Guild Advice? - Guild Wars Forums

Remorse · Jun 25, 2005, 07:03 AM // 07:03

Well, I hope Someone Can help me with this problem that has been bothering me for the past few days. Any advice would be really helpful.

Well, my friend and I decided to start a guild. We tried to start a guild revolving around Teamwork and Friendship. Little did we know it would be more than a handful. We decided to open a forum for our guild to help make it seem more organized: posting GvG and PvP times, strategies, and casual chat. For a week we kept reminding the guild about checking the guild forum. (We recruited around pre-searing hoping to find new people for our new guild... which i am beginning to Regret more everyday) The bad thing was is that out of 20 people, only 4 people had joined. The rest of my guild had ignored us in the Guild Chat. So we decided to enforce the policy of the Forums (we had worked alot on them and thought it was for the best). We were disappoined because everytime we would try and start conversations or even invite people for GvG/PvP, Most of our members wouldnt even say anything in our guild chat. It was like they were blind or something... I was thinking of clearing off most of our current members and just trying to recruit again... but now i just seem lost. Any advice on Recruiting? I dont know what to do... I have 3 other people that are at least supportive of the guild and my decisions... but still... Any thoughts would be an extreme help to me right now. Thanks in advance.

Ferelle · Jun 25, 2005, 07:31 AM // 07:31

First, do you use a voice chat service? If you don't, that COULD be a reason
your guildmates aren't responding. I know from personal experience that while
doing missions or PvP I tend to miss stuff. There have been times that I have
had extended AFK's and as people logged on and saw me, they tried to talk
via GuildChat only to be ignored. *chuckles*

A good remedy for this is to put the voice server info in the Guild MOTD which
graces the screen for each member when they first log on. This encourages
guildies to join the server and promotes a much better line of communication.

I'd say give this a try first if you haven't already. If that doesn't work, give
fair warning to your members that due to lack of communication and Guild
involvement, you will be cleaning out the guild roster to leave only those
who have an actual interest in the guild and being a member. How much
time is up to you. I would normally give a week or 2.

Next, start fresh by letting others in the community sites you frequent know
you're recruiting. Be specific of the kinds of people you're interested in and
what kind of guild you are or want to be. Perhaps you and the members left
in your guild can make it a point to join pick up groups to get to know people
ingame. Some of the best members are ones you meet, hang out with and
find you enjoy.

Either way, goodluck to you and your guildmates. I hope this is helpful in some
way

BiggDunc · Jun 25, 2005, 09:38 AM // 09:38

teamspeak teamspeak teamspeak

run a com program

and make it a requirement to be in guild

the next best thing you can do to recruit, is to be cool... friendly
i recruit ppl out of shittyt guilds to mine, cuz of the benefits
40 members
teamspeak server
guild hall
GVG / PVP
we play together

and so on

once we get'em on ts... we decide who's up for us, and so on.. and its not hard at all

but w/o a ts or vent server... ur S.O.L. IMO

Maltare · Jun 25, 2005, 02:24 PM // 14:24

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=22222

The first 20 members are the hardest to get. After that it gets easier. Check out my thread there, I linked it for you, it should also be in the main page now.

Remorse · Jun 25, 2005, 03:37 PM // 15:37

Thanks alot guys, but in terms of the forum... how should i get my members to sign up and be active? Is it a good idea in the first place?

Heretics Fork · Jun 27, 2005, 07:40 PM // 19:40

I've had this same problem. I made it mandatory to be active in the forums. If you don't post at all within 2 weeks, you're out. If you let us know you won't be around, No Problem! But the forums are a valuable resource. I know how hard it can be to get a community to grow in the forums. I have a registration form on the site. Recruits have to fill out the form AND be registered on the forums as part of a 2 week probation period.

If you want an active community, don't be afraid to boot those that are inactive. Instead of trying to get 20 new members this month, go for 1 active player this week. That 1 active player, if enthusiastic, will bring at least 1 more member to check out your board.

You'll have to boot some people from time to time, don't go overboard with it, but don't be afraid to do it.

And the biggest thing is don't ask your members to do anything you're not willing to do yourself! Good luck.

Sir_hawke · Jun 29, 2005, 08:43 PM // 20:43

Ok here goes on forums I am not that strick in my guild. We use ts so they have a choice us ts or the forums those that post on the forums are in a contest from the hc and me if we pick your post and are in the guild active you get 5k for us to spend. This help get members active on the forums after a month and they hear you gave 5k to a member for posting helps with the active.

