[Necro][Guild Wars - Keetoms] Guild news and survey

[Tetsuki]

This is a quick update on how RPG.net's own Guild Wars outfit, Order of the Keetom, are getting on. It's been a while since we had a Keetom thread, and I also want to run something past the guild members.

First up, membership has pretty much doubled since we started, and we now have 17 genuine members, plus my second account. Please also welcome our newest member, Thaan Ewarhart, who registered with RPG.net just so she could join the guild :)

The Alliance we're in has expanded from 3 to 5 guilds, and I have been promoting anyone who I've seen being at least once-a-week active to officers, so they can join the Alliance chat channel. The Alliance is full of crazygood people, and we still need outside support to build full groups.

Even then, it's hard to get a group together. Factions has made the world a lot bigger, and most of our alliance-mates are in sections of the game we haven't reached yet. So, I'd like to know from existing members, or from anyone who may be interested in joining but hasn't done so yet - is there something we can organise that will help you get more out of the game? Because even though I'm happy with the current arrangement (of course I am, I'm the guild leader!), I can't be sure that everyone else is.

For example, is anyone stuck on a certain section of the game and finding it frustrating? Are peole put off by the lack of large guild groups, and if so, when can we get groups together? Do we need to actively recruit members from different timezones, so no-one is stuck on their own every time they log in? Would giving everyone access to Alliance Chat help? (I'm sure some of our partner guilds do this already.)

So, please post your wants, likes, dislikes and ideas to this thread.

Thanks,

Doug

[Tenacious B]

If I can just hijack this thread for a brief post, how does one go about joining the Order? I haven't played GW in ages, primarily because there was no one...decent...enough around to group and have fun with. I have a level 7 (or something) Elementalist/Mesmer in Post-Searing Ascalon.

My playtimes are a bit sporadic at the moment, but I can probably dedicate a day or two a week for guild activity, most likely Saturday or Sunday nights CDT.

[Snoopy]

PM Tetsuki with one of your characters' names and you can have an invite.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

I did Vizunah Quarter (Local) with some alliance members last night - two from the alliance, two more non-alliance, who showed up intending to do the mission with them and henchmen, three henchmen, and 8 more henchmen on the other side.

After a couple of false starts, we managed to finish the mission, even though my monk died more than any other non-henchman. Darnit.

Twice, I learned the pain of Edge of Extinction misuse. Two team wipes from EoE bombing at bad times. :(

Allies have been quick to offer help, and I've also helped a couple with quests recently. Most everyone knows the game better than I do, and are pretty friendly. :)

[Mr. Sanity]

At this point, I think that as long as there's at least 1 guild member online with Alliance chat at a givin time, it will make it easier for other guild memebers to get groups together. Is there a drawback to making anyone that's been on this week into officers? :) As it is, if I'm online and not currently tied up in a mission, I'm glad to lend a hand getting someone through a tough spot.

As for wider recruitment, maybe extending invites to other friends we may have outside of RPG.net would be a nice way to grow our ranks.

[Tylorva]

I'm still around, just not had any time to play Guild Wars recently. Will still be popping in from time to time though (I tend to go through phases of it!).

So... uhh... yeah, I haven't quit or anything, I'm just very casual.

Tylorva (Henazdra the Silent / Meredyth Val'Damar)

[Elizabeth Brooks]

Incidentally, I have two characters who can get to House zu Heltzer and Cavalon (Tang Zhangsun - n/mo, Serenity Magdalene - e/rt), and will get a third fairly soon (Kali Magdalene - m/me). If anyone needs help with the faction gathering quests, let me know. I'm trying not to get Luxon faction at the moment, but if I don't have the quests, it's not a big deal.

While the 10,000 faction to join the Kurzicks or Luxons looks intimidating, you can get it in a fairly short period of time. I picked it up faster by having two characters who could do the faction quests, but one alone was able to earn 8950 total without repeating the repeatable quests or doing the competitive or challenge missions.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

More news:

Update - Friday June 2

Opened alliance chat to all members of the alliance, not just guild officers.
Fixed a bug that prevented players from sending alliance chat messages while observing a game.
Fixed a bug that prevented ignored players from being ignored in guild and alliance chat.

[Tetsuki]

OK, I'm necroing this to answer a couple of the points raised in the thread (sorry it took me so long, I've had a lot of work on recently.)

Mark - Snoopy is right, PM me with a character name, and you'll get an invite next time I log on.

