BlizzCon 2009: Guild Leveling and Talents
by Matthew Rossi 
Aug 22nd 2009 at 7:30PM
However, even as things change for guilds, one thing remains the same: you will not be getting a guild hall. You're going to have to keep hanging around on the streets with us Hoi Polloi, I'm afraid. Still, what we are getting is extremely thought provoking on its own.
Frankly, the idea of leveling up your guild is not one I would have ever had on my own, so kudos to the folks at Blizzard for completely blindsiding me. At present we're hearing that there will be 20 levels of guild experience, and that levels will be earned though things people in guilds do anyway like killing bosses, playing in the new rated BGs and arena matches, and through progression in professions and reputations in game.
As guilds level, they'll gain access to guild talent specs, with talents that can directly make life easier for the guild's membership.Talents that will allow for mass resurrection and reduced repairs have been mentioned, although we're also hearing that "We're not going to be character talents in the guild talents. We don't want to put talents players have to have in the guild talents, ie: they have to have this talent in order to kill this boss." That seems like a very smart move to me, making guild talents provide convenience and perks rather than necessary boss killing abilities. Other possibilities not yet confirmed but mentioned in the Systems Panel were allowing for mass Guild server transfers (rather than the situation as it is now, with individual members having to transfer and then recreate the guild on the new server) and allowing guilds to purchase bank tabs via the leveling system. Guild Achievements will also be a part of the new system.
Other parts of the new guild system are guild vendors (selling reagents for guild currency earned during the leveling process) and guild heirloom gear, also purchased with guild currency and allowing you to level faster. These items will be bound to guilds and thus leaving the guild loses you the item. There will also be a Looking for Guild system similar to the current LFG system for grouping, and there will be a variety of new Guild UI options, including being able to look at other guild member's profession books and a percentage of all gold looted being sent as a bonus to the guild's bank. You'll even be able as a guild to invite other guilds to events like raids.
This is all rather astonishing stuff that should help make guilds a more involved element of gameplay. I'm extremely interested to see how this all plays out.
BlizzCon 2009 is here! WoW.com has continuing coverage, bringing you the latest in Cataclysm news, live blogs, galleries, and reports right from the convention floor. Check out WoW.com's Guide to BlizzCon for the latest!
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Guilds, Odds and ends, News items, Expansions, Battlegrounds, Achievements, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Nieker Aug 22nd 2009 7:33PM
it is nice indeed, especially with the reduced durability loss on wipes and the reagents removal from raid wide buffs
gridpoet Aug 23rd 2009 12:28AM
Yeah... just to be fair, this is not an original Blizzard idea... credit should be given to EQ2 who had guild leveling a LONG time ago...
its still a fantastic idea... its just not Blizzards...
cowy Aug 23rd 2009 4:47PM
This one actually ruined all the fun Blizzcon had been up to that point for me.
I'm from a very small family/friend guild. IE we have 4 accounts /members. Not even a full group.
We do everything we can together, and work hard. We've always had to deal with the handicaps presented by this game to smaller groups.
I feel shafted. Things are already guild oriented, and so much easier when you have more people.
NOW they get even MORE perks? Its like feeding a fat man pure lard. A guild already has so much by having so many more people, why is blizzard giving them even more?
To top it off, now we'll have to get into a bigger guild just to be able to do rated battlegrounds because its the only practical way.
I feel that wow, once very open to a variety of playstyles, has closed the door in our faces. There is no place for us as a smaller band of adventurers. While the decision to leave our guild resides with each of us individually, I can't help but feel like Blizzard is forcing us to close shop on our beloved little guild. :(
Sparcrypt Aug 23rd 2009 11:02PM
@cowy
Blizzard aren't really stopping you from doing anything - they are giving guilds perks and fun things to do.. that's all
There's nothing said that only big guilds will get these perks - smaller guilds are likely able to do the same thing at a much slower pace, which is fine by me. 200 people working towards something should be able to do it faster then 4.
As for rated BGs- I've been in PvP groups over the years without being in a guild for that purpose. Find other like minded people, form a chat channel with them (type /join mypvpgroupsname and you're done). When you want to PvP, hit up that channel. If you can't find these people you're not looking hard enough - tell people that you're looking for people to hit up rated BG's with, get a group and then do some BG's. The people who you enjoy those games with, ask them if they'd like to join your channel. Over time, more and more people will join.
