Well, hopefully, my friends will be in the guild. But, I have always tried to invest time helping the cooperative efforts. This game is meant for long term enjoyment. An example was the payback I got getting my Wizzie Epic. I can’t remember the name of that underwater castle, but they showed up about 6 times, once the boss popped, to get the last part for the scepter.
maybe I just like to be helpful, or handle delayed gratification better than some. Or I’m just old...
That would depend on a lot of circumstances, e.g, have I already done more than my share of guild grinding that day, have my friends logged on because we have an appointment, etc. It all comes down to what is the decent thing to do. Anyway, if I have friends outside the guild, playing with them is a way to make them consider joining us. If the guild cannot see that, it's not my kind of guild.
These types of situations should be organized ahead of time.
We have all seen people leave a group instantly because a guild needed help with an epic quest for example, and that's okay.
But set a date and time for all members than can take a few hours to accomplish these goals.
If you applied to a guild with hardcore rules, then don't connect when you don't have time for guild stuff.
If it's a casual guild you've joined, then tell them your friends are priority, they will certainly understand.
...
By the way, will there be an /anon mode ?
If so, will guildies still able to see you connected on that mode ? (kinda defeats the purpose of such a mode)
bobwinner said:If you applied to a guild with hardcore rules, then don't connect when you don't have time for guild stuff.
If it's a casual guild you've joined, then tell them your friends are priority, they will certainly understand.
...
By the way, will there be an /anon mode ?
If so, will guildies still able to see you connected on that mode ? (kinda defeats the purpose of such a mode)
Anonymous was never meant to hide you from your guild, it was meant to hide you from certain filters so you weren't disturbed for things like buffs and rezzes. It was also used for Roleplaying.
Are you talking about being on a character that is a member of the guild or are you talking about some hypothetical mechanic that lights up my guild character as being on-line because my account is currently on-line?
If it's the latter then I have to say implementing that is a terrible idea.
As for the answer, I wouldn't be in a guild that leans on members to "contribute to the guild" so it can support people that are less invested like that. There's no reason for the guild to pay repair bills or buy reagents, ammo, etc. for anyone often enough that special farming runs to gather such are required. I expect people to be responsible members and provide for their own needs just like I will.
Zyellinia said:
As for the answer, I wouldn't be in a guild that leans on members to "contribute to the guild" so it can support people that are less invested like that. There's no reason for the guild to pay repair bills or buy reagents, ammo, etc. for anyone often enough that special farming runs to gather such are required. I expect people to be responsible members and provide for their own needs just like I will.
I agree with this. If I found myself in a situation where my guild required such contributions then I would gladly find a more casual guild. I usually help out my guildmates when I have some free time simply because I like to. For me, being in a guild shouldn't be like a job where I have resposibilities etc. Guilds are more like friends I chat with and do quests with if it is convenient for everyone.
Zyellinia said:Are you talking about being on a character that is a member of the guild or are you talking about some hypothetical mechanic that lights up my guild character as being on-line because my account is currently on-line?
If it's the latter then I have to say implementing that is a terrible idea.
As for the answer, I wouldn't be in a guild that leans on members to "contribute to the guild" so it can support people that are less invested like that. There's no reason for the guild to pay repair bills or buy reagents, ammo, etc. for anyone often enough that special farming runs to gather such are required. I expect people to be responsible members and provide for their own needs just like I will.
Contributing to the guild might not be a bad thing if there ended up being guild perks you could buy. A guild hall, or a special guild vendor. Or special buffs for your guild. Let's say doing 1000 quests for the elves qualified you for an additional elven reputation perk on top of whatever benefits the quests provided themselves. But I agree in general you shouldn't be taxed for random stuff.
Kilsin said:Scenario - You're in a guild that can see when you're online, they ask you to help with something boring like grinding for mats or guild finances but your friends are waiting to play with you, what do you do? #PRF #MMORPG #MMO #communitymatters
Guild comes first. Always. You joined for a purpose, whatever that may be, with the understanding that you put aside your individual wants and desires for the benefit of the whole. The guild relies upon each and every person to support it, and by extension, everyone in the guild. If you do not choose to help when the guild asks, why should the guild then help when you ask?
Communication here is key. A guild should be using forums, voicechat servers, emails and calendars to keep members abreast of guild activities so members can plan accordingly. While not everything can be so neatly put onto a calendar, such last minute activities should be expected.
Edit: Expectations should be clearly explained and avaialble for view to all potential guild recruits so they can make informed decisions. Once they accept those terms, they are committing to upholding their end of the agreement.
For me, before I log out each night I ask the guild "Where am I needed tomorrow?" and right after I log in I ask the guild "Where am I needed tonight?"
Well, given that I'm a guild leader, it would be rather strange for me to ditch my guild for out-of-guild friends :)
However, hypothetically speaking, if I wasn't a guild leader and I was just a member in some random guild:
1) I would have wanted expectations to be set on both sides when I joined. Being in a guild should not be all about what you get, but about what you give too. There's a balance. When I joined the guild, I made a commitment to help the guild when it was needed. If I can't or won't keep that commitment, it's on me.
2) I would hope that both my friends AND my guild would have tried to set things up with me in advance. That way I could say something like "hey sorry, that's the guild farm night and I need to be there", or I could say to the guild "hey guys I'm sorry, but my friends set this group up with me last week and it wouldn't be fair to them to ditch them for something last-minute". I get at an individual level that people don't always have control over their schedules and sometimes there's going to be the group that happens just because people happen to be online - but I feel like too many people default to that mode simply because they're lazy and/or unwilling to make commitments.
Hopefully people in the guild are friends too. In the game I mean. If not I am in the wrong guild.
