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

Karen Bryan — Thu, 24 May 2012 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

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.

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The Guild Counsel: Surviving the dreaded plateau

Karen Bryan — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

One of the challenges of running a guild is avoiding the emotional peaks and valleys that tend to come up. In fact, one of the scariest times for a guild is when it's just accomplished something big because once the cheers stop, there's a void left and people begin to wonder what's next. It's not uncommon for a guild that's just hit an amazing goal to lose some members shortly after, and in some cases, it can actually lead to a guild withering and drying up because there's a letdown and apathy sets in.

How do you survive the dreaded plateau? Let's look at a few ways in this week's Guild Counsel!

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The Guild Counsel: Surviving the dreaded plateau originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Saluting Scott Andrews on five years of valuable guild advice

Karen Bryan — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous, Anniversary

This past Monday marked the fifth anniversary of Scott Andrews' Officers' Quarters, a weekly column on WoW Insider that deals with guild issues in World of Warcraft. He's also the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook, which is a must-read for any guild leader. It's a terrific accomplishment to keep a column going for so long, and week after week, he's provided valuable advice to reader questions on guild management.

Whether you've just heard of Officers' Quarters or you're a longtime fan, let's look at a few reasons Scott Andrews deserves a tip of the hat and a hearty salute.

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The Guild Counsel: Saluting Scott Andrews on five years of valuable guild advice originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: What's your guild really worth?

Karen Bryan — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, MMO industry, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

One age-old debate in MMOs revolves around the buying and selling of characters, and the argument becomes especially contentious when it involves the exchange of real-life money. The members of one camp will staunchly defend the practice, saying they put the time and effort into the toons and that those characters are theirs to do with as they please. Others argue the opposite, saying that there are plenty of characters who were given help from others in leveling and acquiring gear, and it's not right to take that collective effort and market it to the highest bidder.

It's a complicated issue for sure, but it's mainly centered around one single character. But what if it involved an entire guild? That's a question that players have had to tackle recently in World of Warcraft, as the practice of buying and selling guilds has become more and more popular. Would you buy a guild if you were just starting out? And would you sell your guild if you were done with the game? As usual, there are three sides to this coin, and it's something that we might see more of in other MMOs, so let's take a look at some of the arguments both for and against in today's Guild Counsel.

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The Guild Counsel: What's your guild really worth? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: When do you trust the new guy?

Karen Bryan — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

When you're running a guild, there are lots of clear, right and wrong, cut and dried issues to take on. It might not be easy to carry them out, but it's pretty easy to know what the right decision is. There are some, however, that aren't so clear, and it's hard to even gauge which variables might help reveal the best solution. One of those naggingly difficult areas is knowing when to put your trust in a new member. A good recruitment policy will help filter out bad matches, but at what point do you know that a new member really is a good fit with the guild and can be trusted? As much as I'd like to just say "you'll know it when you see it" and leave it at that, I'd like to touch on a few areas that might come into play as you evaluate new members. Read on for a few ideas in this week's Guild Counsel, and add yours to the discussion below!

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The Guild Counsel: When do you trust the new guy? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: What makes a guild leader miserable?

Karen Bryan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Guild-leading can be a very enjoyable and rewarding activity, but it's not always a walk in the park. In many of the columns here and the discussions that follow, the most common theme is how leading guilds is both the best and the toughest role in the game. When things are all falling into place and everyone's clicking, it's extremely satisfying to see it all come together. But when it's not, it can be extremely frustrating and stressful.

We've often looked at the benefits of running a guild, but in today's Guild Counsel, let's look at a few areas that can sometimes make guild leadership almost seem not worth it. Hopefully by discussing and recognizing these moments of misery, guild leaders can find some solace in knowing that they aren't alone, and members can help make life easier for their leaders.

