We are still doing 25s, though I’d be lying if I haven’t seen our signs go down. We did lose some people to RL/Burnout(this expansion has really taken it’s toll already with burnout-I’m wondering if it’s residual ‘ICC for a Year’ burnout or more?) We do have of course some classes/work/vacation oriented things, but that happens each and every expansion and year.

But you did hit a lot of those points. Another thing that might be mentioned: People progression minded might start noticing how much faster 10 mans progress. This might not be because 10 mans are totally easier(Some are, some aren’t, but 10 man heroics, as I was talking to our main tactics writeup fellow-have some STRICT raid comps, sometimes needing 3 tanks or 4 healers, and no room for error), but because it’s easier to get or maintain 10 than 25. These people, focused first on progression, might also start wanting a more 10 format for that. It’s no lie that on our Server, only a couple of guilds are left as 25 man, and they are progressing slower. (We didn’t get to start properly raiding until 3 weeks into January due to holiday, for example. We did some exploration 10 mans before that.) One of the top 3 guilds did most of the normal content as 25 but swapped to 10 for heroics, despite its more unforgiving comps, it’s simply, again, easier to get a ridiculously strong 10 man.

Of course, you also need to keep less standby in a 10. To be a really, truely proper 25 raid guild you more or less need at least 30+ raiders. Unless the 25 have no lives, no spouses, no connections to the outside world and never get sick, you need replacements. Keeping 15 is a lot easier than 35.

But I do feel for you guys. I have seen this happen a lot this time around. It is sad I think-I do like 10s and think there is a place for them, but I do like my larger, more epic raids.

As for your WoW break, you certainly aren’t alone there. I never thought I’d say this but with Rift actually looking promising and more and noticing more taking WoW breaks I think Blizzard might consider looking a couple of things over here. I wonder if waiting until June-July for 4.2 is a good idea on their end or not…

I imagine the decline of 25 man raiding will prompt a cross-server solution. That may mean you and 15 of your friends can still raid together.

I wonder about the last point a little; is it that those of us who actually have been playing long enough to notice, are on average 5 years older than when we started – life moves on and many have simply reached new stages that require a new focus / less time and interest for wow?
it’s the changed game too but there’s also something happening right now in terms of a ‘generation’ change. wow has definitely reached something like an mmo’s average lifetime by which it can appeal to the same person.

I saw too many guilds first get gutted by the 40 to 25 and than break when we all got channeled into one 10 man instance (Kara).

I always preferred the smaller raid but having to do Kara first, it made me even more realize that. I never had interest in larger raids again and was glad that in Cata they were finally equal.

Still I know that there are people who liked larger ones better that’s why I think Blizz messed up in the beginning with the split. I feel that making it 15/30 or even 10/20 would have worked out a lot better.

Since our raid is actually a raid alliance I think the individual guilds may be able to get a couple of 10 man raids together.