I know this might sounds selfish, but bear with it. The first thing you have to ask yourself is 'what do I want'. Common responses to this: I want to be uber. I want to PVP. I want to role-play. I want to log in every once and a while and find a warm, fun, and receptive environment? The list goes on and on. This is something that YOU need to figure out for yourself; no one else can do it for you.

   However, while I can't do it for you, I can help. To give you a basic idea of what type of guilds there are out there, I'm going to give you a brief breakdown of some of the more common types:

• The Casual Guild - Friendly and fun is at the core of this type. Mostly focusing on tightening member relations, and maintaining a clean, family atmosphere. These guilds are usually small, and extremely tight-nit. Most of them have several obligatory real life duties, which means they can only devote short periods of time to the game.

   

• The Uber Guild - Basically the complete opposite of the casual guild. They have an almost laser-like focus on progressing and being the best. Although the guild atmosphere might still be fun and friendly, there is always a serious undertone of intensity and commitment. Members usually have large blocs of time to devote to playing the game.

   

• The Role-Play Guild - An RP guild takes the second to last two letters in MMORPG very seriously. Members enjoy role-playing their characters, and enjoy experiencing the many different types of situations they get into by simply staying true to their character. Member's time-devotion to the game may vary.

   

• The PK Guild - This guild is for people who like to PK (player kill). Many times a PK guild is even closer and more tight-nit than the Casual/Family guild? why? Because they have to be. To save your own skin, and the guild's skin as a whole, you have too, day in and day out, put blind faith and trust into your guild mates - this creates a very special kind of bond, not easily broken. PK guilds can vary from Uber to Casual, in terms of playing times.

   Those are really the top four "types" of guilds. Now I say "types", because most guilds won't fit perfectly into any of these categories. Instead, they will usually be a mix - now there are obvious mixes that won't go together very well (The Casual Uber guild for instance), but others will fit extremely well with each other (The Uber PK guild for instance). Again, it's up to you to figure out where you want to fit, based on your own desire.

   Hopefully, you now you know what you want - the hunt begins.

   Now you need to begin researching. Research, research, research, research. Get all (research) that? Good. Visit as many guild websites as you can. Don't be easily swayed by pretty graphics and colors on their front page; check out their forums and policies. Read their charter (if they don't have one, unless you see active plans for one or one in development, run. Run fast and far, because chances are that guild is more confused then you are). After you review their policies, and guild rules, take a look at their other public sections. Important things to note: are there members friendly or are they flaming each other? Are the forums busy, or a ghost town? These are the types of things you need to be looking for when you're doing your guild research.

   A good place to start searching for guilds is usually the actual games' forum. Look for any guild listing post, or anything like that. Also check fan sites for similar posts as well, as they usually have different guilds and listings. If all else fails, just Google it: "XYZ _Name_of_Game guild".

   The important thing here and the overall goal of this, is to expose yourself to as many different guilds as possible (not that kind of expose, pervert.) You want to find one that fits your OWN play style and preferences as much as possible - this is why it's important to know what you want and work hard to find it.

   Let me put it to you this way, when intelligent people are shopping for a car, they don't just go to the nearest dealer and buy whatever fancies them, only to later find out it's not really their type of car; when intelligent people are looking to buy a new house, they don't just look at a house catalog and go "eeny meeny meiney mo". Instead they research meticulously, spend hours, days, weeks, months trying to find one that truly, wholly, completely fits them. Now the question is do you want to be this type of person when it comes to looking for a guild? Well, for your own sake, I truly hope so.

 

 Part II: The Application
"Um????. can I join ur guild? Plz?"

   So now you've found your guild. It suits you, everything's peachy, and it's looking good. Time to take the next step - you have to apply. Now, again, we're going to begin seeing very diverse ways in doing this application thing here. Some guilds take as long as MONTHS to get in, while others are a few days to a few weeks. I want to make it clear right now however, that neither is necessarily better or worse then the other - different guilds simply have different expectations and demands. It's up to you if you want to attempt to meet them.

   Typically, when you apply, you'll have to post or fill out some type of application on their website (usually found in the forums, but not always). You can effectively call this the guild's first impression of you, so naturally you'll want it to be a good one. Here are some tips to writing a smoking app:

• Be as comprehensive as possible. Now I don't mean write them a thesis, but try and cover all of the things they would want to know about you. If it's a "hardcore" guild, you'd generally want to include how much time you can spend playing, etc. Usually they will have some type of "READ ME FIRST BEFORE APPLYING" post which details exactly what they want to know about you - but even if they don't, you want to be comprehensive just the same.

   

• Be legible. For god sakes, be legible. What do I mean? I mean PARAGRAPHS. I mean PERIODS and proper use of punctuation and syntax. I mean no "u" in place of you, no "2" in place of two, no l33t sp34k, none of that - I recommend writing out a rough draft of your application in some type of word processing program, and then spell checking/editing it so it is as easy to read and understand as possible. Then copy it over when you're ready.

   

• Sleep on it. Don't post your app the moment you finish it. I know you're excited, but seriously -- read it over a few times, make sure it has all of the above, then save it and leave it alone for a day or two. Come back to it with fresh eyes, and see if you missed anything. Maybe even show it to a friend, as other people can usually offer perspectives and comments you would have never thought of.

   

• Try to be interesting. The best app I ever read was full of witty and interesting remarks. Heck I still remember some parts, because it was THAT good. Now if you can't do this, its ok - this one won't make or break you, but it certainly doesn't hurt if you have your reader cracking up the entire time. If you do choose this, just make sure not to go overboard - funny is one thing, but remember this IS a serious thing you are doing.

   

• Be respectful. You are applying to THEM. They are not applying to YOU. Remember this, because a disrespectful application is probably the quickest road you can take to DenialLand. You don't need to bow down and praise their existence, but you should show a certain level of humility.

   Now I'm going to show you an example of what could be considered a GOOD application and what could be considered a very BAD one. See if you can figure out which is which!

   Meet GargledMouthwash. He is applying to Legion of Frozen Popsicles, a semi casual guild who likes to "raid" every now and again.

Greetings, Legion of Frozen Popsicles!

First off, I'd like to say what a great website you guys have! I've been frequenting your Legion of Frozen Popsicles forums for a while now, and you guys definitely seem to be something I would like to be a part of.

Now to the specifics. I play GargledMouthwash in game, and I am a level 26 Executioner. I have been playing for about 5 months now - I have never been guilded, but FangoJet and LunChee are good friends of mine, and neither of them can stop talking about how much fun they're having in Legion of Frozen Popsicles.

I live in the east coast, (big NY to be exact), and I play a few hours every few days. I have a job, and go to school, which unfortunately eats up most of my time. I think I'm a pretty fun loving person, who enjoys being around equally likeminded individuals.

What I hope to bring to LoFP is a great sense of humor, and a fun loving, up-beat attitude. Despite my normal care-free mood, when things need to get done, I am usually one of the first though the starting gate. I also have been known to enjoy a lively debate every now and again? ;)

What I hope to get from LoFP is a sense of camaraderie and friendship that I am obviously unable to obtain solo. I wish to finally be part of the same great guild as my two good friends, and hopefully find many more friends.

Well, that's about it! I look forward to see some of you in-game, and eagerly await a response to this application. Thanks!

--GargledMouthwash

   Right. So that was our good friend Mr. Gargled. Now meet BillyTheRoxx0r. He is applying to a resident "hardcore" guild.

Hi my names billytheroxx0r n i wanna join ur guild i play a lot when i come home from skool, so i can come to all raidz. i m a gud player, n i been in lotsa gud guilds. i left my last one tho cuz they suked and didnt give me a loot i wanted n i also left the one before that one too because um??? o yah they didnt gimme a loot i wanted i now u guyz r gonna be diffren tho cuz i now u guyz take care of ur members not like suky guilds like Legion of Frozen Popsicles they really suk n o btw i play a lv 9 buttchimp, but i really roxx0r wit him, even tho im lo level so dont call me a noob cuz im not???. Also I now som of u have had problemz wit me, but i can tell you that it wasnt me dat was my brother playing my toon he does that a lot and always ends up doing something bad i cant do anything about it cuz my mom always makes me let him play i know it really sukz don't it?/? Well anywayz, imam bounce, check you guys l8r

   Hopefully it's pretty obvious which the good application is and which is the bad one. Also, I want to stress that while Billy is obviously a kid, not all bad applications are written by kids, and not all kids write bad applications; as sad as it may be to believe, there are adults who write like that.

   Really, it doesn't take much; you just need to put in some genuine effort. Now a guild may ask you for more, or less then they asked of Gargled, but generally that's the type of application you want to strive for; professional yet informatively concise.

 

 Part III: The Recruit
"Please be gentle :("

   Well, first off, congratulations? or should I say, I'm sorry? Hah, well you're in too deep to pull out now, it's time to put up or shut up. You see, now you need to SHOW these people that you fit in with them, and that YOU are a good match for THEM.

   Now I see many recruits fall into the same exact pitfalls over and over again, so I'm going to lay some of them out for you so hopefully you'll avoid them when it's your turn.

• Don't whine. This privilege is usually strictly reserved for members (and sometimes not even that :p). It's important to keep a positive, non-cynical outlook on things - members notice this. Don't go on wild tirades about how you didn't get this or that, or how you have a problem with how a member handled this or that. You should take it as a PRIVILEGE for you to be where you are, and even if you do think you have a valid complaint; chances are it will be better in the long run if you don't voice them. If you find yourselves "not voicing" a lot of things, then you might want to consider the possibility that they're not the guild for you.

   

• Don't flame. Both on the guild boards and any other community boards. The first thing you have to assume as a recruit is that everything you say/do will be seen/heard by a member and ultimately judged. With this in mind, you don't want some insignificant flame you decided to write to end up biting you in the butt later on. Keep your temper and any attitude you may have firmly in check, or the guild might just check it for you (bad thing).

   

• Fulfill the demands of your guild. If you're applying to a hardcore guild, you need to make sure you're playing a lot. If you're applying to a casual guild, you need to make sure you're getting to know everyone and befriending as many as possible (although this is also something you ALWAYS want to do). If you're applying to an RP guild, then you need too (duh) RP. If you're applying to a PK guild then you need to make sure you're PKing (player kill) left and right. Get my drift? You might SAY you can live up to the guild's expectations and demands, but the true test is SHOWING them that you can do it.

   

• Last but certainly not least, BE YOURSELF. I know this might seem a little contradictory to some of my previous advice, but remember you are looking to join a guild, somewhere where you will be content? if you have to be a completely different person to fit in, then that guild is not for you. If you don't "keep it real", you'll end up in a deadly cycle of negativity and detachment that will most likely end up with your own removal from the guild (voluntary or otherwise). The result from this cycle is as sure as the rising sun, so DON'T fall into the cycle!

   Now many of these things are simple, and common sense - but many, many people do these things every day, completely oblivious to the fact that they're the ones shooting themselves in the foot. Don't be one of these people. Remember, stay positive, stay respectful, and stay real. If you manage to do all of this, then you have just maximized your chances at becoming a member.

 

 Part IV: The Aftermath
"I didn't get in? HELP!?"

   Don't worry, not getting into a guild is not the end of the world. The first thing you need to do is figure out WHY you didn't get in. Usually the person who informs you will give you a general reason, but if they don't then it's not inappropriate to ask. Just make sure you do it the right way. Do NOT post on their forums with an "OMGZ WHY DIDN"T I MAKE IT IN????//" thread - this will get you nothing except a swift public execution. Instead, try to have a one on one with the person who cut you, and politely ask them why. Whatever they tell you, THAT'S IT! Leave it alone! Do not try to argue with them, they are usually just the messenger and what's done is done. Arguing just makes you look bad. Bad. Baaaad.

   It's important to note, that guilds are not like girlfriends. When the former says "really, it's not you, it's me", they are usually not lying, unlike the latter. Many times there are just complex personality conflicts, or other things that you have no control over. If this is the case, then the best thing to do is accept it, and move on. Really, just move on.

   Remember that there are many, many, many, MANY guilds out there. Your job is to find one which fits your particular needs and desires. Be smart, be respectful, and be yourself - eventually you will find your own personal "great" guild.