(Second time typing this all out lol)
So back when I was on Gilgamesh I got a bunch of raid experience, I'd like to share what I learned and what my static over there did so that maybe it will spark some ideas or debate at least, since I know every party does it differently.
For the tornado add phase, we split the arena in two parts, meaning one melee, one ranged, one tank, one healer. From here two things can happen: tanks grab tethers from dps (which is what we did), or something I think we could try perhaps is the tanks being assigned a N/S spot for tethers and dps meet them there (personally I find this to be the best). The downside to the latter theory is that melee dps would have to meet with tanks, therefore stop damaging. Typically when you get marked with a tether you have to stand still regardless but its up for debate. Another thing i thought of was that if Hannah does dps during this phase, one side may have more power than the other so Hannah might be in a tentative spot revolving around the arena if that is the case. This may seem like over-complicating things but at the same time I feel as if just winging it might not be good for progression but we'll see.
Another theory or suggestion is more or less a "down the road" type of thing. in the opener, my old statics positions were way different. me did more of a stacking method that complemented Mercutial's advice of "always moving right." Last time I tried posting this, it broke (as you can see with the error in coding message lol). I'll attempt at posting the link to the picture in a separate message to see if it helps but I'll explain it here. [insert picture here] With the way we both stack on each other it reduces the total amount of spread from the aoe's randomness. This positioning also puts the whm at the center of the groups maintaining full effectiveness of aoe heals (which doesn’t seem to be a problem with our current set up at all). I bring this whole idea up for the sake of streamlining the opener somewhere down the line and I don’t think we should really change what we're doing at the moment for the sake of just getting used to it, but at the same time if consistency does come up as a problem we may need to look into it.
Last thing, when I mentioned that I was consistently 2nd dps in our opener phase I may have made some people mad because almost every time after that I was 3rd or 4th dps on the parse list. It feels weird saying it but thanks for putting me in my place LOL

test: http://i.imgur.com/pKGERa2.png
(if this works then this is my old static set up for positions in the opener, to be honest i dont remember where the blm was but the general idea still works i think lol)

Only diff from that pic and us is the war and drg are opposite sides. And for tethers. During adds phase we are going to split it west/east. I'll be west and Solarus east. Basically marked with tether should move in line with a or c mark and move away from the liquid center. So me and sol can just move between u and the puddle and soak it near center. This will allow least movement for all dps. Aswell it will allow healnu based on his position to heal 2/3 of the arena at any time. Think of it like two overlapping circles essentially.

However I do like the idea of splitting the dps to allow better add coverage and ensure the that we have a easy way to heal. This section is a lot like t11 atleast I think it's t11 it's been awhile. Where the adds spawn around the ring and the healers half to heal the whole ring with the center being obstructed.

I'd like to bring up the stuns etc. I'm not sure for sol. But when first adds Andthey are two Pistons I have perfect timing to stun and move for tether. So I would like dps to save thier stun/slow/heavy etc for the next set of Pistons if possible. We need to have a rotation on them. Even tho I'm sure are dps is high that we should be able to push the add phase without much hassle.

Also if the healers hang out on the south side of the puddle. South of b mark. They should be able to hit everyone u less they are in the very most north part of the ring. That also leaves a and c open for me and Solarus to soak the tethers and leaves the rest of the ring free to dps

I have no stunning the first one, either. Keep in mind d, too, that there is only one add that needs to be stunned in first wave. Also, u only need to stun it IF it casts mucilage. There is a good chance that we can kill this first one before we even need to stun it. But it would be ideal that josh and I use ours before u guys so you guys can have yours more readily available.

So yeah.. I've been thinking. At the very least, the melees need to be split east/west. I can cover mid/south, pew pewing where necessary. Tang can do the same (maybe north?). I need to stay on Pistons primarily. Would lose a ton of dps wasting F4's finishing off gears. In fact, Tang needs to be on Gear mop up duty. First round of Piston stuns needs to come courtesy of tanks. Once we get cozy thru the first four waves or so… we can start nailing down a stun/silence/heavy rotation for the dps.

Also, I'm sure you're both aware.. but CD's are mandatory for those tethers. Also…. some healer mitigation may need to be assigned for each of you before you take the hit. I'm sure Sol can attest that it hits hard.

Josh and I will always bring the tethers (and take the hit) to the southern part of the puddle (obviously not together b/c we don't want to kill each other) so a bubble there may help.

I mentioned in earlier posts about splitting up east/west, and assigning people to sides, and you guys told me that it would be too much. Consider:
Josh and a melee west
Sol and a melee east
Merc and Tang roaming (stationary)
Healnu central on south/north to be able to heal everyone
Hannah wherever you need to be to dps.

If we're not going to also assign tether directions (we shouldn't) then people NEED NEED NEED to pay attention to when they get them, step away so a tank can get them, and reengage after the tank is clear. Yes, you will lose a step (suck it up!) but it's the mechanic that's important.

If you don't notice the tether on you, then PLEASE take out a match, strike it, throw gasoline on your system of choice, toss said match and walk away slowly - all the while making plans to play in your grandmother's next Bridge tournament.

Guess what I'm trying to say is… I really don't think that will be a problem. And yeah… in my opinion, tanks need to be getting them. Not dps bringing them. More deeps that way.

ALSO…. humor me guys next run. Let's try the one step to the right and stay strat for P1 waves. I only say this because things will be a LOT more complicated in later phases with waves going out. And we probably need to simplify where we can. You can move back after both waves go out or stay. Really shouldn't matter… except for Josh. PLEASE can we try this?

Considering what I've just posted, picking up Drainage tethers haven't been a problem (surviving them has). But if a dps is w/ each tank on the side, and the ranged and healers were in positions around the southern half, it would be SOOOOO easy for Josh and I to simply move south (the position we want anyway) to grab tether.

"But, Sol, what if the mobs are towards the north?"
Good question. Then Josh, the melee, and myself will already be that way, and Josh and I can grab the tether if they get it, and ranged and healers will simply move up a bit. Do ranged and healers NEED to be in the northern part of arena to reach mobs/party members in the northern part?

Using clock reference, Josh will most likely take his tether to 7, i'll take mine 5. When he and I move to this position, just get clear and move to a position that still lets you do your thing but is clear of the blast. Return after hit and prepare for next mechanic.

Merc, I hear ya on the step-and-stay strat, and I'm all for giving it a go, but consider this scenario:

I get first wave, Josh does not.
I step right to avoid mine; Josh doesn't b/c he has no first wave.
Now, being the attentive sort, I notice Josh doesn't (big gap in wave graphics) so I know to step back. But, in this case, should Josh step right ANYWAY? So if you don't have a wave first, you should still make the step? And if do step back to make sure I don't hit Josh w/ mine, am I now risking being hit by yours?