Nothing has been closed to you - you are still able to do everything bigger guilds are, just at a slower pace. If your argument is that you shouldn't have to work harder for the same gains as a group 50 times your size does... well... thats life?
George McBain Aug 24th 2009 12:13PM
@cowy
I have my own guild that only includes my characters and guess what? This idea/play mechanic thrills me!
Granted, I may never get past guild level 5, but I am cool with that. I don't understand how any played in a guild, 2 members to 200, would think this is bad idea unless they don't like their guild.
Thundrcrackr Aug 26th 2009 8:07AM
@Cowy
I completely agree with Cowy on this one. I too prefer being part of a small guild of personal friends rather than a huge guild full of people i'll never talk to outside of WoW.
As a result, we're ALREADY at a disadvantage compared to larger guilds. With barely enough people on raid night to form a 10man group, we'll never see any of the 25man content, gear, or achievements. It's always kind of ruined a bit of the fun for me knowing that choosing to be part of a smaller group, which is much more fun for me than a larger less personal group, means that i'm automatically missing out on the higher end/progression stuff.
Now Blizz is adding even MORE stuff we're going to have to miss out on? That's just disheartening...i feel like i'm being forced to choose between playing with my friends and being able to see all the high end/progression stuff. This addition of guild levelling/perks/achievements just makes it worse. It's going to be great for all the large/hardcore guilds out there, but just another carrot on a stick for the smaller guilds that they'll never be able to reach.
(and don't give me the "it'll just take more time" argument. Smaller guilds tend to be more casual, which means they play less to begin with. So taking longer with even less time to begin with means it will take practically forever, thereby making it pointless to even try.)
Menglor Aug 31st 2009 3:49PM
@cowy
the higher ended levels in guild are likely going to be like the mass raid, raid buff's ...
if your 4 people in a guild, this isnt going to help you anyway
we just dont know how much is going to be available. you should expect your getting hosed till full disclosure is made.
heroman12121 Aug 22nd 2009 7:35PM
No more high repair costs?
Angus Aug 22nd 2009 7:36PM
As a GM, I am very happy. Allowing us to get small perks for doing well is nice. The mass rez feature will be well loved during progression fights, especially with the no reagent option for raid buffs. That might increase the number of attempts a guild gets on a boss during a night by almost half.
Loen Aug 22nd 2009 7:39PM
Sounds AMAZING!
Vash Aug 22nd 2009 7:38PM
"percentage of all gold looted being sent as a bonus to the guild's bank"
I'm not sure I like the idea that my guild can tax me, but I think the rest of that stuff you mentioned is pretty nifty.
Jade Aug 22nd 2009 7:41PM
It's not a tax, it would be a bonus. You loot 1000 Gold, your guild get's 100 gold cause your awesome. That's the definition of bonus.
JamieG Aug 22nd 2009 7:49PM
"As a bonus" suggests, well, as a bonus, while still each getting equal money on loot.
JKWood Aug 22nd 2009 8:54PM
Hey buddy, if you're not willing to help support the guild in some small way, then do you really want a guild? I mean, if you're just looking for some place to sponge until you're epically decked out... I don't even want to talk about it. That's just sick.
Kajira Aug 22nd 2009 9:31PM
Let's say the boss drops 100g normally. Your 5 people each get 20g. Then your GUILD gets some extra gold on top of that. It does not come out of your share. It's a separate loot pouch, like rogue's pickpocketing.
cjamieson Aug 22nd 2009 7:40PM
I think this sounds like an awesome option. I'm alway looking for ways to enjoy my guild more. This along with the new cross-server LFG options are going to make even the most casual guild interested in guild events such as raids and heroic runs. 3 cheers for this!
Rabidgun Aug 22nd 2009 8:41PM
I love this expansion. Its so bad.
Rabidgun Aug 22nd 2009 8:42PM
Lol, people did not get the powerglove reference. Bad in this case means good.
gari.rogers Aug 22nd 2009 7:41PM
Here's hoping the leveling processes isn't completely linked to raiding.
Zeroblazin Aug 22nd 2009 8:08PM
"levels will be earned though things people in guilds do anyway like killing bosses, playing in the new rated BGs and arena matches, and through progression in professions and reputations in game."
So i'm sure you can get additional experience from raiding, you can still get exp. from doing bg's, professions, rep grinds within your guild or with your guildies.