Ready Check: Real time execution

Ready Check is a column focusing on successful raiding for the serious raider. Hardcore or casual, Vault of Archavon or Ulduar, everyone can get in on the action and down some bosses.

I like the phrase real time execution when talking about raid management. It sounds real raid-like doesn't it? We're not fighting these bosses in a turn-based atmosphere. We're providing them some real time execution. This time it's for real, and this time, you're getting executed! No more of this "it's only a set back nonsense!"

Real time execution is not a science. It's a skill and it's an art. When you refer to "real time execution," you're talking about the actual nuts and bolts of running the raid right now, in the instance, as-it-happens, Leeroy Jenkins style. RTE is the on-the-spot management a raid leader performs to overcome performance issues the raid is having right now, which cannot (or should not) wait for down time for remediation.

Real time execution is also noticeably different from long term management techniques. In a perfect world, when you're coaching a raid member, you'd like to be able to document their issues, work with them to find solutions, and tend to their emotions and feelings. During real time execution, however, you want your raid member to stop standing in that fire please.

So, take a look behind the cut, and let's talk about executing the real-time stuff.

1. Establish your protocol at the beginning.

We've talked before about expectations, and how important they can be. The basic idea here is that by setting your raid's expectations for how you're controlling the flow of business, they'll be a little more likely to "go with the program." The idea here isn't to tell your raid members that they're merely cogs in the wheel. You're trying to set up an order of operations, and a basic way you're going about things.

You need to make sure your raid knows that you're reserving the right to make on-the-spot decisions. You can do this on your guild's official forums, or maybe in a pre-raid discussion. You don't have to belabor every point and word you're going to speak all night. But the thirty seconds it says to tell you're raid "We may need to swing some changes as we progress" could save you hours of hurt feelings later.

2. You run the raid.

Most raids are run by some combination of leadership. Guild leaders, raid leaders, loot masters, and random knowledgeable people all come together to help your raid be the best it can be. But at the end of the day, when you're running a raid real time, it's a good idea to keep it to a single point of leadership. Or, at least, keep it to a single voice of leadership.

Every person's opinion matters, and I am committed to the idea that nobody on a raid should feel like a "cog in a wheel." However, as committed to that idea as I may be, it's still very important that when your raid is actually chugging along and downing bosses, a single voice should coordinate the majority of the raid. A lot of raids use class or role leads, but the raid needs to know whose cue they're following.

One person should set the tone, the pace, and the major theme for the raid. While 25 people may not seem like a huge group, it still won't take much for total chaos to set in.

3. Set "talk times."

And while tip number two is still true, people still need the time to be heard. The raid leader should use clear, unmistakable queues that "now's a safe time to talk." Maybe it's in between pulls, or during afks. But let people share their thoughts and ideas during these times. This is the mechanism that will keep "One Voice" from becoming stifling to everyone who isn't that one guy.

4. Keep control of criticism.

I can't even guess at the number of raiders who've told me, "I know they're trying to be helpful, but I felt like everyone was yelling at me." I've heard and seen it from dozens of raid groups, with wildly different styles and demographics of players.

The issue is that frustrating raids are emotionally escalated times. The juices are flowing and raiders are wearing their feelings on their sleeves. In these situations, even a light-hearted joke can feel like a vicious jab. And while the friendliest raid group in the world will know that "Bob didn't mean anything by it," the criticism will still hurt.

This is why you need to keep real time raid criticism and direction solely as your own domain. You must be the only one to supply feedback during real time. Even then, I'd be careful choosing your words. Try to be sure to use friendly and warm language. I know it may seem frustrating and silly, but the idea is to protect the long-term health of your raid.

You certainly don't want multiple people taking their own initiative, and berating one another. That's your job. Presumably, as an experienced raid leader, you know how to deliver that criticism without it becoming biting or frustrating.

5. Keep track of what happens.

Especially if your raid is still growing its skill and experience, keep a notebook of what happens during your raid. You'll want those notes for later when you come back around to coach raid members. Jotting down your ideas and impressions during the real time event will help you remember later to actually talk to your raid members about the issues.

6. Keep an active pace.

Ever notice that every seven minutes of a TV program, commercials pop up? Or that in feature-length movies, no segment or scene really runs longer than ten minutes? There a reason for that, and it's got to do with attention span. Even the most obsessive-compulsive raider is going to get a little bored with non-stop activity at the exact same pace.

Equally, extended afk breaks and long wipe recovery times will drive your raid insane. Do your best to keep these long pauses to a minimum. And if you find yourself wiping on the same boss over and over, take a quick bio in between every few attempts.

The goal here is to keep the raid in a place where you're changing up content every ten minutes or so. You're either cycling through new trash, doing a boss, taking an afk break, or otherwise altering your pace. It'll help keep your folks a little more involved with the raid.

7. Make loot faster.

I don't care if you use Need versus Greed, DKP, a Loot Reel, or a game of darts to determine who gets the loot. And while loot is a complex issue all in its own, the pacing of your loot system should not be. Keep the loot distribution streamlined and quick.

8. Keep your explanations short.

Admittedly, some of the fights in Wrath of the Lich King can be long and complicated. Still, your raid members aren't going to remember 500 spoken words off the top of their heads.

Try and condense your speech to the most important parts of the fight. "When we get to phase two, he's going to spit fire. Don't stand in that." And while it might be helpful to two particular folks to know that it's a special fire that does a specific kind of damage at a particular rate . . . relatively few raid members are going to be able to remember that level of detail.

9. Use consistent language.

Without fail, I can't call the Skull "the Skull." I've carefully put sticky notes up on my monitor, I've thought long and hard to remember the right word. I've even had my beloved fiancee remind me during raid explanations. And then, the moment I hit my macro to queue up a Skull, I'll say, "Okay, guys, kill Triangle first."

Thankfully, my raid is used to it, and I'm consistent in that I reliably put the skull over the head of the right person. Even though I'm not necessarily saying the right thing, I'm at least being consistent about doing so.

If you use a bit of jargon, make sure you're consistent in its use. Don't alter your personal leadership pattern all at once, or you'll throw your raid members off the mark.

Summary: Try to have fun.

I know some folks will read this article and think, "He's sapping all the fun out of the game." But you should still do your very best to keep a smiling face, and have fun with the raiding process. As all these tips and tricks get to be more second nature to you, you'll find it easier to stay light-hearted all the way through.

Good hunting out there!

Ready Check is here to provide you all the information and discussion you need to bring your raiding to the next level. Check us out weekly to learn the strategies, bosses, and encounters that make end-game raiding so much fun.