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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBlizzCon 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 3 of 4)
SaintStryfe Aug 22nd 2009 8:32PM
I'm a big fan of the Instance (BTW the complaining old man who disliked his old timey music being taken away? That was me. .... Mommy.) and am heavily considering, when I get my Tauren up to 80 (5?) transferring him to be part of AIE.
They did say that a new guild interface would be a major part of the changes. If that means that they'll design it with guilds the size of AIE, who knows. But I don't doubt it'll be a consideration.
ciserman Aug 22nd 2009 8:39PM
yeah, i realize its not really a concern for most people, but its just a thought since it is a pretty big determent to how our guild runs... i dont even know if they're aware of the problems we have, lol
Popesicle Aug 22nd 2009 8:38PM
I'd like an option to change my guilds name...
Viper007Bond Aug 22nd 2009 8:45PM
I hope they add the ability to rename a guild then...
Redielin Aug 22nd 2009 8:49PM
this is all cool but one caveat:
@all guild masters:
Really think hard if you want to tie gold and the guild together. Anything that affects a player's gold is very easy to become like taxes or fees. It may be for the good of the group but there is a reason that most divorces are a result of money disputes.
Blizz can put the features in, but do not be tempted to get your GM fingers into your guildmates' personal gold. You're only asking to be featured on "Drama Mamas".
joekemp Aug 22nd 2009 9:36PM
That is why you always keep your gold in a separate bank toon. Create a guild on it and deposit as much gold as you want, just keep a few thousand on your main in that guild and you don't have to worry about it. A few thousand gold is chump change if you know what you are doing.
steph Aug 22nd 2009 11:46PM
I am not sure I understand this comment. I am an assistant GM and I don't see how the guild could possibly get peoples' personal gold if they themselves don't make a donation. If anything it seems to me like guild members will have more gold implementing the gold gain talent. They way I understand it is a boss that drops 100g will still drop that 100g for those in the raid who will pocket 10g each but it will also drop a small percentage more which goes right into the GB, so there will be less need for donations from guildies personal gold than before.. No one is taking anything from anyone.
itanya_blade Aug 23rd 2009 4:21PM
After reading this over, I am less than pleased with this. We're talking about something that will force small RP guilds to combine into others for the benefits.
I, frankly, do not like it.
regisfrost Aug 22nd 2009 9:35PM
Thanks Mythic!
Krieghoff Aug 22nd 2009 10:02PM
I may have missed it above (I miss things sometimes), but who decides what to buy? Will I have to make a case to the GM to buy me an heirloom item for my worgen druid, or will we each have a share of the guild currency attributed to us. I can see many a GM declining requests for heirloom items because they want to save the currency for the 'big things'.
Just my (pessimistic) thoughts on this.
steph Aug 22nd 2009 11:54PM
They said there will be permissions for who can spend the Guild Currency, so I assume that it means it will be like any other guild access and controlled by the Gm who will set the access.
I can see where this will have the ability to cause problems but I think most good guild who are forward thinking will want to get the heirloom patterns for their members. Though there will probably prioritizing based on what is released to be purchased.
I mean as far as I can tell the guild buys access to one pattern, let's say a leather chest, and then all the guilds leatherworkers can get that pattern, and anyone in guild can wear that item. I would think since it goes back to the GB after you leave a guild that would mean that once you have level up with the chest you can return it to the GB for someone else to use, but I could be wrong about that.
Microtonal Aug 22nd 2009 10:25PM
I love this system. The only thing I'd like to see that probably won't happen (for reasons I completely understand) is a way for bank alt guilds to get in on the action, too.
AmazonLily Aug 22nd 2009 11:21PM
Looks like I'm going to have to be joining a guild. :P I've been staying away from them due to bad past experiences (racism, getting cussed out by a drunk officer, inactivity where I'm the only one on...fun times) and have found good guilds only twice out of all the guild-hopping I've been doing. Here's hoping I can find another decent guild again.
Clbull Aug 23rd 2009 12:23PM
I think that on top of that, Blizzard should implement a Guild Alliance System. The idea isn't new (I think Guild Wars has ingame support for guild alliances) but heres what I'm thinking of:
1) Each guild has the ability to ally with other guilds, and form an alliance. A Guild Alliance can hold several guilds (though a limit could be implemented.) There should be an Alliance chat channel that is separate from Guild chat as well. Guild Alliances would be maintained and moderated by the guild masters and officers.
2) On the ingame calendar, you'd have the ability to create Guild Alliance Events, which guilds in your alliance would have the ability to sign up for.
3) Alliances should also be trackable on the WoW Armory.
