5 Tips for Every Raider

“Five Things” returns with a post inspired by my GM (/RL/Overlord), Boomslang.

I’ve touched on similar topics before, like applying to and impressing your guild, but this is going to focus specifically on raiders. There are different classes, different roles, different buffs and rotations and responsibilities, but there are some things all raiders need to do.

Best. Edit. Ever. Thanks, Goph.

1. Learn the Strat. If you raid regularly with your guild, you know which bosses are progression. You know which bosses you’re comfortable with and which still give you trouble. It’s your responsibility to learn everything you can about these fights and your role in them. Chances are, someone in your guild has posted links to boss strategies and videos in your forums, but if not, there are lots of websites out there with guides and videos.

Not only can you learn the basic boss strat, there’s also usually information out there about how you can maximize your class’s or spec’s performance on the boss in question. Look for “<insert class here> POV” videos to see how other people playing your class are doing the fight.

If you don’t run with a guild, it’s still worth learning the basic strategies for PuGs or LFR; believe me, your group will appreciate it. This goes doubly for LFR tanks.

Strat sites: Tankspot, IcyVeins, Learn to Raid, Manaflask

Hey, could happen.

2. Show Up (or notify!). If you commit to raid, it’s like an appointment or a date. Hopefully you wouldn’t assure your boss or significant other that you will be there at a certain time and then not show up, so don’t do that to your fellow raiders.  Sometimes real life happens. If something gets in the way of you making it to your raid on time, let someone know if you can through an in-game message or a post on your guild forums.

If it’s a short-notice emergency, at least touch base with your raid leader afterwards. “Sorry I didn’t make it to the raid; we lost power for 4 hours because a giant ninja panda karate kicked down the power plant,” is fine (as long as it’s true…).

3. Know Your Class. Some guilds are going to require you to perform at your absolute A-Game best. Some aren’t. But pretty much every raid you go to you are going to be expected to play your class appropriately. You might not know everything yet or you might not have figured out how to execute everything perfectly (and that’s okay), but you need to have an understanding of your basic stats, rotations, gear choices, and utilities.

If you want to be an okay raider, you can stop there. As long as you’re fulfilling your role adequately, you’ll probably be fine, at least for a while. But if you want to be a good raider, keep learning. Don’t get too satisfied. Find out how to maximize your dps, how to use your cooldowns in each boss fight to maximize your survivability, or how to conserve mana while still keeping the raid or tanks alive.

I’m not where I need to be dps-wise. I’m not where I want to be, and you can be sure I’m going to keep finding ways to improve.

Basic class guides: ElitistJerks, Noxxic 

4. Know the Loot Rules. It seems so minor, but I’ve seen more outbursts over loot than probably anything else in the game. If you’re raiding with a guild, chances are they’ve posted the loot rules somewhere. If you can’t find them, ask someone! If you know how the loot’s going to work before you ever get started, there won’t be any surprises.

If you’re running with a PuG or have been picked up to supplement someone else’s guild, clarify the loot rules beforehand. Open rolls? Is anything reserved? Is it okay to hit “disenchant?” Save everyone some drama and find out.

5. Be a Team Player. It sounds trite, but trite doesn’t mean untrue. You are one of 10 or one of 25 raiders. If you could solo the bosses, you would, but you can’t. Be respectful of your fellow raiders. Don’t publicly insult them. Don’t act like you’re the best thing that ever happened to them. Do what you can to help them. Let them give you advice without being defensive. If you have a problem with something, go through the proper channels. Don’t stir up unnecessary drama.

TL;DR: Be the raider you want everyone else in your raid to be. 

Thanks @__ashima and @aerix88 for suggesting Noxxic and Manaflask (and the other sites you mentioned!). Our guild resource guide is coming along nicely. ❤

5 Things About Loot

There are few things in WoW as desired, discussed, and controversial as loot and how it’s distributed.  Loot discussions have come up in every guild forum, realm forum, and officer chat.  If you haven’t seen one yet; trust me, you will.

