I'll just add that it's a total fallacy that a highly complex and detailed application process reduces problems between members by weeding out problem members in advance. That's utterly untrue and I think everyone who's said (or implied) that's the case knows better. I've been doing online RP for a very, very long time, as I'm sure many others have, and I've been in various MMOs and various guilds. Some were relaxed about their recruiting metrics, and others were very strict. I have yet to be in a guild that didn't have drama happen.
In fact, what I've seen is something of a correlation between the seriousness of the guild's application process and the impact of the drama when it occurs. Relaxed guilds seemed, in my observation, to have more frequent instances of drama, but each instance lacks significant gravity. People go, perhaps, but they more or less go in the manner in which they came - there's some sass and some salt, but the whole situation is more or less over with in short order and life moves on (until the next small bout of drama). The more complicated and serious guilds, however, tend to inherently attract more complicated and serious players - which is likely their intent - but with this comes the increased likelihood that when one of these driven, passionate individuals inevitably creates drama, it's not going to be minor. Everyone in the guild will be involved, long-term RP stories will be destroyed over the OOC of it without any IC basis for the end of the RP (requiring huge efforts to get plots back on track), friendships will be ruined as people take sides, and some will even flat out quit the game after watching months of effort go to waste.
Is either better than the other? Nope! Guilds should do what they want.
 Just don't be deluded into thinking one method or the other can stop drama.
In fact, what I've seen is something of a correlation between the seriousness of the guild's application process and the impact of the drama when it occurs. Relaxed guilds seemed, in my observation, to have more frequent instances of drama, but each instance lacks significant gravity. People go, perhaps, but they more or less go in the manner in which they came - there's some sass and some salt, but the whole situation is more or less over with in short order and life moves on (until the next small bout of drama). The more complicated and serious guilds, however, tend to inherently attract more complicated and serious players - which is likely their intent - but with this comes the increased likelihood that when one of these driven, passionate individuals inevitably creates drama, it's not going to be minor. Everyone in the guild will be involved, long-term RP stories will be destroyed over the OOC of it without any IC basis for the end of the RP (requiring huge efforts to get plots back on track), friendships will be ruined as people take sides, and some will even flat out quit the game after watching months of effort go to waste.
Is either better than the other? Nope! Guilds should do what they want.
 Just don't be deluded into thinking one method or the other can stop drama.
Lydia Lightfoot ~ The Reliquarian's Guild «Relic» ~ Lavender Beds, Ward 12, #41
This player has a sense of humor. If the content of the post suggests otherwise, please err on the side of amusement and friendship, because that's almost certainly the intent. We're all on the same team: Team Roleplayer! Have a smile, have a chuckle, and have a slice of pie. Isn't pie great?
This player has a sense of humor. If the content of the post suggests otherwise, please err on the side of amusement and friendship, because that's almost certainly the intent. We're all on the same team: Team Roleplayer! Have a smile, have a chuckle, and have a slice of pie. Isn't pie great?
