just got a new female puppy she is a chw mix / tan , need help with a NAME ! 

Since I have to use this Journalism degree somehow I wanted to write a post to tell new members and prospective members how Roisin Dubh may be different from many guilds you have encountered.

A lot of the guilds are most likely led by one GM or maybe one GM and a few long time officers. Now if it is a longtime guild and/or a good guild, it is doubtless a leader with a forceful personality. Invariably these leaders will run a taut ship and will have a lot of rules that are rather forcefully enforced. Most will be no nonsense to a large degree (which by the way is what Ribbs stated - that he wanted no nonsense officers.) A few GM's like this may be able to lead by charisma alone but there are few charismatic enough to lead a large guild without a goodly number of rules.  At any rate this is probably the most common model for an mmorpg guild.

But not so Roisin Dubh. How do we differ from other guilds? Well before I answer that first let me tell you why we differ. In the very first incarnation of the guild on Dark Age of Camelot we were very laid back and we had a great GM and a small handful of officers. However before too very long we were driving our GM crazy! (Good news! A few more years of therapy and they say he might stop the drooling for the most part!)

We were formed as a very casual group of mature people interested in playing the game for fun.  And long story short, we learned early on that  we didn't want or need a single GM in charge of the guild.  We have many officers and GMs who have been around since DAoC and have added others through countless other games we have played.  The GMs and officers are there to be servants and caretakers of the guild - never rulemakers. (This is when we run into problems - those very rare occasions when a GM has decided they were rulemakers). We consider all in the guild to be equal. If decisions or policy need to be made or implement it will be a consensus of all GM's, and officers. So while it is indeed an honor to be chosen as an officer or GM in Roisin Dubh, but just know that we are all equal from the newest member to the longest tenured ones. So if  you see someone with the title GM of RD it simply means they are a caretaker. Those who don't or won't accept that eventually move on by choice or by being moved on.

Rules? Yeah we do have two rules:
1. Treat others with respect
2. Have fun first and foremost. Do whatever you want to do and don't feel pressured to do anything you don't wish to do.

That's it. That's all we have ever needed and when someone comes along and attempts to implement other rules we are forced to deal with it because that doesn't work for us. (And deal with it we do and always come out stronger.)

So you can see we are not a guild of power gamers. There have been a few power gamers that have successfully been a part of the guild for some time, but they have to be mature and patient with our pace. Now this does not at all mean we don't reach the end game and are not among the most successful guilds in a given game because we aresuccessful.

So if the style of play you are seeking is a laid-back, fun, family atmosphere then please do consider joining us. If you are a power gamer gamer please think carefully as, even though we will not turn you down, we might not be as fast-paced as you desire.

Alright...  As many of our friends and family in DDO may have noticed there has been a lot of moving going on in the guild in game.  Here's the short of it... which will be followed by the long of it.

Ribbs has decided to remove his guild from the ranks of Roisin Dubh and set out on his own.  As a result, many of us have formed a new guild called Guardians of the Black Rose, which will retake the name Roisin Dubh once it is released by Ribbs.

This decision was made by Ribbs (aka Sinistrad) after attempts by some of us to get cooler heads to prevail and offer up alternatives.

(long story)
The basics behind the decision are that Ribbs' vision of his guild in DDO began to stray from the foundation that is Roisin Dubh.  Roisin Dubh is (and if you've read the forums you know has always been) a guild founded upon Fun and Community first.  Do I fault Ribbs for his decision?  Not in the slightest.  I commend him.  He is an excellent guild leader.  He just has a different view on how things should be.  Things did get heated on both sides of the fence.  I won't say they didn't just to make this side look better.  Ribbs wanted more rules, many of those in RD strongly disagreed.  Thus Ribbs made the decision to seperate from Roisin Dubh.  I did what I could to try to smooth things over and get some breathing time, as did others... but his mind was made up.  Yesterday morning he removed all Roisin Dubh members (those who had been Roisin Dubh before joining the DDO Chapter) from the guild, including those who had no part of the discussions.  Again, I do not fault Ribbs for his decision.  His guild is his and it is his right to do as he wishes with it.  Do I agree with his decision?  No.  I think we could have stayed together, he could have had his core group of people who's focus was mostly on the end game and his group of "Roisin Dubh's Ribbs' Raiders" could have prospered within the guild.  I wish it had worked out that way.. but it didn't.

As a result, Guardians of the Black Rose was formed.  Ally created this guild in DDO with this name as a placeholder until Roisin Dubh's name has been released.  This guild will hold true to the charter of Roisin Dubh.  It will be the guild many of us joined in the beginning.  I have been named as the Executive Officer for the DDO Chapter of the Renovated Roisin Dubh.  As such my first executive decision is to put out an invitation to anyone currently a member of Roisin Dubh.

If you decide you want to stick with the Roisin Dubh standard, the door is open, just let me know and I'll get you in.

If you choose to stay with the guild Ribbs is forming, NO ONE in Roisin Dubh will think badly of you.  You will still be considered friends and I, myself, will be honored to continue running with you in DDO.

Ribbs, and those who remain with him, we wish you the best of luck in your endeavor.  This does not need to drive a wedge between us, it is what it is.  A sad day, but one we will all rise above.