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Behavior Guidelines
We're a very laid back group of people, and we try not to take things so seriously that they get in the way. We do have a couple of guidelines, though, that outline our general expectations and to keep our motley crew on speaking terms. I would like to take a moment to thank Sleeper Cartel for the language below.
- Treat guildies and non-guildies with respect. If you're not sure if what you might say or do is offensive, put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself if you'd like to be on the receiving end. At all costs, keep things positive and productive throughout your guild.
- Language. All communication in public channels should be civil, respectful, clean and non-disruptive. For example:
- Typing in ALL-CAPS can be disruptive
- Derogatory/disrespectful comments directed at guildies or others is inappropriate
- Excessing linking of items could be considered disruptive and/or spamming
Classifications
Agonal Breath uses several titles to classify how people fit within the organizations structure of the guild. Classifications can and will change over time, depending on how different individuals time effects their ability to contribute to the guild. Changing ranks should not be seen as a demotion, but rather as an acknowledgment that other things are more important that WoW.
- New Blood is our most important classification. New Bloods (or initiates) are what keeps Agonal Breath fresh, introduces new ideas and personalities, and grows our circle of friends. We have no set initiation period, New Bloods become Members when they make enough impression on others for somebody to ask that they be brought fully into the AB family.
- Member is our most numerous classification, and the backbone of our family. Members have a responsibility to each other and initiates to brag on one another, and let everybody else know (especially the organizers) when somebody else does something cool. We can't be there to see everything, but we want the stories.
- Overworked members have taken upon themselves to be really extraordinary. Whether it's tirelessly having time to help people with tradeskills, or always being available for instance runs, or pushing us in general to be better, the overworked member title is there to tell everybody that this person is somebody who has given that extra bit of themselves to our little guild.
- Organizers try to keep the guild doing something interesting. Whether it's leading raid groups, running social events, or putting together silly little events (Noggenfogger Roulette anybody?), the Organizers are the ones who put forth that extra time outside the game to make sure everybody has as good a time as possible inside the game.
- Guild Organizers are the folks who take the role of not just organizing events, but organizing the guild itself, along with the myriad of other aspects that go along with it. Our guild organizes right now are Iyorne and Derelict, and if there's anything we can do to help you out, please let us know.
Events and Raids
AB has a very active event schedule, and we use the calendar on the web site to coordinate it. All members are encouraged to create their own events, as well as participate in as many events as they'd like.
Signing Up for Events
Signing up for events on the calendar is very easy, but if you need help feel free to ask for it. When you do sign up, please be respectful to the rest of the group and mark if you're going to be late, or if you have anything that may impact the rest of the group (for example, if you must stop at a certain time, or if you're signing up with a character or in a role in which you may be undergeared.) Also, please come prepared to the event. There is a thread here that talks about the different types of raids and what is expected of folks who attend them.
If things change, which they often do, and you won't be able to attend please try and contact somebody so the event organizer can handle the change.
Event Priority
In general, the rule on events is "first come, first served." with a couple of exceptions. An event is no fun for anybody if it's not possible to win, so exceptions may be made to fit people who are required for the event to be a success. Also, we may ask people who are not adequately geared for a certain event to participate in other, more appropriate events, before attempting more cutting edge content. Finally, while AB does love our friends outside the guild, we do have preferential attendance for Agonal Breath guild members.
The Dreaded Wait List
Sometimes events fill up, sometimes attendance priority works against you, and sometimes you put yourself on it because you want to leave an open spot for others. Eventually, everybody ends up on the dreaded wait list. We try very hard to make sure that you have plenty of warning that you're on the wait list before the event starts, so you can make plans based on that. We do ask that if you are signed up for the event, even if you're on the wait list, that you are present when the event is set to go. For most events, there are usually a couple of people who cannot show up due to other concerns and it helps a great deal to have a couple of folks who are ready to go so the event can start without problem. If you are on the wait list and decide that you'd rather not show up without a set spot, please remove yourself from the event so the event organizers can plan accordingly.
Creating Events
When creating your own events, please be respectful of other people.
- If you create an event, be sure you can make it, since things tend to sputter if the person organizing the event doesn't show.
- Please don't stomp on other members or official events. Posting competing events for the same time tends to cause hurt feelings, so try and find a free day for your event. This also includes scheduling events with lock out timers (like the weekly timers on Karazhan) and sabotaging other events by eliminating a number of participants.
- Please do not modify other people's events.
If you have any questions about events, feel free to ask in the forum.