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The Guild Counsel: What makes a guild leader miserable? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: What the WoW speed dating video really tells us about gaming

Karen Bryan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Over on YouTube, amid the sea of boring, mindless, drivel-filled videos are a few gems that capture worldwide attention and have become iconic. Numa Numa, the evolution of dance, and of course, Charlie bit my finger are all so well-known that they've become part of the lexicon. So when I watched the World of Warcraft speed dating video this week, I couldn't help but think that this video is iconic in its own right. In that short snippet, we can learn a whole lot about the state of gaming and a hint of our future. Read on to see why I think it's more than just a cute conversation.

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The Guild Counsel: What the WoW speed dating video really tells us about gaming originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: The six most embarrassing things you can do in a guild

Karen Bryan — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, Humor, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

There are some things in life that just go hand in hand, like peanut butter and jelly, Bert and Ernie, sun and sand, and guilds and embarrassing moments. In fact, one thing that makes guild life so memorable is our collection of those little screw-ups that leave us laughing and wondering what on earth someone was thinking. There are tons of things people do in game that leave them flustered (believe me, I know!), but some go down in history as classic moments of mortification. Let's take a look at a few epic embarrassments in this week's Guild Counsel.

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The Guild Counsel: The six most embarrassing things you can do in a guild originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO Family: Do kids belong in guilds?

Karen Bryan — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, Kids, MMO Family, Family, Miscellaneous

In my regular columns at Massively, I enjoy taking a look at various topics surrounding family-friendly MMOs and common issues in guild management. So it seemed natural to take the two subjects and combine them for this week's MMO Family. Gamers are growing older, and we're seeing an increasing presence of younger players, even in the more serious "adult" games like Lord of the Rings Online and EverQuest II. For those who play MMOs with their children, it might seem reasonable to seek a guild tag for them, but that might not sit well with your guild peers.

Should kids be allowed in guilds? Are there any benefits to sharing a tag with your children, or are they better off staying unguilded?

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MMO Family: Do kids belong in guilds? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Time for a mutiny!

Karen Bryan — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

In last week's Guild Counsel, we looked at some of the qualities required of guildleaders for those who might be thinking of trying it out. But what if you're someone who's already a member of a guild? If I had a nickel for every time a guild member thought to himself, "I could do a better job," I'd be able to retire and buy a ticket to fly in space. In some cases, it's just an issue of backseat driving, but in others, there's some merit to that point of view. When is it time to step in and replace the guild leader? And if so, how do you do it without the usual Hindenburgesque drama that ensues?

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The Guild Counsel: Time for a mutiny! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Are you ready to lead a guild?

Karen Bryan — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

The Guild Counsel has explored lots of tips and advice that make running a guild more enjoyable and (hopefully!) more successful. But I'm constantly amazed at the number of players I meet in MMOs who would probably make great leaders and would probably enjoy it but don't give it a try. Making the leap from player to guild leader can be both tempting and daunting, and unfortunately, there's no easy way to tell who will make a good leader and who won't. Plenty of us have come across people who really should not have taken on the guild leader role, but for every bad guild leader, there are probably dozens of good people who could become great leaders if they chose to make the leap.

Granted, there are many who are firmly set on staying away from the role, and that's understandable, but this week's column is devoted to those who are considering stepping forward to lead but aren't sure if they have what it takes. Are you ready to run a guild? Let's find out!

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The Guild Counsel: Are you ready to lead a guild? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Raiding and dealing with the dreaded 'bench'

Karen Bryan — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, MMO industry, PvE, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous, Dungeons

The good news for guilds these days is that you don't need as many players in order to form a raid and tackle endgame content. However, this is also the bad news because it means guild leaders need to keep a watchful eye on their roster and face the unenviable task of telling certain members they can't be part of the raid on any given night.

In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look the time-honored tradition of benchwarming and cover some tips on how to avoid the drama that comes with it. You may not be able to completely avoid having to sit members out, but there are some ways to cut down on how often you do have to say no.

