The Midnight Amendments

𝔉𝔞𝔢𝔡𝔯𝔢𝔫´𝔰 Raiding 101

Composition

Compositions are broken down by the necessary number of tanks/healers/dps with the goal of having enough damage to kill the boss and enough healing to go around for all. Simply stated, the larger the group the more health the boss has so we can’t just bulk up with people and overpower them.

  • Common compositions
  • 10 people: 2/2/6
  • 15 people: 2/3/9
  • 20 people: 2/4/14
  • 25 people: 2/4/19 or 2/5/18
  • 30 people: 2/6/22
  • Raid team roles
  • The Raid leader will be your primary point of contact throughout the raid.
  • Tanks will also have assist and will communicate with each other often to coordinate.
  • Team captains are one representative each from healers, range dps, and melee dps who will assist others in their roles by keeping an eye out for improvements to be made and communicating to help things be noticed. We currently do not use team captains regularly but be aware of this concept.

Preparation

We will likely have group feasts but have a stack of food with your primary stat to eat between pulls.

Honey-Glazed Haunches (+55 Critical Strike)
Sailor's Pie (+55 Mastery)
Swamp Fish 'n Chips (+55 Haste)
Spiced Snapper (+55 Versatility)

We will usually have a group cauldron but bring flasks appropriate for your class, enough to last 3 hours (they are 1 hour duration each).

Flask of the Undertow (+238 Strength)
Flask of the Vast Horizon (+357 Stamina)
Flask of Endless Fathoms (+238 Intellect)
Flask of the Currents (+238 Agility)

Bring plenty of potions specific to your role, you will typically use 2 per boss pull.

Battle Potion of Agility (+900 Agility)
Battle Potion of Stamina (+1100 Stamina)
Battle Potion of Strength (+900 Strength)
Battle Potion of Intellect (+900 Intellect)
Steelskin Potion (+900 Armor)
Potion of Rising Death (Chance to deal additional damage)
Potion of Replenishment (Restores mana)

Augment runes can aide your performance but aren’t required, just recommended.

Battle-Scarred Augment Rune

Obtained on a weekly basis, these give you extra chances to roll on loot, don’t be the one who makes the raid wait while you hearth back to get them!

Seal of Wartorn Fate

Bought with Gold, Marks of Honor, or War Resources from Tezran in Boralus (Coordinates: 71.57, 13.68).


 Check your class and spec on Icy Veins to see what food, flasks, and potions you should use.

  • Gear Preparation
  • Gems Make sure socketed items have gems in them
  • Enchants Check your gear to make sure nothing is missing an enchant
  • Repairs Come in to raid at 100% durability

  • Learning the Fights
  • Fatboss Youtube videos for learning raid and dungeon mechanics
  • Hazelnutty Games Youtube videos for learning raid and dungeon mechanics
  • Wowhead Text overviews for raids on WoWhead
  • Dungeon Journal The in-game Dungeon Journal notes detail

  • Addons to Download Before Raid
  • Deadly Boss Mods (DBM) This is the essential raid add on and it will help you by alerting you to dangerous mechanics and also helps us organize things like ready checks and pull timers
  • Details Keep track of stats such as DPS, healing done, and interrupts
  • Pawn Used to weigh stats on gear and will guide you on what is and isn’t an upgrade

Etiquette

Discord

General rules and etiquette for voice chat
  • Be logged in and in Raid voice chat promptly
  • You need to at least listen, even if you do not have a mic
  • Keep chatter to a minimum once it’s Go Time
  • If raid leader, tank, or team captain announce “CLEAR CHANNEL” that means be quiet and immediately stop talking, they need to communicate urgently

Timeliness

Follow these guidelines to keep things running efficiently
  • Be logged in and ready to summon 5 minutes before raid start time
    • Our goal is to clear trash and be ready for our first boss pull at start time, not waiting to get people in the group and summoned
  • RSVP on the Guild Calendar
    • Knowing who to expect helps us adjust our composition well before raid start time so RSVP accurately and change your answer if necessary
    • We value game/life balance and do not require 100% attendance, just that you do your best to communicate when you will and won’t be here
    • Once we move on from Normal to Heroic, if you have missed several nights of raid you may have to PUG or see if the guild can run Normal to get you ready for Heroic due to the scale in difficulty
  • Communicate if you are running late or will be absent unexpectedly whenever possible
  • Plan your AFKs
    • Starting to feel a tingle in your bladder or need to smoke? Pick a time such as trash fights whenever possible and let us know you’re away
    • Be considerate of others’ time. You’re allowed to be human but do so quickly
  • Don’t go into the raid until it’s confirmed ready
    • If someone goes in but it’s set to the wrong difficulty, it wastes time as we have to get everyone back out to change it
  • Be quick reforming between wipes
    • We will often wipe. When it happens please listen to instructions (such as if you’re told “DON’T RELEASE!”), get back alive, eat your food, and be prepared to briefly assess our strategy and try again
    • Try not to use wipes as bio breaks if possible (see above for AFK planning). This is a poor use of group time

