Getting a guild going - Guild Wars Forums

oscarsymonds · May 03, 2007, 05:54 PM // 17:54

I've read Maltare's guide on this and its great advice, but it doesn't really help with what to do to start it going. Can anyone give me advice on how to start a guild when you have two or three members and can't recruit anyone?

hhslf · May 03, 2007, 10:30 PM // 22:30

Why cant you recruit players?

Cyon Vaan · May 04, 2007, 12:59 AM // 00:59

Yeah, I don't see why you can't recruit any more players. You already have a few members, so your invite system is working fine.

placebo overdose · May 04, 2007, 01:44 AM // 01:44

not many ppl want a guild of 10 or less strangers so yea its tuff and almost er body seems to got a guild now a days

GENduck · May 12, 2007, 10:53 AM // 10:53

I have experienced this before. The solution for us was a website. Put up some forums, make the place feel like a "home". Stories about yourselves...

A guild will do much better as a "group of friends" than "pugs wearing the same cape". When you get your site "nice" just put the URL out instead of grabbing people in town. Those who like the site will add themselves and ask to join.

Laugh at my suggestion if you want, 90 members in less than a year, Guild of The Week and a strong alliance full of friends.

It is about having fun and relaxing with friends from my view.

Sofonisba · May 12, 2007, 03:19 PM // 15:19

After you have determined what sort of guild you are/would like to be, post in the recruitment threads here on guru. We've gotten some really great people

and as long as you're honest about being in a "development" stage, describe the time zones with the most activity, you'll get players honestly willing to help you grow, because they'll know what you're about.

Good luck!

segnisletum · May 30, 2007, 04:01 AM // 04:01

Recruit like hell. Have to figure for every 10 recruits you might get one keeper. And be specific on what your guild does. Vent/ts and a forum always help.

Mclarenf1905 · May 30, 2007, 05:13 AM // 05:13

go on missions and try to strike up a conversation, while still staying focused on the mission, it works best when you have multiple guild members there, (2-3)
then at the end of the mission when your in the next outpost offer to help them and slide in a recruitment line or so, This always seems to work well for me because it shows that your guild is active, friendly and helpful, and it lets you get to know them and them to know you and your guild at the same time. I've found many times that they are not really happy with their guild but are in it just to be in a guild, or sometimes in a guild by themselves just for the benefit of a cape.
This also shows that your guild members do talk back and forth rather than the occasional price check ect... you see in the bigger guilds.

Edit: Another way to recruit, especially if your a pvp based guild and you have a good amount of money is to go to somewhere like Random Arena and just go around inviting everybody that is guildless, I've found that 70% of the time they will end up joining and you will usually get 1 good member out of every 5 or so.
Another good line for recruiting is to ask them if they are happy with their guild after talking with them for a while, this usually lets you determine weather they would be willing or not to join.
And never just randomly give out officer spots, wait a while to get to know the guy/girl better to see if they are the kind of person you want in that spot, and do not try to act like you are elite simply because your the leader. You see that a lot in bigger guilds and can get rather annoying when they completely ignore you.

Ouchie · May 31, 2007, 04:41 PM // 16:41

You need to get noticed over and above other guilds. I haven't bothered much lately as I am currently waiting to see the direction a few of our Officers take in the next week or two, but ....

If I saw many people spaming in a district to join their guild I'd do something silly and funny like

[Leet] recruiting good looking characters only screen shot required

If nothing more you'll get a lot of whispers of people saying you made their day

Div · Jun 01, 2007, 04:42 AM // 04:42

Depends if you just want a guild with 90+ members or a good guild. Mass recruiting (maybe even add some incentive for them to join---like a little gift after two weeks of membership) would get you a crappy guild with many members, but who knows how many will stay. If you want a good guild, find people you do missions, quests, etc. with and see if they want to join your guild after finding good matches.

May 03, 2007, 05:54 PM // 17:54	#1
oscarsymonds Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Apr 2007 Guild: The Imperial Guards Of Obsidia [TIGO] Profession: D/Mo	Getting a guild going I've read Maltare's guide on this and its great advice, but it doesn't really help with what to do to start it going. Can anyone give me advice on how to start a guild when you have two or three members and can't recruit anyone?

