Spiral Knights - What makes a guild the best for you?

What makes a guild the best for you?

33 replies [Last post]

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 01:14

Mayaura

Guilds are social clubs in the game, and once you've been in one that was good for you, it's pretty hard to go back to being guildless.

So, what are some factors that make a guild "the best for you"?

Here's my general list.

1) Large and active - Since guilds are primarliy groups for talking and playing together, you'll want one with very active members, probably the more the merrier.

2) A nice guild hall - It just makes for a fun place to hang out together, and having a nice one adds prestige to your guild and aids in recruitment.

3) Well-Organized - This includes clear guidelines for promotion and the kind of behavior you want to encourage as well as prohibit. A good Spiral Knights Wiki site helps a lot here, and a website is even better.

4) Playing together - Here is where people will have strong preferences. If they like guild vs. guild Lockdown, then that might be a priority when looking for a guild. If they don't want to play with newer less capable players, then they'll want an elite-type guild. If they find over-powered parties boring and like helping newer players, then they'll want a guild that focuses on that. Or maybe they'll just want to keep it to a small amount of close friends.

5) Good Guild Master(s) - If the leadership is strong, mature, and seems to always have a good amount of in-game wealth, the guild will almost certainly prosper.

6) Personality of the guild - While they are probably some guilds you know you wouldn't enjoy being a part of, you won't really know how well a guild fits you until you've been it.

7) Where you are as a player - After you've been around for awhile and depending on your personality, you may reach a place where you just want to be the founder and guild master of your own guild. Be warned - it's a lot tougher than it looks! You'll have a better chance of succeeding if you are very active, fairly wealthy, fair in your dealings with members, friendly, and accessible. When you succeed at it, there is probably no greater reward in the game.

No doubt, I'm leaving some things out that are probably important to some players and have included some things that are not important at all to others. Also, I've avoided mentioning any guilds by name, so hopefully the thread won't be about bragging about or slamming any specific guilds.

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 01:35

Aesn

You've pretty much said everything I would've said.
Activity is definitelly at the top of my list, you've got it in one for me though.

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 01:50

Xtweeterx

This ^

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 04:07

Shamanalah

my 2 cents

I am an officer of one of the best french guild (mostly due to our size and player pool)

What makes a good guild is the environment which you play in. Each time a new recruits get in we explain him the rules and welcome them to our guild. Being active is also really important.

But being an active and strong guild isn't enough. A guild is a social group which plays together.

Warriors of Legends was simply a guild with 10-20 people in them when I joined at first, we were 5-6 chatting over Skype.

We expanded and kept on growing, maxing out our 100 members limit and even growed enough to get a Teamspeak server of our own and started growing even more.

We have a private Minecraft server for our Spiral Knights guild.... o.O

And also a channel for League of Legends.

So we came from 10-20 member and 5 people that talk to each other to 100 members and 20+ on our Teamspeak at the same time.

Having ambition makes for a thrilling guild too. I often have contest and lottery to keep our member active ^ ^ If you simply go on and make a guild and don't want to put effort in it, it will get nowhere...

We just build a Spleef arena in our Minecraft Server, Spleef competition is just around the corner for our Spiral Knights guild o.O

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 04:37

Forum-Toah

Home is where you know everyone's name and everyone knows yours.

Home is where there's always a spot in the party just for you.

Home is where the answer to the question, "Can I have some help with this?" is always, "Yes".

Home is where you can discuss life, the universe, and everything, or, just talk about pancakes.

Home is Tainted Perfection, the bestest guild on Cradle.

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 07:46

Sirius-Voltbreaker

Yes. I love my guild.:

I don't care if there is a better guild out there, I will fight alongside my guild forever. The only reason I might leave is if Forest dragon , Danielflame or Simaster left. Otherwise I am loyal and I love my guild and I always will. They greet everyone when we log in. They always crack jokes, they always help others. I love you Brick Squad and it will be like that forever. I meant what I said and I said what I meant.
Thank you very much.

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 08:02

Grimranger

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 08:04

Darkcub

Kill all

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 08:16

Krakob

...

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 08:23

Lanieu

Unity. But seriously, unity

Unity.

