Comments on: Raid Leaders, Why is it so hard to train one? http://www.guildmasterpiece.com/raid-leaders-why-is-it-so-hard-to-train-one.html friendly guildmasters here to help you run a fabulous guild Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:13:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Keekles http://www.guildmasterpiece.com/raid-leaders-why-is-it-so-hard-to-train-one.html/comment-page-1#comment-119 Keekles Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:32:57 +0000 http://www.guildmasterpiece.com/raid-leaders-why-is-it-so-hard-to-train-one.html#comment-119 I've learned that raid leaders can't be trained, they have to be found. Keep your eye out for people who take initiative to form smaller raids (10 man vs 25 man). This was mentioned on WoW forums, but try taking a quick AFK break in the middle of a raid and ask someone to keep the raid going. i.e. "Hey guys, I'll be off vent a second, gotta take a phone call. Someone set up for trash pulls." If you have someone in mind, assign them the task of setting up trash pulls if no one steps up. Assigning them gives them a sense of authority that people will listen to so that the ones that are normally scared to step up will be empowered to. Short answer, "Yes", a good raid leader can make or break your raid. They can be the difference between a 5% wipe and a guild first kill. I've also learned that it's important not to depend on one raid leader. You should have a handful of people ready, willing, and able to lead should the primary raid leader not be available for whatever reason. It doesn't have to be an overnight process. You can have your primary raid leader for progression fights and others for clearing farm content. There has to be a consensus among your raid leaders about how's leading a particular raid. They need to know when to be flexible to adjust a strat and when to put their foot down and call wipe. We had a time where multiple people were speaking up and two people called wipe and the 3rd, who was the actual raid leader, did not. People got confused and a very retarded wiped ensued. Make sure people know who the raid leader is and that their word is the final word on whether you finish a fight with 5 people up or call a wipe at 5%. I'll have to get back to you on that last question. I’ve learned that raid leaders can’t be trained, they have to be found. Keep your eye out for people who take initiative to form smaller raids (10 man vs 25 man). This was mentioned on WoW forums, but try taking a quick AFK break in the middle of a raid and ask someone to keep the raid going. i.e. “Hey guys, I’ll be off vent a second, gotta take a phone call. Someone set up for trash pulls.” If you have someone in mind, assign them the task of setting up trash pulls if no one steps up. Assigning them gives them a sense of authority that people will listen to so that the ones that are normally scared to step up will be empowered to.

Short answer, “Yes”, a good raid leader can make or break your raid. They can be the difference between a 5% wipe and a guild first kill.

I’ve also learned that it’s important not to depend on one raid leader. You should have a handful of people ready, willing, and able to lead should the primary raid leader not be available for whatever reason. It doesn’t have to be an overnight process. You can have your primary raid leader for progression fights and others for clearing farm content.

There has to be a consensus among your raid leaders about how’s leading a particular raid. They need to know when to be flexible to adjust a strat and when to put their foot down and call wipe. We had a time where multiple people were speaking up and two people called wipe and the 3rd, who was the actual raid leader, did not. People got confused and a very retarded wiped ensued. Make sure people know who the raid leader is and that their word is the final word on whether you finish a fight with 5 people up or call a wipe at 5%.

I’ll have to get back to you on that last question.

]]> By: Eszti http://www.guildmasterpiece.com/raid-leaders-why-is-it-so-hard-to-train-one.html/comment-page-1#comment-118 Eszti Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:10:17 +0000 http://www.guildmasterpiece.com/raid-leaders-why-is-it-so-hard-to-train-one.html#comment-118 I serve as guild master and defacto raid leader (when I can't shrug the responsibilities to another raider). However, my guild runs just Karazhan and hasn't hit the 25-man phase yet. I doubt that as a guild we ever will. On the other hand, in the past I've lead 40-man raids. That's a hassle in and of itself. I'm aware of 99% of what is going on in raids, but there's always that little sliver that misses my attention. In my opinion, raid leaders serve multiple roles. First, they organize. This means learning strategies, picking the one that applies best, and convincing, coercing, condemning, and cajoling people to do their job. They also need to be able to recognize and gauge performance; if someone isn't doing his job and it's affecting performance, then the raid leader has to take steps to correct it. Raid leader have to serve as captains, morale officers or cheerleaders, mediators, organizers, and the list goes on and on and on. But no raid leader is omnipotent, so it's important to have people under him that might not know everything but can point out those class/spec-specific details that might have bearing on this or that fight. That eases the raid leader's job and lets him focus on the logistics of a fight and other details. I serve as guild master and defacto raid leader (when I can’t shrug the responsibilities to another raider). However, my guild runs just Karazhan and hasn’t hit the 25-man phase yet. I doubt that as a guild we ever will.

On the other hand, in the past I’ve lead 40-man raids. That’s a hassle in and of itself. I’m aware of 99% of what is going on in raids, but there’s always that little sliver that misses my attention.

In my opinion, raid leaders serve multiple roles. First, they organize. This means learning strategies, picking the one that applies best, and convincing, coercing, condemning, and cajoling people to do their job. They also need to be able to recognize and gauge performance; if someone isn’t doing his job and it’s affecting performance, then the raid leader has to take steps to correct it. Raid leader have to serve as captains, morale officers or cheerleaders, mediators, organizers, and the list goes on and on and on.

But no raid leader is omnipotent, so it’s important to have people under him that might not know everything but can point out those class/spec-specific details that might have bearing on this or that fight. That eases the raid leader’s job and lets him focus on the logistics of a fight and other details.

]]> By: Cheetara http://www.guildmasterpiece.com/raid-leaders-why-is-it-so-hard-to-train-one.html/comment-page-1#comment-117 Cheetara Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:11:29 +0000 http://www.guildmasterpiece.com/raid-leaders-why-is-it-so-hard-to-train-one.html#comment-117 See, I totally understand where you are coming from here... I love leading the guild, but am HORRIBLE at raids. So, I have the best raid leader team ever. They know my weakness is in leading raids, and they are totally cool with it. But I still attend the big important raids... a lot of times I let all those other people who really want the chance to lead raids lead things like kara, or gruul's. It gives them the chance to get their feet wet without having to worry about the pressures of progression, so it is a very good thing :) See, I totally understand where you are coming from here… I love leading the guild, but am HORRIBLE at raids. So, I have the best raid leader team ever. They know my weakness is in leading raids, and they are totally cool with it. But I still attend the big important raids… a lot of times I let all those other people who really want the chance to lead raids lead things like kara, or gruul’s. It gives them the chance to get their feet wet without having to worry about the pressures of progression, so it is a very good thing :)

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