So here are five things to keep in mind when you’re thinking about loot:

1.  It’s About Guild Progression if you are in a raiding guild.  PuGs exist to help individuals improve themselves; guilds exist to help a group of like-minded players achieve a common goal.  This is a distinct difference.  If you are in a raiding guild, your goal is to see all of the bosses as quickly and efficiently as you can.  Gear is a means to an end.  Granted, I think we all want to see our characters do their best in the best gear we can obtain, but in the end, gear upgrades exist to help our guild move further into instances.

This is something that has been woefully forgotten across the board.  I’ve seen it in my guild, and I’ve talked to many people who echo my sentiments.  It seems like a lot of people are all about gearing themselves and improving their personal performance.  They’re cutthroat, greedy, and thoughtless.  Yes, there are plenty of people I really like who have turned into loot whores.  I still like them, but these traits apply to them, too.

For instance, let’s say a nice trinket drops.  It’s an upgrade for you, yes; but do you ever inspect the other people rolling on the item?  Do you check to see if the other druid (who’s there almost as often or more than you are) is still carrying around something from Ulduar?

I want to have awesome gear, but I also want to kill bosses.  If passing on that trinket and giving it to consistent raider who needs it more than I do helps us achieve that goal, then so be it.

TL;DR: Don’t be a loot whore; consider your guildies and how gearing them up will help you progress.

2.  What are the loot rules? It’s an important question, both in guilds and in PuGs.  If you care about loot at all in the raid you are about to get saved to, you need to know what to expect.  Progression raid loot is loot council-based for us.  Those who need an item put their name up for consideration.  The loot council (comprised of both officers and raiders) then choose the person they think will benefit the most from the item (in theory).  Main spec takes preference over off spec, and Raiders take priority over Initiates.  If you don’t know the loot rules for your guild, you should ask.

Usually PuGs are set to a Loot Master, who links the item and then prompts for main spec rolls.  If no one rolls for main spec, that person opens it for off spec and then gives it to the highest roller (whether or not people actually need the item or not is an issue for a separate post!).  Sometimes you’ll get into a group that has special loot rules, such as: “This is mostly a guild raid, and we will be keeping patterns for our guild bank.”  At that point, people who are dissatisfied with the rule can opt out.  Special loot rules should be expressed up front.  If you’ve got a question about anything, make sure you ask, so you don’t get halfway through the run and find out someone else is going to be preferred for the items you want.

TL;DR: Know what to expect from loot before it becomes a problem.

3.  A Little Consideration goes a long way.  No one likes being in a group where one person rolls on everything.  Yes, it’s an upgrade, and that’s awesome (it really is, upgrades make me drool), but if you’re sitting on two new pieces of loot, let someone else have a turn.  Something you might see as a minor setback might really help someone else out, and people remember these things.  There are people I get into PuGs with today that when I see their name, I think, “Cool, that person was so awesome last time.”  Accumulate gear, but be reasonable; there are 9 or 24 other people in your group who are there for the same reason you are, and you can’t solo Icecrown.

TL;DR: Play nice and take turns.

4.  Know Your Role!  Before rolling on loot, you should know what stats are best for your class and spec.  A warlock rolling against a healer on an item with mp5?  Bad.  A healer rolling against a mage for an item with hit?  Also bad.  There are hundreds of resources on the internet to find out what stats (and in some cases, which items) you should focus on.  Do your research, know your class, and roll on the right things.

TL;DR: It’s 5 sentences, don’t be so lazy.

5.  It’s Just Loot.  I know, I can see that look on your face right through the computer screen.  “If it’s just loot, then why did you waste a whole blog post on it?”  Here’s the thing:  loot is important to players.  I think it’s perfectly reasonable to question loot rules, to get frustrated or disappointed with the way loot distribution is handled, and even to sometimes get angry about getting treated unfairly when it comes to loot.  There have been times I have been seething over the way something loot-related went down.

