LOL my 2 cents...(ever known me not to offer?
)
I agree whole-heartedly with everyone. Knowledge is a powerful weapon in this game.
Imagine this: you go on a raid to a certain prestigious zone (such as the planes) for the first time. You die several times, and you feel like a n00b every time. But, you gain some knowledge of the zone, and because you've been there once or twice, those who go there don't mind inviting someone who's had some experience with the zone, assuming you didn't anger anyone by your attitude. Eventually, you get really good at knowing what to expect from that high level zone, and know the strategy of the zone and how to play your character in that zone. And finally, people begin to ask you for advice and information on how to take certain mobs out, or how to do something like break a zone. You are now the knowledgable one, and a very valuable member of a raid party. That, my friends, is well worth the effort and pain it took to get to that point.
The ego trip and respect you recieve is far more powerful in the long run, because you can always keep that, and it will be boosted each time someone asks you a question or asks you to lead a group...eventually you may sell the loot, and the xp on these trips are so trivial anyway...there are far better ways to get xp. And if your goal in the game is to simply help as many people out as you can, than that goal is more easily met.
Will you get loot the first couple of times? Probably not. Will you be in the xp group the first couple of times? Probably not. Will you get asked back? Probably. Is there a better chance of loot the next time? Probably.
I agree with Palan...there are different kinds of raids. Each raid is set up a little differently. You can do xp raids in the 50+ lvls...it just takes some manuvering because camps are hard to get. The raid leader establishes the kind of raid it is from the very beginning...if you don't like it, don't come. But keep in mind that EVERY raid is a knowledge raid to a certain degree, because you are learning how to work well with groups and learning tactics that may just save your groups (not to mention yours) butts some time, and that makes you a more valuable player, which in turn gets you invites to do stuff, which in turn gets you the good loots and into the xp groups.
I'd LOVE to get my hands on some of that purple armor up there in hate. I'd love to get my wis to 200...it will make me a better player. But there may be others more needy/worthy (because of their efforts) of it than I during that particular raid, and that's fine.
Patience.
Aloriana Sedai
51st Vicar of Tunare, Veeshan
Honorable Knights