WHAT IS A RAID?

Raids are the end game content for each upgrade in World of Warcraft

They show up at: Lvl 60: Classic WoW - Molten Core Lvl 70: Burning Crusades - Black TempleLvl 80: Lich King - Ice Crown Citadel (ICC)Lvl 85: Cataclysm - Dragon SoulLvl 90: Pandaria - Thunder King

WHAT IS A RAID?

Blizzard's Perspective:

This should be the most difficult challenge in the game and continue to challenge until the next expansion / upgrade.

If not enough groups are completing, we will reduce the difficulty to allow more to complete and maintain subscriptions

WHAT IS A RAID?

Player's Perspective:

Success in a raid requires collaboration and communication.

Raid gear and completion is a symbol of status that not everyone should have.

WHAT IS A RAID?

Player's Attitude VARIES from:

Raiding is only for the serious and committed player... TO...

Raiding is a fun way to keep interest between expansions.

Come Prepared!There is prep work to be done!

RAIDING BEST PRACTICES

EQUIPMENT

In addition to being optimized to your class and role, equipment should be

• REPAIRED

• GEMMED

• ENCHANTED

• REFORGED

This is each player’s responsibility to accomplish

before the raid

EQUIPMENT

For help optimizing your gear, use tools like

http://www.askmrrobot.com/wow

ADD-ONS

Deadly Boss Mods

• Gives alerts that are class, role and boss specific

• Required for raiding

Recount

• Gives real-time and summative assessment of each player's performance in an encounter

• Good for all players to have

CONSUMABLES

FOOD that has an appropriate buff for your class

POTIONS that gives us an appropriate buff for your class

Haste or Protection Potions

Mana Potions

Heal Potions

KNOW YOUR ROLE

TankMain target of enemy

Healer Heals everyone

Damage per Second (DPS) Does the most damage

Tanks and heals must be kept alive. Otherwise we

all get wiped.

Further Breakdown

Tank

Main Tank

Off Tank

Heals

Tank Heals

Raid Heals

DPS

Melee

Ranged

KNOW YOUR CLASS AND ABILITIES

Expectation that you know how to play your class and have mastered all the special abilities

A good starting point is:

Noxxic.com - at a glance class guides

Icy-Veins.com - detailed class guides

KNOW YOUR CLASS AND ABILITIES

Each player is expected to have all the required Glyphs and Talents for their class

Also expected to know and apply any raid buffs

Reference:

Noxxic.com

Wowpopular.com

Icy-veins.com

RESEARCH THE ENCOUNTERS

Successful raiding requires everyone to do their research

Videos:

Fatboss (YouTube)

Tankspot

Websites:

Icy-veins.com

Tentonhammer.com

RESEARCH THE ENCOUNTERS

• Know what to avoid

• Know what to target

• Know how you can help

Purple Bad!

BAD RAID ETIQUETTE

Dropping Out During RaidRaid Can't Continue if You Drop Out

BAD RAID ETIQUETTE

BAD RAID ETIQUETTE Multi-tasking during the raidSee LeeRoy Jenkins Video

BAD RAID ETIQUETTE Not adjusting your play style to fit the Raid

Continuing to do the same thing wrong each time

TYPES OF RAIDS

• Casual

• Social

• Retro

• Dedicated

• Gear or Tier

• Serious

• Hard Core

Types of Raids

Casual

The Raid takes place whenever there seems to be enough level 90s with minimum ilevel on.

Group will figure out targeted Raid as they go along.

SOCIAL - Series of raiding times set for people to sign up as convenient. Raid leader or invited guest guides the run and explains fights as needed. Emphasis is on social interaction and completing the Raid and gear is secondary.

SOCIAL - Series of raiding times set for people to sign up as convenient. Raid leader or invited guest guides the run and explains fights as needed. Emphasis is on social interaction and completing the Raid and gear is secondary.

SOCIAL

Series of raiding times set for people to sign up as convenient.

Raid leader or invited guest guides the run and explains fights as needed.

Emphasis is on social interaction and completing the Raid and gear is secondary.

RETRORetro Raids usually have one of the three goals.

Social - allow a diversity of levels in a guild do a social activity together

Achievements - allows guildees and guild to get achievements

• may be taken at a casual pace

• or could be a speed run

Training - allows lower levels to learn to raid and a particular guild's raid etiquette

Dedicated (Progressive)

Emphasis is on knowledge creation within the Raid group.

Focus on Hard Fun, Flow and Fiero within the Raid Group

The flow state in this type of raid is known as "Finesse“

Collaborates to increase the ilevel of each member such as group VP runs, group dailies, etc.

Regular group of raiders work as a team to achieve progression.

Dedicated (Progressive)

Pre-raid strategy meetings and raid de-brief meetings, and share resources to ensure all players have needed food and potions for raid.

Regular attendance is expected and size is limited to 12 to 13 members to allow for absences and not interrupt scheduled raids.

Raiders unable to make set raids are expected to contact the raid leader ahead of time to allow for substitution or timely cancellations.

All members are expected to do research on their class and contribute to discussion of raid strategy.

Gear or Tier

The primary purpose is to obtain high end gear.

The focus is for quick, efficient and optimized

runs to obtain desired gear for each player.

Raid group will not be consistent and is more about whoever needs gear.

SERIOUS (Progressive)

Raid 2-3 nights a week at set times. Regularly scheduled raid meetings with designated raiders (10 to 13). Each raider is expected to supply their own potions, food and high ilevel, Aggressive performance standards for dps and heals apply and high attendance is mandatory. All players are expected to know their class, research the raid encounters, and know their role in the fight.

HARDCORE (Progressive)

Raid 3- 4 nights a week and focus on progression. Required regular raid meetings, high performance, designated raiders (10 to 13), high attendance standards, serious tone during raid. Will not bring in PUGs to raid. Emphasis is ranking on the realm and achievements.

Raid Expectations

You will be fully equipped.

You will be stay for the full designated time period.

You will schedule the time to play without interruption just like if you were playing in a F2F baseball game or other activity like playing in a band.

Confessions of a Raider

• Sometimes I get so focused on things that I forget to watch my feet.

• High DPS does not mean much when you are dead

• Wiping is fine as long as it does not happen for the same reason and that we learn

Confessions of a Raider

• DPS is only easier if you are a slacker.

• It’s all about Optimization in raiding• Tank – Optimize self healing and damage

mitigation• Healing – Optimize healing and minimize

overhealing• DPS – Optimize damage done and minimize

damage taken

Confessions of a Raider

• Key to raiding is to master the mechanic and then optimize

• There are two ways to be successful:

• Finesse – All about mastery

• Brute Force – All about being Overpowered

Questions / Discussion