State of the Republic

[Logo]

Malae, I'm calling you out.

*ahem*

"MALAE!"

[Jupiter]

*stands up behind Logo...just out of Malae range*

[sybarite]

Hey guys. Obviously, I'm back and I thought I'd chime in as well. I stopped playing because even though I did get Nightfall it was still a solo experience for me. I have a dervish who is somewhere around level 13 and I did every bit of it alone. I dunno what everyone else was up to but whenever people got online I would mention what I was doing but no one ever asked to join up with me or asked me to join up with them. I suppose it was a bit chaotic because folks were running around looking at new and shiny stuff but I just got discouraged and stopped playing.
I'm back now and looking forward to adventuring with all of you in the Eye of the North. I hope it works out better this time.
I've suggested in the past that we should try and structure some of our playtime and I've been met with resistance or I've been ignored. I'll mention it one more time, I don't think it's unreasonable to have a 2 hour block of time set aside 3 times a week so we can get together as a group and do:
1. PvP
2. PvE
3. Skill caps
It's no coincidence that I mentioned 3 blocks of time and three activites. Of course that 2 hour block means everyone gets their shit together and shows up 30 minutes early to pick what character they are going to run and puts a build together.
As for recruiting, this is an MMO and player populations are always in flux. You should expect a constant rate of attrition as real life comes in and sweeps people away. This means that the guild should always be in at least a low level recruiting mode. How to hook players with the current state of the game is something I don't have a ready answer for. But guild merges are always something to keep in mind. Find a small guild of similar minded players and suck them all in. I have been through that scenario multiple times in the past with mixed results. The key is to get the cliques of players to mix it up and form new friendships (I know this isn't rocket science but it bears stating). An excellent way to get the groups to mix it up is to......that's right have weekly guild events. Yes I am a broken record, but I've played many, many MMO's over the past....eegads, 6 years. I've been a member of guilds, I've started guilds and I've been promoted up through the ranks to run an established guild. I feel like I have relevant experiences and I hope we can benefit from them. =)

Oh yeah, I didn't want to forget. I missed you all.

[Jupiter]

Oh Syb, how I've missed you!
I like all your ideas. I know several of us are at the point where we don't want to make decisions on what to do any more. I like structure though so it's easy for me to picture how chunks of time work but when you add other people, it never runs as smoothly as I'd like.
For my part, and this goes to everyone, I'm sorry if I got wrapped up in my own "to do's" and wasn't as inviting as I should've been. I tend to be extreme in that aspect; I do love having people in my group (I keep trying to have A solo character but they always seem to meet up and form a new group with someone) but then I tend to commit my characters to that group and feel paralyzed when none of my groupies are on.

I've felt a bit lethargic in my recruiting because we've been so inactive lately it's hard to feel like we'd impress anyone. Sorry guys, that's just how it feels.

But, to end on a happy note...welcome back Syb, glad everyone who is still here is here lets get dealage again!

[Triia]

Syb, I don't want you to think I'm ignoring your posts. I'm trying to get my thoughts in order and I haven't had any nice chunks of time to do it in today. Expect something long, rambling and mildly incoherent from me soon.

[sybarite]

OK Triia, you've had some time to think, I'd like to hear your response. I'd also like everyone to read my post here: hlrepublic.proboards79.com/index.cgi?board=recruiting&action=display&thread=1156257769

and give some feedback.
I'm not giving ultimatums but I am going to say it straight. I play MMO's to play games with people. In my mind playing games with people goes beyond hanging out in a vent channel and giving an occasional post in guild chat. I want to actually go through game content with real players not heroes and henchmen. I had a fun time with folks on Friday night, unfortunately I am getting a familiar feeling of frustration in that I find myself spending the majority of my game time soloing. I like everyone in this guild and I would like to play the game with you. But as it stands right now, the guild does not have enough active players to allow me to experience the game the way I want to. Now I realize you guys are all low-key and no one wants to really lead. I still see myself as the new kid around here so I don't feel like it's appropriate for me to take charge. Along with that, people would need to be willing to follow along. I've made several attempts here on the forums to express issues I have with the guild and to suggest ways to change things. However, if everyone else is happy with the status quo I'll add you all to my friends list and start shopping for a new guild. That's not what I want to do but I feel like I'm out of options. I hope this will spark some discussion about where the guild is now and where everyone wants it to be.

