http://blue.mmo-champion.com/12/21038229051-icecrown-citadel-raid-access...

After sitting here and re-reading that 500 times.. Im still confused.. but I'm pretty sure its the dumbest move ever. Maybe, a smart move from a business stand point, extend your content as far as possible, but I have my doubts from a playing stand point.

Let me start off by saying, I don't think the "gated" progression system is a bad thing for WoW, espeacially if it would help with the storyline, but the attempt system? Come on.. I haven't really raided much since about March/April, so I didnt really deal with the progression of Uld and more specifically TOCHM25. I did keep a good following on the events happening though..

I think the achievement system showed the worst it could be with TOC... All the achievements based on attempts left, no one dying etc.. all vanity when you think about it. With sooooooooo many RNG issues both ingame and out, it really makes zero sense why it was implemented. One of the best items in that link is that these achievements will not make it to ICC. This will make the game more fun overall.

Sooo, now, with this new system.. The attempts seem awfully low.. almost to the point that they make me worry how hard these encounters will be. 5 attempts for the first "critical" boss? Either this encounter is going to be really really easy... or it will be way too tuned. 5 attempts to test out strats.. 5 attempts to hope someone doesnt accidentally pull the boss and wipe the raid... or, Well, if you don't beat this boss within 5 attempts, you have issues!! While it is truly to early to know.. the concept just seems ridic.

So, what would I do.. I'm complaining but do I have any ideas to fix it? Well, of course! If there's going to be a gated system in place, at least make the normal modes of these fights difficult. No guild, not even the top level guilds should steam roll this content while it is in gated form. Make the pre-gate boss fight similar to Twin Eredar / Muru difficulty wise (or close to it).  This way you have something actually to work for, and are not worried about being blocked by some progress limiting mechanic.

Now, with the vanity "attempt remaining" achievements out, there is absolutely no reason to keep attempts in. I don't see the point of blizzard dictating how much or little a raid should be allowed to try fights. It seems like this will almost affect Casual guilds more then hardcore.

But of course... none of this has been implemented! It can all change!! The ideal situation: Keep Gates, make normal modes challenging to gear level and not roflstomps, and have decent/unique HMs that are not over tuned!