Raid Rules & Etiquette

[Cataclysm]

Raid Rules & Etiquette
Grievance is a family raiding guild. This means that real life comes first above all else. Unlike the hardcore raid guilds, Grievance endeavors to cater to everyone's schedule so that everyone has an equal and fair chance to raid. This is done based on a players real life schedule v/s availability for raids (i.e. can only raid on weekends), and whether said person sat out the last raid or not. It's not a perfect system by any means, but so far it's the fairest one we've come up with. There is no select group of raiders, there is no minimum raid attendance to raid, and the personal loot system ensures that loot is distributed evenly throughout the guild.

With this in mind, even though we are a family guild, when we raid we are expected to be and act like a raiding guild. These are common sense raiding guidelines that pertain to almost any game and any form of raiding. Please take the time to take them for what they are and use them to sharpen your raiding skills. For those of you just getting into raiding for the first time, this will be easier for you since you haven't formed any bad habits yet. Read, memorize, and learn.

In normal situations we are very friendly, chat and joke a lot. All this changes during a raid. To succeed we need to perform raids with military precision. Orders will be issued and expected to be carried out without question. There will often be little time to chat and joke. Performance and excellence are our keywords on raids. Often we will wipe on a target repeatedly until everyone gets their rhythm and learns the fight. This is all part of raiding. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it! Below is what is expected of each of you on raids, as well as some simple explanations regarding raiding.

Raid Leader(s)
As with most raid guilds, we have a Raid Leader(s) or people who fill those shoes when the Raid Leader(s) is not present. This person(s) takes the time to research our targets prior to raid time. In addition to this, the Raid Leader(s) has a huge number of tasks to accomplish just prior to raid start in order to ensure that everyone is getting fair raid time. Sometimes this may be beneficial to you as a player, and sometimes it won't seem that way. Regardless you can bet that it's being done fairly for the guild as a whole.

This person(s) has enough on their plate as it is. Prior to, and especially during a raid, do not tell barrage the Raid Leader with complaints, tactics, suggestions, or ideas. Save it for after the raid. I promise that the officers present are discussing everything during a raid as it is. If you feel that you absolutely KNOW that something is being done wrong, then send the Raid Leader Assistant or next highest officer in the chain of command a TELL with the info (skipping the Raid Leader of course). All tells sent to the Raid Leader by a non-superior officer can and most likely will be ignored during a raid.

Respect the Raid Leader(s)
I don't care if you like a particular Raid Leader or not, treat the Raid Leader on a raid with the respect that you would like him/her to treat you with. I don't expect each and every one of you to like every Raid Leader in the guild. However it is disrespectful, demoralizing, and just plain rude to backtalk or be belligerent to the Raid Leader during a raid. This can, and most likely will, get you removed from the current raid. None of you would want to be treated this way if you were leading a raid, so I expect no of you to treat anyone leading a raid this way!

Raid Leader Clause
The Raid Leader reserves the right to make decisions that may at times supersede and/or contradict the Raid Rules of the Guild. These decisions must never be made lightly and always be done with the betterment of the guild as a whole in mind. The Raid Leader also has last word on all decisions concerning the Raid. All decisions made by the Raid Leader can and will be reviewed and/or over ruled by the Guild Leader or Executive Officer to ensure fairness to all members.

Sportsmanship Clause
As stated before every accomplishment is an accomplishment for the guild. Every defeat is a defeat for the guild. We will NOT have infighting of bickering of any kind. If you are derogatory in any way to any person in the guild, on the other team, on your team, or not on a team at all there will be consequences. First offense is a warning. Second offense is a week long ban from raiding. Third offense is a month long ban from raiding. Fourth offense is a total ban from raiding. We don't want to lose any of our raiders so be nice to people!

Raiding with WoW Alliance
In order to participate, there are certain requirements that must be met by each potential raider. These requirements are set in order to provide the best possible chance for the guild to be successful at this content. The following requirements must be met before you will be invited to a raid:

Raider Rank
The raider rank (Raider) in the guild that makes it easier for the leaders to see who is interested in progression raiding. Raiders will be invited to the raids first before any recruit rank. All raiders must be max level with knowledge of their class, as well as boss mechanics that pertain to there class. Recruits won't be eligible for raider rank until they have been in the guild long enough to gain member status (3 weeks).

All raiders MUST be gemmed, enchanted, repaired and be of the appropriate item level. Additionally, raiders must come with a supply of flasks and food that's appropriate for their class. We will try to help supplement raider's supplies by making food and flasks available during a raid but supplies may be limited so it's best not to rely solely on them being made available. This is nothing new so should not be a problem.

If you need help with preparing for a raid or for raiding in general, please ask one of the officers or other raiders for help.

Keeping the Raider Rank
All raiders are expected to satisfactorily perform the role they are bringing to the raid without interruption. You may be asked to step down and be replaced for the following reasons:

- Being disrespectful to any other member.

- Not keeping your gear up to date. Yes, real life comes first. You do need to make an effort to have the best gear available to you.

- Constant latency or punctuality (Random AFKing / Disconnecting) issues

- Rage quitting, we all get frustrated, either at the raid or real life issues. Please remove yourself from the raid situation as your toxic nature could spill over to the rest of the raid.

- Frequent inability to Stun/Silence/interrupt as the fight mechanics require.

