Are you a friendly player?

I hope I am... I mean that quite sincerely and in terms of running a guild I really hope I am fair without being too leniant.

I run a role play guild which in itself can be a hard job not because of the idea of it but because you have to expect very varied reactions.

If someone wants to raid but casually role play they might consider an alt going into your guild, you see a lowish level person on there but that doesn't equate to them not knowing the game. So it's always nice to chat to people on the OOC (out of character) level so you get to know more, I think it also helps people to step aside from their character and not allow arguments In Character to come to the OOC life.

If you have a wealth of experience and you have ways to assist then that should be something you do and are encouraged with. What I don't think you need to do as a player is belittle the fact others have to learn or to belittle mistakes, not everyone was born to live on PTR and design sites. Many players are not end game raiders, they learn as they go along and this is part of the game that I really think can be enjoyable.

An impatient player can quickly ruin the entire balance of a party, it's attitude and confidence can be destroyed all because someone cannot show maturity or even consider that the entire world (and the MMO world) do not evolve around them.

Things that get you banned from my guild and why...
The GOGOGO attitude - we get it, you know what you are doing, you're pro, you're the elite of the elite. Well how about instead of whining and bouncing around hitting the space bar, try to explain things to people! If they seem to be stalling ask if they know the tactics don't become abussive.
Expecting the guild to be at your beck and call - Ask for help, we all will help but if it's a group quest or a dungeon please understand it's not always convenient for a player to completely drop their work. You're request is not the same as dialling 911 or 999, you must understand it may be something you have to wait for, maybe until another day but it is a game and it's not going to affect your health if you cannot get your group quest there and then.
Ranting and raving in the OOC - Now let's be fair, we all do it, we all want to whine about a bad pug, a terrible rp'er, the stupid guy at the bank that made a night elf female naked so he can watch her boobs. All good so far, but if you are in the custom channel shouting about your own guild, "OMFG you are all shit and should have helped when I asked" or "at least ONE of you f*cking helped me" expect a ban. You're not the only person, you may also be sounding off in front of younger players who really don't need to be exposed to it. Think before you yell...
Bitching about a no show - I will put up events, sometimes they go brilliant, other times they don't happen. But hey you know what? That's life. If there aren't enough to do something we will just try again, don't get angry, don't complain, accept that it's not always going to go ahead because you know what? People have a life. Let them have it without making them feel guilty.

What you can expect- good bits
Help - I am not an expert, I am not the best player eva! I don't spam l33t and I don't worry about my wowprogress rating. But! If you ask my help or my guilds and we can provide it you can bet your bottom dollar we'll pull together for you.
Want something making? You got it. Want to try a dungeon to get a particular item etc? You got it.
Want rp? Sure thing...!
Patience - there is absolutely no reason under the sun to be angry about something that is a game. Sure we cuss, swear and yell at pvp, get frustrated by the party not getting a boss but here's how it works. We disband the raid or whatever, we take time out, book in another night, if some of us can swap alts we will. If we wipe 1 or 100 times that's okay if you are patient then you're perfect for us. Gold is not real money, bank repairs and other things are there at our disposal.
Learning as a team - never played a healer? Want to try but scared you might be getting it wrong? Who cares, we'll come along with you. If you want a hand with the equipment, rotations etc then ask. I encourage a very open guild approach, I don't run the guild I organise it, I give everyone a chance to do what they want, so ask and we shall attempt to provide.

It's how you say it, not what you say

In summary I think that the difference between the people that I have around me as friends and the people that I avoid is the attitude they bring with them.

Instead of OMFG you noob with shit gear, no idea. Why you tanking? if I saw something like "would you mind if I helped or suggested something?" I'd think you were a good player. You've spotted something wrong and you've offered to assist. There's nothing wrong there but calling someone out, being rude and insulting gets you a /ignore.

Don't condemn someone for a mistake, a rogue pull by accident or for missing a spell, simply ask if they knew that it would help in that situation. If you can't help your friends and you can't be friendly then you're not welcome in my little world.

So yeah I guess that about sums it up for me, be nice, I'll be nice too.

Cheers.
Archard

Not wow related - the riots...

The rioting? No doubt if you have been on the news you'd have seen the "youths" of England are attacking shops, police stations and destroying city centres.

