How to find a new guild
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 22nd 2007 at 8:17PM
Zodo from LFG KZ recently sent us a link to a post on his blog about "guildshopping on a new server" (yes, I know it's spelled wrong on his site, give the guy a break). If you've recently transferred servers or have just rolled up a new character and are looking for a good guild, it's definitely worth a look.There are a few things I disagree with in there-- I find it really hard to believe that small servers don't have high level raiding guilds, and in my experience, a bigger population may theoretically mean lower prices, but in practice that's not always true. But his later steps are good ones, especially making sure you put in the research on where a guild's at in terms of progression (some guilds will help you get to their level, but most really high level guilds would rather you're already up there with them), and what classes they're interested in recruiting. Even if a guild says they're not recruiting, being nice and chatting with someone from the guild (in a city, as Zodo says, not in a raid), can clue you in on at least how you might get a trial run with them.
And applying for guilds is something very basic that everyone trying to get into a great guild should be more than happy to do. I used to be in the camp of "lol it's just a game i'm not applying," but the fact is that the guilds that seriously ask for (and consider) applications tend to be the better guilds to be in, and so the few minutes spent filling out a form intelligently is more than worth it in the long run. If you're about to face this situation, Zodo's guide is definitely worth a read.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, How-tos, Guilds, Raiding
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave Aug 23rd 2007 12:55AM
I couldn't disagree more with what that guy has to say. It's definitely not my experience.
On my server, it's a launch server and it's full. Some parts of the economy are "robust", such as the twink market which just sells stuff very quickly. The rest of it is "controlled" by a few people who fix the prices of a lot of the most bought goods. Not bad if you're a supplier of these things since you can put them on the AH slightly under the fixer's prices and sell out instantly and always be flowing in money... but it's impossible to break the market on a lot of other things since these guys have huge reserves of stuff and will saturate the market whenever you put things up. Your stuff won't sell or you'll have to sell it way stupid cheap while mister Wal-Mart proves to you that it's his market and he's the one making robust profits and you're gonna live with what he gives you. hrmph.
Bigger population in my experience doesn't mean more options either. It sometimes means less, as there's a lot of competition and why would most guilds want a transfer when they can just pick someone else up that they might at least kinda know? Maybe this is for people who are some sort of elite (or at least think they are..) player or whatever who feels like they're going to pick from the top guilds and let the guilds compete for this player's affection... but the reality is that any kara-geared hunter is as good as another kara-geared hunter to most guilds.
And if you start off by asking "hay guys what's your loot policies!" that clearly says to me that you're a self-centered kinda person who's in it for the shiny purples and will be more than happy to jump ship at the first better opportunity or if the guild has 2 bad weeks in a row. Not the best kind of people to recruit if you want a stable, solid guild if you're of the mind that recruiting needs to be exclusionary.
I personally think any guild can kick ass with enough people who are ready to kick ass, rather than people who just want loots. Loot happens, it's a consequence of the success rather than a goal. Most people don't care though, they want as little competition for their shinies around them as they can get.
Sophey Aug 23rd 2007 2:34AM
As mentioned, a good tip is to take the time to fill out a detailed and intelligently written application. As a former GM of my own guild and a current officer of a raiding guild, nothing will make me deny your application faster than an application written like a fifth grader with ADD. And "u" does not equal "you." Save it for your text messages.
bwest0526 Aug 23rd 2007 2:53AM
Quote "There are a few things I disagree with in there-- I find it really hard to believe that small servers don't have high level raiding guilds."
In all actuality he doesn't say they "Don't" he says "Most small servers will not have high level raiding guilds," which is actually true. newer servers don't have the higher level people hitting up "...further than gruul or SSC."
I think this is a pretty good guide to guild "Shopping" an interesting take on it at least.
ThorinII Aug 23rd 2007 9:30AM
Guild? Are people still botherig with those things? :0)
I've been guildless for some time now. As a casual player it would be helpful when questing, but not helpful enough to make up for the drama that usually comes with guilds. IMO anyway.
PyroAmos Aug 23rd 2007 10:56AM
most small servers don't have higher lvl raiding guilds. And the ones that do, tend to be rife with drama, mainly 'cause a smaller server doesn't have that many people interested in high end raiding, so if a guild does manage to bring enough people together to do it, it will likly be rife with personality conflicts (then theres only 35 people that are serious about raiding, even if your really hate someone you still have to guild with them, cause theres no other options) and drama with other guilds that you took people from. Happened on my old server, and i'll never play a low pop server again. Eventually total colapse from transfers, game and guild quits due to drama came about, and there is no guild raiding past mag anymore there. The few friends i still have there are all transfering or rerolling on other servers now... kinda sad, I don't like char trans so my druid is still there... after they are all gone, it will be the only tank with 4/5 T4 left on the server. Kinda sad.
BTW, lv67 disc/holy priest lf guild 1-5 bosses into the eye/ssc on maelstrom-horde. lol... at least for casters its easier, you don't have to do much raiding to get your gear, most of it can be from tailoring (both a blessing and a curse).
Oh and about the economy, things are more expensive on high pop servers, sure the supply is higher, but the demand is higher to, so the flow of items is pretty constant allowing higher prices, vice a fairly stagnant market on a low pop server.