Isn't the progression meant to be:
Everyone: Questing -> Dungeons (pre-100)
Non-raiders: Level 100 -> Level 100 Normal Dungeons -> LFR/Heroic Dungeons
Raiders: Level 100 -> Level 100 Normal Dungeons -> Level 100 Heroic Dungeons -> WoD Normal (MoP Flex) -> WoD Heroic (MoP Normal) -> WoD Mythic (MoP Heroic)
With premade groups being able to skip Level 100 Normal Dungeons if they want to.
Gear progression is odd in WoD. The heroic 5-mans are just as faceroll as the MoP heroic 5-mans, just with arbitrary requirements to do them.
Lfr opens after normal and heroic for the raid in question. Any really serious raider will have cleared normal and heroic (and been eligible for loot in both) before lfr opens. Lfr does not include really nice/interesting trinkets. Lfr does not include any tier. It is not included in the intended progression path of anyone who clears heroic dungeons (written in blue... and blue does get to state their own intent).
Do normals b4 heroics. Im pretty sure its always been like that if you dont get lucky drops or craft any gear.
On release, 2 weeks into the game iLvL for min maxers should be around 634 more or less. This is doable by crafting the epic gear from proffessions, you can wear up to 3 and it takes 10 days (doing dailys and not missing 1 day) per item.
Also remember the Molten Core 40 man that blizzard is doing for the anniversary, gives you a 640ilvl head piece. And lastly the Legendary quest gives you the 640 ring. And lets not forget the Inscriptioning trinkets.
That makes 5 pieces 640ilvl, about 3 weeks into the game. And i have also read in the forums that you can get 640ilvl gear from world drops, getting gold in world events and stuff.
So it shouldn't be too much trouble getting geared for Normal Raiding (630ilvl requirement) as long as you play everyday for a few hours, nothing too crazy, just gotta be efficient.
as I understand the progression is this: Get to 100 -> do normal dungeons -> pass the Silver Challenge of the Proving Grounds -> heroic dungeons.
EDIT: You can get better ilvl items thanks to professions and stuff like that, but Proving Grounds is 100% needed for heroic dungeons, as far as I am concerned.
Last edited by frangeek; 2014-10-01 at 07:42 PM.