Communicating With the Underling

I’m thinking of leaving my kinship on LotRO. While I was away, there was apparantly some stirup that threw off the whole essence of the guild. Yet, I have no idea what it is.

After a month of being gone, I thought I’d log into the forums and give everyone a little update. On the main page I was greeted with a brief yet ominous letter from one of the officers. In as shadowed a way as possible, the letter stated that the guild was undergoing restructuring to, well, remove structure and build community and that they would understand anyone who chose to leave. Oh, and that they appreciated the support from the remain members.

To me, that little message spelled out “exodus.” For some reason, people were bailing from the guild, or so it must be from the sound of things. This struck me as odd because, honestly, it was one of the best I’d found in any game. It was highly structured, yet I saw this as a positive; the system was designed to support people in all walks of play. Weekly, messages were posted about how the guild had reached a new membership threshold and that we were becoming more selective in who we would allow in (we made sure applicants ideals matched our own before). In short, up until the posting of the letter, everything about the guild was sparkling. Or so it seemed.

Needless to say, when I saw the note, I wanted to know what the hell had happened. I checked the forums and found a single thread with another member asking the same questions I was. Two weeks after it’s posting there was still no response other than people echoing the OP’s concerns.

I stepped away with a “well, that’s not good…” notion floating through my mind. With so much going on IRL, though, it slipped away like so many fragmented ideas have of late.

When I logged in last night, I found myself looking at a “New Mail” icon on my screen. The officer who had posted on the website had sent out a guild wide message saying that the last few weeks had been filled with turmoil but giving virtually no indication as to what that was supposed to mean. I asked the nearly 20 other members online at the time and was more than a little surprised that not a single person knew what had happened. As a matter of fact, most people had been left wondering too.

That wound up leaving me with was a very drear impression. I knew something was going on, something big and dark,  but no idea what I was tied up in. That didn’t lead to a very good “feeling” within the guild. Chat was quiet and what did occur was brief. Everyone knew there was something but no one knew what.

That really sucks. This kinship has been great in everything leading up to this. I mean, they were big enough that no matter what you wanted to do or when you wanted to do it, the chances were that you’d have other members by your side to do it with. They had a philosophy of “build up the individual to build up the whole” even if you weren’t a raider. Hell, they would even gear you out with the best in slot crafting gear every 10 levels. How many guilds can say that?

And yet, here it stands, for all its structure and great community, crumbling before those who witness.

What I hope guild leaders understand is that, for many people, guild choice is a very personal and meaningful decision. Most people that actively search for a guild settle because they find a philosophical match with their beliefs on why a game should be played. Once they’re in they invest themselves and try to find a spot within the community. When things like this happen, it hurts morale. This “thing” that people have come to care about, even if in a small way (if you didn’t care about it to some  degree, the chances are that you wouldn’t have bothered trying in the first place) is suddenly changed in some vital way.

At some level, it almost feels disrespectful to not address the issue at its face. Maybe it’s presumptious or rude of me to say that but, after all, a guild provides a reciprocal relationship. Giveth as you taketh away… or something like that. Yet, it’s almost like if you weren’t there for whatever dramatic event occurred, then you’re out of the loop and are now cast outside the circle. That’s not community.

I know that I’m the exception. Having to leave the game for extended periods of time carries with it this work hazard. But when 20 people are online and not one can name what this big pressing issue even IS, I think we can phone Houston about the problem. There are guild meetings but is that enough? For the day to day maybe, but in this case, I don’t think so.

Has anything like this ever happened to you? Right now, it’s like there’s a black cloud over kinship chat. It’s quiet, it’s brief, and no one wants to mention the storm brewing overhead. I signed up for the guild because the community philosophy matched my own, so I’m hesitant to admit that it may be failing. Yet, like so many others, I don’t even know if it is failing, and that fact seems contrary to the “community building” the leadership is trying to push right now. I mean, if we’re facing a darker night, shouldn’t we band together? That’s what they’re asking for but against what? It’s hard to band together when you don’t know what it is that you’re even facing.

Should I head to brighter shores? Or hold down the fort and hope someone offers a breadcrumb clue on the issues at hand? If you’re a guild leader, I’m interested to know how you would approach a big issue like this. I’m full of questions today but perhaps someone has some insight.

