Starting times for raids

Please note: now that raids are becoming over-subscribed, I am going to start applying starting times strictly by the letter. In other words, if a raid is scheduled to start at 9.00 (that's "invite time" on the events scheduler), and you're not online at 9.01, you risk losing your place to any standby of the right class who happens to be online. If you look like being unavoidably delayed for a short time, I will hold your place for no more than 10 minutes if you have posted a message to that effect.

What if you aren't anywhere near a PC so can't post a message, like stuck on a train station or stuck in traffic?

What if you aren't anywhere near a PC so can't post a message, like stuck on a train station or stuck in traffic?

If you aren't near a PC at all, then you're not going to be able to log onto LOTRO for the raid anyway, are you?

Let me add that the reason for this rule is simply that it isn't very polite to your fellow players to leave them hanging about, particularly when alts, who aren't certain of getting a slot anyway, have bothered to show up on time...

Sounds fair. You don't show up to work or class late, tromping in and interrupting everyone - if the raids are overbooked, I can see this being an issue.

I is in ur Fellowships, stealing ur threats.

[quote author=shapeless link=topic=4187.msg38761#msg38761 date=1254240088]
What if you aren't anywhere near a PC so can't post a message, like stuck on a train station or stuck in traffic?

If you aren't near a PC at all, then you're not going to be able to log onto LOTRO for the raid anyway, are you?

Let me add that the reason for this rule is simply that it isn't very polite to your fellow players to leave them hanging about, particularly when alts, who aren't certain of getting a slot anyway, have bothered to show up on time...
[/quote]

Yeah, but getting stuck in traffic or having your train cancelled isn't intentionally not bothering to turn up now is it?

[quote author=Kairos link=topic=4187.msg38764#msg38764 date=1254242178]
[quote author=shapeless link=topic=4187.msg38761#msg38761 date=1254240088]
What if you aren't anywhere near a PC so can't post a message, like stuck on a train station or stuck in traffic?

If you aren't near a PC at all, then you're not going to be able to log onto LOTRO for the raid anyway, are you?

Let me add that the reason for this rule is simply that it isn't very polite to your fellow players to leave them hanging about, particularly when alts, who aren't certain of getting a slot anyway, have bothered to show up on time...
[/quote]

Yeah, but getting stuck in traffic or having your train cancelled isn't intentionally not bothering to turn up now is it?
[/quote]

It's just tough luck. How is the raid supposed to know what is happening with you?

On one hand I udnerstand that it's anoying to miss a bus, and be 2 mins to late, and find your spot is taken (after having been signed up for weeks).

But on the other hand, it's quite anoying to wait for people. Remember your 10 minutes of being late, transforms into 50 minutes combined wasted time in fellowships, and 110 minutes for raids... (like when 1 person stops a train 2-3 minutes by forcing the doors open to get on board, yes 2-3 minutes, but transforms into hours combined!)
And this way, there's a fair chance that people will be ready in advance, so the raid/run can actually start at the scheduled time
It also gives reserves a hope of getting a spot.


Some people are really good at keeping appointments, other's are are little more relaxed... and you quickly spot them I guess.
So I'm guessing, that if you're allways there on time, people are more likely to wait a few more minutes to see if you'll turn up, than if you're allways late, and there's a substitute waiting.

In "theory" there's no excuse for being late, it's all down to planning... This is a statement with modifications of course, as breaking a leg sounds like a good excuse to me, but missing a bus doesn't (unless it leaves every hour...), because then you should have calculated this into your planning