Some Qns Regarding Guilds - Guild Wars Forums

madcowcube · Oct 24, 2009, 05:55 PM // 17:55

Hi,
Me and my friend started a guild but its going very badly that my friend has sort of given up hope here and there.

Im facing these current issues:

Hard to recruit new members

People I recruit just leave in a day or 2 for no particular reasons.

Guild mates who have stuck with me feeling demoralize due to lack of responses in recruiting.

My guild does not aim or have an eye only for good players but we like to recruit new players to help them get used to GW and become good players in the end.

We are a friendly guild but people just keep getting snatched away by more established guilds.

I hope I can get some constructive advice regarding my problems.

I find it very demoralizing when others just use my guild as some kind of temporary shelter before performing their guild hopping...

Thanks in advance guys. (Im still not giving up but still thinking of ways to improve)

Premium Unleaded · Oct 24, 2009, 06:17 PM // 18:17

If you're recruiting via spamming in towns/hubs and picking up randoms, then prepare to get lamers 99% of the time. The best way to get decent people is inviting via the friends list, ie. play with them for a while to get to know eachother, then offer the invite.

Captain Bulldozer · Oct 24, 2009, 07:09 PM // 19:09

I know its not what you want to hear, but players such as yourselves are generally better off joining a good and functioning guild rather than starting one yourselves. It takes a LONG time to build up a guild in terms of regular experienced players. If you're in it for the long haul, you can always grab bunch of newbies and train them up until they're decent, but that can take a year or more to do. So in short, why not just fold your current roster into another small guild and build up that way.

TheRaven · Oct 24, 2009, 07:45 PM // 19:45

At this stage of the game, most players are already in established guilds that we are loyal to. It's tough to find players that are looking for guilds. Most of the guildless are either newbies that don't know what they want in a guild yet, or guild hoppers that are just out to scam you and leave.

MagmaRed · Oct 24, 2009, 08:18 PM // 20:18

Spend time talking to and playing with people before you invite them. Spamming in towns is a bad way to recruit. If you invite random people, chances are high they won't have the same objectives as the guild. If you are looking for PvE players, and invite random people new to the game, they may decide to play mostly PvP. This means they won't stay in your guild long.

Building a guild takes a LOT of work and a LOT of time. Until you have a solid guild base expect to spend 80% of your time recruiting and managing the guild. 80% is a low estimate by the way, it could easily be 100%. That does not mean you won't be playing the game though. Because if you noticed earlier, I said to spend time talking to and playing with people. You just won't be spending time playing what you want to usually.

And once you find people who are dedicated to what you are, promote them to officer and make sure they recruit. Don't promote the first person though. Only recruit people you know VERY well, and make sure you explain in DETAIL what you want out of recruitment.

So unless you plan to play 20 hours a week and speen 16 hours a week on recruitment/management, I'd look for a guild to join, not build your own.

Crystal Lake · Oct 24, 2009, 08:37 PM // 20:37

Actually, this is a problem in a lot of guilds, even in established ones. A lot of people will come and go no matter what you do; never take it personally.

There are a lot of guild hoppers out there.

A lot of guilds are falling apart because active players have left the game because there really hasn't been anything new since 2007 (when EOTN and Nightfall came out.) But, keep in mind their are active, good players looking for a new guild because their guild is no longer very active.

The best thing to do for a guild in your situation is to find an active alliance. That way if its slow in the guild the alliance is busy and members can find people to do things with there. Hopefully your officers offer to team up with members when they can too. That way they can get to know the newer members which will mean they are more likely to stick around.

*Darcy* · Oct 24, 2009, 08:43 PM // 20:43

After three and a half years, my guild finally has 10 members (including myself) who actually log on a couple of times a week. I have three officers who recruit, but we face the usual drop out rate. Out of four members, one will leave within two days, one will never log on again for months, one will constantly want help and when it's not immediately forthcoming will leave and the fourth will show more patience, but will take a lot of your time.

The most successful way to build a guild is to join a large guild and make friends. At some point many of your friends will be dissatisfied with the guild management and will be willing to leave and form a new guild with you. If you have a core group that play often and can help new members, you will be more likely to retain those new members.

Sookie · Oct 24, 2009, 10:01 PM // 22:01

I recruit solely from advertisements here and on GWOnline along with talking to PuG members that I game with occasionally. From 4 or 5 interested parties, only 1 or 2 stay...and those odds are extraordinary.

The gaming population in GW is diminishing, so there are fewer good, solid loyal people from which to choose; so if you're trolling the "All" chat in outposts to get recruits, you will get granola (nuts, fruit and flakes). Granola doesn't last more than 24-48 hours.

I, like most of this group, believe that you should get your feet wet as an officer (or position of leadership) in a good guild. When you have a good grip on what it takes to run a successful guild, then form your own.

Guildin' aint easy!

