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The Guild Counsel: Should MMO studios hold guild summits?
We're in the thick of game convention season, and with that come the usual panels and discussions aimed at the general playerbase. But in some games, there are organized "guild summits" that pull in handpicked guilds for some amplified feedback and lobbying power over future game design. But how much sway should guilds have with game studios? On one hand, they can be helpful lobbying groups for game changes that the bulk of the playerbase wants and would appreciate. On the other hand, not all guilds are the same, and what one guild might want to see in game could be vastly different from the ideas of another guild. Should guilds have special summits with studios? Let's take a look at this topic in this week's Guild Counsel.
Officers' Quarters: PvP guild on a PvE realm
Every Monday, Scott Andrews contributes Officers' Quarters, a column about the ins and outs of guild leadership. He is the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook, available from No Starch Press. Can a strictly PvP guild work on a PvE server? According to the email below, the trolls in trade chat say that it's doomed to fail. Are they right? Dear Scott, I have a problem and would like some advice. Ive been RBG leader for the past month or so for my guild. We are a pvp-only guild that plays on Elune, and thats kind of my problem. We kind of have a constant recruiting, though we have at least 10 players on all the times Im on, and about 30 at prime times. I post on tradechat a guild advertisement or two, just cause we do need decent pvpers still. Some of the people on tradechat said that our guild is bad, and that we stink at pvp. I tried to show a couple people making these remarks some ratings, but in vein. They stated that since we were on a pve server, why would we be good? I know personally that we have some VERY good players in our guild, but I dont know how to make them believe that.
The Guild Counsel: Gender choice and guild drama
There are many reasons for guild drama, but one of the most challenging comes from a single choice that we make before our characters even see the light of day. In MMOs, character creation can consist of full customization, or it can simply be a choice among some pre-sets, but the majority of games give you the choice to pick your gender. Even if you select a non-human race, there are usually male versions and female versions. For many players, this is a no-brainer, and they play as their own gender. But many others opt to go cross-gender, and that can lead to drama later on, even if it's unintended. In this week's Guild Counsel, let's look at the topic of gender to see why it can be so problematic and how guilds can avoid potential drama from it.
Officers' Quarters: Culture shock
Every Monday, Scott Andrews contributes Officers' Quarters, a column about the ins and outs of guild leadership. He is the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook, available from No Starch Press. This week's email presents an interesting situation about recruiting, loot, raiding, and drama. I'll let it speak for itself. Help Me Guild Master Guru - You're My Only Hope!!! I've written in the past and you've been helpful. I have a doosie for you. My guild has been around for almost 3 years and I've been a guild leader and officer for about 4 years. We're your average run of the mill raiding guild with a little more than half of the heroic bosses down in DS. We're more than just a guild, we're a family. Our focus is on raiding and killing bosses. Our policies and mission reflect that focus. We recently had a discussion among our leadership about possibly absorbing the core members of another guild that's falling apart. They raid with a little more intensity than we do, but we have members that want to raid at that intensity. So there was discussion about having one group raid at that intensity and our other 2-3 groups just mosey along like we've always done. The problem was, the officer from the other guild that I was discussing this with had his own ideas for this raid team that didn't quite jive with us (especially regarding the loot policy). One of our officers was extremely vocal and emotional against this happening. The discussion derailed and that's no longer an option.
The Guild Counsel: The merit in MMOs and the greatness in guilds
Last week, I got a bit grouchy as I looked at bad gamers, and I want to rebound from that this week. Bad gamers are like a paper cut: tiny and microscopic, yet surprisingly annoying. But when you step back and look at gaming overall, there's still plenty to marvel at. MMOs still offer a lot of freedom, which means freedom to be a griefer but also freedom to make connections with others and even learn a little about yourself along the way. I love when a group or raid is really clicking because players begin to relax, personalities emerge, and the results are some memorable moments and strong friendships. Maybe it's a desire to bounce back from last week's rant, or maybe it's the double rainbow I saw yesterday, but in this week's Guild Counsel, it's time to revisit what makes MMOs and guilds so great.