Mr Sanity - I agree, and would like to propose the following change to policy:

- You may invite anyone you already know to be a decent person (as defined by: "is able to hang out in an internet community without being an asshat". If you're not sure what this means, go read the site rules again :) )

- Please don't blind invite. If someone you don't know wants to join, party up with them in game for a couple of hours to see what they are like.

- I would still like new guild members to join RPG.net if they are not already a member, and to introduce themselves here (or at the very least, to PM me). That way I have a means of contacting them should I need to. This does not mean they have to become a regular poster (but I certainly won't mind if that happens!)

- If you want to invite, but you're not an officer. PM me and I'll invite for you.

If anyone isn't happy with this policy, let me know as soon as possible. If there are no objections, we'll introduce this from Monday.

Thanks,

- Doug

[Whollyrandom]

I'd like there to be more players in the levels 12-14 range who only play in the relatively few hours per week when I can make it into the game.

Also: a pony.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

I do not know when you play, but I currently have a 14th level ranger and a 15th level ritualist! :)

[Pyske]

Hi from London folks. Looking forward to being back (in about 2 days). Hope the guild is still going strong! :)

[bubbles]

The Alliance has grown again... there are now 5 guilds involved so lots more opportunity :)

[ascendance]

I'd like there to be more players in the levels 12-14 range who only play in the relatively few hours per week when I can make it into the game.Do you have Factions? In Factions, you can get to levels 12-14 in about 2 hours of play, and by the time you get off Noob Island (also known as Shing Jea), you're probably quite close to level 20, with your 30 bonus skill points.

I'm not sure if that's good or bad. It's definitely less time consuming to create a second and third character thru Factions... though there are far fewer free skills.

[nonsense]

I'm not sure if that's good or bad. It's definitely less time consuming to create a second and third character thru Factions... though there are far fewer free skills.

But you could hop back to Ascalon and do those skill quests too, couldn't you?

I used to play GW, and I'm getting back into it (now that you can respec at will, the game got a lot more fun), so I just picked up Factions today. The first RPGnet guild, The Royal Palace Guard, appears to have gone the way of the dodo... so once I get all set up, I'd love an invite to a living guild. :D

On that note, tell me of Ritualists and Assassins. The latter seems fairly straightforward, but what exactly do Ritualists do?

[GreenTongue]

More Shaman than Monk, but also has healing that can be used on others. Summons a wider selection of spirits than the Ranger and gets "items" that they can hold and drop for effects. Gains weapon enchants that help the possessor or boost attack damage.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

Ritualists have four attributes:

Channeling is their damage attribute. They get lightning spells through it that do damage based on how many spirits are next to you, or do massive AoE damage by sacrificing one.

Communing is their spirit attribute. They use it to summon damage-dealing and protection spirits.

Restoration is their healing attribute. It does not work quite like monks, and has some interesting variations (my favorite spell is Lively Was Naomei, because it can rez multiple people at once). There's a couple spirits here, and spells that sacrifice spirits for fairly large party-wide heals.

Spawning Power is the Ritualist primary attribute. It boosts hit points for anything you can summon or animate - so it applies to necromancer minions. It also has several fairly nice skills associated that improve your ability to summon and manage spirits.

Spirits are the most distinctive thing about ritualists, but they also get some interesting options with item spells that summon an item that grants a buff or causes damage. Also, they have weapon spells that can provide healing, protection, or damage buffs. Some spells do more conditional on whether you're holding an item or casting on someone who has a weapon spell on them.

In general, ritualist skills tend to have a lot of support, in that some skills work really well with setup. It's a fairly strong profession, and is still underrated. :)

One thing people are starting to do is take a ritualist along instead of asking for a second monk. This works really well, as ritualists are great team support, and can make a protection/healing monk's life much easier.

[nonsense]

Hm.

- Weapon buffs.
- Spirits with various effects. Stationary, presumably? Like ranger spirits? Or, say... totems?
- Lightning attacks.
- Healing and damage.

Sounds sorta like a WoW shaman to me.

And they look pimp.


Random questions
- Is the guild already aligned with one of these "faction" dealies?
- Would an assassin secondary be of any use to a Ritualist? I'd like to unlock both sets of skills at once.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

The guild is in a larger alliance that's aligned with the Kurzicks. However, you can play Kurzick or Luxon (or both) if you want. Lots of people in each of the allied guilds like the Luxon side.

As for playing a Rt/A, I don't know how well that'd work out. I'd suggest playing a Rt/something and a Something/A. Rt has great synergy with monk and necromancer skills, and probably others. A is unpopular to team with as a primary profession, and can take getting used to. Playing it as a secondary at least dodges the main prejudice and leaves you room to unlock the skills. Playing it with an Rt would probably slow down your unlockage.

