EDIT: 6= core dungeon group, 12 and 24 are the raid sizes in my suggestion. Apologies to those that got missleaded by the tittle
During Cataclysm, we saw the raiding community divided and finally weakened from the endless 10vs25 debate.
A recent blue reply, regarding future plans for raiding, openly declared that this dual approach is the way we will raid in MoP as well.
If the system remains unchanged, unfortunately it will lead to the extinction of large raiding teams, and the reduction of interest in people to raid.
Rather than debate on the same topic though, we should better provide feedback on the ways to make dual approach viable again for both sizes.
There are many variables that define this equation, more specifically.
1) Loot
2) Achievements/Realm first/Tittles
3) Locks
4) Management of small size vs. management of large size.
5) People preferences.
By ignoring (4), Blizzard assumed that by equalizing (1), (2) and making (3) shared, they will achieve (5), thus people will select the size they prefer, and that they won’t feel “forced” to raid both sizes same week to maximize loot.
The result was not the expected (or the one stated as expected), and the debate 10vs25, is the immediate result of that failure.
It was predicted before cataclysm even started, and it got verified during the course of this expansion.
How can Blizzard continue to support “intimate” and “epic” approach to raids?
There is not an answer that can satisfy 100% everybody. What we need to consider though, is that to support two approaches, you have to make them both meaningful choices.
Let’s go back to the equation’s variables, and for this thread let’s focus entirely on (4).
Management of large group vs. small group is considerably harder. Thus you will either have less potent team than you would have if you were focusing on small size, with same efford, or you will have to make the -in game- team management a part time job to achieve the same rewards.
Now you could argue, let them do small raids then. The problem is, that by discouraging those people to organize large raids, you are also denying the choice for people that prefer large raids, but don’t want to lead to go for it.
What we could do to ease the burden then?
Stop thinking of 10 and 25 being the god given numbers to raid, is the fast and correct answer.
One basic problem of the 25 people raids is that they don’t scale directly from 10. This makes the transition particularly tricky task.
A model where everything is direct multiplier of one another, will lift this obstacle, to everyone’s favor.
Having to form a team from scratch today you have the following steps.
If you raid 10 you have to:
1) Form a 10 man group
2) Raid
If you want to raid 25 you have to:
1) Form a 10 man group
2) Raid
3) Form a second 10 man group
4) Raid with 2 groups per week
5) Form a 3rd man group
6) Raid with 3 groups per week
7) Combine the groups by EXCLUDING 5 people and form a 25
8) Raid 25
Now, if you had the direct multiplier logic, the following thing will happen
You want to raid small size? It is the same
1) Form a small size group
2) Raid
But you want to raid large size? HERE IS THE DIFFERENCE
1) Form one small size group
2) Raid
3) Form a second small size group
4) Raid
5) Combine the groups WITHOUT EXCLUDING people
6) Raid large size
You don't have to form a 3rd group(less work) and you don’t have to exclude some people that trusted you.
What should those sizes better be?
The raiding groups are a given number of the base dungeon group.
We have 5 people dungeon groups and as such the easier to apply model would have been the 5-10-20.
Only by doing such a transition, you have a way more functional raiding model, which makes the job of the officers that want to raid in large groups easier.
What I would like to suggest though, is the change of the core dungeon group from 5 to 6 people.
That would require a raid UI change but also it would mean only benefits for ALL 3 sizes.
For Dungeons.
It would make the queues in RDF shorter, the make up of groups in general, less tank and healer depended.
For 12 man raids
1) MoP will add Monks. By swapping to 12 we will still be able to include all classes in the raid. There has NEVER been smt called raid in wow that didn’t have the option to include all classes.
2) It will make setup easier. You re more likely to include all buffs and special abilities in a 12 people group vs. 10 people group.
For 24 man raids
It will make the creation and maintenance of teams easier.
A change like that, combined with separation of achievements and potentially different raid locks but shared loot locks, will provide a more healthy raiding model, that would still be in the direction that blizzard prefers, thus offering intimate and epic approach to encounters.
I do believe that a 6-12-24 raiding model, worth’s the trouble of changing the raid UI, I actually believe that it worth’s every cent they will spent on it.
Think about it better.
Even the fact that there is not going to be a 10 and a 25 in our thoughts, will ease the transition from Small VS Large, to a Small AND Large mindset.
Your thoughts?