Officers' Quarters: Meter padding mayhem
Every Monday, Scott Andrews contributes Officers' Quarters, a column about the ins and outs of guild leadership. He is the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook, available from No Starch Press. Ah, meter padding. It's an age-old tradition dating back to Molten Core. Vanilla raiders will remember the Core Hound packs between Lucifron and Magmadar. You had to kill them all within a certain amount of time or they would begin to rez each other. That meant the hounds that were "dead" could still take damage. Rather than finishing off the last few, some DPSers would simply spam AoE on the pile of dead bodies -- meter padding at its finest! This week, a raid leader asks how he can get his DPSers to stop causing wipes by padding the meters in Dragon Soul. Hi Scott, I was recently promoted to raid leader in my guild and while I consider my guild to be fairly good, we do have one fairly serious problem. The good old meter padding. We initially managed to kill madness and spine at the 5% nerf, but since then blizzard has increased the nerf to 30% and when we have to ask our dps to simply stand around and not attack, they simply choose not to listen which sometimes leads to a wipe.
The Guild Counsel: Bad gamers
You'll have to forgive me this week for channeling the spirit of Andy Rooney and getting my grump on, but I need to get something off my chest. When it comes to MMOs, I tend to have an optimistic view of things. I think MMOs offer a lot when it comes to learning about ourselves, making connections with others, and exploring amazing worlds. But every time I reassure myself of the positive qualities of gaming, up pops exhibit #4,381 to prove me wrong. I still hold out hope, but in this week's Guild Counsel, I want to look at my most recent encounter with the bleaker side of gaming to see why, after all these years, we haven't escaped it -- and how we might be able to curb it. (And I'll explain why it has to do with Ron Burgundy!)
Officers' Quarters: Mind the gap
Every Monday, Scott Andrews contributes Officers' Quarters, a column about the ins and outs of guild leadership. He is the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook, available from No Starch Press. In my opinion, it is Blizzard's biggest failure when it comes to WoW: the Gap. The Gap between the last major content patch of an expansion and the next expansion is always far too long. The Gap is always extremely difficult for guilds. The Gap kills momentum and morale. The Gap disintegrates rosters. Why does it happen every single time? Honestly, I have no idea. The Gap bores and disappoints everyone, but at least we're used to it. We don't like it, but we expect it. However, if your guild has never faced it before, like the one in the email below, it can cause something of a panic. Hi Scott! I'm not an officer in my guild or anything, I'm just one of the players that's been around since Burning Crusade. It's a long time to have a guild running, but we're running into some issues and I'm not sure how to handle them, so I thought maybe you'd have some advice. Our guild is a progression raiding guild, but we don't work super hard at world firsts or anything like that -- we take our time and clear the content with the goal of clearing it before the next tier and the next expansion comes out. In Burning Crusade, we managed to clear Sunwell just before Wrath launched. In Wrath, we managed to just squeak in a heroic Lich King kill before Cataclysm came out. Sounds good, right? Well ... now we've run into a problem, and it's causing the guild a little strife.
The Guild Counsel: Five golden rules of raid leadership
Organizing and running a raid is a weird cross between coach, playground monitor, and symphony conductor. It's challenging, but when everything is going well, it really is a fun and satisfying experience. There are a lot of little details that sometimes come up, but in general, I think there are five "golden rules" that basically guarantee a good raid, even if you don't necessarily win all the boss battles. And these rules really apply to any situation that involves managing players, so players who like to put together dungeon-running groups, for example, should find these helpful as well. What are my "golden rules" of raid leadership? Read on and share yours below!
Officers' Quarters: When you're asked to pass on loot
Every Monday, Scott Andrews contributes Officers' Quarters, a column about the ins and outs of guild leadership. He is the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook, available from No Starch Press. At one time or another, all of us who play WoW long enough have been "asked to pass" on loot. Usually it all works out OK. Either you pass or you don't, and everyone goes about their business. However, the situation is bursting with the potential for drama -- as we see in the following email. Hello Scott, Great blog, I'm relatively new to WoW (joined my first and current raiding guild in the beginning of Cataclysm) and have due to some unfortunate situations become guild leader. I had to learn and adapt quickly and your blog has helped me a lot. Recently, I had to deal with a situation that seemed very dramatic from my PoV and needed my attention as GM. The guild was doing a more casual Dragon Soul run. We normally have raids for raiding members only and we use EP/GP there. This run was set up and led by an experienced raid and guild leader that is part of our raiding team. I did not personally attend -- normally I would lead raids. They used the Roll system to distribute loot. However, there were a few members of the progression raiding team that attended this run. Some of them still interested in some rarer normal drops. While it was not required, it seemed to be common behaviour to pass for these main raiders when they needed an item. At some point, an item that one of the main raiders actually needed dropped, and was rolled on. This is where it starts.