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The Guild Counsel: Raiding and dealing with the dreaded 'bench' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Four ways to be a great guildmate

Karen Bryan — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

When looking at the dos and don'ts of guild leadership and member interactions, usually the don'ts tend to dominate the discussion. And when it comes to evaluating player types, usually it's the negative types that get described, like the Henny Penny, the Mr. Wiggly, or the Guild Turkey.

But what about a player who might be interested in trying his hand at joining a guild? There are definitely some tips that help make you a respected guild member and won't have you feeling like pretending to be someone you aren't. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look at some easy ways to leave a good impression and be seen as a great guildie by your mates!

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The Guild Counsel: Four ways to be a great guildmate originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: New game, new guild, cold feet - now what?

Karen Bryan — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

There's an eerie similarity between gamers and guilds when it comes to game launches. The day a game goes live, there's often a huge rush of players, elbowing each other as they gobble up content. But as quickly as they arrive, some players decide that this isn't the game for them, and they move on.

The same is true for many new guilds. If you consider the size of the Star Wars: The Old Republic pre-launch guild database, for example, there were over 78,000 guilds signed up to deploy, but the total number of guilds still active today is undoubtedly only a fraction of that. In some cases, guilds that signed up probably never got off the ground, but in other cases, it's possible that the guild soured on the game. Now, it's one thing if you're just one individual who gets cold feet, but it's much more complicated when you're the guild leader and you've got a roster full of members tagging alongside you. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll consider what you should do you do when you've made a guild in a new game and then realize the game just isn't your cup of tea.

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The Guild Counsel: New game, new guild, cold feet - now what? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: How to break into raiding

Karen Bryan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, Guides, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

One question every guild needs to answer at some point is, "Will we be a raiding guild?" Many guilds answer that question with a loud "yes" even before they set foot in game, but for other guilds, it's something that bubbles up as members reach the level cap and raid content is within reach. Raiding tends to get a bad rap, but that's not surprising when you remember that raid videos are usually filled with yelling, swearing, finger pointing, and heavy metal music. It looks about as relaxing as boot camp in the winter.

But it is possible to go from casual to raiding and still maintain a casual, low-key tone. In fact, it's even easier now to do that in many MMOs. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look at why we've entered a golden age of raiding, and we'll cover a few handy tips for guilds looking to make the leap.

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The Guild Counsel: How to break into raiding originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Why you need these seven samurai in your guild

Karen Bryan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

More often than not, when the subject of recruiting comes up, guild leaders can easily explain what they don't want from a potential member. We've all seen the usual reasons for wanting to turn someone away, and there have even been a few write-ups that neatly label and describe troublesome members. But what qualities define "good" members?

Sometimes, it's harder to pinpoint what makes a good guildmate, and the saying "I know it when I see it" usually results. But there are certain types of people that really make a difference in a guild, no matter what playstyle, and we have to look no further than the film The Seven Samurai for a rundown of those types. Recruit these seven members and you'll be well on your way to creating a great guild atmosphere that will last. Let's look at who they are in today's Guild Counsel!

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The Guild Counsel: Why you need these seven samurai in your guild originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Does running a guild have to be so hard?

Karen Bryan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

When you hear people describe the role of guild leader, you often hear descriptions like "herding cats," "constantly busy," or "running the crazy house." Guild leaders are often easily identified because they're the ones running around at a frantic pace, trying to micromanage every last detail. It's no surprise that few people actually want to be guild leaders because the way the role is described, you're almost expected to take on a second job.

But sometimes guild leaders make things harder than they need to be. Part of that is from a desire to take on too much, but part of that is because there have traditionally been certain things we all assume have to be done. Whether you're a brand-new guild leader or someone who's been running the show for years, it's worth stepping back and questioning whether we really need to be doing all of the things we're doing. Let's put on some Bob Marley and look at a few ways to cut down on the busy work.

