[guineapig]

Your idea reminds me of one that I had posted here a week or two ago (which I actually got from yet another even older post).

Simulated server reset

Have all raid targets pop at the same time like once a week or something, if possible during peak times (but obviously not always since we have many overseas raiders as well now). This forces everyone to pick their target of choice but maybe go for their second choice if they feel there will be too much competition for their number 1 pick.

It works on multiple fronts.

1.) IT SIMULATES CLASSIC!!! raid bosses respawned on actual server resets on live and we don't have that here, so lets simulate it.

2.) Every current raid capable guild should have a shot at at least 1 raid target a week without it being handed to them. If a guild thinks they are really hot shit they can try and go after multiple targets but will either be racing against the clock or have to split their raid force in 2!!!

3.) IT SIMULATES CLASSIC!!!

4.) It still involves strategy and competitive racing:
Where will everyone bind all week long? Who do we think Guild X will go after?
Is it worth it to race them? If they go after Inny/Cazic should we just let them get Maestro/Dracho as well or do we go after the minor boss?

5.) IT SIMULATES CLASSIC!!!

6.) If we count all the guilds that could currently take out a raid boss (in alphabetical order): Divinity, Fish Bait, Gothic Circle, IB, Remedy, Trans (forgive me if you feel your guild should be included and I didn’t mention you) this still doesn’t just give a guild a raid boss. In the case of a wipe, another guild who’s already done with their first target could swoop in and take yours. During off hours 1 guild could get multiple targets uncontested. Some guild might simply not be able to muster the numbers they feel they need and bow out one week. 2 smaller guilds might band together just for the hell of it. Hell you could even see pickup raids at like 4 in the morning. Anything could happen.

All that being said, we can still keep the current variance spawn cycle in effect for all the raid bosses but those timers will reset every time the server is reset. Voila!!! Everybody gets what they want and nobody gets any hand outs.