The Guild Counsel: What barbecue teaches us about raid leadership
The fourth of July is here, and along with the fireworks and fun in the sun comes my favorite meal of all: barbecue. There's nothing better than grilled-up meats rubbed in spice or slathered in sauce. Recently, as I was finishing off a perfectly smoked rack of ribs, I realized that there's an interesting parallel between barbecuers and raid leaders. You can see many similarities between the personality types. I put my theory to the test and consumed lots and lots of barbecue, all in the name of science, and I have concluded that you can indeed tell what type of raid leader you are by your barbecue style. So grab burger and a nice cold drink and read on as we interpret the smoke signals and read the tea leaves of grilling!
Officers' Quarters: Regime change
Every Monday, Scott Andrews contributes Officers' Quarters, a column about the ins and outs of guild leadership. He is the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook, available from No Starch Press. In sports, I think one of the most difficult tasks of all is taking over for a superstar at a key position -- the backup goalie who gets called upon when the starting goalie is injured, or the relief pitcher who steps onto the mound with a lead. In WoW, one of the most difficult leadership tasks is to take over a guild from a trusted former guild leader. The talents and contributions of your predecessor are on everyone's minds. Expectations will be high, and if you fail, you'll be letting your friends down. You could destroy a community that's an important part of people's lives. The pressure is enormous. This week, a brand new guild leader asks for advice. Hello, I've recently been promoted to Guild Master of a very large social guild after being an officer for over a year. As you know, although the change-over is friendly and I'm trying hard to make it as smooth as possible, there's quite a bit of work that's going into it.
The Guild Counsel: Adam Trzonkowski on guild leading and Kickstarter success
Adam "Ferrel" Trzonkowski is on a roll of late. He's a successful veteran guild leader, an accomplished author, and most recently, a Kickstarter success story. He's used his experiences in guild and raid management to pen two advice manuals: The Guild Leader's Companion and The Raider's Companion, the second of which was successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign. And just a few weeks ago, he wrapped up his second Kickstarter fundraising drive for his new project, The Guild Leader's Companion 2nd Edition. Massively had a chance to speak with Adam and pick his brain about leadership, writing, and Kickstarter. Whether you're looking for advice on handling guild drama, seeking a little help getting started with your own writing project, or looking for his secret to Kickstarter success, you'll find the answer after the cut!
Officers' Quarters: 9 warning signs that your raid leader is bad
Every Monday, Scott Andrews contributes Officers' Quarters, a column about the ins and outs of guild leadership. He is the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook, available from No Starch Press. A good raid leader is the heart and soul of a successful raiding guild. Guilds have been made and broken by these stalwart, savvy, and thick-skinned individuals. A great raid leader is a truly special asset that all guilds seek but few are lucky enough to find. The rest have to settle for whomever is willing. Unfortunately, while willingness can be difficult to find in and of itself, the role requires so much more than that. Those who fail at it often do so in spectacular fashion. Others are less obvious in their failure, and their raiders suffer for years as a result. How can you tell your raid leader isn't managing the job very well? Read on. (Also, before I start the list, I want to note that every single item here is drawn from a real example. I've either experienced it personally or I've read about it in emails from you. This column was actually inspired by an email from RBG Leader. Thanks!) 1. Your raid leader is quiet in Vent. A raid leader needs to be the most vocal person on a raid team. He or she has to coordinate mechanics, explain guild-specific strategies, call out for cooldowns and battle rezzes, warn the raid of impending special abilities, get on people's case when they're consistently messing up the same thing, announce breaks, request suggestions, etc., etc., etc. It's not a role for the shy.
The Guild Counsel: Nerfed to heck - now what?
You can run the best guild, have the smoothest guild atmosphere, and progress like a champion but still end up losing members through no fault of your own. Why? Nerfed classes. Classes are a double-edged sword because on one hand, they allow people to feel needed and unique. I tank, you heal, Bobby does DPS, and the group is a lot weaker if one of us is missing. On the other hand, class balance is rarely achieved, so there's always that red-headed stepchild class that no one really needs, the one who feels like the proverbial fifth wheel. If you're a guild leader whose member has suddenly gone from "OP" to "nerfed to oblivion," then what, if anything, should you do? Let's take a look in this week's Guild Counsel.
