Serenity (Doomhammer)

[Dejia]

Information

This topic describes everything you need to know regarding Raids and Raiding. Any question you may have will most likely be answered here, so read on!

Policies

Since raiding is a whole thing on its own, we also have raid specific policies in addition to the guild policies. These policies describe rules and etiquette to follow when it comes to raiding.

Index

Information, policies and rules are divided over a couple of categories. Click the link to go straight to the post describing the category:

1. About Raiding
2. Required Software
3. Raid Schedule and Timings
4. Team Speak and Raids
5. Class Channels
6. Away From Keyboard
7. Swap-out and Stand-by

[Dejia]

1. About Raiding

Raiding end-game instances is the core past time of Serenity. It's loads of fun, loads of treasures can be claimed, but... there's loads of team effort needed to make it all work! This requires a healthy team-spirit and a good dose of dicipline. These instances are conquered with an army of people, so rules are very needed to streamline raids of this size.

But there is more to it. Most of us want to see smooth raids. This is possible with instances and bosses we have on farm status. This simply means that we can kill the bosses on the first try without having people die in droves.

Things become different with new encounters we have yet to master! We have to learn and fine-tune tactics. We have to deal with disappointment. We have to stay strong. Besides wipes, we will be faced with a load of repair costs!

This means that in order to progress beyond new encounters, every raid member will need to spend a good amount of gold to repair costs. This can be demotivating and spirit killing. But..! When we manage to get a boss down by more % than the try before.. we made progress! And that's what counts! As long as we will make progress, we will reach that time where a new boss will come down on its knees before us! And that moment is special. A moment of true victory. That's what we're doing this all for!

So, progress comes with a lot of lesser fun things like wipes and repair bills. You need to have balls and need to keep looking at the big picture to suck up the downs that come with end-game raiding. Think of it; when we finally get a new boss on farm status, the wealth it drops will be worth so much more than all of those repair costs together!

End-game raiding is about fun, pride and accomplishment. Don't miss out on it!

[Dejia]

2. Required Software

NOTE: Do not install these add-ons before you are admitted into Serenity. Once you join Serenity, you are instructed to download the proper add-on versions directly from the Serenity forums, the download forum is a members-only section of this forum. This is to ensure all members will be using the same versions of all these addons to elimitate compatiblity problems.

In order to maximize teamwork and efficiency, and at the same time reduce stupid mistakes, we use some software and addons which every raid member must install and must use. If you fail to install them and fail to follow the guidelines in this topic, you will be punished with a mark. Here follows a list of the required software you need to install once you have joined Serenity:

• Deadly Boss Mods
  This add-on is vital during boss encounters. This mod gives warnings of special boss moves and it shows timers for several boss moves. That way everyone can anticipate on an upcoming boss move.
  
  
• Guild Event Manager (GEM)
  GEM is an addon that acts as a raid scheduler. People can create raid or group events, to which people can sign up. The event creator can then invite all the signed up people at once, once the event starts. GEM is used to plan all of the organized guild raids. However, guildmembers are free to create events on their own, outside of Raid Schedule hours. Guild Event Manager - Guide
  
  
• Team Speak
  I'm sure about everyone knows what Team Speak is. It is a "Voice over IP" piece of communication software. It is used by raid leaders to explain tactics and other important information. Tactics and information are NOT explained in the /raid chat channel, as this is way too much typing! Get Team Speak so you can hear what the raid leaders have to say. Team Speak - Guide

Download the add-ons and other software directly from our Add-ons & Software Downloads forum topic. Now follow the rules regarding required software:

• No software installed = No raids!!
  If you fail to install the add-ons and software while being on a raid, you jeopardize your raid team! If it is discovered during a raid that you don't have the required software, you get a warning. On a repeat offense you are awarded a mark.
  
  
• Make sure to have the correct add-on versions!
  The versions on this website are the proper versions. Don't go like "oh I already have CT Raid Assist"; double check you are using the version listed in the Add-ons & Software Downloads forum topic.

[Dejia]

3. Raid Schedule and Timings

First of all, familiarize yourself with the weekly Raiding Schedule of Serenity. It lists the times, days and instances that will be raided throughout the week.

NOTE: The hours listed in the Raiding Schedule are our official raid hours. This includes the preparation time! During these hours, the guild comes first. This implies certain rules, which are listed below.

• Prepare yourself!
  View the Raiding Schedule to see what the preparation time consists of. It is expected you come to our raids fully prepared. This means you must have sufficient flasks, potions and any other stat-enhancing consumables. Failing to meet this preparation is a sure way to collect a mark and be replaced with someone who did prepare themselves properly.
  
  
• Be on time!
  Raids start at the raid time. This is the time where we will start killing trash in the instance of choice for that night. Summons will only be done under certain circumstance. So, move to the instance in time, 10 minutes before the raid start. Do not let your teammates unnecessarily wait for you! If you let 24 people wait for 5 minutes, that is a 120 minutes total manpower that went to waste! So don't log on at the start of a raid. Log on 15 minutes before at least, so you can get your things done. Even better is to log off at the instance the night before.
  
