Tomoe
Member
Number of posts : 18
Age : 42
Localisation : Ontario, Canada
Registration date : 2007-12-19
 |  Subject: Raiding Etiquette & Behaviour. *Warning: Wall of Text*  Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:09 am | |
| Disclaimer: This is not intended to be directed at anyone in particular. The server was down and I'm bored  Regardless of what guild you're in, what class you are or how much experience you have, these are general things to watch out for. Before I got into regular raids, I've experimented with different groups, guilds and accepted random invitations, even pugged raids more than a few times. Here's some of my observations. All of these have been made into 'spoiler' topics because they're rather lengthy and they'll pretty much just show up as a wall of text  Don't say I didn't warn you~ Please make NO assumptions on what players or guilds I may or may not be referring to here. If you're already observing things like this, give yourself a pat on the back. If you disagree or have anything to add, please feel free to reply. Don't General- Spoiler:
Expect someone to carry your weight
Unless a run was specifically set up to get you geared, you're expected to do as much work as everyone else. It wouldn't be fair for you to be pumping out 120% damage, and commit to 4 hours of uninterrupted time while someone else is on auto-follow and watching a movie. If you don't want to work for upgrades, don't be surprised if you get booted and replaced by someone willing to try.
Expect the other 9 or 24 people to do what you want
If you have a quest that needs completion or you need a moment to deal with something, let the raid leader know. If you just "afk brb phone", don't expect people to sit around waiting for you. More often than not, trash pulls are fine without you. If you come back and they're four rooms ahead and you missed trash epic drops, you have no right to claim it, after all, you weren't there to kill it.
Complain in /raid channel or over voice chat
If you have any complaints, bring it up with the raid leader or with an officer. If your complaint is viable, they have the authority to deal with it and they will do so when the time is right. If the raid spends 3 hours dying, everyone is getting repair bills. Complaining openly will only demoralize other people. If you have nothing constructive to say, keep it to yourself, or make a note of it and bring it up with the raid leader or an officer after the raid. Don't tell other people to "stop being idiots and stop messing up" unless you can identify what problem they're having and help them correct it.
Think you're an exception
If the other raiders took the time and effort to prepare for the raid ahead of time, there's no reason they should sit around waiting an extra 20 minutes for you to get ready. If you know you're going to be busy during off-raid times, try to plan ahead of time. If you need a 45 minute break in between to eat dinner or deal with a RL situation, let the raid leader know and they can probably have a replacement fill in while you're gone. If this sort of replacement needs to happen, the person brought in will probably know that you'd want your spot back when you get back. If you're the person available to do a specific task (ie - main tank) and you abuse that to your advantage, don't be surprised if you're not asked to the next raid.
Expect everyone to be perfect
Unless you were guaranteed a perfect run within a certain amount of time, give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Even if a player normally performs well, they could be affected by many many factors. Even if you're working with the same raid members, but they swap you into a different group or give you a different assignment, playing style will change and results will be different. If you can prove that you are perfect, and make absolutely no mistakes, then help other people out.
Compare
Like the Chinese saying goes, "There will never be someone like me, unless there is another me", no two groups will *ever* run the same. Even if you have the same group makeup and completely identical gear as another raid group, people do not play the same. If you are raiding with people you're not normally around, pay attention and try to pick up pointers for the future, instead of putting them down.
Loot- Spoiler:
Claim loot before it drops
"If the T4 helm token drops, it's mine." Fine. Go find a group who's willing to do that. If you set up a run specifically to get a piece of gear, and everyone is aware of that before committing to your run, they will probably be fine with you taking it. If everyone put in the same amount of effort, then they have every right to loot as you do. You can whisper people ahead of time and set something up with them, but you can't demand. If it's a serious upgrade for you, let the master looter know, and perhaps link your current gear to them, and they might be understanding.
QQ about not winning loot
If another player wins something you want, they're most likely making your next raid easier. If something has been raid rolled (raid leader or master looter rolling 1-10 or 1-25 and giving it to that raider on their list), it's still an automated and equal way of distributing loot. If anything, losing this time will probably increase the chance of you winning loot next time. If you have issues (ie - if someone rolls and wins for off-spec or a side-grade) let the raid leader know. Even if the other player has picked up the item, Blizzard can be petitioned to re-distribute loot.
Specifics for DPS / Healers / Tanks- Spoiler:
DPS
Expect buffs to favor you
Sure, it'd be nice to have that extra 5% spell crit or a windfury totem, but understand that groups are usually set up for the overall balance of the raid. It wouldn't hurt to speak up if you have a better idea for groups, but don't always expect it to go your way.
Expect the world to wait for you
During trash pulls, it's quite normal to be short a buff or two. People will buff you when they get around to it. If a group has been pulled, using mana for healing or maintaining aggro is more important than putting Power Word: Fortitude on you. The only 'must have' buff that you should ask for is maybe Blessing of Salvation, but with or without it, you should be watching your aggro.
Focus on being top DPS
Sure, it'd be great to be top on the damage meters, but if you're intentionally pulling aggro, causing excessive raid damage, or neglecting CC to cast an extra firebolt/shadowbolt/chain lightning, then you fail.
QQ about not getting heals
For some bosses, raid damage is unavoidable. In larger raids where there are specific healers assigned to raid healing, someone will eventually get around to healing you. If there are barely enough healers to keep the tank(s) up, have your Healthstone/Bandage/Potion handy if you're dropping under 25% health.
Neglect your own heal button
If you have a heal button, use it. "I'm a DPS now. It's a healers job to keep me up". True, your main priority is to DPS, but if you are a shadowpriest, druid, shammy, pally or you have some sort of healing (yes, even bandages) USE IT.
