Five Things I Have Learned While Raiding

1. Always have a goal.

It must be something that motivates you. Right now our goal (mine and some of my raiding buddies) is the Champion of the Naaru title. Loot is a good motivation, but be aware that it's pretty easy to get disillusioned if said loot does not drop.

2. Come prepared.

Always have all your proper reagents for raiding. On Avierra I carry:

- Between 180-200 Symbols of Kings
- 3 Symbols of Divinity
- 15-20 Super Mana Potions
- 5-10 Super Healing Potions (you never know)
- 15-20 Adept's Elixirs
- 15-20 Elixirs of Draenic Wisdom
- Superior Mana Oil (I'm considering upping this to 2)
- 1 stack of Heavy Netherweave Bandages

At raid onset I make sure to get all relevant healthstones and at least 60 Conjured Manna Biscuits. And I don't come to raids unrepaired, either.

Yes, this is a major use of bag space. It is also somewhat expensive. But raiding is, in effect, you asking 9/19/24/39 other people to make an investment of time and effort in your character. Be big enough to start with making an investment in yourself.

The other aspect of coming prepared is simply reading up on boss fights and watching videos. "Learn the fight and be precise" is how my friend Kelvs puts it. If you need hand-holding during the raid, you are a liability to the rest of the raid and will be treated as such.

3. Be sociable.

Raids are social events. Don't be the asshat telling everyone else off about equipment or play skills - that's the Raid Leader's and/or Class Leader's job. If you really need to speak up, /w the assistant Raid Leader (if there isn't one, then you bug the Raid Leader).

This is especially important when you raid as part of an alliance; you want to put your best foot forward. Letting your allies know that you've got prima donnas in your Guild is the best way to spread the word that your Guild isn't worth the time and effort.

4. Spec properly.

This comes out wrong, I'm sure. I love tankadins, shadow priests, and all the other classes that are "off-spec", or at least were off-spec for classic WoW. But don't take a healer's slot if you are a retribution paladin; it's an insult to you and your spec. If your Guild won't let you raid without respeccing, consider whether or not you are in the right Guild.

5. THOU SHALT NOT BE A LOOTWHORE. THOU SHALT NOT NINJA PHAT LEWTS. THOU SHALT ACCEPT /ROLLS GRACIOUSLY.

The vast majority of arguments in raids are about loot, which is why most raid rules are about looting. If you haven't learned the triad of commandments detailed above, stop raiding. You're only digging your own grave.

It's difficult in a small casual Guild to deal with lootwhores, and this in my experience has been the demise of many a "family" Guild. If you're friends offline, you can afford to talk to each other offline about it. If you're not, you'll have to be more creative about dealing with the problem.

More next time... I'm off to watch a movie.