Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
What do you expect from a guild?
LadyAlibi
Member UncommonPosts: 297
I have been thinking about what it is that I look for in a guild, and what I should be looking for if I actually want to enjoy my guild experience. I have come to the conclusion that I really enjoy chatty, low pressure guilds, but ones that actually DO something together so that everyone progresses and so they are more than a private chat channel.
I don't like guilds that require you to give up the names of your alts so that they can track you down. It's a game, not a job. I don't really like guilds that are hung up on things like forbidding profanity or off-color chat, even if I am not going violate any such rules myself. I like my chat to be a little bit rough, but not too juvenile. I am iffy about voice chat requirements-- I don't mind voice chat, but I am really, really, really shy, and I am not playing a game to get yelled at by leadership or other guildies either, even if they aren't yelling at me personally. I also don't like guilds that are so loosely connected that when you log on and look at the roster, everyone is in a different area and nobody is talking. (What exactly is the point of being in a guild then?)
I recently joined a guild I was randomly invited to in Rift for the beta, and I like them ok. I am lagging behind though, and I am a little self-conscious about being the slacker lagging behind. Mostly, though, for the last couple of years, I tend to be in guilds with people I know IRL. This is good, on one hand, because we're actually RL friends (or family). On the other hand, it's hard to lie low until some drama blows over if your guildies are coming over for dinner on Tuesday.
What do you look for in a guild? Casual, family-friendly, hardcore raiding, free-for-all chat? Is there a particular thing that's ALWAYS a dealbreaker for you? (I have a feeling that a voice chat requirement is going to be one of those things, judging by threads on that topic.)
If you're a guild leader, how do you make sure that your guild has the sort of atmosphere that you're looking for? Is it enforcement of rules, finding the right people, or some combination of those and other things? I am interested because I have, way in the past, tried putting together guilds, and I have to be honest, it was a huge pain, and the one time I was successful, I felt like the guild got away from me and wasn't as laid back as I would prefer a guild I am in to be.
Comments
Game guilds are quite an experience. If you stick with it, you will make really close internet friends with the people after a while and they make really good friends outside of the game.
It really doesn't even matter what the rules of the guild are as long as you can get along in the guild and find some friends in there that love to hang out with you. Eventually you'll find that your new friends like to do other stuff besides play that one game and go try other games together. Talk about stuff. Give each other advice on life.
Sometimes I laugh at the idea since internet friends have very little to do with real life. They are long distance relationships after all. So it's important to make sure that actual friends and family have higher priority than them. But sometimes they really can be the best friends you have.
http://steamcommunity.com/id/Cloudsol/
I expect them to help me when I am in need and kill me when I do wrong. Like during a bane in Shadowbane, if we had leveling groups out before the bane, we would kill the leveling groups. You should respect your guild and be part of it and it be a part of you.
The definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.
The last time I was in a solid guild was a long time ago... The guild had an a very laid back atmosphere where I wasn't expected to do anything. I joined said guild only because I spent quite a bit of time in groups with some of their members, figured I'd give the rest of them a shot and found out they had a good sense of humor, didn't take things seriously and just WENT WITH THE FLOW.
I might group with them, or I might not.... I might join their raid, or I might not. I never expected them to give me anything in any shape or form, and they never expected anything from me either. It was such a liberal atmosphere that everything happened so naturally that it made perfect sense. I miss those times quite a bit. I no longer play with these people because quite a few of them have moved on and have other responsibilities in life, but I still keep in contact with them and still meet up with them in person at least once a year. I've actually turned online friends into real life friends.
As for guilds nowadays, I can't say I've really joined any in the last 2-3 years. And if I did I wouldn't stay because their focus was something I didn't share. I tend to spend my game time as a lone wolf playing at my own pace. I meet quite a few people throughout my travels and the friends list tends to get quite a few additions. I always seem to have a kindred spirit to play with, and more often then not there are more then just 1 of them. The issue ends up being that they're all in different guilds and don't want to leave and make our own due to a few issues.
Issue 1 would be that none of us want to lead. Even if the title of "guild leader" would be a hollow one, certain stima still gets attached to it and none of us want to shoulder that burden.
Issue 2 is that whatever guild they're in at the moment usually has someone they have joined the game with playing in it. Ditching your family or real life friends isn't something they want to do, so they just stick it out.
In the end, I make enough friends to be invited to their guild events but I refuse to commit to their guild because usually I haveno interest in 90% of their members. I go in, get shit done, and I feel no obligation to them. I'm not sure how else to explain it. It's also gettin kind of late and I just finished driving for 9 hours. Can't brain, have the dumb.
