Guild Raid Standards

Empirical Raid Schedule:

Tuesday – 7:15-10:30pm server
Thursday – 7:15-10:30pm server
Monday – 7:15-10:30pm server

This schedule may change as we push into mythic only progression and will be determined based on input from officers and raiders together.

Our number one rule is fun. First and foremost this is a game and we want to enjoy ourselves. These new standards were devised to help push us toward CE but not at the cost of having fun together. If any of these standards impede that goal, they will be reevaluated.

I. Progression Eligibility

Progression Eligibility: Each week, in order to be eligible to be on the Progression Raid Roster, each raider must:

Raiders will be expected to maintain an ilvl in alignment with the raid average. The initial ilvl for heroic will be 630, then the expectation is that raiders remain within one standard deviation of the raid average. We will post this weekly and reach out to folks who are below the average for multiple consecutive weeks.
In each week, raiders will be expected to gather maximum gilded crests, through any activities they choose (level 7 or higher M+, delves, heroic/mythic raid). After our first mythic kill or our second AOTC kill, raiders will be expected to obtain at least one vault slot at M+ level 10 or higher for the myth track loot options.
7.5k gold donation per week. This donation covers feasts, potion cauldrons, phial cauldrons, vantus runes (when used), and guild repairs for those raiding (please join us!).
Maintain Raid Etiquette (Covered in Section IV)
Gear level requirements for alts (when allowed) or new raiders will be the same as above.

II. Failure to Meet Eligibility

If a raider is not maintaining ilvl for more than one consecutive week, a member of leadership will reach out to them. If needed, we will have you plan a way to obtain the gear/crests required.

III. Loot Rules

The following new rules have been instituted for loot.

We are no longer utilizing the BiS survey – we will instead be changing the responses on RC. Raiders may either roll BiS, main, offspec, or other on each item that drops. Each raider should only roll BiS on truly BiS items (think about what you are going to use, not just now, but for an extended time – e.g. the only better item drops from end mythic). You will get only one BiS item in each slot per raid difficulty.
Sim your character using Droptimizer or Questionably Epic (https://www.raidbots.com/simbot/droptimizer or https://questionablyepic.com/live/UpgradeFinder) prior to each raid to determine items from raid that will be upgrades so that you know what you are rolling on each night and we can eliminate extraneous rolls, gear needing be traded to the next highest roller, etc.
In order to be eligible to roll on loot you must be Progression Eligible for that week.
When loot drops, all raiders will pass on all items. All loot will be distributed using rolls in RCLootCouncil.
Tier will be awarded with an eye to ensuring everyone gets it. We will prioritize getting everyone their first raid piece before allowing rolls for more.
Alt Nights – we will utilize RC loot council for simplicity, but will not award based on BiS items. All raiders will roll on all gear equally, with priority going to main > offspec > other.

IV. Raid Etiquette

The following standards of Raid Etiquette will be more strictly enforced in this tier. This is not intended to stop people from chit chatting or joking around, we are here to have fun, but to keep the raid moving and maximize the time we have.

Raiders will abide by our non-negotiable guild expectations at all times (strictly enforced at all times).
1. Be respectful of all members.
2. We do not allow discrimination of any kind on the basis of gender, gender identity, race, sexuality, or disability.
3. No harassment, bullying, or hate speech based on any of the above.
Raiders need to show up on time (Or let us know otherwise with as much warning as possible by either sending an officer a private message or using the #late channel in Discord).
Raiders designated as standby raider should be online at raid time, ready for the day’s content – if not needed at raid time, please try to remain reachable via Discord throughout the night in case of emergencies.
Come to raid prepared, having studied the fights, and with all necessary consumables beforehand (health potions, mana potions, runes, etc.). These items need to be acquired before invites go out.
No hearthing during raid time, except during break.
Once a wipe is called, we need to wipe as quickly as possible, then get rezzed and ready for the next pull. This means: no unannounced afks between pulls, waiting for rez if a release is called, etc. If you need a quick bio or something that’s totally fine, just give us a shout before you do.
Reduce between pull chatter/strategy discussion. If you have a quick comment/question, go for it, but we are going to work hard this tier to maximize pulls and reduce time between pulls. Once a raid decision is made, respect the decision and do your best to implement it. All raid changes will be evaluated over several pulls.
Please listen to officers and give them right of way in talking. Hold questions/concerns for after.
Respect and support all raiders – we strive for a raid environment free of toxicity.
Critter and/or Clam will be expected to drop a maximum of three mage tables over the course of a night. You can take 4 stacks at a time. Please do so.

V. Raid Communication and Strategy

Calls: Strategic raid calls are reserved for Revy/Beka or raid leaders. This means that no one else should be trying to make tactical decisions mid fight (Burn the Boss etc.) in order to eliminate confusion and potentially cost a kill. Healing specific calls may come from Beka.
Mid-fight communication from all raiders is still absolutely encouraged for important things.
Strategy: Raiders need to show up to new bosses prepared with fight knowledge, and be ready to execute the chosen strategy. While we can and should discuss tweaks to strategy between pulls, oftentimes our primary issue is sloppy execution, so we will often focus instead of perfecting execution.
Suggestions for wholesale strategy changes are welcomed, but should be brought up between raids.
Microphones are required for progression on many bosses. As such, you must have a microphone for progression and must be able to speak at need. Please reach out to an officer if you need an accommodation and we will work to find a solution.

VI. Addons

The following Addons are Required:

DBM/Bigwigs
RC Loot Council
Method Raid Tools
Weak Auras
SimC (for Raidbot/QE)
Raider IO and Astral Keys are recommended for the purpose of forming M+ groups, but are not required.

VII. Performance and Roster Decisions

Each week, the Raid Leadership team evaluates performance via logs to set the Progression Roster for the following week. The progression roster will be for all mythic bosses and may include later heroic bosses, as our group goal is to push for AotC as quickly as possible in our attempt to get to 8/9M. It is expected that the progression roster can and will change week to week as people step up and fight for spots. We have no plans to “lock” the roster at any point as Empirical is built on open and fair competition for spots. In addition, our commitment to ensuring every guildie who wants AotC is able to achieve it remains one of our core goals and will be accomplished as quickly as possible.
Evaluations are typically done from Tuesday Night Heroic logs, but we do accept pug logs as well if a raider wants to submit them.
The goal each week is to bring the absolute best 20 for mythic, and the roster is always chosen with fairness and free competition in mind. No one, not even officers, are exempt from being benched if they have been beaten by someone else that week. Sometimes a boss may require certain classes, which may affect roster decisions on some weeks.
At any time, a member of raid leadership will make themselves available to any raider who wants a more in depth explanation of what we looked at and how a decision was made regarding the roster that week. We encourage all questions of this nature as we don’t want any raider to feel wronged or slighted.
As we progress further into the tier, the officer team may need to reach out to individual raiders if they are struggling on certain mechanics to help them fix any issues. This will always be done privately and constructively. The goal is to help anyone struggling figure out a way to succeed, never to bash someone on their performance.

VIII. Alts and Main Swapping

Alts will be required to meet all eligibility requirements in order to participate in a standard night raid. Alts will have lowest priority on gear distribution and alts will only be allowed if the player’s main character is also maintaining eligibility. Raid buffs and raid success will be prioritized and alts will be required to switch back upon request.
If you are interested in main swapping, speak with a raid officer and we will consider mid-tier swaps on a case-by-case basis. Keep in mind that all other eligibility requirements must be met prior to a new main’s first raid.