Following on from various discussions during the raid tonight, I agreed to post clarification for our guild raiding rules.
These rules form part of our guild rules and everyone during their application process must accept these rules prior to being accepted into the guild. Anyone who does not accept these rules are not invited.
We therefore assume that, as everyone has accepted them - they have read them 
We also assume that, if you accept them, and have no comment regarding them during your application process .. you agree to them. Of course we are happy to discuss the rules with people - there can always be potential for doubt or misunderstanding and I'd much rather explain, than people not really be sure what they mean. However ... during a guild raid, whilst giving out loot ... is not really the best time to discuss the loot rules that you have already agreed to 
For clarification purposes our current raiding loot rules are as follows (copied directly, without change, from our guild rules):
Loot is usually dealt with using the "Personal Loot" system. This means that any loot you find is yours and personal to you.
If you gain loot that is transferrable to another member of the raid group (either Bind on Equip (BoE) or transferrable Personal Loot) then you have the choice of either keeping it or donating it.
If you chose to donate it, it should be passed to the Loot Master (the raid leader unless otherwise stated), at which point it will be open for Need/Greed rolls from the raid group as per the Master Loot System (see below for an explanation of Need/Greed).
If no-one in the raid wants the item:
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BoE loot will be placed in the Guild Vault.
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Non-BoE loot will be disenchanted if possible, or sold. The resultant materials/funds will be added to the guild vault.
I believe the above to be completely self explanatory, however, if any of it needs clarification, please do let me know and I'll attempt to do so.
The Master Loot System we use, we have also explained in our rules, as follows (again copied directly, without change):
The Loot Master will link any loot available to be rolled for in raid chat. S(he) will then invite any "Need" rolls first.
To qualify to roll under a "Need" roll, the item must be for your current class and role - if you are unsure, feel free to ask. If multiple people roll "Need" on an item, highest roll wins. For further information regarding qualifying for loot, please refer to the item "Qualifying for Loot" below.
If no-one desires an item under the "Need" roll, the Loot Master will ask for "Greed" rolls.
To qualify to roll under a "Greed" roll, you must be able to use the item for an "off-spec" (ie, a role that you have set as your second talent tree). You should not roll under "Greed" for an item that you could use, but that you haven't specced for, unless all others who would qualify pass on the item. So, for example, if you are a Paladin healer, with an offspec talented into Retribution (melee dps), you should not roll for tank items, as you do not have a tank spec currently.
If no-one desires an item under the "Need" or "Greed" rolls, and you wish an item to build up a set that you haven't currently specced for, please ask once it is obvious that no-one else is going to roll.
If no-one wants an item, it will be disenchanted at the time of the drop and the resultant shard, etc, will be placed in the Guild Vault. Enchanting mats placed in the Guild Vault may be used to either level up enchanting or help enchant a piece of your own equipment. Please do not be greedy and take more than is necessary.
"Bind on Equip" Loot
Should an item drop that is Bind on Equip, the same rules apply as for BoP items in respect of "need" and "greed" rolling. If someone wins on a "Need/current spec" or "Greed/off-spec" roll they MUST equip it immediately, in order to make the item "soulbound". Once they have made the item soulbound, they do not necessarily have to keep wearing the item (ie, if it was won for an off-spec set). If no-one wants a BoE item to equip and use, the Loot Master may choose whether or not everyone should roll (highest roll wins) or if the item should be sold and proceeds donated to the guild vault.
To be fair, we have adjusted this particular section slightly, in that any BoE loot that is donated, if it is not wanted under our standard "need" or "greed" rolls, will be placed in the guild vault for guild members to withdraw if needed for personal use (ie, an upgrade in gear, NOT to sell). This is primarily because this type of loot has been donated by a raid member for the benefit of the guild raiders to use as an upgrade - it would be unfair to then pass it to someone else to sell, as they could have just as easily done so themselves. I will therefore consider adjusting this section appropriately.
Finally .. our guild loot rules regarding "Qualifying for Loot" (again copied directly with no changes):
NEED rolls - in order to qualify to roll for items under "Need", you have to:
- be in the role the item is intended for DURING THE FIGHT THAT RESULTED IN THE LOOT DROP. Therefore if you were in a tanking role during that particular fight, you can ONLY roll "Need" for tanking items. If you were in a healing role during that particular fight, you can ONLY roll "Need" for healing items, etc. Regardless of any other roles you can or have in the past fulfilled.