Cerby · Jun 29, 2005, 10:44 PM // 22:44

You've been to my forums, look at my member list and my forum members list, nowhere near close, if they use the forums, great, but they probably won't. Make them more appealing, add resources and whatnot. Voice is a must, your guild won't survive without it!

Remorse · Jun 30, 2005, 04:48 PM // 16:48

Thanks for all the advice guys.. but in terms of recruitment, can u give me a hand? Im still having trouble.. i tried recruiting in Pre-searing... That was bad. I tried in the ascalon arena... it was ok, but we are still having certain inactivity problems. Is that normal? I hate logging in and seeing almost no one online.

and i was wondering if enforcing the forum posting was a good idea, beacuse i have a feeling the majority of people will quit or just ignore us. Any advice would help me alot. thanks in advance

Marc Grahamsworth · Jun 30, 2005, 11:42 PM // 23:42

At least your members didn't leave you after one day lol. I told them to read my guild's manifesto on the website and they said they had read and understood what the guild was about. Then after one day they leave without even giving me a reason why! /pouts

Well, it's back to just me and my friend for now I guess

. I really need some more members though coz I'm itching to do GvG (I just got a Guild Hall recently).

Sir_hawke · Jul 01, 2005, 03:45 AM // 03:45

here read this thread it has some good input on it.
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=26216

Experiment_Jon · Jul 01, 2005, 05:52 AM // 05:52

Hmm, yeah, getting people onto the guild site is difficult. I have an officer who flashes the announcement with the site URL about once every 10 min, and people still don't respond! So far, the my guild is 40 members strong, and 6 are on the site...

IDK, so far, it would seem that the most successful method is to flash the URL, and say "SIGN UP NOW!"

Eh, in the beginnin, a lot of members were leaving. But now, i have a leave ratio of only 1:15 or so. It gets better after you get a hall, and a site. People tend to stay, if theres quailty. So much quality, that sometimes, i have to turn off guild chat... :P

Marc Grahamsworth · Jul 01, 2005, 07:34 AM // 07:34

I've already got a hall and site and still no members

.

Do I smell or something?

/me smells armpits

Heretics Fork · Jul 01, 2005, 08:56 PM // 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir_hawke

Ok here goes on forums I am not that strick in my guild. We use ts so they have a choice us ts or the forums those that post on the forums are in a contest from the hc and me if we pick your post and are in the guild active you get 5k for us to spend. This help get members active on the forums after a month and they hear you gave 5k to a member for posting helps with the active.

The only reason I had made this mandatory is becuase I don't like repeating myself to all 40+ members of my guild. If we have an event scheduled and they aren't part of it, it's their own fault for not checking the forums. If they feel that they don't know each other that well, that's their own fault for not breaking the ice on the fourms.

I had decided the type of guild that I wanted was an active one. I would rather have 10 good active members that 50 members you can't rely on. Forums can be a cornerstone to communication and updates reguarding the guild.

I have told everyone that if they want a guild to have a cape, go find a guild that has a cape. If you want a guild that has a community and a sense of teamwork and belonging, stay with us and be active.

The guild leader's duties shouldn't include hand-holding and spoon-feeding. You should be able to present your vision. Post new events and updates about the guild on the forums. Be available on TS/Vent and help people when they need it. I would never pay somebody to be active in the forums. People should realize the value of that on their own accord and be willing to pitch in and step up to the level of the guild.

Remorse · Jul 02, 2005, 04:09 AM // 04:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heretics Fork

The only reason I had made this mandatory is becuase I don't like repeating myself to all 40+ members of my guild. If we have an event scheduled and they aren't part of it, it's their own fault for not checking the forums. If they feel that they don't know each other that well, that's their own fault for not breaking the ice on the fourms.

I had decided the type of guild that I wanted was an active one. I would rather have 10 good active members that 50 members you can't rely on. Forums can be a cornerstone to communication and updates reguarding the guild.

I have told everyone that if they want a guild to have a cape, go find a guild that has a cape. If you want a guild that has a community and a sense of teamwork and belonging, stay with us and be active.

