Massively

Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Five ways to burn bridges with your guild]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-guild-counsel-five-ways-to-burn-bridges-with-your-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-guild-counsel-five-ways-to-burn-bridges-with-your-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/24/the-guild-counsel-five-ways-to-burn-bridges-with-your-guild/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

rift bridge

There are ways to leave a guild, and then there are cringe-worthy, horrifying ways to leave a guild, burn your bridges, and never, ever leave the door open for a possible return. We've all heard tales (and sometimes witnessed them firsthand!) of people leaving guilds in ways that defy humanity (leaving right in the middle of a raid is one of my favorites). Surprisingly, there are some guild departures that succeed in severing ties and are unfortunately all-too-common.

In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look at a few ways to really do it wrong when it comes to guild departures.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Five ways to burn bridges with your guild

The Guild Counsel: Five ways to burn bridges with your guild originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicefeaturedguildguild-adviceguild-betryalguild-counselguild-departuresguild-dramaguild-hopperguild-hoppersguild-hoppingguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-shoppingguild-stealingguildhopperguildsleadershipopinionthe-guild-counselThu, 24 May 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Stop yelling!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/the-guild-counsel-stop-yelling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/the-guild-counsel-stop-yelling/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/23/the-guild-counsel-stop-yelling/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Bobby Knight yelling

Guild leaders and raid leaders have a bad reputation for being loud, cantankerous, and well, mean. If you make a mistake, you'd better brace yourself for an in-your-face, five-minute reaming-out in front of friends and guildmates. Not all leaders are like that, but it's common enough that it tends to be the standard M.O. that players picture of those in charge.

It's time for the yelling to stop. It's giving guilds, and MMOs in general, a bad image, and it really isn't necessary. In fact, it's quite likely that all that yelling ends up making your guild less productive when all is said and done. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look at four reasons it's time for guild leaders to calm down and stop the screaming.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Stop yelling!

The Guild Counsel: Stop yelling! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billy-martinbobby-knightfeaturedguild-adviceguild-counselguild-dramaguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-screamingkaren-bryanyelling-in-guildThu, 23 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Stop teasing me!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/the-guild-counsel-stop-teasing-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/the-guild-counsel-stop-teasing-me/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/08/the-guild-counsel-stop-teasing-me/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

SWTOR

Let's face it: As thrilling as it can be to slay a dragon or blow up a spaceship, MMOs all have their fair share of dull moments at times. And when guildies get together, they can often resort to pranks, teasing, and all sorts of jokes in order to liven things up. That's often when you have some of your best memories in game, and I think it's part of what makes MMOs great.

But sometimes, jokes can fall flat, and what was supposed to be a funny moment ends up turning into major drama. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll take a look at joking around and how to avoid a joke gone wrong.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Stop teasing me!

The Guild Counsel: Stop teasing me! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicefeaturedguildguild-adviceguild-chatguild-counselguild-dramaguild-jokingguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-pranksguildskaren-bryanleadershipopinionthe-guild-counselThu, 08 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: To kick or not to kick]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/the-guild-counsel-to-kick-or-not-to-kick/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/the-guild-counsel-to-kick-or-not-to-kick/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/01/the-guild-counsel-to-kick-or-not-to-kick/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

LOTR kicked out

Over the past year, we've touched on several tricky topics regarding guild management, yet we've never waded into the topic of actually removing someone from the guild. Granted, some of the issues we have discussed can lead to lots of frustration for guildmates, and understandably, the comments section usually contains at least one reply suggesting that a swift guild kick is the best solution.

But removing someone from the guild is a pretty big decision, and it can have a ripple effect throughout your roster that might lead to further unhappiness and drama. When is the right time to boot someone from the guild? In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll take a look at what to do when you think it might be time for a guild removal.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: To kick or not to kick

The Guild Counsel: To kick or not to kick originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booting-from-guildfeaturedguild-adviceguild-counselguild-dramaguild-kickguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-removalkaren-bryanThu, 01 Dec 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: You might be a turkey if you...]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/24/the-guild-counsel-you-might-be-a-turkey-if-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/24/the-guild-counsel-you-might-be-a-turkey-if-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/24/the-guild-counsel-you-might-be-a-turkey-if-you/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Turkey danger

You may not be aware, but the turkey you're about to consume could actually be a danger to you and your loved ones. That's right: If you're frying them, you're rolling the dice, and you might come up with snake eyes.

