Curse

Passing Death · Aug 10, 2006, 06:49 PM // 18:49

One thing you will find as you start playing with better guilds is that your skill level doesnt matter so much as your experience. Knowing what to do in a given situation is infinitely more important than simply being good at playing a class....say youre playing monk...you can have godly reflexes, but if you dont know what to look for to tell when the other team is about to spike (ie warriors congregating on same target, etc...), you reflexes wont mean shit...for this reason, you may want to get a lot of playtime with a top 300 guild before actually trying out for a top 100 guild...

This is Brad · Aug 10, 2006, 07:08 PM // 19:08

I originally was a nobody tombs player over a year ago, then I joined a top 40 guild through mutual friends.

After this guild collapsed in October I found myself in a bad position in that still nobody knew who I was and now I didn't even have my original guild to play with.

Remedies to this problem: IRC, that is basically the one tool you can use to jumpstart yourself into top level GvG. I began pugging during the GWWC season in November-January and building contacts with people. When the GWFC season 1 came around I had gotten several offers to join guilds to try and compete (unfortuneatly we had some activity issues and this guild collapsed as well). Fortunately my networking paid off, and I was recruited by an already exceptional guild, and now get to play in high level GvG almost nightly.

So basically its more about Who You Know rather than What You Know.

P.S. Being good also helps.

Fanta · Aug 10, 2006, 11:06 PM // 23:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by overclocked

high level guilds dont recruit unknowns, they laugh at them, and its a shame our community is so mean.

The thing is the OP said high level GvG. High level GvGers rarely ever have tryouts. Mid ranged GvG guilds do though. It comes down to connections and how long you've known a particular person or group of people. High level GvGers rarely ever need to recruit and if they do, they usually pick-up a player quick that they know and have played with for a while already. I would assume mainly because it would take too long to actually tryout someone they don't know very well and the fact that they just don't know if they will synergize with the rest of the guild.

So in response to the OP, IRC was mentioned, sell yourself to the community so to speak, in the offseason pug gvg with as many people as you can, be confident but not cocky. If you can't find a high level GvG guild, look for one with commitment and the will to get there, a couple current high level guilds at the moment used to be nobodies but look at them now.

Also, don't nag and bug the high level players. If they keep ignoring you or saying that you aren't need, it's probably going to remain that way.

Clinically Proven · Aug 11, 2006, 12:01 AM // 00:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clusmas

There are quite a few Australian and New Zealand guilds out there...

Top 100? I think not.

I believe you guys - ie. Witness the Fitness - are it at the moment. Premade Paladins [Mend] is usually up there, they've been around a respectable 150ish of late. Then I think we [Trex] were are the next aussie guild on the ladder at a disappointing 300-400ish, guest dependent (lets ignore this weeks disaster as we change builds).

Anyway, I'm derailing the thread and I apologise to the OP.

Abdul · Aug 11, 2006, 12:31 AM // 00:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clinically Proven

Top 100? I think not.

I believe you guys - ie. Witness the Fitness - are it at the moment. Premade Paladins [Mend] is usually up there, they've been around a respectable 150ish of late. Then I think we [Trex] were are the next aussie guild on the ladder at a disappointing 300-400ish, guest dependent (lets ignore this weeks disaster as we change builds).

Anyway, I'm derailing the thread and I apologise to the OP.

Actually, what you posted was relevant to me. Im in the process of making contacts with the mentioned guilds. It does kind of suck a bit if you are Aussie and want to be competitive. Thanks for the good advice so far guys.

Clinically Proven · Aug 11, 2006, 01:01 AM // 01:01

Well, in that case also try www.anzgw.com for news on the aforementioned guilds, recruiting posts and PvP events in the timezone.

It's a good way to see who the aussie contacts are in the top local and overseas guilds as well as get some play time in the HA pugs.

moriz · Aug 11, 2006, 11:30 PM // 23:30

yes, apparently #gwp works. however, it depends on the people present. i would like to thank JR-, Dice, Mitch, and other people there for playing in a PuG gvg session with me. it was a very valuable experience for me. i got to play on a rank 160 team (it became rank 187 after we were done, but that's another story), and played against teams that were similarily ranked. the sudden jump from a rank 500-600 team to a rank 100-200 team was a real eye-opener experience for me. i finally learned that there's still alot more to learn, and monking is a bit more than just blindly healing anyone taking damage.

all in all, i hope i did not do such a bad job that nobody will want me to guest again...

Red Locust · Aug 12, 2006, 12:21 AM // 00:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by overclocked

high level guilds dont recruit unknowns, they laugh at them, and its a shame our community is so mean.

lol, actually most good high level guilds that I know of, recruit based on your performance with the team. Having a big mouth on vent, forums, IRC, wherever, doesn't mean jack, tbh.

Nadine · Aug 12, 2006, 07:45 PM // 19:45

I have never had any big connections. And i havent been in gvg more than 8 mohnts (14 months of gw, but only 8 of gvg).

