caaneq eqstromm67437 wrote:
There seems to be some misconceptions here that IL fields full raids on a consistent basis. The only event we've beaten for the first time in the past few months that we had a full raid for was Kerafyrm. (and by full raid i mean there were a handful of bots, probably 50 mains, i'm too lazy to open the dkp site, that and it's really no one's business aside from IL's who bots on our raids.) Tyranont in 3 attempts with 46 (w/bots), Pallorax with 44 (with bots), Kithicor with 52 (with bots). So no we're not fielding full raids. You dont need 54 people to survive in the raiding game.

54 people is required to progress? I've never bought into that and IL has taken quite a bit of flack over that over the years, but it appears that I and the rest of IL was right in regards to requiring 54 to progress. Skill, strategy, and a want to win that is unmatched is why we are where we are. When we're on a new event we push hard to accomplish what we've accomplished, and i'm proud to say it was without fielding a full raid most of the time, it makes the accomplishments that much more impressive.

For a guild in today's EQ to survive you have to survive and adapt. Your leadership can't be afraid to take chances on decisions. Adapt to the current player base, to fit what you need as a guild.

That post pretty well mirrors what Evo did.Kill stuff with lower numbers...feel good...advance here and there.BUT...do not ever sell the importance of a raid of 54 individual players so short.Bots are cool...for awhile...till you burn the botters out or...you lose even 3 or 4 REAL toons.Then the stagnation sets in till you refill those spots.Farming the same targets over and over sets in while you do and burnout becomes a REAL problem.Thats where Evo found itself.Fielding 45 and boxing as needed here and there.But then we lost 1 here and 2 there and on and on.Before you knew it we were lucky to have 40 REAL players on.

At the time doing SOF just was not realistic with 40 at level 80 and advancing anywhere beyond about 3 events in the mansion.That pretty much sealed the deal for me on Stromm.Recruiting 20 new players in unrealistic on that server im sorry to say..i.e. my comment about combining.There are some good players there but they are spread over 5 guilds.Is there any single guild on Stromm that can say they have full raids?SOD is giving you guys a chance to gear up with low numbers but beware...the next expansion may not be so EASY.

Never sell short having to many on...having a full raid.Playing short handed all the time is bad and very hard on members.Why struggle every raid?It can only last so long guys and gals...i know.