Loot Distribution
When you get a group of people together and accomplish something difficult, the result is usually phat lootz of some sort. There are many different ways to attempt to fairly distribute it, and they all have advantages and disadvantages. We use two primary methods for loot distribution in large guild events, with one added function that's shared between the two.
Method 1: The List (aka Suicide Kings)
For large events, we use a loot distribution model called Suicide Kings. The quickest way to describe it is "I get something, then you get something." There's a large list of players that is maintained, and as a new item drops we call out names on the list. If you can equip the item, you're welcome to claim it. When you claim an item, you go to the bottom of the list. Items that are left at the end are disenchanted. We have a couple of exceptions, and it is discussed in more detail in this forum thread.
Method 2: Open Rolling
This is even simpler, if an item drops, go ahead and roll for it. Loot is distributed by the loot master or the group loot system to the highest number. Anything we do regularly (for example, Karazhan) is distrubited by open roll. Of course, please bear in mind the common thread.
Common Thread: Be Respectful
This is also known as the "Don't be an ass" rule. When rolling on an item, or when deciding whether to claim it when it's your turn on the list, we encourage you to discuss your decision with the rest of the group. Maybe the pants are a minor upgrade to you but a major upgrade to another raid member, it's better to find that out before loot is distributed rather than after. Also, when somebody else gets an item that you were hoping to get, be happy for them! They're feeling what you would have felt had you gotten it, so congratulate them and make them feel good about their accomplishment.
On the flip side, if loot is there, it's meant to be taken. If you are undergeared compared to the rest of the group, it is likely you will have many possible upgrades available to you. Please, take them. It's better to have the loot used then turned into (yet another) void crystal. Speak up and don't be shy! When all else fails, ask a question! We promise not to bite your head off.
Guild Bank Usage
The guild bank is there to be used, both the character mules and the blizzard supplied Guild Vault. If you have something you think would be of use to your friends, please send it on to the bank. If you see something that you can use, please take it. We don't want to have items sit fallow in the vault or on one of the mules, so please take advantage of the generosity of your guildmates and pick up the items available.
Current Guild Bank Mules - ABCodex has all recipes, books, and Darkmoon cards.
- ABNewGear has all Green/Uncommon quality equipment and weapons. Items that have useful stats will be saved, and items that do not will be disenchanted and the materials used to help guild members.
Please send items you would like to donate to the guild bank to one of the above characters.
Respecting your friends
The items in the guild bank are there to be used, and it's far better for items to be fully utilized than rot in the vault. There is a limit, however, where you can take enough that you end up disrespecting the contributions of your guild mates. In general, using guild bank materials for your own development is good, but they should not be used for profit. Also, please do not take or request items from the vault or bank characters until you are ready to use them. This includes equipment, darkmoon cards, enchanting materials, etc. When you're ready, go for it, but please don't hoard.
For example, if you're going to level up trade skills and you need a few difficult to find materials, feel free to take them. However, it's not entirely appropriate to empty all of the materials of a type to powerlevel, then sell the items you make on the auction house for mad l00tz.
Another example, it's entirely appropriate to use the enchanting materials in the vault to help finish off an enchant you want for a new piece of gear, but please don't rely on the vault to supply all of your enchanting needs.
Thirdly, have some idea of the relative value of the items in the vault. If somebody puts up an exceptionally expensive armor patch, or super rare recipe, please think twice before dropping it on your alt's green pants, or learning it on your level 55 enchanter because it'd be cool. There are no hard and fast rules in this section, just be respectful of the rest of the guild's efforts. There's usually at least one super hard core person online who can, within moments, tell you the relative value of pretty much any item in the game.
Sorting Items
Some of us can be a little...energetic when it comes to the proper place to put stuff. It is a foible, but it does serve us well in some things. So, please check the type of item you're submitting and be sure you put it in the proper tab in the guild vault. If at any time there isn't a clear place to put it, please ask and we can always change the tab names to be more specific.
Currently, all equipment and weapons should continue to be sent to ABGear. Until we have enough bank tabs to retire him, please continue to use ABGear as your equipment resource.
Cash Bank
We used the cash bank to purchase all of the guild vault tabs, and we will be starting a conversation about how best to use this resource moving forward.
Bank Privileges
Currently all of the guild classifications except for Initiate allow essentially unlimited transactions on the guild vault; please don't abuse the trust that everybody is giving to you. Also, the lack of New Blood privileges are more of a general precaution to allow us to feel open to invite people into the guild more freely, rather than a lack of trust on any specific party. All initiates are allowed to see the vault, so if there is something there that you would like please feel free to ask somebody else to withdrawal it for you. |
