I think you forget to mention "the guild that makes you pay money to be a part of it" in the article. Those are easily the best ones to avoid. More so then any of the others on this list.
Actually, thousands of Goons would disagree, and they pay anywhere from 15 - 50 a month to be members. And I've fun into some fun guilds out there with one time fees of like 15.00 annually including as I recall the Oldtimers and a few others.
Dues aren't always a bad thing, though can't say I've ever been a member of one that charged real world money.
Now in game, I've been in Corporations in EVE that charged 50M ISK a month dues to help pay for expenses of living in 0.0.
I confess, I've been in every guild in the list and then some, usually the ones run for personal gain of the leaders are the ones I loath the most, if I get even a hint of that its out the door I go.
I was in one good Role playing guild, the Shadowclan in DAOC which I suspect the OP would consider "weird" since we not only had to chat in character, but had our own "language" that everyone had to follow (which had specific linguistic rules, such as no words with the letter "c" or "e" in it). Taking a bio break became "Mi niid tu fynd bushi"
Anyone who pays real money to "belong" in a video game has some issues. Sorry but to me it is just that simple. Its not about the money. It is about having to pay to have friends and that is pretty much what it comes down to. What services could these guilds offer that would be worth 15-50 a month? I am just not that much of a social misfit I guess. I can find people that are like minded and as nerdy as myself with out having to pay a fee for them to be my friends.
The no rules laid back guilds are getting quite a bad rap in your list. I actually find these guilds are often the best ones, people are most open and honest and from my experience have the least number of backstabbers and bad apples. Its not so much chaos as organized chaos which for me has worked quite well in the past. Obviously new members are rare and subject to scrutiny from everyone else, but old members tend to stick around and form a tight knit core. Its my opinion the 'No Rules' guilds, while not always the best guild to join, have the potential to be the best choice out there.
However I suppose if you cannot handle mature conversation, friendly trolling and some verbal abuse, a no rules guild might not be for you. As there is not going to be anyone to hold you hand and give you a shoulder to cry on if your feelings get hurt. Then again, if you cannot handle that, the internet is probably not for you either.
I do agree with the majority of the list, but I think there are many people that like the other 4 types of guilds listed as well or they would cease to exist. With that said, people new to the genre should really try all types of guilds and not simply be complecent with the first one they join as it could negatively effect their play experience. Likewise, veterans of the genre probably know exactly what they are looking for already and don't need a list to guide them.
I've found that any guild which is run and controlled by just 1 overall person is more likely to fail in the long run than a guild that shares the burden, and replaces those that want to take a break with like minded ppl.
I've been part of the same guild for over 8 yrs now, we have played various MMO's over the years and we are always expanding into new games, most never take off with us but sometimes you find a real gem and stick with it.
Our guild has a nice mix of casual/hardcore players, we have our drama's but we are mature enough to resolve them, and fortunately our application and TS chat seems to work in keeping our membership as mature as we want it.
We also get to meet up once a year, it's something alot of us look forward to (chance to get away from the spouse and let our hair down, for those that still have hair) and it's great to do something outside of the computer.
The list though is spot on, and when you do find that 1 good guild it's best to grab it with both hands and stick with it, there are more bad than good out there and plenty that just want to use you as a stepping stone to get that ever elusive epic loot.
I think you forget to mention "the guild that makes you pay money to be a part of it" in the article. Those are easily the best ones to avoid. More so then any of the others on this list.
Actually, thousands of Goons would disagree, and they pay anywhere from 15 - 50 a month to be members. And I've fun into some fun guilds out there with one time fees of like 15.00 annually including as I recall the Oldtimers and a few others.
Dues aren't always a bad thing, though can't say I've ever been a member of one that charged real world money.
Now in game, I've been in Corporations in EVE that charged 50M ISK a month dues to help pay for expenses of living in 0.0.
I confess, I've been in every guild in the list and then some, usually the ones run for personal gain of the leaders are the ones I loath the most, if I get even a hint of that its out the door I go.
I was in one good Role playing guild, the Shadowclan in DAOC which I suspect the OP would consider "weird" since we not only had to chat in character, but had our own "language" that everyone had to follow (which had specific linguistic rules, such as no words with the letter "c" or "e" in it). Taking a bio break became "Mi niid tu fynd bushi"
Anyone who pays real money to "belong" in a video game has some issues. Sorry but to me it is just that simple. Its not about the money. It is about having to pay to have friends and that is pretty much what it comes down to. What services could these guilds offer that would be worth 15-50 a month? I am just not that much of a social misfit I guess. I can find people that are like minded and as nerdy as myself with out having to pay a fee for them to be my friends.
