We get questions constantly from people about raiding, the raid team, the loot system, etc. and while it is completely understandable that people want to know what it going on it is really tedious on our part as we feel like a broken record answering the same questions over and over for different people. So we are going to post a list of questions and answers here so that everyone can have access to the information without having to wait. We feel that we have thought of a lot of good questions and answers that will hopefully cover most of the bases but if you have others please feel free to ask. So here it goes...
What steps must I take to be on the raid team?
Step 1: Correctly fill out and post a Raid Application on our website (Title format should be something like "Char Name - Class - Spec"). For most of MoP, WoD, Legion, BFA, and SL we were one of the top raid guilds on the server (and I plan for it to stay that way) so the more thought/energy/effort you put into your app the better your chances. There are a lot of people who want to raid with us so if you give us nothing but one word answers, poor formatting, incomplete answers, etc. we likely won't spend a lot of time reading it since you clearly didn't spend a lot of time filling it out.
Step 2: Check the forums a day or two after you app to see if we've responded. We often have follow up questions or instructions that you will need to follow. We aren't going to hunt you down in game so be pro-active if you are really interested. Once you have answered any follow up questions or made any changes we requested we will either accept you on trial or pass (if we passed we will explain why, so see if there is something you can do to remedy the issue and re-apply when you are ready).
Step 3: Once accepted on trial show up to your trial prepared and perform to the best of your ability. The trial period will last 2 weeks (6 raids) while we make a decision on whether or not to accept you to the team.
When should I apply?
You should apply to be on the raid team once your character is Raid Ready. That means your character is properly geared, gemmed, enchanted, spec'd, etc. If you don't know what that means take a step back and seriously ask yourself, "if I were putting together the best possible group to down a raid boss would this character be on that list?" We don't mind helping to gear people up as we understand that new people likely will be behind us gear wise, that's fine, but don't expect a carry from Greens to Epics.
No Zultan, I meant what day do I have to apply by?
The first raid opens on Tuesday, December 12th (Note: This is subject to change by Blizzard) so if you are wanting to get involved from the beginning you need to apply by 12:00pm Central Time on December 12th at the latest. This doesn't mean we won't be taking apps after that date of course, but if we have 30 trials to do and you apply on December 14th it may be a while before we get to yours as we will be making our plans prior to that. (Note: If you can app sooner than that then by all means please do, the more people who wait to the last minute the more hectic it will be. That said don't apply before you are ready)
What is the minimum ilvl to apply?
This is a tricky question as we have yet to see exactly how the crafting meta-game and World Quests will play out. For now we are going with a minimum ilvl of 359+ in all gear slots as that is what drops in Heroic dungeons. We chose this number because even if you have the world's worst RNG and can't get a Mythic dungeon drop to save your life you can still grind Heroic Dungeons to get there. Mythic dungeon gear is ilvl 372 so that is the preferred number that you should shoot for. (Note: We know being fully Mythic geared may not be attainable as you can only run them each once per week, just saying that it is what you should aim for so you don't stop at 359 and go level alts if you are serious about raiding). Note: An exception can be made for rings/neck so long as the math supports the choice.
What do you look for in a raider?
Skill. Awareness. Attitude. Reliability. Not always in that order. We are looking for skilled individuals capable of handling complex mechanics with a mastery over the nuances of their class' strengths and abilities. Awareness doesn't just mean not standing in fire (although that is definitely part of it). When we say awareness it's things like 1) Am I constantly having to b-rez them? 2) Do they ask me to repeat instructions after I've just given them? 3) Did they not know about a boss ability or how it works? 4) Did they really just walk a debuff over to a healer and get them killed? etc. Attitude, while not directly related to how you play your character is still very important. We will be spending 9 hours a week together, we don't want to spend that time with someone who makes us want to headbutt a rhino just because they do good dps. With Mythic raiding there will be 20 people in the raid and while it would be nice it is likely that not everyone will be best buddies, that happens when you get a diverse group of people in the same place. But even if you aren't great friends it doesn't mean you can't get along. We are all on the same team and working towards the same goal. If you being there makes raiding less fun, you won't be there anymore. Lastly, reliability is key. If we can't count on you to be there then you can't be on the team. Real Life always comes first....but if your Real Life makes it where you are constantly missing raids or having to show up late/leave early then serious progression raiding probably isn't for you (Note: We are not opposed to having alternates so long as you understand you may sit more than others as long as your schedule makes you less reliable than they are).
I was on the raid team in a previous expansion do I still need to apply? Do I get priority?
