End Game and Raid Finder

[Blanchimont]

As someone who has never raided Savage in this game (so clearly I may be wrong), what's so horribly off-putting to me is how difficult it is to get into a group that is looking for practice. Yes, I know I can start my own raids. I'm just gonna say that I had this same exact dilemma in World of Warcraft, and my raids got me absolutely nowhere, because this type of content is designed for statics and not pugging. Without any clears, I was unable to progress beyond normal mode regardless.

But how can you get a reasonable amount of practice this way? Sure, you might luck out and put together a pug group that is willing to go at it for a few hours, but if one person bails, you have to find a replacement and hope that said replacement can get caught up quickly enough. Then, if you don't clear it, when you go to apply for static groups, they're going to see a gigantic lack of accomplishments and have to go off of your word to see if you're worth bringing. The reward is... extra gear and bragging rights, plus bonding, I guess? But with the exception of the gear, I could easily find this same thing elsewhere without all of the ridiculous hassle and time wasted just trying to get my foot in the door.

It's a ridiculously jejune process for what you're getting. It wouldn't be as bad if I could sit in a queue, get a group to pop, and get practice myself. I understand that the chances of me clearing this would be slim to none. However, it would streamline the grouping process while simultaneously enforce an objective ilvl goal to reach, and no individual player would control the fate of another player. Right now, I've just decided to pretend Savage doesn't even exist and is just going to end up as a waste of time and happiness.

(This is all from the perspective of an "outsider." By no means am I saying Savage raiding is bad or anything - it's just to give a possible angle as to why some players don't raid in this game.)

I can assure you, it is very difficult to find a group to practice. The minimum requirement is often a full set of the current Tomestone equipment, which often means that the player has to have been playing for at least 2 months after reaching the level cap (minimum of 3 1/2 months for a serious player in my opinion). The exception to this rule is just before a new expansion, when they do not have the weekly limits. The number of players who can meet this requirement is very low to begin with. It takes at minimum 7 weeks (assuming you get gear from both Tomestones of Lore and Weeping City right now) before you get a full set of ilvl 230 gear, which is the minimum requirement for most raid groups now. By that time, the next patch is already out. The only way to get into a raid group is to be at the cap at its introduction, then farm for two months. Only then can you actually have a chance to even try the Extreme/Savage content for one character class. It's impossible under current conditions to prepare all DPS/Tank/Healer class for end game raids due to the weekly limits.

Raid groups do not bond very well. They're only together for a common goal and they are very serious. Most raid groups fall apart because of infighting more than anything.