- ensure the item dropped is an upgrade to your current gear for that particular item slot.
- ensure the item dropped is intended for your role, and not more suited to another role.
GREED rolls - in order to qualify to roll for items under "Greed", you have to:
- have an off-spec set up for the role the item is intended for. Therefore, if you were a DPS during the fight, and a healer item dropped that no-one rolled for under "Need", you can ONLY roll "Greed" if you were able to swap immediately from DPS to healer spec (although your off-spec doesn't necessarily have to be up to the same (raiding) standard as your main spec gear).
- ensure the item dropped is an upgrade to your current (off-spec) gear for that particular item slot.
- ensure the item dropped is intended for your (off-spec) role, and not more suited to another role.
This is to ensure that (a) every member of the raid, at any one time, only qualifies for "Need" loot for one role, (b) those who are called upon to switch to a different role have a higher chance to gain loot for that second role, whilst using that role.
This makes it fair to all members of the raid, and also enables those who dual spec to improve their "off-spec" faster than they normally would (as they may roll "Need" for items for that "off-spec" role, whilst in that role).
Obviously these rules were written some time ago, when we only had two possible specs available, however, the need/greed rules still apply.
Some used the argument tonight that this was unfair to those we asked switch spec for a specific fight, and then would not allow them to roll for loot specific to their "main" spec. My response to this is that if someone does not want loot, does not want to play or raid in that alternative spec we asked them to switch to .. then (a) don't roll for the loot (b) don't make that spec raid ready (c) don't switch. Some fights *are* easier with an additional tank - but not impossible. We have enough people with enough alts currently, that we can usually switch things around so that those who are happy with the loot for their spec on that fight, are in that spec.
I would also stress that we raid on PERSONAL LOOT. The ONLY loot that is rolled for, is actually someone else's loot. Not yours. You would not have received that loot regardless of spec for that fight, because Blizzard's RNG had decreed it so. The loot we roll for, if we do, has been donated by someone who won it fair and square. It is theirs to do with as they wish. They can disenchant it (if they can't do it themselves, they can ask an enchanter in raid to do it for them), or sell it. But if they kindly donate it to the guild .. it is just that .. a donation to the guild. Even at that point - it is NOT yours. We could change the guild rules right now, if people have a problem with this, and say that people will have to keep their own loot or, if they want to donate, it will be disenchanted for the guild vault.
What we have decided to do, is try and ensure the fairest way possible for raid members to improve their gear. If we said that everyone could only roll "need" for their "main spec" ... we would then have to keep a note of everyone's "main spec". Which requires a lot of work.
We would then have to have rules in place if someone decided that they wished to change their "main spec". What would we do if someone was a main spec dps, and then decided they preferred tanking? Would we have a ban on anyone changing spec (I know some guilds do!); or would we allow people to change per raid tier? Quite frankly this probably works for hardcore guilds as it keeps people focussed on just one spec and one role .. however, for us, when we allow (and encourage) people to switch specs and roles whenever they wish, or if we need it due to lack of a specific role, it just seems mean.
Having said that, it is also unfair to raid members if we say that anyone can "Need" for gear on *any* of their specs. We have to have some rules in place to govern who can roll for what, and when.
We also had people asking if they could roll for transmogs under greed. Again this is unfair to those who actually qualified for greed under the rules - those who needed gear as an upgrade for an off-spec (or a spec they were not playing at the time the loot dropped) should not be rolling against those who just want the gear for a cosmetic wardrobe change. And gear in current level (current expansion) raids is still a lot more useful to guild members as either a gear upgrade (BoE in the guild vault) or for enchants (for BoP gear).
These loot rules have been put together over many years and many expansions, have been carefully considered and felt to be the fairest option. There will *always* be someone who doesn't agree with the loot rules .. regardless of which rules are in place .. usually when they feel they may have missed out. Which is why we ask everyone to confirm they have read and agree to our rules prior to joining. I'd recommend occasionally re-reading the rules to ensure you're familiar with them and, if there's anything you're unsure of, please ask.