But seriously, unity in a Guild is needed.

That's why I'm in Unity. We have a nice, closegroup.

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 09:33

#10

Krakob

@Lanieu

Unity is a great game engine, I agree!

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 11:22

#11

No-Thanks

the guild is a lie

no requirements, no rules, good master, good or at least reasonable behaviour from all members
online at least every now and then

and i wouldnt EVER want to pay ANYTHING just to be in a guild, so keep the guild hall humble :O

i really like having a good guild master, who everybody can talk to, 1 keeping together much more important than recruiting
usually not an issue, but u never know

finally..to stay in a guild for a longer time, i want to be able to really like at least a handful of some loyal guild members
they must have at least something, that i can really look up to, be it wisdom, knowledge, attitude or just a very entertaining talkative nature
if i find a guild like that and see nice ppl leaving, then thats my sign for leaving, too

as u can see..no rules + no requiremets and yet still having expectations, that are supposed to be a given, just not the easiest to stumble upon

in sk ive only ever been in guilds to make money(joining jk and stuff), sending friend requests to all of the members and switching guilds, repeating that
in other games good guilds often have requirements, but ive also had good experiences in guilds without requirements

altho i prefer to never set any tight criteria for anything i do, i think communication is the 1 thing, that determines the quality of the guild for me
id prefer good guild members over many

there were a couple of interesting ppl ive met in sk, but ive come across at least 20 times as many really terrible ppl, as well
i think in sk i learned more about different ppl, but had limited fun with them, no matter what kind of relation ive had, most of the time, it was all about making money(CR/CE)
i mean since there is no real lvling mechanism ingame, its all pretty much just about making money, that, and talking is all u can do
the few exceptions had very little in common, but of course all in separate guilds
luckily i also met a person, with who i ended up playing a different game as well

usually i look for guilds offering help and end up being around nice persons, but in sk..i would be very prepared to immediately leave on the 1st sighting of a terrible guild mate, ive just seen way too messed up ppl in this particular game..its astounding...

ive met drunkards and beggars in real life, who had more decency than many sk players, im just saying...

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 12:04

#12

Enshadu

Nothing, really. But I'm not

Nothing, really. But I'm not leaving.

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 14:44

#13

Maharito

Three things.

1. Be excellent in chat.

2. Make invitations to a variety of runs and accept my requests and invitations frequently.

3. Don't try to drag me into LD, I don't play that.

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 15:20

#14

Batabii

1. No beggars/noobs (must be competent)
2. Play something BESIDES BOSS RUNS
3. Play something BESIDES LOCKDOWN
4. Large and active guild
5. Guild decorations are optional, but stuff like guild training hall or auction house are important.
6. This should go without saying but YOU ASK BEFORE SPAMMING PARTY INVITES
7. Yes, the GM is sort of the boss. That doesn't mean people like bossy GMs. No threats!

I think that covers it.

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 16:53

#15

Xtweeterx

I agree both with OP and

I agree both with OP and Batabii.

@Batabii

I don't see what your problem is with LD/Boss runs. I mean, people have their own views for fun or for money making. Not arguing, just saying :s

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 16:58

#16

Arkate

Boss runs are fun, considering I only play SK once or twice a week. LD is just unplayable with my latency however. And I believe having a less experienced portion of a guild helps create a strong foundation for future guildies, and lets us nurture them.

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 18:03

#17

Rezzler

Guilds with active chat,

Guilds with active chat, friendly people overall who wouldnt do something like make a whine thread about greavers and bump it and say illogical stuff.

Guild hall optional (mainly necessary additions), likes to group activities. Arcade runs, boss runs, lickdown, etc.

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 19:10

#18

Klipik-Forum

Everything Mawa said except the last thing. I have no ambitions to make my own guild, too much stress :U

Klipik thinks, "our guild needs to work on #3..."

Wed, 10/23/2013 - 19:34

#19

Batabii

Doing the same boss mission over and over and over is boring as hell, and there's no point in me joining a guild that is just going to BORE me and not have any parties I can join.

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 02:50

#20

Hearthstone

Topoyozada, Kariston-Ashuran and Divine-Railgun.