You know, it’s times like this I have to ask, WWAD: What Would Arbitrary Do?

/Gquit

So long and thanks for all the fish!

As mentioned in my previous post, this is something I’d written about a year ago but I think it’s still relevant today. This is one of my first blog posts ever.

Edit: I should have learned to proofread back then. WTF was I talking about… purples oozing from my mouth?

Since I’ve started WoW almost a full year ago now, my main has been in a grand total of three guilds.

I’m a sucker for friendly people I guess.

The first guild I was in was the Blackmoon Tribe, an RPPVP guild comprised of some really great, friendly, and helpful people. The vast majority of my playtime was in this guild and for the most part, I had a lot of fun with them. Many players came and went but the core group remained. Up until a raiding dispute.

BMT was running a single Karazhan group and teaming up with a couple other guilds to begin 25 mans. Technically, according to WoWJutsu.com, we were into the Black Temple kicking some demon ass, but the cold truth of this was only about 2 members of were able to make those runs. We were teamed up with Shattered Oath, one of the servers higher achieving guilds. Unfortunately, they weren’t willing to take more of us along. I didn’t care though, personally. I’m a casual. Shitty Fraps vids are about as close as I’m getting to Illidan.

So, some of my best friends split. I stayed out of loyalty but soon, I found out that I was all alone. So, I wrote a painful goodbye on the forums and got a single positive response. I hated it. As Bart Simpson once said, “I didn’t think it was possible for something to suck and blow at the same time.” But it did.

Immediately after, I talked with some of the people who’d left before me and, sure enough, they’d started their own guild and wanted me in it. It was supposed to be everything we wanted it to be. Within a couple of weeks, we were into Karazhan again. It was going great. Even as a casual, I was able to make it in for a run. It was not to last. Some of our members got poached. Correction, ALL of our raiding members got poached.

So, I was asked to step up and help out recruiting which I was glad to do. The GM and remaining officer were great, and so were the other remaining members. It was not to be.

Within a week, my offer to help made me the main recruiter. It made me the website administrator (co-admin technically, but I was the only one doing it). It made me the forum mod. And, not surprisingly, the GM’s activity dropped. The other officer, as nice as she was, was recruiting level 18 members, new to the game. I was fine with that but our goal was to get into Kara again as soon as possible to rebound and it wasn’t happening.

I stayed, pained, for the sake of the friends I had there. I recruited, I admin’d, I moderated. I wasn’t even considered for an officer role but I didn’t care nor ever think to as for one. It was something I was doing to help friends.

Within a month, I was burned out. The guild had turned into a job and I wasn’t even the one in charge. I was suffering in LFG, still Fury at this time, and spending my little free time in-game in the battlegrounds. I was ready to leave WoW, that was it. I bought a lifetime subscription to Lord of the Rings Online and started visiting there more.

Around that time, it hit me. It wasn’t WoW that I was burning out on. It was the “job” aspect of it. As much as I wanted to keep the loyalties I felt, I knew that it was change I needed or else I was done for. The next day, I pulled the officer and a good friend into a party to talk.

I was optimistic that they would understand. Surprisingly enough, my fellow guildie did. The officer, someone who once said “friendships don’t end with a guild tag” did not. She was hurt and showed it. Never rude, but wholly un-understanding. *sigh* Bad times.

So, I booked and respecc’d tank. Since then, I’ve joined one of the better raiding guilds on the server. I don’t raid due to conflicting timeframes but it’s nice to have a lot of other people on to quest, BG, grind, and, most of all, chat with.

Things were not fixed because I left but the changes I made did help.

I guess the moral of this post is that if you’re quick to form friendships and loyalties, you should be very careful in your guild choice. I don’t regret joining BMT or the following guild, or the one I am currently part of. I have a lot of great memories and I think it was worth it. Some time though, you very well may have to leave them or have them do the same to you. It should be met with understanding and well wishes but, more often then not, you’re sent off with a wave of drama the size of Maui. Take WoW for what it is and keep your options open. People are great and are the reason we play MMO’s but always remember, it’s your $15 and it’s your time. Make the most of it and tread softly, for the waters can be deep.

TMI!?

My buddy got breathy... I got scared.

So, this evening, during a game of RL pool with a friend (and guildie) I was visiting, my GL started squealing over vent about a date she just landed. It hurt my ears, but that’s not the point.