The guild leader's duties shouldn't include hand-holding and spoon-feeding. You should be able to present your vision. Post new events and updates about the guild on the forums. Be available on TS/Vent and help people when they need it. I would never pay somebody to be active in the forums. People should realize the value of that on their own accord and be willing to pitch in and step up to the level of the guild.

i totally agree with your opinion, but the problem is that i am only an "officer" on the guild... even though i help start it. so people dont really listen to me, but then again they dont listen to the guild leader. and theres always that big inactive issue

Heretics Fork · Jul 02, 2005, 03:56 PM // 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remorse

i totally agree with your opinion, but the problem is that i am only an "officer" on the guild... even though i help start it. so people dont really listen to me, but then again they dont listen to the guild leader. and theres always that big inactive issue

There have been times where I've wanted to leave over this same issue, but I started the guild, I paid for our site. I pay to host TS and Vent. I've invested too much time and money to get us up and going.

I've debated merging with another guild, but I'm not giving up or re-doing the site for it. I've just been persistant and was able to find a core group of players that are on and focus on them as the heart of the guild.

I know how frustrating it can be. I wish you the best of luck in getting the group that you want. Just keep telling yourself, "there's a good percentage of people out there who are yet to get the game. some people wait until price drops and when it does, you'll be there to welcome them."

Remorse · Jul 02, 2005, 06:02 PM // 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heretics Fork

There have been times where I've wanted to leave over this same issue, but I started the guild, I paid for our site. I pay to host TS and Vent. I've invested too much time and money to get us up and going.

I've debated merging with another guild, but I'm not giving up or re-doing the site for it. I've just been persistant and was able to find a core group of players that are on and focus on them as the heart of the guild.

I know how frustrating it can be. I wish you the best of luck in getting the group that you want. Just keep telling yourself, "there's a good percentage of people out there who are yet to get the game. some people wait until price drops and when it does, you'll be there to welcome them."

THanks... that makes me feel a little more hopeful

Sir_hawke · Jul 02, 2005, 06:27 PM // 18:27

LOL Remorse, how true that is I have updated my forums to a new look and found a cash mod for the forums so we no longer have to try and keep track of who's posting( www.phpbb.com ).

Sir hawke
[ACE] Monarch
www.ancientcombatexperts.com

Red Leader · Jul 02, 2005, 06:45 PM // 18:45

While I am a guild founder in GW it is only a small one of RL friends. But I have been a founder of larger guild-like organizations in other online games. From my experience forums are rarely used no matter how large and active your community base is. The method that I found best to disseminate information was mass emails. Even when some people didnt read them, other members would end up talking about the contents and so everyone would eventually get the gist. GW doesnt have emails but the Message of the Day format of the announcements could stand in. This clearly isn't going to do all the work forums could do but Ive given up on forums.

The main thing though in building up a guild or other formal community is careful recruitment. Spamming the channels for new members is fine but it has to be followed up with a good interview process. You want to be clear with yourself what sort of member youre looking for and then tailor your questions to exploring whether the potential recruit meets your criteria. But don't expect your decision to be clear cut. Rarely do people in interviews say things that are clearly disqualifying such as "I dont like to play with others I just want to get good stuff from other members." So you have to follow your gut impression and decide on that whether or not you want someone in your guild or not. And when in doubt don't invite them. Although personal confrontation is difficult it is 100 times easier to weed people out in the very first stage than later when theyre in the guild.

That sums up my recruitment philosophy after several different experiences in different games. With recruitment it really is more about quality than quantity. Personally I dont like immature, unhelpful, self-centered players and I am willing to be ruthless in keeping them out. Careful recruitment therefore means slow recruitment. But if you plan on playing the game for a while speed shouldn't be an issue.

Sir_hawke · Jul 03, 2005, 12:34 PM // 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Leader

While I am a guild founder in GW it is only a small one of RL friends. But I have been a founder of larger guild-like organizations in other online games. From my experience forums are rarely used no matter how large and active your community base is.

With recruitment it really is more about quality than quantity. Personally I dont like immature, unhelpful, self-centered players and I am willing to be ruthless in keeping them out. Careful recruitment therefore means slow recruitment. But if you plan on playing the game for a while speed shouldn't be an issue.

On forums it depend to be honest. My AAO clan forums are well used (www.aceaa.com ). These are well used. Now all of your members may not use the forums but as you grow and get seen by other they will come by to say hello.

With recruitment you are dead on the money Red Leader. I feel the same way, I want good poeple more that a good player.