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The Guild Counsel: Does running a guild have to be so hard? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Guild life in SWTOR

Karen Bryan — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Guilds, Launches, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, The Guild Counsel

If you thought the future looked cloudy for guilds in MMOs, Star Wars: The Old Republic's launch stomped out any doubts. The pre-launch list of guilds was so enormous that it rivaled the total player populations of other MMOs. But there are some interesting aspects to guild life in SWTOR, and this week in The Guild Counsel, we'll take a closer look at them.

If you're interested in some first impressions from a guild perspective, or if you're wondering how to make a guild now that the game has launched, read on for a look at guild life in SWTOR.

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The Guild Counsel: Guild life in SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Stop teasing me!

Karen Bryan — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

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.

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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.

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The Guild Counsel: Why not all guild departures are equal

Karen Bryan — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

"I'm only a tell away." The line is one that MMO players see all too often, and it signals the departure of a guildmate. I used to joke with one of my guildies about that line, and while we went through the motions and said good luck, deep down inside we resented the fact that someone chose to bail on our guild. For us, the line smacked of insincerity, and it probably would have been better in our eyes for the person to just not have said anything at all. Through the years, the MMO landscape has changed a lot, and so has my feeling toward the phrase, "I'm only a tell away." In this week's Guild Counsel, I'll look at how not all departures are equal.

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The Guild Counsel: Why not all guild departures are equal originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: A closer look at leadership style

Karen Bryan — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

There's a little saying that dogs and their masters often tend to resemble one another. That can also be true for guilds and their leaders. The atmosphere and feel of a guild, more often than not, is a mirror of the leader's personality. If a guild is running roughshod across the server, laying waste to the countryside, chances are that it's being led by an aggressive, type A personality. Similarly, if there's a guild that charms the pants off the server and is known for its friendly tone, there's a good chance it has a leader with a matching style.

But sometimes, a certain leadership tone can work effectively in some ways and fall flat on its face in others. This week in The Guild Counsel, we'll look at three common leadership styles -- the yeller, the motivational speaker, and the den mother -- to see how each works well and how each can fall short of the mark.

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The Guild Counsel: A closer look at leadership style originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Running a guild on a free-to-play server

Karen Bryan — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

If there's one trend that's dominated the MMO industry over the past year and a half, it's the notion of free-to-play. What was once taboo has now become mainstream, and while it's breathed new life into the genre, it drastically changes the ground rules for players and guilds.

Each week, we've taken a look at common issues in guild management, but what are the specific challenges that guild leaders face in free-to-play games? In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll examine some of the complexities of guild leadership in a free-to-play world.

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The Guild Counsel: Running a guild on a free-to-play server originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Surviving the summer doldrums

Karen Bryan — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Memorial Day weekend has come and gone, and as we all know, it marks the unofficial start of summer. That means lots of grilling, extra sunblock, school vacation... and the summertime blues in our favorite MMOs.

Summer is always a difficult time for MMOs, and for guilds in particular. Expansions tend to arrive in the fall and winter, meaning that content begins to grow stale by summer. Members aren't on as often; instead, they are busy with children out of school, summer trips, and shockingly, a desire to soak up some sun and nice weather. For a guild leader, this is one of the most difficult times of the year, and many guilds fail to make it through the summer. But there are some ways to get through the doldrums, and the experience can even be a great opportunity to strengthen your guild in the long run. Read on for some helpful summertime tips in this week's Guild Counsel!

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The Guild Counsel: Surviving the summer doldrums originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Am I a leader?

Karen Bryan — Thu, 19 May 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Last week, in response to the article about dealing with guild complaints, there was a somewhat provocative comment from reader Graill440, who questioned the use of the word "leader" when referring to guild leaders. In his comment, he made the following point:

"While the article is great in terms of what kids and some adults do in a guild, the misnomer that 'leaders' are created in a game of any type or simply because you wear the abused tag 'guildleader' is absurd. I have no problem with the term guildmaster, GM, stratman, stratperson, roteman, etc., but labeling or calling anyone who plays a game a leader because of that particular game is plain wishful thinking."