If I have agreed to do something with the friends - or this is the standard time we all are on and they are expecting me - that counts as a prior commitment and I won't drop prior commitments because someone in the guild suddenly decides they want to do something. People that were doing something with me and suddenly said "Guild wants me - bye" would get on my unofficial but very real unfriends list. I refuse to be that type of person.
Kilsin said:Scenario - You're in a guild that can see when you're online, they ask you to help with something boring like grinding for mats or guild finances but your friends are waiting to play with you, what do you do? #PRF #MMORPG #MMO #communitymatters
I never join a guild whose members are not my friends. We support each other, but we also understand prior commitments and/or just not feeling like doing something.
Kilsin said:Scenario - You're in a guild that can see when you're online, they ask you to help with something boring like grinding for mats or guild finances but your friends are waiting to play with you, what do you do? #PRF #MMORPG #MMO #communitymatters
I would go help my guild if they wouldn't "give me a pass" to go adventure with my friends. When you join a guild you make a commitment.
Guild first, but ideally I would know those guild activities ahead of time and plan accordingly with any friends who weren't part of the same guild.
Tricky indeed.
The friends I team up the most, would already be in my guild. So most likely I'll ask them to join the other guildmembers in their request. We can still split off afterwards.
In case of friends outside the guild. If the guildventure wasn't planned but the friend-one was. I'ld join 50-50. Depending on my personal rank in that guild. Officer and up, then ofc I'll put guild first. If I'm a guildmember nr xxx then, pass. When I'm on trial, I'll naturally team up with the guild.
If the guild event is focused on a threshold passage or such, I'll join the guild to reach that goal. (I usually focus on boosting up the guild anyway.)
When the friend-event is not planned, I'll join the guild and ask the outside guildfriends for another time to team up. (Again depending on the rarity of the goal of those friends.)
In case of both guild and friends event being merely farm based. I'll join the guild.
Like Kalok said: if you join a guild, you make a commitment. I just happen to be one of those people that stick to that.
Barin999 said:Tricky indeed.
The friends I team up the most, would already be in my guild. So most likely I'll ask them to join the other guildmembers in their request. We can still split off afterwards.
In case of friends outside the guild. If the guildventure wasn't planned but the friend-one was. I'ld join 50-50. Depending on my personal rank in that guild. Officer and up, then ofc I'll put guild first. If I'm a guildmember nr xxx then, pass. When I'm on trial, I'll naturally team up with the guild.
If the guild event is focused on a threshold passage or such, I'll join the guild to reach that goal. (I usually focus on boosting up the guild anyway.)
When the friend-event is not planned, I'll join the guild and ask the outside guildfriends for another time to team up. (Again depending on the rarity of the goal of those friends.)
In case of both guild and friends event being merely farm based. I'll join the guild.
Like Kalok said: if you join a guild, you make a commitment. I just happen to be one of those people that stick to that.
Yup. This is my thought process as well. :)
First of all, I wouldn't join a guild that requires me to do anything, other than what I already volunteered my time for. I have a professional life making me do plenty of things I rather not.
If it was a simple request I would tell them "I have already made plans, I'll try and help [at a later time]".
Then there's always /guildremove
Ideally your friends are your guildies. Then it's a win/win.
It's easy for me, my friends are my guild as I've played with them for over 10 years now throughout P99 and Agnarr. This is a very guild dependant question.
If you signed up for a casual raid guild and you've been asked to help farm for finances (which are normally planned events for the most turn out) then if you are on you are expected to show up if online, at least for a little bit. Keep in mind more times than not these are optional raids that are very infrequent and if the guild really needed finances we would drop a raid night and turn it into a farm night. Which is another reason why most people show up to guild finance farms.
If you are in a hardcore raiding guild and decline to show up when asked, expect to be dropped.
If you are in a casual guild that provides no real services except for a guild tag and some easy access to groups, you are good to go.
If you make a commitment to a rather serious guild that provides things like a guild bank with access to spells, gems, mats, and other resources you should expect blowback if you are taking items (and the time of other members/officers) but not giving your time. Not all guilds want someone around who only logs on to raid, score DKP, win items, then log. Those are dime a dozen players and are easily replaceable with another person who actually wants to make friends and integrate themselves into something greater. Same thing for people who feel like they need to be a part of something with a plan but then decide they don't want to put any effort into the other members.
Know your guild and don't overcommit imo.
Kilsin said:Scenario - You're in a guild that can see when you're online, they ask you to help with something boring like grinding for mats or guild finances but your friends are waiting to play with you, what do you do? #PRF #MMORPG #MMO #communitymatters
Friends are people too. I can help farm anytime. I won't blow off my friends for trivial stuff.
Well it depends. If I have done the grinding for mats multiple times then I would take a break. If not, then I would ask if I can bring some friends along if they don't mind and my friends, that are outside the guild, don't mind either. If I can't make a compromise then depending on my standing with the guild and how they operate come into effect. For instance, if I see multiple people in the guild that get better treatment then me not show up to any of these guild grinds then I won't go as much. If I see active commitment among the majority of guild members in doing this then I will go to the guild. Usually farming mats for the guild are ways for the guild to craft and make certain peices of gear for the guild in return. So if you don't show up to these and prefer friends over your guild, then you should expect no help from them in terms of them getting you crafted pieces that you would need for certain raid content or areas in general and will work on your own to get it. So it's up to you what path you want to go down. I know in EQ we had to farm tons of gems for certain Jewel Crafting pieces and because I showed up on several of their runs I got my stuff made much quicker than the others and the people that never showed up had to buy the stuff with their own money. So depending on how the guild is run and if it rewards its members for being dedicated to the guild cause is the tipping point for me.