Changes to the Stormrage Guild system

[Treesh]

Not really.  Within the "guilds," there should be little or no seperation between the players, because all players within the "guilds" should be trusted to begin with.  The in-game "guilds" should not be the means by which we recruit new people.  People in these "guilds" are walking advertisements for the Lurker Lounge, so those wearing the banner of the Lurker Lounge should already be known quantities.  We should not need an in-game initiation process, since that vetting should have happened before the person was invited into the "guild."

That's why I said slightly contradictory. ;) It wasn't a sarcastic "slightly".

*devil's advocate*
Wait, you want us to be walking advertisements for the lurker lounge, but you don't want it to be a way to get new people for the site? Advertising means trying to get your name out there to be recognized. Recognition usually leads to more people joining the lounge (not just the ingame guild).

The Lurker Lounge is not a guild.
The Lurker Lounge is not a guild.
The Lurker Lounge is not a guild.
The Lurker Lounge is not a guild.
The Lurker Lounge is not a guild.
The Lurker Lounge is not a guild.
The Lurker Lounge is not a guild.
The Lurker Lounge is not a guild.

Again, my point is that while we view it as "not a guild", the people in game may not understand it and brush us off as being rude and cliquish or may view the webpage as a right of passage rather than the main focus because they don't quite get it. Although with the discussions people have been having in this thread, they'll probably get it soon enough. ;)

There is no right or priviledge to being in a Lurker Lounge in-game "guild."  There is, however, a responsibility that comes with being a part of a Lurker Lounge in-game "guild" in that one becomes a walking advertisement for the website, The Lurker Lounge.  As the designated WoW site administrator for the Lurker Lounge, I feel that it is reasonable to ask that those who advertise and represent the Lurker Lounge in-game be active members of the Lurker Lounge -- whether by being active posters or by just being active readers of the site.

That is reasonable, and I don't think tal's rankings interfere with that. With the rankings in place, if there is trouble with those on probation, he can point to that and say they were on probation and therefore not representative of the Lounge so it still maintains the quality rep that the Lounge has in internet circles.

You seem caught in a guild mentality, which is likely where your confusion comes from, so let me use the Amazon Basin (guild website) vs Lurker Lounge (non-guild strategy website) comparison:

Amazon Basin:  The focus is on the in-game guilds -- membership of those guilds, interaction within those guilds, and events planned within those guilds.  The website is designed to support and foster better communication within those in-game guilds.

Lurker Lounge:  The focus is on the website and forums -- the strategy guides, game news, game formulae, general venting and game discussion.  The in-game "guilds" are designed to support the website in that they help people who come to the website and forums find each other in-game.

So, the answer to your question of what to do if you find a great player you enjoy partying with is to do what I do:  Add that person to your friends list, and invite that person to group with you often.  My friends list is filled with people like this.  It has to be, since Bolty scared off most Lurkers from trying out the PvP server (j/k).  You can even let that person know about this great site called the Lurker Lounge that you love so much that you walk around with a banner over your head proclaiming your fondness for it.

I'm looking at it how others in the game and who have never even heard of the Lounge may look at it. It helps to try to view things from others' perspectives.

And I do frequently add people to my friends list, I have never invited anyone into the guild, no matter how great they were to group with multiple times. I doubt I will ever invite anyone into the guild simply because I don't want to subject them to the forums who are still somewhat hostile (not a lot) to new people. I will continue to strive to be courteous (except to people who have been given a fair chance to be a decent person, but are still just absolute monkeys who should never be allowed into polite company), helpful, and as knowledgeable as I can be so I don't besmirch the Lounge rep, but I'm not going to subject them to posting here. I guess what I am really asking is how can you know if they are reading the boards actively, but just not posting? You don't have to register to view the boards (and forcing registration in order to view threads would be a horrible idea) and you can't compare IP addresses between here and the game. Someone could be knowledgeable and helpful, but not post and not register here, but read everything on the site and forums. Do we snub those people as well unless they are name-droppers? Just about any monkey online can name some GoLs, but that's no assurance that they visit the site regularly.

But it would be wholely inappropriate to have a person who is not in any way participating in the Lurker Lounge -- even by just being a passive Lurker -- to walk around with that same banner over his or her head.  It's not a matter of being snobby.  In fact, I strongly encourage all Lurkers to branch out and meet new people.  I wish well on all those who join official guilds, and I frequently repeat the mantra that we welcome players of all guilds to join in the discussion here.  However, I do not feel that it is appropriate for a person to represent the Lurker Lounge in-game, when the person is not in fact not a member or participant of the Lurker Lounge.
[right][snapback]64296[/snapback][/right]

That is understandable as well and I do not have a real problem with it. I'm just trying to make sure you realize how others may view us, which doesn't really matter in the end, but it can cause confusion for those who don't know the Lounge. I'm also worried about how people can claim to be a member or participant of the Lounge if they aren't the type who like to post on boards. That's my only true concern. Everything else is just fluff. There are those who are Lurker material, much more than I am, who don't post and a "you know it when you see it" doesn't always work since we've already had complaints about guildies' behavior using that.