While it did put some on the defensive, it's a point worth examining more closely. As Val Kilmer's Doc Holliday would say, "I'm your huckleberry." In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll take a look at whether guild leaders possess enough qualities to actually call themselves leaders.

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The Guild Counsel: Am I a leader? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Soapbox: The selfish gamer

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

It happened a couple of months ago. I was in a remote area in Lord of the Rings Online when another player -- the only other player in this small zone -- sent me a tell. "Can you help me? I need to finish this quest, and I keep getting killed in this cave."

Honestly? My first instinct was to say no. It had been a busy day, and I was sitting down to a brief, 20-minute session that would be my only chance to get anything done until tomorrow. I was hoping to knock out a couple quests of my own, and I really didn't want to log out without accomplishing something with that character. So I responded and declined to help, which he took in good humor.

Then it hit me what I just did. In a social online game, I'd refused to help someone who blatantly asked for it, all because I was being self-centered. So I sent him another tell. "You know what? What the heck. I'm sorry; I was having a me moment. Let's do this." And so we did. It was fun, and I logged out 20 minutes later without having advanced my character but feeling as though I accomplished something substantial even so.

It was at this moment that I started to realize just how MMOs have conditioned me to be as selfish as possible -- and I made a promise right then and there that I'd start fighting back against that conditioning. I didn't want to be a selfish gamer any longer.

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The Soapbox: The selfish gamer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Is it time to merge?

Karen Bryan — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST

Filed 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!

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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.

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The Guild Counsel: No one helps me!

Karen Bryan — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

There's a certain type of loot that everyone wants, and it's not gear or a fancy sword or an epic. It's help. The whole notion of a guild, alliance, corporation, or clan is based on the idea that members will come together to help each other out in accomplishing both individual goals and larger guild achievements. On raid nights, it's easy to quantify the help -- everyone on the raid is performing his role for the team, and everyone is after the same goal, which is to down a big boss and reap the rewards. On off-nights, it's much harder to gauge "help." One member might need help on a dungeon crawl for a quest update. Another might need help with a crafting combine with catching up on levels and gear. The problem is that not everyone is on the same page, and for several reasons, those calls for help can go unanswered, leading to frustration, venting, and much guild drama. In the end, it's the guild leader who's crying for help.

In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll answer that cry for help and look at ways for guild leaders to take on the difficult issue of whom and when to help.

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The Guild Counsel: No one helps me! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Fighting the flames of burnout

Karen Bryan — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Everyone, and I mean everyone, who plays MMOs will face burnout at one point or another. It doesn't matter what your playstyle is; it doesn't even matter whether you're in a guild or not. Raiders log in and find that they can't wait till the raid is called, even before it began. Soloers log in and ask themselves why they should bother doing that shard- or token-run for the billionth time. Tradeskillers log in and realize that their hatred of crafted stew has carried over to their real lives.

In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll take a closer look at burnout. While it is unavoidable, we'll examine ways to get through it, for you as well as your guild.

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The Guild Counsel: Fighting the flames of burnout originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE Evolved: Power players and player retention

Brendan Drain — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Expansions, Guilds, MMO industry, Opinion, EVE Evolved

As I mentioned in our coverage of the EVE Online Fanfest, the best part of the experience for me was discussing EVE with players who are as involved in and enthusiastic about the game as I am. On my first night there, I got into a fascinating discussion with a few players on a topic I hadn't really considered before -- power players. Every MMO has players who get heavily involved in their chosen game. EVE's Fanfest really highlighted this, as around a thousand of EVE's power players flew to Iceland just to talk about the game, contribute ideas in roundtable discussions and find out what the future holds for the game.

Ultimately, the fate of EVE lies in its community. EVE's main strength as an MMO is the fact that with so many players in one game universe, people form very real ties with each other. Corporations and alliances are more than just collections of people; they're sub-communities with their own aspirations, internal politics, playstyles, personalities and even senses of humour. These organisations give people support and a place to call home in an unforgiving universe, and it's the power players of EVE who make all of that possible.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I explore the importance of power players in MMOs and what the concept means for EVE's development.