But we found a good gvg group 8 months ago. We roce in ladder and we were long under r100. we made a little name for ourselves in finnish gvg communities. Then we just honestly asked if we cuold get into Storm Bearers alliance. And we got into there at spring. That connection gave us more fame in finnish communities. When our guild broke up and we disbanded to other guilds i realised that i have straigth connections to emt and sb (and knew some guys from iB). Then some of finnish "old-school gvg-players", some from [quit] and some guys from [HoH] made a little gvg guild. At this point it was easy to us to get into [emt]'s alliance. Now we are in good alliance and get good guests from those high rated guilds and good hints from them.

At this point i may say that many guys from emt, allmost everyone is SB and some guys from iB and even a few from MOJO remember my name. And all this without any connections some months ago....

overclocked · Aug 13, 2006, 05:03 PM // 17:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wasteland Squidget

I think that depends a lot on how it's asked. One important thing to understand is that if you've on Obs Mode, you tend to get several people a night randomly asking to join your guild because they happened to see you fighting. It simply isn't feasable to recruit these people, no matter how 'nice' you are. At best you can direct them to the recruiting section of Team-iQ, and that's assuming you aren't in the middle of a fight and have time to talk.

i send every person that pms me to my guilds website, but we arnt what i consider high level. Ask a true high level guild and they will laugh at you,
if not to your face, behind your back. It happens all the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wasteland Squidget

I think if someone responded to a guild's recruitment thread and showed them to be knowledgeable about play in the top 100, there are many guilds who would try them out even if they were relatively unknown. However, most guilds in the top 100 aren't training guilds, and if someone can't prove themselves to be a skilled player (or at least willing to learn) then the guild really isn't obligated to recruit them.

since when is top 100 high level?

JR · Aug 13, 2006, 05:20 PM // 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by overclocked

since when is top 100 high level?

I don't believe he ever actually said it was.

Engel the Fallen · Aug 15, 2006, 04:33 PM // 16:33

Well, while not the expert that some of these guys are here, I will give some insight on what I did. This should be prenoted that this is more of a post for getting into say rank 50 to 200 guilds, not the top of the top. I was in a small PvE guild, then responded to a few recruitment threads and post from top 200 teams, and despite being a rought in terms of GvG they brought me in and trained me up.

What I found is the single most important thing if running with people, is to be someone who they can get along with, and do what they need you to do, when they tell you. Most teams have a leader in place, and have leaders for GvG matches. Going into the games you should know that you are a player. I seen many recruits get booted from GvG groups I ran with for coming in and telling the groups how to run.

Another thing to remember is GvG has about 4 tiers in terms of skill levels. You have the noobs who can be about any level that range from henchmen teams to teams that get into the top 500 with some gimmick.

Then you have the people who are trying to run a real guild with real builds but for some reason they never really make it up the ladder. This is where I think most GvG players looking to move on are stuck. You can learn some basics here, but odds are you learn more bad habits than good ones.

Next you have the second tier guilds as I like to call them. Guilds that are good, but not the best of the best. This changes constantly but usually you find alot of these guys floating between 50 and 200. This is where most newer people to higher level GvG should play, as there is a distint shift here in terms of play, teamwork and tactics. This is where you will learn your roles on the team, how to work as a team, and learn alot of the main tactics that other guilds may not pick up on. Also you will learn quickly what other people run and why, as alot of guilds in this area like to copy top 50 builds and run them.

Obviously the last tier is the best of the best at the time. Alot of people assume they are top 50 material or even higher, but top teams operate as a well oiled machine alot. It is hard to stay at the top if you are not working together, as fighting in vent or in chats leads to less play and poorer preformance in game. Also morale breaks if it keeps up and guilds explodes. Also these guilds tend to be very active, so they get the experience they need in the metagame.

I may be wrong about all that of course as I never desire to be top 50. I like just playing, but require a team who is working together and knows the basics of what they run so I lurk between 100 and 500 in the guilds I am in. Also I like laid back guilds after having a few guilds I was in blow up due to wicked fights. Currently while not high ranked, I am in DWC. Think they are around 300ish now, but a fun guild to be in as Opera will run with henchmen if we do not have enough on and to him it is not a big deal at all, it is just what we need to do to play. Rare to find a group of decently skilled guys who will play without egos and run whatever comes up to see how it will work, and if you lose, you just brush it aside and go back in.

I hope this rambling helps some people looking to get into a more mid level guild from a PvE guild or a PvP guild that just does not understand PvP, as you need the basics down before you stand a chance of making the upper level guilds.

sir lockt · Aug 15, 2006, 04:53 PM // 16:53

To answer the question of the OP: How does an individual player get into higher levels of GvG, we can start arguing a lot about how terrible top-midrange or elite guilds are in recruiting: "they didnt noticed me!!!"

But I believe there is one basic requirement most ppl are missing: are they suited for such play.