Now, I'm not completely familiar with the origins of the meaning of snake eyes, but I do know that you shouldn't over-fill a fryer with hot oil, and you also shouldn't shove a fryer over on its side because the oil spills and combusts. But apparently, this is what gamers call "l33t b3ta inf0z," and if you're from the Department of Homeland Security, it's your job to get the word out. That got me thinking: If Americans don't know the ins and outs of cooking a turkey safely, perhaps MMO players don't know the proper way to safely be part of a guild. In this week's Guild Counsel, let's look at a few ways to avoid being the guild turkey.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: You might be a turkey if you...

The Guild Counsel: You might be a turkey if you... originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dkpfeaturedguild-counselguild-dramaguild-issuesguild-leadershipguild-managementguildskaren-bryanThu, 24 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Gold Rush, Alaska teaches how not to run a guild]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/the-guild-counsel-gold-rush-alaska-teaches-how-not-to-run-a-gu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/the-guild-counsel-gold-rush-alaska-teaches-how-not-to-run-a-gu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/the-guild-counsel-gold-rush-alaska-teaches-how-not-to-run-a-gu/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, Humor, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Gold Rush

I started watching Discovery's Gold Rush, Alaska last season, and while I always take "reality" tv with a grain of salt, I've gotten hooked on watching the slow-motion train wreck that is the Hoffman mining crew. The series follows a group of miners in Alaska as they try to strike it rich and find gold. Last season, the crew pulled out less gold than I have in my meager jewelery box, and the season ended with a water-filled hole, shoddy equipment, and a big financial debt.

Interestingly enough, the lure of gold and the lure of leading a guild have some surprising parallels. To some, it's a temptation that's hard to resist, and to others, it's something that only fools or crazy people would do. If you do it right, and you have a little bit of luck, you can really strike it rich, but if you make mistakes or don't know what you're doing, you'll end up in a crater-sized hole with no way out, wondering how the heck things got to this point. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look at some of the mistakes made by the Hoffman mining crew and how they apply to running (or in this case, not running) a guild.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Gold Rush, Alaska teaches how not to run a guild

The Guild Counsel: Gold Rush, Alaska teaches how not to run a guild originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredgold-rush-alaskaguild-adviceguild-counselguild-dramaguild-leadershipguild-managementguildskaren-bryanThu, 17 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: The problem with guilds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/the-guild-counsel-the-problem-with-guilds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/the-guild-counsel-the-problem-with-guilds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/10/the-guild-counsel-the-problem-with-guilds/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

EverQuest Rangers

Last week, I put up a poll asking you, the Massively readers, to indicate whether you had a character in a guild or not. The response was great, and many of you voted and posted your thoughts as well. While this was a very unofficial survey, the results are interesting because it turns out that only a little more than half (56.6%) of those who replied are in a guild. (And for the record, the word guild is used as a catch-all phrase to refer to any in-game organization of people.)

There are some overall factors that might account for the results. This website, for example, covers hundreds of games, and the results might be much higher if the survey were done on a particular MMO's official website, where the playerbase is more focused on one game. But there are some valid reasons why players choose to forego guilds, and they're worth taking a look at. I chose three in particular that many commenters seemed to echo in last week's column, and in this week's Guild Counsel, I'll examine why they contribute to giving guilds a bad rap and whether it's possible to turn things around.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: The problem with guilds

The Guild Counsel: The problem with guilds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicefeaturedguildguild-counselguild-dramaguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-problemsguildskaren-bryanthe-guild-counselThu, 10 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Are you in a guild?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-guild-counsel-are-you-in-a-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-guild-counsel-are-you-in-a-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/03/the-guild-counsel-are-you-in-a-guild/#commentsFiled under: Polls, Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

EQII guild

I'd like to do a little experiment for this week's Guild Counsel, and I need your help. In years past, studies have been done that showed the importance of guilds in MMOs. (And by guilds, I mean any organized grouping of players, be it a clan, empire, corporation, etc.) Back in 2008, Dr. Nick Yee's Daedalus Project showed that 89% of respondents had at least one character in a guild. But over the past few years, the MMO landscape has changed dramatically, and those changes could have an effect on the number of players who actually join guilds. Over the next few weeks, I'm planning on taking a closer look at this topic.

