All kin mates should be familiar with these guidelines. Not only will it prepare you for raiding with Rare Breed, it will be valuable with non-kin groups as well. Don't let the guide scare you off. Our groups easy going and we are all different in ability from first timers to seasoned raiders. All we ask is that you are willing to learn and most of all have fun. So keep it light and enjoy the company.
Learning a raid typically means some deaths just be prepared for the fact. It takes time for everyone to know and learn their roles. It can also take some time to learn what to expect from your peers. This is "END GAME" content, it is not meant to be easy and the rewards can be fantastic.
A RB leader will provide specific directions along the way to keep you and the raid alive. While your part in this story is important, it does not make you indestructible. Staying with the group and knowing your role is key. A small tight knit group of players can out perform a large group with no discipline every day of the week.
Ask questions if you're new to raiding, we have tons of qualified people who love to share what they know & above all, don't be afraid to raid, we'll get you through =D
Gearing Up:
Signing up on the website is recommended and greatly appreciated. Not only does it indicate to the leader if there is sufficient interest, it also cuts down on the organizing time. Those that sign up get first dibs on a spot, next the leader will advertise in kin chat. Groups fill up quickly so avoid disappointment and sign up.
Target Assist is essential. Make sure it is turned on in your options panel and you know how to use it.
Getting Team Speak is an absolute MUST. In-game chat is not sufficient for explaining some details. Click here for TeamSpeak details.
Be courteous by being on time. RL happens and it is understandable. However if you have to tinkle or get a drink, try and do it before the start time or during a pause. Please don't ask 11 people to wait for you to get your shit in order after the scheduled start time. If you have to see to an emergency ask a squishy friend if you can put them on follow. They can look after you and ensure the whole group can continue on.
Throwing a group together can sometimes be challenging. Growing your friend list can be a HUGE help to a raid leader. If you find some kindred spirits in your travels ask them if you can add them as a friend to call on them in case a spot needs filling. If the situation calls for it, ask the raid leader if you can be a Raid Assist to bring them in (remember to ask them first; ninja invites are icky).
If you are unable to commit to the end of the raid please let the leader know prior to starting. Since we have vastly different time zones all trying to play together we understand if a late raid makes continuing on impossible for some players. By letting the leader know in advance they can have friends on standby and hopefully make the disruption as seamless as possible.
!Important! I can't stress this enough. LET THE LEADER LEAD. You might be tempted to jump on in with the excitement and try to lend a hand. Please don't. Your leader has been successfully leading the raid before you came along and can manage juuuust fine. Sit back and do your job and let them do theirs.
Drinking alcoholic beverages while raiding is condoned and recommended if it keeps you in a good mood.
Equipping Yourself:
Rare Breed is not an elite raiding kin. We will not insist that you have the best gear available in order to participate in a regular raid but basic gear for your level and traited according to your role will make everyone's life easier.
Check your traits. There are specific traits that are helpful for raiding and some that are useful for solo play. Learn the differences for your class and you will have a much more enjoyable raiding experience. Vitality and mitigations are always a good bet. If you would like assistance in choosing your traits, feel free to ask any officer who can point you to a specialist in your class.
POTS, POTS and POTS! Wound, Poison (no not the hair band), Fear and Disease. Make sure they are +5 above the level you are currently raiding. For example level 100 raids need pots that will cure effects up to level 105. If they don't say this, you have the wrong kind. Also, there are 2 types of potions: one can cure only yourself (potions) and one cures your target (salves). Know which kind you have. Salves require you to be pretty much on top of your buddy so their usefulness is fairly limited.
Morale and Power pots. Without morale or power you are just an ugly lump (except for Maeg who will always be handsome). Try not to be that lump.
Food is useful in many ways and some food is better for some classes than others. The raid leader will usually give everyone a chance to "eat up" before a battle that will need it.
Scrolls. Get in the habit of using them in the raid but only one person per group. They give nice bonus points to the group. Scrolls affect your group if they are in your proximity only. Please wait until everyone is gathered together before you use them.
Tokens. These will dispel dread. Some raids are absolutely essential to have tokens popped after a death or a debuff from a boss. Dread can literally take away half your morale and make it impossible for your healer to keep up. Always have a stack of these ready and pay attention to when someone "pops a token". It will affect your whole group but doesn't stack so if you plan to use a token, call it out so we don't waste a cool down (3 minutes). As with scrolls, ensure you have your fellow group close by so they can share the joy (note: they will not cross fellows so only those in your group will benefit).
Additional class buff. Find out what there is available for your class to increase your damage or protect yourself. For example Hunters have bow chants and oils, LMs can feed their pets and Captains can buff their flag bearers. If you need anything crafted please see the crafting officer who can organize it. Please be ready with the materials they will need (smiles are free but materials don't grow on trees).
When possible please take the time to read the wiki raid writeup.
