Grinding to maximum level is just the beginning for elite players.
Preparations for raiding can be extremely complex. In the World of Warcraft, players who have made it to the maximum character level can begin to gather equipment to prepare them to face epic end-game challenges. The first step of this equipment gathering typically consists of players returning to areas they played at lower levels and completing them at a higher level of difficulty followed by quests and other activities to get the rest. Each class has a slightly different set of "minimum acceptable" gear for raiding, and the best gear for starting out changes over time. Once the gear is assembled, it must be configured correctly to maximize the player's attributes. Player must also practice the timing of their abilities to make sure they are able to maximize the effectiveness of their character.
Research Connection: Gaming Like It's Your Job
Gillis, Ben. “An unexpected font of folklore: Online gaming as occupational lore.” Western folklore (2011): 147-170.
Gillis notes in Western Folklore that there are many parallels between the way top-tier video game players approach difficult content and the way companies organize to complete complex projects (Gillis 2011). It isn't enough for players to be top-notch with the best gear, after all. Raiding requires large numbers of top-notch players with the best gear and the guilds that organize them have standards of performance, rules, and customs that mirror corporations. In fact, some top raiding guilds actually are corporations that make money producing content, selling merchandise, and providing sponsorship opportunities to major brands.
Given the complexity of preparing for raids, and the structured nature of many guilds, players consider it a rite of passage to be accepted onto a raiding team.
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