So I'd like to do a very unscientific poll, and I'm seeking your input. Read on for a look at a few factors that might affect the importance of guilds, and then let me know in the poll below -- are you in a guild?

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Are you in a guild?

The Guild Counsel: Are you in a guild? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>are-you-in-a-guildfeaturedfree-to-playguild-counselguild-dramaguild-issuesguild-leadershipguild-managementguildskaren-bryanThu, 03 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Guild horror stories]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/the-guild-counsel-guild-horror-stories/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/the-guild-counsel-guild-horror-stories/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/27/the-guild-counsel-guild-horror-stories/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

EQII demon

Ah, fall! Crisp cool air, gorgeous foliage, and enough horror and frights to leave you looking like someone who's just seen Samara from The Ring. Halloween is chock full of scares and horror stories, and guilds are no different. Whether you've led a guild or been part of one, chances are you've witnessed your fair share of terrifying tales.

In this week's Guild Counsel, I'll share a few of mine, and I welcome you to add yours below. So gather round the campfire, pass the marshmallows, and bundle up in that sleeping bag because it's time to share our guild horror stories.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Guild horror stories

The Guild Counsel: Guild horror stories originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eqeq-2eq-iieverquesteverquest-iifeaturedguild-counselguild-dramaguild-horror-storiesguild-leadershipguild-managementguildskaren-bryanraidingrogue-raiderssoeSony-Online-EntertainmentvanguardThu, 27 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Could you do a better job running your guild?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/the-daily-grind-could-you-do-a-better-job-running-your-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/the-daily-grind-could-you-do-a-better-job-running-your-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/the-daily-grind-could-you-do-a-better-job-running-your-guild/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Follow the leader

Sometimes guild drama just happens. When it stems from a disagreement with your guild leader, a popular reaction is something along the lines of, "I would never make a decision like that if I was guild leader."

But a leadership role has its challenges. Along with member management, event coordination, and maintaining a sense of family, you also have to make it fun for the whole group. After all, it is still a game at the end of the day.

So if you've never actually run a guild, but you've thought about it, do you think you'd make a good guild leader? Have you studied up on Karen Bryan's weekly column for all the tips and tricks you can retain? Let us know in the comments below how you'd make your guild a better place.

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Could you do a better job running your guild? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>guild-dramaguild-leaderguild-leadershipguildsopiniontdgthe-daily-grindWed, 19 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Can GW2's multiple guild feature work for other MMOs?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/the-guild-counsel-can-gw2s-multiple-guild-feature-work-for-oth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/the-guild-counsel-can-gw2s-multiple-guild-feature-work-for-oth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/15/the-guild-counsel-can-gw2s-multiple-guild-feature-work-for-oth/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Vanguard

Guild Wars 2 caused a stir recently at PAX when its devs announced their concept of multiple guilds. According to the news, guild membership will be account-wide, and players will be able to log in and browse the chat for each of the guilds to which they belong. In a recent installment of Flameseeker Chronicles, Rubi gave a great rundown of the pros and cons of a multiple guild system. While there are still a lot of details yet to be revealed, Guild Wars 2 is changing the way players view guilds.

But what about all of the other MMOs currently out there that we all know and love? If you're a guild leader, chances are that you've already dealt with the question of whether to allow members to have characters in other guilds. Can it work, or is it a recipe for drama? In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look back at how far guilds have come and whether allowing for multiple tags can work in current MMOs.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Can GW2's multiple guild feature work for other MMOs?