Also, getting characters through Factions is very fast.

[nonsense]

Hm.. ok. I'm looking at the Ritualist skills, and it seems to me that there's a pretty significant overlap between what Ritualists and Necros are able to do. Could you give some examples of good synergies between them?

I like necros a lot, though, so that could indeed be the way to go. The other possibility I'm thinking of is Rt/Me.


Any particular reason why Assassins are unloved?

Oh, and could you explain how this works?

However, you can play Kurzick or Luxon (or both) if you want.



Sorry for the barrage of questions, but I'm both curious and bored at work ;)

[nonsense]

Well, I'm in. Ritualist named Whispers To Ashes. Hope to be guilded soon! :)

[Gloombunny]

Assassins are unpopular in PVE because they have to get in close like a warrior, but unlike a warrior they don't have the armor to weather the enemy attention this gets them.

Some people say that a well-played assassin avoids that problem by using teleports to get in, execute a combo, and then pop back out before taking too many hits. But I haven't heard any explanation about why a team would want an assassin doing that when a warrior can have the same effect, but in between combos can be doing additional damage and holding aggro off the casters.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

As Natalie points out, assassins are really inefficient vehicles of deathdealing. They get combos that they must use in a certain order to deal damage, but still can't really keep up with warrior damage output, even while taking more of a pounding than warriors.

The shadowstepping skills are not exactly all that easy to use.

It is possible to build an assassin around zipping in, killing one target, and zipping back out, but...you can accomplish similar results with half the skill choices and no need to hit and run on other professions. I found it a frustrating profession to play.

[GreenTongue]

I like necros a lot, though, so that could indeed be the way to go. The other possibility I'm thinking of is Rt/Me.
I have a Ne/Rt and have been very pleased with it.

Any particular reason why Assassins are unloved? People haven't learned how keep themselves alive so they are the most often dead. ( I'm playing a As/Ra using Critical Strikes and a bow. There are enough 5 energy skills that I can Barrage with my vampiric bow every time the skill recharges.)

Oh, and could you explain how this works?
There are two story paths and you can trade out the faction you gain to control how much you have of each.

[nonsense]

I went Rt/N, and played up to the end of the first mission. I rather like what I've seen so far.. Ritualists are very different, but I can tell that they've got a lot of potential - what's more, all the trees seem useful, which is brutal on the attribute points :p. I'm loving Vengeful Weapon - Reversal of Fortune that steals life instead of just healing? Mmm... The spirits seem rather handy as well.

I think I'll make an Elementalist/Assassin for my other Factions character. The way I figure, at least the shadow steps will be handy for PBAOE assaults.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

Looks like fun.

I have a Rt/N who's still on Shing Jea. I need to get her to Kaineng to pick up Explosive Growth. If I go with minions, I stick with bone minions for the bombing. I'm not sure how well that'll work later on as the game will quickly outstrip them.

But, still, a fun build. :)

[Darting Flea]

My RT/N focused on Death Necromancey to get off the newb island. I found this ideal (I love my minion mancers). I then switched to an offencsive Communion (I think build) until I could capture the elite skill I needed (the healing spirit) and now am full resto spec (with a couple of channeling nukes) and am considering dropping the neglected necro aspect for the glyph of lesser energy.

I do believe there is a spawning spell which inflicts damage on the enemy every time you create any creature. I havnt tried it but a well built RT/N could probably add a fair amount of additional damage to a fight using this spell. I havn't tried it because I find with my RT I dont actualy want to branch out into my secondary class.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

Yes, it's Explosive Growth. It triggers every time you create a new minion or spirit. With bone minions, it triggers twice, just like Boon of Creation.

And the minion bombing loses a lot of its utility once you leave Kaineng, so leaving it behind isn't really a bad thing.

Admittedly, you don't get Explosive Growth until you get to Kaineng City, unless you unlocked it with an earlier character. It could be worth trying out in a Channeling/Death build.

[Snoopy]

I've just deleted my Rt/N minion bomber, as although it was performing well, it just wasn't my kind of fun. Creating the minions and getting double Explosive Growth and Boon of Creation was nice, but hunting them to get Death Nova cast (and then finding that they get killed just before the spell finishes) was frustrating at best and bloody annoying at worst. I much prefer my N/Mo minion master to just create the better minions and heal them up when necessary. Possibly I'll try Rt/N again when the memory has gone, and just use Summon Bone Minions, Boon of Creation and Explosive Growth, ignoring the whole Signet of Creation / Death Nova aspect.

