1. You have to work.

What? I thought this was a game? Well it still is but you need to do a lot of research and study all the fights. Not only will you need to know the fights but what every class on the game can do.

Having a level 70 from all classes give you a mayor advantage but you won’t have the time to do that is you start leading unless you don’t work and you don’t have family or friends. So the only choice you have left is to study what classes can do, when they can do it and how.

You must be prepared not only for boss encounters but also for trash pulls. What can be shackled, cheeped, enslaved, vanished or trapped. You must study how groups work together. Do you put a Shaman on the tank group or on the melee group? What totems a shaman can use and a long etcetera.

You will spend more time reading strategies and watching videos than actually playing some times, especially when you are progressing in the end game.

2. Some people will hate you.

Why? Don’t they see you are trying to do your best to help them progress and get better gear?

Yes. Some will see that and appreciate it. But others will see you as the guy who gets to go to all raids. Like the guy who thinks he knows more than the others. Like the guy who organizes raids and always bring his pals before the others.

A good raid leader must have human qualities and not only be good at leading.

Some people will prefer a total prick that is always pushing and the minimum mistake you make then you are out and replace by another. Others will prefer someone that listen to them, ask for advices, recognize when he/she made a mistake but he knows how to lead fast and take decisions.

But no one will like a leader that don’t know what the hell is going on and never take a decision.

Everyone who has made a battleground knows what a “turtle” is. And BGs are huge raids with no leader. As a raid leader you must learn to listen to everyone and ask for feedback. Don’t think that because you are a raid leader you know more than them. But at one point everyone in there is waiting for you to take action and decide what’s best for the team. And don’t go afk every time you want or need to read a strategy because you have no clue what’s going on. If you are a raid leader, know that they are counting on you, but still some will hate you.

3. When something goes wrong most of the times is your fault.

Why? Because you are responsible for what’s going on. You are the one selecting your team. Is true that in occasions you have no choice to bring people that is not prepare. And even if you know already that the group won’t be able to progress too far you must at least try to make a good run and have fun in there.

If you make mistakes recognize them. Don’t blame others for what you don’t know.

Organize your team in the best possible way and make fast decisions.
Don’t put yourself on the best group so you can out dps everyone else or have better mana regen. If you do that is because there is a good reason to do it.

Learn when to call it. Don’t wait till everyone inside is tired and start to hate or blame each other. Before that start to happen just call it. Thanks everyone in there for coming and stop it.

There is nothing worse than a raid leader who keeps pushing when everyone else knows that the group is not working. Again, if that happen is your fault. You could have avoid that choosing a better team or if you didn’t had a choice then let them know in advance that you guys are there to see what happen, have fun but don’t give them too much expectations.

4. You may burn out fast or stop enjoying the game.

All the previews reasons lead also to this one. If you don’t have the time that requires being ready to lead a group, sooner or later you will burn out. If that happen is not the end of the world. Take some time off and if you really like been a raid leader and manage to free some time for it, and then come back latter more relaxed and ready to start again.

But if you are not enjoying the game anymore then stop doing it. Let others lead and start playing and doing what you like and enjoy. In my case, I like and enjoy been a raid leader. But that’s because I like spending more time reading than playing. I can read anywhere I want but I can’t play everywhere. I like studying strategies and how other classes works. I enjoy it. That may be the only reason why I keep playing this game.

If you enjoy more playing the game than reading then don’t be a raid leader. Well actually you must enjoy both.

5. This reason is the same first reason why you don’t start playing WoW. It’s too addictive.

Once you start leading you may hate it or love it. If you hate it then quit now. But if you love it the rewards are amazing.

No, I’m not talking about gold rewards. As a matter of fact you will need to do more dailies and farming than before because raids can be very expensive. In average, especially on progression raids you may spend 300g on repairs, potions and elixirs. And that’s when everything goes well.

And you must live by example. You can’t be a raid leader if you don’t have all your gear enchanted, have good gems and every time you go inside the raid don’t pop-up very good and expensive elixirs and good food. You can’t ask others to do what you don’t do.

But if you are a good raid leader then you will enjoy the advantages.

You will be the first to go to new encounters. Most of the times get first choice in loot, unless you are like me and are always passing. And people will recognize your efforts. And don’t forget that watching all your friends or teammates get better gear and enjoy your raids is the best reward you can have. And that’s why it can be so addictive.