x resistance pieces from previous RTCF enchanted up might be good. Just don't waste spots on 4x. For melee, a 5x or 6x perfect is fine for a project piece. Even a superior wouldn't hurt. Network, plan ahead, and handle yourself professionally during the event.
Finding a merchant
So the crier announces a service and you're trying to get there. Follow the pack. Locate (116) or ;lnet locate well known personalities if possible. If the crier says "Cypress Grove" then type ;go2 cypress grove and see what comes up for your options if you're using lich. Keep an eye on lnet or AOL as mostly people post room numbers. But it's better form to be the guy that finds the room first, in case services are room order. Come early, leave late, you never know what they're giving away. If you MA, keep a guy in each key room so you can see what's going on. Keep notes on room numbers and merchant names.
Raffles
Use ;draffle on lich, it's a great script. Type ;draffle table and it will record the timing of the raffle. Show up a minute early. Don't undulate and giggle and keep running in and out. Go into rest mode, keep quiet and pray for the win. Type buy ticket again just in case you forgot to enter. If you're afk when you win a raffle, usually they will spin and your spot is forfeit. Just don't let it happen.
Undead Bane +8 or flares
Put this on something that's impossible to be blessed otherwise. Like a claidh or weighted weapon. Do not put this on a blessable weapon! Also the +8 is probably better than the flares. These spots will be selling for 80m+
Weight Reducing/Epic Deepening
I'd recommend stocking up on VLA enhancive cloaks for this. There's a couple out there, the newest ones from the T5 drops at EG are best (the ones with the ridiculous enhancives, but they're pricy) I got my epic deepening done on a VLA +2 aura +2 wisdom cloak, to give you an idea. Putting this on a vanilla VLA is not recommended, find something better.
X/Day Rune Tattoos, Enhancive Spell Knowledge
Don't get something available with imbeds or commonly sold potions, like 513 or 211. Get something in the Ranger or Paladin circle. Many prefer 606 or 613, but 1606 is also good and helps with fear.
Voln Armor T4 spots
Remember, the item cannot have scripts - no fusion, no zests, no Ithzir, etc. These spots will sell for 50m-100m. Get the T4 on an item with no pre-existing Voln scripts. Remember, it adds phantom padding and such, so I'd recommend the ASG being at least fulls or doubles. Don't put a T4 on a robe.
Padding
Try to pad something with pre-existing padding. Keep in mind, the service cost for this can run very high. These spots typically sell for 30m-50m. I prefer padding on fulls upward, it's probably better to get TD on robes.
Weighting
Don't put weighting on your beloved 5x vanilla bastard sword. Just don't. I would recommend a 7x or 8x perfect weapon for this service. Maybe a 3 slot fusion. Also if your item already has weighting, that may be good to do. Just use something good, otherwise sell the spot. These spots go for at least 25m.
Sighting
Don't get bow sighting, unless you have a nice bow to utilize like a sephwir or a 6x+ fusion. Sighting slots sell for considerably less as they're less in demand. At the last few events sighting was offered for 10 and they didn't even sell 10 tickets.
TD (+10)
Remember, no TD on items with flares/weighting. People generally put these on armors. Use something 6x+. Slots sell for 10m-15m. For example, I have 6x +10 TD robes with 10% resist to fire, lightning, and cold, T2 ensorcell. I plan on adding +10 more TD.
Pick-a-Bane (+12 or flares)
Some banes are much less utilized. Extraplanar, magic, grimbane are more popular than banes like bandit, giant, troll, orc, etc. Get something as universal as possible, I listed them in the most useful order. Hunt the scatter? Consider a lich bane. For fast weapons or weapons with pre-existing flares, get flares. For slow or ambushing weapons, get weighting. I like magical bane, crit weighting personally. It's good to put bane on an item with a pre-existing bane. These spots sell for 15m-20m
Enchant
Do a 4x+ claid if possible, or an uber armor piece. These can get pricy. Remember, the same item can't be enchanted twice at the event. Look at the price of the item you're enchanting at the current enchant compared to if you added one - is the cost worth it? Try to do an item that would cost a ton of premium points to enchant. These spots sell for at least 25m. I personally wouldn't put an enchant spot on a weapon unless I'm taking a 7x+ perfect or 3 slot fusion item higher. But remember, a weapon can get disarmed and it's gone forever.
Defender
Not the most popular service. Pre-existing defender items are best to do. Slots may sell for 5m-10m+
Resistance (+30)
Hugely popular. My favorite service. Do a very uber armor piece, not a shield. If it has pre-existing resists, they probably will not work on it. Doesn't hurt to ask, but do it on the official boards first. This CCF seems like a great opportunity for making something amazing.
If you hunt in OTF, might be good to get 15/15 impact/lightning.
DO NOT GET FIRE ON LEATHER ITEMS!
Fire resist can be added by a ranger (Virilneus can do 95% or something nutty). Wyrom personally recommended impact resist. Puncture is very popular. I would recommend slash resist for the rift. Crush is also good. 15 slash 15 lightning may be a good idea. Personally I don't like splitting resists- I would go full 30% impact, lightning or slash. Spots sell for 20m+
Add flares (Increase potency of mana/acuity, or add rare flares to weapons, armor, and shields)
Use a 7x fusion runestaff if possible, otherwise use a 7x vanilla runestaff. Get acuity. I personally like elemental flares because they'll flare on casts of support/disabler spells where acuity won't help for that - acuity will only help AS/CS. But for resell, acuity is the way to go. These spots sell for 5-10m+
Flares on melee weapons are better on fast weapons because the flare will show up more often, but again I would really recommend doing a runestaff as it's more useful and has better profitability when a flare is added.
As for elemental flares, I prefer disruption or acid, because they hit everything generally. Remember fire/plasma flares will light gas on fire and won't work on fire critters. Cold won't hit cold stuff, etc. Web is nice if you can get it, it's unbalance with a chance to web which is pretty sweet.
Flare and bane spots are the most commonly wasted spots, as people add one and then get it removed later for something else. Keep that in mind.
Alterations:
Have an idea ready. Have a backup idea ready. If they are refused, make a change within 30 seconds. Don't hold up the event.
Final thought
Respect the GMs, respect the GMs, respect the GMs. Remember, this may not be your last event, you want to leave an impression that you are thoughtful, prepared, and respectful of their time. These are people who volunteered to do this, so show them the utmost respect and thank them thoroughly when your work is complete.
Respect each other, it goes a long way.
~Drew aka IW aka Jaeden
(player of Zentalin)