[nonsense]

Looks like fun.


I'm thinking something like this:


Earthquake
Aftershock
Shockwave (e)
Earth Attunement
Flex - Ward Against Melee/Obsidian Flame/Ash Blast/Energy Management
Recall / Viper's Defense
Death's Charge
Rez Signet


Two movement skills - one to get in (Death's Charge) and one to get out (Viper's Defense or Recall). Recall seems better for this, and the enchantment maintenance cost doesn't really matter because this is a hit-and-run that'll drain my tank almost immediately, whereupon the enchantment is released.


Damage numbers for 12 / 16 Earth.

So: Cast Recall ahead of time.

Death's Charge in (5 mana)
Earthquake (25 mana, 3 sec, exhaustion - 85/105 damage)
Aftershock (10 mana, >1 sec, ~140/177 damage to knocked-down enemies)
Shockwave (10 mana, >1 sec, 40-120/50-150 damage depending on distance)

Release Recall


So, for about 50 mana (not counting attunement), in under 5 seconds, a hit-and-run spike with a potential 340-430ish AOE damage (before armour). I'm left with a bit of exhaustion, and probably - after attunement, and assuming a decent Energy Storage - enough mana to drop a Ward or something if I need it.

If Earthquake is interrupted, I probably just hit Shockwave, drop Recall, and start over.

[Gloombunny]

So, for about 50 mana (not counting attunement), in under 5 seconds, a hit-and-run spike with a potential 340-430ish AOE damage (before armour).
It's actually somewhat longer than 5 seconds, because of the "aftercast". There's a 0.75-second delay after you cast any spell before you can do anything else, and I believe it's increased to 1.75 seconds for most PBAOE spells for some reason. :(

That shouldn't be too much of a problem, though. If staying in the enemy crowd for that long turns out to cause aggro problems you could slot in Armor of Earth or something.

[nonsense]

It's actually somewhat longer than 5 seconds, because of the "aftercast". There's a 0.75-second delay after you cast any spell before you can do anything else, and I believe it's increased to 1.75 seconds for most PBAOE spells for some reason. :(

That shouldn't be too much of a problem, though. If staying in the enemy crowd for that long turns out to cause aggro problems you could slot in Armor of Earth or something.


That seems higher than I remember the aftercast being, but yeah - good point. I'm thinking there'll be enough of a recognition lag before anybody realizes an Elementalist just teleported up to them and started casting that I'll be able to get away with a bit of shoddy timing.

[Gwydion]

It's actually somewhat longer than 5 seconds, because of the "aftercast". There's a 0.75-second delay after you cast any spell before you can do anything else, and I believe it's increased to 1.75 seconds for most PBAOE spells for some reason. :(

That shouldn't be too much of a problem, though. If staying in the enemy crowd for that long turns out to cause aggro problems you could slot in Armor of Earth or something.

It's not 1.75 seconds on whirlwind/aftershock. I think I would've noticed.
Kevin

[Gloombunny]

It's not 1.75 seconds on whirlwind/aftershock. I think I would've noticed.

I don't really use PBAOEs much, that was just something I'd heard from a few people. A bit pleasing to hear that it's not true, as 1.75 seems really excessive.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

So, for about 50 mana (not counting attunement), in under 5 seconds, a hit-and-run spike with a potential 340-430ish AOE damage (before armour). I'm left with a bit of exhaustion, and probably - after attunement, and assuming a decent Energy Storage - enough mana to drop a Ward or something if I need it.

If Earthquake is interrupted, I probably just hit Shockwave, drop Recall, and start over.

I believe there's an elemental boss in the Undercity who has the Elemental Attunement, which I use all the time now. It refunds 50% of the energy cost of all elemental spells for 45 seconds and has a recharge of 45 seconds.

You can stack it with earth attunement for an 80% refund.

[Gwydion]

I don't really use PBAOEs much, that was just something I'd heard from a few people. A bit pleasing to hear that it's not true, as 1.75 seems really excessive.

I don't much outside of my farming build, but I also didn't notice much when I was running a suicide fire build the other night either. I think the people you talked to are full of it.
Kevin

[Elizabeth Brooks]

I haven't really noticed a big delay after PBAoEs, either.

I don't use them often, but it's not because they're slow. Typically, they're much faster than the ranged AoEs.

