Ailis in Hunterland

I’m going to write another post addressing the Shaman 3.2 changes but, first, I wanted to talk about what it is to be a leader.  I mean any type of leader in all situations, not just in-game.  There are people in this world that feel, because they have a bit of authority, that gives them permission to act in any manner they want to.  Technically, this is true.  Is it always right, though?

In some cases, as a leader, you need to drop the hammer and enact “martial law” as it were in an attempt to control perceived chaos.  But, this option should always be a last resort, never a first reaction.

The biggest quality a leader should have in themselves and in their flock is trust.  Once you lose that, either for someone in your flock or someone in your flock for you, it is virtually impossible to get it back.  Trust is a very delicate tightrope and easily broken.  It’s easy to forget, especially in a video game, that the person behind the pixels is a real human being with emotions, ideas, thoughts, reactions, peeves, idiosyncracies, flaws and strengths.  This is true via any media source – email, twitter, facebook, myspace, etc.

One of the worst things you can do as a leader is display mistrust in one of your flock, especially if it is unprovoked and unwarranted.  It will only lead to the biggest can of worms you’ve ever seen.  An example of this would be not coming to them when something is amiss that involves them.  Should that member find out, trust is undoubtedly broken and is not easily, if at all, repairable.

Another must-have quality as a leader is the ability to listen, even if you don’t agree.  In any leadership structure, unless you have an absolute dictatorship, there will be alternative ideas presented to anything laid out on the table.  Listen to each and every one.  Don’t assume you’re being argued with or attacked (unless the response is “Well, that’s stupid” and even then…).  Remember, more than pixels or text on a screen.  Real people with real ideas and different ideas from your own.  And if the flock likes someone else’s idea over yours, it isn’t a personal attack.  It isn’t a sign that you aren’t good enough or they like that person better than you.  It isn’t necessary to dismiss the idea and go with yours anyway since you are in charge and can, technically, do that.  You will be perceived as jealous and rigid, no matter if this is the reality or not.  Too much drama spawns out of jealousy, intentional jealousy or not.

One of the most important qualities and the one that most leaders find the hardest to maintain is the ability to let things go.  You know the saying, “If you love it, let it go” – this also applies here.  In any large group – guild, business, club, school, fraternity, sorority – there will be at least a few unhappy people.  It’s virtually impossible for everyone to be happy 100% of the time.  And if you spend all your time as a leader trying to achieve that 100% then you will go crazy.  And more drama will spawn because you will be seen as someone who will bend over backwards for anyone no matter what the complaint.  And the parasites that feed on whimpering will leech you for all you’re worth.  At some point, you have to back away and let things run their course.  The real problems, the ones that are the most important, will make themselves known while the stupid issues, the ones that are just being issues just to be irritating, will whither away eventually when they get no sunlight.

One of the final qualities I would also add to the list is the ability to recognize when you are wrong and acknowledge it.  I am a shining example of breaking this at times.  This is as simple as an apology to someone you may have hurt unintentionally (or intentionally, who knows) or dropping a point you’ve been stubbornly arguing or completely changing your mind on another matter.  You are human – you are flawed just like the rest of your flock.  You will make mistakes and what separates you from the rest of your group (hopefully) is your ability to recognize when you do and address it immediately.

As far as a trait specific to WoW – it’s a video game.  Remember that above all else.  It’s the same as Tetris, Mario Bros., Halo and the thousands of other games people play on a daily basis.  People play it to have fun and nothing more than that.

Never forget why you installed it in the first place.  Was it to rule over a bunch of people?  Or was it to have fun and make friends?

*Ailis peeks out the window and sighs a little at the torrential downpour.  She turns back to her lap, where she resumes cleaning a pair of new boots….which look more like legwarmers for cows.  A creak causes her to start up, hands beginning to glow with elemental energy.  Upon seeing you, she relaxes, smiles and gestures to a chair.*

Come on in.  Sorry, I’m still trying to get the last bit of frozen dragon yuck off these boots.  Can’t show off new loot if there’s still some boss on it, now can I?

So, today we’re going to talk about being a raid leader.  It’s, generally, a thankless job that the same 1-3 people do week after week and run after run.  Some people fall into the position because they happen to be the most knowledgeable at the time.  Some people are elected into it.  Some people take it on because they love being in charge.  Whatever the reason, most of you may have had the wonderfully exhausting experience of leading a raid.  You know the highs of getting your group through an especially hard boss and seeing the looks of glee on their faces when the piece of armor or weapon they’ve been toiling after drops.  You also know the frustrating lows of slamming your head against a boss attempt after attempt and feeling like all of Naxxramas is pointing and laughing at you.

If you have never led a raid, I heartily encourage you to do so for at least 3 nights in a row.  That will, hopefully, give you experience in some of the best parts and some of the worst parts of raid leading and, in the end, make you a little more sympathetic to what they go through.

*She plucks a shiny gem from a bowl on the table and begins to patiently afix it to the slot on the side of the left boot, the corners of her mouth twitching with concentration.  Satisfied, she smiles and holds them up to the light, where small rainbows dance off the gem and splash across the wall.*

I love being a jewelcrafter…

Anyway, as a raid member, there are few things your raid leaders would really like you to keep in mind.

