As is seen daily in /2 Trade, Ahn’Qiraj is a dead server. Much like the instance, many Alliance players lost interest in what was becoming a joyless activity. The Horde have always been the dominant force on this PvP server for as long as I’ve played the game (3 years this month). But over the last 6 months-plus of Wrath, many have migrated or jumped faction. It’s affected the progression-focussed raiding guilds more than Old Timers, but even as a real-life-friendly guild, we have had our share of losses. Some swap faction to experience… erm… the same stuff in another skin. Others switch servers where the imbalance is the other way around. There are those who switch to opportunities in more progressed raiding guilds, while others throw their hands in the air, whinge, and do nothing.
Managing the consequences of a low pop server guild brings its own pressures. Like Captain Edward J. Smith, I (with my ‘crew’) have to steer the ship through tricky waters. As long as we spot the icebergs, we can deal with what’s ahead, but on-board troubles distract from that important job of ‘keeping an eye out for trouble’. Okay, that analogy wasn’t perhaps as weighty as I thought it might be… my literary talents (for what they are) disappeared in the maw of a passing seagull.
Here’s the crux then: Those deserting Ahn’Qiraj: Alliance all pay their money for their fun. I pay my money, where’s mine? This is a self-indulgent post, designed to crystallise my thoughts as to the way out of the low pop issues. Any comments are worthwhile; options I may have missed, solutions that have worked for you… If not, at least I’ve got the start of a plan here…
Option |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Conclusion/Notes |
Change my attitude |
Less stress when shit happens I develop a wider perspective |
Requires ‘not giving a shit and letting go’ which is hard for me to do Doesn’t help to support the guild |
Simplest resolution, hardest to achieve |
Sit it out and wait for Blizzard to resolve the issue |
Get to remain with those I have grown close to over the last 3 years Cheap, as no paid services required |
Who knows when it will happen Get to sit on the deck and watch the HMS Ahn’Qiraj sink faster as more people ‘leave’ Feel more and more depressed as friends leave |
Affects ‘real-life friendly’ guilds like us less, unless a key raiding position is vacated FCM doesn’t seem to be working, as people are paying to ‘leave’ Wait for the possibility of whole-guild transfers in Cataclysm |
Faction transfer |
More like-minded players who aren’t frustrated with the balance of power More opportunity to release the burdens and become a non-Officer guildie |
Finding the right guild Leaving friends behind £20 per toon |
Could cost £500 |
Server transfer |
More like-minded players who aren’t frustrated with the balance of power More opportunity to release the burdens and become a non-Officer guildie |
Finding the right guild Leaving friends behind £15 per toon |
Could cost £375 |
Anonymity |
No guild pressures |
PuG pressures galore if I want to see any end-game PvE content Coward’s way out £6 per toon |
Could cost £150 |
New guild |
Fresh start with no baggage Hand-pick those I want who share the same approach to the game |
Danger of slipping into roles that place pressure on me Can the AQ numbers sustain anything productive? |
What would the new guild be about? How would it change the current situation?
|
Join existing guild |
More opportunity to release the burdens and become a non-Officer guildie |
Doesn’t resolve faction imbalance Who says I’ll get in? Leads to PuG issues |
Danger of same issues, different people? |
Option |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Conclusion/Notes |
Change my attitude |
– Less stress when shit happens – I develop a wider perspective |
– Requires ‘not giving a shit and letting go’ which is hard for me to do – Doesn’t help to support the guild |
– Simplest resolution, hardest to achieve |
Sit it out and wait for Blizzard to resolve the issue |
– Get to remain with those I have grown close to over the last 3 years – Cheap, as no paid services required |
– Who knows when it will happen – Get to sit on the deck and watch the HMS Ahn’Qiraj sink faster as more people ‘leave’ – Feel more and more depressed as friends leave |
– Affects ‘real-life friendly’ guilds like us less, unless a key raiding position is vacated – FCM doesn’t seem to be working, as people are paying to ‘leave’ – Wait for the possibility of whole-guild transfers in Cataclysm |
Faction transfer |
– More like-minded players who aren’t frustrated with the balance of power – More opportunity to release the burdens and become a non-Officer guildie |
– Finding the right guild – Leaving friends behind – £20 per toon |
– Could cost £500 |
Server transfer |
– More like-minded players who aren’t frustrated with the balance of power – More opportunity to release the burdens and become a non-Officer guildie |
– Finding the right guild – Leaving friends behind – £15 per toon |
– Could cost £375 |
Anonymity |
– No guild pressures |
– PuG pressures galore if I want to see any end-game PvE content – Coward’s way out – £6 per toon |
– Could cost £150 |
New guild |
– Fresh start with no baggage – Hand-pick those I want who share the same approach to the game |
– Danger of slipping into roles that place pressure on me – Can the AQ numbers sustain anything productive? |
– What would the new guild be about? – How would it change the current situation?
|
Join existing guild |
– More opportunity to release the burdens and become a non-Officer guildie |
– Doesn’t resolve faction imbalance – Who says I’ll get in? Leads to PuG issues |
– Danger of same issues, different people? |