Yes, you still need to apply. This is an entirely new expansion and a lot has changed. You need to show that you have the same dedication to raiding and knowledge of your class that got you on a raid team in the past. Having been on the team before helps you in that we already know what kind of player you are (strengths, weaknesses, attitude, etc.) so we know you have it in you to be a solid raider but it doesn't guarantee you a spot. If you show up expecting to be grandfathered in so you do negative dps and wonder why you can no longer cast a spell that was removed from the game you won't be making the team. We had faith in your ability in the past to put you on the team, have faith in yourself now and we will continue to have faith in you and you will likely make the new team. (Note: Some of the app questions relating to prior guilds and what not you can just put N/A if you are a returning player)
I'm new to the guild, does that mean it will be harder for me to make the team?
No, I don't think so. Our raid team is performance based (using the 4 criteria referenced earlier in this post) so if you are consistently playing at a level equal to or higher than that of your peers then you will earn a spot on the team. To put it in perspective this guild has been raiding together for 7+ expansions and we have cleared the final boss on the hardest difficulty in nearly each one. Each of those final boss kills (Lich King heroic, Deathwing heroic, Archimonde Mythic, etc.) had at least 7-8 new players involved between expansions. Everyone who deserves a chance will get one.
I'm on the team! What is expected of me now?
Read the stickied post "Raid Rules" in this Forum, it has a lot of great information about what is expected of you as a member of the raid team. Trials especially should follow these rules to leave a good first impression.
How will the trials process work?
Historically our trials have always been conducted in the raid environment. To start a new expansion with a raid team reset obviously we will have a LOT of trials (I will also be on trial myself, no one gets a free pass). How we have to conduct them will honestly depend on how many apps we get that we deem to be viable candidates so I can't fully answer this question. Potential trials plans pending number of viable apps:
1) One big 30 man raid to see how everyone does together. (If we have 30 or less viable apps)
2) Two separate raids the first week to see how well people do then combine the best candidates to make the main group, If enough of the people left still want to raid we would be willing to organize and run a 2nd group. (If we have 31+ viable apps AND we can reasonably make two viable raid groups based on comp needs)
3) One big raid subbing people in and out to see how they do. Potentially taking some people one day and others the next. (If we have 31+ apps but not a ton more or if we can't viably run a 2nd group)
4) One big raid with trials spaced over 2 weeks. (If we have 31+ apps but not a ton more or if we can't viably run a 2nd group)
Which method we will go with will be determined closer to raid release. We will be having a guild raid meeting at some point prior to release to go over a lot of this stuff. (Note: Historically we go with option 2 as we generally start the expansion with a lot of interest).
How many people will make the team?
As of right now our plan is to field a raid team of 24-26 people (we have had a lot of success with this number in the past). Our end goal is to clear Mythic content and for Mythic you need a static 20 people. We've always been of the philosophy that Real Life comes first so we like to have some extra people on hand for when things come up or for specific raid comp needs (i.e.- someone has family visiting, fights like heroic shaman in SoO that required 3 tanks instead of 2, etc.). If you make the team there will be nights where you sit as we can't take 25 people to a 20 man raid, but everyone will get their opportunities if they are on the team. Normal and Heroic difficulty allows for 30 people but having 10 subs is too much and it dilutes the loot pool. Lockouts aren't shared this expansion so you can clear Heroic and Mythic in the same week, so even if you are asked to sit for a Mythic run on a specific day/week it doesn't necessarily mean you won't be raiding with the guild that week.
What would the breakdown of that 24-26 people be?
Until I have a better idea of exactly how many tanks/healers/dps are required for each fight I can't fully answer this question. Different raids have different group comp needs so it is not a static answer. (Note: Likely 2-3 tanks, 5-6 healers, 13-17 dps...with some of those being flex)
What if we have more than 24-26 quality people, will there be a 2nd team?
If we can viably make two raid groups we are willing to do it so long as a leader emerges. The main raid team is the priority as our goal is to be one of, if not the top raid guild on the server and to do that we need to make sure the main group has the best chance to succeed as possible. There will be some set up work involved to get a 2nd group up and running but as long as it doesn't negatively affect the main group and we have enough/the right people for a viable raid comp then we are willing to set one up. Historically our 2nd group has been more of a casual thing for less serious players or alts and has run on weekends. This question is about a 2nd serious raid group, the casual group will still happen later on regardless of whether or not we do a 2nd serious group. (Note: For the first 2-3 weeks when we are doing trials if we have to run 2 groups it is NOT an indicator of which group you would be in, being in G2 for trials is NOT an indication that you aren't doing well.)
Would you consider this raid team to be "hardcore"?
No, I would not. We only raid 3 nights a week for less than 3 hours per night. We describe ourselves as semi-hardcore. We try to keep a fun-casual atmosphere while still having a serious raid team. This is a game and games should be fun, but if you having fun is preventing 19 others from having fun then that is not ok. If people want to joke around on discord during trash/downtime that's fine but if the raid leaders start talking or once we get to the boss it's time to focus on the task at hand, listen, and do your job. We take progression raiding seriously, so while we may not be as hardcore as some other guilds we still buckle down and get the job done and that is what we expect of others.
