Grade A Raiding

I'm beginning to think there's a problem with what the term "raiding" means. Perhaps the problem is mine... but, since this is my blog, we're going to assume the opposite is true.

It seems that, to many of the folks I raid with, raiding means "to go to a 10- or 25-man instance".

WRONG

Raiding is a mindset, people. It means you're trying to do things at the top level of your game. You're hyper-aware, ultra-sensitive. You are challenging yourself to, well... be all that you can be. The raiding mindset should manifest itself in several ways.

In combat, you are aware of a much larger portion of your surroundings than normal. You aware of not just a boss, but its adds. You are anticipating boss special abilities. You realize that you need to be in range of heals... need to check to see if someone needs Innervate... pick up CC on someone else's mob... tank additional mobs when the other tank goes down... know where and WHERE NOT to leave flame trails... etc. etc. etc.

Now, many of these things need to be learned, and that comes with practice. And we all make mistakes from time to time, and can learn from each experience. But there are some things that ought to be automatic. These are things specific to your class: having soul shards, poisons, flasks, reagents, pots, food -- all the things needed to raid. And they include basic actions like providing health/soul stones, feasts, buffs, etc. without being asked. If you're really of the mindset to raid, then these things are more habit than anything else.

Successful raids -- not to mention raid progression -- REQUIRE a higher investment of attention and interest. Successful raids have healers picking up heals for another healer that's stun-locked or OOM. Successful raids have hunter's CC'ing mobs that escape the tank to give him/her time to re-aggro. Successful raids have classes respec'ing for bosses that require it. Successful raids have battle rezzes given to the right class for that fight. Successful raids don't waste everyone's time going to get mats and resummoning. If we can't remember the basics, we're certainly not prepared to take on bigger challenges.

I'd like to see some junior- and senior-level raids... let's shoot for an A in Raiding 101.