Hey Folks, I see a lot of posts by people looking for help with the raids. My clan and I do this but this post isn't about that. It's about what you can do to maximize your chance of getting the help you want. I see a lot of posts asking for help and people complaining about their inability to get help for raids. The following is a list of things to keep in mind or actually do. No particular order, just apply them to your situation as you see fit. 1- The best way to ensure you can raid is to ...dun dun dun...Join a Clan. I know many of you don't want to or think clans are a joke or elitist pigs who wont except you. Whatever your view on clans this is the best place to find help with any D2 activities. And if you put just a bit of time into researching the clans you can find one that suits you, both your needs and you as a person/individual. If the first clan you join isn't what you're looking for just leave and look for another. Or better yet. Go to the forums. Explain yourself and the kind of person you are and see if there's others like you who might want to join up and start your own group. This is exactly how my clan started. And I am an anxious person so understand some peoples reluctance to put themselves out there, but just like real life, its got to be done sometimes to achieve goals. But you still don't want to join a clan... No Probs. 2. Make sure you have /are grinding those milestones and leveling up. Being at a realistic lvl is important when asking for help. There is nothing anyone can do for a 300 light guardian wanting to run Spire of Stars. You need to be at least in the region of the recommended light for the activity you want to run. 3. Watch videos before asking for help. The only people running raids blind are those in there on day one or who have agreed with their team to wait and go in blind at a later date. If you expect someone to help you, the least you can do is watch a video or two so you actually have some clue of what they mean when they say something. Not only is this kind of the right thing to do, it also helps the overall run because you aren't completely clueless from the start. 4. Make or respond to forum posts asking for /looking for help. Be honest about your knowledge. Tell us you have watched some videos. Make it clear you want the help but aren't completely helpless. Be positive and if you've been waiting a while to do something say, but don't whine about finding a group. Its very off putting to read some of the post asking for help at times. Yes you need help, yes you may have been looking for it for a long time...there's probably a reason YOU are still looking while others have found their help, if you are regularly asking for help. 5. Once you make the post make sure others can view your b.net profile and see your characters. Often we check your profile before responding to make sure you have at least one character high enough to do the raid...and no we don't expect to see max lvl, just a reasonable one. You would be surprised how many folks try to pull a fast one here and come in under level expecting a straight up carry. 6. HAVE A WORKING MIC. While it is possible to get through a raid without one and there are many groups (even deaf and mute clans) that do so regularly. its just not the most practical way. And no sherpa likes the idea of taking hours and hours to do something that could be done and dusted in 50 minutes because we can't tell if you understand what we tell you what needs doing, then we find out you don't as we wipe. Plus it makes you asking a question just a little bit easier. If you do all i have said above (minus the clan bit) you are telling the people who may help you that...You are willing to do the work needed to be ready and by watching a video are trying to preemptively be the best teammate you can be. This tells us you are someone whos going to put the effort in and probably be someone we can get through on the first try with little mishap. You are telling us you are someone looking for help not a carry. We will usually prioritize someone like you. AND PLEASE REMEMBER, when you do find help that sometimes people are assholes. Don't let one bed experience with a group put you off. I had some bad experiences with "sherpas" myself who expect you to be perfect and not mess up at all. If you get one of these people just leave the raid and look for another group. No clear is worth the grief of someone else's ego and there are lots of good folks out there willing to help. **EDIT** Theres been some suggestions for additional points. Atm i think they apply more once you are able to find a group to help and are in the raid. So try to keep in mind... -Have the time to raid! Dont join up if you got to go do something else in 30 mins. Even with a good group of sherpas you should have alotted at least 2 or more hours for even the short lair run. If youre looking at your first calus...plan on being at it for several hours straight. Even experienced teams hit glitchy runs or just have a rough time of it and can spend a whole evening not clearing. With inexperienced folks in the team theres more potential for it to happen. - understand people are going to tell you what to do. And we are also going to tell you what you did wrong. Its not to blame you. Its so you know what not to do next try. Its so we can let you know the best way we know of to do something. Some of us talk all sweet like, some of us talk in more blunt manner. You have to just get on with it and listen. But remember what i said about assholes. Know the difference between straight talk and someone being a twat. Dont ever let anyone just be bossing you about like theyre someone special! -dont eat your cheetos on mic. Yeah we can all hear it and its annoying as hell. Lots of folks are about to be looking for help as Y1 draws to an end. There are lots of people out there happy to help. How you approach it will often have a massive impact on your success, not only in finding help but also the actual activity itself. I hope this helps a few of you to find the help your're needing, and I hope your Destiny adventure continues to be worth the grind. Chris aka toktheyounger