Experiment 1: Pulling a Fast one

**veneretio** · #1 09-10-2007, 11:41 PM

The following outlines the first of I'm certain many experiments as a raid leader. (Thus, labeled #1)

I've noticed a trend with my current guild that they are only showing up to Farm days and not to Progression days. (nothing mind blowing here I know) This issue came to a peek this week though when I was forced to cancel a raid for the first time ever. So this week, I'm going to flip the raid days without telling them. They are going to show up for Raid A and instead they are going to be going to Raid B.

I'll let you guys know how it goes

**Narshe** · #2 09-10-2007, 11:50 PM

I don't think is a good idea. You can end with people not showing at all or people getting pissed because you lied to them and when in the raid they won't be focused in the raid and just wanting for you calling the raid off.
I think it could be a good idea to do both things per day (if you have the time ofc). I mean do progression bosses until the trash start to respawn or until half of the raid time and then go for 1 or 2 of the farmed bosses.
For example in my guild we raid 4 hours per raiding day. When we were trying Kael we cleared trash and did tries until the first trash respawned, then we moved SSC and cleared 1-2 bosses there. People knew they needed to stay the entire raid if they wanted SSC loot and not being focused could end in getting replaced for Kael so replaced for SSC too.

**Centx** · #3 09-10-2007, 11:54 PM

You can't tell them you are raiding one thing, and then raid another, as that would clearly upset people. When we were first trying new boss's, we would just say there is a raid on the following day's, and never say what it was for. It worked out, and after a few week's we mostly stopped having problem's on progression night's.

**Narshe** · #4 09-11-2007, 12:28 AM

Yes, don't say you are going raid A then go raid B. Just say you are gonna raid then see if the setup allows to go on progression.

**psychostomp** · #5 09-11-2007, 03:53 AM

The key here is to word it right. Dont tell them haha i lied we are goin to Hyjal. Say " Wow this is a hell of a group we should hit hyjal guys bosses are gonna get blasted tonight." Make it seem like an off the cuff decision based on your confidence in the group you have formed.
This will do 2 things. A: inspire confidence in the group and just as important B not make you look bad.

**veneretio** · #6 09-11-2007, 07:58 AM

Thanks for the interested response guys. It would be lovely to be able to simply run one after the one, but there simply doesn't exist a time within my casual guild to run for 5 hours. (which is what it would take to run them back to back) This is not a decision I'm coming to quickly. This is a full month without progression. The reality is that it's happening and I'll definitely keep you updated on how it worked.

**Ciderhelm** · #7 09-11-2007, 08:01 AM

Source: veneretio
The following outlines the first of I'm certain many experiments as a raid leader. (Thus, labeled #1)

I've noticed a trend with my current guild that they are only showing up to Farm days and not to Progression days. (nothing mind blowing here I know) This issue came to a peek this week though when I was forced to cancel a raid for the first time ever. So this week, I'm going to flip the raid days without telling them. They are going to show up for Raid A and instead they are going to be going to Raid B.

I'll let you guys know how it goes

I've done that and it works. However, I found what was more effective was to just never tell people what we were raiding when. It was, "You show up, we'll make the decision based on who we have and what our class balance is."

Paumedie · #8 09-11-2007, 08:22 AM

Source: Ciderhelm
I've done that and it works. However, I found what was more effective was to just never tell people what we were raiding when. It was, "You show up, we'll make the decision based on who we have and what our class balance is."

We've done this as well. Attendance issues are one of the biggest obstacles facing guilds trying to progress.

We don't schedule certain raids for certain days. Things change every week based on group makeup, what you're trying to push each week, etc.

The only real problem with not giving people advanced warning about where you're going is consumable issues. Some encounters require certain consumables (fire pots for learning Al'ar...frost pots for Naj'entus...etc).

A very nice way to combat slacking attendance is threatening recruitment. "Well guys, we've been low on ranged dps for 3 nights in a row...we'll be opening a spot for a mage, warlock, and a shadow priest." People start to show up when they feel their raid spots are in jeopardy...and if they don't, follow through on your promise and recruit.

**Joanadark** · #9 09-11-2007, 09:38 AM

I found what was more effective was to just never tell people what we were raiding when. It was, "You show up, we'll make the decision based on who we have and what our class balance is."

Thats what I always found most effective too.

Something else that helps is not doing the farming content first, and then working on progression. Instead, reverse things. Work on progression fights first thing in your raid week, and then go back and farm old stuff in the final one or two days, sort of as a reward.

If all the farming content is cleared, then some players will have little motivation to even log on. They wont want to "waste their night wiping on X".
If you keep the easy loot content hanging over everyone's heads, unannounced on when it will be run, you will find a much higher attendance rate on your progression raids.

**Armstrong** · #10 09-11-2007, 09:40 AM

Source: Ciderhelm
I've done that and it works. However, I found what was more effective was to just never tell people what we were raiding when. It was, "You show up, we'll make the decision based on who we have and what our class balance is."

This is exactly what we do as well.