Jun 25, 2005, 07:03 AM // 07:03	#1
Remorse Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a Box Guild: Prevailing Force Profession: Mo/	Guild Advice? Well, I hope Someone Can help me with this problem that has been bothering me for the past few days. Any advice would be really helpful. Well, my friend and I decided to start a guild. We tried to start a guild revolving around Teamwork and Friendship. Little did we know it would be more than a handful. We decided to open a forum for our guild to help make it seem more organized: posting GvG and PvP times, strategies, and casual chat. For a week we kept reminding the guild about checking the guild forum. (We recruited around pre-searing hoping to find new people for our new guild... which i am beginning to Regret more everyday) The bad thing was is that out of 20 people, only 4 people had joined. The rest of my guild had ignored us in the Guild Chat. So we decided to enforce the policy of the Forums (we had worked alot on them and thought it was for the best). We were disappoined because everytime we would try and start conversations or even invite people for GvG/PvP, Most of our members wouldnt even say anything in our guild chat. It was like they were blind or something... I was thinking of clearing off most of our current members and just trying to recruit again... but now i just seem lost. Any advice on Recruiting? I dont know what to do... I have 3 other people that are at least supportive of the guild and my decisions... but still... Any thoughts would be an extreme help to me right now. Thanks in advance.

Jun 25, 2005, 07:31 AM // 07:31	#2
Ferelle Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Colorado - US Guild: Imperial Fist Profession: R/E	First, do you use a voice chat service? If you don't, that COULD be a reason your guildmates aren't responding. I know from personal experience that while doing missions or PvP I tend to miss stuff. There have been times that I have had extended AFK's and as people logged on and saw me, they tried to talk via GuildChat only to be ignored. chuckles A good remedy for this is to put the voice server info in the Guild MOTD which graces the screen for each member when they first log on. This encourages guildies to join the server and promotes a much better line of communication. I'd say give this a try first if you haven't already. If that doesn't work, give fair warning to your members that due to lack of communication and Guild involvement, you will be cleaning out the guild roster to leave only those who have an actual interest in the guild and being a member. How much time is up to you. I would normally give a week or 2. Next, start fresh by letting others in the community sites you frequent know you're recruiting. Be specific of the kinds of people you're interested in and what kind of guild you are or want to be. Perhaps you and the members left in your guild can make it a point to join pick up groups to get to know people ingame. Some of the best members are ones you meet, hang out with and find you enjoy. Either way, goodluck to you and your guildmates. I hope this is helpful in some way Last edited by Ferelle; Jun 25, 2005 at 08:59 AM // 08:59..

Jun 25, 2005, 09:38 AM // 09:38	#3
BiggDunc Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: StL Guild: [FahQ] Fierce Alliance HeadQuarters Profession: R/W	teamspeak teamspeak teamspeak run a com program and make it a requirement to be in guild the next best thing you can do to recruit, is to be cool... friendly i recruit ppl out of shittyt guilds to mine, cuz of the benefits 40 members teamspeak server guild hall GVG / PVP we play together and so on once we get'em on ts... we decide who's up for us, and so on.. and its not hard at all but w/o a ts or vent server... ur S.O.L. IMO

Jun 25, 2005, 02:24 PM // 14:24	#4
Maltare Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: The Last Horadrim Profession: E/Me	http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=22222 The first 20 members are the hardest to get. After that it gets easier. Check out my thread there, I linked it for you, it should also be in the main page now.

Jun 25, 2005, 03:37 PM // 15:37	#5
Remorse Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a Box Guild: Prevailing Force Profession: Mo/	Thanks alot guys, but in terms of the forum... how should i get my members to sign up and be active? Is it a good idea in the first place?

Jun 27, 2005, 07:40 PM // 19:40	#6
Heretics Fork Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2005	I've had this same problem. I made it mandatory to be active in the forums. If you don't post at all within 2 weeks, you're out. If you let us know you won't be around, No Problem! But the forums are a valuable resource. I know how hard it can be to get a community to grow in the forums. I have a registration form on the site. Recruits have to fill out the form AND be registered on the forums as part of a 2 week probation period. If you want an active community, don't be afraid to boot those that are inactive. Instead of trying to get 20 new members this month, go for 1 active player this week. That 1 active player, if enthusiastic, will bring at least 1 more member to check out your board. You'll have to boot some people from time to time, don't go overboard with it, but don't be afraid to do it. And the biggest thing is don't ask your members to do anything you're not willing to do yourself! Good luck.

Jun 29, 2005, 08:43 PM // 20:43	#7
Sir_hawke Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ocean Springs Guild: Ancient Combat Experts Profession: W/Mo	Ok here goes on forums I am not that strick in my guild. We use ts so they have a choice us ts or the forums those that post on the forums are in a contest from the hc and me if we pick your post and are in the guild active you get 5k for us to spend. This help get members active on the forums after a month and they hear you gave 5k to a member for posting helps with the active.