Officers' Quarters: Never say disband
Every Monday, Scott Andrews contributes Officers' Quarters, a column about the ins and outs of guild leadership. He is the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook, available from No Starch Press. Guilds fall apart. It happens so frequently these days that we take it as a matter of course. They can also be rebuilt, if there's a member intent on reviving them -- but is that always the wisest course of action? This week, one guild leader who refuses to disband is wondering what to do next. Greetings, Scott! Here's the TL;DR version: Raid Finder killed my guild. I want to resurrect it. Here's the Paul Harvey version: A friend and I founded a guild at the outset of Burning Crusade. Our intent was to offer a place for mature people with real lives to be able to experience the raid content that at the time was mostly the domain of the hardcore players. We wanted to be serious about raiding, but more casual about attendance. ... We were never the top guild on our server, but we were fairly successful throughout Burning Crusade. Wrath of the Lich King threw a monkey wrench into our works. It wasn't easy in BC to keep forming 25 man raids, but at least we always knew where the bar was. WotLK's split 10 and 25 man raids gave us a very tough decision to make every time we couldn't fill out a 25 man raid.
The Guild Counsel: Important graduation advice for gamers
Summer's almost here, but before we hit the beach and grab some sun, it's time for graduation. Everywhere I go, I see cars with "2012" colorfully written across windows and young adults sporting mortar boards. Graduation is a culminating point in a young person's education, and lately, I've felt as if I've received quite an education through the years playing MMOs and managing guilds. Interestingly enough, some of the advice that's given to graduates applies very well in our MMO experience. In this week's Guild Counsel, let's look back at a few famous graduation speeches to see how some sage advice on entering the "real world" offers valuable lessons for our time in the virtual ones.
Officers' Quarters: 6 ways to market your guild's website
Every Monday, Scott Andrews contributes Officers' Quarters, a column about the ins and outs of guild leadership. He is the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook, available from No Starch Press. To officers, a guild's website is invaluable. It's the one reliable method of communication that we have with our members. It's far more flexible than any guild UI feature, and it will never be pushed out of someone's chat window by Blizzard's messages like the guild message of the day constantly is. It's the one place where we can post something and guarantee that everyone in the guild is able to see it. There's just one ongoing problem: getting members to visit the website on a regular basis. This week, a guild leader asks how to accomplish that. Hi Scott! First, I'd like you to know how much I enjoyed your Guild Leader's Handbook. I reference it every now and again when issues threaten to crop up, and it helps a lot! I'm one of two GMs of a small raiding guild on Spinebreaker-US. One of our guild's biggest issues this expansion has been a lack of interest in the guild's website, which my Co-GM pays for and maintains. His WoW background includes several guilds that each had thriving out-of-game communities through their guild website's forums. We've tried to replicate this, but we don't seem to be succeeding.
The Guild Counsel: Finding the best times to recruit
When you're recruiting more members to your guild, it can sometimes seem like there are just no more fish in the pond to attract. And managing a roster can be frustrating at times because just when you think you have a healthy number of members, attrition sets in. We're all familiar with the launch-day, mass influx of players to an MMO, and we've seen the waning numbers over time, meaning a smaller pool of candidates to recruit. But there are actually peak times during the course of the year when recruiting becomes easier. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look at a few prime opportunities to seek out good members for your guild.
Officers' Quarters: Better guild building
Every Monday, Scott Andrews contributes Officers' Quarters, a column about the ins and outs of guild leadership. He is the author of The Guild Leader's Handbook, available from No Starch Press. Creating a successful raiding guild is no easy task. It requires a lot of up-front planning, a lot of hard work, and perhaps a bit of luck, too. If you are able to get it off the ground, there's no time to rest. Your work has just begun! This week, a player struggling to start a guild -- after taking a somewhat unique approach -- asks for advice. Hello, I just recently decided I wanted to be a guild master of a raiding guild. I spend several days making sure that it was something I wanted to do. I am currently trying to recruit raiders on the server Ursin (a low population server). My friends told me it would be a good place to go because the demand for raiders would be high. They created characters on that server to help me out, but haven't logged on in a week and don't log on their other characters except to raid in their other guild. I am currently using a recruiting macro in trade as well as on the server forums with no luck thus far. I was wondering if you had any tips for me that could help me out during this process. Thank you in advance for your time.
