Dark Clouds Gather

[Skandranon]

With the quality of players we are bleeding, has any real attempt been first made to raid with these guilds, on a regular non-trial basis, wearing the Lurker tabard?

Loch, you should know as well as I how absurd such a thing is. Most guilds would laugh at such a suggestion; there's no reason to take people who aren't part of their system when there are plenty of people who aren't requesting special treatment who want to go into the guild.

But I take exception to "tearing the Lurkers apart". Guild tag does not a Lurker make, or Mongo wouldn't be a Lurker right now either.

It may be said that I, and others, take this too personally.  It is personal.  We have all spent a lot of time together.  Now we find out that we're just not good enough for you and that you hung out with us until something better came along.  Bah!

I can't speak for Arethor and Flyn, but I know I've been turning down invitations from raiding guilds from as early as January when I wasn't even 60 yet. I have been invited many, many times and always said no, I'm happy where I am, even when I haven't been. I have been more than simply loyal, even though there hasn't been much reason to be. So it isn't a matter of something better coming along: something better came along, stopped for tea, visited a few times, inquired about my well-being, and finally gave me a place to stay when I decided I wanted to move on.

And don't minimize just how hard it was to make the decision to change guilds. It was terrifying, agonizing, and painful, however much I knew I wanted it. Without a doubt, the hardest decision I've ever had to make in the game. Above all, it wasn't casual, or ill-considered, like you imply.