I’ve recently met some people who are part of raid train communities. For anyone who doesn’t know, this is when groups schedule time blocks with each other for one person to stream & then raid into the next channel. It goes on & on, keeping a flow of viewers from one channel to the next. At face value, it seems like an easy way to make friends & gain viewers.

From what I’ve read, raid train communities aren’t against TOS but I’m still feeling hesitant about them & haven’t made up my mind on how I feel about them. Maybe I’m worrying about nothing. Are they okay to be a part of or is there more I’m not aware of yet?

Other questions I have:

• What requirements should there be to be a part of the group?

• How do these communities decide who does or doesn’t get to be a part of the community? e.g. I imagine you don’t want anyone who uses racial slurs or anyone whose simply just a bad, low-quality streamer.

If you’re running one of these groups, there has to be some criteria for telling people no. What should those criteria be?

• Does drama or conflict splinter these groups or generally they sustain each other long term?

• The groups I know of stream for each other 7 days a week. Are there other groups that just do this once a week or once a month?

I think there’s something to be said for growing your own organic community & not relying exclusively on a raid train community to be your source of viewers. I’m interested in raid train communities to supplement & expand my community but not be the entire community. Like imagine a community splinters or disbands & overnight you lose a sizable chunk of your viewers. I’m not interested in putting all of my eggs into one basket.

Thanks for answering these questions or offering any other advice.