We have a Tabard: New kid in town
by Amanda Dean 
Oct 22nd 2009 at 3:00PM
So you've got goals for your guild, and you've been working very hard toward recruiting new members. One of your next big challenges is keeping them around. Turn over is a plague among beginning and middle-tier guilds. Sure, guild dynamics like raid rules and bank privileges play into who stays and who goes from your guild, but it is more important to help make someone feel a part of the team.
Think about your own experiences in joining guilds. Have you ever been in one where nobody seemed to talk to you, except to ask if you could make them a flask? What about the guild that shifts their raid times, and doesn't make it clear to all members. WoW is a social world and new guildies are subject to the same anomic forces that someone might feel during their first few weeks at a new job.
First things first. Let your new guildies in on your expectations. It's helpful to have guild policies posted permanently on a website so that they can quickly learn what to do and what not to do. Be firm, fair and consistent with enforcing these rules for new guildies as well as established guild members. For example, loot systems can be daunting at first. Have a clear explanation and be prepared to answer questions. You may consider appointing an established member to helping your rookies learn the ropes.
For folks looking for new guilds, it's probably best to research the guild a bit before donning a tabard. Some guilds request that you limit trolling on the forums or in trade chat -- if you're prone to such behavior, consider yourself warned. There may be a period of time before you become a full member, and may have restricted privileges during an introductory time.
It's also helpful to have alts and crafters marked in guild notes to help new guild members figure out who's who. I've been running my main with a new guild. Fortunately, as a tank, I can kind of sit idly by and listen in vent to get a who's who. It might be harder on a healer when the raid leader calls out a command including someone's first name -- that you haven't been formerly introduced to. It's kind of a balance between maintaining a friendly atmosphere with the established guildies and helping the new folks figure out who they're supposed to be healing.
Most importantly, let your new guildies know that you are aware of their presence. Help them feel welcome. It only takes a moment to type "Hey, how goes it?" when they sign on. You may be able to get some company for dungeons or quests. Established guilds can seem quite cliquish. I understand that sometimes your guild is "like family," but if you're recruiting, you probably want people to join your in-game clan.
One person's bad experience with joining your guild could mean good or poor publicity on your server depending on how you treat them. You could drive someone away by being standoffish and eventually develop a reputation for snubbing new folks. If their experiences are positive, your recruits might want to bring along their friends, or have something good to say when they are asked about their new guild.
As corny as it sounds, think about how you feel when you join a new guild. Treat others the way that you would like to be treated and you stand a better chance of keeping that new tank or healer around.
WoW.com offers a plethora of information on guild leadership and guild membership. Be sure to check out Scott Andrew's Weekly Column Officer's Quarters and keep an eye on the community with Mike Schramm's Guildwatch.Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Virtual selves, Guilds, Features, (Guild Leadership) We Have a Tabard
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bram Samuelson Oct 22nd 2009 3:22PM
First off: first.
Second: anomic -- well done liberal arts major!
snowleopard233 Oct 22nd 2009 4:24PM
I like how the guild didn’t know who the person was unless they need flasks lol. It reminded me of a penny arcade comic they had in the strategy guide where the party didn’t know the guys name and just called him “potion guy”.
Damn, wish I could find it on google.
snowleopard233 Oct 22nd 2009 4:27PM
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/community/comics/gallery.html#1
Found it! Third one over lol.
lazymangaka Oct 22nd 2009 4:30PM
As someone who's trying to get a guild off the ground, this strikes a chord. Luckily for lower and mid-tier guilds, the guild leveling system will give us some potential bragging rights besides just how much of Ulduar we have (or have not) cleared.
I'll look into getting a website set up to display the permanent ground rules. That's a good idea.
grapeseed2839 Oct 22nd 2009 5:32PM
Acknowledging new members and making them feel welcome goes a long way into getting people to stick around, even if you recruit them for standby. I was in a guild that was very cliquish. The officers would hang out in their own vent channel ignoring everyone during non raiding times. It was very awkward and I left after a couple weeks.
I still see them constantly trying to recruit people to fill the gaps.
Milya Oct 22nd 2009 6:44PM
Funny coincidence, this article used a screenshot featuring the guild my husband and I just joined. They're great folks, too.
Hal Oct 22nd 2009 6:55PM
Of course, it also falls on the new guys to be proactive. Don't just wait for people to start showering you with attention because you joined the guild.
Clockwork Oct 22nd 2009 8:07PM
Being the new guy can be intimidating. Of course, you should be proactive, but at the same time, you're one and the guild is many. It's up to you to make your presence known, but it's up to the established members to make you feel welcome and introduce you and show you the ropes and whatnot.
Calybos Oct 22nd 2009 7:55PM
So when you say "Guild," you really mean "level 80 raiding guild," right? Because that's what the article seems to be focusing on....
Clockwork Oct 22nd 2009 8:11PM
What are you talking about? Aside from the crafter bit, which is more important in raiding guilds than most others, the rest of the points made in this article are applicable for any guild.
Let your expectations for your guild be known - whether they be to raid, RP, PvP, or what have you. Basic for any guild.
Recruits should research prospective guilds and know what will be expected of them and what kind of environment they will be entering. Basic for any prospective recruit.
Be nice and attentive of your new members, and make them feel welcome as best as you can. Again, basic for any guild.
Read the article again. I'm sure you'll find that this is hardly "level 80 raiding guild," focused.
Calybos Oct 22nd 2009 8:27PM
Fair enough, I made a hasty judgment. My apologies.
Fairest Oct 22nd 2009 9:57PM
I agree that guildies should reach out to new members, however the onus is also on you to do the same. Be that braving guild chat or starting a simple 5/10 man within your guild, rather then say always playing with your original guildies.
Sure a guild should welcome you, but to build relationships you need to interact rather then stand on the sidelines - it's a 2 way street.
Vinna Oct 23rd 2009 2:37AM
When trying to make new guildies feel welcome please don't use those mods that auto welcome or say grats to people who get achievements. It doesnt take long to spot these, and it, at least to me, feels less welcoming than saying nothing at all.
joff_graham Oct 23rd 2009 4:35AM
Related, but slightly off topic:
I really want to build that sense of community that you're talking about in my guild. I've noticed my friend has it set up to tell him when anyone in the guild logs on and logs off, like a friends list; but he's unable to tell me how he did that.
Can anyone help me out?
superstone Oct 23rd 2009 9:08AM
That's a regular feature in the game. Look under Interface/social, and there will be a little box that says "Guild Member Alert". Check it, and you're good to go.
ibeeis Oct 23rd 2009 12:22PM
Guilds where no one ever seemed to talk to me?
No, can't say I've ever been to one.
Guilds with people who never seem to talk to ANYONE EVER?
Yeah, I've seen a couple.
Theese Silent Bobs always puzzled me. They never speak up. They never post on forums. They never participate in guild chatter. They are never adressed during the raid.
They're just... there.
It's kind of creepy.