[Pyske]

It definitely used to exist, 'though I can't speak for whether it still does. I've never seen the need for it, so I'm hoping that it was fixed as a bug.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

Well, I grabbed four pbaoe spells and four enchantments, and...

it's hard to say. It feels like there's more of a delay after the aoe spells, but it's hard to make an objective measure.

Also, Double Dragon is kind of sucky next to Inferno.

Double Dragon: 15, 3/4, 30, 21 fire damage each second for two seconds to foes adjacent to this location. Causes exhaustion.

Inferno: 10, 3/4, 20, 44 fire damage to adjacent foes.

Edit: NM, the damage scales in Double Dragon's favor when you get to higher levels of Fire. The above numbers are at 2, and for 14, it's:

128 for Inferno
105 per second for Double Dragon

[Xenon_Wulf]

Sorry for the thread necro here - I was playing today and replied to something going on in alliance chat, and was whispered something about this forum post.

http://z15.invisionfree.com/Chosen_of_Grenth/index.php?showtopic=618&st=0

Just wanted to relay the message and ask why we aren't more active...

[Kasumi]

Sorry for the thread necro here - I was playing today and replied to something going on in alliance chat, and was whispered something about this forum post.

http://z15.invisionfree.com/Chosen_of_Grenth/index.php?showtopic=618&st=0

Just wanted to relay the message and ask why we aren't more active...



I haven't logged on too much recently thanks to the FFXII/Xenosaga 3/Okami juggernaught hitting my PS2. I've picked up a bit recently, but I never seem to be on at the same time as anyone else :)

My impression is that we're a PVE guild for non-hardcore players. It makes sense for us to be at low activity now when Burning Crusade is competing for attention and we're in the nadir between chapters.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

Sorry for the thread necro here - I was playing today and replied to something going on in alliance chat, and was whispered something about this forum post.

http://z15.invisionfree.com/Chosen_of_Grenth/index.php?showtopic=618&st=0

Just wanted to relay the message and ask why we aren't more active...

We aren't really inactive, either. Even when the guild has been more active in the past, the membership has been quiet in the Alliance channel - if people said "hello" in there more (this includes me), there'd be less of an impression that we're a defunct guild, and this topic wouldn't come up every 1d3 + 3 months.

[Benny the Gnome Bard]

Personally I never speak in the alliance channel at all, but that's because half the time they sound like they're speaking in code anyway, I've never got far in any of the 3 games so I've no idea what they're talking about most of the time

[Elizabeth Brooks]

Personally I never speak in the alliance channel at all, but that's because half the time they sound like they're speaking in code anyway, I've never got far in any of the 3 games so I've no idea what they're talking about most of the time

Please say hi. It does help to be a bit sociable, and you don't have to talk about anything that doesn't make sense. :) Also, asking for help with missions - if you want to do one and don't want to pug - will get some people that way.

It'll help keep this sort of conversation down, which I admit would primarily make me happy. :)

[woolTECH]

I've recently started playing GW more again since Nightfall rekindled my interest. I rarely use the Alliance chat, tho, since it always feels like I'm intruding on a private channel where I have no clue what's going on.

I'll try and be more sociable. :)

What sort of GMT days/times do people play? I'm pretty random in my timekeeping, and not very far into anything except Prophecies (where I still haven't finished the final mission), but would be nice to see some other folks online sometime.

(My characters are pretty much all called Something Skies.)

[Elizabeth Brooks]

I'm pretty random as to when I play. I haven't played since BC came out, partly because between that and actual real work (yay work) I don't have time for more than one game. :)

[Xenon_Wulf]

Nice to know I've sparked something, I'm on rather randomly, but I know that if people ask questions in alliance chat I'm more than happy to answer and join in the banter - I just had a very enjoyable attempt (or three) at a mission where I had failed to achieve Master rank, thanks to alliance members.

If I know in advance when I'll be on, I'll try to post it here - I think that trying to have more members active and participating can't hurt....right?

[Whollyrandom]

I always chat on the Alliance channel when I'm on. Since I'm in the UK, it's rare that there are other Keetooms playing during my limited gaming hours. I've never been treated with anything other than courtesy, beyond the inevitable "Oh look, it's someone from OGO, we don't see them very often."

[Chikahiro]

I'm a "in the mood" player. Of course, given my hours, I don't see very many Keets (darn time zones).

Still have yet to finish a campaign, believe it or not.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

The last time this came up, no one wanted to merge with other guilds. Are people still down with that sentiment?

My own position is that merging guilds to bring in new blood hasn't really saved the alliance from inactivity. Also, it doesn't really matter how active OGO might be, as people have the impression that OGO doesn't do anything. The last time this complaint came up, OGO was not in fact inactive. At worst, it was just quiet on the Alliance channel.

