Ask WoW Insider: How to find a good guild
by Barb Dybwad 
Jul 13th 2007 at 4:00PM
It's Friday once again, which means it's time for another edition of Ask WoW Insider -- each week we publish one of your questions for your fellow WoW fans to answer. Last week we got some great recommendations for WoW podcasts worth listening to, and this week we look at how to find a decent guild. Chris writes: I'm a level 58 protection paladin on US Dark Iron, and I'm looking for a casual guild that will run instances with me, not run me through them with a bunch of 70s. Problem is, I realized that I have no idea how to do this. The guild recruitment channel is essentially a joke, and I'm the only person I ever see on there. How do you get yourself into a good guild that's specified for your needs?This is a problem that many of us face at some point in our WoW careers -- if you're not already hooked in to a group of RL friends on whatever server you've rolled an alt or main on, what are some tips for finding a decent guild, with the least amount of trial and error? Do you have any best practices or unique stories to tell about joining up with your current guild?
Tune in next week for another edition of Ask WoW Insider, which lives on your questions! Please send us what you'd like to ask a captive bunch of WoW fans to ask AT wowinsider DOT com.
Filed under: Guilds, Ask WoW Insider
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jae Dec 28th 2008 10:33PM
ill be doing a character transfer to another realm, can anyone recommend a good realm for an alliance with a good economy?
Freehugz Jul 13th 2007 4:10PM
Simple: Run 5 mans and start a convos with guilded players about their guilds.
Galipan Jul 13th 2007 4:11PM
Chris, what I did to get in the guilds that did (and I've enjoyed 6 out of 7) I met some people through a pug, usually we used vent (you always assosciate (sp?) better with people that you meet through vent) and I added them to my friends list, becuase it was a good run. Then once a foundation for a friendship was created I asked/applied to their guild, becuase I knew that if they were in that guild, it was a cool guild. Try running some PUGs for a while (I know, it hurts) and start adding people that you have a good time with and you know are good, to your friends list. It won't be instant, Rome wasn't built in a day you know.
Galipan Jul 13th 2007 4:11PM
@1 lol, u wrote what i wrote in less than 2 sentences...im a nubckae roflmao
Jeff Jul 13th 2007 4:19PM
Try this: http://www.wowjutsu.com/us/ It lists guilds by the number of bosses they have downed. Gives you a good idea of which guilds are hardcore and the ones that are more casual.
siorai Jul 13th 2007 4:53PM
I probably took a bit of a different route than most. When I came back to WoW a few months ago, I knew I wanted to be in a guild. I also knew that my chances of finding one that was to my liking that would also let a brand new toon into it were very slim to say the least. Did I let that dissuade me? Not at all.
I started going through the forum for my server on the official WoW forums. I checked out any and all posts regarding recruiting and threw out the ones that obviously weren't for me and kept the ones that looked promising. As I was looking for a more casual guild, that part was easy. No "hardcore, 5 nights a week, must be 70 and highly geared" posts.
After getting down to a few guilds that sounded like what I was looking for, I checked out their websites. That narrowed it down to only one guild. So even though I was putting in an application as a level 1, I went for it. Since I put the legwork in beforehand and picked a guild that had the same mindset as myself, the next night I was invited.
So basically, take the time to go through the server forum, hunt down all the recruitment posts, find ones that sound like what you're looking for and fill out an application. PUGing is fine, but you don't really get a feel for the guild as a whole. By checking out their recruitment posts and website you can get, in my opinion, a much clearer picture of what type of guild it is you're looking at.
talkingmike Jul 13th 2007 5:24PM
Help a relatively new player out here...
I'm a new WoW player in the last couple of months, and I'm realizing that my likelihood of running some of the "classic" dungeons and raids like MC and AQ is very low. Nevertheless, it would still be fun to experience it once.
Are there many guilds out there that are coming up with lower-level players (i.e., Level 40ish like me) that would have an interest in running some of these pre-BC raids?
jess Jul 13th 2007 5:34PM
I second or third trying to pug option, espeicallly if you are a prot sppecced pally, since tanks are hard to come by in outlands at least when people are leveling.
My guild isn't super uber but we're working on Gruul's Lair and I noticed a lot of our newest recruits by and large came from people guildies met via heroics.
Wolfstalker Jul 13th 2007 5:39PM
You can post on the WoW realm forums, or just read the forum for your realm, many guilds post recruitment notices on there.
Lokse Jul 13th 2007 7:04PM
Number 1 rule of finding a good guild, don't obviously be dying to join one. Play a lot, be polite and know your class, have a sense of humour. After good runs whisper the people you liked and ask them if you can /friend them (if you don't ask, they won't rememebr you and might not like being bugged.) When you bump into someone questing, take a chance and ask if they want to group, you can meet some very good players that way.
After doing this process a while, making sure to run with those people again when possible. Eventually drop a hint or two that you wwant to know what their guild is about.
Rule 2: Be patient, you don't want to have a list of guilds you've left, that is a mile long.
Rule 3: Don't spam guildrecruitment channel, and try to not join guilds wihch do.
Usul Jul 13th 2007 10:37PM
#5 made some really good points, and many quality applicants we have received mentioned hearing about us on the WoW forums from our recruitment post.
The first thing I would do is use Google. For instance, Googling "Warcraft Guild Turalyon" brings up many posts and websites for the guilds on my own server.
Next, You can browse through the information and see if any fit the style of play you are looking for. Are you looking to join a fast paced, deep progression intent on smashing Illidan in the near future? Do you have a bit more on your plate in RL, and need a guild that understands your time commitments elsewhere? Are you younger and looking for a guild where subtle innuendo is a lost art? :)
Chances are, you will be able to find out alot about the guild you are looking at if you are looking for one with a bit of history or staying power. If you're looking for something a bit more fly-by-night, or something where invites are sent in Ellwyn without asking....it may be a little tougher to find information about them, or any hint of infrastructure to speak of.
Whatever you are looking for...I wish you luck! :)
Usul
The Elders of Turalyon
icampgnomes Jul 14th 2007 1:48AM
Stay away from guilds that: is now recruiting. We have vent tabard and a website and over 200 members. We are accepting all calles an hope for endgame soon!!!!! pst!!!!
icampgnomes Jul 14th 2007 1:49AM
roflmao off just read post, god i need 2 go to bed
Gilestel Jul 14th 2007 11:02AM
@6: Do you need to do that with your guild? I'm involved in a plan to do all the old-world raid instances, and although the raid group includes a few of my guildies, it also includes loads of people from lots of other guilds too. There's a thread on our realm forum for people to sign up and we're working together to get the attunements done. Good way to meet new friends :)
You do need a guild that's OK with you spending time on this project though.
cpsethgt Jul 14th 2007 2:40PM
@6 -
There's a guild on my server called 'Old Raids R Us' that apparently mainly focuses on doing all the pre-BC content. Not all guilds will have a name that so clearly identifies their goals, but, with a little searching around, I'm sure you can find a guild that would want to do all the old dungeons.
Noobstrap Jul 26th 2007 1:52AM
once you find a group of peeps you enjoy playing with
stick with it imo,
i have been playing with the majority (a few reforms and so forth) of my current guild for a little over a year....were on first name terms,and i cant imagine playing with anyone else.