Same argument is made against paying dues to belong to any social club that has dues, be it a fraternity, golf course, social club etc. Fact is these organizations frequently (but not always) impart benefits beyond what is offered in the "free zone.
No one says you have to join these groups, of course you can be a GDI and succeed quit well, but doesn't mean the other folks have severe issues or anything. Doesn't make the guilds who charge fees bad (though the Goons might be arguable) just means they chose to perhaps weed out the less serious using a common real world mechanic.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Heavy RP guilds are the worst, almost bound to be at least little twisted. It took me sometime to figure out I was in guild where "cyborz" was something the officers did regularly. This weird hierarchic system, where the most self-absorbed and witty people were respected and adored most. The guild master's emotions went constantly up and down, which lead into spontaneous guild kicks. It was by far the weirdest guild I've been in, I have avoided pure RP guilds ever since. Optional, casual RP is ok. Not that I've been any in any guild in couple of years, I always end up soloing and socializing with whoever I run into within a game anyway.
This kind of nerds looking down on other nerds in order to not feel so nerdy themselves is tragic, imo. And I don't even RP in these games.
If you don't like heavy RP guilds, don't join them, thats your valid choice, but understand what dosent work for you is fine for others
I actually wish I could call myself nerd, but I've lost that part of myself. Don't take personally, I always played on RP servers and like spontaneous, non-serious RP and so on, but these small, closed communities on RP servers just tend to be little weird. By no means all RP guilds, but I've been to few, and all been kinda mess, not counting a multi-game guild I was in, but there RP was also kind of optional. Been to hardcore raiding guild too, and that was highly uncomfortable as well, but not quite to the same extent.
"e games to enjoy them with other folks, whether I’m adventuring solo or in a group. I’ve made some of my best friendships via online gaming. I may never meet these people in real life, but they’re my friends all the same."
Really? Have fun with your "friends" when you change your isp or are in a hospital.
In Ultima Online , i was part of a guild that only spoke Elizabethan English. I was part of that Guild for over a year and we were constantly at war with Shadowreavers Guild( players that pretended to be orcs and only spoke orcish) I had a blast doing that the whole time. As far as Guilds I usually interview them to see if they fit my playstyle.
"In the early days of my MMO career I would be online for three hours or more a day, and I could really invest in a guild. Heck, I even co-founded one of the first blogging guild experiments “The Casualties of War” (which is still going strong today in WoW and other games)."
Never knew that before. Very cool!
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein "Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
One of the best guilds I was ever in was called Tribal Fury, which is located on the Maelin Starpyre(formerly Vazaelle) server in Everquest.
They raided 3 times a week, but there was no mandatory log-in. If you weren't there by the designated time - too bad so sad. We left without you. If you finally did show, assuming we had room, there was a deduction of DKP.
Some members never raided, some members did nothing but raid. That was a great place to be.
All in all I agree with the article, and have experienced all five.
I think you forget to mention "the guild that makes you pay money to be a part of it" in the article. Those are easily the best ones to avoid. More so then any of the others on this list.
Actually, thousands of Goons would disagree, and they pay anywhere from 15 - 50 a month to be members. And I've fun into some fun guilds out there with one time fees of like 15.00 annually including as I recall the Oldtimers and a few others.
The Old Timers Guild doesn't charge. There is an entirely voluntary donation once a year to pay for Vent, the website, etc. but no one is required or forced to pay by any means.
Heavy RP guilds are the worst, almost bound to be at least little twisted. It took me sometime to figure out I was in guild where "cyborz" was something the officers did regularly. This weird hierarchic system, where the most self-absorbed and witty people were respected and adored most. The guild master's emotions went constantly up and down, which lead into spontaneous guild kicks. It was by far the weirdest guild I've been in, I have avoided pure RP guilds ever since. Optional, casual RP is ok. Not that I've been any in any guild in couple of years, I always end up soloing and socializing with whoever I run into within a game anyway.
This kind of nerds looking down on other nerds in order to not feel so nerdy themselves is tragic, imo. And I don't even RP in these games.
