Guilds: Problems, Solutions, and what we need!

Vez · March 2017

All these things.

It's unfortunate that they can design entirely new systems (justice) and expansions but can't spare time or manpower to take a quick pass at this low-hanging QoL fruit.

Kairin · March 2017

MissBizz wrote: »

Problem #1 - New Players don't even know guilds exist, or what they are.

This is certainly an issue. Even after playing MMOs and being in guilds before, you don't know how guilds work in this particular game. Lots of games may have similar layouts, but the little operational details that differentiate guilds from game to game are important to know. (i.e. - chat prompts) A basic tutorial with a mock guild in starter zones would be nice.

Ok, so then the players who learn about guilds or are already familiar with guilds run into...

Problem #2 - New Players can't find guilds.

I found this to be extremely frustrating, especially since I'm not overly social. Guilds advertised in zone chat or random folks who send you whispers just don't cut it. Most of the time, people do not want to sit and explain details about their guild or answer questions you may have. I ended up visiting the forums and hoping for the best. Not everyone wants to check forum threads for guilds, and a guild search feature could help a lot.

A basic UI, maybe an NPC or message board you can interact with and ask basic questions. When those basic questions are answered, you are directed to a guild list (not unlike guild traders). Guild Masters have the ability to select options such as if the guild has a trader, is it a PvP guild, a social guild, a trials guild, a trading guild, the amount of members (large, medium, small or >50, >100, 250+, 500).

Problem #3 - Relaying information to guild members

An event calendar is a great idea, though it would have to be a rather simplistic concept (which would not be a bad thing). Be able to send out or set up event reminders. For example: "You have one hour until trials start in LWH." A new tab in the guild layout specifically for the MotD so it is not stacked with the "About Us" and the basic guild stats, and expanding the character limit would be great.

I would also like to see an option added where we can write out guild guidelines/rules. We have a section for explaining who we are (kind of), and a section for events and other announcements. A place for guidelines would not only be extremely helpful for new members (or even senior members), but it would help to avoid (not eliminate mind you), particular conflicts from arising in guilds.

Problem #4 - Guild bank thieves, or a full bank since no one can be trusted

While I think this may be a little difficult to implement, it's not impossible. Section off guild banks in the tiers you want, whether it be by rank or item or the quality of the items. Have an option when you make a deposit what tier said item goes into.

I hope more people support improving a guild's functionality, and come up with additional ideas that can make them more efficient and easily accessible.

MissBizz · March 2017

I'd love to hear some thought from folks who run other types of guilds. I'm mostly talking from a social guild perspective, but some thoughts from trader guilds and trials guilds would be awesome too! @calia1120

heaven13 · March 2017

I agree, so much with this. Especially the MotD character limit and guild events calendar. Another problem...

Problem: Crafters
As of now, there is no way, not even using the note in the guild roster, to share your trait/motif knowledge, unless it's maxed out. If I want to find someone to make me nirnhoned to research, I either have to message or continuously ask in guild chat. Or if someone wants a custom order with x trait set, y trait, z style, they have to ask around and hope someone is on to do it.

Solution
Have a way to somehow link a snapshot or summary of traits/motifs known. I'm thinking a mix between CraftStore and AI Research Grid. For people with multiple alts, they could specify which character was their crafter.

JKorr · March 2017

I'm one of the LWH people. I do crafting, and have a maxed 9 trait crafter. I did get someone to add a note to the guild roster that I have a 9 trait crafter and give ww bites free. I doubt there is any way to list the styles/motifs I know in a short roster-note friendly space, so didn't try, and I don't even have them all. {yet}

It isn't ideal, but I do "spam" guild chat when I get on to get hireling mail about making research items, food, glyphs, or set gear. I hate to disappoint people who want a motif I don't have yet, but I can't see a way around it.

uzbachchi · March 2017

I'd like to see a tab added to the guild store that people can post things they're looking for so that guildies can help each other out if they want before posting something in a store. Asking in chat is iffy because not everyone is on, and some people don't have the chat window open.

ComboBreaker88 · March 2017

The ability to have a players trait, motif knowledge and level in their highest level of crafting displayed in member notes would be amazing.