Bosses

Before the Pull

  • Take advantage of group consumables
    • Lock rocks/cookies – Grab health stones set out by a warlock if we have one to be used for emergency self-healing
    • Cauldron - Grab a flask from a Spirit Cauldron if one is out. You can take a flask, use it, and take one more to keep in reserve.
    • Food buffs – Make sure you are well fed by eating a feast or personal food
    • Class buffs – Dependent upon our team makeup but please hand them out if you have them
  • Minimize horseplay
    • Sometimes toys, costumes, and taunts are fun in a raid setting but only if it does not waste time or accidentally pull the boss

Everyone is grouped up and staring down the boss so now:

  1. Raid leader will go over mechanics briefly, highlighting important aspects and placing markers around the room and on players if necessary
  2. Ready check will appear on your screen, select ready ONLY if you actually are, not if you still need to fiddle with something but think you might have time
  3. Pull timer will appear on your screen, counting down typically from 10 seconds, at 0 the tanks will engage the boss and start the fight but before then…
  4. Pre-pot when there’s around 3 seconds left on the timer

During the Fight

Sometimes fights will be separated into phases with differing mechanics and objectives.


These are commonly triggered by:
  • Time
    • Example: 180 secs per phase
  • HP
    • Example: phases at 80%, 60%, 40%
  • Mechanics
    • Example: the add is dead, next phase
We will discuss mechanics on a phase by phase basis when this is the case.

An overwhelming buff that charges us with lots of good power to kick ass.


  • Affects the entire raid group
  • Has a 10 minute cooldown, therefore it is used once per boss
  • Used at strategic moments to maximize effectiveness
  • Sometimes used on trash packs and then “reset” by engaging the boss, everyone “tagging” the boss by attacking it with something, and then running out of the room to reset the fight and the ability to benefit from heroism
  • Do not hero/lust/drums without being told to by raid leader!

Used to revive dead players during combat, not in between fights.


  • We start with 1 but can earn more by going long periods of time without using one
  • Can take up to 10 minutes to earn your next one once it is used
  • Do not use B-Rez without being told to by raid leader!

They will happen, don’t expect otherwise or else you’ll be disappointed


  • Raid leader will sometimes call for a wipe if the outcome is clearly going to be bad
  • When you see/hear this, die quickly – don’t be a hero
  • Please find the nearest cliff to jump off of or fire to stand in
  • Hell, go poke the boss in the eye if you want
  • Regroup quickly after wipes to maximize the amount of time we spend raiding instead of waiting
  • Be aware of your location, look at your character placement not your DPS meters
  • Spread when told to or if you notice you and the person next to you are catching each other on fire
  • Stack when told to for mechanics
  • When in doubt, stand by someone of a similar role if you’re unsure of where to go
  • Try not to hide in corners or run too far way from the group so that healers can reach you and you don’t break LOS
  • Use a range check when necessary to maintain enough distance for specific mechanics
Our eyes can’t be everywhere at once so vocalizing the following can help us work better as a group
  • Dispel
    • Sometimes a fight will require you to be dispelled once you are away from the group, call it out once you’re good
  • Interrupts
    • Let us know when you’ve got an interrupt so we don’t waste multiple

Many abilities cleave, be aware of if your cleave range will break the following CC of nearby enemies


  • Stun
  • Roots
  • Slow
  • Etc.
Also be aware if cleave is causing certain enemies to die faster than they are supposed to.

Remember: Mechanics > DPS so if you have to use a less powerful spell, please do so.
Please learn the following directions and how to identify them on your minimap and on the screen

  • Clockwise
  • Counterclockwise
  • North
  • South
  • East
  • West

Note: Turn off minimap rotation in Interface -> Display -> Rotate Minimap.

Mechanics

Some common things to expect

Often bosses will bring out additional mobs that have to be handled specifically.


For example:
  • Melt them, kill them as quick as possible before they do bad stuff
  • Focus all DPS on one at a time and kill them individually
  • Kill them at strategic times because their death triggers a good or bad event (a ticking debuff or a pile of goo on the floor that saves us from another mechanic)
  • Fixated – a player marked with this needs to run away from the add fixated on them because being touched will do enormous damage

When targeted with a ray of bad from the boss to the player, they should run around to aim it so that it goes off away from the group and don’t run it through melee when it comes out of the boss if possible.


