Somehow, something last night went awry.
What was meant to be a discussion on Guild organization, quickly turned into a debate about progression, and what the best path is. Out on the table was an organization structure much similar to that of a high end raiding guild: multiple raiding teams, including organization amongst healers, dps, tanks, etc. On the surface, I understand where players think that the top end players will be only raiding with themselves, leaving the others out in the cold...this was not intended to be the case.
Progression
When we speak of progression, we speak of multiple layers:
*Heroics (OS, VoA)
*Tier 7 (Naxx, Emalon)
*Tier 8 (Ulduar and beyond)
What was discussed by Kallion, Stone and myself, was a system designed to maximize the overall efficiency (and proficiency) of the players wanting to raid--creating 10 man groups consisting of 2 core veteran players, along with a group of similar gear level and experience. This would provide for a well run raid, but still allow a group to grow and learn to play together as a team.
What we particularly liked about this idea, is that not only does this establish consistent groupings and raid times, but it also helps move the group down the path of progression. Raiders will gear up together, learn to strategize on boss encounters, and synergize much the way that the Ulduar group did just merely months ago. Doing so also gives the aforementioned raid leaders more responsibility (and flexibility) over their group and times that they raid--and will generally get players into the raids that may have otherwise been left out.
What we typically want to shy away from, are farm runs in which 7 uber geared raiders are carrying others for gear. While it may be fine for alts of players that know the fights--there is a point when it becomes detrimental to player development. We want raids to be organized and planned (and fun =), but we don't want them to be AFK fests (dying on heigan and waiting for loot, dying on grobb and waiting for loot, dying on thadd and waiting for loot... you get the picture).
On Raid Scheduling:
It isn't as easy as one may think. Its easy to calendar a couple of raids. Difficult to get people to show, frustrating when they don't, and even more so when someone is left out. During my brief stint as a raid coordinator, I got to see this firsthand. And, believe it or not, players will send feedback to you both good and bad. Thankfully, most days were filled with good mail messages--but there were days with bad. Players that were left out, players unhappy about a loot roll or decision, etc. For this reason, the multiple group format was an attractive way to get other players involved in the whole process--there are some leaders out there in H&G, that we're aware of, and it would be nice to watch them take a team and make it successful.
Perhaps the ability to paint this picture clear is what was missing last night. Either way, merger or no merger, if you care or if you don't, this message needed to come across the right way; the way it was originally intended. If it was perceived as elitist, or seemed as though we were leaving players to fend for themselves, I do apologize. I think that one of the attributes that makes Honor and Glory as unique as it is, is our willingness to help our guildies-- heroic runs, gems, chants, general knowledge, levelling runs--and I would hope that no one would ever assume that that would ever stop.
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