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EVE Evolved: Power players and player retention originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Power Couples

Karen Bryan — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Last week, in honor of Valentine's Day, The Guild Counsel took a look at the challenges and uniqueness of online relationships in MMOs and the role guilds have (and don't have) in the equation. It might seem a little strange to some, but there are many who can vouch for the fact that these relationships are indeed strong and can turn into successful marriages. Thanks to those who shared their stories!

This week, we're shifting gears a bit to look at spouses in guilds. Whether they met online or not, married couples can affect a guild differently from individual members. And when one spouse is in a position of power, things can get even more complicated. Read on for a look at how to avoid having the MMO version of Heidi and Spencer in your guild.

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The Guild Counsel: Power Couples originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: The crisis of cliques

Karen Bryan — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous

Last week, a few readers offered up a terrific subject for the Guild Counsel to take a look at -- cliques. Those little pockets of exclusivity can wreak enormous havoc on an unsuspecting guild. Guild leaders want their guilds to resemble Little House on the Prairie, but what they get is a sinister version of Married... with Children.

Why are cliques dangerous, and how should a guild leader handle them? Read on for some handy advice and helpful tips!

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The Guild Counsel: The crisis of cliques originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log: Eleventh-hour changing of the guard

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, MMO industry, News items, Opinion, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, The Mog Log

When I woke up on Friday, I was greeted by a message from Square-Enix, and that alone was enough to make me start wondering what in the world was going on now. As a direct result of that message, the gist of which can be gotten here if you've somehow missed it, I'm going to have to postpone the column I had previously written on Final Fantasy XI and Abyssea. I apologize, but I'm hoping the column will work out like a fine wine and just be better with age. Then again, considering that Final Fantasy XI is sharing the same management bug as Final Fantasy XIV, perhaps not.

And yes, wow, that was a big one. Tanaka dethroned, a new development team installed, and a whole lot of uncertainty about what this means for the future of Final Fantasy XIV. It could be a step forward, it could be a step backward, and unfortunately the official statements can be read in a multitude of different ways. Oh, right, and the free trial is being further extended until the development team can confidently outline a plan regarding the game's new direction... but what direction is that actually going to be?

Continue reading The Mog Log: Eleventh-hour changing of the guard

The Mog Log: Eleventh-hour changing of the guard originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives -- The siege

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia

The battle was sore. The sound of wings beating the hot air of the Abyss filled the ears of all of us, soldier and commander alike. Singed feathers, both black and white, floated about, as fireballs flew between factions, pelting any who could not dodge fast enough. Shadowy forms dove, weaving between the raining arrows, looking for targets. Sounds of steel clashing rang out as spies tried to sneak past enemy lines in search of kisks. The battle was immense, a sea of red crashing against us, trying to claim what was rightfully ours! We knew we must give our all to repel the enemy onslaught.

In the heat of battle, immediate decisions had long-reaching consequences; the tide of battle could turn on a single kinah. All voices hushed as the Commander, MrAwesumPants, issued the order that would bring victory, that would bring us closer to eradicating this threat upon true Daeva. One force was dispatched to take the artifact and activate it. "Do it. Do it now. Do it. Do it. Do it now. Do it do it do it do it now do it do it do it now... now... now... now... get it. DO IT NOW... come ON! Are you paying attention? NOW NOW NOW!! DO IT DO IT DO IT! NOWNOWNOWNOWNOWNOWNOW!!! Do it. Don't do it. OMG you *expletive* I can't believe you just did that!"

Everyone could hear the spittle dripping from his mic, spraying against his monitor. The hush continued.

Have you ever sat in a faction Ventrilo server and heard the siege leader repeat an order like a rapid-fire machine gun for what seemed like five minutes straight, then right as it is being accomplished, immediately rescind the order, demand his followers stop, then totally berate whoever followed the order? No joke -- true story. If you thought drama was just for individuals or legions in Aion, think again! There is a seemingly endless supply of siege drama to keep Daevas entertained -- or disgusted.