No required quests! And if I decide I want to be an assassin-cartographer-dancer-pastry chef who lives only to stalk and kill interior decorators, then that's who I want to be, even if it takes me four years to max all the skills and everyone else thinks I'm freaking nuts. -Madimorga-
I'm after much the same as LadyAlibi. I like casual but active guilds.
I really don't get on with hardcore guilds with required activities. As Ladyalibi says, "It's a game, not a job." I'm not saying there's anything wrong with them, but I tend to play when I feel like it and for however long I want to and that doesn't really fit in with the hardcore style. Sometimes I'll be levelling, sometimes exploring, sometimes just following trails of quests to get that one piece of armour or something for the house. You know, just playing for fun
What makes a good guild for me is being in one where the other members are of a similar mindset - friendly, no pressure, there for the fun of it. I like having people around who're willing to help me out when I need it, but I don't necessarily expect it of them; they're playing the game for their own fun too. Likewise, I'm always happy to help others out but wouldn't want it to be mandatory if I'm in the middle of something else. I don't want forced guild groups, but with the right guild I end up grouping with them anyway because they become friends.
Social skills are as important as gaming skills IMHO. I don't mind not making huge amounts of progress as long I'm enjoying myself. High-powered high-loot/XP/whatever groups can be satisfying, but I'd rather be messing around with a group of comedians
I'm with you on voice chat. I find it breaks immersion. If I'm running around a high-fantasy setting, hearing a teenage cockney accent coming out of a gnarled and ancient dwarf just isn't right.
I suspect that setting up and running a successful guild takes a certain amount of drive and commitment, which is why you don't see so many laid-back guilds. A casual, laid-back player seems antithetical to a driven guild leader. If you start one let me know though, sounds like you'd be running my kind of guild
Only thing I expect in a guild is no screaming kids, no elitism and a nice friendly bunch that plays for fun not act as it's a second job.
If it's not broken, you are not innovating.
If only the elitists could use their talent, skill, and ego for the power of good. Usually these people tend to lead guilds and order people to do everything. If you don't, you have to go through a lot of drama in order to just play the game how you want and still remain in the guild with your other friends. Sometimes ending with mutiny of players giving up on the leader and finding another guild. It's a shame because these people tend to be really good at the game with very aggressive tactics. The problem is they don't ever acknowledge that they might be just as mortal as the rest of us haha.
I met one that I knew for over a dozen years and he never changed. He always loved to abuse all his friends to make himself look superior. Nevertheless we should still remain their friend. Just have to avoid their abuse.
Every person can be abusive every now and then based on accident. I'm referring to the people who are on a consistent basis like it's just part of their brain in some way. They can't stop them selves. I think these people have had a bad childhood in real life and probably will end up being an abusive parent in the future.
I don't "expect" anything from a guild.
It's not "what can the guild do for me", it should be "what can I contribute to this group?".
I expect my Guild members to play on the same skill level as me, or higher. Preferably higher.
Oh my, there are so many kill criteria for a guild, I don't even know where to begin with!
- no immature people; it's a no brainer that not only kids are kiddish, but I just don't want to be around brainless people who need to mock and make fun and well all sorts of immature behavior of any ages
- NO FUKKING TS OR VENT: I DO NOT want to hear your voice. I want to bath in the experience of the world the quest the story, and I sure as hell DON'T want to listen to some mundane voices rambling over whatever. Not. Ever.
- No pro raiders or gear whores. You get the idea.
- No guild which is a mere chat channel, aka "let everyone do what he wants" - translate: I don't want a fukking guild for other reasons that listen to my ramblings while I solo 24/7. I want a guild where people actually GROUP and HELP each other. Not this bollocks "ohhh I don't want to be FORCED to anything blah blah", since then don't join a guild if you don't want to help and group if someone is in need. If I end up always solo, I don't NEED a guild!
- no people who have prejudice of whatever sort; I need people to respect that I am gay and my character are gay. PERIOD. And no BS like "don't ask don't tell". Straights talk about girls all the friggin time... so go figure. It's what kept me in GLBT guild 90% of the time, but most straights are not *really* accepting. They only think they are.
- no drama bullshitting and arguing over a stupid pixel game! It's supposed to be fun and entertainment, not a 2nd job!
- friendly conversation tone. Nothing against a swear here or there, but generally a friendly way to speak with each other
- guild leaders and officers who actually LEAD, organize events, take care of new players, look that no one is left in the rain for his/her requests asf. Not just straw men for the sake of.