However, is one item worth losing your guild over?  How about a friendship, in-game or real life?  Is it worth earning a bad reputation on your server?  I don’t think so.  If your guild is repeatedly shafting you, then yes, maybe you should bring it up (tactfully), but if it’s a rare occurrence, or a one time thing, respond carefully and try to keep it in perspective.

TL;DR:  There are things much more valuable than epic loot.

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5 Things to Do In Icecrown

Most of us have ventured inside the looming Icecrown Citadel by now.  Sure, killing bosses is why we’re there, but there are so many other cool things to experience.  Here are five of them…

1.  Spring the Trap.  If you’re lucky enough to be in a 10-man without a rogue, run around between pulls trying to find the trap.  Giggle joyfully when you watch everyone nearby in slow-mo as the giant skeleton comes lumbering towards your raid.  The Plagueworks also has traps that spring geists from behind, but unless your tank pulls the Plague Scientist in the corner back, you’ll probably have a hard time being the one to spring it.

2.  Rocket Butt.  If you haven’t done this yet…WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!  Druids are in the awesome position of having rockets on their butts in bear form.  Get to the Gunship, pick up your rocket, and bear form.  It’s hilarious and awesome.

3.  Shoot the Cannon.  Everyone should get a turn at the cannon on the Gunship battle.  That’s all there is to it.  Aim at the Axethrowers and Rocketeers, spam 1 to build up some heat, then bang on the number 2.  Rockets?  AoE?  Pffft, you’re taking down a whole ship!

(I’m in the cannon on the far left)

4.  Typhoon the Beasts.  Even in my guild, where the Blood Beasts are a crazy ranged-dps free-for-all, Typhoon comes in handy.  Plus, how many chances do you get in a raid to watch the adds surf backwards?  I intentionally try to get aggro on the beasts just so I have a good excuse to send them flying across the room.

My Mageboy & his Ribbon

5.  Get Precious’s Ribbon.  Precious is so sweet, she’s Best In Show!  I’ve seen that shirt drop twice now, and haven’t won it yet.  But my time is coming.  Kill Precious, cross your fingers that the shirt drops, and then roll.  Bright pink?  Check.  Cool-sounding buff?  Check.  Something to dance nearly naked in when you’re waiting for the pull?  Oh yeah.

I could probably come up with 10  easily (record all your guildies talking about “angry poo poo” on vent, for instance), but we’ll stop here.  Good luck to you in your Icecrown adventures!

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5 Ways to Impress Your Guild

I’ve decided to do a list every week.  I’m the kind of person who picks up a magazine and goes straight to the top whatever list.  I enjoyed writing last week’s “5 Ways to Get /Ignored,” so bam, a series is born.  Since I write a lot, I think I’m sparing everyone by sticking to a list of five.

This week (a little late, thanks to a busy Thanksgiving weekend) we’ll do something a little more positive.  Let’s talk about ways to impress your guild.  We won’t discuss how many of them I actually do…lol.

5 Ways to Impress Your Guild

1.  Be respectful.  This one sounds like common sense, but you’d be surprised how often this one gets violated.  Granted, once you know your guildies pretty well, you know what lines exist and where it’s safe to cross them.  But don’t jump into a guild assuming they’re going to love it when you tell them how awesome you are, how they should run their raids, or how the young female warlock in the guild makes you hot.  Especially when you’re new to a guild, I highly recommend sitting back and playing cool for a while.  Learn about your guildies, what they talk about, what jokes are funny and which flop, and what makes people pissy.  Once you feel like you can jump in without making yourself look foolish, go for it!

