My Thoughts on WPA

[Quentin]

I don't expect a lot of traffic here so maybe there won't be many posts but this forum is good to have in any case. I think we could also use some sort of in-game Bulletin Board, if that is possible. One for the guild and maybe one for resource/materials requests from others (see last bullet).

Some notes on pertinent topics:

*New Members
I can't think of the term used for those who want to join the guild but have not yet been accepted just now; but given the possibility that we could end up sharing valuable resources (see next bullet) perhaps we should consider having this as an option before full membership. Since there are just a few of us I really don't want to over-complicate things but as anyone who played UO on the "pay" shards knows, the Rogue\Thief mentality is not in short supply.

*Resource Sharing
It would nice to have shared resource storage that is also relatively safe. I don't mean donations for newbies or misc handouts to guild mates but resources that could be valuable (rare or large quantities). Maybe this is not necessary just yet so the first bullet is then also less important but something to consider I think, in any case.

*Bulk Order Requests
Whether it is from guild mates or from outside the guild, it would be nice to have a place where we could post requests for particular BOD, resources, pets, whatever. Whoever supplies the goods is the seller (or donater) and could post a price list. Buyers/requesters can also post what they are willing to pay. I think that vendors cost too much per day for the more expensive items and I don't like having my expensive items just sit there waiting for a buyer and costing me gold. Some of us promoted the idea of auction NPCs to take care of the high cost of vendors for exotic/expensive items but I have not heard more and so I don't think that management has plans to implement auction NPCs. I think we still need a remedy of some sort, whether WP staff assist or not.

That's all for now,
Q

[merchantmace]

Let me first say i appreciate your concerns

To address new members. I didn't force you to go through an initiation before becoming a member. I will not ask that of anyone else. The idea of the guild is to form a network. To keep in closer and easier touch and build that level of trust where we can do some of these things you are asking about. This is not about building the biggest guild on the shard. The cooperation is what it is about.

I will get a msg board in the gh. I also have a book in the work room for things guild members are seeking to be posted. Again the idea here to make communication between the like minded people easier and to build relationships with one another... and to talk through problems people are facing.

As far as a secure drop. There are donation boxes at donation hall. they are 2 mil gold. They work like secure mail boxes. Only the owner of that house can pull anything out of it and anyone can put things into it. I Understand this might not be as fluid as your looking for but tools are out there to in a way achieve what your seeking. Through the pm service and these donation boxes should provide secure trade among players who may not be always available to each other all the time. The trust would be up to you and who you are dealing with. I know i have used them in the past in this way with people i trust and have not had an issue.

Also to keep up between players wants and need. I encourage you to post a thread here at our guild site. Of things you are buying and selling. Please each person only make one thread. Instead of making multiples to update...please just edit your post to keep it up to date. Use the pm system in game... or here.. to make contact.

If staff are aware of your suggestions we will leave those steps up to them. They make the decisions on what is best and needed for the shard. We will work with the tools we have and suggest improvements as you see them. Never count on a change being made. It may not be in the best interest on whispering pines even if that's not how you see it.

If i failed to answer anything please let me know. Thank you for your input

[Quentin]

Thanks for the reply Merch, you answered well enough but "initiation" is not at all what I was thinking about. I also trust everyone in the guild even though I don't really know the new members. My thought was about that certain kind of player that I've seen here and there, who I would not want to give access to a stack of 50k ingots so easily. Bulk resources for new members to grind some crafting skills is all I was thinking about, the rest we can manage easily. In any case I know how to work around it and was just tossing some ideas around. I think we can manage things well enough just as they are, even without drop boxes.

I agree that posting here about what you have to give and what you need should be the way to go but I don't think it will work all the time. I think Lunar and Damien don't visit the forums much, for example. I'm sure you must know or have known others, just as I have, who simply don't bother with forums and the only way to communicate with them is in-game. That is why I like the bulletin board. Maybe they won't use that either but it is better than nothing and thanks for taking care of that.

I certainly hope you didn't see anything in my post about "being the biggest guild on the shard" but guess you are just re-enforcing some of your ideals/goals/etc. about what you want the guild to be... which is fine of course; I whole heartedly agree. I just don't want anyone to think that I suggested we try to be the biggest guild

[merchantmace]

I appreciate your thoughts. That's the whole idea is to get everyone involved to make things better.

I have added a "friends only" floor to the guild house. I will chose "captains" that will have access to this floor. And only them. They will act as middle men to this floor. Any guild member can leave something for anyone else. If there is something left on that floor for someone, the captains will retrieve it. The person leaving items will also leave a book with it to tell who it will go to and what is expected in return. I know this isn't as fluid as your looking for. But it is a step closer. As you cannot just blindly trust everyone. The "captains" will be allowed to use this floor as they need and will not require someone else to assist them in trades or access items left for them. . Keep in mind that there will always be risk that someone could decide to break a trust.

This will also give you a place to donate bulk wanted resources and leave it available to the guild without fear that someone will take a hard earned resource. Could leave ore..wood... gargoyle tools.... leave a book that you took such an item and if payment is wanted to contact that person.

I understand this may be confusing. But in the end... when more people understand the intention here and how it may work.... i think it would be a great system and a step forward.

As always i welcome criticism and suggestions... just yell em out