Warhammer Alliance Guild Interview
Varking (ageofarkane)
@ 2008-07-29 8:26 PM PDT
Q: Tell us a little about Stone and Steel. What prompted you to found the guild, and how has it grown since?
Warfield [IC]: A little bit? Are ya in a rush to get somewhere lad? A Longbeard shouldn’t have to rush through any tale, especially a tale tellin’ of the Stone and Steel regiment. Now have a seat an’ listen up, ya might actually learn somethin’...
Warfield [OOC]: Stone and Steel was first formed in August of 1999 in the game Everquest to be a home for Dwarf players. Back then we were known as the Champions of Brell, which was the Dwarf deity in that game. Since then, we have played Dark Age of Camelot, World of Warcraft, Everquest 2, Dungeon and Dragons Online, Vanguard, and beta tested Shadowbane and Lord of the Rings Online.
We remain to this day a Dwarf-only roleplaying guild which now focuses on the PvP aspect of various games. The guild was originally founded for Dwarf players, but over the years has narrowed its focus to cater to Dwarf enthusiasts who enjoy PvP. Some may wonder what the difference is between a Dwarf player and Dwarf enthusiast. Well, a Dwarf player is by definition someone who plays a Dwarf. "Got a beard and a pulse? Great, you're in!" That's not what we’re about. Dwarf enthusiasts on the other hand are people who always pick Dwarfs as their main characters, rarely, if ever, play other races, know who Flint, Bruenor, Thorin, and Gotrek are, and generally display the characteristics of being stubborn, loyal, and mature. That's what we're about.
Anyways, the guild grew pretty quickly in EQ (we had about 230 members spread across three servers back then). Nowadays we are more focused on building meaningful friendships with fellow members while achieving success at the "end-game". To help accomplish this we are very selective in our recruiting and plan to limit our guild size to around 75-100 members. This is about the size where we feel a guild can maintain its tight-knit feel while at the same time be able to get enough members online to do some of the more challenging content, whether it be PvP or PvE.
Q: How did you decide on your faction, if you have done so?
Warfield [IC]: Haven't you been listening ya daft manling?!
Warfield [OOC]: We always play Dwarfs...
Q: What sort of ranking system do you have within your guild?
Warfield [IC]: *Stares blankly at the tankard-less table in front of him and grudgingly answers*
Warfield [OOC]: We have one Dwarf Lord (guild leader) who sets the direction for the guild and ensures that the goals stated are met. Up to five Thanes (officers), depending on the size of the guild, are named to lead events, handle recruiting questions, handle complaints, and provide counsel to the guild leader. More experienced members are promoted to the role of Champion (group leader) which move individual six-man groups around during large scale events. Those are the leadership positions.
We also have two function-specific positions to help run the guild; a guild banker and a website news writer. Lastly, we have ranks recognizing accomplishments such as becoming a full member, hitting maximum level, achieving the highest renown rank, or maxing out your tradeskill.
Q: Can you discuss your application process?
Warfield [IC]: I suppose, but it is customary to buy a drink after every question. By my count yer about three drinks behind, four if ya count this question. Since you're obviously unaware of this long-standing Dwarf tavern tradition, I'll answer, but ya better have a frothy tankard ready before ya ask yer next one!
Warfield [OOC]: All applications need to be done on our forums. We do not conduct interviews in game. If you can't figure out how to register on our forums or read the application guides posted, then that's a bad sign right off the bat.
Our application is pretty lengthy and the answers given are seriously considered. I think we're one of the few guilds that ask members to take the Bartle Test, for example.
Anyways, if the application is deemed satisfactory by our high standards, then the applicant (we call applicants "Beardlings"
is invited into the guild in-game to begin their trial period and are given access to the Beardling private forums.
The trial period concludes for all Beardlings at the end of every month at which time our guild holds a vote on prospective members. Full members can vote AYE, NAY, or WHO? A WHO? vote is the same thing as saying I never got to know the applicant. Get more WHO votes than AYE votes and you're out with no chance to re-apply (basically less than 50% AYE votes means expulsion). So, it pays to be very active during your trial period. Now, if you get just one NAY vote, then you're out with no chance to re-apply... you'd probably also have your beard shaved and be forced to wear the pointy-ears of shame.
