I'm not a Guild Master but I can offer observations based on threads and other things in the game.

What one of my Guilds has done is appoint a Recruitment Officer who spends time offering help and promoting the Guild within the forums. On top of that, one of my other Guilds doesn't start recruiting in game until the Third Region of the game where all of the undedicated players have mostly weeded themselves out. They are both the most socially active ESO Guilds I have been in.

I believe the Lotteries etc are done in order to raise money for bidding on Trader Access. I could be wrong though.

I can't tell you how to know who to promote, that's a trust issue and I'm a Cynic where trust is concerned.

forming pug groups, then see if they have a guild and would like to join.

Thank you everyone for all the tips!

Here is something you may want to check out for ideas. It is from a Guild which I (Turn2) Co-founded back during beta but have since (in the last month or two) left, not due to problems with the guild but the fact that my game time became very limited and leaving was the only way I didn't feel responsible for it. I am welcome back at any time if my game time ever frees up. I'm sure if you ask, the members there will help you get started just say I sent ya. They are always looking for other small, like minded, guilds to be friends with.

The Elder Sages Guild Charter

Edit: Tagging one of the leaders so they know I posted this. @Auldjohn

Casdha wrote: »

Here is something you may want to check out for ideas. It is from a Guild which I (Turn2) Co-founded back during beta but have since (in the last month or two) left, not due to problems with the guild but the fact that my game time became very limited and leaving was the only way I didn't feel responsible for it. I am welcome back at any time if my game time ever frees up. I'm sure if you ask, the members there will help you get started just say I sent ya. They are always looking for other small, like minded, guilds to be friends with.

The Elder Sages Guild Charter

Edit: Tagging one of the leaders so they know I posted this. @Auldjohn

Hail and well met, @kirkonacid,

Thanks for your post. Special shout-out to TESG co-founder @Casdha (Turn2) for referring you to The Elder Sages' Guild (TESG).

TL;dr: Background on TESG follows with answers to your questions.

Hi there fellow ESO(ers?) !

I'm a player returning to the game after playing the beta oh so long ago. I quickly realized that many conversations and players in zone chat we're rather rude and obnoxious at times. I wanted to enjoy the game with other players, but found it difficult to find any that seemed to be on my wavelength. Long story short, I created a guild and set out to recruit like-minded players. I've got 17 or so members, and it seems pretty active, but I can't help feel that I put the cart ahead of the horse a little bit. I'm looking for tips on how to be an awesome guild master and I'd appreciate any advice you all can give.

From your comments it's clear you're off to a good start on becoming an awesome Guildmaster. Your first step of selectively recruiting like-minded players is similar to ours. When we started our guild during early Closed PC Beta, (founded August 31st, 2013), we recruited other players with similar interests through threads on the ESO Beta forums. During NDA discussions were limited to exclusively to the Beta forums.

:

A little basic info about the guild would probably help so here it is:
Tamriel's Avengers is a casual social guild. We're focused more on having fun in the game rather than having the perfect character builds and whatnot. I aim to maintain a positive atmosphere free of obnoxious and rude players and sexism, racism, and all the other bad -isms. That part is very important to me. I also want to help out new players and veterans alike.

Our shared vision for TESG was, and is, creating and maintaining a friendly, helpful guild with others who share our enthusiasm for RPGs, the Elder Scrolls series, and particularly ESO. We welcome mature-minded gamers from all playing styles, regardless of experience, Alliance or interest, whether casual or "hard core", on any megaserver or platform, to share information, experience, tips and tricks. Our creed is "play how you want, where you want, when you want", so long as we all (borrowing @Casdha's tagline) "Have Fun!!"

We play primarily on NA, have a small presence on EU and PTS, and a TeamSpeak3 server.

We recently set up a forum section for Console players, with sub-forums for XBox One and PS4, and hope to add console players as soon as the dust from console launch settles.

- I'd like to keep growing the guild, but other than spamming zone chat (which is both annoying and often unsuccessful), what is the best way to find new members? The forums here?

Our recruiting methods vary, but focus on one-on-one contact through in-game groups or referrals from guild members. We've periodically post here in the ESO Forums in the recruiting and Guild Spotlight topics.

FYI, I wrote extensively about our history, traditional guild lore, and approach in @ZOS_GinaBruno's (link:)(Guild Spotlight: The Elder Sages' Guild (TESG), (post #204, May 6, near the bottom of Page 7).

We have a (link:) TESG branch on Tamriel Foundry which we use for recruiting, as well as an invitation-only (link:)Facebook group. Many of our members play games on Steam so we have a Steam Community group TESGs. (Consider this an invite to join any of these three social media groups.)

I also selectively post on other social media such as Elder Scrolls related FB groups, and AMD's Gaming Evolved Raptr and Plays.tv communities. I have a Twitch.tv account but not yet streamed.

From time to time I video capture ESO game play and upload them to my (link:) Auldjohnmastersage YouTube channel which builds awareness of TESG.

My Tamriel Foundry and Steam IDs are the same as here: Auldjohn. To join TESGs please (link:)add me, Auldjohn as a Steam Friend and I'll send an invite.