The Guild Counsel: Can GW2's multiple guild feature work for other MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenaneteqeq2eqiieverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedfrog-giggingguild-counselguild-dramaguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-wars-2guildsgw2karen-bryanmultiple-guildsncsoftsoeSony-Online-EntertainmentThu, 15 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's the worst guild death you've witnessed?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/the-daily-grind-whats-the-worst-guild-death-youve-witnessed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/the-daily-grind-whats-the-worst-guild-death-youve-witnessed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/10/the-daily-grind-whats-the-worst-guild-death-youve-witnessed/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Guilds, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Not pictured: many fun times.

No guild lasts forever. Whether you're part of a small roleplaying fleet in Star Trek Online or a large endgame guild in RIFT, you know going in that the organization is eventually going to cease to be. But that doesn't tell you much about how the guild is going to fall apart when it finally does, and that can make all the difference.

Some guilds die quietly, with most of the members having moved on. Some are shut down with an understanding that the group of a whole is moving on or just isn't interested in managing a guild any longer. Other times -- and more memorably -- the guild's death is a loud and uncomfortable affair, with drama flaring up and turning the final few weeks into the equivalent of an in-game divorce.

And that's just the least of the ways in which a player organization can exit stage left. If you've been playing MMOs for any real length of time, of course, you've seen at least one or two guilds evaporate. So what's the worst death that you've seen? Long? Short? Angry? Calm? Or just a slow wasting followed by a disbanding?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: What's the worst guild death you've witnessed? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturedisbandingguildguild-disbandingguild-dramaguild-shutdownguildsopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSat, 10 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Simple ways to build a successful alliance]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/the-guild-counsel-simple-ways-to-build-a-successful-alliance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/the-guild-counsel-simple-ways-to-build-a-successful-alliance/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/the-guild-counsel-simple-ways-to-build-a-successful-alliance/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Recently, we looked at the benefits and pitfalls of guild mergers. While a merge is something that can work, it's a pretty drastic step that comes with some big risks. The alternative to a mergers is an alliance, and over the years (and much less direct competition thanks to instancing), it's something that's becoming much more common. Alliances are definitely more low-impact than a merge, and they give guilds the option to back out if things aren't clicking.

But if not carried out just right, alliances can put enormous stress on a guild and enormous pressure on guild leaders. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll take a closer look at ways to help make a guild alliance successful.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Simple ways to build a successful alliance

The Guild Counsel: Simple ways to build a successful alliance originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicealliancesfeaturedguildguild-counselguild-dramaguild-hoppingguild-leadershipguild-managementguildsThu, 26 May 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Is it time to merge?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/the-guild-counsel-is-it-time-to-merge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/the-guild-counsel-is-it-time-to-merge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/the-guild-counsel-is-it-time-to-merge/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

One issue that every guild leader needs to face at some point is whether to consider merging with another guild. There are times when even the busiest recruiting guilds have a hard time fleshing out a roster that can achieve in-game goals. As a result, they turn to other guilds for outside help. But merging with another guild brings up a whole new set of issues and pitfalls, and if not handled well, it can lead to drama on a scale never before seen.

In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll take a look at the issue of joining forces with other guilds and discuss some ways to make it work. No, really, it can work! Don't run away!

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Is it time to merge?

The Guild Counsel: Is it time to merge? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advicefeaturedguildguild-adviceguild-counselguild-dramaguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-mergersguildsleadershipmanagementmergemergerplane-of-hateThu, 28 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: DKP will set you free]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/the-guild-counsel-dkp-will-set-you-free/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/the-guild-counsel-dkp-will-set-you-free/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/03/the-guild-counsel-dkp-will-set-you-free/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

There are many questions in life that have been debated for eternity. The chicken or the egg? Pie or cake? Fish or cut bait? Pirates or ninjas? Yankees or Red Sox? Democrats or Republicans? Add to this list another age-old question -- merit or DKP? Although there are several systems for awarding loot, these two have traditionally been the most popular with guilds. I've used both extensively, and while each system is time-tested and works well, I've slowly become a DKP convert. In this week's Guild Counsel, it's time to take a look at the hot-button issue of what to do with loot.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: DKP will set you free

