What was the difference between last week and this week?
Understanding an encounter. Really understanding an encounter. We were miles away last week, we added very little gear, if any, to the raiders in the week in between, and yet this time a Thok kill was within reach. The difference was a thorough understanding of the encounter - enough to be able to action that understanding into a successful accomplishment.
It's a reminder to us that for every encounter, we need to evaluate "What's the mechanic that will wipe you?" In the case of Thok, it is Frenzy - more especially, uncontrolled frenzies. With Nazgrim, it is waves of too many adds.
The opposite of a wipe is success. Tailoring our approach (ie. having a strat that we perform) to prevent the wipe is what enables us to succeed. In the case of Thok, it was managing the Roar Phase (phase 1) better and controlling when Thok went into Frenzy Phase (phase 2) and how long we permitted him to be in Frenzy Phase.
Obviously, dps and healing are significant factors - however they are mainstay contributing factors to the strat and are not themselves the key answer to the wipe mechanic.
Having gear isn't enough. Knowing how to play your class isn't enough. Knowing how to play your raid role given your class isn't enough.
You have to understand the wipe mechanic and the strat to prevent the wipe - and understand it enough that you can take concept to successful performance.
This is what I witnessed as the difference between last week and this week.
Keep up the good work - research the next fight and UNDERSTAND it!
