I think a lot, it's a curse, but I do. And, sometimes, I just feel the need to take my thoughts and put them down in some quasi-permanent place where some one other than me can come and see just what goes on inside my head. Being able to decipher this vortex of ramblings that pass as thoughts through my head on a second-to-second basis will be a feat in and of itself, and for that, I commend you.
I also want this to be somewhat interactive. At the end of each "rant" I will link my e-mail address. If I miss something or you have any questions after reading one of these, click the link and let me know. What are your views? If you send me something interesting, I'll post it. So read what I have to say, take from it what you will, and if you have anything to add, please feel free to do so.
This could be either dreadfully boring, or vaguely entertaining. You decide which, because this page is going to be here whether I get a hundred e-mails or none at all :P
~Trenith
That last question is easy. I'm evil. :)
But, what is a guild officer? Well, they're the people you see online with the rank of Captain or above. The chain of command goes something like this: Captain>Major>Cololnel>GM.
For the most part, the officers know each other in real life with a few exceptions. Unfortunately, none of us know Whoshotu in real life because the bloke lives in New Zealand and we're all state-side. The core group is in Indiana, if you really want to know. There are a few others who we haven't met in person, but they're officers anyway. Why? Because they're freakin' cool, that's why! A few of them were around before Arch was GM, and a few of them were around before even Gabe and I started playing WoW. The longevity is one thing, but it's not everything either. I believe I speak for most of us when I say that we all consider each other to be friends. There's a certain amount of trust there. We're all different people, but we share a love of this game and a general idea of what's good and bad in it. All the things I talk about in the Guild Charter are things that we all agree on. It's just the way we've always played, which is why we stick together. It all started as a few people grouping for an instance, and deciding that they really enjoyed playing together. So the newer officers got to be officers by just working their way into the "inner circle" if you will. We're usually watching the guild chat. They impressed us one way or another, and they seemed to hold true to what we already believed, so they were invited. It helps that these new officers were just a blast to play with, and still are. They "get it." Officers are officers because they just...are.
So...what do we do? Well, one of the things we do is answer questions. For the most part, the officers have been playing WoW for a while. We're here to offer advice and quest help when needed. We also try to delagate help for those quests you need a group to complete, like instances or raids. If you need to run Sunken Temple sometime or any other instance, talk to one of us and we can try to set up a guild run for you for sometime in the future. Please take into consideration that if we spend ALL our time running people through instances that leaves NO time for us to actually play. So be easy on us. We will try to get your run set up in a timely manner, but we all have our real lives to take care of too.
We also act as a kind of police force. We're serious about the rules of the guild, and if we see something we will call you on it. And if we catch you breaking one of the rules, we will take action. Be that action a verbal warning, demotion, or expulsion from the guild, we will do what we can to make sure everyone can play and have a good time doing it. Also, if you're having trouble with another guildie, we can step in IF NECESSARY. Please, try to work it out between yourselves. However, if you and the other guildie can NOT come to an agreement, you can come to one of us with your dilema and we will step in to resolve the issue. Something to consider here, though, is that we can never know for certain who is telling the truth. It comes down to one member's word against another's. We sometimes can find out what actually happened, but usually it's a long drawn-out process of who do we trust more, and that is NOT FUN. So, you want my advice? Don't get into a situation that would require our intervention. Read the charter and follow the rules and everything should run just fine.
Man, I wish I was an officer! That sounds wicked! How can I get to be one?
Well...watch Mija...watch Mijito...watch Whoshotu, and Heran, and Slake, and all the other officers (maybe not Tren) and see how they play, how they act, how they talk. Take what you see and what you read in the guild charter and act accordingly. But really, don't worry about it. Just be yourself and play the game, and maybe one day you'll log on and be an officer. And let me just say this, if you're not an officer it DOES NOT mean that we don't like you or think you're not "good enough." It comes down to a numbers thing, we can't ALL be officers...otherwise we'd have to invent uber-officers or something equally ridiculous. You're in the greatest guild in the universe! Be happy, and have fun!
~Trenith
You know what drives me crazy? Stupidity, and its apparent abundance in the World of Warcraft. Have you ever been strolling through Stormwind, minding your own business, when someone on the Trade Channel starts spamming things like: "Joo r all n00bs!" or "LOL. Ur armor sux!" or "I am t3h l33t3st w4rri0r in t3h g4m3!" or...well...anything as grammatically horrifying as that?
I have, and I know I shouldn't let things like that bother me, but it does. It's not just that the typing looks like something a four-year-old would be ashamed of, but that the people typing this garbage actually believe they're "cooler" than everyone else for it. It's infuriating to me. It's a form of injustice in my mind. No one that stupid should feel superior to...anything.
I usually retort with some mind-melting verbal onslaught because, to my chagrin, I can't just hit the person writing that swill.
There was once a guild running around Greymane in its early days called "The Grammar Police." They were a shining beacon of grammatical salvation in a veritable ocean of ineptitude. They brought justice to the World as they ripped apart the self-proclaimed "l33t 0n3s" at every turn, knocking the egotistical bastards down every step of the imaginary ladder they'd proclaimed to have climbed. My heart soared when, after I verbally dismantled some idiot using the word "n00b" (Which, by the way, is the word I loathe the most in the whole of the internet), I was made an honorary member. They offered me a position in the guild, but I was already with "Freedom's Choice" at the time. This guild that has, as far as I know, vanished into the bygone golden days of Greymane was a glorious and gleaming example of my own personal belief. If you're going to take the time to type something, at least make an effort to do it well.
As I've said, these self-proclaimed "g4m3rz" think (and I use that word very loosely) that they're better than everyone else, and it infuriates me to no end. The thing to remember when dealing with one is this: They are NOT elite. They are NOT superior. And, if you find that (like myself) they are driving you mad by picking on a newcomber to the game, feel free to use your superior intellect to rip their ego to pieces.
For example, after seeing one of these "g4m3rz" verbally harassing someone for asking where the Stormwind Library was, I posted the following:
TRENITH SAYS: "You, sir, have the mental capacity of a very stupid rock."
To which he was quick to reply:
NIGHTWARRIO SAYS: "U r t3h n00b! R0ckz dont think!"
I laughed to myself as I typed back:
TRENITH SAYS: "Thank you for proving my point."
It's quite liberating and enjoyable, and, many times, I get several whispers thanking me for my efforts. So, try it sometime. A word of caution, however: Make sure that you know what you're talking about before trying to correct an idiot, lest you look like an idiot yourself . =P
~Trenith
You don't know everything...I'm sorry. You just don't.
If you can't follow the plan of whoever is leading the group you happen to be in, nothing will ever get done. It's important to figure out who is going to be leading the group before you start. If everyone has their own ideas about what it is you're setting out to do, you'll wind up spending all of your time arguing about what should be done. Me? I'd rather get in and play than stand around arguing about how.
So pick a leader. Make sure this person knows what he or she is doing, and go. Follow their lead and wait for instructions before doing anything. Now, that being said, you do NOT have to follow blindly. If you see something the leader doesn't, let them know. It's almost impossible to have a perfect run even IF you've done something a million times. Most everyone is human, after all.
If you get the leadership position, make sure you know what everyone in your group can and can't do. It is vastly important to know all the tools at your disposal and your group's strengths and weaknesses. In this position, you are responsible for the people with you. You make the plans for each encounter and nobody wants to wipe. So make good plans, and, if you're stuck, ask for ideas. They'll like it more if you admit you need help than if you don't ask and get them all killed.
Unless you're looking for a huge challenge, don't take the lead in an instance you've never ran. You'll have to really think on your feet to survive, and, to an extent, you'll have to play it a bit safer. Sometimes you will find yourself in this position. If it happens, try to know your group through and through. Then grit your teeth and go with it. You may actually have the time of your life.
Try to group with Guildies. The more you play with someone, the better you get know how they play. The better you know your team-mates, the better you'll do on a whole. Soon, you won't have to explain plans and you can focus on the killing more and things will just start running smoother for everyone. That's actually a big reason why guilds were formed in the first place...
~Trenith
So, I've already gone on a rant about the stupidity of those who consider themselves "G4m3rz."
Well, after some serious thought, I figured a bit more of an explanation was needed.
There IS a difference between a TYPO, and INTENTIONAL STUPIDITY. A typo happens when you hit the "enter" key before reading what you've just typed. Arch is a bit dyslexic when he types, and that doesn't bother me. I am NOT immune to a typo or two here and there. I know that it's a typo because it happens sporadically. Sometimes Arch's fingers move backwards on the keyboard for reasons unknown to anyone, and we can laugh about it because it's kinda funny. Sometimes, you really want to say something quickly and you miss a key...it happens and that's cool. No biggie.
How do you tell a typo from someone being intentionally stupid? Here's an example:
Somebody types: "Wat are you guys doing?"
If it's just the one word, and the one time, you can assume he was just typing too fast and missed the "h" key.
Then he types: "Wat is it?"
Maybe his "h" key is broken...Ask him, "Is your 'H' key broken?"
If he types back: "Wat r u talking about, n00b?"
You may now assume he is a moron, and proceed to tear apart his small mind. That's assuming he has a mind to tear apart.
Another point to make here:
If you are drunk or high or suffering from severe head trauma, it is NOT a good idea to say anything at all. You won't make any sense and you'll end up either severely annoying everyone else in that particular channel...or you'll scare people into thinking you're actually mentally ill...
In closing, nobody's perfect, but for the people typing things like: "Wat do u meen? I dont no wat u r saying." I have a few questions for them...How do you breathe? Do you get headaches alot? How do you function in the world? How is it you've managed to learn (in a manner of speaking) to operate a computer?
~Trenith
World-wide and across every server, the Horde is all one big guild with a vent server and twinks at EVERY battleground cut-off. I can think of no other explanation. Their group tactics and ability to form and execute battle plans in nearly any situation lends itself to my theory. How else can you explain away the Horde's ability to tromp the Alliance at nearly every turn?
My advice? If you get frustrated easily, don't PVP...It will only end in tears...or a broken keyboard.
~Trenith
I jump on my little 30-something warrior to do some questing in the Wetlands. I just get out of Menethil Harbor after checking my mail and start my long walk to where I need to set fire to some Orc catapults. I can see their encampment on the horizon, and I'm ready for some fun when...PING! I get a whisper from another guildie. "Hey, can you hop on your sixty, and run me through Gnomer?"
Gah!
I know we're here to help and all. The Guild Charter that I wrote emphasizes helping others in the guild...but, darnit, I sometimes want to play too...
Hell, I still have things I need to do with my Sixty. I'm trying to complete my Shadowcraft Set, I need to run Strat and UBRS a few times yet, I have to get my MC attunement, I need to do Jailbreak soon...and...ugh...I have to run people through the lower instances.
I want to help, but I want to play, too...and, well, it's frustrating sometimes.
All this sounds very hypocritical, I know, and I suppose I just need to suck it up. I haven't really been online in forever anyway...I just wanted to put this down as an explanation and appology if I've ever seemed less-than-thrilled with anyone asking for my help. I do want to help, I'm sorry if I come across as more mean than usual sometimes...
~Trenith
P.S. - I loathe Gnomer...
So, it�s been forever since I�ve done one of these�forgive me if I appear a bit rusty. This little guild of ours is slowly becoming more and more gigantic. With the advent of BC and a serious influx of newcomers power-leveling like machines on crack cocaine, we now have enough people to do solid guild-runs on the ten-man�s. We have enough people that I once saw three different groups running three different instances at once.
It�s mind-boggling.
There was a time when you had pre-plan a Scholo run because, quite frankly, we only had five people in the guild high enough to do it. We were all insanely pumped when we had enough people to run UBRS (and even then, we imported a priest from another guild to help us out). Hell, we talked about that run weeks afterwards, all of us just glowing with pride that we�d finally done something big as a guild.
So where are we now?
Well, the 70�s are increasing in number with a solid group of five or so catching up quickly. We�ve got enough people that there are members complaining about feeling left out. We�ve got enough people that we�re trying to institute as a rule the use of the guild forums to set up runs and whatnot. We�re slowly heading towards the RAIDS, people. And, I won�t lie, I�m just a bit excited.
So what do we do now?
Here�s the scoop, as I see it:
1. We still need high-level healers. It�s not fair to the ones we have that they get used all the time. They�re going to get burned out, I�ve seen it before.
2. We need to run the old raids before we start doing Outlands stuff. I know that, for the most part, it�s kinda pointless, but it will give us the practice we so desperately need before we get cremated in the OL raids. We need to get people accustomed to following orders from a leader that is pre-determined before we head in. We need to get people attuned to Onyxia just because it�s probably one of the more fun and challenging raids out there.
3. We really need to start using the website and the forums. Post links to raid-guides. Discuss what works for which class and what doesn�t. Start using Ham like the internet webmaster guru guy he is, and get the cooler features of the site (like the guild bank thing) up and running.
These are just some of the things I�ve been thinking about. Here�s to hoping you all start thinking about them too.
~ Tren