Now, let me say, first and foremost, my GL is a kind, fair, and all around pleasant lady. She runs the guild in a manner that benefits everyone as much as possible. She cares and does a great job.

Anyways, she was excited because it was her first date in a while. Her last relationship had ended because of WoW, she says, so beginning anew was exciting and understandably so. She was nervous though. Ready to back out actually. I’m in a guild with quite a few people in it and the 15 or so in the vent channel were all encouraging her to go for it. “Don’t be nervous” we told her. “You’re a beautiful girl, go for it.”

Like most people in a comfortable atmosphere, she was talking a little bit about her past relationships and as loyal guildies and, dare I say, friends, we listened and responded. She was scared and hadn’t had anything serious since her last relationship. Then she dropped the bomb. “Don’t tell anyone,” she says (who would we tell, I thought, we don’t know you RL after all). “I don’t know why I’m telling you this, but I’ve messed around I just haven’t had any real relationship. Last weekend I had two guys over.”

… okaaay. That was when it got a little weird. As one of two women, out of 15 total players on vent, I think she said exactly the wrong thing. I got to see exactly how odd my guild could be. Immediately, she was begged for details on her MMF encounter. When she gave them in brief, guildies wanted more.

It was kind of… how do you say… creepy? Yes. It was creepy. I’m not the kind of guy who ever got off on watching porn with his friends or talking about sexual things. I didn’t want to be around my friends when they were horned up. It was uncomfortable. On vent, I got to hear 13 people change from normal gamers into salivating horn dogs. Even though I couldn’t see their faces, it still weirded me out enough to log off.

Which makes me wonder, was it really appropriate, or anything other than harmful to the guild for our GL to share that? She’s a person and entitled to make her own decisions. Personally, I don’t care what she does in her real life but I can’t help but assume that she probably lost the respect of some of her followers. I mean, you know that kind of thing is going to circulate like wild fire.

So, how much is too much? I know that people get comfortable with their guildies. That’s great and conducive to a pleasant guild experience but where is the line for that kind of thing?

Personally, there’s no sex in WoW and I don’t want to hear about it from other guildies. I don’t know them RL and, even if I did, I don’t care what they do in bed. It’s their business and it doesn’t affect me. Plus, I’d rather not hear a bunch of guys get all breathy through my headset. Has anyone else out there been in this situation? It’s strange, right? Or am I the weird one?

Upon the Pyre, October 6th edition!

Update: Check out my full piece here.

Alveterzane Readers!

As I shared with you last week, Upon the Pyre (my column at Hammer of War) has been moved to Mondays… and that’s today! As of this posting, the good folks over at HoW are working to get this week’s article up and ready for viewing. We’re covering keeps this week; why your guild should care and what you should expect of your guild leaders. If you’re just getting into RvR, or Warhammer in general, definitely give it a look. Even if you’re a veteren, hop on over and let me know your takes.

For the time being, check out their homepage and my article will be on the top when it’s up. I’ll update this post with a direct link as soon as it’s available.

Take Care!

I’ve left Last Requiem after only…

… a few days. I hate to do it but I found out that the guild just wasn’t a good fit for me. In all honesty, they’re players were all great. The RP was wonderful. The issue, though, was that I tend to play during the daytime more than anything and that just happens to be when they have the fewest people on. Understandably so, since not everyone can be a college student. I’m cool with that.

So, I said my goodbyes last night and bid them adeu. I’m now applying to a guild that’s also RP RvR but looks to be much more active at all times of the day. They’re called Anti-Sanctus Chaotica. Anyone heard of them? Their site looks top notch and they have a great history, structure, and purpose. In all honesty, I was really impressed by their website.

Their recruitment process is a little more involved than a lot of other guilds. You have to fill out an application (of course) but it doesn’t ask you the standard questions. It doesn’t even ask why you want to join. Instead, it’s kind of a webquest around their website to learn their lore and what they’re about. Once that’s done and posted on their forums, the officers come ask you a bunch of questions that are never quite the same for every person. It really ensures that they’re only taking people who are really interested. I really like that. If they have so many members and they have such a recruitment process, it seems like it would be a quality guild.

I’ll refrain from linking to their site until I can speak to some of their members directly, but this one looks promising!