There's also the fact that GW activity is cyclical - it shoots up with a new expansion and dwindles during the months before news of the next arrives. Some people are hardcore players and play constantly, but not everyone is quite so hardcore. I get the impression that a few people in the alliance want an alliance full of hardcore players who never go idle, but I don't think that's likely to happen.

Personally, I like being in an alliance. It means that there's a greater likelihood of conversation when I'm on, and there's more people that might help with a rough spot should the need arise.

[Snoopy]

Heya, not been on GW for a while, but still interested in playing. I talk on the Alliance channel when I'm on if something useful comes up, but haven't really PvEd with them much at all (partly due to the fact that I've not really got far in any campaign!). I don't like the idea of merging with another guild (still --- I didn't like it last time it was brought up) and, while I'd like to stay in the Alliance, I'd prefer leaving it to merging guilds.

Just some thoughts.

[Whollyrandom]

Personally, I like being in an alliance. It means that there's a greater likelihood of conversation when I'm on, and there's more people that might help with a rough spot should the need arise.

I would subscribe to this view. This is Guild Wars, after all; no guild in the alliance can be heavily into hardcore PvP, since they'd have left the alliance long since. The alliance is therefore largely a social/chat channel function to fill in downtime. Possibly, if the alliance isn't fond of us, we should find a new alliance, but I see no need to leave unless forced. As for merging, I'm sure I could find a more active guild with minimal effort; I'm in OGO because I want to be in a guild with the other people in OGO, and if the guild were to lose it's identity I suspect I'd want to leave it, found another one and invite RPGNetters to join.

Order of the Zebra, anyone?

[Old Geezer]

I'm new to Guild Wars, having received Nightfall as a Christmas present.

That said, you can find me stomping around Istan as "Marcus Fortmaine", a 20th l. warrior/Paragon.

As several long time friends have said, "Big guy, big armor, big sword, big surprise." Yeah, I like playing warriors.

So.. what is the difference between a guild and an alliance? I already belong to a guild (mostly the aforementioned friends). I've played mostly solo, only multiplayered twice.

I'm interested in what people are talking about here -- please tell me more.

[GreenTongue]

So.. what is the difference between a guild and an alliance? I already belong to a guild (mostly the aforementioned friends). I've played mostly solo, only multiplayered twice.

I'm interested in what people are talking about here -- please tell me more.
An Alliance is a group of Guilds.

In Factions the Guild members can give faction to the Alliance for an alliance total. This can then be used to "Own" towns in Factions.
When doing Guild-vs-Guild battles, Alliance members do not need to be "Guested" in.

It is very handly to be able to chat across the Alliance, especially when there are few members of each Guild on at a time. More likely to find "Real People" for the tougher Missions/Quests.
=

[Mr. Sanity]

I've been away fro a few weeks due to vacation, but before I left, there was a similar sentiment from the alliance folks I chatted with briefly (i.e. surprise at an OGO talking, etc). I made a point then of pointing out that we had active players etc. too. Honestly, after reading the linked thread, it seems that the alliance as a whole has been uncommunicative. Some folks are just pointing at OGO while at the same time admitting, "well, my guild hasn't bla bla bla." Even one of the most active guilds in the alliance has trouble scraping up enough guildies for a PVP match, so I think there's not much room for anyone to be pointing fingers about inactivity.

As for me personally, my play hours are usually late night Pacific, so I often miss the US crowd that just went to bed, and the Euro crowd that is just getting out of bed. However, if a guildie or an alliance member asks for help that I can provide, I'm always willing to offer. I haven't done much PVP when it gets asked for, because all 10 of my character slots are filled up now, and I don't PVP enough to justify buying another slot.

I also agree that maybe having some alliance-wide events. Maybe a Masters-rush day, or a casual PVP (bring what you have, not what the latest meta demands) day, or an Elite cap binge day might help all the guilds spark some activity.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

I've been away fro a few weeks due to vacation, but before I left, there was a similar sentiment from the alliance folks I chatted with briefly (i.e. surprise at an OGO talking, etc). I made a point then of pointing out that we had active players etc. too. Honestly, after reading the linked thread, it seems that the alliance as a whole has been uncommunicative. Some folks are just pointing at OGO while at the same time admitting, "well, my guild hasn't bla bla bla." Even one of the most active guilds in the alliance has trouble scraping up enough guildies for a PVP match, so I think there's not much room for anyone to be pointing fingers about inactivity.

