Firstly - forgive us if this has already been discussed - couldn't find exactly what we were getting at it on search.
Just before this wonderful world of PlaneShift went offline for its updates, my wife and I thought long and hard as to how we were going to build our House of Purrty guild, and how to fit it into the world of PlaneShift. Whilst we did this, and gaming continued, we were horrified at the growing numbers of blatant abuses of the naming policy in both characters and guilds. We won't go down the road of pointing fingers as that is futile, as it will always happen - but those who do it, know who they are and shame on you for your lack of imagination. Then there are the guilds who have no purpose in game, apart from gathering people who use Mac's or are of one particular language, or have interests similar that have no connection to the gaming within PlaneShift.
Onto the point of our post today -
Now we know there will always be a desire to create groups for like minded people and that we don't have issue with, what we do have issue with is their contempt to the populous of PlaneShift, but naming themselves with totally inappropriate names that have naught to do with the setting of PlaneShift. Also, their guild rules and objectives are lacking or nonexistent... (Just recently having been asked 'Join my guild, but to do so, you have to be high level...' followed by 'tell me your level or you can't join!'. Not exactly what we would call RolePlay at it's best. When asked what their purpose was it was something like 'I want to be the strongest guild') - hmmmmm?
There are many guilds already out there with more than excellent slants, fantastic RolePlay settings, and most wonderful rules and guides for their members... why should we have to put up with the lazy group making people who just can't be bothered to put a little thought behind the guild for which they wish to create.
The buddy list is there for creating a list of friends who have similar interests, and groups are there to enable you to chat in such groups, why inflict the nonsensical laziness of one’s lack of imagination upon those who put a great deal of effort into making the users of this wonderful place called PlaneShift. One should at least 'sugar coat' your group making with a decent name, and a game setting set of rules to help cover the fact that you are only a bunch of Windows Only users, or Mac Only users, or German speaking or French Speaking.. or... etc etc etc...
Also there are forums out in the Real World for the likes of that...
Because of our thoughts on this 'guild' issue and that we felt strongly enough to put it to the populous of PlaneShift to see if there are any Ideas out there as to how to prevent the world becoming a mass of guilds called things like:
Iwannabear or Macuserinc or WespeakaIT... (All nonexistent so as not to finger point)
and joining requirements like:
Mac user, Windows User, etc...
We personally think that Guilds should not be allowed to be 'created' if there is no attempt at giving it credence by having a decent name, and set of rules or ethics... and ultimately and in game Role Playing purpose... and once posted a permission given by the governing body of PlaneShift... Where clear reasoning as to why it was allowed or why it was turned down is given. ie - a set of criterion for the guild to meet to become viable.
(A good debate is not to name and shame but to propose ideas with sound reasoning. Bad debate is to just name and shame... pointless really. If you think someone’s idea is silly, don't just say 'that stupid' as that is pointless, say why you think it is not a good idea, and propose your own with reasons why...)
Personally, I think this is all going to be covered time and time again as PS matures. I don't think the creation of guilds should be supervised, nor do I think that a guild for high-level players is "belittling" in any way at all to either the GM's or the players themselves. You'll get jerks and morons in every MMORPG, who don't want you in their group unless you've got the highest-end equipment, complete with that Level 99 Deathly Sword of Deathlike Death and Master Smith's Invincible Full Plate Armor with Enchantment of Turtle Wax Plus. But its going to be very hard if not impossible to legislate conduct beyond the basics of "no abuse, PKing, griefing and if you do that a GM drops the boom on you" . . .
and it wouldn't really lend itself to an atmosphere of openness either.
Once we get multiple servers, it might be a good idea to create a server for those who want to roleplay, and then one for those who don't. Imposing strict standards on this or confining ourselves to this "RP" format is just going to turn more people away from PlaneShift than would have decided to play it in the first place. This isn't to say I haven't found role playing to be engrossing and/or helpful in creating an environment that hasn't been fully created yet by other means.
Since of course, this game is still in an early stage.
Don't get me wrong, I don't wanna see guilds with names like "OMGWE0WNJ00" but maybe this could be taken care of via a less restrictive set of rules. Sort of like the section in the server database which handles rejection of names with illegal characters or words, but for guilds. Apprising hopeful guild leaders of the rules in another pop-up box along with the "5 members and xxxx trias" thing would help clear up any possible communication issues from that point onward.
As for the idea about creating guilds with an actual aim behind them such as leatherworking and hide trading, etc. . . that would also require the game to mature in a sense of development. So we're back to the initial point.
There, I've said my two cents, insert comments/questions/flames/etcetcetc. where appropriate.