ComboBreaker88 · March 2017

Guildies wearing same tabbard glow green.

Paulo69 · March 2017

I totally agree with this thread, guild functions should be improved.

I played solo to level 45 (about 2 months) until I found the way to be enter a guild with internet. Nothing helps new players to find a guild or see a list.

Thraben · March 2017

I would be already happy if an NPC standard bearer carrying our guild symbol would accompany us in Cyrodiil.

This would also allow groups to do other manoevres than "stack on the crown".

MissBizz · March 2017

Paulo69 wrote: »

I totally agree with this thread, guild functions should be improved.

I played solo to level 45 (about 2 months) until I found the way to be enter a guild with internet. Nothing helps new players to find a guild or see a list.

Definitely a problem. Guilds can be SO helpful for new players - but only if the players are actually in a guild!

ComboBreaker88 · March 2017

Ability to suspend chat privs for a set duration to a specific individual.

anadandy · March 2017

heaven13 wrote: »

Problem: Crafters
As of now, there is no way, not even using the note in the guild roster, to share your trait/motif knowledge, unless it's maxed out. If I want to find someone to make me nirnhoned to research, I either have to message or continuously ask in guild chat. Or if someone wants a custom order with x trait set, y trait, z style, they have to ask around and hope someone is on to do it.

Solution
Have a way to somehow link a snapshot or summary of traits/motifs known. I'm thinking a mix between CraftStore and AI Research Grid. For people with multiple alts, they could specify which character was their crafter.

Agreed. Heck just upping the character limit in the member notes would help this. This would also help with listing alts and roles (healer/tank/dps) players can fill.

VelociousLegend · March 2017

I would also like to see automated dues for trading guilds. I can't count the number of times my deposit was missed and get my selling permissions revoked. I would imaging this would also alleviate the headache for guild officers that keep track of dues.

Maybe also allow for members to list more information about themselves or characters. Let them list roles they can fill for groups (PvE or PvP) such as damage, tank, healer, support, and so on. Master crafters can advertise their services to receive crafting requests from guildmates. People willing to provide other services such as vamp/ww bites, a partner to assist with grinding alts, teaching/training newer players, etc.

Violynne · March 2017

Last week, I actively joined my first guild, The Nightshade Consortium.

I found this guild on these very forums, in a section I didn't even know existed until last week. I never scrolled beyond "Support" because, typically, these are usually the last icons on a page.

After I read the description, I was sent an invite. Over the course of a few days, I threw some stuff into the bank, sold a few Dwemer motifs, and received an announcement they have opened a store near Elden Root in Grahtwood (congrats!).

My very first interaction with a "guild" was through a trader in Auridon. As a new player, I didn't know what they were. I perused the catalog looking for another weapon I had received from a quest (I wanted a pair), and found one for 400g. When I went to buy it, a message stated I needed to be in the guild to buy from it.

What the purpose of a guild store if it can't sell stuff to everyone? What's worse is there's not even an invite option to join the guild and I had no way of contacting the guild to buy the low-leveled dagger. Discouraged. I haven't been to a guild trader since.

A few days after that, I started receiving messages to join guilds. The game had just launched on XB1, and boy, were those times annoying. One person who sent me an invite was actually wearing headphones and I asked some questions.

He basically told me what the guild was for, what they were trying to do, and there was a 1500g membership due every week (and he explained what it was for). Feeling a bit confident, I asked how long before I have to make my first due. He said to read the message and it'll have more info. If I still had questions, there would be a contact.

Then he left. I stood there for a moment, then it dawned on me: Where is the guild? How am I supposed to read a message if I don't even know where it is? Nothing showed up in my inbox. Two days later, I finally found the Guild section of the options and fumbled my way to leaving it (not a very intuitive UI, that thing).

This experience pretty much left me with a sour note on guilds. I wasn't into paying any dues to something I didn't understand, especially as a new player.

Invites continued to come in every time I hit a major city. Invites were declined. I must have turned down more than 50 for the first month of the game launch.

I'm still not 100% sure what a guild's role is outside of a few players being "grouped" is. Stores where only we can buy from? I can go to the bank and do that. What's the need for a stall?

