Raiding: The Commitment

I wrote this for the Guild forums but liked it so I posted it here.


Since we've lost some old members, obtained some new members, and are looking forward to the future of our guild I thought it best to post this rant now rather than wait.

Raiding is different than anything else you will do in World of Warcraft. Raiding is different than pvp, than pve, than pugging or casually doing 5 mans. Raiding is a commitment. It is best to understand this sooner rather than later.

World of Warcraft is fundamentally a game, a hobby, and ought always to be thought of as such. But the status of "game" does not detract from the experience as a whole. Rather, the enjoyable and entertaining aspects of World of Warcraft are what bring people to the game and the reason for why we play. The "we" in that sentence, though, is what raiding emphasizes.

Raiding is a group activity, a team effort. In a Karazhan run an individual may be primarily there to obtain gear for their character but one must also remember that there are nine other people in the group who depend on you and upon whom you depend. You have a responsibility to those other players just as they have a responsibility towards you.

This does not mean that we must be deadly serious, that we cannot discuss dolphin fucking or ball gags. Rather, it means that one ought to be prepared, that one ought to always attempt to do one's best for the benefit of both their self and the group.

An example of this is the use of individual buffs to maximize one's utility. Yes, a spellcaster can simply show up and DPS. But a better spellcaster, a more beneficial spellcaster, will take advantage of potions, food buffs, wizard oils, etc. Review the following items:

[Superior Wizard Oil] +42 spell damage
[Crunchy Serpent] +23 spell damage
[Greater Arcane Elixir] +35 spell damage

The use of these items grants the user +100 spell damage. That is huge. Given that all spellcasters have access to these items, that they are not prevented from using them, spellcasters always ought to have these items in stock and use them throughout any given raid.

This is not an attempt to drain gold from individual players, to establishing a harsh benchmark for performance. Rather, it comes from an objective analysis of what we are doing. We are all, whether we know it or not, trying to progress forward in the game and so obtain better gear so that we can progress even further. To make this attempt, to embark upon the venture of raiding and put forth the effort without utilizing these easily accessable items that benefit not only ourselves but the group as a whole? That is simply foolishness and a waste of everyone's time.

The same can be said for many other aspects of raiding. Prompt attendance, for example. Realistically there will be times when players are late to raids; that is life. But it is best to minimize lateness. Always try to be online early, to be ready to go. If our raid starts at 9:30 a.m. be online by at least 9:15 a.m. If you are out of potions or spell damage food obtain them the night before the raid, not the morning of. Make an effort to better yourself and so better the group as a whole.

Because, again, that is what separates raiding from everything else you will do in WoW. Raiding is a team effort. You are part of a group. Do not depend on others to cover for your slacking; do not half-ass your attempt.

Do your best. Put forth effort. Better yourself as a player.

Because that is how you progress in the game, how you obtain better gear, how you create stronger relationships with your fellow players.

And, most importantly, it is how you have more fun.