Healers
QQ at people pulling aggro
It happens. You could give them a warning, but it can't always be helped. Eventually they will either learn to control their DPS, or find out that facetanking a 72 elite hurts. If this is constantly repeated and they've been notified many times to slow their DPS, then maybe they don't have the teamwork to raid. Deal with that after the raid.
Nag about going OOM
Mana is there to be used. If your job is to keep raid members up, do everything you can - even if people are messing up, your job is to keep them alive. If you're constantly out of mana, then you may want to suggest bringing in another healer, or asking someone with a heal button to help out.
Neglect your heal target
If you find yourself with spare time between heals and someone's health is low, feel free to toss a heal their way, but keep in mind that if your job is to keep MT2 up, you do whatever it takes. Don't spend 3 seconds casting on a DPS if your tank is taking burst damage (some exceptions, ie - Maiden's holy fire).
Tanks
Call for healing
Healers are well aware that they need to keep tanks up. They also need to conserve mana sometimes, so please be understanding. If healers are assigned to each person, calling for healing often results in all the healers targeting the person asking for heals, and their designated heal targets die. Whenever possible, ask a DPS member with a heal button to help out instead.
Pull without checking the raid first
Unless you know your raid members *really* well, don't just get impatient and pull. Healers without mana (especially if warlocks are life tapping or if there's people being ressed) will piss off healers. DPS without mana means you're only getting partial DPS output and it'll take longer to kill the mob.
Be the first to give up
Even if it's a certain wipe, taking a few more hits could mean less ressing and less overall repairs needed. This is more of a courtesy thing, but it's always nice to have half the raid run out instead of a full wipe.
Neglect your primary duty
If your job is to tank the Skull target, do it. If a sheep target breaks and it's smashing people, running back to pick up that target can easily mess up AoE locations, traps, shackles or put you out of line of sight with the healers.
Do General- Spoiler:
Speak up
If you're having problems (ie - computer, network or RL problems), let someone know so they can plan accordingly. If you don't understand a certain boss strategy, or if you can't do your job, whisper someone who might be able to help you. Wiping a group repeatedly because you're afraid of being called a noob, or if you forgot your tanking shield in the bank, will only get you in more trouble in the long run. Eventually someone *will* identify the problem, and they'll know not to bring you along again.
Stay positive
This is especially important when the group is learning a fight. If this is the first encounter with a boss, your goal isn't to one-shot it. Sure, killing it and getting badges/loot would be nice, but as long as each attempt gets you closer to the loot, then your group is doing a good job.
Lessen other people's loads
Before you go around telling people they're doing something wrong, think about your own actions and see if you can make any improvements. Once you know beyond any doubts that you are doing your best, help the raid leader out by checking other people out and see if there's anything more they can do.
Be polite
These are the people you need to cooperate with to progress further in the game. If you can't be civil to them, or you have a difference of opinions, let the raid leader or an officer know, and perhaps you can be put into different raids in the future. Even if someone *is* being an idiot, there's no reason to call them that unless they're intentionally messing up. However you choose to treat other people, expect yourself to be treated in the same way.
Specifics for DPS / Healers / Tanks- Spoiler:
DPS
Be ready to help out
Even if it's not your designation, be aware of things going on around you and if you can, help out. If you can decurse, and the person next to you needs it, help out. The extra 2 seconds that you save a healer could easily prevent a wipe.
Apply your class' skills
If you've got some kind of CC and you see a mob running loose in the raid killing people, don't wait for someone to ask for CC. If you can taunt something off a healer, do it.
Healers
Notify people if it'll make your job easier
If telling someone to stand five feet to the left will get them out of a cleave or AoE, tell them over voice chat. If you just dump your mana on a DPS taking damage and yell at your monitor saying "Get out of the AoE!!!", they'll never know that they're straining your mana.
Tanks
Be aware of the rest of the raid
On the surface, a tank's job is pretty easy. Grab something, hold it, get healed, rinse and repeat. Mistakes will happen. Healer's mana is your life and blood. If healer A is designated to be your healer, pay attention to their mana, and be ready to use a trinket, potion or whatever skill you have.
In Conclusion ...These are often the reasons why people don't get invited to raids. Even if you are guilty of one or more of these things, acknowledge it and take responsibility for it. Word *will* travel. Contrary to belief, people can and will be replaced. Many players would rather invite an undergeared noob than deal with people with attitude. Regardless of what you're there for, once you're saved to a raid you might as well make the best of it. Any problems you have should be directed at the raid leader or at least someone with authority. If you have a suggestion, feel free to mention it. If you are uncomfortable or unable to do what is asked of you, it's better to let someone know or ask for clarification. Everyone has been a noob at one point or another. If these people are your friends, they should have no problems with helping you out. If you are the raid leader, you are given the power to tell people what to do, decide who gets loot, and how things are done. On the other hand, you are also to answer for the repair bills, time and whatever else people invest into the run. You are also trusted to be mature and responsible enough to use those powers accordingly. Even if people are under your leadership, they are individuals, and should be given proper respect. If someone was completely useless, why did you invite them in the first place? Since they're here for a reason, least you can do is be civil to them. If you are attending a raid, you are expected to cooperate with whatever strategy the raid leader asks of you. If you have something else to offer the raid, speak up. If you think you can do a better job at leading, speak up, take the leadership and prove it. If anyone needs reasons and/or specific examples of why I listed any of the above guidelines, feel free to contact me in-game. Posting names here makes it slander. Talking about it in-game makes it hearsay =) | |
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