Comments on: Definition: Main vs Alt

By: GoW

GoW — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:22:15 +0000

@Dave: If one player can consistently maintain two characters at a given raid's current gear level, progression isn't happening. But you're right, the main/alt thing is less relevant in that case. (I've been in this situation, due to losing the guild's main tank.) This is part of what I was trying to get at in the article. I'll probably take another shot at the subject in a few months.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:59:38 +0000

I’ve also encountered people whose ability/desire to progress outpaces their raid progression environment, and so have multiple characters who are as well-geared as most of the mains they are raiding with. It’s hard to define a single main in that situation.

For example, in a higher-turnover environment where the guild has trouble breaking through a ceiling, a loyal “lead” type might end up gearing up a variety of characters just to avoid having to run KZ in the same role for a year straight (or, say, ZG/AQ20, back before TBC).

By: GoW

GoW — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:57:49 +0000

Hybrids and Polytooners who are leveraged by their raid leadership can get main-identity issues, especially when that person would rather bring another spec/toon to a raid but are filling a gap “temporarily”. As you said, they can also cause problems which are difficult to resolve.

I know this firsthand because I am a polytooner and it has caused bizarro problems for my guild that we didn’t see coming. I’ll write about it sometime.

By: gnomeaggedon

gnomeaggedon — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:44:59 +0000

I think you are right in the sense that the “Main” is in the eyes of the beholder.

Either, this toon is my main focus right now, or this toon is the Main one the raid needs right now (and I might swap out for my “other main” for the next fight, as it’s skills are needed).

I think a similar thing happens with Hybrids. A friend of mine is the “Main” (bear)Tank, but for him his main spec is Boomkin, but it will be resto if that’s what we need. Which (fortunately) for him means he has lots of options for gearing.. but it can be harder to convince puggers that our MainTank does need spell damage gear for his Main…

errr I am so confused.…

By: gowwriter

gowwriter — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:17:44 +0000

Ooh, good point!

I tie the main to guild too closely. Most guilds have only one progression raid movement, and I’m very guild-minded. You’re right that many persistent progression raid environments can happen outside of a guild structure. Mains are really a perception tied to the group you hang out with.

Thanks much for the note, I’m revising the article now. Any further comments are welcome. :)

By: Cynra

Cynra — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:41:01 +0000

So, how do you define a main for a person who raids with two completely different characters in two independent raids? I have two characters in a friendly progressive raiding guild currently in Hyjal Summit and the Black Temple. In that raid I go with my hunter. However, my perky priestess is the only healer that remains that has been in a raid since its inception. This other raid isn’t associated with my guild at all.

By your definition, I think that I’d claim two mains, depending on which raid I’m referring to. While I can see the reasoning behind your explanation, I think that it’s a bit too narrow — especially when you take into account that there are people out there that never raid or raid only outside of their guild. You’ve covered one situation, but not the other.

Interesting perspective on the idea, though!