The Guild Counsel: DKP will set you free originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dkpeqdkpeverquestfeaturedguild-counselguild-cultureguild-dramaguild-leadershipguild-managementguildslootmerit-lootthe-guild-counselThu, 03 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: What every leader should know about recruiting]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/the-guild-counsel-what-every-leader-should-know-about-recruitin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/the-guild-counsel-what-every-leader-should-know-about-recruitin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/the-guild-counsel-what-every-leader-should-know-about-recruitin/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

We've all been there -- you came up with "Your Vision," the paint's dry on the guild hall, and you're ready to select some quality members, but instead you're surrounded by chirping crickets and tumbleweeds. You patiently wait for people to start knocking on your door, but that turns to desperation as you resign yourself to the fact that someone, anyone, is better than an empty guild. Next thing you know, you have a healthy-sized roster, but you're now leading the misfit robots from Wall-E.

Before slipping down the slope of inevitable drama and potential collapse, check out this handy list of dos and don'ts to help you with recruiting.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: What every leader should know about recruiting

The Guild Counsel: What every leader should know about recruiting originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>everquesteverquest-iiFan-fairefeaturedguild-dramaguild-leadershipguild-managementGuild-RecruitingguildsrecruitingvanguardThu, 20 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Let's take a power trip!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/the-guild-counsel-lets-take-a-power-trip/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/the-guild-counsel-lets-take-a-power-trip/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/13/the-guild-counsel-lets-take-a-power-trip/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Ah, ranks! There's nothing like the highly structured, caste-like system of guild ranks. Even when ranks aren't a feature in the game, guilds will still sort their members into tidy ranks, like member, alt, officer, and the all-important Guild Leader (with a capital G!). A metagame ensues, and it often resembles an episode of My Super Sweet 16, with everyone elbowing in to curry favor and receive his gilded stamp of approval. But what exactly do those guild ranks mean, and why are they so important to people? Let's take a look at ranks and see why they actually can be important (but not the way most view them).

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Let's take a power trip!

The Guild Counsel: Let's take a power trip! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredguild-counselguild-dramaguild-leaderguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-ranksguildsofficerranksthe-guild-counselThu, 13 Jan 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: Teacher by day, guild leader by night]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/the-guild-counsel-teacher-by-day-guild-leader-by-night/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/the-guild-counsel-teacher-by-day-guild-leader-by-night/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/06/the-guild-counsel-teacher-by-day-guild-leader-by-night/#commentsFiled under: Fantasy, Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Last week, as I listed my guild leader New Year's resolutions, I made a passing reference to my background as a former teacher. This led to a great question by Massively reader Mike Azariah, who wrote: "I still do teach. Do you find that helping others (especially new players) starts to fall into a lesson?"

I've had discussions with other guild leaders in the past, and it always strikes me how often they talk about how the job of guild leader parallels, and often enhances, real-life occupations that involve leadership skills. This week's Guild Counsel will take a closer look at Mike's question of how much the job of teacher relates to guild leadership.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Teacher by day, guild leader by night

The Guild Counsel: Teacher by day, guild leader by night originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EQ2EQIIeverquestEverQuest-2everquest-iifeaturedguild-counselguild-dramaguild-leadershipguild-managementguildsRaph-KosterteachingvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesThu, 06 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Guild Counsel: New Year's resolutions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-guild-counsel-new-years-resolutions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-guild-counsel-new-years-resolutions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/the-guild-counsel-new-years-resolutions/#commentsFiled under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

This past year for me has been the best year of my guild-leading life, primarily because I'm surrounded by terrific players who are also terrific people. We've had times when key members step away from raiding, and immediately I'll have several members volunteer to roll up new characters to fill the void and meet class needs. We've had issues, as all guilds do, and we have had disagreements, but I'm guilded with people who are classy enough and level-headed enough to understand the big picture and give the benefit of the doubt.