If you don't like heavy RP guilds, don't join them, thats your valid choice, but understand what dosent work for you is fine for others
I actually wish I could call myself nerd, but I've lost that part of myself. Don't take personally, I always played on RP servers and like spontaneous, non-serious RP and so on, but these small, closed communities on RP servers just tend to be little weird. By no means all RP guilds, but I've been to few, and all been kinda mess, not counting a multi-game guild I was in, but there RP was also kind of optional. Been to hardcore raiding guild too, and that was highly uncomfortable as well, but not quite to the same extent.
Whether you personally consider it 'twisted' or 'weird' or whatever, that isnt the point. It's sad you judge others who are just enjoying themselves at no cost to others so harshly, but whatever.
If you joined a hard RP guild and found that you didnt like it because of the hard RP then you obviously didnt ask anything at all about them before joining. No one forced you in to it I would imagine.
One of the beauties of this genre is that they can be played a few different ways, and the guild system allows people to create enclosed spaces for that. If you don't like what they do, stay the f**k out of it. Join the kind of guild you like and leave others to play how they want. It's that simple.
A guild isnt 'wrong' or even a bad guild, because they like to RP, or hardcore raid, or goof around in a rules free channel with others of the same mind, like the OP says it is. it obviously works for the people in it, so if thats what someone is looking for why would they 'avoid it'?
In my experience, the vast majority of guilds fit into one of those catagories.
I wish someone would implement an ingame BBS sort of tool that would help players look for guilds, and guilds look for players. A sort of ad space that along with a checklist of what sorts of members the guild wants, would include various facts, like how much raiding the guild does, how many average hours the members play, how many of them are actually online regularly, how much PvP they do, etc, etc.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
They’re in every game, shouting out spam in every channel, and annoying just about everyone. There may have been a time early in my MMO life where I’d join one of these guilds in a heartbeat, so desperate was I to belong to something. But now I’m wiser, I’m older, and I’m a bit more crotchety. I don’t want to be a part of something that doesn’t at least interview new members via chat, and preferably I’d like a guild that has a website and an application process to mete out the riffraff. "
LOL I immediately thought of the Runic Knights! ; p
Add to that the "too casual guild"... the one that meets all 5 of these criteria, but doesn't bother to set up raids or even really group together very often because people are really only there to chat and hang out. They're great for making friends, but you don't need the game to have those friends.
Add to that the "too casual guild"... the one that meets all 5 of these criteria, but doesn't bother to set up raids or even really group together very often because people are really only there to chat and hang out. They're great for making friends, but you don't need the game to have those friends.
That may be the worst of them all for me. Nobody wants to raid, nobody wants to quest, they always offer to help anyone with anything then when you take them up on their offer they find some reason for why they can't. One guy offered to help anyone thinking nobody would take him up on his offer, then when I did, he said he's logging soon because he has a headache! LOL On top of that, he was an officer in the guild.
They are the friendliest people in the world, but if you want to do anything constructive, you're screwed.
Brilliant article. I have been in all these guild-types and I must agree with Bill. I definitely avoid them these days, and look for something a bit more "time-limited hardcore".
Good list! About the only one I can stomach are the Hardcore RP guild, as I like inventing absurd events as reasons to log out. "X passes out due to severe allergies to the Champa flower in Y's herbalist pouch."
The rest... annoy the crap out of me, particularly those who demand specific activities be performed. It's one thing to expect participation from guild members, quite another to demand specific roles or activities from them.
Not everybody likes to raid, or craft, or mine, or courier ingredients, etc. I liked Eve in that there were plenty of role choices in most activities. And all were useful to a corp.
I think you forget to mention "the guild that makes you pay money to be a part of it" in the article. Those are easily the best ones to avoid. More so then any of the others on this list.
Actually, thousands of Goons would disagree, and they pay anywhere from 15 - 50 a month to be members. And I've fun into some fun guilds out there with one time fees of like 15.00 annually including as I recall the Oldtimers and a few others.
The Old Timers Guild doesn't charge. There is an entirely voluntary donation once a year to pay for Vent, the website, etc. but no one is required or forced to pay by any means.