- no insider vs outside cliques. So often you get the invitation if you belong to the inner circle, and if you don't, you are screwd. A good guild looks out for people and assures no one is left alone. It's whats the responsibility of leaders and officers.
Facit: I demand as much as I myself am willing to give. I was guild leader and officer many years, and I expect what I did every day in those years myself. I want people to contirbute, I don't need mere chat channel guilds.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
About the only thing I find to be a turnoff in a guild is if they aren't communicative with each other or if they have elitist cliques.
1. For god's sake mmo gamers, enough with the analogies. They're unnecessary and your comparisons are terrible, dissimilar, and illogical.
2. To posters feeling the need to state how f2p really isn't f2p: Players understand the concept. You aren't privy to some secret the rest are missing. You're embarrassing yourself.
3. Yes, Cpt. Obvious, we're not industry experts. Now run along and let the big people use the forums for their purpose.
This
and they have to be a laugh and not complete a holes.
This is fair enough, and I actually do feel much the same way, but even that comes with some expectations-- do you want to be the only one in the group who feels that way? Believe me, I've been in THAT guild before. And some guilds just don't have anything going on to contribute to, and any attempts to start something as a group activity are met with resentment or even hostility. I've been in THAT guild before too.
I expect a guild to have goals and activities for it's members to participate in. Ideally, I would love to log in every day and be met with "Hey Palebane, a lot of us are doing the Trog's for Mynem's quest before we run a couple dungeons if you want to come and hang out."
Vault-Tec analysts have concluded that the odds of worldwide nuclear armaggeddon this decade are 17,143,762... to 1.
I want some fun people that share my type of humor.
I will help guild members when I can and expact to get occasional help as well, if I need 1 more player to a PUG one of my guildies should have time for that. Or if I need help to take down a boss. I don't expect everyone to let go of what they do just when I ask but we should be able to set a time for it.
I also expect to do some things together once in a while, raids, dungeons or hard quests doesn't really matter.
If the game have some kind of guildcity I will work on it and I expect the other members to do their parts as well, noob excluded.
I been officer in a number of guilds and leader in a few. The main idea of a guild is people working together for a common goal or a social "club" where you talk and have fun with likeminded people.
I usually stay away from the heavier raid guilds, I really don't have the time for that anymore.
I never expect more from a guild then I put in myself.
My wife and I have been running a guild for the past 3 years and I have been a guild leader previously in Everquest for 2 years.
Sounds like the point of your post is to get some advice on how to create and maintain a cohesive and non-destructive guild? It doesnt take as much work as you would think really, but you do need to make a solid foundation with guild leader, co-guild leader and officers.
Best case scenerio is to get a couple of your real life friends involved in running the guild. Give them as much power to invite and enforce rules as you have. I wouldnt suggest doing this with what you think are friends you've met online. I cant count the number of times people like this have just flat out let me down or suddenly turned against the entire guild after a year of knowing them online.
As a leader, you need to remember that your leading a guild for a video game and as such people are playing this game to have fun, so let them. Setting strict rules is going to turn people off, but not having any rules is actually worse. The goal of the guild is to have rules that sound inviting to those who you would want to game with, and deter people who you would not game with. They dont need to fit your personality or playstyle perfectly, but you should aim for it to be fairly close.
As for voice com use, I hate to say it but in raiding situations its a must for raiders to at least listen to the raid leader but there needs to be voice communitcation. Outside of raiding, theres really no situations I can think of where it would be manditory. In our raids, most people choose to use voice com both ways but some of our best raiders just listen in and thats fine. Hell, when I raid Im main tank and my wife does almost all of the talking. I rarely talk back unless shes not around (shes our GM). So, no we dont have any rules saying you must talk back in raids but you need to listen to the directions over voice com on raids or just consider not raiding at all (which is fine, most of our members choose not to).
Now, I will say that our guild isnt huge, but its the oldest guild on our server and everyone knows our guild tag. We've gone through a lot of members who for whatever reason reach a point and decide to move on. This is natural. However, we've had guild members in our guild for over 2 years who log in daily and keep our guild progressing. So, dont be offended when people leave or ..say want to remove one of their toons from the guild and keep others in your guild. Sometimes this can work out in your favor for cross guild raid runs etc.
In all of this, I can say that if wasnt for the fact that myself, my wife and one of our real life friends wasnt running this guild it wouldnt be around right now. Guilds go through changes all of the time, but if the core of the guild who put it together cannot get along or has different playstyles it usually ends up badly.
great enviroment and players with same ideals