I'm in 100% agreement with MissBizz's assessment regarding guilds and new players. This probably extends even further, to include people like me who have been playing a while, and still don't understand them completely.

Alas, I'll continue dumping things I find useful to my guild, helping new/early players gain access to things they need/want. It's an honor system, and here's hoping some [censored by me because I could easily let it all out] jerk doesn't take advantage of the generosity.

It sucks reading people pull this crap.

apostate9 · March 2017

runagate wrote: »

Problem #1 - Lack of interview process to at least ascertain is a prospective guild member has an amenable personality.

The first guild that I joined that was actually good did this. It was a pvp guild so perhaps it was a little more important than a casual pve guild but it was nonetheless the only guild that didn't set itself up for future conflict.

Problem #2 - Guild officers that are grandfathered in who do nothing and give bad advice

Just because someone is a casual player does not justify giving everyone bad, biased and incorrect information about this strangely opaque game.

Problem #3 - Absentee Guildmasters who do not pay attention to their own houses

Not even paying a minimum attention to one's own guild, culling those who exhibit exploitative, selfish behavior or those who cause others to not want to participate, or even chat or use voice communications, end with a sterile, inactive guild roster while the purpose of the guild withers.

None of this is fixable by ZOS.

NeillMcAttack · March 2017

Considering that the social aspect of these games are what keep a lot of players interested (besides the fact that it is essential for a lot of content) and spending cash therein, you would imagine stuff like this would have some level of importance to the devs. Then again, it took a year for consoles to get txt chat.....

SteveCampsOut · March 2017

MissBizz wrote: »

Problem #4 - Guild bank thieves, or a full bank since no one can be trusted
We've been robbed. Twice. That was way back. Once they took every little thing (even the bait that was so worthless pre-perfect roe), the second time - they only took the "good stuff". So now only officers, and some higher ranked members may access the guild bank. This is terrible. Tons of players deposit stuff they don't need (and that higher level players consider pretty much worthless), but the new players haven't earned the rank to grab it themselves and are too shy to ask. Now we have a full bank with stuff people could use, but don't have access to. On the flip side, we could open it up to all, and run the risk of being robbed (*ehem* or "people using the guild bank as intended by removing every single item since they can" for people who apparently don't consider it stealing).

Solution #4 - Tiered Banks, Bank Withdrawal Limits
"All or nothing" of withdrawal needs to go. We need some tiers. Have a few epic or legendary motifs that are being held for the winner of a guild event? Top tier so only officers can touch. All those green recipes that at this point I'm sure are worth more to vendor? Free for all - anyone can have. Or if that's too much (although I believe would be a much better system) at least add withdrawal limits. Not flat across, limits that can be set per rank.

What I do with Pacrooti's on both NA and EU servers is I only give bank access to those who earn it by being a regular contributor of valuable items that can be sold off to earn coin for our guild trader. probably only 20% of our members earn the rank maybe 25% some times and it can be lost instantly if leeching is detected by the officers. Those who regularly contribute value the bank access and want to keep it, those who just want to rob us don't contribute enough to make it worth their while to steal from us. All of that being said, I would still love some more control over the amounts of items people can withdraw and not just have a frigging on/off switch!

SteveCampsOut · March 2017

VelociousLegend wrote: »

I would also like to see automated dues for trading guilds. I can't count the number of times my deposit was missed and get my selling permissions revoked. I would imaging this would also alleviate the headache for guild officers that keep track of dues.

Maybe also allow for members to list more information about themselves or characters. Let them list roles they can fill for groups (PvE or PvP) such as damage, tank, healer, support, and so on. Master crafters can advertise their services to receive crafting requests from guildmates. People willing to provide other services such as vamp/ww bites, a partner to assist with grinding alts, teaching/training newer players, etc.

The solution to that is don't join guilds that charge stupid outrageous dues! Not only are they bad for the economy by giving guilds larger than necessary bank gold for trader bidding, 9 times out of 10 there's something shady going one with the money!

ComboBreaker88 · March 2017

SteveCampsOut wrote: »

VelociousLegend wrote: »

I would also like to see automated dues for trading guilds. I can't count the number of times my deposit was missed and get my selling permissions revoked. I would imaging this would also alleviate the headache for guild officers that keep track of dues.