Your raid leader, if they take their job seriously, has done extensive research on boss fights.  

They’ve watched videos, read strats, looked up how other guilds did it, what the group composition was like, any tricks or tips available, and anything else they can get their hands on to get their group through the ordeal at hand.  They aren’t running into this blind (at least, they shouldn’t be).  That said, if they ask you to do something that may sound a little odd to you like “Don’t pop your Spirit Wolves” or “Cast Aspect of the Pack after the mini-bosses go down” or “Stand right here and don’t move” it’s because they have a really good reason for it and would really appreciate it if you’d do it at least once before protesting.  Nothing is more aggravating than reading about a trick that’s worked in numerous other guilds and having the person you ask to do said trick argue with you over vent.  Inevitably the raid leader has to resort to “Just do it because I said so” which makes them come across as a power-hungry jerk and makes the rest of vent get really uncomfortably quiet.  Bad situation all around.

Group composition is a very delicate situation.  

The raid leader has to look at what they’re up against, who is online that is geared properly, and what they have at their disposal.  For example, Kel’Thuzad is a very melee-unfriendly fight due to the ice blocks.  If the group has enough melee, any slots that open up during the course of the run will most likely go to ranged or heals no matter if there were other melee online first.  It’s the bad luck of the roll sometimes and raid leaders loathe having to make that decision.  Guild members aren’t just pixels on the screen – there are friendships developed and, just like any friendship, you never want to do anything that hurts that.  That’s when the whole “it’s business, not personal” comes into play.  If you were online first but someone else who signed on after you gets pulled into the raid, don’t get all upset please.  It wasn’t anything personal against you, it’s a decision made based on what is needed at the time.  Trust me, your graciousness in handling a situation like that will make a great impression on your raid leader and will serve you well in the future.

Do your best to be prepared for the raid.  

It is so frustrating for a raid leader to ask their raiders to read one article a day or two before the raid and then walk into Naxx and find out 4 out of the 24 other folks actually read it.  Bring your flasks, pots, and other consumables.  For god’s sake, repair.  And make sure you don’t have any unenchanted gear or empty gem slots.  You hurt not only the raid by not being prepared but yourself as well since you aren’t performing at your full potential.  If your guild sets raiding minimums or certain requirements to raid, do your best to not only meet them but exceed them, especially if you are an officer or hold any other position with some modicum of power.  Set an example for the rest of your raiders by sitting yourself out of raids if you don’t meet minimums.

Don’t be that guy in vent.

If you, because of your schedule, pug a lot of raids and can’t run with your guild during their scheduled raiding times, then chances are you have downed a boss your guild hasn’t.  Bravo to you.  If you have ideas, tips, tricks or any other advice to give, get with the raid leader before the raid and talk to them in private.  Don’t sit on vent during the guild’s run and, in the middle of the fight or after the fourth attempt where people are frustrated, pipe up with “Well all you have to do is this.”  That really doesn’t help.  As much as you’re meaning to be helpful and lend your hard-earned, very viable advice, it comes across as a little snotty with an air of “Wow, you guys can’t just do X or Y?  Holy crap you guys are lame.”  In order to keep from unintentionally sounding that way, talk to the raid leader beforehand or after the run is called and offer your advice in a constructive, friendly, non-condescending manner.  Your raid leader will thank you for it.

It’s over when I say it’s over.

At the end of the night, be it a pre-determined hard and fast stop time or some other reason, if your raid leader calls the raid, don’t argue.  Just don’t do it at all.  I don’t care that you’re wide awake from the 8 cups of coffee you had during the run or you just need one more emblem to get a shiny new trinket or this guy just might drop that fancy new dagger you’ve been after, don’t argue with a call.  Your raid leader will call a raid based on a variety of factors such as what time it is, what the run has accomplished, the situations of 24 other raiders’ families, jobs, and/or school, the fact that several of the raiders come from odd time zones and a number of other reasons.  They aren’t calling it to piss you off or keep you from progressing.  Just simply hold the grumbles to yourself, thank the raid leader for leading, congratulate people on their loot, make your availability known if it isn’t already and go on your merry way.  Naxx, OS, EoE or whatever isn’t going to vanish overnight.  Blizzard isn’t going to remove all raiding from the game if you don’t do it right this very second.  That’s not the last run you’ll ever get to do in the entirety of raiding history.  You’ll have another shot.  Calm down, it’s not the end of the world.  And, for elune’s sake, don’t undermine raid leader by asking for a vote.

That all said, there are bad raid leaders out there – people who haven’t done their homework, think it’s no big deal, don’t follow through or make sound decisions.  If you run into someone like that, bring it up with an officer or your guild leader in private.  Don’t make a big, public deal about it or cause a lot of drama.  Remember, tact, graciousness and maturity go a helluva long way with your guild leadership.

*Ailis straps on her new boots, buckling buckles and situating them just right above her hooves.*

Now that I have that out of my system, I have a lunch date at the Eventide with a very hot night elf…