As I raise my glass to toast my guildmates, I also look forward to next year. As guild leaders know, you can never rest on your laurels, and I have several New Year's resolutions. Read on to see what I hope to accomplish, and then share your resolutions for 2011.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: New Year's resolutions

The Guild Counsel: New Year's resolutions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>end-of-the-year-2010fan-fairefeaturedguildguild-adviceguild-dramaguild-leadershipguild-managementguild-meetguild-meetupguild-websiteguildsnew-years-resolutionsPAXpax-eastraidingThu, 30 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: When have you gotten dramatic?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/the-daily-grind-when-have-you-gotten-dramatic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/the-daily-grind-when-have-you-gotten-dramatic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/11/the-daily-grind-when-have-you-gotten-dramatic/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Humor

Nobody likes drama in an MMO. We might enjoy pretending to have drama, but actual explosions and confrontations between players aren't anyone's idea of a good time. After all, most of us get enough of that every day at work or school. And while a small portion of a game's playerbase will throw a tantrum any time the world doesn't bow and scrape to their whims, for the most part, players understand that no one wants to play nanny. Everyone behaves like mature adults.

But there comes a time when you don't. It's a simple human frailty that sooner or later, the stars will align and you will throw a world-class tantrum about how someone else got the Ultimate Orb of Perfect Energy. All of us have done it, and odds are most of us will wind up doing it again. So when have you lost your composure and started some epic drama? Do you feel bad about it in hindsight?

The Daily Grind: When have you gotten dramatic? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animositydramadrop-dramadropsguild-dramain-game-dramaloot-dramaopinionplayer-dramatantrumtantrumstdgthe-daily-grindWed, 11 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Everybody wants to rule the guild (probably)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/the-daily-grind-everybody-wants-to-rule-the-guild-probably/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/the-daily-grind-everybody-wants-to-rule-the-guild-probably/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/21/the-daily-grind-everybody-wants-to-rule-the-guild-probably/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Guilds, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Others have said it before, but it bears repeating: Human beings take part in politics with the most intensity when there's the least at stake. You only have to look at the political dynamics of guilds (by any name) to see the principle in action. Even though the organizations are wholly voluntary, people fight for their position within the guild ferociously. Internal and intra-corporation conflicts in EVE Online are so vicious that some incidents are almost legendary. The drama that can erupt in guilds of almost any size and purpose is familiar to almost any player.

Some people, of course, work overtime to either ignore politics or stay uninvolved. But there are often an awful lot of people who want an officer position as soon as it becomes available, sometimes with very little consideration for what being an officer might actually entail. The fact that more people want power than know what to do with it is an old truism. Where do you stand in the schematic? Do you try to advance yourself in your guild's power structure, or are you happier being a smaller part of the machine?

The Daily Grind: Everybody wants to rule the guild (probably) originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dramaeveeve-onlineguildguild-dramaguild-politicsguildsopinionpoliticstdgthe-daily-grindMon, 21 Jun 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: Guilds and conflict resolution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/26/behind-the-curtain-guilds-and-conflict-resolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/26/behind-the-curtain-guilds-and-conflict-resolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/26/behind-the-curtain-guilds-and-conflict-resolution/#commentsFiled under: World of Warcraft, Culture, Guilds, Opinion, Behind the Curtain

Obviously, lots of players takes guild recruitment seriously, as they should. But how seriously do we take guild drama?

Assuming it's not directly affecting us, most of us love guild drama and revel in other players' dysfunction. I haven't checked the numbers - I'm too lazy - but it really wouldn't surprise me if Guildwatch was one of the more popular columns over on WoW Insider. I know it's one of my favourites.

I like to think that I'm a fairly decent bloke - I try not to laugh at other people's misfortunes, and I don't like to rub a person's nose in their own failings, but God help me, I can't get enough of Guildwatch.