OK, I knew there was a fee/donatio around there somewhere, been quite a few years since I looked into them. (when LotRO launched). Guess I never consider those sorts of things really voluntary, my sense of obligation compells me to contribute.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
LOL'ed at the "This Is Your Life Now" guild. Funny thing was that the supergroup (Yep, it was on City of Heroes) was started by my best friend, who wanted to carry over his Champions PnP campaign to CoH (Champions Online had yet to come into existance). He ordered everyone to be ready and available to play on Saturday nights and threatened expulsion from the SG for non-compliers. But if he had a date on said Saturday night, it was kcyabye and off he went. And that was just for starters. I eventually got to see what a control freak he really was. End result? A 25-year friendship completely trashed. I haven't spoken to him in years. Absolutely hilarious. XD
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. - Marie Curie
No one says you have to join these groups, of course you can be a GDI and succeed quit well, but doesn't mean the other folks have severe issues or anything. Doesn't make the guilds who charge fees bad (though the Goons might be arguable) just means they chose to perhaps weed out the less serious using a common real world mechanic.
Most things that you have to pay a fee to belong to in the real world actually give you and your group some benefit. What benefit could someone possibly get by giving some "guild leader" money to belong? Are they going to let me raid? ooooohhhh that is super special. Maybe we could get vent and a website? Please ... all of these things I have had and all I have had to give is my time, respect, and courtesy. Not a cent HAD to be paid. Have I given money for vent? Sure I have but I did not have to in order to belong.
The part about weeding out the "less serious" is a joke. So someone who is willing to piss away their money is more serious than someone who can not or will not. That is pretty lame logic you have going there. It is a pitiful scam preying on people that are desperate to belong.
I don't mind "non-selective" guilds. For one, I get annoyed when guilds make me fill out an aplication, post on their forums, AND run a few dungeons with them BEFORE they hold a group meeting to determine whether or not I'm a good enough player to fit in with their crowd. Seriously, I'm joining a guild in a video game not applying for a job at Wal-Mart. Not all those guilds are bad, and I've had some of my best MMO memories within that kind of guild in EQ, yet at the very least, they're beneficial to people who just want a quick guild or like an additional forum for communication before they commit to the game enough to join a more serious guild.
I'd agree with the above post about guilds in WoW, but ironically enough most are a combination of both, and that sort of a mindset has really taken over all of MMO gaming not just WoW. Seems like every guild these days has pipe dreams of becoming the top guild on the server. WoW isn't even the worst. Good luck finding a decent guild in Aion unless you are at or near the level cap.
What about the non existant guilds? These are the ones that die due to lack of interest in the game at higher levels (all grind and no progression). One that I know of has a message that the gm is for sale, and this has been like it for about two years. I think they actually just left the game, and are never coming back. The size of the guild is about 100, so they never did any management stuff in removing other players that were not regulars. I very rarely play it either. So would expect to be kicked out, rather than be in a non existant guilld!
Comments
Anyone who pays real money to "belong" in a video game has some issues. Sorry but to me it is just that simple. Its not about the money. It is about having to pay to have friends and that is pretty much what it comes down to. What services could these guilds offer that would be worth 15-50 a month? I am just not that much of a social misfit I guess. I can find people that are like minded and as nerdy as myself with out having to pay a fee for them to be my friends.
The no rules laid back guilds are getting quite a bad rap in your list. I actually find these guilds are often the best ones, people are most open and honest and from my experience have the least number of backstabbers and bad apples. Its not so much chaos as organized chaos which for me has worked quite well in the past. Obviously new members are rare and subject to scrutiny from everyone else, but old members tend to stick around and form a tight knit core. Its my opinion the 'No Rules' guilds, while not always the best guild to join, have the potential to be the best choice out there.
However I suppose if you cannot handle mature conversation, friendly trolling and some verbal abuse, a no rules guild might not be for you. As there is not going to be anyone to hold you hand and give you a shoulder to cry on if your feelings get hurt. Then again, if you cannot handle that, the internet is probably not for you either.
I do agree with the majority of the list, but I think there are many people that like the other 4 types of guilds listed as well or they would cease to exist. With that said, people new to the genre should really try all types of guilds and not simply be complecent with the first one they join as it could negatively effect their play experience. Likewise, veterans of the genre probably know exactly what they are looking for already and don't need a list to guide them.
So, why am I still here... ? /ponders.
I've found that any guild which is run and controlled by just 1 overall person is more likely to fail in the long run than a guild that shares the burden, and replaces those that want to take a break with like minded ppl.