Mickthathick Aug 23rd 2009 6:49PM
At least the GUild spam will change, instead of "We have leet tabard and 2 bank tabs" it will now be "We have leet tabard, 2 bank tabs and access to toenail vanity pet."
Toliman Aug 24th 2009 1:23AM
There's also another potential source of conflict, apart from the mega/micro guild achievement/rankings (which can probably be handled by percentage-based contributions) , and that's disbanding/gquitting, and to another degree, GM dictators vs their guild.
and possibly more important to most guild drama, gbank ninja looting at 5am by the 2ic who then /gquits... to set up his own guild.
how does the Guild Progression system handle players that seem fine, attend a good number of raids, get some guild-progression based legendary or profession specific item, and then leave/quit/disband. do the items revert to the guild's bank, or do they stay until you re-guild yourself, i.e. much like the guild tabards. does the gold or crafted items, BoE/BoG items you deposit in the GBank, return to you if you leave, or is it just 'absorbed' into the maw from whence the guild bank came.
the other problem is hoarding, what does a guild do with 90k in gold, can members 'buy' items out of the bank if they want them, can the guild bank sell those items to its members, can the guild leaders buy more than just bank tabs without a vote/veto system in place to stop someone from spending the money on boosting their own profession to the detriment of the guild,
i.e. some power-crazed DK guild leader who wants to spend gold on epic/legendary engineer-only items in a guild with only 3 engineers, and 2 are lvl 1 alts. (sic)
not that i'm speaking from guild experience.. but its all dismally possible.
Leonora Aug 24th 2009 1:01PM
After hearing some rumours I decided to check here, and the first ideas on guild options make me very happy. Outside raiding there is not so much you can aim for as guild - we make our own goals, like guild meetings, fish feast events, fun runs to old places, ingame matches etc - but to be frank, it is not very obvious and some work to keep guild life fun. This whole idea of guild achievements and guild benefits is a superb thing to put into wow.
I see some responses from fellow guildleaders, who seem to regard this idea with similar positive feelings. I also see a few negative replies. The two main categories:
- " Oh noes, my guildleader will abuse this immense new powah!".
Yes, some guildleaders will abuse it, or some guilds will be made with the secret intent of robbing its members. However, 1. Any member in a guild has a responsibility to take care of themself - if you feel your guild contributions are abused, why do you stay? 2. A guildleader may seem to have enormous powers, and even more so with this system... reality is that we are very restrained in using this power, and the more so when we gain more power. That is because guildleaders of large guilds *like* leading and like seeing their guild profit - this power is just a tool. Such leaders will aim to be as fair as possible with this new tool, for they will also see the large possibilities. People who fear power abuse have no idea of the checks and balances that make us leaders "behave" :).
- " Oh noes, we have a small guild and now we wont benefit".
Yes... true. So, if you want this new tool faster/moor, grow. And if you dont wish to be large, accept that not all options in the game will be available (fast). Its almost like raiding - if you cant get a well organised 25 men raid together, you will never see the end of (right now) 25 men Ulduar. Keep in mind that the organisation of a large guild is not paradise. It requires a lot of communication and administration, a solid application filtering process, good drama-solving and active leadership to keep the guild happy. Dont get me wrong - it is a lot of fun. But its a completely diferent kettle of tea than being in a small guild. I have no problems whatsoever to see the energy needed to maintain a larger guild result in benefits on some (non-crucial) perks.
Good going Blizzard, keep it up!
itanya_blade Aug 24th 2009 2:04PM
I am in a small guild and I run a 25 man Ulduar raid. I am more than aware of all the things it takes to run a raid, since I do it.
This attitude that they are mutually exclusive is ridiculous and now I have to put up with blizzard ramming it down my throat too?
Leonora Aug 24th 2009 7:00PM
@Itanya_blade: what is your issue, exactly?
My example with raids was merely to point out that some aspects in this game depend on some extra organisation. If you run a small guild, you probably keep it small for a reason - meaning you dont have the issues I have to deal with in my larger guild. Why then not be happy with being small and avoiding those issues, and allow me to be happy with some perks that come along with the issues *I* deal with? Right now you sound like you wish to have your cake and eat it too. Or do I misunderstand you?
I happen to be in two raid communities, and I wonder if (assuming the current plans are the final outcome, which is doubtful) they will manage to survive this change. I hope so, and I will definitely lobby at Blizzard for making alliances possible. But maybe we have to keep at such special organisations without the perks raidguilds will have. If so, so be it - I have too much fun in my context to let Blizzard ruin it.
Qrylor Aug 24th 2009 5:30PM
I just hope that they finally fix some of the issues with the guild bank, mainly in my opinion being the removal by stack instead of quantity. But I am really looking forward to guild being a larger part of wow along with the money bonus and arena points