That's the real question, isn't it?
It's a question that must be asked and, at this moment, cannot be answered easily. When this question is answered, then you have a solution to the problem. What is the problem? They are numerous.
- 1. Poor communication between members which is caused from the lack of forum usage
2. Lack of communication between the members and crafters (more on this later)
3. Lack of purpose or goal for the organization
4. Vague sense of responsibility to the greater organization
5. Motto does not convey a clear message
Now, what does any of this have to do with RID? Everything!
You see, by answering that one simple question, you get an answer. And from that answer spawns countless consequences. But, we can't be relativists and say, "All answers are acceptable." Why not? Because that doesn't solve any problems. Rather, we need to look at the symptoms and then diagnose them.
- 1. Eliminate Guild-Wide holomail usage - this will require members to use the forums which are organized according to specific need - allowing all members to quickly find the information they need without sifting through numerous mail messages.
2. I know there is already a thread started, I would like to throw my support behind it. But the problem is that few people use these forums, so my inbox still quickly fills up with messages that are entitled "Looking for..." or "Selling...". Perhaps one way to reconcile these issues is to allow guild mail based on profession (in other words, only Traders will receive this privilege).
3. When a game like SWG is five years old, and the game becomes geared toward spoon-fed content, it does become hard to have goals, such as "Create 1, 2, or 3 Metropolises" when the planets are capped, or build 5 bases on X planet, when those are capped as well. So, we're forced to think outside the box. How about this? We have "progressive" goals. In other words, we decide to hold one Static base for 48 hours. If we accomplish that, we extend that another 48 hours and add another Static base to this goal. Which one do we start with first? We start with Talus, as we have a city already on that planet and since we do, we should try to claim Talus as "our own".
4. Recently, we had a member leave because she played during the day and was disgusted when she found that "the role-players wouldn't take a break to help out another guild member". I'm not here to point fingers, not at role-players (being one myself) or anyone for that matter. The point is that the Defenders need to be able to help each other out, so that we may become better (evolution), not only as a strong Imperial power, but as fratres in armis (brothers in arms), and realize that we serve the greater good. When this is tied in with #3, then RID will have progressed to new heights.
5. The motto is the battle cry, the rallying banner that we must all hold dear. Currently, the motto is RID the motto is "RID that Rebel scum". This, however, comes off as a violent, passion-based. We need a new motto, something like SHC's: "Heart to guild; Life to Empire." Simultaneously, we need to instill a sense of pride into ourselves. Relook at the guild colors (as red/black is pretty common and not very exciting) and distribute guild uniforms for events and meetings.
In the end, we must allow a new mode of thought to penetrate us, and bind us together. And this all starts with a question, "What is RID?" Based on what I've just said, it's clear what RID is, and what RID should become.
What do you say, Regal Imperial Defenders? Are you ready to stand tall, stand proud for the Empire!!?
Arev Basten is a Senior at Concordia University Wisconsin where he will receive a Major in European History and a Minor in Classical Languages (Greek/Latin) in May 2009.