Giant ball(s) floating around the room will hurt, slow, stun, etc. Do not touch.


Once the boss’s gauge fills up they will do an action that requires mechanics.


  • “Bar” may fill from time, adds killed, mechanics triggered, damage done to the boss, etc.
  • “Bar” may not be a bar and may be a counter or something similar

Finding a way around mechanics that makes it possible to beat the boss without doing what Blizz wants us to do.


For example:
  • Adding a 3rd tank to avoid difficult 2 tank mechanics
  • Exploiting a specific class ability such as DK Grip or Warlock teleport
  • Brute force the boss down with sheer power and way too much HP on our side, usually done when farming older content

As a debuff builds, run to a designated spot in the room to cleanse it.


Various and often moving things can go off in boss rooms such as giant beams, laser grids, streaks of lava, fire vents, etc. Focus on avoiding them until the mechanic is done.


Everyone needs to avoid spots on the ground.


Players who have been marked with something bad that is about to fall off of them should run it out away from the group so it drops off at a safe distance.


Usually everyone will drop off their bad in the same place so it’s neatly tucked away but be careful not to step in someone else’s.

Things will happen during the fight that involve the use of an extra button they provide you, use it when necessary whether that is when a gauge is filled or when the button goes off cooldown.


Examples of what the buttons can do:
  • Clear debuffs
  • Buff you with good stuff
  • Take you somewhere else
  • Unleash an attack
  • Cast a shield

Yep, sometimes we have to do this, perhaps if the boss is mind controlled to fight for us momentarily while we focus an add.


Stand in a spot or touch something in the room to gain a buff.


(These are rare, and sarcastic players will tell you this in a “don’t stand in the bad” situation.)

Stand behind a provided pillar for protection from a boss attack.


Players may be possessed, have a copy made of them, encased in a trap, or some other predicament that can only be fixed by turning on them and doing damage.


Players will have an infectious debuff such as lightning, fire, poison, pulsing damage etc, and need to leave plenty of room between themselves and others (use a range check here if necessary).


Also: "Leave Room for Ganesh"

Sorry the wording on this has become a guild classic.

A player is the target of incoming damage and needs to run away from others so it doesn’t splash onto them.


Explosives will trigger when touched so we have to avoid them except for when designated players such as the off tank are told to go touch a few on purpose so we get rid of some in the room.


Part of the room will offer protection from damage, scurry over to it quickly.


Fights can require us to send people to different places and the raid leader will split the groups accordingly.


Some examples are:
  • Fully split fights
    • A different boss in each realm, each requiring dedicated tank, healers, dps for the whole fight
  • Phase splits
    • Teams will break off for a phase to kick ass in different places, often one has the main boss and the other area(s) will be fighting adds and mini bosses
  • Tower defense
    • Mobs will come from different places at different times and the group will be split to cover them efficiently

Converge on marked player(s) to absorb damage.


  • This player should stand still to make it easy for people to stand on them
  • Sometimes this means a few people running to another player, other times it means the entire raid stacks on the tanks, it depends
  • Can also be used to describe standing in the way of a beam targeted at another player, not just a spot directly on them

One or more players needs to stand in a marked spot to absorb or prevent damage.


Two players will have a mark above their head or a colorful line connecting them.


These mechanics are broken two ways depending on the fight:
  • Run away until the connection breaks
  • Run towards each other to touch

We aren’t fighting the boss but packs of mobs that we must defeat before they can destroy our ally or whatever we’re protecting.


After the Fight

LOOT!

GG, congrats, loot the boss and see what you get!


  • Use the dungeon guide to see what loot to possibly expect
  • Use bonus roll seals to get an extra chance at stuff you want
    • Don’t cry when you get AP
  • Link any gear that isn’t an upgrade for yourself into the raid for others to roll on
    • Bonus rolled gear cannot be traded so do not link it
    • Give it about a moment so everyone has a chance to roll
    • Give a clear timer of when the rolling window will close
    • Promptly trade gear to the highest winner
  • Only roll on gear you actually need, please
    • Transmogs can be discussed if no one rolls on it for gear purposes
  • Try to keep the chat orderly and wait to start rolls on your item after one finishes
  • Do not whisper people begging for gear
    • It is expected that we will all be honest and give a fair chance for people to roll so there is no need to try to sneak in and nab gear before others get a chance
  • Be thankful that we are respectful, honest, and helpful adults and we don’t have to use something like RC Loot Council :)

Please wrap up looting and trading quickly and get ready to move on to the next boss and do it all over again


Final Notes

  • The most important things to remember
  • Have a good attitude This is a game and there are real human beings playing with you so keep it fun.
  • Progress involves failure As long as we’re learning, adapting, and doing better as we go along then we’re not failing.
  • Mechanics > DPS Mechanics will always be more important than DPS.