2.  Contribute.  Should you spend 15 minutes in vent talking over the guild leaders explaining how and why they should use your strat?  NO, that goes back to number 1.  But don’t sit down on your butt, show up for raids, and ignore everyone the rest of the time.  If you have a useful profession, donate to the guild bank.  If you fish up salmon for yourself, fish up an extra stack and stick it in the bank for Fish Feasts.  If you make potions or elixirs or gems or enchanting mats, stick a stack or two of surplus into the bank, or if you don’t have bank access, mail it to an officer.  You don’t need to go around trumpeting how much you’ve donated (you’ll look like a big old attention-seeking butthead).  Someone in your guild is most likely a banker who watches the log, and they will appreciate your donations and more, your humility.

But contributions go beyond guild banks.  Contribute your time and skills as well.  You’re a good tank?  Cool, watch for a good opportunity to volunteer for a heroic group.  You’ve got an offspec healer, or an awesome dps?  Take them to that ToC 10-man.

3.  Do your job.  If you’re in a raiding guild, you were most likely invited in a particular capacity.  A lot of raiding guilds have applications just like jobs:  you applied, you were probably “interviewed” or tested by an officer, and you were accepted.  But it doesn’t end there.  You’ll be watched exceptionally closely the first several raids.  Every failure you have will be magnified, so do your best to fail as little as possible.  You ARE going to have screw ups; even seasoned raiders have moments where they stand in front of Icehowl like a deer in the headlights, and at these times, stay cool.  Accept the criticism graciously, apologize for your mistake if appropriate, and do everything you can to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Make sure you know about your class and your role.  Know how to gem and enchant; know your rotation, your cooldowns, and how to work them within the encounters.  Learn about the boss fights ahead of time.  Don’t stand in fire.  Know how to wipe.  If you’re a druid, find out what you need to know about using your battle rez (is it used at your discretion, or will your raid leader call for you?).  If you’re a Moonkin, for Elune’s sake don’t shift out to heal unless it’s appropriate (sometimes things like Faction Champs force the issue).  If you’re a holy priest, don’t walk up to Gormok and try to Holy Nova while you heal.  Do the job you’ve been “hired” to do, and do it to the best of your ability.

4.  If you don’t know something, ASK.  It’s okay to admit you don’t know everything.  Every once in a while, someone will screw up on something repeatedly, and you’ll find out they didn’t ever understand that Big Boss 5 does X, Y, or Z ability.  While whispering your raid leader in the middle of the raid to ask him whether or not you should be using this spell instead of that one probably isn’t the best plan, if you’re struggling with something, ask your class lead or someone you think is trustworthy and really gets it (it’s why guilds usually have hierarchies).  I think it’s super classy when someone whispers me and says, “Okay, you really seem to get this fight.  What do I do when Y happens?”  It means you care enough about the other 24 people in the raid to humble yourself a little and ask for help.  That’s win.

5.  Know when it’s time to move on (or when it’s not).  Sometimes people change.  Your priorities in game shift from raiding to alts or PvP, or real life kicks you in the butt with the loss of a job, or your wife is having a baby next month.  Sometimes guilds change.  They get unfriendly or too friendly, they stop caring or they start being jerks about progression.  Sometimes you might get into a guild and realize you just don’t fit in with this crowd and you’re not comfortable.

This could mean a lot of things.  In the case of “raiding retirement,” it might mean that you stay in your guild as a bench warmer, or you might choose to find a guild that’s more friendly to casual players.  If the guild changes, weigh your investments.  Do you have a lot of friends in the guild you still like to talk to?  Do you have a legacy in the guild?  Do you think the guild will recover, or can you accept the new direction it’s taking?  Based on your answers, decide whether or not you’re going to wait it out or move on.  If the problem is your comfort level in the guild, don’t force yourself to stay there and be unhappy.  It’s quite all right to say, “I appreciate the opportunity, but I just don’t think this guild’s the right fit for me.”

Guilds are the backbone of raiding in World of Warcraft (yes, even with all the puggable content, guilds are still leading progression).  Unless you like being a drifter, find a guild you love and then settle in.  Hopefully you’ll have a long WoW life with your guild.

Oh, and you automatically get 15 impressive bonus points for reading my blog, so congratulations! 😀

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