Not every Guildmaster feels this way, but I’m willing to bet many of them do.
Face it.
It’s lonely at the top.
You are at the top of the food chain and there is no one for you to turn to for help. Everyone comes to you for advice or guidance about what to do next. On some days, it can be the most frustrating job in the world. But it’s reassuring to know that you are not alone.
While not every Guild has every one of these, I’m willing to bet they have some of them. They can help take the load off of a GM’s shoulders. They do not have to be officers or anything in the Guild, but that decision is ultimately yours.
The Rich Guy
Whether or not he gets his money legally or illegally, it’s nice to have a guy like this around. He’s got more gold then he knows what to do with. He’s got 3 epic mounts. Per alt. He’s a shrewd businessman and farmer where money is not a problem at all.
Why he’s an asset: If someone’s repair bill is too high, he can help spot it. He usually comes to raids packed with every reagent, flask, and potion made. Useful to have around in case that idiot Priest (namely, me) forgot his Flask of Mighty Restoration again.
Just because he’s rich doesn’t mean he’s generous. Ask nicely.
The IT Specialist
He works at a web hosting firm in silicon valley. Or maybe he’s a QA tester at Microsoft. Whatever he does, it’s nice to have the IT specialist around. They are generally soft spoken and tend not to like having leadership positions. Count on them to be extremely intelligent and knowledgeable.
Why he’s an asset: The Guild website is down again and you do not know why. You ask the IT Specialist to take a look. Five minutes later, it turns out you installed the Shoutbox incorrectly. Not only does he fix it, he comes up with a new color scheme for the site that’s more visually appealing, applies a security fix for the forums preventing all those pesky spam posts, and grants membership access to those 40 new members because you forgot how to do it.
You can count on him to help you with Addon installation and configuration.
The Analyst
He spends most of his time reading up on various blogs and sites to learn how to make your raid more optimal. He’s just graduated from college and is in between jobs. He’s got more rings under his eyes than a jewelery store.
Why he’s an asset: Not only does he know how to parse WWS reports, he knows how to read them. After every raid, he will stay up until 3 AM trying to determine how the tank got crushed at the 0:11:46 mark of the Lady Vashj encountered. In other words, he can take numbers from WWS and translate them into something meaningful you can understand. If you can understand the problem, you can fix it.
May get mom aggro once in a while.
The Mom
The Mom can instantly sense when something is wrong in the Guild. Her gut feelings are more in tune with the emotions of a player. She knows what to say at the right time. Nothing relieves a tense moment then a calm soothing female voice (that applies in any situation though, really).
Why she’s an asset: She’s able to pry the deepest and darkest thoughts of a player in the Guild. She can silence brushfires with a few tells. She can break the will of even the most devoted gquitter and persuade them to stay one more day. Even though you can’t see it, you can almost see the sad puppy eyes on the screen when she asks you what’s wrong. She’s an excellent sounding board if you need to vent your frustrations because she will actually care.
We love you mom.
The Accountant
He tracks the gains and losses of a Guild in terms of both gold, loot, and manpower. He’s sharp and knows what everything is worth. He can also be known as the IT guy since they are typically good with computers.
Why he’s an asset: He keeps a record of everyones DKP purchase in the past year. He’s able to remember who what what loot when. He makes sure everyone who has attended got the DKP they deserved. Loot will always be accounted for when he is handling it. If there is a discrepancy, he will look into it, fix it, and adjust everyone else’s DKP accordingly.
He also saves you $10 a month on Asprin.
The General
He’s served in the Gulf war. He’s a retired military General. When he barks on vent, everyone listens. He commands the respect of his subordinates and the Guild. He knows when to push his luck and when to cut his losses. He has Murphy’s ultimate law tattooed on his forearm: If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. He has contingency plan after contingency plan filed in his brain in case things go wrong. In short, he’s your raid leader.
Why he’s an asset: He researches every boss thoroughly. He combs through videos and strategies trying to determine the strengths and weaknesses of bosses. Then he tailors these strats to work with the resources and personnel that your Guild has in order to successfully down that boss. He will do what it takes to get the job done in a timely fashion. If something bad happens, you can bet he’s already thinking of a way to salvage it.
If you want results, he will deliver them.
The Optimist
Nothing can bring down the Optimist. He’s always in a good, cheery mood and it helps rub off on everyone. He’s willing to help people any time. He’s a genuinely kind person who has no hidden agenda and has nothing but nice things to say.
Why he’s an asset: He can help the raid stay cheery and positive. When he joins the channel, he makes everyone in it smile. His “can do” attitude helps provide that last spark of energy to down Al’ar on the last attempt when everyone is weary and frustrated.
He doesn’t care about the destination. He cares about the journey.
The Mentor
He’s a walking encyclopedia of information. He loves to patiently teach people how to do things. He wants to relax and take it easy for a while but doesn’t have any problems with providing wise advice.
Why he’s an asset: He’s been everywhere and done every quest. Twice. He knows where every mob is. He’s memorized all the mats required for every enchant and where to get the necessary enchanting mats. He doesn’t need WoWHead because he IS a WoW Head.
It takes 8 seconds to look something up on WoW Head. It takes 1 to ask a question and receive an answer.
The Connected Guy
Quite frankly, the connected guy is… well connected! He has friends in high places. He has enough contacts to make a drug cartel jealous. He’s got more names and numbers memorized then a phone book. He’s a great people person because he can connect with them easily. Similar to the Mom, he’s able to tell the good crowd from the bad and sweet talk players into helping him out. He could be your recruiting officer.
Why he’s an asset: Your tank didn’t show up. A couple of well placed calls, and he’ll deliver an even better tank because that tank owes him one. He can hook up one of your guys with a Soulfrost enchant AND knock off 20% from their price. He’s established a rapport with top Guilds and fine craftsmen. He can pull in a favor at a moment’s notice and help pull in the elusive 25th man. He can hook you up with a spot in the elusive 400+ resilience PvP group.
Great for recruiting because he knows a friend’s brother’s girlfriend’s moms nephews dad’s son who has an awesome Priest looking for a Guild and happens to be on your same server.
The Brawler
He has your back in a fight. If you need air support in the Outlands, you can expect him to bring the rain. He thrives on PvP. What makes you cringe will make him grin. He is a literal lightning in a bottle and if the opposing faction gives you trouble, he will respond with lethal force in kind.
Why he’s an asset: Opposing faction at the summoning stone? Call up the Brawler and him and his band of cronies will secure the area for you and your raid. Someone giving you hell on an alt? Let him know and he’ll grab a large slurpie and camp the poor guy until you’ve leveled out of the area. He knows everything there is to need to know about PvP.
You do not want to get on his bad side because he is the reason why ESRB added the M rating.
Honorable Mentions
The Altaholic
He works from home managing his own business. He has a wide array of alts to choose from because he can multitask so effectively with his job. He loves the game and has maxed out his character slots.
Why he’s an asset: Need a tank? No problem. Want to gear up a tank? He’ll switch to his Priest. Need high performance DPS? Choose from his Rogue, Mage or Hunter. This jack of all trades can fulfill any purpose you need in a pinch.
The only thing separating him from running a 25 man raid with 25 of his own accounts is because the police tagged his house as a grow ops facility due to his power bill.
The Motormouth
He talks. A lot. He loves to hear his own voice and that of others. He’s also really annoying. But you have to put up with him around because he’s your MT’s younger brother.
Why he’s an asset: There’s no other available MT.
The Loser
He gets confused over everything. He needs his hand held in every dungeon. He accidentally wipes the raid because thought Vashj was friendly.
Why he’s an asset: He’s so loveable because everyone can’t help but feel sorry for him. He also sets an inadvertent example for the rest of the Guild on why they shouldn’t stand in melee range of certain Naga.
Um, guys? These walking fish cleave!
If you can find and earn the loyalty of players like these, you can expect a well streamlined guild equipped to tackle any day to day problems. It’s never a dull moment with diverse players like these around. The best part is that they just do their jobs so naturally without you having to ask. If you put them in positions where they have an opportunity to grow, watch them take advantage of it and slip into their roles with ease.
Do you recognize any of these players in your Guild? Are you one of these players? Do you enjoy having them around? I know my Guild has everyone but the Optimist.
I think I am a mix between all of those. O.o
Well, I think i too am a mix of nearly all of them. I’ve been Gm and officer before and yes it is lonely at the top.
I think though if I had to pigeon hole myself, I’m a optimistic general mum 😛
PS. Hi from over the pond in very wet and rainy UK 😛
Keep up the great blog, I love the diversity especially as a holy priest and GM/officer so can relate to alot and it’s good to share.
*laughs*
I recognize several of those.
Gotta say I’m probably the Mom actually, judging from the heartfelt tells I’ll often send to people who gquit =P
Hmmm, I think we have all been these at one time or another. Just as in WOW, there can be hybrids with a mix of personalities.