  
• If you have signed up to GEM, you are expected to be present in time!
  When you sign up to GEM, you secure your position in the raid. But you are also committing yourself to that evening's raid. Be on time, be prepared, and be ready at the instance entrance for that evening. If you don't show up in time, and fail to be at the instance of choice, you receive a mark.
  
  
• Join raids during official raid hours.
  During these hours, the guild comes first. The raid needs every member to participate. And if the raid is full at that time, you can expect to receive an invite during the raid as people may leave or have to go.

[Dejia]

4. Team Speak and Raids

For our raiding we use Team Speak. All of the instructions and tactics are explained over Team Speak. Nothing will be typed in /raid. Here follow the rules regarding Team Speak:

• Log on to Team Speak before invites are started!
  From the raidstart and on, the officers will stop talking on /raid and will use Team Speak to communicate. Accustom yourself to log on to Team Speak ahead in time. We don't want to be bugging people to log onto Team Speak half way the raid! As soon as you are invited for a raid, you are expected to be logged on to Team Speak. If it is discovered you are not on Team Speak during a raid, you receive a mark.
  
  
• Use "Push-to-Talk"!
  You can set this in the Team Speak options. If you don't use this option, then we will hear unnecessary background noises whenever your Team Speak is triggered by them. So, use "Push-to-Talk" always! A good option is to bind it to your 3rd mouse button (scrollwheel pushbutton).
  
  
• Do not talk over Team Speak during raid hours!
  Team Speak is used by the raid leaders that evening. Only the raid leaders and officers are allowed to talk over Team Speak. Unless an officer allows you to talk, you don't talk. This is simply to make sure Team Speak remains clear of voices babbling through each other so everyone can clearly hear the instructions and tactics told by the raid leaders.

Outside of raid hours, you are free to use Team Speak for anything you like. Whether it be for just chatting, or for your 5-man group or a farming session.

[Dejia]

5. Class Channels

During our raids, we use "class channels". These are named channels that are being used by the different classes. In your class channel, you can discuss with your fellow raiders who does what buff, who bannishes what target, who sheeps what target and so on. The experienced raidmembers can also use the class channel to explain the ins and outs of encounters to their fellow class members.

Besides a channel for each class, we have two global channels. One for healers and one for DPS.

• Join your class channel and the healer or DPS channel as soon as you can!
  Don't wait, don't slack, join your class channel today.

To find out about the actual class channels and how to join them, read the Class Channels - Guide topic.

[Dejia]

6. Away From Keyboard

Ofcourse nobody can stay tied to the computer for 3 or more hours continuously. But, when you do need to go AFK, there are a few rules to follow. Follow this etiquette and all will be good. Otherwise we'll have to grab the bag of marks.

• Do not go AFK during the preparation and the fighting phase of a boss!
  This is quite obvious. Everyone needs to be present when tactics are explained. Everyone needs to know about those tactics explained. With many boss fights, people have to respond to events during the bossfights. This means, you can not go AFK during a bossfight! An example of this is the Baron Geddon fight. If you go AFK during the fight, and you become the 'bomb', you screw your team. Pay attention, be present during the preparation and fighting phase of a boss. If it is discovered you are AFK during this time, you get a mark.
  
  
• Let the raid know when you go AFK!
  You can go AFK during trash fighting. BUT: let the raid know! Put yourself on auto-follow another raidmember. Chose a raidmember that won't be in the middle of fights, so follow a healer or a hunter. Say something like this before you go: "/raid AFK for X minutes, follow on Y". Let us know how long you will be gone, and let us know who you will be following. If it is discovered you are AFK without having let us know, you get a mark. Also, don't extend the time you are AFK. Don't say AFK for 1 minute while in reality you will be gone for 10 minutes. Accurate estimation here please. Again, don't let people unnecessarily wait for you!

Generally, the raid leaders may include an AFK break before a boss and before explaining tactics. Try to limit your AFK time though, and schedule them properly.

[Dejia]

7. Swap-out and Stand-by

• Stand-by
  When a raid is full, and you log on during the official raid hours, it is expected you are on stand-by for whenever a raid position opens up. People may have to leave at times, and in rare cases we may need to replace someone based on character percs. This means, that you are free to do whatever you want, until you are asked to come to the raid. Remember, during the official raid hours, the guild comes first.
  
  
• Swap-out
  At rare times, we may have to swap out a raid member for another raid member. For example, when we are short on warriors, and a warrior logs on, and in addition, we need the warrior to guarantee a bosskill, we may decide to replace a member currently in the raid with the newly logged on warrior. Ofcourse, it's not fun if you get swapped out. So, to compensate for that, you will receive DKP. The raid leaders will avoid swap-outs as best as they can, but be aware of the fact that it may happen. Don't throw a fuzz about it if you have been picked to be swapped out. Think about the guild.

[Dejia]

*** The End ***