Raid (gaming)
Encyclopedia
A raid is a type of mission in a video game in which a very large number of people (larger than the normal team size set by the game) attempt to defeat a boss monster
. This type of objective is most common in Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
, where the servers are designed to handle the number of users while not significantly impacting performance, thereby reducing server lag
. In RTS
games like StarCraft
, the term is used differently, see Raid (military)
.
There is much academic discussion about the concept of raids as currently implemented in graphical MMOs. With growing concerns about the addictive nature of MMOs, the fact that raids require 3-4+ hours of constant gameplay leads some to believe they are inherently (and physically) unhealthy. A 2003 study by the National Institutes of Health found that playing MMORPGs for more than 20 hours per week correlates to obesity and nutritional imbalance as well as an increased propensity for bone loss and muscle atrophy.
China has addressed the issue by trying to implement national limits on how long people can play MMORPGs. The measures will impose penalties on people who play MMORPGs for more than 3 hours per day.
Some game developers believe the way raids and raid guilds can dominate a player's life (recruitment, planning, guild drama, etc.) could potentially give people a false sense of accomplishment that impacts their ability to care about real life goals and accomplishments.
Additionally, many players have expressed concerns over the predominantly vertical progression found in most MMORPGs. Major content releases may increase an existing level cap, rendering previous raid gear and end-game content obsolete. In return, players may feel forced to complete the latest game content in order to keep up with the curve. This grind-based gameplay is typically held in low regard by the PvP gamers who favor a more horizontal approach.
Boss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
. This type of objective is most common in Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
, where the servers are designed to handle the number of users while not significantly impacting performance, thereby reducing server lag
Lag
Lag is a common word meaning to fail to keep up or to fall behind. In real-time applications, the term is used when the application fails to respond in a timely fashion to inputs...
. In RTS
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
games like StarCraft
StarCraft
StarCraft is a military science fiction real-time strategy video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. The first game of the StarCraft series was released for Microsoft Windows on 31 March 1998. With more than 11 million copies sold worldwide as of February 2009, it is one of the best-selling...
, the term is used differently, see Raid (military)
Raid (military)
Raid, also known as depredation, is a military tactic or operational warfare mission which has a specific purpose and is not normally intended to capture and hold terrain, but instead finish with the raiding force quickly retreating to a previous defended position prior to the enemy forces being...
.
Raid bosses
Usually a boss is strong enough that it cannot be defeated by a team smaller than the designed raid size parameters for that boss. For example, a normal team size might not exceed eight people, but a raid for a particular boss may require 40 or more people. A normal team size wouldn't be able to survive the amount of damage that the boss can do. Increasing the size of the group helps to distribute the boss' damage output amongst a greater number of targets, increases the number of characters doing damage to the boss simultaneously, and increases the number of support characters (healers, buffers, and debuffers) producing cumulative effects, enabling a greater number of characters to survive the boss' attacks and inflict enough damage on the boss to defeat it.Character types utilized in most raids
Character types typically represented in a raid:- Buffers augment allies' statsStatistic (role-playing games)A statistic in role-playing games is a piece of data which represents a particular aspect of a fictional character. That piece of data is usually a integer or, in some cases, a set of dice....
and abilities. - Crowd controllersCrowd control (MMORPG)Crowd control is a term used in massive multiplayer online role-playing games s to refer to the ability to limit the number of mobs actively fighting during an encounter. It can also refer to abilities that influence or prevent the abilities or actions of other character...
render one or more enemies harmless or reduce their effectiveness. - DPS classesDamage per secondDamage per second is a term used with computer games to describe the average rate of damage inflicted over time. The term is especially common in massively multiplayer online role-playing games and is a key aspect of theorycraft...
reduce enemies' health by doing damage. - Debuffers reduce enemies' stats and weaken their abilities.
- HealersHealer (gaming)A healer is a type of character class in video gaming. When a game includes a health game mechanic and multiple classes, often one of the classes will be designed around the restoration of allies' health, known as healing, in order to delay or prevent their defeat. Such a class can be referred to...
restore allies' health. - TanksTank (computer gaming)A tank is a style of character in gaming, often associated with a character class. A common convention in real-time strategy games, role-playing games, MMORPGs and MUDs, tanks redirect enemy attacks and/or attention toward themselves in order to protect other characters or units...
hold off particularly aggressiveHate (MMORPG terminology)Hate, aggro, or threat is a mechanism used in many MMORPGs as well as some RPGs by which non-playing characters prioritize which players to attack. Players who generate the most hate on an NPC will be preferentially attacked by that NPC...
enemies and absorb damage, effectively shielding weaker allies from attack.