If you can answer this question with: "yes" there are 2 options: the hard way or the easier way...

first the easier way:
You believe you are up for them? show it to them...if you cant get a trial battle (I remember EW accepted my guilds unranked offer in a time we where ranked no where near the ladder), just find them: HA. Many decent guilds play in HA and it is possible to get a match with them... ok I know there is such thing as rank and fame...but I called it the "easier way" not easy...

Of course there is the hard way:
build your own high lvl guild. This is much more time-consuming and you will have to put a great effort in it...but finally, if you where right with giving you a "yes" to that basic first question, you will make it...

...but if you believe it is a "yes" and it prove to be a "no" not even 100 battles with a top-guild will get you in... accept it

Van Goghs Ear · Aug 15, 2006, 04:55 PM // 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by overclocked

high level guilds dont recruit unknowns, they laugh at them, and its a shame our community is so mean.

that's absolutely false. Speaking as an unknown, I've guested with and been asked to join high level guilds. At the same time you can't expect a competitive guild to pick people up off the street, and many of them often keep small guilds with a core group of GvGers.

I guess sometimes you just have to make the right opportunities happen at the right time to catch someone's attention. Play well in a pug, or w/e, make the right friends, or simply fill out an application, try out and show some knowledge and skill.

Sacho · Aug 15, 2006, 10:41 PM // 22:41

Overclocked's attitude is the exact one you will need to get into high level gvg.

(I suppose I should put /sarcasm here?)

You'll find that members in high level guilds are *gasp* humans! They like friendly and social people like everyone else. Speaking as a complete unknown with a basic grasp of the game, I can tell you I've talked to a few random "high-level" players and guested in a few matches. They're all cool and nice people, as long as you approach them with the same attitude...

Akaraxle · Aug 16, 2006, 10:09 AM // 10:09

Quote:

How does an individual player get into higher levels of GvG?

Get into champion farmer thumping pug guilds.

(Sorry, couldn't hold back)

Katina · Aug 16, 2006, 03:52 PM // 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by This is Brad

So basically its more about Who You Know rather than What You Know.

P.S. Being good also helps.

Agreed. Establish a friends list, meet new people, and take advantage of the moment. You could be a great player, but without the people you're nothing. Being a complete Tombs wh0re helps.

(Why can't you say Hore?)

Quote:

Originally Posted by overclocked

i send every person that pms me to my guilds website, but we arnt what i consider high level. Ask a true high level guild and they will laugh at you,
if not to your face, behind your back. It happens all the time.

Most of these people are horrible players anyway, a great example would be our good friends from No Opposing party. Just watch them GvG.

Vindexus · Aug 19, 2006, 09:04 AM // 09:04

Remember, applications on forums are very useless. Were you to look at FnlD's Old Recruitment Forum, you would see of all the applications there, we only ever recruited one guy based on an application. Everyone else we recruited was a guest that impressed us (Wheel and Warskull most notably) or knew one of our members from somewhere else.

If you want to get into a guild, make an application but realize that it isn't going to get you anywhere. Find them in IRC or in game and ask to play, that is virtually the only way to get a tryout.

Also, from my experience trying out 50+ people (frsrs, no joke) the one thing that impressed me more than anything was actually f*******king talking in ventrilo. If you say stuff like "Number 6 has distortion" I instantly think "This guy is in the top half of our recruits." No exageration. Talk lots or you won't get in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by overclocked

since when is top 100 high level?

Mid June.

Drewfense · Aug 24, 2006, 02:03 PM // 14:03

Warskull impressed you...take him and his bunnies back plx.

And update your guild affiliation!

Vanquisher · Aug 24, 2006, 04:55 PM // 16:55

1 quick comment to hold in mind when you're applying for Guilds.

If they ask for your Rank and Fame, do not give some bullshit answer like "I only have 450 fame, I'm rank 4. Reason being I don't Tomb because it's boring and I hate it because of IWAY etc."

GvG is very different to Tombs, of course, but this is where the majority of the high level players met and started playing together. They formed Guilds that GvG'ed based on Tombs successes, and that still happens today.

Another thing - don't try to get in the best Guilds immediately. They won't recruit unknowns, who they don't know nor trust. Generally if you pm a player in a top 10 Guild, the only way you'll get in is if you pay them, and then you'll be riding the bench forever. You need to make a name for yourself first - play in top 100 Guilds, top 50 Guilds, and hell, even top 25 Guilds. As soon as you break them and become a recognised name on Observer Mode you're infinately more likely to be picked up by one of the better Guilds around, if they need you and have played with you. A big part of the playing experience is IRC - people already made references to #gwp. This started way back before PvPX, and it's grown a lot since then. It's how I got my start in the way of competitive GvG, and I know several others did, too.

Of course, if you don't want to work hard through progression of Guilds, you can always try forming your own. Go into Tombs, play with the same 8-10 people on a very regular basis. Ask if they want to start a Guild and try GvG out. Run a lame Build like Ranger Spike if you want, but don't stick to it for long. Just get a taste of the GvG environment.