[Khunlin]

Well, Syb, in the six+ months since HLR "fell asleep" (in my mind), I've just kinda settled into a rhythm... log in at five... play with Kaiser and Jupiter 'til seven... then go off and do my own thing/play with anyone who might have logged on... and PvP on weekends.

I've basically adapted to this, built my schedule around it, and I'm having a hard time changing my ways. We seem to have experienced a slight revival (when it has been basically three daily players for this long... two people playing more constitutes a revival ), and I might adapt my schedule soon. But at this very moment, I'm a bit too bogged down with work to be looking very far into the future.

And while I don't want to lose you, Syb... I honestly don't see HLR getting much livelier than it is right now. If you don't enjoy a quiet guild, we can't do much for you at the moment... and I'm a bit too busy to be taking charge and going on a mad campaign to Awaken the Republic.

Sorry...
*looks to the other officers*

[Jupiter]

I, too, feel we've been very lethargic of late. I felt for a while I could keep the guild and the forums active by myself if I had to, unfortunately that's taken its toll and I've just not had anything to post about and my requests for activity were never much of a success (see my 'Clear your quest log night' idea that had a whopping 0 replies).
I agree with you on many points Syb and am willing to do whatever is needed but I understand myself enough to know that I don't get far without confirmation from others. So those times I posted potential new members I never pursued because I don't ever feel like I get a green light (and I'm not sure I can back up what we used to offer people).
We need more people, some fresh blood, something. I greatly miss the days of seeing Logo, Malae, Delor, Drum, Norm and Ducky on all the time and like I've said many times the only way to combat attrition is to recruit and assimilate (you WILL be assimilated ;D).

I decided when things started declining that I really like the guild; I'll probably stay until I quit playing GW because I have RL people I can call on to play with, but I know that is a rare luxury. Unfortunately while that saved me from panicking about the loss of active members, it's also not given me the sense of urgency needed to revive those of us that are left.

I have settled for what we've got now but if I'm honest with myself I'm not particularly happy about it. We had many people say they'd be back for GvG and such and I just have to ask how good someone would be in GvG if they weren't honing their skills, teamwork, communication etc. through weekly outings PvE or PvP. I say we work on getting better, we PvP every Friday night (if that works), we group together whenever possible throughout the week, we deal the 00bs that I'm sure have taken over by now and we revive the glory that once was HLR.
*looks for confirmation...anyone?*

[Triia]

I know I'd really like things to be the way they were but I'm not sure we'll ever get there unless we get some new people in. Even so, my life has changed enough that I probably won't ever be playing as much as I was before.

I think part of the problem might be predictability. I know when I log on, Jupiter, Kaiser and Khunlin will be there. They're usually already doing something and so I head out on my own. My schedule has become much more haphazard than it used to be and this is my busiest semester yet since I've gone back to school. They don't know when I'll show up but at the moment, I don't mind doing things by myself.

Should we try to figure out a general schedule for people? Personally, I don't expect I'll be playing on Tuesday nights, I'll be a little iffy about Thursdays and it's become a lot harder for me to get on much earlier than 9. All this is subject to change when I have an exam or a paper to work on, of course, but that's my general schedule. When are we most likely to see you show up, Syb? If I knew you were going to be on a bit later after I showed up, for instance, I'd be perfectly happy to find something simple and easy put an end to, to keep myself occupied.

I like the idea of doing things on certain nights (we always seemed to be guaranteed to be doing HA on Thursday nights for awhile), but if J&K are logging out at 10, as they often do on weeknights, can we expect everyone else to be on at 8? Weekends are different, of course. Maybe we could start small and plan something kind of regular for a particular weeknight? Weekends are nearly always dedicated to something like PvP or a larger PvE activity and we usually plan those in advance on here anyway.

I have mixed feelings about recruiting. I really think it would be a good thing to add a few active people to the guild and I'd like to see that happen. My concern is that I'm much more limited in my time and I don't want to appear as the absentee leader (or, we could just say that we're all equal in HLR and Triia is only in that spot because someone had to be!). In any case, recruiting certainly merits more discussion, since it should probably happen, and we'll need to decide what we want do. Is anyone interested in acting as a recruitment officer? *looks desperately for Malae* If someone promising is spotted on one of the forums, I have no problem with anyone maybe making a brief mention here or ingame and then contacting the person. I know you all well enough that I trust you like to play with the same kind of people I do.