Yeah, there's been a long-running sentiment that OGO isn't active, no matter how active we are.

As for me personally, my play hours are usually late night Pacific, so I often miss the US crowd that just went to bed, and the Euro crowd that is just getting out of bed. However, if a guildie or an alliance member asks for help that I can provide, I'm always willing to offer. I haven't done much PVP when it gets asked for, because all 10 of my character slots are filled up now, and I don't PVP enough to justify buying another slot.

I also agree that maybe having some alliance-wide events. Maybe a Masters-rush day, or a casual PVP (bring what you have, not what the latest meta demands) day, or an Elite cap binge day might help all the guilds spark some activity.

Much agreed. Making an effort to do stuff as an alliance - anything, even a day for GvG or Alliance Battles or rushing missions or whatever - is a good idea.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

I would subscribe to this view. This is Guild Wars, after all; no guild in the alliance can be heavily into hardcore PvP, since they'd have left the alliance long since. The alliance is therefore largely a social/chat channel function to fill in downtime. Possibly, if the alliance isn't fond of us, we should find a new alliance, but I see no need to leave unless forced. As for merging, I'm sure I could find a more active guild with minimal effort; I'm in OGO because I want to be in a guild with the other people in OGO, and if the guild were to lose it's identity I suspect I'd want to leave it, found another one and invite RPGNetters to join.

Order of the Zebra, anyone?

We're not going to merge. The sentiment is never in favor, so it's just not going to happen.

[PhoenixAndy]

Likewise, I've not had time to play for some time, but I also feel we should avoid merging if we can. One of the reasons I joined OGO is precisely because it's OGO. Merging would lose that identity.

[Old Geezer]

Um... what's OGO?

[Elizabeth Brooks]

Um... what's OGO?

Guilds in GW have names and tags. OGO is Order of the Keetoom's tag. It stands for "Other Gaming Open."

I wonder if I can change it to VGO.

[rgalex]

I just started playing again, though I'm still in the "really random" category of play times. Most likely I'm on really late at night (EST) or early Sunday morning.

I'm also still pre-searing (yeah, yeah, but I'm having fun doing a bunch of random quests atm) and w/o either Factions or Nightfall. I also can't decide which character I like better, my Ranger/Necromancer or my Necromancer/Mesmer.

I will probably pick up Nightfall sometime soon, but that's dependent on when I get enough money socked away for GenCon. ;)

If I'm on though, feel free to chat away.

[summerstock]

I just started playing again, though I'm still in the "really random" category of play times. Most likely I'm on really late at night (EST) or early Sunday morning.

I'm also still pre-searing (yeah, yeah, but I'm having fun doing a bunch of random quests atm) and w/o either Factions or Nightfall. I also can't decide which character I like better, my Ranger/Necromancer or my Necromancer/Mesmer.

No shame in being Pre-Searing. Pre-Searing is enjoyable in itself, and can be its own challenge, even if the mobs top off around lvl 3 if you're within the gates. If you get some crazy people together for some Charr hunting outside the gates, you can boost that even further. How far can you level yourself up in Pre-Searing? That's a fun challenge.

I saw someone with the "Legendary Defender of Ascalon" title in Ascalon City... total INSANITY, I tell you. Can't do it if you're going for Survivor titles... but Legendary Defender seems much harder to do than Survivor.

Anyway, I'd like to join you guys eventually... but my play time is too random, and I really don't spend time playing any video games at all unless I'm working out (which is my Xbox time).

[Elizabeth Brooks]

Okay, so the guy who periodically calls for the dissolution and absorption of the Order of the Keetoom is now in charge of the Alliance. For his first post as alliance leader, he...

Way I see it so far, there are 3 guilds that are "taking up space", so to speak: OGO, Fs and SC. Now before anyone goes "omgwtf" at me, look at the facts. How often do you see any players from any of these guilds online, let alone talking on a-chat or playing with other guilds? Perhaps you guys should consider merging, or at least think about it? If you don't want to merge, think really long and hard about why you don't want to. And if worst comes to worst, are you really that selfish that you want to take up a full guild slot just because you "really like your guild's name"? (btw, I'm not going to remove you or hate you if you choose to stay in the guild, but -something needs to be done-).

Thread here. (http://z15.invisionfree.com/Chosen_of_Grenth/index.php?act=SF&s=&f=10)

The way I see it, Kedlai's just going to keep at it every month until we give in or quit the alliance. All he really seems to want is to make room to add new guilds - that's all he's ever pushed for in terms of an alliance, and it's really - personally - tiring to have to go over the same thing all the time "Yes, OGO is active. I'm sorry you don't personally see them online."