Maybe also allow for members to list more information about themselves or characters. Let them list roles they can fill for groups (PvE or PvP) such as damage, tank, healer, support, and so on. Master crafters can advertise their services to receive crafting requests from guildmates. People willing to provide other services such as vamp/ww bites, a partner to assist with grinding alts, teaching/training newer players, etc.

The solution to that is don't join guilds that charge stupid outrageous dues! Not only are they bad for the economy by giving guilds larger than necessary bank gold for trader bidding, 9 times out of 10 there's something shady going one with the money!

You mean don't join any trading guilds? Lol. Yeah that's going to fix the problem. Let's be realistic. Guild dues are mandatory for any real trading guild. On console its a nightmare. On pc you can track sales to see who is contributing and who isnt. But console players 66% of ZOS servers are left in the dust. Automatic dues would be an amazing way to solve an issue that isn't going to be fixed by a few select players refusing to join a trading guild and contribute.

SteveCampsOut · March 2017

ComboBreaker88 wrote: »

SteveCampsOut wrote: »

VelociousLegend wrote: »

I would also like to see automated dues for trading guilds. I can't count the number of times my deposit was missed and get my selling permissions revoked. I would imaging this would also alleviate the headache for guild officers that keep track of dues.

Maybe also allow for members to list more information about themselves or characters. Let them list roles they can fill for groups (PvE or PvP) such as damage, tank, healer, support, and so on. Master crafters can advertise their services to receive crafting requests from guildmates. People willing to provide other services such as vamp/ww bites, a partner to assist with grinding alts, teaching/training newer players, etc.

The solution to that is don't join guilds that charge stupid outrageous dues! Not only are they bad for the economy by giving guilds larger than necessary bank gold for trader bidding, 9 times out of 10 there's something shady going one with the money!

You mean don't join any trading guilds? Lol. Yeah that's going to fix the problem. Let's be realistic. Guild dues are mandatory for any real trading guild. On console its a nightmare. On pc you can track sales to see who is contributing and who isnt. But console players 66% of ZOS servers are left in the dust. Automatic dues would be an amazing way to solve an issue that isn't going to be fixed by a few select players refusing to join a trading guild and contribute.

That's not at all what I said. I said I don't join guilds that charge outrageous dues, but way to go with your reading comprehension bucky! There are plenty of Trade Guilds out there that don't charge people dues. Don't have sales quota's or raffles and still maintain a public trader. Are they in the top locations? No, but making Gold isn't my top priority in this game. These Trading Guilds are just as real as the ones that charge all these fees, they're just more fun and balanced.

For the record, the guild I run on NA and EU has been in the game since it's inception and we are a casual social trade guild. Our EU Guild went well over a year in one location without interruption til T1 came out. Both guild have a 99% retention rate for their trader locations.

ComboBreaker88 · March 2017

SteveCampsOut wrote: »

ComboBreaker88 wrote: »

SteveCampsOut wrote: »

VelociousLegend wrote: »

I would also like to see automated dues for trading guilds. I can't count the number of times my deposit was missed and get my selling permissions revoked. I would imaging this would also alleviate the headache for guild officers that keep track of dues.

Maybe also allow for members to list more information about themselves or characters. Let them list roles they can fill for groups (PvE or PvP) such as damage, tank, healer, support, and so on. Master crafters can advertise their services to receive crafting requests from guildmates. People willing to provide other services such as vamp/ww bites, a partner to assist with grinding alts, teaching/training newer players, etc.

The solution to that is don't join guilds that charge stupid outrageous dues! Not only are they bad for the economy by giving guilds larger than necessary bank gold for trader bidding, 9 times out of 10 there's something shady going one with the money!

You mean don't join any trading guilds? Lol. Yeah that's going to fix the problem. Let's be realistic. Guild dues are mandatory for any real trading guild. On console its a nightmare. On pc you can track sales to see who is contributing and who isnt. But console players 66% of ZOS servers are left in the dust. Automatic dues would be an amazing way to solve an issue that isn't going to be fixed by a few select players refusing to join a trading guild and contribute.

That's not at all what I said. I said I don't join guilds that charge outrageous dues, but way to go with your reading comprehension bucky! There are plenty of Trade Guilds out there that don't charge people dues. Don't have sales quota's or raffles and still maintain a public trader. Are they in the top locations? No, but making Gold isn't my top priority in this game. These Trading Guilds are just as real as the ones that charge all these fees, they're just more fun and balanced.

For the record, the guild I run on NA and EU has been in the game since it's inception and we are a casual social trade guild. Our EU Guild went well over a year in one location without interruption til T1 came out. Both guild have a 99% retention rate for their trader locations.

It isn't a trading guild unless it's in one of the 6 major cities. Otherwise you're not actually competing for the location. Because any other locations just don't sell as much. In mournhold there are guilds who sell 300 pages a day. In a refuge somewhere you'd be lucky to hit that in a month. Apples and Oranges.

Duiwel · March 2017

+1 @MissBizz

You can have a sweet roll because I agree the message of the day, about us pages are too short.

We also don't have space to write anything about how the guild bank works.

My about us page use to say:

Werewolf, vampire bites are free
Bank: Grand soul gems only
Blue and Epic quality items only (unless PvP gear)

These days I need to post what our voice chat, website ect. information is and there is no space so the other day I saw there was 2 stacks of iron, one stack of spidersilk in the bank...

This could be avoided with just simply adding more space for this information.

Or when a new player joins a guild they can automatically receive a mail.

mertusta · March 2017

Guild system really needs to be improved. Supporting all of your ideas.

failkiwib16_ESO · March 2017

@runagate good officers are worth a ton.

I even rarely play this game now, yet over the last 2 months my guild grew 150+ members and is more active than ever, all thanks to ambitious active officers who give good advice, and gather people for events.

AzraelKrieg · March 2017

SteveCampsOut wrote: »

MissBizz wrote: »

Problem #4 - Guild bank thieves, or a full bank since no one can be trusted
We've been robbed. Twice. That was way back. Once they took every little thing (even the bait that was so worthless pre-perfect roe), the second time - they only took the "good stuff". So now only officers, and some higher ranked members may access the guild bank. This is terrible. Tons of players deposit stuff they don't need (and that higher level players consider pretty much worthless), but the new players haven't earned the rank to grab it themselves and are too shy to ask. Now we have a full bank with stuff people could use, but don't have access to. On the flip side, we could open it up to all, and run the risk of being robbed (*ehem* or "people using the guild bank as intended by removing every single item since they can" for people who apparently don't consider it stealing).

Solution #4 - Tiered Banks, Bank Withdrawal Limits
"All or nothing" of withdrawal needs to go. We need some tiers. Have a few epic or legendary motifs that are being held for the winner of a guild event? Top tier so only officers can touch. All those green recipes that at this point I'm sure are worth more to vendor? Free for all - anyone can have. Or if that's too much (although I believe would be a much better system) at least add withdrawal limits. Not flat across, limits that can be set per rank.

What I do with Pacrooti's on both NA and EU servers is I only give bank access to those who earn it by being a regular contributor of valuable items that can be sold off to earn coin for our guild trader. probably only 20% of our members earn the rank maybe 25% some times and it can be lost instantly if leeching is detected by the officers. Those who regularly contribute value the bank access and want to keep it, those who just want to rob us don't contribute enough to make it worth their while to steal from us. All of that being said, I would still love some more control over the amounts of items people can withdraw and not just have a frigging on/off switch!

I did something similar in Gold Dragons. Some people abuse that privilege though. Had two people in my guild that were just constantly taking stuff out but not putting stuff into the bank in return as per my policy that I tell players that get the promotion to withdraw and that I have pinned to the MOTD now. One of the was an officer so I put her onto a restriction and she stuck around. Did need to explain why I did it though. The other was a fairly new member. I demoted them and they quit soon after.

wenchmore420b14_ESO · March 2017

@MissBizz!
We have not had a detailed and well written thread on the needs of Guilds in 2 years, so Thank You SO much!
I went back through the old threads of “Guild Tools Lists”, and found this list of things that ZoS DID listen too and fixed or implemented:
1) Change bidding times from Monday morning at 7am to Sunday nights.
2) Disable Kiosk Bids to be viewed by all guild members till after Bidding was up.
3) Save current search filters upon exit of Guild Stores.
4) Having to log out multiple times to get the guild bank or guild store screen to load.
Other things asked for were also resolved with add-on's such as Roomba, Awesome Guild Store and Shizzu's Guild Tools.
So yes you “Nay” sayers, ZoS DOES listen.

