What to play as Raid Leader?

[Dwair]

So I know this is late as the patch is tomorrow, but I've been in a dilemma for quite awhile. I've currently been Raid Leading for my guild 10/10H, as a Unholy DK. This has been an issue at times where I can't see some things that are at ranged mechanics wise. Even with my camera zoomed to the max, either because I've been hit by a mechanic in melee that requires my focus there for a split second or it turns my camera angle to where I cannot see the ranged and keep watch. However for the most part I've been decently ok. Fights like Imp in Highmaul really made it difficult to watch the ranged though as they were always on the move and I was always getting knocked back every 2 seconds and chasing the boss or tanks get the mark and again chasing the boss, so half the time I had no idea where ranged group was or if they were doing it right, or if someone popped a mine, etc.

Looking at HFC and the boss fights (Kilrogg Deadeye) comes to mind as a fight that would be extremely difficult to see all the way to the back of the room for the adds that spawn and even possibly the 2 ranged groups on either side with me being stuck in melee. There are other fights of course, but this one is a really good example of what I'm talking about.

So I've debated on switching to a ranged class (particulary a hunter as its all I have available geared enough). My GM will let me switch if I want, but I can't switch back so this change would be permanent. So its not an easy decision, as my DK is more geared. Further along on the Legendary, etc. Also with the changes next patch, its looking like DK's (Frost DW) are close to number 1 dps in HFC. Whereas Hunters have dropped back to mid of pack.

It would give me the advantage of seeing the entire raid at all times and being able to call and see things and adjust strats as needed being from the hunter. I particulary hate marksman though, and pretty sure thats going to be the spec I'll be needed to play to give the proper numbers. I like BM, just doesn't seem to be a good alternative currently (maybe they'll buff it).

What do you guys think?

[Deleted]

I agree with you that it's far from ideal raid leading as melee. I stopped doing it when I switched from being a healer (ideally placed to raid lead) to a melee dps. That being said, it could be argued that it's not essential to see everything to do it. You can always use logs to evaluate performance later on and have a co-lead in the ranged camp for urgent things during fights themselves.

[Virond]

My GM will let me switch if I want, but I can't switch back so this change would be permanent.

You let your GM have way too much control over your raid. The choice of who to bring is your call, not the GM's.

I RL from heals/ rdps. I swap between the two depending on what is needed, but I main a resto druid and off spec boomkin. I thought about swapping my OS to feral but I do have a concern that I'd be losing my birds eye view of the fight.

One other consideration is that melee naturally have leaders in their vicinity (the tanks). Ranged won't have a leader in their midst if the RL isn't playing a healer or ranged DPS. This could potentially cause problems with mechanics and movement, depending on the caliber of your raiders. Although you could have a ranged/ healer that you trust keep an eye on all ranged people for you.

[Spotnick]

Usually you want to play a class where you'll do many jobs yourself, so most likely a hunter or a mage.

Mage is good because you control blood lust.

[Xraychicken]

I think healer is the obvious choice as someone said above.
Having a ranged view is one nice thing but as a raid leader one of the biggest things you are doing is coordinating cooldowns which is exponentially easier if after each wipe you dont have to go "so guys..how was that to heal do we need to do something different?"
It allows you to make an educated decision based on your experience healing the fight. It also allows you to spot problems MUCH faster since as a healer you see who dies to what kind of damage and you are able to call them out to help fix that.

[Zelendria]

I'd say rDPS over a healer.
A lapse in DPS might delay the kill by a couple of seconds.
A lapse in healing usually results in someone dying.

[Deleted]

I think healer is the obvious choice as someone said above.
Having a ranged view is one nice thing but as a raid leader one of the biggest things you are doing is coordinating cooldowns which is exponentially easier if after each wipe you dont have to go "so guys..how was that to heal do we need to do something different?"
It allows you to make an educated decision based on your experience healing the fight. It also allows you to spot problems MUCH faster since as a healer you see who dies to what kind of damage and you are able to call them out to help fix that.

This for me, used to RL on a team that got around halfway through HC (Mythic) since early cata.

Basically the same level you seem to be.

Why has my healer partner just tranqed? 'ffs go and kill that ad ' why is Dave dieing? 'Dave get out of the shit!', why is the tank taking so much damage? 'tank get out of cat form'

To be fair, although I wasn't a terrible social raid leader and I could spot things quickly, I tend to get distracted easily and I was causing wipes by going making myself a drink halfway through a fight etc (my healing partner was kick ass disco priest but when we were progressing mythic, it was a bit too much for her)

so yeah healz

[beelgers]

My GM will let me switch if I want, but I can't switch back so this change would be permanent.

