That is certainly a very important question when playing any MMOG. And the answer varies, depending on your play style and personal preferences.
Since I first wandered into these online worlds, my opinion has changed, and often. In the beginning, I played Ultima Online, and worked hard to start a guild with a bunch of people I enjoyed playing with. The guild was called “Sumus Quod Sumus”, which at the time I thought meant “We are who we are” in Latin. Now, I’m not so sure… but the ideology still stands.
The guild focused on people. It wasn’t about how many members we could recruit, or what profession or rank we were. It was simply people who enjoyed playing together. The rules were pretty simple. Play nice. Of course it sounded more official, but it was really about having fun. We kept the group fairly small, but it was quaint & my husband and I still remember our guild mates very fondly!
In the years since, I have played games with and without being part of a guild (mostly as part of a guild though!) I have never had the time or devotion to build my own again.
A guild can provide a source of stability in these vast online realms: A set Tuesday night dungeon crawl or a tour of the hottest hot spots. I’ll never forget when I first started playing Star Wars Galaxies, I was part of a guild, and was taken on a tour including Ben Kenobi’s hut & the Sarlacc Pit. We even took group photos.
It’s a great opportunity to be part of some grand adventures, while building some very real friendships.
As part of a large guild, I sometimes feel lost in the shuffle. I am a very casual gamer, with only a few hours here & there to play. When I’m not leveling as quickly as others, I tend to feel alone & out of the loop. On the flipside, when I am in need, resources are readily available, whether they are in game assistance, or a pile of gold.
The trick with joining any guild is that you need to join the right one. A few questions to consider when looking for a guild:
Most importantly, what do I want from my guild?
Can I get that here?
Being in a guild can create some great times & even greater friends. But, you don’t need to be in one to enjoy yourself. I’ve had the opportunity to adventure with some great people I’ve run into in the course of my travels. Sometimes it’s nice to not feel “obligated” to play a certain way, or complete a particular adventure.
We are all playing these games for the enjoyment we get out of them. That enjoyment comes in a different form for each of us. Since these worlds are always evolving, new opportunities present themselves all the time. You can always create new characters & try new things.
Do what makes the game fun for YOU and you will have your answer.
In the end, whatever you say goes. You choose what you want & go for it. You can always change your mind. Or, you can always start your own & see what works for you!
Lighte