Are professions required to make the team?
No, now that professions no longer give a direct benefit (i.e.-extra sockets for Blacksmiths) they are not required. The crafting meta-game is much more intense now and requires a lot more time/energy/effort than in the past. We won't hold it against someone if they don't have the time and resources to deal with all the crafting stuff. That said it is still beneficial when it comes to crafting gear and other enhancements that you would otherwise have to buy, so if you can have them it's nice.
How does loot work?
Loot is going to be a little different for us now that Blizz has sadly taken Master Loot out of the game and forced Personal Loot on us. This is the best idea that we have for now, but we are still open to suggestions if anyone has a better idea. We use Loot Count, it is a math based system so there is no favoritism involved. It is Loot Received divided by Raids Attended. Lowest number wins the item. Loot Count resets each time a new tier of raiding is released (for example in BFA when BoD came out the Loot Count from Uldir reset). For a more detailed explanation of Loot Count please read the "Raid Rules" post in this forum. (Note: We will NOT make anyone give up an item they won with their own Personal Loot that they want for themselves. If you get it via Personal Loot, and you want it, it is yours. This system will just be for those items that people do not want for their own Main Set and are willing to put up for roll.)
What are loot rules for trials?
When a new player is accepted to the team they start on a trial period. This trial lasts for 2 weeks (6 raids), during which time they will acquire attendance points for Loot Count but are ineligible to win items (unless you win with your Personal Loot or no one else needs them, we won't shard an upgrade for someone as that would be silly). This way a new player can not come in, win a highly sought after item that someone else has been working towards for months, then fail their trial and not make the team. That said if you join later in a raid tier often times main raiders no longer need many bosses so you will still get loot off of farm bosses. (Note: Anyone who applies and is accepted on trial PRIOR to raids releasing will be exempt from this rule seeing as we will all be on trial at the same time.)
My old guild did things like this....
Cool story bro... On a serious note we are fully aware that all guilds do things differently, some even do crazy stuff like kill Skull first instead of X (don't worry we are logical so you won't have to deal with that here). Different strategies can be effective for different groups of people. This guild has been together for over a decade now (some of us even longer) and our style seems to work well for us. When I raid lead I don't yell at people on discord, or call people out in front of everyone. I don't rage call raids if people are sucking or kick someone off the team for having one bad night. I am constantly talking to people in whispers letting them know what they are doing wrong, what they can do to fix it, and while I am not afraid to replace someone if they are struggling that doesn't mean we won't give them a 2nd chance. Just because you don't see us handling an issue doesn't mean we aren't handling it. We prefer to keep a positive atmosphere as we believe people perform better more consistently when they are in a good mood. Yea some people can get angry and play better for a few minutes, but over the course of a 3 hour raid in our experience the angry player deteriorates so we strive to avoid that scenario. Guilds should always do what works best for them, we believe what we are doing is working best for us so that is why we do things this way. Yes there are other ways to do things and potentially be just as successful but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is the right solution here. We will always do what we feel is in the best interest of the guild, as it is a truly great guild and that is because of the people in it. We've been around a long time and we intend to stay for a long time to come.
So does that mean you aren't open to suggestion?
Absolutely not. I am fully aware that I do not know everything and I believe that collaboration is key to success. I do my best to do research and present strategies that I think will give us the best chance of success based on our specific group of people but that doesn't mean that I always find the best one. If you think you have a better idea than mine or something to add to it then I would love to hear it. BUT there is a time and a place for suggestion. I am open to discussion before and after raids (I am generally on early and stay late, plus you can message me on discord anytime), or if you really feel it is important then during a raid as long as you do it in WHISPERS. If you interrupt/contradict me over discord or in raid chat in front of everyone all it does is cause confusion (as people join the debate) and undermine my authority which is irritating and counter-productive. I am constantly talking with other warlocks on the team (my main class) to discuss what they've read and what they feel is best for a particular encounter and I have learned from them many times. We are all in this together so any help I can get to make things go smoother for the rest of us I am all for it, as long as it is done in the appropriate way.
Who's your Grandma's neighbor?
Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson, a nice elderly couple. I used to be friends with their grandson Josh, but that was a long time ago. They are good people.
ADDED FROM THREAD
What days will we raid?
For the last 8 years we have raided T/W/R from 7:40pm CT - 10:30pm CT (R = Thursday, CST = Central Time). It is possible that these days will change (something that can be discussed at the guild raid meeting) but since we started raiding back in early BC we have always raided on Tues and Thurs nights so I doubt the days will vary significantly.
My main doesn't need this boss, can I bring my alt?
