Question for the player of Illarion

Anlan Erson · Post by **Anlan Erson** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:11 am

This question is about guilds. I mean if your going to start a guild dont you think you should stick through it? I mean if your going to do it dont you think you should at least figure out if it will survive the first few months. I have been here for a few weeks now and I have seen at least two guilds fall and a possibility of 2 or 3 more.

Val De Gausse · Post by **Val De Gausse** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:15 am

You are obviously talking about me, how can you stick through it if your members stop participating?

Anlan Erson · Post by **Anlan Erson** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:17 am

You try and get more or dont start a guild which people will lose interest in the first place

Val De Gausse · Post by **Val De Gausse** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:20 am

I tried to get more, obviously you don't know if people are interested unless you start one.

Adano Eles · Post by **Adano Eles** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:56 am

First gather people who share interests, then form a guild, circle, whatever out of this group. So you know that there are people interested, and you know that these people are taking it serious and will stay with it.

Mishrack · Post by **Mishrack** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:46 pm

When you just turn up on the boards shouting - JOIN THIS NEW GUILD!!! it always fails. every single time. As Adano said, make sure you have at least a handful of friends who will stick by it no matter what, before you start it.

Hagen von Rabenfeld · Post by **Hagen von Rabenfeld** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 1:51 pm

Reasons for the declining of many guilds:

1) They are founded by two or three newcomers, who simply cannot have a sufficent reputation to draw other possible members. Members distrust the founders, to only use the guild for their personal agendas
2) They lack any clear goals or purposes. All they usually do is threaten those, who bully one of their members around. As friends would do the same there is still no reason to form a guild. Possible members see no reason for joining, as there is no task which would require the combined efforts of the members. And belive me, simply stating that you will "defend the city and its inhabitans" , will not be enough.
3) They usually do not have any kind of internal organisation, or terms of conduct, besides "guy A is the leader".
4) Their members lack the endurance to get the necessary work done, which is included in making a guild. (homepage, regular communication between the members, setting and obeying the rules, proper behaviour towards the people, their guild has relations to, etc.)
5) The members fail to stick to their guild, because of the multiple ties of loyality, a single person/char builds up during his stay on the island. For instance, beeing part of several guilds or having friends whose interests clash with those of the guild.
6) Most guilds found by newcomers resemble a loosely tied group of school-yard-bullies. That they are not taken for serious, only adds opportunities to diminish one`s own reputation, by trying to "proof" oneself as a efficient group, that deserves to be recognized and treated with respect. This usually happens, when they think they can command someone or forbid this or that behaviour inside the town limits.
7) Most types of guilds already have a well settled concurrence. As long as you dont invent any new kind of guild (in terms of goals, fields of interest etc.) members who would be interested, will join the more experienced group.

Summary:
As long as you didnt live on the island long enough, to get to know the different interest groups and to find something, that will give the existance of your guild a reason, you will fail. Additionally you will not have a core of loyal members, as you cannot know them long enough to trust them and their competence.
My own char is on the island for more than half a year and i doubt that he would suceed in forming a guild out of thin air. Consider what Adano and Mish wrote and you will come to the conclusion that forming a guild, that lasts longer than one or two months, requires alot of work and experience, newcomers simply do not have. Their Chars do not know the game enviroment well and their players do not have the necessary experience with the OOC demands and the unwritten rules of the game in general. Personally i think it ridiculous that newcomers expect, that the founding of their guild is a so unique event, that it will be granted attention and success. If you want, i can give you numerous examples of guilds who didnt fulfill one of the above mentioned points.

Btw: Are you already accepted into the game or do you just spam the boards of a game, you have no idea about, Anlan Erson?

@ Deies
If you arent SURE that your members will participate actively, do not even try to make a guild, this will only make the other players to not take you serious, as chars as well as players.

Edit because of some spelling mistakes

Belegi · Post by **Belegi** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 1:55 pm

One thing I want to add: You don´t have to start a new guild for everything, there are many old guilds you could join. In fact I feel sorry for old guilds breaking up, in this manner much of history is lost.