Not related to raiding current content but we did clear Karazhan with 6 level 68-69 (1 tank, 1 healer, 4 DPS) a few weeks ago. We had a few wipes – I forgot to explain a few fight mechanics to the 4 players who had never seen the content – but it was fun and everyone showed up for the second evening.

The problem is it just reinforced my impression the leveling game is broken beyond repair.

That was one dynamic that I see is different this time around. Blizz wanted guild loyalty but didn’t realize that might curtail people from grouping in new guilds to raid.

Alot of people got burned out on T11 content early. Whether they thought the content was easy/hard, all depended on their guild/server/raid group. Once firelands drops, you’ll see people flocking in like sheep trying to get a chance to raid. And with all the current ilvl 359 T11 gear switching to Justice Points when 4.2 drops.. your going to see alot of people farming to get geared enough quickly.

WoW insider had a really interesting article the other day saying “Firelands will not save your guild!” The whole article basically compared to your blog post in which they talked about the funk. It was a good read.

We have two things at play here. One is the guild leveling that encourages guilds to stay together and the other is that 10 mans rule over 25 right now. With making both changes there was really no way Bliz could fully predict how the population at large would swing. What I think is happening right now is that every Tom Dick and Harry is trying to be a raiding guild because getting a few people together is not supper hard. In any given guild you will have people above the average for that guild and people below it. Those that are above… who want to raid… in the past might have, as their skills and gear got better than their guildies, gone shopping for a better raiding guild. I think less of that is happening because those people are finding themselves as the anchors of fledgling guild runs that they hope might work. Between that and the guild leveling stuff I think there is a large tendency for people to no change guilds. And, for those that DO change guilds, there are lots and lots of mediocre ‘raiding guilds’ out there looking for a few more raiders… so it is very hard to be sure which to join. So I think what we are seeing is raiding ‘talent’ being spread thin. I think this is causing 2 effects. One, it is increasing the level of raiding skill of the population at large as more people than ever before try it. And, Two, it is starving the hardcore raids of enough newblood to stay viable. Those at the bleeding edge need a small but steady stream of fresh, and skilled, meat to feed the grinder that is the hardcore raiding schedule. As people naturally burn out there are now fewer replacements, because of the above reasons.

Anyway… all that jaz is my theory.

As far as attendance issues … Rift came out, spring came out, vacations and summer jobs and .. etc etc etc. It’s just real life. It’s not the end of the world. It’s a natural reduction in the number of tourists who hopped the bandwagon when Cata came out and weren’t going to be here for the long haul anyway. It’s a speed bump …guilds will come and go but it’s a natural cycle of the game.

What do you think Blizzard will do to fix this funk that raiding has gotten in?

And do you think the raid gear being the same for 10/25 is a mistake? Do you think that unlike Wrath where every hardcore raided 10 AND 25 they are just now raiding 10 and 10 on alts?

Hope all is well otherwise

The plan was to raid with you if I was needed, but as a back up not a main raider. Too much raiding makes me cranky.

Seriously I Wish rev and I could help you. Maybe you should try recruiting Log. Then you guys can let him die every week too. But he can’t transfer his main over….

It is nice to see people able to raid every week though. I know that it keeps Slice sane being able to raid at least 2 nights a week.