Sorry but no, you can't. The purpose of this group is to down progression content and bringing in your alt generally does not help us to reach that goal. If you don't need loot it's likely because you already got some, so use it to help gear others so that we can down the boss faster. If I let your alt come then I have to let EVERYONE's alt come and that is simply a pandora's box that I am not willing to open (I made that mistake in WoD, and it severly hampered the guilds progression, for that I am truly sorry and I assure you I will never do it again). The casual raid we do on weekends is open to alts, feel free to go and help with that.
Woah, you took your alt to a raid! What gives?
In MoP I rerolled tank during ToT progression because we lost a tank to Real Life obligations. I wasn't trying to get my alt in, I was helping the raid by switching to a necessary class. I mained prot paladin for the rest of the expansion until Mythic hit when I was no longer needed and only went on my warlock when we needed more dps (i.e.- Thok, a 1 tank fight). There may be other exceptions like this where gearing an alt to fill a need is a viable solution but those are on a case by case basis and not the norm.
Do I need to have the best gems and enchants?
At the start of the expansion, no, but you should aim for them in the future as soon as reasonably possible. The way crafting works things are incredibly time consuming, thus expensive, and we don't expect people to pay an insane amount for their one gem (i.e. - a JC can't even cut the best gem until they max their profession which is gated by arbitrary World Quests). That said the cheap stuff is cheap and easy to acquire, so you should definitely have that.
Z!!!! We're friends so it's cool if I troll on my app right?
No, it is not. Everyone else is taking their app seriously and so should you. These apps are public so everyone can see them and I don't need people saying "I can't believe you accepted so and so, if he does that and makes the team then so can I!" It's fine if you have some humor in your app, makes them more fun to read, but it needs to be appropriate and the questions still need to be sufficiently answered. Specifically if we ask you a follow up question, it's because we have a question that we need an answer to before we can evaluate your app so until you give us a legit answer we can't move the process forward.
It's hard to get gear with these long queue times, why doesn't anyone invite me?
I'm going to go ahead and stop you right there. That is 100% on you. You need to step up and be proactive. People are on our discord practically 24/7 hanging out, getting to know each other, running things together, etc. "But I don't have a mic!" So use your ears and type, people have done that for years it's nothing new (one of the best hunters I ever knew was deaf so if he can do it then you can too). Also speak up in guild chat, it doesn't hurt to ask. Multiple times over the last few days I've seen someone complain about being in a dps queue for 30+ minutes only to have a tank offer to queue with them for an instant queue. Tanks don't want to play alone either, ASK THEM! Stop being so passive aggressive and just ask for help. Yea, you may not get it as sometimes people are busy but it doesn't hurt to ask (whispers are ok for this but try guild chat first, there are a lot of new faces so try and get to know them). Lastly when someone offers to tank something or asks for players for something speak up. They just asked so they obviously want people, all you need to do is respond if you are interested.
There are a lot of new people, how do I fit in?
Be yourself and talk to people. There are a lot of new people and I know to some it can be overwhelming but to be honest that is a good thing. Having more quality people to spend time with makes the game better, put forth some effort to get to know them. You may not make great friends with everyone but you are destined to find a few if you put yourself out there. Our discord is open to anyone, whether you are questing/dungeoning/farming or just bored and want to chat (once we discussed a Pop Tart shield with sprinkles that flew off when you used shield bash for a solid half hour, good times). A perfect example of this is a hunter named Songi back in WoD. I had never met him before WoD when he joined the guild after a server merge but one day he got on discord with me because we happened to be questing in the same area and another raider, Chickenbomb, invited him to our group. Since then we have run dungeons, CMs, raids, and even met up in real life at BlizzCon. The old players who have been around for a while are great, and I'm sure the new people are too, get to know each other and the game will be more fun for everyone.
MOST ASKED QUESTION OF ALL TIME
What's the plan tonight?
Plan A every night is to clear all current raid content on the highest difficulty available. That is not always possible due to how difficult bosses are, where we are in progression, what all players can attend, etc. but THAT is the plan. If you ever ask me this question then that is the only answer that I will give you. I do have multiple back up plans or goals I would like to achieve but the answer to "what's the plan?" is to clear all current content on the highest difficulty. The reason that I can't give you a more specific answer before the raid starts is because until raid start time I don't know all the variables. As an example I may plan to work on boss X but that fight requires 6 healers and we only have 4 healers on that night so we do boss Y instead. As soon as I know what the plan is for the night I will tell you, you do not need to ask. Seriously, please don't, I would really appreciate it.
Wall of text over....for now. That should cover most of the basics, I'm sure there are some I've missed but I've literally been working on this for hours and I need a break. If you have any questions that aren't covered here please post them as a response in this thread that way I can add it to the FAQ and answer it for everyone. The odds are if you have a question then others may have that same one.