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- What's the best way to choose who to promote?

TESG ranks, roles, and promotions

Promotions are based on contribution of effort, talents, skills and ideas to the guild. Consideration is based on participation in-game, and to a lesser extent, in our website Forums. Promotions are granted solely by the Master Sages' Council.

We view ranks as roles, rather than a rigid hierarchy. New members are accepted as Aspirants. During this brief period the new member gets to know us and we them. Aspirants After a period of one to two weeks, (which also acts as a "Troll-Gate") -- . New members who participate in any aspect of TESG are then promoted to full membership as Sage in about one week.

The Archivist rank (or role) is bestowed upon former Master or Elder Sages, who for personal reasons may not wish to continue with those responsibilities but are recognized for their invaluable contributions to the guild.

The Elder Sages' Guild has also established "diplomatic relations" with other similarly-minded friend-guilds. We hold joint inter-guild in-game events and exchange ideas cooperatively. An envoy from a friend-guild is recognized as a Wandering Sage, and is a Sage-equivalent with the rights and privileges of full membership.

An Elder Sage is someone who actively participates in guild and takes initiative by creating and leading in-game events, or otherwise displays exemplary participation. A Sage is invited by PM to become an Elder Sage by a guild leader. If the invitation is accepted they become a member of Elder Sages Council, which is an advisory board to leadership. Elder Sages are required to join our website, are Guild Officers, and are usually in-game and/or site forum Moderators. They are mentors to new members and Sages.

A Master Sage has accepted a leadership role in TESG, and is dedicated to preserving the vision of our founding members and the perpetuation of our guild. Master Sages are site administrators and become Guildmaster for one of the megaservers. The Master Sages' Council governs by consensus for the benefit of the entire membership, and sets strategic goals and policies for the guild, and preserves our traditional guild lore. The MSC also revised our Charter and Code of Conduct, resolves and governs under advisement by the Elder Sages' Council, with input from the Sages' Council.

Since our motto includes "play when you want", members are free to participate -- but not required -- to participate in guild events, whether in-game or on our website. Like many long-established gaming guilds we've gone through growing pains. Our active membership has increased and decreased from Beta, transitioning through four websites but with a core group with various levels of activity.

At present we're working on revitalizing our guild. We hold (mostly) bi-weekly guild meetings on TeamSpeak and have ongoing in-game events on our Calendar. Site activity at present is low, though you'll often find members in-game, mainly on the NA megaserver, as I mentioned.

Once accepted to TESG, members are free to come or go freely -- and are welcome to join other guilds (if those guilds allow). Nomads are members who have been inactive for six months or more. A Nomad is still a member in-good-standing and will be restored to full membership as Sage when they return.

Diplomatic Relations between Tamriel's Avengers and The Elder Sages' Guild?

Please PM me if you are interested in establishing a friend-guild relationship between Tamriel's Avengers and The Elder Sages' Guild. We would create a Tamriel's Avengers Embassy on our site. We have long been friends with Elder Moot and recently More Than Fair, both of which have TESG Embassies in our site forums.

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- I know other guilds have lotteries and prizes, how are these set up to be fair? Actually, what should be done with the guild's money?

TESG established a secondary in-game guild Guild Vault on the NA megaserver. Members contribute materials, weapons, armor, and other items that are used as "prizes" for guild contests. Donations are voluntary and only Master Sages can withdraw from GV.

Our primary Guild Bank is open to all members for contributions. Aspirants can deposit, or sell items in the Guild Store. Sages and above are free to withdraw anything they find useful. Consumables, weapons, armor, glyphs, materials, items to deconstruct or crafted by members are all popular. The Guild Bank runs on an honor system.. We only ask members to deposit items in return when they have them available. The Guild Store also features our Tabard.

Some guilds use proceeds from their Guild Bank or Guild Store to fund hiring Traders.

If there is anything else I should know, have at me! Thanks!

You may wish to participate in a helpful thread by @ashlee17 , leader of More Than Fair, on Guild Management Tools. (It was through this thread I met Ashlee17 which later led to our establishing friend-guild relations with MTF.)

@kirkonacid , hope these comments are helpful. (BTW, received your membership app and will accept you after I post this. Warm regards and see you in Tamriel!

Very helpful post, friend @Elloa , (aka @Elloawendy)! Merci!

@Darkrosesus - Unfortunately I'm on PC, but if you ever get the game for it, let me know!

Thanks again @Auldjohn ! You've been incredibly helpful and awesome!

@Elloa - That was a great post. To be honest, I've been so busy the past couple weeks, it has been hard to find the time to play, let alone lead a guild. I've noticed in that time, the members I do have are less active. Hopefully it is a similar situation to the one you mentioned.

I do like the sound of a "cozy" guild. I love to game and I've always had a hard time getting my real life friends to play with me. I'm hoping to bring people together with this guild.I'm going to continue to look into the points you've all made. I'm going to definitely try to put more effort into finding time to create events and think if new ideas for the guild.

Thanks again everyone!