Nethermore Raiding Policy

Attendance
If you are a regular member of a raid, you are expected to attend the scheduled dates. Also, make every effort to show up at the raid location on time. While often there will be other raid members available to help summon, please make every effort to travel to the location yourself. Consistently waiting for a summons is inconsiderate of others who took the time to travel.

Absence
We understand that real life overrides game life. From time to time things arise to make it impossible to attend a planned raid. We ask that you notify the raid leaders as soon as possible either via a forums post, by contacting them in game or by voice chat. Giving as much notice as possible allows the raid leaders to find a substitute with little or no delay to the raid.

On rare occassions, absences with little or no notice do happen. Again, we understand such emergency situations come up. We do ask that you notify the raid leadership if at all possible. This allows them to start looking for a substitute rather than waiting.

Raid Start Time
All scheduled start times for raids are to be considered the "pull time".  This is when the first pull of the raid (usually trash) is expected to occur.  Raid invitations will begin 30 minutes prior to the schedule start time.  All invited raid members are expected to be properly outfitted (repaired, food, water, ammo, reagents, etc.) and either be at the raid location or available for summons 15 minutes prior to the schedule start time.  Any open spots as of 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time can be filled by the raid leadership.  Any raid member who accepted an earlier invitation, but is not at the raid location or is not ready for a summons may be replaced as well at the discretion of the raid leadership.  An offer and acceptance of a raid invitation is not a guarantee.  You must also be on time.

In some situations, and at the discretion of the raid leadership, the start time may be delayed.  This may be due, for example, to an inability to find a suitable PUG for one or more open spots.  If a regular member arrives late and can appropriately fill an open spot, the raid leadership may invite that member.  Being able to appropriately fill a spot is at the discretion of the Raid leadership and their decision is final.  For example, in some cases a DPS spot can be equally filled by any number of classes -- i.e., Hunter, Mage, Warlock, Rogue, etc.  However, in some instances the raid may require a DPS spot be filled by a specific class, such as a Warlock.  In all cases the raid leadership's responsiblity is to ensure the success of the raid as best they can.

Tardiness
If you need to be late to a raid due to real life circumstances, again please let the raid leadership know as soon as possible. In such cases it is up to the raid leadership to decide to either (a) delay the start of the raid or (b) seek a substitute. In either case, the leadership should communicate their decision to you.

After a player is considered late -- they are not at the raid location or available for summons 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time -- the raid leadership has the option of looking for a replacement.  If a replacement is found before the late player arrives, the replacement is given preference for the spot (for the night).

A pattern of frequent absences (explained or not) and/or tardiness can be grounds for removal from the raid. One of the primary responibilities of the raid leadership is to provide a balanced group for the raid. Consistently absent or late members jeopordize the success of the raid - if not the attempt altogether.

Supplies
All raid members are expected to attend the raid supplied with their needs. Unless otherwise stated, do not expect anyone in the raid to supply you with potions, reagents, ammunition, money (for supplies or repairs), etc.

You can, for example, normally expect the following (as available):

Buffs - Players who can will be expected to provide reasonable buffs as directed by the raid leadership or class leader.

Mages - Should supply sufficient food and water for all raid members.

Warlocks - Should provide health stones for each raid member and a soul stone for the target specified by the raid leaders.

In some circumstances, the raid leadership may choose to provide some supplies or even to offer pay for some raid members' repair bills. This is left soley to the discretion of the leadership.

Add-ons
Some players love add-ons and others hate them. During your normal gameplay (outside of raids), we do not insist that you run any specific add-ons. However, in order to conduct a more orderly raid, Nethermore does require the use of the following add-ons. This list is not to suggest other add-ons cannot be used, only that it is the minimum required.

Deadly Boss Mods - http://www.deadlybossmods.com
Decursive - http://www.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/decursive.aspx
Omen Threat Meter - http://www.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/omen-threat-meter.aspx

These add-ons can be found at the links provided. However, there are other excellent, reputable add-on sites that have them as well. Feel free to use whatever add-on site you feel comfortable with.

We do expect raiding members to keep these add-ons up to date. If raiding weekly, it is good practice to check once every week or two for updates. Please do not wait until the scheduled raid time to check for new updates. This is inconsiderate of your raiding party.

While not required, we do recommend the use of the Curse Add-on Client (see http://www.curse.com for details).  This utility provides an easy way of keeping most, if not all, of your add-ons up to date.

This list may change from time to time as new add-ons are discovered. In the case of such a change, this document will be updated as well as a new forum topic posted about the change.

Voice Chat
Voice chat for raiding is a must! (A mic is not required, but you MUST be able to hear what's going on!) It allows the raid leaders to communicate strategy for fights, provide quick instructions during a fight and generally manage the raid better. While there are several voice chat alternatives, Nethermore has chosen to utilize Ventrilo (aka Vent). We have our own server for guild members and raid guests to use. (See the forums for server details, or ask in guild chat.)

Ventrilo - http://www.ventrilo.com/

Bad Language
Be careful of what you say over Ventrilo. Many of our members have children and those ears are sometimes listening. If it isn't something you would say in general public, consider it carefully.

Should I talk during a raid?
This is always a sticky topic. If you aren't part of the raid leadership, talking during a raid can cause confusion and turn good fights into bad ones. As a general rule of thumb, pre-raid and post-raid feel free to discuss suitable topics. During AFK breaks, also feel free to talk. However, during times of fighting - especially bosses - try to keep the chatter to a minimum. The raid leadership may ask other members to watch certain aspects of the fight and call out instructions. In such a case, use of voice chat is obviously acceptable.

However, during a fight situations sometimes arise that need attention. In such cases, there usually isn't time to send a tell (and it's likely the raid leader may not see the tell). Feel free to speak up. Try to keep the communication brief and to the point. For example, while fighting a large group you notice another MOB approaching. It is appropriate to say something such as "Add: Drunken Priest" so others are aware. Or if your primary role is crowd control, you may need to direct the main group away from your controlled target(s). As you use Ventrilo, such situations will arise and you will begin to understand when it is and isn't appropriate.

However, at all times give preference to the raid leadership. If the raid leaders are discussing pre-fight strategy and you have a suggestion, send the leader a tell. Try not to interrupt. The raid leader may very well ask you to elaborate over voice chat, but wait for that oppourtunity.

Do we require a mic? Do I have to talk?
We find that talking with each other using Ventrilo helps to build camaraderie and friendship. However, we do realize that some people do not feel comfortable speaking to strangers. We do require use of Ventrilo during raids to listen; we do not require that you talk. However, we hope that as you use the tool, you will become more comfortable with it and us.

AFK
Normally during a raid there will be breaks where members can go AFK for various purposes (smoke break, bio, snacks, walking the dog, whatever). During these breaks please use the /AFK command when you leave your computer. This helps the leadership keep track of who is actually AFK and who isn't. When you return, please turn your AFK flag off.

Additionally, if you need to go AFK at other times, please speak up in voice chat or send a tell to the raid leaders. Please try to wait until after a fight if possible. However, if it is an emergency please let the leader know. Also, please turn your /AFK flag on if at all possible.