While Linkshells operate like a chat channel and get used by some as chat/network tools (such as is the case with Intermission), the way I understand it is that they also used as roleplaying guilds.
While linkshells do operate mechanically like a chat channel and while some of them are used as chat/networking tools (such as Intermission and Endless Skies), I've also seen them used as full-fledged guilds for roleplayers. Blue Skies Adventuring Company is mechanically just a linkshell, but it requires an IC/OOC application to enter, same with several other linkshells listed in the Hall. It also requires that an "officer" invite you into the shell, so you can't just "join the chat." In that manner, it is very much like a regular guild before MMOs began adding all the other functions to guilds. What I presume this allows is for more focus of purpose. For us, linkshells exist to drive RP and craft stories. People get inducted ICly into linkshells, people leave shells as the story shifts, they are an In-Character part of the world because linkshells and pearls exist in the world canonically.
Free Companies, on the other hand, with all the game mechanics attached to them, often function better a little divided from the wholly RP shells so that they can focus more on end-game content rather than story-crafting. This lets you pull in people for OOC reasons or even non-RPers to achieve progression goals rather than worrying about how it all fits into the story so you can play the game, roleplay in the world, have your cake, and eat it.
I know I'm planning on keeping my Linkshells IC (save for the few necessary like Intermission and various OOCs) and my Free Company mostly OOC (in that I will look for one on purely PvE criteria rather than IC criteria).
And for clarification purposes, you can have 8 Linkshells and 1 Free Company. I hope this helps,
.
While linkshells do operate mechanically like a chat channel and while some of them are used as chat/networking tools (such as Intermission and Endless Skies), I've also seen them used as full-fledged guilds for roleplayers. Blue Skies Adventuring Company is mechanically just a linkshell, but it requires an IC/OOC application to enter, same with several other linkshells listed in the Hall. It also requires that an "officer" invite you into the shell, so you can't just "join the chat." In that manner, it is very much like a regular guild before MMOs began adding all the other functions to guilds. What I presume this allows is for more focus of purpose. For us, linkshells exist to drive RP and craft stories. People get inducted ICly into linkshells, people leave shells as the story shifts, they are an In-Character part of the world because linkshells and pearls exist in the world canonically.
Free Companies, on the other hand, with all the game mechanics attached to them, often function better a little divided from the wholly RP shells so that they can focus more on end-game content rather than story-crafting. This lets you pull in people for OOC reasons or even non-RPers to achieve progression goals rather than worrying about how it all fits into the story so you can play the game, roleplay in the world, have your cake, and eat it.
I know I'm planning on keeping my Linkshells IC (save for the few necessary like Intermission and various OOCs) and my Free Company mostly OOC (in that I will look for one on purely PvE criteria rather than IC criteria).
And for clarification purposes, you can have 8 Linkshells and 1 Free Company. I hope this helps,
.
![[Image: enucwJZ.png]](http://i.imgur.com/enucwJZ.png)