Only people I need with me in a guildhall. :)

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 04:08

#21

Not-Someone

@Batabii

I guess I can agree there. I'm the only FSCer I know in my guild, with another officer that LD's, and another one that's a prestige hogger with like 150K+.

REFERENCE TIME! What makes a guild best for me? If there was a guild worst for me, I wouldn't be sittin' here discussin' guilds wit' ya now would I!? >:O

(Get the reference before I break your face.)

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 20:38

#22

Mayaura

What a great time to be in a guild!

With the new Apocrea mission and and the Halloween event going one at the same time, guild activity and interest has spiked dramatically. We hit our 300 capacity limit on the second day of the event, requiring me to remove some of our inactive players (players who had not logged in within the past 3 weeks basically).

The ability to readily join with other players in completing the missions and finding the Punkin King is one of the things that make guilds so awesome.

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 20:44

#23

Bitsbee

@Tweeter

The Scotsman from Samurai Jack?

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 20:56

#24

Mayaura

And some thoughts on "bad" guild practices

Playing off my Original Post, here are some things that, in my opinion, can result in a negative guild experience. (These are not in order of importance.)

1) Small and inactive - It's just depressing to log on and find only 2 or 3 other players in your guild online.

2) A small guild hall or one in default - It just kinda makes you feel poor and downtrodden, like living in the smallest, dingiest house in the neighborhood.

3) Disorganized - Promotions and demotions are whimsical and random or based purely on superficial things likes costumes or prestige points. Guidelines for behavior and expectations are non-existent or not clearly spelled out.

4) Personality Conflict - Players arguing with one another and insulting one another in guild chat, cussing at one another and creating a hostile and
unsuitable environment.

5) Cliques - If the leadership is basically a closed clique, and reinforces the fact that you will always be a second-class citizen of lesser importance in the guild, it's a bit nauseating.

6) Bad leadership - Temperamental leaders who remove players from the guild unfairly, creating anxiety and a "walking on thin ice" mentality amongst its members. In addition, lying to members or intentionally misleading them about the guild. For example, saying new member can become an officer after 3 months when, in fact, no one has been promoted to officer in over a year. In addition, if your Guild Master has ben banned from the forums, it's proabably a bad sign. Very strange behavior or extended absences by the GM(s) are also very off-putting.

7) Guilds that don't do what guilds should do, which is provide a fun, friendly atmosphere for playing and talking about SK and life together.

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 21:16

#25

Xtweeterx

@Bitsbee

No. Meet the Demoman from TF2 -.-

@Mawashimono

I agree. I've been in my guild for 2 years and we were small. We got a huge activity spike back in Summer of this year, but then it plummeted back down. Then an officer and my GM made a huge recruiting spree of really active people. 11 online max with me included.

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 21:14

#26

Bitsbee

Darn...

I knew it was a Scotsman...Just didn't know who...

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 21:31

#27

Traevelliath

I would actually go in almost the exact opposite direction of you, Mawashimono.

1) Smaller in size and population: This makes it so everyone knows everyone else. People know each other's gimmicks, their preferences, their playstyles, and how to push each other's buttons. It puts a heavier emphasis on the individual, rather than the group.

2) Small guildhall with the potential to be expanded: While a big, pretty, and expensive guildhall is all impressive and all, I really like being able to see the individual contributions to a guildhall. I remember when I first joined a really small guild, I'd bring my friends in and be like "See that? That table and complimentary chair took me an entire WEEK to farm! 50k crowns into that furniture!" It is so satisfying to see your PERSONAL hard earned cash be made into something you could quite literally sit on.

3) Unstructured: In small guilds, I really like it when ranks mean almost nothing. My favorite guilds treated ranks as a sign of loyalty, rather than a sign of power. I always hated when people actively sought out a better rank, and when guilds actively encouraged a ladder-type progression. Also, if you don't have a concrete set of rules, the guild feels more like a large circle of friends, rather than an organization. Admittedly, organization is debatably part of what defines a guild, compared to just your friend's list, but I kinda like that loose feeling. It makes it seem like a collection of individuals, strung together with a common interest, rather than an unified entity behind an ideal.

