Though the DT leadership doesn't consider the guild 'hardcore' in the sense of raiding frequency, we do employ a set of standards that ensure we're hardcore in our achievements. The following raiding standards serve to keep us progressing, while allowing us as individual players the opportunity to play and have fun in a stress free environment.
Progression Raid Schedule: Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
Raid Time: 9p-12a
We ask that if you're scheduled for a raid, that you show up at least 15 minutes prior to the posted first pull time. If you can't make it, please make a post in our raid availability forum, if at all possible. We realize that things come up, and we also realize that many other things do (and should) take priority over a game - all we ask for is some common courtesy so we can get someone into an open spot. If someone is absent and unheard from we'll go ahead and offer an invite to another guild member in an attempt to keep the raid on time.
If we cannot fill the raid by 15 minutes after the posted first pull time we will call the raid. We value our members' time, and as fun as hanging out in front of a meeting stone is, we realize you all have better things to do.
Additionally, we ask that members show up for raids repaired and with any required consumables and/or equipment they may need. We have not had the need to flask or anything like that so far, and what we expect is largely common sense: that people bring what resist gear/consumables they may need for a given encounter, that all tank/OT capable classes maintain and bring at least a rudimentary tanking set (e.g. a fury warrior should have their sword and board handy for those just in case moments), casters should have a few mana pots ready to go, and everyone should have any symbols/candles/sharpening stones/poisons/etc. that they may need.
Raiding with the Dream Team is a priviledge, not a right. Wow Webstats is the tool that will be used to measure performance. If a member on the core team is consistently under performing, they will lose their core spot. Key word here is CONSISTENTLY. Comparisons between our WWS reports and those of other raids at our progression level will be monitored by the raid leader and other officers.
Performance can mean many things, therefore, a raider placed on "performance watch" will be provided the specific criteria of improvement by the raid leader and guild master and it is this criteria that will be measured during the "performance watch".
When a member holding a core spot leaves the guild or changes their raiding status, performance evaluations will be made within the sub pool to determine if there is an appropriate replacement. However, the core spot may be left open for a rotating sub position until we find a replacement that exceeds our minimum performance expectation. If the leadership team determines that noone within the sub pool exceeds the performance requirement, we will open up recruitment to replace the core spot. Every opportunity will be given to existing members, but next in line will not guarantee a core spot. It will be assessed based on performance.
8:20: Invitations begin.
8:20 - 8:50: "On time" invitation period. All invitations sent out during this time are considered "On time".
8:50 - 8:59: "Late" invitation period. A member will be considered "late" for their raid invitation during this time, but will still keep their spot in the raid for the night. During this time, the officers will check with members who aren't scheduled to raid for the evening to see if they are available to sub in if there is a need.
9:00: Substitutes will receive a raid invitation and will be summoned to the instance at this time. If you are going to sub in, please be ready to go by 9:00.
Members with excessive availability issues run the serious risk of losing their core spot. In order to progress efficiently we need to maintain a consistent core team. We understand that real life happens, but we do need to expect our members to remain available to raid on our three progression nights as much as possible. Excessive disconnection while in raid will also be monitored. While we understand DC happens to us all, if frequent DC is interfering with the raid, the individual will be replaced from that particular raid. If this problem is consistant, it may result in the loss of a core spot.
Substitutes for all raids will be based on the role needed (Tank, Healer, or DPS), and by who has raided "least recently". This will insure that everyone will be given equal opportunities to gear up and receive more raiding experience.
A "no show" is defined as missing a raid your scheduled to attend without giving proper notice. It is very important that you document any raiding availability issues on the forum if you can't make a raid your scheduled to attend.
If you "no show" to a raid without a sufficient reason, you will be given one and only one warning. If you "no show" a second time, you will lose your seniority status and your status will be considered that of the newest member of the guild, and you will lose your spot on that particular raiding roster.
If you are scheduled to raid on a particular night, you are required to attend that raid. If your not scheduled to raid, but you are online and needed to help fill a raid, you will be asked to attend that raid. If for any reason you can not fill in when asked, you will need to justify your reason to an officer. Depending on your reason, you may be asked to fill in anyway. Refusal to do so without a valid reason may result in your removal from the guild.
We use the EPGP mod and system for our loot distribution. Each member has a certain number of 'experience points' (EP) awarded to them for raiding (this is akin to earning DKP points), and a certain number of 'gear points' (GP). GP is added to a character each time they receive a piece of raid loot (GP is also applied to receiving Void Crystals from the guild).
The EPGP mod will calculate each member's ratio of EP/GP and use this number to sort each member into a loot priority list (i.e. the EP/GP ratio is called the PR, or priority). For example, a person could have 10 EP, and 2 GP. Their PR would be 10 / 5, or simply 5. Now say that another member had a PR score of 10 - the member with a PR score of 10 would have a higher priority on claiming a certain piece of loot over the member with a PR of 5.
Once you become familiar with the system you'll notice that there is no bidding, and no one will ever go into a negative number. There are no points to 'spend' per se, but only a person's position on the priority list. You will also notice that it is largely 'hands free', and that there is no loot council or other arbitrary factors. The EP's that people are awarded are set beforehand, and the GP's that are applied to people are calculated automatically by the mod, and are determined by the claimed item's level and stats.
In an effort to ensure total objectiveness, and a minimum of any sort of shenanigans (our highly technical term), once an item has been closed for claims, there is no going back. That is, if an item is unclaimed, it will be sharded on the spot, and is no longer open for a claim. This is to avoid potential situations where people would pass on a piece of loot to keep their PR rating high, win a claim on a second piece of loot that they knew was going to be contested, and then go back and claim the original piece of loot uncontested. This may lead to some sharded gear, and may seem inflexible on the part of the guild leadership, but we feel that it is even more important that we do everything we can to avoid any improprieties in our loot distribution.
Each raid will have an assigned raid leader. They will set the objectives and pace for that night's particular raid. Leading a raid is not an easy job, so we're all expected to follow some basic guidelines: