Probably one of the most important decisions you will make in your RoM experience is guild selection. Your guild will determine how and who you play with. Players in well run guilds progress faster and easier, and often save time and money by receiving guidance and assistance. So excepting the argument that guild selection is important, the issue becomes, where is the guide to help do that. I hope this will serve in someway to provide that.
Primary to all classes and levels:
What times do the bulk of guild members play, and do they coincide with your times? This seems obvious so I will let it stand on it's own.
What levels are the majority of guild members and what is the direction of the guild? By this I mean the bulk of top players. Are they capable and willing to help you level, gear, mod, or quest as your needs dictate. Also is the pace you are moving must be considered. Do they fit your present and future needs.
What level of expertise does the guild leadership bring to the guild? Are the top players well versed and capable of giving advice and direction on the numerous aspects of the game as you face them, class selection, running instances, modding, gearing, questing, etc.
Does the guild membership fit you from a personal standpoint? Do they fit you by age, language, morality, or whatever else you hold as a personal value. If you play with your family, are they family appropriate? If your prefer a more adult experience, do they exclude children?
If pvp or siege is important to you, is the guild in tune with your desires there?
How does the guild communicate? Most guild have Ventrillo. Some have chosen other methods of voice chat. Some have a strong emphasis on using their voice chat, others are fine with typing. I cannot stress this point enough. If you don't sync up on this aspect your guild experience is sure to be fail.
Does the guild and it's players Cash Shop at a pace you will feel comfortable fitting into?
For the adorable nubs leveling up. Levels 20-50
This is probably your first guild so after matching the primary issues well, look into these:
How many players are questing at or around your level? Questing with partner(s) can make a slow process enjoyable.
Is there access to higher levels to help and/or advise.
And becoming paramount in your decision should be this universal guideline: What level of expertise does the guild leadership bring to the guild? If the guild leadership is still trying to "figure it out" you can waste time and money.
Big boy (and girl) players. Levels 50+
this will not include you who are ready for endgame.
Here there really are few new aspects to consider, but some aspects become extremely import.
Does the guild run the instances you need to run for your gear and mods?
At this level the top players had better know their stuff and be able and available to impart that information to you.
Does your and the guild expectations dovetail? Along these lines we refer to Cash Shopping, playing time, sieging, running instances, etc.
Her the real addition to consider is "drama llamas" Every guild has some, some have a couple of misunderstood wanderers, others have a herd of them.
Consider your class. Are you going the the fifth healer, third tank, primary DPS or how ever you and the guild see you fitting in? Does that fit with your expectations or will you be left out of the runs you want/need?
Finally Endgamers 60+
The sad part here is, you should know by now what type of guild you want. Yet on a daily basis I see toons jump into guilds they see with well geared players, never knowing what lies in-store.
Here's a good rule; Go run with and hangout with the players. Not 1 or 2 but the entire guild. Siege with them. Consider your joining the next guild temporary.
As an endgamer you want to be on a path. Does that guild share your goals? Can they help you meet them? All to often toons join a guild thinking they will be on the next RT/KT run, only to find that is not what the guild has in mind for them.
Obviously these levels will alter as caps are raised, but the basic principals are valid.
There are tons of guilds out there, hopefully the one or ones you chose will enhance your game play and community involvement. Guild produce friends and sharing laughs and accomplishment and failures with those friends only make the bonds stronger.
Last piece of advice LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP. and look very, very closely. I personally have witnessed many good and fun players leave the game because they have felt let down by the guilds they were in.
Good Luck and help a nub when you can. You were a nub once ya know, some of us still are.
Just want to add, in response to those who say I don't need/want a guild
Most often their reason is too much drama, Instances are boring, I can pug whatever. I say if you find drama everywhere you go, you might need to find the common factor and correct that. (In case you missed the subtlety, it might be your social skills that need to level) You miss out on the joy of watching you and your new friends grow and knowing you were a part of it. If instances bore you, you might be playing the wrong game. There is such a rush to break content. Whether you break it for game, for server, for guild, or for yourself. It is a measure of what you have accomplished in gearing and learning how to play your toon, and play within the body of a coordinated group. Thrilling, fun, challenging, exciting, all yes. Boring? Your doing it wrong (that's what she said). As for pugging, you don't break content pugging, and there is a reason. Maybe yes, pugging is boring. Hanging with friends and playing together, accomplishing goals, both personal and group, that's what mmo's are all about. If you haven't done that, you probably think Thanksgiving is people eating turkey. There are Trees and then there is a forest.
Slappie (Osha)
aka Toadsticker
aka Choppie
aka Chewbone
but most often known as (CENSORED)
same posted to Guild Introduction