As you can see, even if your application is accepted after the critical examination by the Thanes and the Dwarf Lord, you still need to convince the Longbeards and Clansmen you're a worthwhile Dwarf.
Q: No doubt the qualities you value in applicants also reflect the qualities of the guild as a whole. What are they?
Warfield [IC]: *Takes a long series of gulps from the tankard presented before him and wipes the foam from his mustache*
Good, ya remembered the long-standing Dwarf tavern tradition. See? Yer learnin’ somethin’ after all!
Warfield [OOC]: We value Dwarf roleplaying, maturity, teamwork and having a PvP-focus. An applicant's values should be in line with our own as we're not likely to change them anytime soon. If you show characteristics that lend themselves to the above values then we probably want you as a member.
Q: How does it feel to be in the guild, and how do you function as a community?
Warfield [IC]: A whole lot better than not bein' in it I'm sure.
Warfield [OOC]: The goal for our community is to make members feel like they are part of an actual regiment from Karaz-a-Karak trying to rebuild the Dwarf realm and settle grudges. The atmosphere can be gritty and cantankerous, but at the same time filled with honor and loyalty.
Our belief is that to feel part of a community the guild must hold regular events (preferably with a consistent schedule). Also, the guild shouldn't be too large that you never group with certain members, but at the same time not too small that you spend most of your time soloing, unable to do certain content.
Q: As a guild, do you have any plans to contribute to the community, and if so please describe them.
Warfield [IC]: Don't expect us to host wine and cheese parties anytime soon...
Warfield [OOC]: Our contribution will be in RvR. Hopefully that will be enough for both our enemies and our allies.
Q: What can we expect of Stone and Steel upon release of WAR?
Warfield [IC]: Why, the same thing you'd expect from any proper Dwarf regiment of course! Expect us to be tough, stubborn, fearless and grudge-filled.
Warfield [OOC]: Expect something interesting on the first Friday night on the week of release. After that, expect Stone and Steel to be the number one Dwarf-only Roleplaying Guild in Player vs Player combat on our server, tracked weekly on the WAR-Herald.
Q: What's your stance on "builds"? Do you require your members to conform to certain rules when choosing their characters' abilities?
Warfield [IC]: Well some Dwarfs are just fatter than others, there's little that can be helped about that, but if ya can march into battle and smash the skull of an orc, that's all we ask for.
Warfield [OOC]: Fortunately we don't have to force our members to pick certain specs or builds. Our members want to be successful in whatever we do and I’ve found that every single member of our guild always ends up picking the best build for what our guild goals are without any pressure from the guild leaders.
Q: What's your stance on "Gold Farmers" who proceed to sell their in-game gold onto players for real cash?
Warfield [IC]: Gold Farming? A Dwarf's dream come true I say! Why, I remember my great grandfather telling me that money didn't grow on trees, now you're gonna tell me otherwise? Har!
*Shakes his head in disbelief*
Warfield [OOC]: I can't speak for the rest of the guild since we haven't had a debate on the matter. Personally, I wish they didn't exist, but because of poor game design, they do.
If WAR ends up making it a requirement to use a lot of gold to upgrade your gear or use rare tradable components, expect gold farming to be just as rampant in WAR as it is in other games. The best way to get rid of gold farmers is to make items and their enhancements require personal time invested by the players to get. For example, by doing quests or killing other players. Another option is to make high quality items No-Trade. If you ask me, crafted items are more likely to cause gold-farming to emerge than say quested gear or RvR-rewarded gear.
Stone and Steel wouldn't boot a member for purchasing gold. If EA Mythic decides to make gold-buying a ban-able offense, then we don't have to worry about booting players as they will already be booted from the game.
My personal feeling on the matter is that buying items or gold with real money is a personal choice made by the player. Either they have the time to gather the gold in game or they have a job that allows them to afford the gold out of game. If you believe that time = money, which I do, then there is no difference in terms of fairness between the two methods to acquire gold.
That said, the effects of the decision to support gold farmers by buying their product have a serious impact on the rest of the player base, such as spamming advertisements in game for example. This is a more serious problem and I feel that the developer either needs to curb the demand for gold-farming through good game design or outright make it a ban-able offense to advertise, sell, or purchase such services in game.