Show Time!:
Chatting the NPC or triggering the instance will always be the job of the leader. Resist the urge to chat any rings you see (it's hard sometimes, believe me).
Know Your Place: Squishies should be no where near a mob. Be aware of where your healer is and stay nearby to benefit from the group heal effects. Tanks and heavies are geared specifically for taking damage and should be the only ones toe-to-toe with a boss. Main tank in front facing the boss away from the squishies and everyone else in the rear. Tanks are typically the focus of the healers so manage your aggro accordingly. Ranged DPS...stay ranged for crying out loud.
Follow the Leader: Unless instructed to do otherwise, nobody should be running ahead of the tank or raid leader in an uncleared zone. Things are dangerous out there, don't be that guy who pulls a wing of baddies because he wandered off, don't be Leroy.
Notice the Marks: Sometimes your peers will have marks (sun, crossed swords, paw, etc.) placed over their heads for various reasons. Usually tanks & healers for better visibility with positioning and for keeping in range of your healers. Know who is marked in your group.
Who starts the fight? The leader will signal to the tank when its time to begin. Got an itchy trigger finger? Keep it off the keys. Your tanks will appreciate an easy count to 5 before you jump into the fray. This will give them time to get sufficient aggro to keep the mob on them and not on you. Hunters take off auto target in your options panel.
Target Assist is your best friend. Usually a ranged DPS who knows the run will be made TA. If you stick to the TA's target, the group will kill the mob in the appropriate order and more quickly. Imagine a Guardian trying to hold the attention of an entire mob while the group does its best to pull them off. Hell hath no fury like a grumpy Guard fighting to keep aggro from an unorganized group.
Debuffs: Wounds, poison and diseases all cause you damage and are work for your healers. Get to know your debuffs and class skill for removing them. If you don't have time to use your class skill, use a pot. When it is relevant a raid leader will instruct you to save your pots for more dangerous debuffs. Some debuffs will not only kill/stun you but it will get everyone in your vicinity (these are usually represented by an eye above your head). Healers will generally call these ones out so you will know when to use your pot. Having them quick slotted is a good idea. There is a plugin called Buffbars that displays pots during a raid for easy selection. If you only choose one plugin ever, make it this one.
Corruption Removal: Bosses will get corruptions that stack and stack..and freaking stack. Each class has skills for corruption removal. Get to know which ones are yours and when it is appropriate to use them.
Interrupts: Certain mobs and their minions have specific things they will say or do (known as an induction) before they use a special skill or attack. Some of these can be interrupted and others cannot. Know what skills you have that act as interrupts. For example Thorog will rear up on his hind legs before he blasts the whole group with fire doing massive damage. If you are ready with your interrupts he will be unable to complete his action. A raid leader will likely explain the animation to watch out for before each particular boss.
Learn to recognize certain attacks and being prepared to mitigate or just simply get out of the way. For example blue whirling blades around a boss will reflect any damage you deal out right back to you. You can literally one shot yourself if you are not paying attention (hint: F1 key will target yourself quickly to avoid stray shots on the boss). Fire on the ground will do massive damage over time. Sometimes you are able to side step to get out of them flames. Just make sure you are moving with the group and not the opposite direction.
Deaths: There will be some and that's normal. If no one is dying, the content is not challenging enough. If its your turn to take a dirt nap, stay down and relax. Your healers are aware you are there and are calculating the best time for a rez. As certain classes are more important than others in certain situations don't be afraid if someone else is rezed before you are. Three hunters can be dead but a key class like a tank or healer will always get the first priority. Rezing a class that has a rez skill is usually put next in line and then DPS typically gets some love. Never release unless you are instructed to do so.
The Rewards:
THE best items in game are mostly from raiding. If you've done your part and made it to the end, it's time to reap the benefits! Oh but wait...its not over yet. There is one very important task left to you and that's to be kind to your buddies. Check out the descriptions and the main stats of the items (example: a shield isn't for a mini if it has Might and Vit as the main stats).
Always let the leader of the raid open the chest unless they bestow the honor on another person.
If the chest offers a Roll/Pass option take a moment to look at each item to see if it is class appropriate for you. Often rewards are Bind on Acquire (BoA) and states it clearly in the item description. The surest way to become a persona non grata is to win an item you can't use. So here are some rolling manners:
Roll on the small stuff and luck be with you!
Roll on class items you can use.
DO NOT roll on items that are BoA and you can't use.
Refrain from rolling on an item you already have one of (unwelcome mat etc). Give your friends a chance to get one.
If no one wants an item that is bind on equip and you have an alt that can use it, feel free to roll on it.
If no one wants an item for use on their current raid toon or an alt, you can go to the chest and take it for giving away to a kinnie that did not participate. Selling an item is very last resort and no item should ever be sold that can be used within the raiding group.
Happy Raiding! If you have any comments or questions about this write up please comment below.
Hafwen