How far would you go to forestall the breakup of your guild? At the end of the day, if your guild leader decides to hit the big /gdisband button, it's not like you can physically stop them, short of some questionable activities you'd find difficult explaining to the police.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Guilds and conflict resolution

Behind the Curtain: Guilds and conflict resolution originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-curtainfeaturedguild-dramaguildsguildwatchwow-insiderSun, 26 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: Guilds are serious business pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/11/behind-the-curtain-guilds-are-serious-business-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/11/behind-the-curtain-guilds-are-serious-business-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/11/behind-the-curtain-guilds-are-serious-business-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Guilds, Opinion, Behind the Curtain

What I'm wondering is just how seriously you or your guild takes the membership process? My guild have gone with a few simple questions about a player's intentions and why they want to join our guild. That won't be the case for all guilds, and I'm sure 'hardcore', serious raiders will raise the bar higher than most, and that's perfectly understandable. If you're aiming to burn through content at a rate of knots, you want to make sure you're taking on people who can hack the pace, who are geared enough to keep up, and knowledgeable enough to not have to be baby-sat through boss fights.

Making friends can be serious business, and running a good guild can be akin to running a real-life company. A fractious, barely-solvent, badly-insured company staffed by borderline-schizoid personalities, but a company nevertheless.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Guilds are serious business pt. 2

Behind the Curtain: Guilds are serious business pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-curtaindaedalus-projectguildguild-dramaguildsserious-businessSat, 11 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Curtain: Guilds are serious business]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/11/behind-the-curtain-guilds-are-serious-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/11/behind-the-curtain-guilds-are-serious-business/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/11/behind-the-curtain-guilds-are-serious-business/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Guilds, Opinion, Behind the Curtain

First off - don't worry, it is indeed Saturday, not Thursday. We've just decided to move Behind the Curtain to a weekend slot; you didn't just hallucinate the last couple of days.

How serious are you when you're either creating a guild, when you're inviting people to join, or when you're looking to join one yourself?

Guild drama is always just one forum post away for many guilds today, and if you're not careful you could end up one of the many, many casualties to appear on the pages of Guild Watch on our sister site, WoW Insider. Drama doesn't happen all by itself - it's created by the people in your guild. More specifically, it's created by the personalities in your guild; it's not uncommon for guilds to have more personalities than they have people in them.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: Guilds are serious business

Behind the Curtain: Guilds are serious business originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-curtaindaedalus-projectfeaturedguildguild-dramaguildsserious-businessSat, 11 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Player vs. Everything: Fixing the problem of guild-hopping]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/player-vs-everything-fixing-the-problem-of-guild-hopping/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/player-vs-everything-fixing-the-problem-of-guild-hopping/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/player-vs-everything-fixing-the-problem-of-guild-hopping/#commentsFiled under: Culture, Game mechanics, Guilds, Endgame, Player vs. Everything

There's a bit of a discussion going on in the blogosphere right now about how to handle the topic of dungeon and raid rewards in MMOGs (specifically World of Warcraft, actually, but it universally applies). Tobold started the whole conversation by suggesting that the problem of players leaving to join a better guild when their gear progression is further along than the rest of their guild could be fixed by adding deterrents to leaving, like forcing you to leave any gear acquired with the help of your guild in the guild bank. After all, he argues, you couldn't have gotten those epics on your own. Why should you get to take your gear and walk away with it when 24 other people helped you obtain it, while waiting patiently for their turn?

Other people then made the counter-argument that hopping to further-progressed guilds is only one of the many reasons that people leave guilds, and that tying loot to your guild would give too much power to guild masters and punish people for circumstances that are often outside of their control (what if your work schedule changes and you can't raid anymore? Many hardcore guilds don't allow casual players). There were some more good points made as to why this system would be a bad idea. Still, it's a good thing that Tobold brought this up, because it's a very real issue. Even if tying loot directly to the guild is a bad idea, what can you do to discourage people getting what they need and then leaving for greener pastures?

Continue reading Player vs. Everything: Fixing the problem of guild-hopping

Player vs. Everything: Fixing the problem of guild-hopping originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badge-lootbadge-of-justicebadgesdkpdramafeaturedguildguild-dramaguildslootloot-distributionplayer-vs-everythingpotshottoboldworld-of-warcraftWed, 30 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST