Image courtesy of dbking
Making the first move and first impression counts when you’re looking to join a Guild. Excellent Guildmasters (I prefer General Managers) have a way of cutting through the random crap that applicants throw at them. They’re able to translate what applicants say and interpret them in a more precise way. As my Guild’s first line of defense against “R-Tards”, I’ve seen my share of bad opening introductions from players that were interested. Here’s 10:
- You say: “I can maintain 100% attendance.” GM thinks: “Even if he does make 100% of the raids, he’ll probably afk for a good portion of them.”
- You say: “I am willing to listen and pay attention all the time.” GM thinks: “Good, because my guild is full of players who do whatever the heck it is that they want at will.”
- You say: “I’m not quite sure what level your Guild is at in terms of progression, but… ” GM thinks: “No homework or research done and you’re applying for our Guild blindly? If you can’t research Guilds then we can’t expect you to research boss strategies.”
- You say: “I can lead PvP battlegrounds and form a top notch arena team within the Guild.” GM thinks: “We’re a frackin’ progression guild, not a PvP guild! Besides, this Guild can’t handle more than 1 emo BG leader.”
- You say: “I’d like to see end game raiding and experience it.” GM thinks: “You willing to die for it?”
- You say: “I don’t think my gear is good enough, however…” GM thinks: “Nope, probably not.”
- You say: “There’s not much time left before the expansion comes out, so…” GM thinks: “We’re not a sightseeing operation.”
- You say: “I’m willing to sit on the bench for a while and stay as a trial if you’re full.” GM thinks: “Great, someone whose not even going to try and compete for a raid spot.”
- You say: “You’ve made these mods mandatory for use in the Guild, but I don’t think I need them because…” GM thinks: “You can’t even pass a simple test of just downloading and installing mods. How will I know you will do as I instruct during a raid?”
- You say: “The only way for me to get better as a player is to get better gear.” GM thinks: “A million dollars to anyone who invents a device that allows for strangulation across the internet
The best opening lines to make to a GM or their representative is to say something similar to:
Hi, my name is __________, I would like to raid as a __________ spec and I have experience up to this encounter in the game.
For a much better insight into the application and mental thought processes of GMs, I strongly advise you read Chick GM’s post about the very same subject in more detail.
Post inspired by Guy Kawasaki
I think applicants should go about it the same way you should buy a car–make them feel like they need to sell the car more than you need to buy it.
Once they’re aware you exist offer to go on a Karazhan run with their alts or something. Assuming you know the fights and the right way to do things that will say more than anything else you could type. But be willing to walk away. Then make them come crawling back to you. . . Muahahahaha!
i’m raiding in guild ranked as servers best in alliance side(not gone far in swp tho).
anyway seen many applies where after introducing their spec and gear has been following sentence:
“You are best guild in server and its always been my dream to join your guild and….”