World of Warcraft: Raid and Party Etiquette

While we should always be respectful and polite when we interact with other WoW players, let's focus on what this means in a raid or party setting, whether a guild group or a PuG.

Being Prepared

We've all been in this situation. We finally managed to scrape together 5 players for a run. We summon party members to the instance, zone in and begin buffs. Just before first pull, we see "Wait! I forgot [insert random reagent, potion, repair, etc here]. Can you summon me back?"

Forgetfulness is a part of life. No one remembers everything all of the time. However, basic raid/party etiquette requires you to make your best effort at preparedness. In your rush to accept the summon or hop on the gryphon, take a moment to check that you have all you need.

Use the acronym "PARR" (as in, up to par) to check that you have made the following basic preparations:

Potions

Appropriate Gear

Reagents

Repairs

Ninja Pulling

You have a fantastic build and the instance has been running smoothly...until now. There was a wipe or other circumstance that has required to group to pause. Someone grows impatient and...INCOMING! Suddenly, there are mobs running toward you. The group is not prepared. Someone may not be rezzed yet, or perhaps the group has no mana or low life. Maybe a member is AFK. Whether you wipe or barely survive, the group requires more time to recover from the ninja pull.

We can all become impatient. However, it is important to remember that ninja pulling will usually create more downtime than waiting patiently for your group to prepare. Basic etiquette requires us to wait for the designated puller to initiate an encounter. The puller pays attention to the group's life and mana status, and makes sure that all members are present before a pull.

AFK

Your puppy just had an accident on your new carpet. The baby woke up. Work is on the phone. The fireworks factory behind your house is on fire. AFK!

Real life happens. No one should begrudge a member who needs to go AFK for legitimate reasons. However, there are some basic rules to follow when they are necessary, as well as basic steps we can take to prevent unnecessary AFKs.

If you have a legitimate reason to go AFK during a party, provide the following information to your group: You must AFK because [x reason] and it should take no longer than [y amount of time]. If you must AFK for a period of time longer than 15 minutes, you may ask the group (before you leave) whether or not they want to wait for you, or if they would like to find fill. If they prefer to find someone to fill your slot, leave the instance so they may bring in a new party member. If you must go AFK during a raid, provide the information to a raid leader or assistant and wait for their instruction.

There are those party members who consistently tend to go AFK. Whether they have run out of alcohol, are interested in a TV show or have frequent urges to get up and move around, they hold up a run. The following steps should help you minimize AFK time.

- Make sure you have enough time for a specific encounter.

- If you have real life responsibilities, be sure that you have either completed them, or can put them off until the run is complete.

- Get yourself a beverage and/or snack before you begin.

- If something else has your interest (a book, movie, etc), either decline the invitation or be sure you are willing to put it aside before you begin an instance.

Loot and Consideration

"Damn. We just killed the last boss and I didn't get anything this entire run. Screw it. I know I'm a rogue, but I'm rolling need on that plate helm. That warrior already got something anyway."

Yes, it sucks when you run an instance and walk away empty-handed. Sometimes, though, that's just the way it goes. This may come as a surprise, but you are not entitled to loot just because you participated. There are other party members you must consider. If the shadow priest can also use that wand, the warlock isn't the default winner.

The following loot rules apply to most parties (unless otherwise stated before the run):

Pass on all Blues and BoPs. Discuss who would like to roll for the item. Roll random 1-100. The individual with the highest roll wins the item. If the individual with the highest roll decides to pass, the item goes to the next highest roller (not a player of the highest roll's choosing).

BoE Blues are held for EL (EndLoot).

Roll greed on all BoE Greens.

An individual may only receive one blue run.

Loot rules may vary from server to server and group to group. Be certain all party members agree to a set of rules before you begin the instance. This will help prevent misunderstandings and 'loot whoring.'

Raid loot rules vary depending on the instance and the guild. Always familiarize yourself with your guild's loot system before attending a raid.

These simple considerations will help any group run smoothly, maximizing your enjoyment of the game. Remember that sometimes your best efforts at group etiquette will not make up for a bad group or rude players. It is ok to leave a group that is rude or refuses to follow the leader's instruction (or if the leader is an idiot who refuses to implement better suggestions). However, you should always attempt to do so in a respectful manner.