Here are some guild roster statistics for you, correct as of this news post:
Number of guild characters - 262
Number of guild accounts - 118
Number of Officer-ranked characters - 17
Number of Level 80s - 70
Focus of the guild - Levelling, Casual Raiding, Light PvP
Atmosphere - Friendly, Mature and Supportive.
Formed - 3rd July 2007
First entry to Naxx 10 - 7th January
Number of times cleared - Once
Realm Ranking on Naxx 10 - 60th
Number of Alliance Guilds with further progression - 18
Here are some numbers regarding those guilds who have progressed further in the end-game than Old Timers:
Intuition - 112 Level 80s
Réquiem - 143 Level 80s
Blackrock n Roll - 96 Level 80s
Embrace - 72 Level 80s
Vilohemmet - 73 Level 80s
Perfect Imbalance - 70 Level 80s
Ragnarok - 69 Level 80s
Soulbound - 49 Level 80s
Leave Me Alone - 82 Level 80s
Mighty Rising - 108 Level 80s
PaTRiot - 71 Level 80s
Set Sail For Fail - 29 Level 80s
Equipa Suena - 75 Level 80s
YOURE DONE - 5 Level 80s (Functionally disbanded)
HELLFIRE - 4 Level 80s (Functionally disbanded)
PREMADE - 51 Level 80s
AVOID - 57 Level 80s
As you can see, most of them have more level 80s than we do, some have less, but all have progressed further when you measure their achievements versus ours.
Most of our Level 80s are skilled enough to get a place in any one of these guilds, and when you look at the gearing and achievements of individual Level 80s in Old Timers, we have most classes represented in the top 150 of each class on the server. By most measures, we are a great guild.
Yet, there is a big problem within the guild. And this problem is preventing us from being even better. And I'm not talking about better progressed now; I'm talking about being a better guild with respect to what makes us more successful than any of these other guilds...
Selflessness. Altruism. Helping others.
When we started raiding Naxx, we were very quickly leaving more and more raiders on standby. Several months ago, the Officers put in place a proposition to make two raiding groups, with an eye on raiding 25-man content. We wanted our members to see end-game content, and assist others to develop their own gear and leadership skills. This was met on the whole positively, though some did leave because they felt left out. We had enough tanks, dual-spec would help out our shortage of healers, and we never wanted for DPS.
Yet it was largely unsuccessful. Recently, we have struggled to get a second group, and have on occasion, come close to not getting a single 10-man group. A few Officers have asked around as to why those who were raiding have stopped, and the answers were largely two-fold; real-life issues and 'we have all the gear we need from 10-man Naxx'.
The first is perfectly acceptable to us. We are a casual raiding guild, and will not penalise those who would be kicked from other guilds.
The second reason is horrifying to me. It translates to this:
"Hi. Sure, I'll join you for raids. You've all got gear that is beyond Naxx 10 and I haven't. I could sure benefit from your time, skill and support, and it'll help me gear up greatly. However, when the time comes for me to do my bit, I won't do the same. I'll take the time that many of you have given, and won't give any back."
There are some in the guild who think we have grown too large, that we should trim the guild down to those who are close to each other, re-focussing on what makes Old Timers such a great guild to be a part of; mutual respect, friendship and the ability to say 'yes, I'll do that for you'. The other Officers wanted me to be very diplomatic when I wrote this piece. and so I haven't gone so far as to mention names. But here's the crux; the Officers are going to start making notes...
Notes of who helps and who doesn't, notes of who gives and who takes, notes of the selfish and the selfless. And the rewards of being in a great guild will be given to those who help. And refused to those who don't. And this will start with 10-man Naxx. Spots in my groups will be given to those who have given more to the guild than they have taken.
The first Wednesday in June, we will attempt to form a 25-man Naxx group. Sign-ups will come first and foremost from this guild. Those who have shown commitment to 10-man raids even though they may not 'get much' from it will be chosen first. We will then PuG the gaps.
If your mentality is 'I pay, I play' then great. It is simply a game after all. And your venture to find another guild will be blessed by me. But 'I pay, I play' does not fit very well with how I see this guild staying strong. I hope others share my view too. Many others...
