Hope Within

[Kermit]

Ok, so here's the schpeel.

Hope Within is turning itself into an end-game guild with emphasis going toward getting people their purples, running a bunch of instances I don't remember the names of because I've never run them, and helping the lower level guildies get up to 60 as quickly as possible.

What this means for the general public:
-No new members less than 60's. No 58's... no 59 1/2's... no "he's my friend from work, or my long lost brother". Nothing.
-Booting members who (regardless of reason) haven't logged on in 2 or so weeks without notifying an officer or posting their reasons on the hopewithin forums. Booted members are allowed back in as soon as they show up. This is just a house cleaning measure, to get rid of non-active members.
-Booting members who do not show up regularly for instance runs or actively help lowbies

What this means for the Cartel:
-Terial (2nd in command and acting manager while KB is moving) extended an offer to me for Pogo and Golan (Budly) to join the guild. If any Martians are shuffling your feet on if you want in or not, now is the time to do it. The lock down will continue for a few more weeks until they decide to open the process back up a bit. This is just a growing pains thing. They need to regroup and decide what direction the guild in general is moving in.
-That being said, I don't know how much longer I will be in myself. I am by definition a part time player and have been making a huge effort to help anyone unfortunate enough to actually be a lower level than me. However, from the way I've seen things going, part time players may not be welcome in the guild for very long. That being said, I've enjoyed my time with them thus far and will be sad if I have to leave. They are a good group and are always willing to lend a hand. I would encourage any who are serious about the game to get with them soon.

[FoeKilla]

What this means for the general public:
-No new members less than 60's. No 58's... no 59 1/2's... no "he's my friend from work, or my long lost brother". Nothing.
-Booting members who (regardless of reason) haven't logged on in 2 or so weeks without notifying an officer or posting their reasons on the hopewithin forums. Booted members are allowed back in as soon as they show up. This is just a house cleaning measure, to get rid of non-active members.
-Booting members who do not show up regularly for instance runs or actively help lowbies
and

They are a good group and are always willing to lend a hand.
are in direct conflict with one another

[Creole Ned]

Turning games into work, one level 60 at a time!

[Tai]

grin, I cancelled my WoW account today :bg:

[Creole Ned]

Eh, let's not turn this into a WoW-bashing session. My comment has nothing to do with the game and everything to do with the particular people in this guild.

I'm sure what they are doing is fun for them, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it (I hope). For me, it sounds too much like work. I like keeping it casual.

Casual and MMORPG's don't generally go together, though. I think WoW and CoH are the most casual-friendly out there, although any hardcore player can turn them into chores with enough dedication.

[Paladin]

I just don't see myself playing enough to warrant trying to join this guild and be active enough to suit them. I think I'm going to put some time in on my single-player games for a bit, and maybe get back into some BF2.

[Kermit]

I do not see how "Booting members who do not show up regularly for instance runs or actively help lowbies" conflicts with "They are a good group and are always willing to lend a hand."

You don't help lowbies, you get booted. Therefore they are left with a guild full of members who are willing to lend a hand.

It doesn't really matter. I'm just letting everyone know that if they want in, now is the time to say something to them. If you don't want in, just disregard the entire post. If you want out of the game entirely, then that is none of my business.

[FoeKilla]

I guess I misread that as if you help lowbies, you get booted.
But I stand by my statement for all the rest of it.

To me a good group is one that let's me play my way and on my schedule and doesn't force end game content on me or boots my 60 cause I've been playing my 20 for two weeks or won't let my wife join cause she's 59.5

But, I don't have a 60, and my wife doesn't play so I guess I'll stop rebel rousing.

didn't mean to pee on your thread just something about that whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth towards Hope Within

[jackrabbit]

Foe, the people I met from the guild were cool, but I think either they let in a lot of people before playing with them, or they let in friends that just weren't serious gamers. While many of the officers were excellent players, in a raid group of 40, I would rate more than half as lousy or non-serious players. There was too much screwing around at the cost of other people and too many people couldn't follow the leaders simple orders. After two raid attempts with them I decided they would really need to cull their ranks before I could consider asking to join.

It appears that is exactly what they're doing now, and I have to say I'm glad.

The Martian Cartel had the good fortune of having a metric shit-ton of good players. Even newer players like Pogo's wife quickly became excellent. When you play with people who know what they're doing and can do it well -even under pressure- you take for granted how good you have it. When you join up with a group that gets by on the strength of a few quality players, it gives you a reason to appreciate your friends so much more. Additionally, being in a group of good players makes you play to a higher level in order to live up to the expectation of the others.

[Kermit]

Playing your alt will not get you booted. Not playing for a month straight, will not get you booted. Piss poor communication about your whereabouts for a couple weeks will. Even then, a quick in-game message or posting on the forums will get you back in.

I stand by everything in my original post. I read it though 3 times before posting just to make sure I had said everything exactly the way I wanted to. They are a good group that is going though some growing pains right now. The officers and senior members are good players (there have been a few noob that I helped that needed more help than I could give them) but the vast majority know what they are doing, are fun and enjoy the game.

The friends and family non-60 ban will be lifted soonish. (the exception has already been made for Martians) They are really just trying to get rid of the fat and become more efficient and directed. My early post sounded harsh for a reason. I don't want to mislead anyone if HopeWithin is not right for you. I'm not even 100% positive that they are right for me. I was told by the XO to extend the invite to Pogo and Budly, I was just trying to make sure that anyone else who wanted in knows to get off their duffs and do it now.

Unless there are specific questions, this will be my last post on the topic.

[pogozorro]

Kerm, last night, Budly, my wife and I migrated over (for the most part) and I am very happy with what I have seen thus far. We ended up doing two instance runs with no problems, everyone was relaxed and helpful, and things seem to be in order.

[Andri]

I think, the HW rules sound very harsh when you first read them, but I have to agree with Pogo and Kerm that the guildies are actually pretty relaxed and a bunch of fun. After countless PUGs that ended in needless wipes, high repair bills and no loot, I absolutely appreciate an organized bunch where stuff like that does not happen. I have acquired 3 more pieces of my gear set since I joined HW and finally got to see a BG from the inside (and we won the match too!). For a while I found it much more enjoyable to lvl up my alts because we had so little highbie fun going on, but I finally find it fun again to play my priest. And i have to say, in between instances and BGs there is more than enough goofing around going on to make this game fun rather than a chore. I am glad I switched, and I am glad we martians are all back together in one guild.

[LogRoller]

Boy, a lot can change in a month.

[pogozorro]

Agreed.

[Andri]

Well, it is sad but true - we had fun the exact month KB and Kaymus were out of commission. As soon as they returned, things went the wrong way.