Settle back and tune in past the cut for the latest episode of Daevas of Our Lives.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives -- The siege

Wings Over Atreia: Daevas of Our Lives -- The siege originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Champions Online talks about their new executive producer

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, Opinion, Champions Online

The change of leadership on Champions Online produced some pretty strong reactions, nearly all of them aimed at Bill Roper. Fair or not, there was a general sense that many of the game's problems were linked to him being in charge, and in the midst of everything it was a bit easy to lose sight of the new executive producer. Shannon Posniewski, known to forum regulars as "Poz" and former Lead Programmer, has inherited the job and all that goes along with it, good and bad. That means it's a fine time to learn a little more about the person in charge of the game's direction.

Posniewski has been with Cryptic for some time, having worked on City of Heroes before the studio left the game behind and moved on to Champions Online. He discusses a fair bit about his experience working on the games, as well as some of his own tips for working in the game industry and what sort of challenges are faced. What he doesn't mention are his plans for the game's near future -- but those facts are fairly public knowledge at this point. Considering how much impressions of the game were based upon Bill Roper's personality, it seems more than fair to give the new guy his own turn at the helm.

Champions Online talks about their new executive producer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anti-Aliased: Leadership tips from a former roleplaying raid officer

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Tips and tricks, PvE, Opinion, Anti-Aliased

"Roleplaying" and "raid" both in the same sentence? Blasphemy! Yet, that was my position back in World of Warcraft, and I certainly roleplayed while participating in PvP and massive PvE (almost akin to raids) in The Matrix Online before its demise. Before all of that, I was a roleplaying guild leader in Final Fantasy XI and Phantasy Star Online, so I've been around guilds for a long, long time.

If there has been any constant throughout my long string of positions as guild leader, linkshell leader, faction leader, and raid officer it has been thus -- leadership is tough. Sure you can surround yourself with raid guides, memorize every battle perfectly, and be wearing the most epic of epic gear, but if you don't learn how to work with others then you're most likely doomed to fail.

Raiding and multi-man content means working as a team, and that means someone's got to step up to the plate to take the reins. Leading a group or raid isn't easy, but I can tell you that it's well, well worth it. To that end, if you're just starting out on the path of leadership or are looking for a few tips to help out your raiding group, I think I might have some advice for you guys.

(Editor's Note: Sorry about the glitch! Part 2 is now available!)

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Leadership tips from a former roleplaying raid officer

Anti-Aliased: Leadership tips from a former roleplaying raid officer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anti-Aliased: I, suck

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Anti-Aliased

So my last column was one heck of a surprising column. Anti-Aliased got steamrolled with your opinions, thanks to the linking from N4G, Kotaku, Reddit, WoW.com, and Joystiq and everyone spreading the word and telling their friends. Without a doubt, that was the most productive column I've written in a long time, and while some people may have written it off as a rant, the more important thing is that it started some great discussion amongst the community. Everyone who gave their view on things, from the people who agreed to the people who wish I would crawl into a ditch and die, thanks for giving your view!

So this week when I went out with a few friends to get a drink, one of them mentioned Darkfall. Of course when an MMO comes up in conversation, all of my friends turn and give me this long, dead stare. I sighed and recounted my time in Darkfall, but as I thought of it, I began to notice something.

I really sucked at Darkfall. Not just kind of sucked -- really sucked. The combat in that wasn't my thing, as I never really deal with pressure in PvP when something big is on the light. FPS games where I go to my save point when I die is one thing, but dying and losing everything? That's something different. I think I killed like 3 people in my entire month there. Although, when it came to crafting, I was a arrow machine.

