As you may know, I am primarily an Alliance player. I do have two characters Horde side, but only one of them has any significant levels. My main is Alliance, as are several other characters I play regularly. My guild is Alliance. Most of my friends are Alliance. Subsequently, I have few contacts on the Horde side of the fence.
Ebonywind, my one Hordie with levels, recently made level 60. After three years. It has been a difficult and lonely climb. I know this lack of friends on Horde side contributes to my losing interest rapidly on her whenever I log in. I am a social gamer. Without anyone to talk to or interact with, the game isn’t fun for me. I also know this is a self-defeating cycle. If I do not play her more, I won’t make friends on Horde side.
My best friends are Alliance players. We get together and play whenever we get the chance, we get together once a year for an IRL get together, we call each other on the phone when we’re concerned about each other. I couldn’t ask for better friends. I feel guilty when I jump over to Horde side to play without them. Thus, this also contributes to not playing dear Ebs very much.
However, I love the character. I love the class, the race and I would really like to see her leveled. What to do?
Recently I have been considering applying to a guild with her. Currently she has no guild, though she has been guilded in the past. The first guild she was in imploded. *poof* I logged in one day and found her without a guild tag and the forum for the guild showed the shattered remains of what had once been a fun RP guild.
She remained guildless for a time until my friends from Alliance side and I created some lowbie Horde characters in a spontaneous fit of creativity. We formed a guild to ward off the random blind guild invites. It didn’t really have any activity though. Just a place to stuff the characters. A year later, Ebs was still playing alone.
So, leaving my baby Hordie under the safety of that guild tag, I removed Ebs while considering if I should apply to an active guild or not.
You see, for me, guilding is never an easy decision. I research various guilds, I meet the people in them, I hang out with them for a time, I try to get to know them and let them get to know me. This isn’t a decision I make lightly.
For me, guilding is a commitment. If I am going to ask a guild to allow me to play in their sandbox, I want to be sure I bring something to contribute. Whether it is tradeskills, levels, experience, or what have you. I feel that I should contribute to this guild and that I should work not just for my own betterment, but for that of the guild too. If my primary loyalties are on Alliance (and I can never pretend to say they are not) what could I contribute to a guild on Horde side? Could that not be seen as a conflict of interest? How well can I contribute anything if I spend the largest percentage of my time on the other side?
These are the things that hold me back from applying. The question still hangs in the back of my mind “Why would a Horde guild want me in their ranks when my primary loyalties are to Alliance?” I’m sure some readers understand this.
There are a couple guilds I would consider. Not huge but not without active members either. Of course I would only consider RP guilds and those I’m looking at fit that requirement. I know people from these guilds. Certainly not closely but we’ve talked, RPed, even conversed on various forums over the years. Yet a dozen times or more I have decided to app and then not too. I just keep wondering, what have I to give?
I’ll let you know what final decision I make.
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I just keep wondering, what have I to give?
It seems to me that you’re considering a contribution to the guild to be something quantifiable – time, craftables, things like that. The most important the we consider when someone joins Noxilite is, “are they a good person?” Do they RP? Are they nice to have around – not because they can craft shiny epix, but because we enjoy their company?
There are several members who simply can’t log in very often. When they do, it’s a treat to have them around. We miss them when they’re gone, certainly, but not because we need a healer for X instance – because that person’s presence online enriches our own experiences.
I can think of two guilds that might fit that bill for you (yes, of course one of them is Nox.
) The other will probably also come as no surprise to you – the wonderful, super-awesome Tawa Owakeri.
From my own POV, while my guild is not RP focused, I’m of the same mind as Davien. Your contribution to the guild is being a fun person to talk to, run with, and whose company is enjoyed. Anything else you bring to the party after that is just gravy
It would seem the White Kodos have many players that roleplay as well. I don’t know anything else other than I seem them around from time to time.
BTW, I’m in a similar boat: Grizo, also 60, and I also like where his story is leading, but very little social aspect except the random RP that I pick up from time to time.
…and of course, though your Alliance friends love you dearly and treasure the time we spend with you, you are far too precious a commodity to hoard (pun intended) to ourselves. It’s good to spend time with as many friends as possible because the more the enjoyment is shared, the fresher the game remains. Which in the end, extends how long you will play it, and thus allows everyone to win with your continued presence!
Besides, maybe this will encourage your more stick-in-the-mud Alliance friends to play THEIR Horde characters more often!
Noxilite is indeed a wonderful guild, and Davien’s points are extremely well made.
Personally, I ended up switching entirely to Hordeside after a year and a half playing Alliance, and that was entirely because I had joined the Umbral Advent.
I would certainly recommend UA to anyone considering a Hordeside guild, though I’d agree with Noxilite and Tawa Owakeri too.