Oct 24, 2009, 05:55 PM // 17:55	#1
madcowcube Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2009	Some Qns Regarding Guilds Hi, Me and my friend started a guild but its going very badly that my friend has sort of given up hope here and there. Im facing these current issues: Hard to recruit new members People I recruit just leave in a day or 2 for no particular reasons. Guild mates who have stuck with me feeling demoralize due to lack of responses in recruiting. My guild does not aim or have an eye only for good players but we like to recruit new players to help them get used to GW and become good players in the end. We are a friendly guild but people just keep getting snatched away by more established guilds. I hope I can get some constructive advice regarding my problems. I find it very demoralizing when others just use my guild as some kind of temporary shelter before performing their guild hopping... Thanks in advance guys. (Im still not giving up but still thinking of ways to improve)

Oct 24, 2009, 08:43 PM // 20:43	#7
Darcy Never Too Old Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rhode Island where there are no GW contests Guild: Order of First Profession: W/R	After three and a half years, my guild finally has 10 members (including myself) who actually log on a couple of times a week. I have three officers who recruit, but we face the usual drop out rate. Out of four members, one will leave within two days, one will never log on again for months, one will constantly want help and when it's not immediately forthcoming will leave and the fourth will show more patience, but will take a lot of your time. The most successful way to build a guild is to join a large guild and make friends. At some point many of your friends will be dissatisfied with the guild management and will be willing to leave and form a new guild with you. If you have a core group that play often and can help new members, you will be more likely to retain those new members. __________________ That's me, the old stick-in-the-mud non-fun moderator. (and non-understanding, also)

Oct 24, 2009, 10:01 PM // 22:01	#8
Sookie Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NoCenTex Guild: [AKA] Guild Leader Profession: R/	I recruit solely from advertisements here and on GWOnline along with talking to PuG members that I game with occasionally. From 4 or 5 interested parties, only 1 or 2 stay...and those odds are extraordinary. The gaming population in GW is diminishing, so there are fewer good, solid loyal people from which to choose; so if you're trolling the "All" chat in outposts to get recruits, you will get granola (nuts, fruit and flakes). Granola doesn't last more than 24-48 hours. I, like most of this group, believe that you should get your feet wet as an officer (or position of leadership) in a good guild. When you have a good grip on what it takes to run a successful guild, then form your own. Guildin' aint easy! Last edited by Sookie; Oct 24, 2009 at 10:03 PM // 22:03..

Oct 24, 2009, 06:17 PM // 18:17	#2
Premium Unleaded Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Aug 2005	If you're recruiting via spamming in towns/hubs and picking up randoms, then prepare to get lamers 99% of the time. The best way to get decent people is inviting via the friends list, ie. play with them for a while to get to know eachother, then offer the invite.

Oct 24, 2009, 07:09 PM // 19:09	#3
Captain Bulldozer Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Jan 2008 Guild: Servants of the Dragon Flames [SODF]	I know its not what you want to hear, but players such as yourselves are generally better off joining a good and functioning guild rather than starting one yourselves. It takes a LONG time to build up a guild in terms of regular experienced players. If you're in it for the long haul, you can always grab bunch of newbies and train them up until they're decent, but that can take a year or more to do. So in short, why not just fold your current roster into another small guild and build up that way.

Oct 24, 2009, 07:45 PM // 19:45	#4
TheRaven Desert Nomad Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Guild: Spirit of Elisha Profession: W/	At this stage of the game, most players are already in established guilds that we are loyal to. It's tough to find players that are looking for guilds. Most of the guildless are either newbies that don't know what they want in a guild yet, or guild hoppers that are just out to scam you and leave.

Oct 24, 2009, 08:18 PM // 20:18	#5
MagmaRed Furnace Stoker Join Date: Mar 2007 Guild: Our Crabs Know True [LOVE] Profession: R/	Spend time talking to and playing with people before you invite them. Spamming in towns is a bad way to recruit. If you invite random people, chances are high they won't have the same objectives as the guild. If you are looking for PvE players, and invite random people new to the game, they may decide to play mostly PvP. This means they won't stay in your guild long. Building a guild takes a LOT of work and a LOT of time. Until you have a solid guild base expect to spend 80% of your time recruiting and managing the guild. 80% is a low estimate by the way, it could easily be 100%. That does not mean you won't be playing the game though. Because if you noticed earlier, I said to spend time talking to and playing with people. You just won't be spending time playing what you want to usually. And once you find people who are dedicated to what you are, promote them to officer and make sure they recruit. Don't promote the first person though. Only recruit people you know VERY well, and make sure you explain in DETAIL what you want out of recruitment. So unless you plan to play 20 hours a week and speen 16 hours a week on recruitment/management, I'd look for a guild to join, not build your own.

Oct 24, 2009, 08:37 PM // 20:37	#6
Crystal Lake Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Dec 2007 Profession: Mo/	Actually, this is a problem in a lot of guilds, even in established ones. A lot of people will come and go no matter what you do; never take it personally. There are a lot of guild hoppers out there. A lot of guilds are falling apart because active players have left the game because there really hasn't been anything new since 2007 (when EOTN and Nightfall came out.) But, keep in mind their are active, good players looking for a new guild because their guild is no longer very active. The best thing to do for a guild in your situation is to find an active alliance. That way if its slow in the guild the alliance is busy and members can find people to do things with there. Hopefully your officers offer to team up with members when they can too. That way they can get to know the newer members which will mean they are more likely to stick around.