Officers' Quarters: Solutions to scheduling conflicts

This week's Officers' Quarters doesn't enjoy the same high drama compared to, say, the story from a few weeks ago of a guild leader who took back his guild using a secret alt. However, it's a common issue that often crops up for both officers and non-officers alike: What can you do when your personal schedule suddenly conflicts with your guild's raid times? It may seem hopeless, but it doesn't always have to be! First, the email:
So I am at a crossroads. The guild I am currently in as an officer is 6/7 on FL norm. The raid schedule we currently have is a friday/saturday night. Unfortunately though due to real life scheduling soon I will not be able to raid on friday nights. I do not wish to leave this guild that I am currently in. I have 4 level 85s in the guild and I have developed a lot of friendships. I know if my guild leader finds out that i have left the guild she will understand but not be happy. I would like to find a guild who has a more flexible raid schedule, but I don't want to leave the guild I am in and loose my position of officer. I have no idea how to go about this situation.
Please help,
Much Confusion
Hi, Much Confusion. I have three potential solutions for you.
Ask about it
Your schedule changed and there's nothing you can do about that. However, a raiding schedule isn't necessarily set in stone. Don't just assume that you have to quit the guild in order to keep raiding.
Approach your raid leader about the problem. See what he or she recommends. Ask about the possibility of a change to the raid schedule. Ask if anyone else currently has a problem with Fridays. You may not be the only one with an issue.
Sometimes officers aren't aware that a number of people are about to have scheduling conflicts. Or sometimes they've already heard from several people about a night that's not working for them, and they've been debating what to do. It's unlikely, but not entirely impossible, that your inability to attend Friday raids might be the last straw that makes a scheduling change necessary.
That way, if you do wind up leaving in the end, at least they'll know both you and they did everything they could to prevent that outcome.
Create an alt run
Another possible solution would be to start a second raiding group for alts at a time that you can make, and get your raiding in with your guild that way. That really depends on whether anyone else in your guild has the same schedule you do. Still, it's a possibility.
If you do this, you could continue to attend Saturday raids with your main toon, assuming your guild can and wants to accommodate you on a part-time basis.
As an officer, you have a good chance of finding support for an alt run. Start by finding a raid leader for it, if you're unwilling to act as such yourself. Then drum up the roles that you'll need and find a night or two that works for everyone. Even if it's just a once-per-week run, you can still make progress while you learn the Dragon Soul encounters by extending your lockout over two weeks or longer.
A dual-guild solution
My final suggestion, if the other two fail, is to consider moving one of your alts to a guild with a schedule that's better for you. You can continue to be an officer in your guild and to raid with them on Saturday nights, assuming they don't have a problem with this plan.
Obviously, you should be honest with both guilds about your situation. I assume your fellow officers would prefer to have you helping out with officer duties and raiding at least half-time rather than lose you altogether.
I may be wrong. It's certainly not ideal to have an officer split between two guilds (and as an aside, a guild leader should never do this, in my opinion). The only way to know your officers' thoughts for sure is to talk about it.
I don't think this is the best solution, and you should be prepared for some negativity over it, even if it would be undeserved. It's times like this that I think the ability to join multiple guilds with the same character, as you will be able to in Guild Wars 2, is a pretty good idea.
/salute
I may be wrong. It's certainly not ideal to have an officer split between two guilds (and as an aside, a guild leader should never do this, in my opinion). The only way to know your officers' thoughts for sure is to talk about it.
I don't think this is the best solution, and you should be prepared for some negativity over it, even if it would be undeserved. It's times like this that I think the ability to join multiple guilds with the same character, as you will be able to in Guild Wars 2, is a pretty good idea.
/salute
Filed under: Officers' Quarters (Guild Leadership)






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
PyroFlyX Nov 28th 2011 9:09AM
What magical addon is that in the topic picture? That would have solved a lot of headaches...
jtrack3d Nov 28th 2011 9:20AM
It looks like an older version of Group Calendar.
Shinae Nov 28th 2011 10:28AM
Remember, if there's something that's difficult to do in WoW, there's an addon for that.
Ailuvan Nov 28th 2011 10:34AM
I'm with Jtrack, probably GroupCalendar.
Bloodfurnace Dalvengyr Nov 28th 2011 9:10AM
You could always just do the LFR system coming out. and then just play second string for Saturday nights.
shotiechan Nov 28th 2011 9:59AM
I don't think leaving right away is the solution; and just because you can't make one night shouldn't have to mean you need to give up being an officer in the guild. You might only get to raid the one night a week, unless you hit up trade or the new LFR finder too, but those are options available to you.
Starting a second raid group is also an option, but bear in mind, some GMs may find this a threat or be bothered by it, so be sure you run it past them first, just so there's no friction or confusion about you attempting to "steal" members from the main raids or anything.
lethian Nov 28th 2011 10:08AM
Or you could in my personal opinion just try to make yourself invaluable in other ways in the guild.
Alyrisa Nov 28th 2011 12:17PM
As long as your guild isn't called Guardians of the Light and isn't on the US Venture Co server, I'm sure you'll be fine. :)
Talia Nov 28th 2011 3:29PM
I think asking your guild to let you continue raiding just on Saturdays is unfair to the person who replaces you on the Friday, unless you get a very lucky situation with someone who is available Fridays but not Saturdays. Otherwise, they're asking someone to put in the time and effort of progression in the early bosses on Night 1, never to see the later bosses (with better loot and more exciting front-line progression) on Night 2. It's worth asking (re: potential lucky situation), but in reality don't expect to be anything but an available sub.
Xantenise Nov 28th 2011 9:01PM
You never know, there could be someone available on that night and not on the second night. Could find someone who's overjoyed to see content at all.
kurnos Nov 28th 2011 6:07PM
i am now in this situation where i am on a 2weeks on 2 weeks off. so i told them i will just be a fill in. with 4.3 coming, looking for raid will be for me because i can just jump in and out when i need to.
lee.apps Nov 29th 2011 6:55AM
I had a similar situation with one of our "perfect 10" raiders. After a hour or so discussion one raid night with the other guys, We worked round it and shifted the days about on the basis that the other 9 did not mind.
Sorted. Sure, can't happen all the time, but atleast try tbh.