Focus Guilds?

[Amoonsinas]

I've been in a large guild before, and honestly, it was starting to become a HUGE pain in the tookus. We were one of the largest Raiding guilds on our server in Everquest, and it seemed that everyone looked up to us.. but at the same time they envied us. This caused a big "Take the camp before the Heroes can get it" argument between a few higher guilds above us in the Planes (Time, Water... etc)

Having a large guild is good in a sense, but if you can't get everyone there at once, it's like a big unravelling sweater with a cat chasing the fray. Everyone knows what you're doing. Now that I've moved onto World of Warcraft, I am within all the other "Heroes" that got sick of the same unfair shake.. (which was only about 15 of the 200+ people on the roster, one being my RL hubby). We are now in a guild of at least 50 active people, and I'm absolutely happy to be there.

So, 100 people in a guild would be perfect for me as well.

*Edit: I kan spell, reely!*

[Cobalt Katze]

To me, even 50 is a large guild. I've always been involved in, what you might call, microscopic guilds. That is, 5-15 really close-knit people that play regularily and are great folks. Unfortunately one of the reasons I quit WoW was because our guild along those lines had a falling-out once we all reached level 60 and our leader wanted to move on to the raiding scene. The guild then merged with the second-largest raiding guild on the server. It was pretty sad, and a lot of the family was lost to the mob.

So I think if Vanguard allowed me to be a part of a small family guild as well as a crazy raiding guild, it would be a nice balance for the times when you just want to kick back and have some unstructured fun.

[Aredhel]

I think I was honestly happiest when my guild was about 45 - 50! Alt count was low and we all just had fun together. When we hit 400, the writing was on the wall. Jealousy and deceit were rampant and it was just crazy! I always told my officers that we had no reason not to hold up our heads, that we had done nothing wrong. Unfortunately, one of them must not have totally agreed and was instrumental in the downfall of the guild.

At this point, I'm gun shy. Over 5 years of being a GL of a GREAT group of people, and now....it's just sad! It will be interesting to see how guilds really play out here!

[Greymain]

My guild was started during AC2 beta several years ago, we stayed together until the majority tired of the problems in the game and the guild upped sticks and moved to Horizons Beta, again we stuck it out for a year before it was obvious that Horizons was never going to solve its core problems the guild moved into EQ2 by the time I left EQ2 all but 3 of the guild had given up on it. We reassembled in WoW but selected a PvP server and horde option. This worked great for the guild, our close knit team work has made them one of the most successful guilds on their server. The membership is solid and no new recruits are being taken on. Unfortunately I have problems which puts me at sever disadvantage in PvP, so I have had to move alone to a PvE server. Been in many guilds there but none come close to my old team.

I dont know what is the secret of a good guild except involves giving not taking. !50 was the highest number ever in the guild currently the cap is set to 100.

[Fritz]

Playing of alts in the guild usally inflates the number , I would think 75-100 would be a fair cap.

[Twyla]

I am interested to find out how guilds will work for Vanguard.

Maybe it will be wise to form bonds with the people around us on our normal playing times.

Maybe guilds could have city bases and then develop their own hubs in higher level content?

I would like to see guilds working together and forming strong relationships. Maybe focus guilds will work this way?

Are current guilds too competitive for this kind of networking?

[Pirotess]

Originally Posted by Twyla

Are current guilds too competitive for this kind of networking?

Quite often yes. I know my guild has always kept to itself as much as we could manage. We tried doing an alliance with another guild for a couple years and it just didnt work out in the end. One guild always felt slighted.

[Siencyn]

I think the main problem lies with loot. It is hard to have an alliance with another guild when uber <and sometimes not so uber> loot is on the line.

[Twyla]

*nods*

Thanks guys, I see that loot is always going to be the factor that escapes me. As I don't join guilds for loot, I join them for companionship. I have always been happy with what my character finds or makes on the journey.

well... seems to be one of those topics that will not be settled without some in game experience I am happy to wait

[Kelaric]

Originally Posted by Twyla

I am interested to find out how guilds will work for Vanguard.

Maybe it will be wise to form bonds with the people around us on our normal playing times.

The Crimson Wind Society is trying to set up squads this way, making them an integral part of our guild. Squads would be as you describe above, forming from the guild membership into elite fighting groups.

Guild members that are not in a squad will be supported by one of our three divisions (Adventure Corps, Quartermaster Corps, and Diplomatic Corps). Squads themselves will be self-sufficient in terms of the three spheres and will have council representation.

We plan to combine raid and family guild attributes for a 3rd generation guild structure. With what Aradune Mithara has mentioned in various posts regarding interdependency of the spheres; casual, group, and raid areas; and the size of Telon, we feel our structure will accomodate players who wish to know their guild mates, experience a majority of the world content, benefit from guild cooperation, and always have someone to group with.

If you'd like to know more, please visit our website http://www.crimsonwind.net/