4) Constantly willing to do something: I really like when guildmates are willing to do something out of the box, random, and/or spontaneous. Just being able to say "Hey I want to do a Shadow Lair, who's in?" and actually getting several responses is, in my mind, a mark of a good guild. This is especially true if people are willing to say "screw efficiency, let's do something stupid for the fun of it!"

5) Being an unknown guild: Reputation is a double-edged sword IMO. Just look at Jempire for example. Most Jempire guild members that I've met are genuinely enjoyable people to talk to and play with. Many of them don't play lockdown excessively. However, their reputation twists their image into something that it really is not. I like it when a guild is just a cheesy/clever/funny line under someone's name, instead of a list of stereotypes that drags down people's view of them (and/or puts them unnecessarily on a high pedestal).

Thu, 10/24/2013 - 22:23

#28

Klipik-Forum

Size

I think the optimal size/popularity of a guild is somewhere in the middle. Big and active enough so people know who you are, and small/non-attention-drawing enough to avoid being steryotyped like Jemps. Sometimes it feels bad to be in one of dose tiny guilds no one knows, u kno?

Fri, 10/25/2013 - 00:00

#29

Mayaura

@ Traevelliath

Thank you for that great post. It was entertaining, insightful, and extremeley well-written. I appreciated your contrasting views and the agreeable way you disagreed with me. I wish all posts could be as good as yours.

Fri, 10/25/2013 - 14:38

#30

Xtweeterx

@Traevelliath

Everything you said was pretty much my Guild before and after Summer of this year and before an officer and my GM made that recruiting spree.

While the coronation of Officer feels really gratifying and rewarding in a guild (I've been there for 2 years when I was 3* with the old UI), I'd rather it be just a small group of friends who know each-other in an out with a personal little chat room known as /g chat.

/sigh. I miss the max of 4 people online with me included and I was pretty much the only one on. Now it's 11 max.

Fri, 10/25/2013 - 04:48

#31

Hexzyle

Obligatory anime reference

Fun things, sad things.... we can't share everything.
But what we can, we should share.
That's what it means to be in a guild.
A single person's happiness is everyone's happiness.
A single person's anger is everyone's anger.
And a single person's tears are everyone's tears.
~Makarov

Fri, 10/25/2013 - 09:50

#32

Hero-Of-Cheese

That Fairy Tail reference works so well with this topic. I wonder if there is a guild in game called Fairy Tail? I would make it, if it wasn't costly, since I am free to play. But I do intend to spend money later on. I'm a vanguard now, so I won't be using the money for advancement.

Fri, 10/25/2013 - 10:50

#33

Traevelliath

@Mawashimono

Aww thanks! You're too kind xD

I don't completely disagree with your points either. I've had experience as a GM of a large guild, and as a prominent member of a small guild, so I've seen both sides of the coin. In larger guilds, your points stand really strong. You can't really afford to have a collection of 200 individuals, else everything descends into utter chaos. The more people you have, the more structure and order you need, and the more you want a stronger sense of unity. This is best achieved through having a very prominent, respected, and well loved GM. I'm not saying this is a bad thing either. Part of what makes a large guild great is that sense that you're part of a whole, part of something far greater than the individual. And it's always great to have a stable pillar that is a really good GM: someone who's always helpful, always there, and always supportive.

Also, with large guilds, there tends to be an established culture/personality that develops over time. If the atmosphere of the guild is fun and enjoyable, then it's a fun and enjoyable guild to be in. I just prefer smaller guilds because it's easier for a single person to influence this atmosphere. You start getting these moments where a single person logs on and everyone erupts in guild chat and the tone of the guild suddenly shifts. Assuming the GM is smart enough to only recruit fun/pleasant people, then this tonal shift is fun and breathes life into guild chat.

I've just had some bad experiences with larger guilds. The main trap that I see so many guilds fall into is the "we need to recruit more people" mindset. Suddenly a bunch of officers get promoted and are told to hand out invites like candy. This is when you get a collection of random individuals, and the occasional annoying/unpleasant knight. It can work if the GM(s) and Officer(s) are good, but most of the time it doesn't end well.

Search

What makes a guild the best for you?