Raid Simulator Proposal
Greetings, SoD community! While I consider this idea suitable for SoD, it can be applied across all versions of the game.
As a long-time WoW player with a hectic work schedule, I often find it challenging to predict when I’ll have the time and energy to play. This situation resonates with many working players.
My experience with end-game content, especially tackling raiding in normal and hard modes, wasn’t always enjoyable. The entire process felt more like a job: farming pre-raid equipment, gathering resources for consumables, studying fights, researching class simulations, and rotations for each encounter. Dealing with coordination on raid day, managing attendance, and hoping for meaningful upgrades added to the complexity.
Raiding is undoubtedly the pinnacle of PvE fun in end-game, but it feels inaccessible for many gamers due to overwhelming preparation and the difficulty of finding suitable groups. I propose a simple system, leveraging the new dungeon bots feature, to teach and prepare newcomers while providing a streamlined way for raid leaders to assess player capabilities - introducing the Raid Simulator.
The Raid Simulator Concept:
- Similar to class challenges in WoD.
- An instanced event featuring each raid boss as a mini-fight with complementary bots. I call it mini-fight because it could be just a tank, a healer and a dps, for example (some mechanics may require more)
- Provides appropriate consumables for each fight (only effective within the simulator).
- Scores and ranks players based on metrics like DPS, damage taken, and overheal.
- Public scoreboard for comparison and feedback.
Advantages:
- Learning and Progression: Players learn raid mechanics as part of their progression.
- Feedback Mechanism: Receive feedback and compare performance without disappointing a large raid group.
- Recruitment Facilitation: Public scoreboard aids raid leaders in recruiting players based on proven simulator performance.
- Solo Experience: Unlike LFR, it’s a solo experience to prepare players for group raids.
Potential Extras:
- Gear Testing: Use simulators to test gear in a close-to-real raid fight scenario.
This proposal could reuse existing assets, making it a relatively low-cost implementation. Utilizing SoD as a testing ground could streamline the development process.
Your thoughts and feedback are welcome! Apologies for the lengthy post, and thank you for your time. 