How to Create an MMORPG Guild

With the unparalleled success of Massive Multi-Player Online Role Play Games (MMORPG), there is a distinct need for a guide on how to create a guild. On its most simplistic level, a guild is a group of players that come together for companionship and the realization of shared goals. Guilds have all of the pitfalls, successes, trials, and failure of any one culture in one microcosmic society.The creation, development, and on-going management of a guild is a time-consuming endeavor that involves many of the same concepts employed in any running a small business. You must recruit talent, acclimate new members to the existing community, manage internal and external public relations, train and develop your team, maintain stability, and manage daily operations. The only difference between a guild and a company is that with a guild, you are working with a volunteer army who actually pay to play.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Creativity
• Word Processing Application
• A domain name

How to Create an MMORPG Guild

1. The first step in creating a guild is determining what kind of guild you want to have.Most guilds fall into one of two main categories: social or end-game.Social guilds are typically comprised of people who are friends outside of the gaming or people who have been gaming together for a long period of time. The purpose of a social guild is to bring people together for communal purposes.End-game guilds usually contain like-minded individuals who have similar goals regarding the "end-game" content. (End game refers to content players can participate in after reaching the maximum level in the game).

2. Determine your guild's mission and goals.Already having determined what kind of guild you are going have (step 1), you must now develop a mission statement and create a vision for the guild. Is your mission to have the best Crafters in the game? Perhaps you want to be known for hosting unique events? Maybe you want to accomplish server firsts? Whatever your goals and mission, be very clear and concise. Write them down and communicate with your potential guild members. Having a clear goals to focus on will alleviate any identity issues down the road.

3. Write your Code of Conduct.A Code of Conduct (CoC) outlines the standard of behavior expected of guild members. It is designed to help members understand their responsibilities and obligations, and also to provide guidance if members are faced with an ethical dilemma. A Code of Conduct cannot cover every situation. If a member is unsure of the appropriate action to take in a particular situation, you should encourage them to discuss the matter with guild management.

4. Now that you have an idea of what your guild is all about, it's time to develop a name. Consider if you want a serious name or a playful name? Use steps 1-3 to help you find your guild name. Your guild name should be a quick representation of what kind guild you are, but feel free to mix it up. There are no rules. Be creative and have fun with it. Be sure to brainstorm a lot of different names and pick the one that you want associated to your community.

5. Purchase a web domain name.You will need to create community forums so your guild members can learn about your guild, apply, and communicate with each other. Purchasing a domain is easy. There are many websites that allow you to search for available names and then purchase the name you want. Try to have your guild name in the domain name so it's easy for applicants and members to find.

6. Develop your management structure. This really is specific to the game that you are in and can be quite flexible. When establishing the guild, you will most definitely want to have some key members in place to help you market and grow the guild. Be mindful not to have too many "officers" or managers at first. A general rule of thumb is for every 8-10 people you have in the guild, you should have 1 person to manage them. For example, if you have 40 people in your guild, you should have 4 officers with those 4 officers reporting to one guild leader.

7. Create your recruitment process.This is the most crucial step to the creation of your guild. A guild, after all, is nothing more than the people in it. To create a process, use the following steps:1) Create a profile of your ideal member. Separate the profile into two areas: In-game character requirements and out-of-game real life requirement.For in-game requirements, a few things to consider are:Does game experience matter (i.e. how long have they been playing)? Do they need certain skills? Are you going to require they have specific equipment on their character? Do they have to be a certain type of character? For out-of-game requirements, a few things to consider are:Is there an age limit? Does it matter where they live? Are there language requirements? Does it matter how much they can play? Do they need to play during certain times? Is there a requirement of how much interaction is expected of them? 2) Create your guild application. Create questions that will help you determine if a prospective member fits the profile.3) Create an evaluation criterion Determine how you will evaluate new members. Some suggestions: Are they using the forums? Do they adhere to and uphold the CoC? What is their general behavior like? How is their overall interaction with others?4) Outline the processWhat happens after they apply? Do you want to interview them? Do you let them into the guild on a trial period? How long are they a trial member? What things are you evaluating them on while they are a trial member?

8. Appoint your officers and start recruiting members.Good luck!