  • And of course:
  • 1. Be cool
  • 2. C’mon…
  • 3. Niiice

Glossary

A DBM (Deadly Boss Mod) function. Players with assist are granted permissions similar to the raid leader and can move, add, and kick players in the raid. They can also perform tasks such as ready checks and pull timers. Players with assist are typically another form of leadership in the raid.
Spells and abilities that change or limit the movement of enemies. Includes stuns, banish, slows, roots, etc.
Created by alchemists and set down at the beginning of raid night. It has 30 flasks inside of it that adapt to be the primary stat for the character that drinks it. Replaces the need for individual flasks when available. To maximize its usefulness, if there are less than 30 people some (ideally a group of 15 so everyone can…) people can grab a flask from the cauldron, drink it, and then grab another for 1hr later when the first flask expires. These do not stack with individual flasks and you may only have 1 in your inventory at a time.
Finding a way around mechanics that makes it possible to beat the boss without doing what Blizz wants us to do.
Damage done by spells or abilities in a radius around the target enemy; hits other enemies in that radius. Use caution to avoid hitting enemies you do not want to touch.
Created by cooks and set down at the beginning of raid night and in between pulls/wipes if available. Feeds multiple people and provides the Well Fed buff with the player’s primary stat. Replaces the need for individual food. Does not stack with individual food buffs and one will replace the other. Feast buffs are typically better.
Ignore all other enemies, mechanics, etc and concentrate all power on killing the enemy you are being told to focus. For example, the boss is on 1% but the next round of mechanics that will wipe the group is going to go off, you might hear “Focus boss!” because the group’s ability to kill the boss if we work together is faster than the impending doom of mechanics. Also used when a mechanic is not being concentrated enough and is threatening large amounts of trouble. In that case you might hear “Focus adds!” and you’d stop doing damage to the boss in order to hurt the adds.
In raid there are multiple groups of 5 people shown on your user interface’s raid frames. These groups are often reorganized and people are moved around. Pay attention as sometimes you are told that groups may do different tasks.
The path of visibility from one character or NPC to another. Obstructing it on purpose or on accident can have various effects. A good effect: breaking line of sight by hiding behind something for a boss mechanic so it can’t hit you. A bad effect: breaking line of sight by hanging out around a corner where the healer’s spells can’t reach you.
Created by Raid Leader and Assists in DBM. Colorful shapes that can identify players and/or around the room.
They are:
  • Silver moon
  • Yellow star
  • Blue square
  • Red X
  • White skull
  • Green triangle
  • Orange circle
A group of people who do not normally play together such as guildmates do. Can be used to describe the group as a whole (“I was in a pug with people from LFG”) or individuals (“We didn’t have enough guildies on tonight so I had to get 2 pugs”).
Players can only consume 1 potion per battle, so to get around this, pre-potions are taken a few seconds before combat actually starts so it doesn’t count towards your 1 potion maximum. This way, you can benefit from a second potion later on in the fight. A great trick to amplify the effect is to take your second potion during heroism.
A term used to refer to engaging the boss in combat (“The tank will pull the boss and then we attack”) but also to refer to the entire attempt at killing the boss (“We killed that boss in 1 pull, nice!”).
DBM function. Your DBM will start counting down to alert players that at 0 the tank will engage the boss in combat. Typically set to 10 seconds though it is based on preference.
/range n
A tool provided by the Deadly Boss Mods addon. When used, a small window will pop up showing what players are in that range. For example, if you need to stay 10 yards away from other players for a mechanic you would do /range 10 and make sure that no names pop up in that window or else that means you’re too close.
Will pop up and ask if you are ready and will show a check mark on player frames who are ready and an X on those who are not. Also sometimes used to answer questions in yes/no format.
To purposefully take damage, usually for the sake of a mechanic. For example, if a spot will do raid wide damage if no one stands in it but a moderate amount of damage if someone does stand in it, then someone should stand in it to save the raid massive damage and they would be soaking it instead.
To move away from others in the raid. Do not stand on or near players if you are supposed to be spreading.
To stand on top of other player(s) location in the raid. Sometimes stacking will require just a few people, other times it will be the entire raid. Stacking can also be done in formations such as a line, where players are essentially close and touching but each one just slightly away from the one next to them.
Packs of enemies between bosses. These are sometimes as difficult as some bosses and can require strategy and mechanics occasionally. Often times they are just in the way and can be beaten down easily.
To die or fail an attempt at defeating the boss. A wipe can happen because everyone is dead or can be used to call for everyone to die because the outcome is clear that the fight will not be won and it is faster to die and reset to try again.