But that got me thinking about sucking in general and how we as a community aren't very supportive when it comes to players who may not be the best at the games they play.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: I, suck

Anti-Aliased: I, suck originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MAG interview talks about gameplay and development

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Video, Game mechanics, Interviews, New titles, MMOFPS, MAG

You can argue the specifics about whether or not MAG qualifies as an MMO, but the game certainly fits the "massive" portion of the bill -- 128 characters to a side in battle, customized and developed characters, persistent world based on the performance in the skirmishes. The game's release is only a couple months away, and there's still a great deal more to learn about it if you haven't yet opted in to the preorder beta. Luckily for all of us, Giant Bomb has an interview with Seth Luisi which sheds more light on how the game will play and progress.

The interview is quite substantial, covering everything from MAG's skill progression to leadership roles in the game. Among the more interesting tidbits is the system for squad leaders and further command posts. In order to give some incentive to follow a commander's orders, the objectives they set give a bonus to experience when fulfilled, and as the objectives are fulfilled the leader gets points to help improve their character. It's an interesting dual-reward system that should help lead to people being a bit more inclined to give and take orders in a setting notorious for just the opposite.

But that's hardly the entirety of the interview -- it's only a tiny slice of a talk that ranges to the state of the world affecting map play, character specialization, and some of the problems that the team is facing and working on improving. Take a look at the full interview, which clocks in at around eight minutes long, and you might be inspired to place a pre-order and get your hands on the beta early.

MAG interview talks about gameplay and development originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anti-Aliased: Serious business guys, serious business

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, PvP, Raiding, Endgame, Grouping, PvE, Opinion, Anti-Aliased

This is one of those quintessential arguments that pops up time and time again amongst gamers, guilds, groups, and communities. It's an argument that divides people, pisses off people, and causes countless more gamers to alienate other gamers. How serious should you be about playing your game?

Of course we laugh about a topic like this one. Games aren't suppose to be serious, that's why they're games! They're suppose to be fun and enjoyable. If you're not having fun, then you're doing something seriously wrong. For the most part, all of this is true. Yet, there are small segments of the games that we play that actually can require everyone to sit down and "get serious."

We see it in raiding tactics, player vs. player tactics, loot distribution, and many other areas (including the entire universe of EVE Online, which seems to be played very seriously.) We've even dedicated a segment of our culture to this type of behavior -- the "hardcore" crowd.

So, let's go forward and look at the question, "Are games getting too serious?"

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Serious business guys, serious business

Anti-Aliased: Serious business guys, serious business originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leadership in EVE Online applicable to real-world ventures

James Egan — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Guilds, News items

EVE Online has been getting increased mainstream media coverage. Recently the New York Times covered EVE's Council of Stellar Management (CSM) summit in Reykjavik, as well as the self-styled 'bad guy' alliance Band of Brother's initiative to annihilate their rivals in New Eden, wiping them from New Eden's star maps.

A new MMO article at Forbes takes a close look at the corporate paradigm of EVE Online, both in-game and out. The piece touches on the views of Goonswarm alliance leader and CSM delegate Sean Conover (aka Darius Johnson, CEO of Goonfleet) and the real-world CEO of CCP Games, Hilmar Veigar Petursson. The Icelandic CEO states: "There isn't a lot of difference between what you can apply within the game and out of it... It's more about social skills than gaming skills. It's very hard to stay on top."

Continue reading Leadership in EVE Online applicable to real-world ventures

Leadership in EVE Online applicable to real-world ventures originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do MMO leadership skills scale?

Akela Talamasca — Mon, 19 May 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Academic

According to this article from the India Times, there is a direct correlation between the kinds of skill needed for leaders to excel in an MMO, and the skills required for success in the real world. Namely, these skills break down to "Collaboration is key", "Vision is important", and "Information gathering and synthesis generate results".

However, while it all sounds great on paper, there is a literal world's difference between decisions that affect the outcome of a game, and choices that determine the fate of a business. This is not to say that games can't be a testbed for quality decision-making behavior, but it takes real ingenuity to directly apply game experience to the real world and have corresponding value. What do you think? Do gamers make better leaders?

The Daily Grind: Do MMO leadership skills scale? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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