I've been part of the same guild for over 8 yrs now, we have played various MMO's over the years and we are always expanding into new games, most never take off with us but sometimes you find a real gem and stick with it.
Our guild has a nice mix of casual/hardcore players, we have our drama's but we are mature enough to resolve them, and fortunately our application and TS chat seems to work in keeping our membership as mature as we want it.
We also get to meet up once a year, it's something alot of us look forward to (chance to get away from the spouse and let our hair down, for those that still have hair) and it's great to do something outside of the computer.
The list though is spot on, and when you do find that 1 good guild it's best to grab it with both hands and stick with it, there are more bad than good out there and plenty that just want to use you as a stepping stone to get that ever elusive epic loot.
Same argument is made against paying dues to belong to any social club that has dues, be it a fraternity, golf course, social club etc. Fact is these organizations frequently (but not always) impart benefits beyond what is offered in the "free zone.
No one says you have to join these groups, of course you can be a GDI and succeed quit well, but doesn't mean the other folks have severe issues or anything. Doesn't make the guilds who charge fees bad (though the Goons might be arguable) just means they chose to perhaps weed out the less serious using a common real world mechanic.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
I actually wish I could call myself nerd, but I've lost that part of myself. Don't take personally, I always played on RP servers and like spontaneous, non-serious RP and so on, but these small, closed communities on RP servers just tend to be little weird. By no means all RP guilds, but I've been to few, and all been kinda mess, not counting a multi-game guild I was in, but there RP was also kind of optional. Been to hardcore raiding guild too, and that was highly uncomfortable as well, but not quite to the same extent.
"e games to enjoy them with other folks, whether I’m adventuring solo or in a group. I’ve made some of my best friendships via online gaming. I may never meet these people in real life, but they’re my friends all the same."
Really? Have fun with your "friends" when you change your isp or are in a hospital.
Non-selective, no rules guilds are the absolute best. So much fun.
I would fill out an application to get a job or a loan, not to play a friggin game I am already paying to play.
In Ultima Online , i was part of a guild that only spoke Elizabethan English. I was part of that Guild for over a year and we were constantly at war with Shadowreavers Guild( players that pretended to be orcs and only spoke orcish) I had a blast doing that the whole time. As far as Guilds I usually interview them to see if they fit my playstyle.
"In the early days of my MMO career I would be online for three hours or more a day, and I could really invest in a guild. Heck, I even co-founded one of the first blogging guild experiments “The Casualties of War” (which is still going strong today in WoW and other games)."
Never knew that before. Very cool!
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
One of the best guilds I was ever in was called Tribal Fury, which is located on the Maelin Starpyre(formerly Vazaelle) server in Everquest.
They raided 3 times a week, but there was no mandatory log-in. If you weren't there by the designated time - too bad so sad. We left without you. If you finally did show, assuming we had room, there was a deduction of DKP.
Some members never raided, some members did nothing but raid. That was a great place to be.
All in all I agree with the article, and have experienced all five.
The Old Timers Guild doesn't charge. There is an entirely voluntary donation once a year to pay for Vent, the website, etc. but no one is required or forced to pay by any means.
Whether you personally consider it 'twisted' or 'weird' or whatever, that isnt the point. It's sad you judge others who are just enjoying themselves at no cost to others so harshly, but whatever.
If you joined a hard RP guild and found that you didnt like it because of the hard RP then you obviously didnt ask anything at all about them before joining. No one forced you in to it I would imagine.
One of the beauties of this genre is that they can be played a few different ways, and the guild system allows people to create enclosed spaces for that. If you don't like what they do, stay the f**k out of it. Join the kind of guild you like and leave others to play how they want. It's that simple.
A guild isnt 'wrong' or even a bad guild, because they like to RP, or hardcore raid, or goof around in a rules free channel with others of the same mind, like the OP says it is. it obviously works for the people in it, so if thats what someone is looking for why would they 'avoid it'?
In my experience, the vast majority of guilds fit into one of those catagories.