Warfield [IC]: *Goes out behind the tavern and b
Warfield [IC]: A little bit? Are ya in a rush to get somewhere lad? A Longbeard shouldn’t have to rush through any tale, especially a tale tellin’ of the Stone and Steel regiment. Now have a seat an’ listen up, ya might actually learn somethin’...
Warfield [OOC]: Stone and Steel was first formed in August of 1999 in the game Everquest to be a home for Dwarf players. Back then we were known as the Champions of Brell, which was the Dwarf deity in that game. Since then, we have played Dark Age of Camelot, World of Warcraft, Everquest 2, Dungeon and Dragons Online, Vanguard, and beta tested Shadowbane and Lord of the Rings Online.
We remain to this day a Dwarf-only roleplaying guild which now focuses on the PvP aspect of various games. The guild was originally founded for Dwarf players, but over the years has narrowed its focus to cater to Dwarf enthusiasts who enjoy PvP. Some may wonder what the difference is between a Dwarf player and Dwarf enthusiast. Well, a Dwarf player is by definition someone who plays a Dwarf. "Got a beard and a pulse? Great, you're in!" That's not what we’re about. Dwarf enthusiasts on the other hand are people who always pick Dwarfs as their main characters, rarely, if ever, play other races, know who Flint, Bruenor, Thorin, and Gotrek are, and generally display the characteristics of being stubborn, loyal, and mature. That's what we're about.
Anyways, the guild grew pretty quickly in EQ (we had about 230 members spread across three servers back then). Nowadays we are more focused on building meaningful friendships with fellow members while achieving success at the "end-game". To help accomplish this we are very selective in our recruiting and plan to limit our guild size to around 75-100 members. This is about the size where we feel a guild can maintain its tight-knit feel while at the same time be able to get enough members online to do some of the more challenging content, whether it be PvP or PvE.
Q: How did you decide on your faction, if you have done so?
Warfield [IC]: Haven't you been listening ya daft manling?!
Warfield [OOC]: We always play Dwarfs...
Q: What sort of ranking system do you have within your guild?
Warfield [IC]: *Stares blankly at the tankard-less table in front of him and grudgingly answers*
Warfield [OOC]: We have one Dwarf Lord (guild leader) who sets the direction for the guild and ensures that the goals stated are met. Up to five Thanes (officers), depending on the size of the guild, are named to lead events, handle recruiting questions, handle complaints, and provide counsel to the guild leader. More experienced members are promoted to the role of Champion (group leader) which move individual six-man groups around during large scale events. Those are the leadership positions.
We also have two function-specific positions to help run the guild; a guild banker and a website news writer. Lastly, we have ranks recognizing accomplishments such as becoming a full member, hitting maximum level, achieving the highest renown rank, or maxing out your tradeskill.
Q: Can you discuss your application process?
Warfield [IC]: I suppose, but it is customary to buy a drink after every question. By my count yer about three drinks behind, four if ya count this question. Since you're obviously unaware of this long-standing Dwarf tavern tradition, I'll answer, but ya better have a frothy tankard ready before ya ask yer next one!
Warfield [OOC]: All applications need to be done on our forums. We do not conduct interviews in game. If you can't figure out how to register on our forums or read the application guides posted, then that's a bad sign right off the bat.
Our application is pretty lengthy and the answers given are seriously considered. I think we're one of the few guilds that ask members to take the Bartle Test, for example.
Anyways, if the application is deemed satisfactory by our high standards, then the applicant (we call applicants "Beardlings"
is invited into the guild in-game to begin their trial period and are given access to the Beardling private forums.The trial period concludes for all Beardlings at the end of every month at which time our guild holds a vote on prospective members. Full members can vote AYE, NAY, or WHO? A WHO? vote is the same thing as saying I never got to know the applicant. Get more WHO votes than AYE votes and you're out with no chance to re-apply (basically less than 50% AYE votes means expulsion). So, it pays to be very active during your trial period. Now, if you get just one NAY vote, then you're out with no chance to re-apply... you'd probably also have your beard shaved and be forced to wear the pointy-ears of shame.