I agree with Virond. This sounds pretty weird. I think a GM should control the direction of the team, but not the specifics. This sounds like a recipe for big issues later. I look at it like a sports team. The owner shouldn't be trying to coach the team, but the owner can always make a dramatic change (fire the coach). I believed this when I was GM. I believe this now as RL. Your GM won't let you switch back if it doesn't work out??

I RL from tank. If in the melee group, I do recommend you find a range or a healer to be your 'assistant'. It can work fine if you find someone you trust who can make some calls for you that you can't see.

[Djriff]

I've RL'd as a tank and a healer. Both have their pros and cons, but honestly I have to say back then tanking while calling stuff out was easier as it was directly effecting me. Now a days with so much going on its beneficial to be in melee calling stuff out for melee and have someone in ranged calling our the ranged stuff or vice versa. Spread loading the responsibility also takes a load off your shoulders if you can trust your officers to do their job.

[maizensh]

Can't go wrong with mistweaver. Can see the raid from range and not targeted by most mechanics.

[chooi]

I'd say a rDPS (especially Hunter) is the best choice for the 'RL in charge'. IMO having some assistants in the Melee/Tank and Healer departments helps quite a lot, too.

So you can set the course for the whole raid and make the macromanagement calls for when to push next phase, what adds to kill as highest priority, how to (re-)position, when to bloodlust etc. Your assistants should take care of Tank/Heal CD management and any specific micromanagement tasks during the encounter (Interrupts etc.). Make clear that your call will always overrule the calls of your assistants - even if it was a bad call retrospectively.

[Djriff]

To add one from before, if you aren't already, you should run the addon Angry Assignments and have everyone in your raid run it as well. It's a fantastic addon that lets you write notes so people can know when they are doing something for a given situation.

[Kioshi]

Druids, they can do everything. Heal/tank/rdps/mdps

[Sierra85]

i think tank is best. i like it when tanks are in control.

they need support from a strong healer who can also speak up and tell things from a range pov if the fight requires it.

[brok3nh3lix]

i think tank is best. i like it when tanks are in control.

they need support from a strong healer who can also speak up and tell things from a range pov if the fight requires it.

I second tank raid leading. yes, you cant always see every thing, but your job as Raid lead isnt yelling at individuals that they arnt standing in the right place. It may be usefull to see who is out of position so you can correct them, but usually this can be handled after the fight if you simply ask what they died from or look in logs real fast. And with a zoomed out camera, you can usually see well enough whats happening. what you should be doing as a RL is calling out phases, and warnings. DBM helps people with the individual stuff, but giving a general warning that the ability is coming helps people get out of tunnel vision (because DBM warnings can become white noise if not set up right), and even just calling out a couple of names real fast for people target by things if need be. A tank dosnt have to stare at health bars the way a healer does, and their rotations are generally pretty easy compared to DPS, etc. and lastly, a tank has the most control over the positioning of the raid as a whole since they move the boss(s)/adds around. you can have your tanks do that, but there is something about being the tank and raid leader, and making the call to move for raid positioning reasons, and just doing it with little delay or lack of understanding of where you want them to go.

[Zardi]

I liked my Raid Leading days as Ele Shaman the best. Good view of the area, direct control over Bloodlust, and able to keep an eye on HP bars and even help the healers in a clutch. When I went full-time Healer, it was also fine, but it required a greater degree of attention than DPS so considerably more stressful.

[Thelxi]

Melee dps is definitely the worst role. If you must be melee I'd recommend at least tanking, you have some control and no recount pressure. Otherwise healing or rdpsing gives you much easier awareness.

[Volitar]

For me personally ranged DPS. With good ui/addons you can keep up like 99% of your DPS while watching what everyone else in the raid is doing/strat calling. I'm not saying its impossible for a healer to do it but I found it more stressful than any other roll to raid lead on.

[MilesMcStyles]

Druids, they can do everything. Heal/tank/rdps/mdps

I actually agree with this. To show guild members that versatility is kind of important. To show them that, after you read every mechanic from a boss and are trying to get your guild to understand how they work, you personally would know how to handle every one because you have experience playing every role.

[Cinsidiax]

I've been RL'ing as disc for the past few tiers. I love it. I can more or less stop people from dying and know why they are dying instantly. Lets be realistic. I spam one button most of the night ~ pw:s isn't op at all....

In my raid though - Tanks are responsible for their own shizz. I lead the DPS/Healers. If you need to be directing the tank I would recommend just being the tank as you can't possibly know what sort of monster crotch situation they are staring at.