I wish someone would implement an ingame BBS sort of tool that would help players look for guilds, and guilds look for players. A sort of ad space that along with a checklist of what sorts of members the guild wants, would include various facts, like how much raiding the guild does, how many average hours the members play, how many of them are actually online regularly, how much PvP they do, etc, etc.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
"The Non-Selective Guild
They’re in every game, shouting out spam in every channel, and annoying just about everyone. There may have been a time early in my MMO life where I’d join one of these guilds in a heartbeat, so desperate was I to belong to something. But now I’m wiser, I’m older, and I’m a bit more crotchety. I don’t want to be a part of something that doesn’t at least interview new members via chat, and preferably I’d like a guild that has a website and an application process to mete out the riffraff. "
LOL I immediately thought of the Runic Knights! ; p
Add to that the "too casual guild"... the one that meets all 5 of these criteria, but doesn't bother to set up raids or even really group together very often because people are really only there to chat and hang out. They're great for making friends, but you don't need the game to have those friends.
That may be the worst of them all for me. Nobody wants to raid, nobody wants to quest, they always offer to help anyone with anything then when you take them up on their offer they find some reason for why they can't. One guy offered to help anyone thinking nobody would take him up on his offer, then when I did, he said he's logging soon because he has a headache! LOL On top of that, he was an officer in the guild.
They are the friendliest people in the world, but if you want to do anything constructive, you're screwed.
Brilliant article. I have been in all these guild-types and I must agree with Bill. I definitely avoid them these days, and look for something a bit more "time-limited hardcore".
Good list! About the only one I can stomach are the Hardcore RP guild, as I like inventing absurd events as reasons to log out. "X passes out due to severe allergies to the Champa flower in Y's herbalist pouch."
The rest... annoy the crap out of me, particularly those who demand specific activities be performed. It's one thing to expect participation from guild members, quite another to demand specific roles or activities from them.
Not everybody likes to raid, or craft, or mine, or courier ingredients, etc. I liked Eve in that there were plenty of role choices in most activities. And all were useful to a corp.
OK, I knew there was a fee/donatio around there somewhere, been quite a few years since I looked into them. (when LotRO launched). Guess I never consider those sorts of things really voluntary, my sense of obligation compells me to contribute.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
LOL'ed at the "This Is Your Life Now" guild. Funny thing was that the supergroup (Yep, it was on City of Heroes) was started by my best friend, who wanted to carry over his Champions PnP campaign to CoH (Champions Online had yet to come into existance). He ordered everyone to be ready and available to play on Saturday nights and threatened expulsion from the SG for non-compliers. But if he had a date on said Saturday night, it was kcyabye and off he went. And that was just for starters. I eventually got to see what a control freak he really was. End result? A 25-year friendship completely trashed. I haven't spoken to him in years. Absolutely hilarious. XD
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. - Marie Curie
Most things that you have to pay a fee to belong to in the real world actually give you and your group some benefit. What benefit could someone possibly get by giving some "guild leader" money to belong? Are they going to let me raid? ooooohhhh that is super special. Maybe we could get vent and a website? Please ... all of these things I have had and all I have had to give is my time, respect, and courtesy. Not a cent HAD to be paid. Have I given money for vent? Sure I have but I did not have to in order to belong.
The part about weeding out the "less serious" is a joke. So someone who is willing to piss away their money is more serious than someone who can not or will not. That is pretty lame logic you have going there. It is a pitiful scam preying on people that are desperate to belong.
In WoW 70% of the guilds belong to category number 1 and 30% to category number 2
Not surprisingly the community sucks................
I don't mind "non-selective" guilds. For one, I get annoyed when guilds make me fill out an aplication, post on their forums, AND run a few dungeons with them BEFORE they hold a group meeting to determine whether or not I'm a good enough player to fit in with their crowd. Seriously, I'm joining a guild in a video game not applying for a job at Wal-Mart. Not all those guilds are bad, and I've had some of my best MMO memories within that kind of guild in EQ, yet at the very least, they're beneficial to people who just want a quick guild or like an additional forum for communication before they commit to the game enough to join a more serious guild.
I'd agree with the above post about guilds in WoW, but ironically enough most are a combination of both, and that sort of a mindset has really taken over all of MMO gaming not just WoW. Seems like every guild these days has pipe dreams of becoming the top guild on the server. WoW isn't even the worst. Good luck finding a decent guild in Aion unless you are at or near the level cap.
What about the non existant guilds? These are the ones that die due to lack of interest in the game at higher levels (all grind and no progression). One that I know of has a message that the gm is for sale, and this has been like it for about two years. I think they actually just left the game, and are never coming back. The size of the guild is about 100, so they never did any management stuff in removing other players that were not regulars. I very rarely play it either. So would expect to be kicked out, rather than be in a non existant guilld!