Ok... the more I write about recruiting, the more stuff there is popping into my head on that subject and I'm sure I'm taxing everyone's patience already... I'll have to wander over to the recruiting thread. But for the moment, there are a few of my thoughts on the matter.

[Khunlin]

We had many people say they'd be back for GvG and such and I just have to ask how good someone would be in GvG if they weren't honing their skills, teamwork, communication etc. through weekly outings PvE or PvP.

Hehehe... someone said it, finally! I've been thinking that to myself for a while now, but too afraid to say it. Thank you.

Anyway, as far as schedules go... I'm free from about 5:00 to 10:00 my time, give or take a half-hour on each end.

But that's basically all the time I have between when I can start playing, and when I need sleep. I need to fit in homework/college preparation/internship hunting in that window, too... and that's increasingly becoming the problem. I can generally get away with about 2-3 hours of gaming, if I knuckle down to work as soon as I get home... right now I'm spending those two hours from 5:00 to 7:00, because that's when K&J are around. I can move them a bit, if I'm neglecting the rest of the guild? (Sorry, Kaiser and Jupiter!)

As for regular PvP: count me in. I love it. HA and/or GvG, doesn't matter. Let's get together and kill stuff. We could even use Fridays AND Saturdays! (*Gasp*)
I just want... more... people... I hate monking for Vekk.

But then, as for more people... I'm going to disagree with the general call here, and say... unless they're PvP buddies... I vote 'no'. Back in the day, I liked the big adventuring parties... rampaging around... and grand adventures. Then everything started to die down, and though it was lonely for a while, I eventually adjusted to the little expeditions... and I like it. I dunno... the calm, quiet quests with just a handful of good friends is a really nice break from all the stuff I've got on my plate right now.
Weekends are another story, however... crank up the stereo and rock on!

But this is just one 'no' vote amongst many 'yes'es, so let's start recruiting?

However, I will mention one option, because it suits my greedy self-interests so well: alliance with [XXX].

[Malae]

This is a tricky subject, my friends. Much pondering has been made from me on our dear Republic. Here's what I know, I want to be back. I miss playing with you guys, I miss pvp'ing with you guys, hanging out and talking, leading you in pvp, everything, I miss it and I want to do it again. I was talking to my friend Datrix the other day (some of you may know him) and he mentioned that he had the most fun he's ever had on GW a few nights ago. He said it was because of the people in the group, how everyone got along and played awesome together, clearing FoW like it was nothing.
It made me realize that's exactly what got me hooked on the game, and that's exactly what I miss about it.
I believe we need to actively recruit again, where would we be without Khunlin? Does anyone remember his assimilation into HLR? Norm, Ducky, Syb, Drum, Bryce, we found them because we actively searched for people like them.
I also believe an alliance would be beneficial. I know we've been scarred by our last attempt (though I was mostly spared), but XXX seem like nice, relaxed people. We get along with them now, why would that change with a simple formality?
I also know that I've done recruiting, leading and organizing before and I know I can do it again. (with a little bit more of a relaxed approach, and no i'm not still beating myself up ) And I want to do it again, I have drive and passion for things like this, as do people like Syb. (hint hint, nudge nudge)

Okay, anyway... i'd refer people to my thread in the offtopic forum for this, but if I choose not to go after the new job, my evenings will become more and more open as my life settles into a regular schedule. In that case, i'd say it'd be safe to say "General" Malae would be making a strong comeback. And i'd be gunning for that comfy officer chair once again.

[Kaiser]

Well, I know I haven't been much use around here lately myself. I have been a little emo about planning. Ok, more than a little. It's just that every time I have tried to plan something lately, nobody has shown up. Or more precisely, only Jupiter, Khunlin and I have shown up (on time anyway). I was also the one who got us involved in that awful alliance mess. Sorry about that, guys. So basically I have been trying to stay out of the decision making processes lately, since my decisions haven't been too good.

That said, I am willing to get more involved in these things again, if that is what it takes to bring the Republic back to glory. Every time Jupiter has added a recruiting contact lately, they have gone straight to my friends list. The strange thing is, they never seem to be on when I am. And probably by now they have found homes. Still, I will try to contact anyone new we find. I also want more people (many of my builds have failed because of heroes) so I will be recruiting officer if you need me.

