Lvl 29 doing hard mode is a lot harder than a lvl 30 doing it. Basically all mobs are lvl 30, any one lower than 30 is automatically doing 32% less damage and taking 32% more damage straight of the bat. If a lvl 29 is using a weapon that isn't maxed out then they are doing even less damage. Meaning of the weapons attack power isn't 300, let's say just for arguments sake the weapon is 260 attack power, divided the attack power of weapon by 10 and that's the level the weapon can do max damage on, so a weapon of 260 is maxing out on level 26 mobs. This doing less damage on a level 30 mob. So rule of thumb if your lvl 29 and going into a hard mode raid, make sure you have all weapons maxed out to 300. Enjoy the hard mode