Guilds, inside info, the perils that lie beneath
Congatulations Diane on some excellent advice.
The Guild system is, or should be, the backbone of any multiplayer gaming environment. Sadly there are people who feel it necessary to lie, cheat, steal, bully, cajole, threaten or abuse other players, even in an envronment as innocuous and relatively insignificant as a computer game.
We do ourselves and our children no favours if we allow such crooks and parasites to succeed. In TSO, unfortunately, because the free migration of players is severely, and, at 400 gold a time, expensively restricted, an environment has been provided which actually encourages and aids the worst elements in society not just to survive but to prosper. Not an image I want my children to be exposed to at all. More damaging to the mind of a young person than violent action, where only pixels get hurt, more corrosive than the odd lapse into bad language. The guild system created by TSO is both corrupt and corrupting and needs looking into as a matter of urgency.
Having been a Guild leader and officer for a number of years in other games I fully understand and appreciate the added value being a member of a good Guild adds to any gaming environment.
A good guild is led by a player who understands that he is responsible to his members, not they to him. He is not the 'Boss'. His only powers should be the power to add new members or remove unwanted or unwelcome members. And both should be exercised with care and discretion. The Officers, when appointed, share the same powers only, should be equally answerable to members and open and honest in all their dealings.
Over and above that both leaders and officers should take an active interest in every one of their members, offering advice, information, guidance and assistance where required, asking nothing in return. By that I do not mean material assistance necessarily. I have seen guilds in TSO where players are expected to give produce to other players when they say they need it, expecting others to do the same for them when they have needs. All very altruistic, I'm sure. But such generosity of spirit attracts parasites like flies to a honey jar. By all means, if you have surplus goods, offer them to guild members first at a fair, perhaps even discounted, value. Equally if you need something ask your guildies if they have it, can spare it, and be prepared to offer something fair in return.
Above all else every member should enjoy the right to speak freely and openly about any issue within the guild. Leaders and Officers should be equally open and honest with members. No individual should be banished from a guild without notice or consultation. Both the individual and the other members should always know the reasons why and be free to express an opinion.