May 30, 2007, 05:13 AM // 05:13	#8
Mclarenf1905 Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ohio Guild: [CDH] Profession: R/	go on missions and try to strike up a conversation, while still staying focused on the mission, it works best when you have multiple guild members there, (2-3) then at the end of the mission when your in the next outpost offer to help them and slide in a recruitment line or so, This always seems to work well for me because it shows that your guild is active, friendly and helpful, and it lets you get to know them and them to know you and your guild at the same time. I've found many times that they are not really happy with their guild but are in it just to be in a guild, or sometimes in a guild by themselves just for the benefit of a cape. This also shows that your guild members do talk back and forth rather than the occasional price check ect... you see in the bigger guilds. Edit: Another way to recruit, especially if your a pvp based guild and you have a good amount of money is to go to somewhere like Random Arena and just go around inviting everybody that is guildless, I've found that 70% of the time they will end up joining and you will usually get 1 good member out of every 5 or so. Another good line for recruiting is to ask them if they are happy with their guild after talking with them for a while, this usually lets you determine weather they would be willing or not to join. And never just randomly give out officer spots, wait a while to get to know the guy/girl better to see if they are the kind of person you want in that spot, and do not try to act like you are elite simply because your the leader. You see that a lot in bigger guilds and can get rather annoying when they completely ignore you. Last edited by Mclarenf1905; May 30, 2007 at 05:19 AM // 05:19..

May 03, 2007, 10:30 PM // 22:30	#2
hhslf Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Apr 2007 Guild: HELL Profession: W/	Why cant you recruit players?

May 04, 2007, 12:59 AM // 00:59	#3
Cyon Vaan Academy Page Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In front of a computer. Guild: Paladins of the Mists Profession: Mo/N	Yeah, I don't see why you can't recruit any more players. You already have a few members, so your invite system is working fine.

May 04, 2007, 01:44 AM // 01:44	#4
placebo overdose Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Jan 2007 Profession: N/	not many ppl want a guild of 10 or less strangers so yea its tuff and almost er body seems to got a guild now a days

May 12, 2007, 10:53 AM // 10:53	#5
GENduck Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Germany Guild: Ultimate Genesis [GEN] Profession: E/N	I have experienced this before. The solution for us was a website. Put up some forums, make the place feel like a "home". Stories about yourselves... A guild will do much better as a "group of friends" than "pugs wearing the same cape". When you get your site "nice" just put the URL out instead of grabbing people in town. Those who like the site will add themselves and ask to join. Laugh at my suggestion if you want, 90 members in less than a year, Guild of The Week and a strong alliance full of friends. It is about having fun and relaxing with friends from my view.

May 12, 2007, 03:19 PM // 15:19	#6
Sofonisba Desert Nomad Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Guild: The Black Hand Gang [BHG] and The Black Helm Gang [BHeG]	After you have determined what sort of guild you are/would like to be, post in the recruitment threads here on guru. We've gotten some really great people and as long as you're honest about being in a "development" stage, describe the time zones with the most activity, you'll get players honestly willing to help you grow, because they'll know what you're about. Good luck!

May 30, 2007, 04:01 AM // 04:01	#7
segnisletum Academy Page Join Date: Mar 2007 Profession: N/	Recruit like hell. Have to figure for every 10 recruits you might get one keeper. And be specific on what your guild does. Vent/ts and a forum always help.

May 31, 2007, 04:41 PM // 16:41	#9
Ouchie Krytan Explorer Join Date: Jan 2007 Guild: [Leet] Profession: R/	You need to get noticed over and above other guilds. I haven't bothered much lately as I am currently waiting to see the direction a few of our Officers take in the next week or two, but .... If I saw many people spaming in a district to join their guild I'd do something silly and funny like [Leet] recruiting good looking characters only screen shot required If nothing more you'll get a lot of whispers of people saying you made their day

Jun 01, 2007, 04:42 AM // 04:42	#10
Div I like yumy food! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Where I can eat yumy food Guild: Dead Alley [dR] Profession: Mo/R	Depends if you just want a guild with 90+ members or a good guild. Mass recruiting (maybe even add some incentive for them to join---like a little gift after two weeks of membership) would get you a crappy guild with many members, but who knows how many will stay. If you want a good guild, find people you do missions, quests, etc. with and see if they want to join your guild after finding good matches.