1/18/2007 12:53pm

10 Ways to Build a Better Guild

by Joshua Davis - Product Development Manager for www.guildlaunch.com

Creating successful guild takes some planning and for thought. I have been leading successful guilds for a long time and I have comprised a list of some of the best things I have learned from my guilds and from other guild leaders I have met.

1. Have a theme!
   Your guild should have a theme that your guild members can rally behind. Defining that you are a Rolling Playing Guild, PVP Guild, Raiding Guild, or a Leveling guild will help you get like minded members.
   
   
   
2. Recruit Like Minded Players
   If you are a older serious guild recruit older serious members. If you want a loose casual players stay away from the serious folks. Getting a good mix of like minded folk will help everyone get more out of their gaming experience. Age is another factor to take into consideration when recruiting there defiantly is a difference between play styles between older folks and younger ones.
   
   
   
3. Tell your members what you expect
   Creating a code of conduct or guild rules is a great way for member to know what’s ok and what’s not. Let people know what is expected of them and let them know where to find that information. Not only will it avoid drama it will reduce the confusion over issues that may arrive.
   
   
   
4. Choose Good Officers
   Pick officers that keep their word and have a lot of patience. You don’t want a moron recruiting your guild members and you don’t want a hot head leading your raids. Choosing people that other guild member’s respect is a good place to start. Also try to encourage your
   
   
   
5. Create a Website.
   You can either create one from scratch or use a service like www.guildlaunch.com . Out of the box guild hosting is probably the best way to build your guild in the shortest amount of time. They have common features you are looking for and have been designed with gamers in mind.
   
   
   
6. Loot Rules
   Make it clear how your guild members should divide treasure. Nothing will breed drama like unhappy members that feel they have had loot ninja’ed from them by a guild member.
   
   
   
7. Stay on a Schedule.
   Have scheduled events that everyone can count on. Everybody’s schedule is different and some need to plan their play time close than others. Posting your guilds raid times can also help you recruit other gamers that are on the same schedule as the rest of the Guild
   
   
   
8. Have a Good Application Process
   Having strong recruiting policies in place. This will help you recruit the right type of members for your guild theme. A guild application can help with this process. Figure out a few questions you can ask your prospective members. Their answer will help you screen out undesirable people and focus your membership into your guild goals. This also helps you guild members point people in the right direction instead of taking up some else time screening a member through chat. You can weed out smacktards before they start wasting your time.
   
   
9. Create a Guild Bank
   Encourage your guild to save and share useful items or material that someone else in the guild may need. You can create an additional character typically called a “Mule” that’s sole purpose is to store items for the guild. I would strongly recommend that you as the guild leader keep the bank under control your self. It prevents the disastrous outcome  of members running away with your guild loot.
   
   
   
10. Ventrilo or Teamspeak
    Get members talking to each other. I help in a number of ways., first and foremost it will help you coordinate your attack and make your teams much more efficient. It will also help you’re your member get to know each other.