As you can see, even if your application is accepted after the critical examination by the Thanes and the Dwarf Lord, you still need to convince the Longbeards and Clansmen you're a worthwhile Dwarf.
Q: No doubt the qualities you value in applicants also reflect the qualities of the guild as a whole. What are they?
Warfield [IC]: *Takes a long series of gulps from the tankard presented before him and wipes the foam from his mustache*
Good, ya remembered the long-standing Dwarf tavern tradition. See? Yer learnin’ somethin’ after all!
Warfield [OOC]: We value Dwarf roleplaying, maturity, teamwork and having a PvP-focus. An applicant's values should be in line with our own as we're not likely to change them anytime soon. If you show characteristics that lend themselves to the above values then we probably want you as a member.
Q: How does it feel to be in the guild, and how do you function as a community?
Warfield [IC]: A whole lot better than not bein' in it I'm sure.
Warfield [OOC]: The goal for our community is to make members feel like they are part of an actual regiment from Karaz-a-Karak trying to rebuild the Dwarf realm and settle grudges. The atmosphere can be gritty and cantankerous, but at the same time filled with honor and loyalty.
Our belief is that to feel part of a community the guild must hold regular events (preferably with a consistent schedule). Also, the guild shouldn't be too large that you never group with certain members, but at the same time not too small that you spend most of your time soloing, unable to do certain content.
Q: As a guild, do you have any plans to contribute to the community, and if so please describe them.
Warfield [IC]: Don't expect us to host wine and cheese parties anytime soon...
Warfield [OOC]: Our contribution will be in RvR. Hopefully that will be enough for both our enemies and our allies.
Q: What can we expect of Stone and Steel upon release of WAR?
Warfield [IC]: Why, the same thing you'd expect from any proper Dwarf regiment of course! Expect us to be tough, stubborn, fearless and grudge-filled.
Warfield [OOC]: Expect something interesting on the first Friday night on the week of release. After that, expect Stone and Steel to be the number one Dwarf-only Roleplaying Guild in Player vs Player combat on our server, tracked weekly on the WAR-Herald.
Q: What's your stance on "builds"? Do you require your members to conform to certain rules when choosing their characters' abilities?
Warfield [IC]: Well some Dwarfs are just fatter than others, there's little that can be helped about that, but if ya can march into battle and smash the skull of an orc, that's all we ask for.
Warfield [OOC]: Fortunately we don't have to force our members to pick certain specs or builds. Our members want to be successful in whatever we do and I’ve found that every single member of our guild always ends up picking the best build for what our guild goals are without any pressure from the guild leaders.
Q: What's your stance on "Gold Farmers" who proceed to sell their in-game gold onto players for real cash?
Warfield [IC]: Gold Farming? A Dwarf's dream come true I say! Why, I remember my great grandfather telling me that money didn't grow on trees, now you're gonna tell me otherwise? Har!
*Shakes his head in disbelief*
Warfield [OOC]: I can't speak for the rest of the guild since we haven't had a debate on the matter. Personally, I wish they didn't exist, but because of poor game design, they do.
If WAR ends up making it a requirement to use a lot of gold to upgrade your gear or use rare tradable components, expect gold farming to be just as rampant in WAR as it is in other games. The best way to get rid of gold farmers is to make items and their enhancements require personal time invested by the players to get. For example, by doing quests or killing other players. Another option is to make high quality items No-Trade. If you ask me, crafted items are more likely to cause gold-farming to emerge than say quested gear or RvR-rewarded gear.
Stone and Steel wouldn't boot a member for purchasing gold. If EA Mythic decides to make gold-buying a ban-able offense, then we don't have to worry about booting players as they will already be booted from the game.
My personal feeling on the matter is that buying items or gold with real money is a personal choice made by the player. Either they have the time to gather the gold in game or they have a job that allows them to afford the gold out of game. If you believe that time = money, which I do, then there is no difference in terms of fairness between the two methods to acquire gold.
That said, the effects of the decision to support gold farmers by buying their product have a serious impact on the rest of the player base, such as spamming advertisements in game for example. This is a more serious problem and I feel that the developer either needs to curb the demand for gold-farming through good game design or outright make it a ban-able offense to advertise, sell, or purchase such services in game.
Warfield [IC]: *Goes out behind the tavern and b
