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.
