I'm looking at the roster, and I find my self wondering how we are all going to get together and make this work? I ask because I would like to join up before 12 P.M EST, so I could better be equated with my team mates. Personally I think it would be good for all of us if we were to practice (in threes of course), off some Vex based strikes or story missions to warm up.

Opening the gate will give you plenty of practice. ;-)

As for your question: I'll have everyone coordinate with their Fireteam Leaders once we get the groups finalized, and I certainly recommend everyone exchange Friend Requests at that time as well.

Right here

Please count me in with a group (if possible) that would like to experience this Raid spoiler-free for all us first timers.

BTW, thank you immensely for taking all this time and organizing this event, what a special time it'll be.

Lastly, my Sunslinger Warlock is ready at level 26 and shall have all the perks maxed out by then. :)

My PS4 character won't be ready for a while. :(

That sucks. I'll be in need of a couple of Warlocks soon. Maybe as early as next week.

- CC

Wasn't my plan at all. Local friends were the most persistent about asking me to play, so most of my time went into my Xbox guy.

Understood. I know all too well how persistent those local friends can be. :)

- CC

My PS4 character won't be ready for a while. :(

That sucks. I'll be in need of a couple of Warlocks soon. Maybe as early as next week.

- CC

Wasn't my plan at all. Local friends were the most persistent about asking me to play, so most of my time went into my Xbox guy.

If people want to play late, or maybe enough people show up for a west coast group I'm in.

28 Titan, both classes maxed.

My PS4 character won't be ready for a while. :(

That sucks. I'll be in need of a couple of Warlocks soon. Maybe as early as next week.

- CC

Hopefully we will know by thursday/friday on the final lineups

I'd prefer to play with people who don't know what's coming, so we can all be surprised and figure it out on the fly.

There's a reason that it took the first group 11 hours to do it. Heck, I've done it, and trying to remember some of the steps was difficult for me last night, when Team DBO conquered the vault.

I expect the first time to be a failure.

Don't be too uppity about who you do it with, as you're likely not going to have an easy time assembling a crew of fresh recruits, and you'll have a nearly impossible time getting past the first part alone...

I'm not trying to come across as uppity. Part of it is just paying attention to what Pete and Cory have said about remaining spoiler-free. If discovery is part of what makes it fun, I'd like to experience some of that.

Do most people who plan on playing on Saturday fall into that category?

Multiple runs, but like I told you, I'll let you figure things out at your own pace...

My PS4 character won't be ready for a while. :(

I'd prefer to play with people who don't know what's coming, so we can all be surprised and figure it out on the fly.

There's a reason that it took the first group 11 hours to do it. Heck, I've done it, and trying to remember some of the steps was difficult for me last night, when Team DBO conquered the vault.
Don't be too uppity about who you do it with, as you're likely not going to have an easy time assembling a crew of fresh recruits, and you'll have a nearly impossible time getting past the first part alone...

Do most people who plan on playing on Saturday fall into that category?

Multiple runs, but like I told you, I'll let you figure things out at your own pace...

Don't forget there will be other raids, soon even! So there will be more opportunities to experience things fresh with others, and hopefully we'll all be ranked similar by that point.

So while VoG virgins will continue to be harder to fine, the next Raid should be promising :)

Make sure you are NOT wearing a faction item (dead orbit, FWC, etc), otherwise those points go to them and you don't want that.

Wait! What? I thought that credit continued to go to the Vanguard regardless.

Nah. If you're wearing a faction Mark/Cloak/Bond, all the Vanguard and Crucible Rep you earn get's redirected to the Faction. It says so in the description of each item.

Again, another area Destiny does a poor job of explaining it's mechanics. I've learned to hover over just about everything.

Even if not, though, are Vanguard legendaries better than the Faction's? Why wouldn't you align with Factions?

They're not better, they're just different. It depends what sort of build you want (to support your playstyle), as the Factions items have different stat foci than the Vanguard and Crucible ones.

The Vanguard and Crucible have a larger arsenal available from the store, but again it depends what weapons you actually want.

^^ Pretty much. The gear I've gotten though crucible play is more suited to PVP, so it has not benefited me in story mode. It's not my style. The queen's playlist has been a big help in getting me to rank up via gear- Korny and I played a game where we were both gifted some pretty nifty snipers, though at this point I only keep earning helmets and chests with different focuses.

I just got one that fits my style better, so I trashed the other legendary one I had maxed out (stupid move in hindsight) and now I'm a 26 again. D'Oh!

Why wouldn't you align with Factions?

Roleplaying, over here.