- Consistent attendance issues. Yes, real life comes first. We realize that. However, if you cannot commit to the schedule and are consistently absent, you affect the other 10+ people on your team. Do not sign up on the raid roster if you cannot commit to the schedule. In addition we do remove raiders off the raid roster if they have gone 3 or more weeks of not raiding. (Want to raid again just simply resign up)

- Performing inadequate DPS for your job with the minimum item level required by the content. We realize this is subjective and can cause drama; however, some content may require a certain level of damage to clear. This is not an instant-kick criteria, and there are many people in this guild that can help with rotations/macros. Please take advantage of this help!

- Healers - Pulling inadequate Healing (Not HPS). Failure to follow mechanics (Knowing when big hits are coming). Performing poorly for your Class/Spec. If not having an adequate DPS off-spec when the raid down sizes or have an abundance of healers, you might be asked to sit. Please contact your fellow healers for more information.

- Tank - Proper understanding on Taunting, Working with other tank to better understand bosses, Having good raid awareness and know were Adds are and if there attack other members of the raid. Proper use of defensive cool when harder hits are coming to aid in healing done on you. If not having an adequate DPS off-spec when we have abundance of tanks that show up, you might be asked to sit.

Attendance
Be logged into Discord and be on your declared on the Alliance Raid Roster toon at least 15 minutes prior to the specified raid time to receive an invite to the raid. We understand that Real life will prevent this from happening. Please be quiet and patient when coming into the Raid channel. We will get people into the raid as people show up.

Raid absences post
If raiders are unable to make one of our three raid nights It would be nice of you to post ahead of time that way we can make adjustments as needed for a successful raid night. This can also be used for long term afk's from raiding. Please keep in mind that i have sometimes made mistakes and might have removed you from our raiding roster. Just simply resign up. Raid Absences Post

In addition we do remove raiders off the raid roster if they have gone for 3 or more weeks of not raiding due to attendance via the Grievance Warcraft Logs. (Want to raid again just simply resign up)

Removed
When learning new content its always harder to judge what level of DPS/Damage Done or Healing or Tanking that is needed to down a boss. For this we will be using various websites, guides, and our own learning to move forward. With this in mind we will be removing under performing raiders. If you are removed please either remain in channel in case called back in or log out a calmly manner. Get with your Raid leader as they will explain why you were removed.

Know your class role on a raid
Some of you are new to raiding and some of you have been asked by the guild to switch to another class/spec that you may not be used to playing. Learn your Class/Spec pertaining to raiding and what is expected of you. Know the Boss mechanics of normal and heroics 0that pertain to your class/spec. Don't wait until raid time to figure it out! If you have any questions at all, get with the Raid Leader, Officers or other raiders as soon as possible during a non-raiding time. Every one is willing to assist you.

After the Raid
This is the time when you ask/post the questions that you had in mind, restock your raid bags, and repair (if you won't be on till next raid). Take this time to get with the Raid Leader/Raid Leader Assistant or any other raider and discuss tactics and issues relating to your class/role in the raid if you wish. Most officers tend to hang around a little bit after a raid and are more than eager to help you with your issues/questions.

Want to play an ALT?
Open Night (Mains/Alts/Members)
Every Sunday we will be opening up our raiding to all "Members". Open night gives back to all the members that want to see some harder content of raiding with crazier mechanics. We will attempt at full clears as well explaining boss fights to you. There are no sign ups just show up prepared (ask if unsure). Open night still falls under all the rules.

Switching Main Raider
Only one toon per member will be afforded the Raider Rank. Should a Raider decide they wish to have another one of their toons assigned the Raider Rank they must formally request the change on the Raid Roster forum. The new toon they wish to become their raider must meet raid requirements at the time of the request - no exceptions. The request will be reviewed by the Leadership Team for approval. Until the request is approved and your on the Raid Roster, no change is made. However, once the request has been approved, the Raider Rank designation will be changed in game and the player is now expected to raid with that toon. There will be only ONE switch aloud per raid tier.

Other Rules/Guidelines
Loot Rules
The loot system we will be using is "Personal" effective it causes less problems in the end.

Side Grades vs Other guildmates upgrades.
Personal loot in the raid warrants that the loot of the raid boss can be traded if it is the same or lesser then the loot you are currently wearing. If you don't need the loot we will be doing a /roll 100 for anyone that needs the item in question. Please be mindful that a side grade for you might be a huge upgrade for others and we will police this. Please do not be greedy. This will also hold true for any BOE trash loot as well (Provided you don't want to sell for profit)

Communications (Discord)
Mandatory, no exceptions. No Discord, removed from raid until you get on. I do not expect people to talk in Discord, however being able to listen is a requirement. This is a basic item and if they cannot have enough respect for the leadership to follow this rule they can sit out for the night.

Members Raiding inside of Grievance but WoW-A is not your main game
Members can obtain the status of raider rank with the understanding that if WoW-A is not there main game they will be the first removed from the raid if we are struggling with the boss. They will be brought back in once the boss is defeated to carry on.

Members Raiding outside of Grievance
When a member wishes to raid out side of grievance they can do so on the principle that they follow all of our rules as well as the other guilds rules for etiquette. You must attend all of our raids and not skip out to raid with the alternate guild or guilds. If caught doing so you will be removed from the raider rank and not raid with us for a duration period.

Above all, remember
This is a game. The content may be tough. The tensions may get high. The key is to remember we are all on the same team.
We will continue to update this post as information changes. Also, please feel free
to provide us with any feedback you may have!