Playing a priest, it seems as if the Optimist would stand out – we have to be optimists…lol.
Is it any wonder that most of these personalities are the officers of your guild? There is something to be said about actively participating in the guild versus just showing up and doing your job quietly. Another great post, Matticus.
All around great post Matt. I’m not really sure which personality I’d be if I had to choose among the list. I’m well versed in most things but lacking in others. I can switch up my role but not at end game just yet. I’m generally good at most but never best.
I’d say I’m the gal in the backround that everyone likes, there for the journey of her life.
Great post, Matt. And I agree… it is lonely at the top at times (not just for GM’s but leadership in general), AND we too have all these personalities. Thankfully though, we also have the Cheerleader… many times after raids, he publicly thanks all of the leadership for their excellent work in scheduling and organizing runs (whether they be successful or not).
I personally can serve as a bunch of different functions. I can wear the IT Specialist hat, or the Mentor hat, or the Analyst. I also have some experience being the Accountant. Other than that, I wouldn’t be able to do the rest :S.
Leiandra: I was thinking about the Cheerleader, but I figured he could be classified under the Optimist.
Scott: I think Officers are a special breed of players who bring their A game every night and possess another set of skills be it in game or not. The one thing they all share in common is their desire to help the Guild succeed as a whole and they will use whatever skills they have to ensure progress.
Rickles: Buddy, I can sympathize. It’s not exactly warm and sunny over here in BC, Canada either. It’s nice to know there’s others around that can benefit from my writing. I just have to find a balance between Priesting and Raid Officering columns.
*laughs* Great stuff. I’m definitely the altaholic. Every time the GM adds another of mine to the roster now, I get comments like, “Another one?!” and “You really need help.” I will be maxing out my slots soon, if I’m not careful!
Maeve is like 5 of those put together…with a fat asian voice to top it off.
That’s a nice list there. When I GMing, I remember subconsciously finding and leaning on these people.
And I’m liking the Stephen Colbert = Optimist Pic. =P
Trollin: Believe me, I saw the irony too. But I spend 3 hours looking for “optimistic guy” on stock photos.
At least he looks optimistic…
Dager: Yup, that’s Maeve! =D
I see all of these in our guild in various combinations. However I’d personally add one other:
The Soldier – someone that listens to directions and then follows them, that adjusts mid-battle as needed, and who helps his fellow raider in the midst of a fight. This person can be depended on to show up on time, be prepared, and know his job. It’s a shadow priest that drops shadowform to help heal when asked, the moonkin that pops out to throw a needed dpser a battlerez and maybe an innervate, and a holy pally that brings a prot set to help aoe tank Tidewalker’s murlocs, all without complaining. When the raid gets tough, they keep pushing on without so much as a frustrated sigh on vent.
I know our humble little guild owes a lot to these types. Just my little contribution. 🙂
You almost completely missed one (partially pegged him with “the motormouth”), the self-deprecating smart-ass. Never lets anyone, especially himself, forget about buying Soulcloth Gloves when they hit 70, because they’re purple and that must mean they’re better than all the Blue gloves…playfully of course.
This post delivers. Really love this post. A good analysis of the advisors and good GM should have his ears to hear and council with.
I would say I’m a combination of most though not all mentioned yet a greater degree of some mentioned. I also agree with a poster above that your missing one person also in “The Soldier” there will always be those who put the group or guild cause above their own and give 100% to everything and not willing to quit until everyone else has.
“I guess I’m The Optimistic Richguy who was is an Accountant that loves to research and do Analysis while being also being a somewhat Connected Guy who is the reluctant General that finds fun in just being a The Mentor Guy”.
Tough to write and correct that correctly on my IPhone sonetimes.
Galo: Show off =). I want an iPhone too! Too bad it’s not out in Canada yet (officially).
As for the Soldier, I think there’s a bit of him in everyone above there. But a good addition all the same!
Just a truly brilliant post, Matticus! Sweet!
Wow, that?s a really clever way of thiiknng about it!
What does that make me?
I like this post alot.
nicely done, spot on!
I love this list and I agree with everything on it… BUT I do think you missed the personality that EVERY guild leader needs but hates to have:
The Union Leader
The person who appears to always be complaining about stuff but actually brings up a point of view maybe not covered or thought of by the GL and the Officers. Also, a person who the more quiet people come to to complain when they feel too small to speak to the GL.
The Altaholic. . . PRICELESS!