I am never a fan of this type if mindless violence, and this is insane. If people are sitting there critising police let me tell you, the only freaking people to blame are the do-gooders that didn't want police arresting criminals. You've condemned all their powers, you've told us not to interfere with helping communities by caring for or managing the behaviour of these kids.

We're not ALLOWED to stop these things, the police are limited because YOU wanted them to be so fecking nice that you took away the power and authority (oh and fear, cos we used to shit ourselves if the police came around). If you're against the police arresting people before they kick the crap out of someone and you want them to wait until it's done, congratulations this is the result.

We're not American's, we don't have guns to protect ourselves. Hells in most cases you're not allowed to have anything so when someone comes and trashes your join apparently you get to watch but not act.

Little known personal moment here:
When I was younger and in my first full time job I was attacked by three people around my age. Thing is you don't really want to step to the wrong side of a biker with a temper and chain, even if they look a bit pathetic like me hehe. I fought them off, I was severely shocked by it though.

The police told me that it was not in my best interest to press charges and why? Because I won! They attacked me, they picked on a lone person and yet their lawyers would be advising THEM to press charges! And this is the "improved" state of affairs... this is why people film themselves on youtube rioting and looting without fear.

I'm disappointed that humans have the audacity to consider themselves an evolved race. The scenes on English TV look like an extract from the new Planet of the Apes film... and I am sorry to have ranted so long, and apologise if you are not really interested but I felt so incensed I wrote about it.

Murder Mystery in Tirisfal

Time for another blog!

So there I was happily wandering around thinking mmm before I never go to wander around and take a look a locked off little lake. Now..see it seems that perhaps someone wanted to try and avoid a rather suspicious scene being found!

The chap definitely got a problem with a sword to the chest, there he was happily fishing away and some git has come and stuck it to him good. I mean how unlucky is that? And look the umbrella and all the little bits show you he was just a little fisherman... unless of course that was a rouse eh!

So anyway there is a long old chance that more unreported murders lie around, I shall have to keep taking a look...

Archard

Touring, entertaining...

Hey

Well here goes! 1st of the month seems like a good time to update. Lots going on but not all of it Wow related.

I've got to try and get my act together for our table top game. I have too many ideas to fit into one campaign so will need to streamline it. I can't say too much as they could read this haha!

In gaming life:
I built someone the Mekgineer's Chopper on Jenesis. It was for my partner's char who would only have that mount. Isn't it strange that even though it was not for me, and by the way I paid, it was just so much fun making it. Delivered by my own char on her bike she was even able to see the achievement first hand.

Old Skool - a few of us decided that a little old school runs through old content could be a fun way to have guild evenings. I think I might have to set some of them up as role play ones so that we go in, in character and take costumes or something. Ideas would be welcomed on that point.

I am thinking of more in character stuff to try and mix up around heroics, raid attempts etc and I hope it will get people to log in more. One of the things I don't want for Embers is that we end up with our guild only feeling they should do things if I am around. I might have the Guild Master label but I want everyone to feel that it's their guild, their home and their input that influences what we do.

One of the guild members last night surprised the heck out of me, we were GIVEN a 7th bank tab slot by the kind mage. Doesn't that just fill you with happy? It did me, someone in our guild was so generous as to give this to us. I'm going to make this my prize tab, put in all the high level presents and whatnots, pets etc to use for rewards and buff foods and potions for our group runs.

My little character Archie, he's 79th level and he's a frost mage. I never thought I'd get on so well with something that was so utterly arcane based but now I find myself logging on and just loving questing again. Archie will be my 5th to get into the Cataclysm level.

I love to level and quest, I also love role play and the biggest problem I find is that I just cannot, cannot! work out which alt I love the most. I love them all... I can't help but want them all to get into the content. The only one I don't mind loosing out on is little Kzarr. Kzarr is my gatherer and Jenesis' dad, he's a little mellowed out and since his transfer from Horde to Alliance is better off keeping a low profile eh?

Oh and the picture? One of many I have collected on my travels. One day I might make a nice long bog about my favourite secret places. For now the Forgotten Soldier stays in my mind, a little respect for all the fallen warriors of Azeroth.

Cheers for now.