Raid loot
Item drops from raids are often very rewarding, and may include unique or maximum stats items, thus giving players an incentive to participate. Other rewards may include large amounts of experience and in-game currency. The high rewards often come at the cost of high risk to the players. The large number of people in a particular raid group increases the likelihood of individual errors (including executing an action at the wrong time, or failing to execute an action when required) that could be detrimental to the raid as a whole, possibly contributing to the total failure of the raid. It is advisable to have a working strategy prior to starting the raid. A raid leader is often needed to direct the group efficiently, due to the complexities of keeping many players working well together.Raiding guilds
Within MMO's are guilds that help players succeed on their raiding progression. There are two types of raiding guilds: casual guilds, defined as spending two to three days per week on average; and hardcore guilds, defined as spending four to seven days per week on average.Instanced or public raiding
Raids can occur in an instanced zone or a public zone. An advantage to a raid being in an instanced zone is that the raid leader can control who participates. An advantage to a raid being in a public zone is that anyone is free to join the raid when they like, as long as they do not disrupt the original raid group. Disadvantages to public raids are that they are more susceptible to griefing, and sometimes cannot be rezoned, as an instanced raid can, unless the boss is reset by the server.Health risks and conceptual flaws in raiding
Although relative to differing levels of content difficulty, raid design in most MMORPGs often requires players to play for extended periods of time.There is much academic discussion about the concept of raids as currently implemented in graphical MMOs. With growing concerns about the addictive nature of MMOs, the fact that raids require 3-4+ hours of constant gameplay leads some to believe they are inherently (and physically) unhealthy. A 2003 study by the National Institutes of Health found that playing MMORPGs for more than 20 hours per week correlates to obesity and nutritional imbalance as well as an increased propensity for bone loss and muscle atrophy.
China has addressed the issue by trying to implement national limits on how long people can play MMORPGs. The measures will impose penalties on people who play MMORPGs for more than 3 hours per day.
Some game developers believe the way raids and raid guilds can dominate a player's life (recruitment, planning, guild drama, etc.) could potentially give people a false sense of accomplishment that impacts their ability to care about real life goals and accomplishments.
Additionally, many players have expressed concerns over the predominantly vertical progression found in most MMORPGs. Major content releases may increase an existing level cap, rendering previous raid gear and end-game content obsolete. In return, players may feel forced to complete the latest game content in order to keep up with the curve. This grind-based gameplay is typically held in low regard by the PvP gamers who favor a more horizontal approach.
Games with raiding or raid bosses
- Age of Conan
- Aion: The Tower of Eternity
- Anarchy OnlineAnarchy OnlineAnarchy Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game published and developed by Funcom. Released in the summer of 2001, the game was first in the genre to include a science-fiction setting, dynamic quests, free trials, and in-game advertising. The most ground breaking feature in...
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- DC Universe OnlineDC Universe OnlineDC Universe Online or DCUO is an MMORPG by Sony Online Entertainment – Austin. Jim Lee serves as the game's Executive Creative Director, along with Carlos D'Anda, JJ Kirby, Oliver Nome, Eddie Nuñez, Livio Ramondelli, and Michael Lopez...
- Dungeons & Dragons Online
- EverQuestEverQuestEverQuest, often shortened to EQ, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was released on the 16th of March, 1999. The original design is credited to Brad McQuaid, Steve Clover, and Bill Trost...
- EverQuest IIEverQuest IIEverQuest II is a 3D fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Sony Online Entertainment , based on EverQuest, and shipped on 8 November 2004...
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- Lord of the Rings Online
- Lunia
- Ragnarok OnlineRagnarok OnlineRagnarok Online , often referred to as RO, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game or MMORPG created by GRAVITY Co., Ltd. based on the manhwa Ragnarok by Lee Myung-jin. It was first released in South Korea on 31 August 2002 for Microsoft Windows and has since been released in many other...
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- Rift
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- RuneScapeRuneScapeRuneScape is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game released in January 2001 by Andrew and Paul Gower, and developed and published by Jagex Games Studio. It is a graphical browser game implemented on the client-side in Java, and incorporates 3D rendering...
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- Vindictus
- Warhammer Online
- World of WarcraftWorld of WarcraftWorld of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...