Finding Your Great Guild

I played all my old games, did my favorite dailies, and then decided to head over to my old stomping ground, the Help Chat. As luck would have it, I clicked the link too quickly and found myself on the Guild Board instead! Instead of clicking the back button, however, I stopped to look at the guilds that were being advertised as fond memories of being part of guilds throughout the years flashed in my mind. This, I thought, was where my Neopets adventure was going to take me.

It took a while to find the perfect guild for me, but I knew that going in. Finding a guild is no easy task, especially if you’re looking for one to be part of for a long time. You want to make sure there are activities you’ll enjoy, requirements you approve of, and people that you will like and get along with. That last part is the trickiest, in my opinion. You can’t really know a guild’s atmosphere until you join, but there are some steps you can take to make the best guild decision.

1. Figure out what kind of guild you want

Do you want it to be public or private? Large or small? Is there a certain theme you’re looking for? There are many questions you should ask yourself before even beginning to lurk the Guild Board. There’s so many different kinds of guilds out there that there is sure to be one that fits your wants and needs. Perhaps you’re looking for a guild to motivate you towards a goal. Maybe you want to write and roleplay. Or perhaps you’re just looking for a themeless chat where you can make friends. Whatever your wants, it’s important to go to the guild boards with an idea in mind, because it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all different kinds.

2. Check out the Webbie

So you’ve decided on the kind of guild you want to join and you’ve surfed the guild board a little bit. Now you’re looking at the different advertisements, but you’re still not quite sure which guild you want to join. Most guilds have a Webbie—a webpage that’s hosted on one of their member’s petpages. This site will tell you more about the guild—requirements, activities, and can even give you a look into the general atmosphere of the guild itself. If you’re looking for a private guild, checking the Webbie is a must, because there will probably be instructions for how to apply on there. You’ll also likely find the rules for the guild, such as how active you’re expected to be and what kinds of discussions are and are not allowed. Be sure to read these rules carefully so you know what to expect if you do decide to join.

3. Find the Guild Portal

Now you’re digging around the Webbie, you’ve read the rules, and you can sort of tell what kind of guild this is. Then you see a link to a guild portal. What’s that? Why, let me tell you! A guild portal is exactly what it sounds like—a portal. It’s a sort of landing page for the guild, also hosted on a petpage, that links to other petpages connected to the guild. Depending on the kind of guild you’re looking at, the portal can have links to guild activities, birthday pages, wishlists, shops, and portfolios. Of course, you’re not a member yet, so why even bother with the portal yet? Well, because the portal is a great insight to what the guild values and what activities they have. The portal lets you take a full look at the guild without having to commit to joining quite yet. A Webbie tells you the rules, sure, but a portal shows you who the guild really is.

4. Chat on the Guild Board

Alright, guild idea—check, Webbie looked at—check, Portal found—check! Now what? Maybe you’re all set and you’ve found the guild for you. But, maybe you’re having some reservation. Yeah, the Webbie looks shiney and the Portal has more links than you’ve ever seen before, but what are the people like? After all, it’s the people that make the guild. The solution to this is simple—chat up the people who make the guild advertisement on the Guild Boards. Often this is the leader of the guild and other members will come and go to chat with prospective new members. They aren’t making this board because they want to check out their cool new font—they want to talk to you! If you’re seriously considering a guild, the best thing you can do is talk to the people in the guild. They can tell you all about what to expect as a member and you’ll also gain some insight as to what kind of people the current members are. It’s a perfect way to make new friends and also get a feel for a guild you’re thinking about joining.

5. If it doesn’t work out, that’s alright!

Now you’re in! Hooray! You found a guild after so much searching. But, something isn’t sitting right with you. Maybe a guild member treated you rudely, or everything wasn’t as you expected. This can happen, and it might take a few tries before you find the perfect guild for you. The best thing you can do in this situation is to talk to a member of council about your concerns. Maybe they’ve had issues with that member before, or maybe they’re rebuilding after a lot of members went inactive. However, if the problem can’t be fixed, it’s alright to leave. It’s rare to find the perfect guild on the first try, and if you’re ever uncomfortable you have every right to leave the situation.

So there you have it—a five step guide to finding yourself the perfect guild! Sure it might take some searching, and may even take a few tries, but eventually you’ll find the perfect place to hang your Neo-Hat. And, if after a while nothing seems to be working out or you can’t find a guild to fit the theme you want, make your own! There’s nothing better than being the boss!