Now for my list. I am sure I will mention things that are already listed, so please pardon me for that.
Note: Kudos and Credits to @ashlee17 and @ElfFromSpace whose threads and ideas I have borrowed from.

1. Cancel Bid Option~ Yes, mistakes happen, but from experience it can be easy to happen. Over zealous officers, mistake bids, miscommunication, and over bids can be avoided or fixed.

2. Allow Guilds to Place a 2nd Backup Bid~ Any Trade Guild GM knows the “Trader Shuffle” after bids close. This would help guilds that lose a bid a chance at getting a back up spot.

3. Guild Finder or Guild Search Option~ Perhaps a Recruiting Board that GM's can rent or purchace space to advertise and tell a little about their guild, then new players can search by Social, Trade, PvP, RP, etc. Also allow players to request invites from this. Additionally, when a Guild has a Kiosk, have a option to have players apply to the guild thru the Kiosk Trader.

4. Guild Tabards~ Add a tab to allow players to preview tabards before they purchase them. Allow a percentage of purchase price to go to the Guild to support the cost o Tabards. Allow Tabards to be tradeable so they can be given as prizes, awards to outstanding guildies, etc.

5. More Guild Slots~ For some of us, 5 is not enough. Perhaps purchased with crowns.

6. Guild Mail~ A mailing system to send mail to all guild members with tabs to select just ranks if needed so we can communicate more efficiently. As is, we risk a “Social Ban” for spamming when we are just trying to run our guilds. Add a “Saved Mail” and “Sent” mail tabs.

7. MoD and About Us~ Simply MORE SPACE PLEASE! There is just not near enough room to post all that is needed.

8. Bank Withdrawls~ Allow a split option so mats won't be removed as stacks only. Most players don't know they have to split the mats AFTER it is in their inventory and return excess to bank.

9. Member Notes~ Make it so players can edit their roster notes without having to give them permission that allows for edit of all notes. Add more space available to notes.

10. Guild Store Option~ Allow a actual Guild Store Listing linked to Guild Bank to allow GM's to list and sell bank items and junk to help with space management in Guild Bank. Sales would go directly back into guild bank.

11. Add a “AGM” Rank~ Can be assigned by GM to 1 person that can have all abilities of GM in cases of GM going MIA, emergencies, etc.

12. Guild Halls~ We all know what we want for this!

13. GM's name on Home Page~ Make this a link with options so players don't have to scroll the whole roster in order to whisper, travel to Guild Hall, mail, etc.

Well I have rambled on enough. Back to Tamriel I go!
So many good ideas here in this thread. Let's keep it going and may be ZoS will listen to us again!
Huzzah!!!

RavenSworn · March 2017

Hiya @MissBizz! Definitely on point right here. My own guild was robbed as well, with all the money that was meant for the guild hall. That hurts the most since it was for the good of all the guildies involved.

I think a limit on both the item and gold withdrawals is the best in terms of guild management. They need to also provide multiple access to different guilds under one guild trader and have more guild traders available in each town and cities.

Tiered guild banks is a wonderful idea as well, which then allows guild leaders to maintain and track the items with better efficiency.

Ultimately it is really up to each individual player to act responsibly and having a good community will definitely help. Good guild tools is just a start, at the end of the day ZoS has to take up the mantle and bring down hard on robbers and guild mischievance.

Sausage · March 2017

I personally hope they dont go with Neverwinter Style guild search. I think it would be alot more fun if there was billboards and Guilds were able to put ads over there. Or then NPCs, what advertise their guilds, that would make zones more populated too, Guild can put NPCs what walks around the zone or City to make them more lively.

BRogueNZ · March 2017

nvm