I've added this on a forum post for the most recent raid, however, thought it was worth making it more obvious, as this is happening a lot at the moment:
.. it's a bit unfortunate that tonight we had several who had signed up as definite, but then never actually turned up. If you can't make it, take your name off the event and let the raid leader know. If you are definitely going to make it, but may be 5-10 minutes late, or will need to leave early - let the raid leader know. And then stick to your intentions or let the raid leader know they've changed again.
Several people missing means a potential complete re-organisation of the raid structure, including number of healers, who is healing, who is tanking - potentially meaning additional people have to sit out (or the entire raid be cancelled). If the raid is reorganised, it means that potentially people who were prepared to be in one role, end up having to go in a different role. It's not fair to those people and it's just good manners to let us know as soon as you can.
I do not want to get to the point of making a list of people who do this regularly - because at that point people on that list will NEVER be accepted on a raid before raid invite time. At which point they run the risk of there being no space for them. I don't want to do this .. but if it keeps on happening, I will.
It's really not that complicated ... if you're definitely able to come for the entire night - sign up as definite. If circumstances change, speak to the raid leader/organiser and either take your name off the list or put it on tentative (unless the raid leader states they can accommodate your change of circumstance - at which point, please do the right thing and adhere to whatever was agreed). If you're not sure if you can make it - at any point during the process - either don't sign up at all, or sign as tentative.
Organising raids - ensuring we have the right number of tanks and healers, and ensuring people who *want* to be in those roles, are - is complicated enough at times. Making us re-organise over and over again, sometimes right at the last minute, isn't really that funny.
If people are getting confused on how the sign-ups work, please speak to me and I'll do my best to explain it better.
From an organisational point of view:
- We only accept those as part of the raid group those who have signed as definite. We cannot include any others as they have not confirmed whether or not they'll be there for the full raid.
- Those who sign as tentative are indicating that they would like to be included in the raid, but don't know if they can make it. These people will have the opportunity to join at raid start time, if they are online and prepared to attend for the full night (unless organised otherwise with the raid leader) *if* there is space for them in their chosen role.
- If there is space for additional raiders, usually an announcement will be made in guild chat at raid start time, giving priority to those who signed tentative, and then to anyone else online.
- If you have not been accepted as part of that events raid team (please check forums regularly for updates), and you would like to go, please speak to the raid leader. Potentially there may be space for you. However, please be aware that there may not be, and the raid leaders decision is final.
Please do bear in mind that the raid group is made up of real people giving up their spare time to raid together - they're not NPC's that don't care if you ditch them at the last minute and will still be waiting in the same place when you arrive back. If you're accepted as part of a raid team, the members of that raid team are relying on you to turn up. Please do your utmost to avoid disappointing them.