It may come to the point where we'll be asked to leave or merge... or that I'll just find it easier to leave than constantly deal with the "must...have...more...guilds" thing because we'll just merge them later to invite more. :(

What do y'all think?

[Snoopy]

Leave, I think, if it comes down to it. I'm rarely in a position to party with other Alliance people, although I talk there more.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

Talking is pretty much all that's necessary.

Just out of curiosity, why not so much with the teaming?

[GreenTongue]

IF you decide to leave your current Alliance, I suggest that you consider the one that my Guild is a member of, The Ethereal Guard (http://teg.arthmoor.com/).

(For purely selfish reasons.)
;)

[Kasumi]

I've had positive experiences with the alliance (there was one night where it seemed like I wasn't doing anything but running Alliance folk through Consulate Docks), but I wouldn't miss anyone in particular if we did leave. It'd be nice to join another Alliance if we did so, however.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

There's maybe two or three people remaining from all the people I would miss.

Plus a couple entire guilds either disbanded, quit, or merged.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

Another post:

Kali, sorry... but I feel the hard option's far better for us than the soft one at this stage. Short of stepping on everyone's toes, none of us can force everyone in the alliance to play with each other. If we can bring in 3 new guilds at once, we can "bring out" that spirit of teamplay from each and every member (save those who are adamant to playing by themselves). I feel merging -is- the way to go (or you could just, y'know, leave), not sitting around going "oh, I hope that we'll eventually play with each other again :B" - waiting and hoping does nothing, and I sure as hell don't want to wait 6 months and 50 leavers later for something to happen.

[Mr. Sanity]

Funny, I played through Gayla's Hatchery (twice!) with Keldai and 5 or 6 of other alliance folks last night. Nobody said a peep about this latest merger. *sigh* I guess they're just hell-bent on it at this point. I've been playing almost every night since last month, and usually at least saying hi and good night to the alliance (and getting teased with OMG! OGO???). I don't think staying with the alliance is going to be anything but more of the same hassle at this point. I'm in favor of GreenTongue's suggestion at this point.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

Funny, I played through Gayla's Hatchery (twice!) with Keldai and 5 or 6 of other alliance folks last night. Nobody said a peep about this latest merger. *sigh* I guess they're just hell-bent on it at this point. I've been playing almost every night since last month, and usually at least saying hi and good night to the alliance (and getting teased with OMG! OGO???). I don't think staying with the alliance is going to be anything but more of the same hassle at this point. I'm in favor of GreenTongue's suggestion at this point.

Kedlai's been hell-bent on merging OGO with some other guild for at least 6 months now. The difference now is he's alliance leader and so feels he can order it rather than ask.

GreenTongue - thank you! I missed that post when I sent my PM. It does seem highly likely that we will take you up on that offer. BTW, is your alliance Kurzick or Luxon?

[Xenon_Wulf]

I do believe that my old guild, the Pirate Scum, would be more than happy to have OGO as allies, but they're a Luxon alliance...

[Snoopy]

Talking is pretty much all that's necessary.

Just out of curiosity, why not so much with the teaming?
Because I'm an alt-whore, and so none of my characters have got as far as where the Alliance are running farming missions :)

That or I dart on and off between looking after my son!

[GreenTongue]

GreenTongue - thank you! I missed that post when I sent my PM. It does seem highly likely that we will take you up on that offer. BTW, is your alliance Kurzick or Luxon?
Luxon, not that it really seems to make a lot of difference.
=

[Whollyrandom]

Leave. I know I've not been on in a few weeks, but I'm planning on working up my Dervish again and if I can't be OGO then ... well, the game would just be "Wars".

[Elizabeth Brooks]

I'm going to have to clarify some stuff with Kedlai since his response to me implied that a forced merging is not set in stone. However, I think he really really wants to open up 1-2 slots so he can bring in 2-3 new guilds at once, which means someone has to leave or merge. It may just be best all around to leave so we can have a stable alliance and Kedlai can continue to bring new guilds in.

[Elizabeth Brooks]

Update: Kedlai apologized for drama and asked OGO to stick around. He also said he'll drop the subject unless the alliance really starts pushing to add more guilds.

What say you all?

[Mr. Sanity]

I'm willing to give it one final try. I don't actively dislike the Alliance. As long as there are no more soap operas, I'm fine with the Alliance. But, if the drama flares up again, I think it will be high time to move on.