Item level this and that, don't you just hear that everywhere? I must admit I do keep close track of my item levels as well, and I would like to take a moment to explain why that is.
Most of all, gear means access to me - in more ways than just one. Having good gear gives you a VIP pass past all sorts of queues. While it's been long since I bothered pugging anything at all (excluding LFR), I am now looking into the opportunity of achieving the impossible via OpenRaid.eu, and I do feel that my item level is going to make a difference on that path. And whilst, very much thanks to the looking for raid system, there are well-geared people, who are more or less hopeless when it comes to playing the game, it becomes very important to realise that good gear does not equal good performance. Just like bad gear doesn't equal bad performance. Yet gear does set limits. Gear is the canvas you paint with your skill. To me, this represents access, as I find soloing content a very enjoyable way to spend time on the game.
In addition to that, gear can also be a personal achievement. It tells others I've been there and done that - hopefully also earned those pieces somehow. I don't really raid with anyone else but guild mates, and I am usually the loot master. I'm not really too fussed about winning as much stuff as possible. If the item's stats are better for someone else that needs it, I have no problem giving it to them, as long as I can trust that they will continue to put their effort in raiding with the group. After all, the point is not to acquire as much for yourself as you can, but make decisions that benefit the group as a whole. How I feel about raiding and loot is similar to - and please do forgive me for this allegory, it just happens to be perfect - relationships and sex. I wouldn't get into a relationship for sex, but it's a nice extra that comes with it.
What does gear mean to you? How important do you consider it?
I'm loving how you summed it up!
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DeleteNice post. I tend to not worry about gear since the arrival of Guild achievements, they have become the main driving force behind my raiding. Unfortunately nowadays large chunks of the player base are purely driven by gear.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. I've found that raid, or any other kind of gear-acquiring atmosphere becomes a lot more relaxed, if the players share the "goal." If some of them raid for gear and others for the joy of raiding, the group dynamics are unbalanced.
DeleteGear definitely means access to me, too, and it's a fair show of commitment to the team as well. I understand a lot of players are being trolled horribly by LFR loot distribution, which can limit their overall iLevel, but when someone turns up to a progression raid with gear half-enchanted and completely unreforged, it says something of their attitude toward the rest of the group. Something along the lines of "I do the bare minimum." We are represented in game by our avatars, after all, and gear makes up a big part of those avatars.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. When "testing" new raiders, it always gives me a very bad first impression if they show up like that. If they are willing to go through the effort of raiding on a weekly basis, enchanting and reforging is nothing compared to that.
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