Jun 29, 2005, 10:44 PM // 22:44	#8
Cerby Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005	You've been to my forums, look at my member list and my forum members list, nowhere near close, if they use the forums, great, but they probably won't. Make them more appealing, add resources and whatnot. Voice is a must, your guild won't survive without it!

Jun 30, 2005, 04:48 PM // 16:48	#9
Remorse Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a Box Guild: Prevailing Force Profession: Mo/	Thanks for all the advice guys.. but in terms of recruitment, can u give me a hand? Im still having trouble.. i tried recruiting in Pre-searing... That was bad. I tried in the ascalon arena... it was ok, but we are still having certain inactivity problems. Is that normal? I hate logging in and seeing almost no one online. and i was wondering if enforcing the forum posting was a good idea, beacuse i have a feeling the majority of people will quit or just ignore us. Any advice would help me alot. thanks in advance

Jun 30, 2005, 11:42 PM // 23:42	#10
Marc Grahamsworth Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Australia Guild: Guild of Choice Profession: Me/Mo	At least your members didn't leave you after one day lol. I told them to read my guild's manifesto on the website and they said they had read and understood what the guild was about. Then after one day they leave without even giving me a reason why! /pouts Well, it's back to just me and my friend for now I guess . I really need some more members though coz I'm itching to do GvG (I just got a Guild Hall recently).

Jul 01, 2005, 03:45 AM // 03:45	#11
Sir_hawke Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ocean Springs Guild: Ancient Combat Experts Profession: W/Mo	here read this thread it has some good input on it. http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=26216

Jul 01, 2005, 05:52 AM // 05:52	#12
Experiment_Jon Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: Band Geeks Profession: W/Mo	Hmm, yeah, getting people onto the guild site is difficult. I have an officer who flashes the announcement with the site URL about once every 10 min, and people still don't respond! So far, the my guild is 40 members strong, and 6 are on the site... IDK, so far, it would seem that the most successful method is to flash the URL, and say "SIGN UP NOW!" Eh, in the beginnin, a lot of members were leaving. But now, i have a leave ratio of only 1:15 or so. It gets better after you get a hall, and a site. People tend to stay, if theres quailty. So much quality, that sometimes, i have to turn off guild chat... :P

Jul 01, 2005, 07:34 AM // 07:34	#13
Marc Grahamsworth Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Australia Guild: Guild of Choice Profession: Me/Mo	I've already got a hall and site and still no members . Do I smell or something? /me smells armpits

Jul 02, 2005, 06:27 PM // 18:27	#18
Sir_hawke Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ocean Springs Guild: Ancient Combat Experts Profession: W/Mo	LOL Remorse, how true that is I have updated my forums to a new look and found a cash mod for the forums so we no longer have to try and keep track of who's posting( www.phpbb.com ). Sir hawke [ACE] Monarch www.ancientcombatexperts.com

Jul 02, 2005, 06:45 PM // 18:45	#19
Red Leader Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2005	While I am a guild founder in GW it is only a small one of RL friends. But I have been a founder of larger guild-like organizations in other online games. From my experience forums are rarely used no matter how large and active your community base is. The method that I found best to disseminate information was mass emails. Even when some people didnt read them, other members would end up talking about the contents and so everyone would eventually get the gist. GW doesnt have emails but the Message of the Day format of the announcements could stand in. This clearly isn't going to do all the work forums could do but Ive given up on forums. The main thing though in building up a guild or other formal community is careful recruitment. Spamming the channels for new members is fine but it has to be followed up with a good interview process. You want to be clear with yourself what sort of member youre looking for and then tailor your questions to exploring whether the potential recruit meets your criteria. But don't expect your decision to be clear cut. Rarely do people in interviews say things that are clearly disqualifying such as "I dont like to play with others I just want to get good stuff from other members." So you have to follow your gut impression and decide on that whether or not you want someone in your guild or not. And when in doubt don't invite them. Although personal confrontation is difficult it is 100 times easier to weed people out in the very first stage than later when theyre in the guild. That sums up my recruitment philosophy after several different experiences in different games. With recruitment it really is more about quality than quantity. Personally I dont like immature, unhelpful, self-centered players and I am willing to be ruthless in keeping them out. Careful recruitment therefore means slow recruitment. But if you plan on playing the game for a while speed shouldn't be an issue.