IMPORTANT Information About Sovereign Raids

Because the guild has expanded beyond our small "family" unit into a broader "Brady Bunch" I felt the need to make this post because I'm seeing just some small infractions occuring that could lead to more serious issues.

Guild Sponsored Raids:

Guild sponsored raids are just that. Guildies making the run together. We fill the spot with guildies (Mains preferrably) and then fill left over spots with what is missing. This is the rule, not the exception. There will be no benching guildies just to fill spots that you'd LIKE to have, rather than what is "ideal" or on hand. One of the things we have always prided ourselves on, is taking what we have and still kicking it down. Sometimes, you have a guildie that is equally geared on more than one toon and will be willing to help but it will never be forced.

Open Raids:

Open raids are bring who you want BUT do not count on guild resources. Make sure to -try- and use guildies but if you have a certain make up in mind, make sure you specify that it's an OPEN raid before sign ups. Please do not schedules on these days: TUE/WED, THURS, SUN without talking to Grave, first. Those are our normal, GUILD run raids, and GUILD Raids come first.

Raid Leader Etiquette:

Raid leaders are expected to know the raid, or at least most of it. You are responsible for being available for questions before the raid and being on time. Being on time, for a raid leader, means 45-30 min's early. So keep that in mind when scheduling your raid. When filling your raid, keep in mind that you are using other peoples' valuable time and there will be no holding spots or holding back a raid's progress for someone who is more than 15 min's late. This puts a lot of stress on other players and possibly their resources. It also can come off as playing favorites and cause hard feelings among friends when one person is chosen over another, and that person either doesn't show, or is having their spot held. This is unfair to a person who had signed up, was ready to go and they have to sit out without an opportunity to progress. (ie; it'll piss me off if we shard gear or give it away to a non-guildie because a spot was being held) A good raid leader also makes contacts and friends and has a list of people they can call on in case one or two people don't show up (if more than 2 people do not show up, it is perfectly acceptable to call the raid. no one is asking you to be Rob and pull a raid out of your ass). Basically, just keep in mind, emergencies happen. Have people on standby if possible.

As raid leader, try your best to ensure that everyone else knows what's expected of them as well and then YOU live up to it, yourself. Leaders are people that have others looking to them for guidance. A good leader will take the group from beginning to end, confidently, even if they do not succeed.

Raid Leaders may also employ an assistant to help with the many facets of raiding responsibilities. There is ONE Raid Leader and ONE Raid Asst. Choose wisely. These should be the only people, giving out instructions.

Raider Etiquette will be followed in a post by Brandy =) Keep checking.

Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages! I have been charged with presenting to you all... raider etiquette.

-Cue ominous music.-

Raider Etiquette. What does that mean? These are the expectations and behavior expected of all people participating in groups and raids. These are common sense things, for the most part. There is nothing expected that isn't capable of being done. There is nothing expected that isn't expected of everyone involved. Members, raid leaders, officers, everyone. Everyone needs to pull their weight and these are a few of the things that need to be done every time.

1. Be on time.

Be on time doesn't mean logging on at pull time and asking for a summons. Being on time means having everything ready you need and being at the entrance 5-10 minutes -before- the first pull. This allows for buffing and pulling on time and everyone to be focused and ready on time. Signing on and waiting around for a summon and people to hand you things should also be avoided. Everyone is capable of making it to the instance on their own. It is not fair for those who arrive early and on time to make sure everyone else shows up. That's your job as a raider. There are exceptions, of course. People changing toons, picking up extra supplies or gear that wasn't expected, etc. But you are JUST as capable of going to the instance as everyone else. Be there. Be on time. Be ready.

2. Have what you need.

This means consumables. Buff food, potions, elixirs, flasks. Being fully repaired. Having needed extra sets of gear. Healing gear, resist gear, DPS gear, what have you. This means being gemmed and enchanted. This means you show up and you are ready to go. No one else is responsible for your character or your performance. You should know what you need to do your job. If you need mana potions, acquire mana potions. If you need special potions to enhance your DPS, acquire these BEFORE the raid. Raid time is not "anybody got an extra pot?!" time. Raid time is pull and perform time.

If you need help acquiring your consumables, enchants, gems, etc before the raid, then please ask! We all work together to have what we need and to help one another be ready and successful. If you can't make potions, get with an alchemist and see what they need to help you. Help them herb or get the mats from the auction house. If you need an enchant, see what the enchanter needs to help you. Same with a JC or anything else. Help us help you.

3. Voice chat etiquette.

Ventrilo is awesome. It helps us all communicate in real time. It's fun to sit and shoot the shit with friends and laugh and have a great time. But there are times when we as raiders need to be quiet and listen. If the raid leader or someone else doing a job is speaking, be quiet. Listen. Let the communication that pertains to the raid happen. Nothing is more annoying than having to sit and try to talk over people for 10 minutes and finally have to yell to be heard when there is a problem or something that needs explained. That should -never- happen. Having fun and laughing during trash is fine, but if you are asked to be quiet, then be quiet. There is a reason. And it's a good chance what is going to be said you need to listen to.

4. Respect your leader.

Everyone has ideas and suggestions. Everyone has insights and knowledge. Your leader also has these things and has a plan. If they are explaining their plan, then let them and do as they instruct. Explaining a strategy should not take 10 or more minutes. There should -never- be discussion unless it is asked for explicitly. If the raid leader asks for suggestions, then offer what you think in an ORDERLY fashion. If your idea isn't acted on, don't get offended. The raid leader's job is to lead everyone to success. And there are as many ideas as there are raid members. Listen to their instructions. Listen to their guidance. And take up problems with the raid leader after the raid in private. There is no reason for drama or insults or getting ass hurt because they aren't taking your ideas or input.

5. Have a clue!

If you show up to a new raid or instance that you haven't seen before, try to go read a bit on what to expect. No one expects you to know every strategy imaginable, but have an idea what the boss does before hand. If Void Reaver shoots out giant slow moving balls of doom, know when you show up that you have to get out of the way! Have an idea of what to expect so that the raid leader can address the strategy specific to the raid and move on. If you have questions and aren't sure about something, then ask before hand. Everyone is responsible for basic knowledge of the place being raided. And for God's sake, move out of the fire. Have common sense. Basic raiding fundamentals are learned as you go and it's a pretty good chance the fire will kill you if you don't move. Use what you've learned and go from there. Everyone can avoid seeing you die in the fire and avoid telling you to DIAF if you have a clue.

6. Have the gear.

Raids aren't a loot pinata for undergeared people to get carried through. If you don't have the gear to enter a place, then don't go. Don't sign up. Do the work beforehand to have the gear you need to succeed. No other raider is going to be happy carrying around an undergeared, underperforming raid member and watching them get upgrades that should probably be given to someone who had the forethought to be prepared. If you aren't sure what you need, or what level gear you need for a place, ask. Pretty good chances are we can help you get what you need beforehand or at least try. It's all part of working together.

That's about it. Of course there are more, and some may even argue what I've laid out. But if everyone works together and does these simple things, then we're all going to have a much more pleasant time. And if you can't do these things, then please don't sign up to go somewhere. We're all adults. Playing a game. Let's act like adults playing a game and have fun being responsible for ourselves.

-B