• Do groups push higher DPS to avoid mechanics?
    1. Yes
  • Do the mechanics of savage fights operate in such a way that, the longer a phase goes on, the more dangerous they become, thereby creating frequent soft enrage events, thereby giving substantially higher value to DPS?
    2. No, Mechanics largely stay the same, and more often than not, repeat. There're hard enrage to every encounter I can think of, not so much soft enrage.
  • I keep seeing the argument that higher DPS means shorter phases means less damage (which makes sense), but is that damage unavoidable?
    3. Yes and no, most of the time things like extra stack of debuff, heavy damage on tanks. There are however some minor inconveniences people would like to avoid having more of.
  • Can a very-well-coordinated group navigate mechanics in such a way as to not require extremely high DPS from its members?
    4. To an Extent, the dps check is generally really tight, by the time the mechanics rotate a certain number of times, you'd wipe to hard enrage.
  • How frequently are wipes caused by failing a DPS check, rather than failing some mechanic(s)?
    5. Mostly failing mechanics imo. When you are able to execute the mechanics to enrage, you're probably not far from the win. Granted you're talking about organized static, where people actually are aware of what they signed up for. In a pug, you could run into the situation of tank healer carrying a raid to enrage, and you'll know when there isn't any chance in the world this group will meet DPS check.
  • What do groups usually use to coordinate? Are VoIP and traditional raid leaders as prevalent here as they are in WoW?
    6. Yes, traditional VOIP. There's probably always a raider leader role whether a group officially elect one or not, typically the guy who calls all the mechanics.