I have also come to like the rhythm we've fallen into. I get in a couple of hours per night, on average, so I need to use my time wisely; otherwise, I just end up sitting around waiting, and then leave just when the action starts up. I will try to come up with what I want to do each evening and post it during the day. Often though, I just don't have any opinion on what I want to do so I try to tag along with someone else. Maybe I'll just post that some days.

I have no qualms about allying with XXX, other than the noise level. I have been enjoying the quiet of HLR, but these people love to hear themselves, I think. I vote yes on this one.

If there is anything anyone needs done, just let me know. I will do whatever I can in my limited time to get things done.

[mura]

Well, how shall I put this.

Generally, I don't mind grouping with people. Which is why I've made the many often mistake of unwise pug selection. However, they do make for some interesting experience. Nothing like an elementalist non-earth type to think it can be a tank because of a slight health boost from the Ursula elite.

As for the guild grouping, I can't say I have that I can really aid much. People aren't on normally earlier in the day and later on---people generally have all turned in. That, and I doubt many people are in the same state of GWEN 'armor point' farming that I am in.

As I'm a PVE advocate, I had attempted to schedule such but schedules always conflict---so I've found it better to do the brunt myself.

[sybarite]

Well it seems like the general feeling is that people would like to see things change a bit. And it seems like the changes are in the direction that would make my playtime more fun. I think if we just take a crack at getting a little organized we can step things up a notch and maximize our fun.
On Alliances, you guys need to take this a bit less seriously. I think we should take a fairly casual attitude about joining alliances because it's easier to leave an an alliance than it is to join. I don't think it's unreasonable to float from alliance to alliance until we find the right one. It's like a series of first dates. The right alliance is out there it just may take a while to find it. The last alliance didn't work out so well but it didn't really negatively impact HLR in a lasting way did it? I don't think so. I don't know much about XXX, but some folks here think its a good idea and I trust their judgement so I vote to join them too (are we voting??).
As I've mentioned before, HLR is a great mix of personalities but it's not exactly a unique entity. I'm sure there are guilds of similar minded folks out there, as well as players we can draw in, we just need to spend a little bit of effort to find them. One of the threads here mentioned we have a guildwiki page that we could add content too. That's free advertising folks and we should hop on it.
I'll mention guild events again because from the posts above we've basically one step away from them as it stands now, but it lends us a little more structure to our playtime and that lends to more efficient time usage and ultimately more fun. Guild events take some of the paralysis of decision making out of the equation. If most people, i.e. khunlin jupe and kaiser, are already on from 8-10 each night (khunlin I don't know what time zone you're in) why can't we just say Monday's from 8-9 we'll run a mission, Wednesdays from 8-9 we'll runs quests or skill caps and Fridays from 9-whenever is PvP. None of this is carved in stone so we can choose not to PvP on Friday if we want but it does get people into a rhythm and for me it gets me more motivated to play because I know I'll get something done, rather than puttering around for another evening. Also notice that most folks play from 8-10 and the event is only an hour so it allows people plenty of unstructured time to do whatever they want in addition to the guild event. Adding a bit of predictability to the guilds gaming schedule inevitably brings the guild closer together, but it doesn't smother spontanaeity. I don't mind taking the lead on event planning, I've got the entire NF campaign to run through as well as Prophecies stuff that I would love to get help on. Khunlin seems to be the de facto PvP build engineer and I'd be more than happy to help him experiment with his ideas.
I know the guild can be a little work sometimes, but ultimately it will pay dividends in more fun later if we all pitch in a little on a continuing basis.
Once again I think we need to have established written out goals on where we want the guild to be so everyone knows what to expect and so we can formulate a concrete plan to get us there. Officers, that means you need to draw something, assuming you agree this is worth your yime. Whether or not you ask for input from the membership at large is up to you.
Thanks to everyone who responded for taking the time to make a thoughtful reply, it's nice to know I'm being heard. =)

[Jupiter]

Syb, I was with you through most of that...'till I got to the written out goals. I'm not sure I follow why that is necessary or all that beneficial. I've seen other guild websites where they have a mission statement and all sorts of regulatory type things but I've never felt the need for those here.
I agree that sometimes things that are worth it require work and I am willing but it's got to be enjoyable work when it's done outside an already overloaded work schedule. All the goals, steps and achieving sounds way too much like stuff I already have to do at work. GW is where I go to get away from work related stress.