Friday, December 4, 2009

Day 1-3 - The Decision

I haven't posted in awhile because the game had gotten me down and stressed out to the point where I almost quit the game. After thinking long and hard about the situation I decided to stay and the guild decided to to rally around and transfer for a fresh start. I started to write about the process and will start posting what I wrote over the next few days. After reading back through the posts it almost feels like I went through some "12 steps" program. I hope you enjoy...
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Burned again. I have been on Uldaman for more than 4 years now. I have been leading guilds for about as the same amount of time. Since I have started leading, I have heard it all. Seen it all. And, seem to have been through it all. It hasn't been always a barrel of laughs.

Uldaman is like a small town. Everyone knows everyone else's business. All it takes is one good trolling in trade or the forums and you seem to get blacklisted. The people here never ever forget. Ever. Pugging is horrible, the progression even worse and the trade trolls are the kings of the server and are immortalized. Ranked 175th out of 200 some-odd servers, low rung doesn't even come close to how I feel about this place.

Uldaman has been good to me and it has been bad to me. Uldaman will always remain Uldaman to me; a crappy instance that once done with it no one wants to go back.

Over the 4 years I have struggled against the odds to keep my guilds going. Not once have I disbanded a guild or had a guild fall apart on me for reasons that I could control. I have kept my guilds going until the last physically moment that I could bear. Quitting the game for a year due to pregnancy being the only reason why I have had any previous guild end. 

Having discussed this with my male counterpart GMs on this server, as a female it seems that I carry a heavy load of criticism daily on how I run things. I have done nothing different than any of the other guilds out here, yet I have been called every name in the book the favourite being "Bitch". This really only happens when I put my foot down and assert the rules implemented for the guild. Someone breaks them, they are in the wrong, I am the bitch. Go figure.

Once again, I have been burned. A couple of guildies break a few rules; hey, causing drama, sexual harrassment and abuse of our loot rules is not that bad right? Not in these people's minds it seems. After immediately "laying the law" the bigger issue starts. The offending players are gone, and the rumours start to fly. "Get out while you still can. The guild is falling apart." is whispered to a player on trial status. She immediately gquits. "I hope, naps is taking the high road and not bad mouthing us, that would be unfortunately immature of her."  They were lucky that I didn't tell the guild at first what was done. The gloves came off when the applicants started asking me why I would invite them to a guild that was about to fall apart.

After letting loose, and telling the guild exactly what took place in order to maintain the peace and stop the rumours, I had guildies come to me saying "thank god I don't have to go through this alone now". The stories of sexual harrassment were sickening, the comments made in private that were brought to light were depressing. I am done.

The constant attacks from exguildies. The hate mail from deleted toons. The level one alts whispering me just what they think of me. The rumours from ex guildies meant to destroy what our guild has worked so hard to do. I am done.

1 week ago I was about to delete my toons and quit the game. A game is only a game until someone gets hurt. 1 week ago my officers banded around my to take the brunt of the work off my back and keep the guild going. 3 days ago the show of solidarity of those within the guild was astonishing. I know that for the most part the people in my guild are awesome. The ones who are able to work as a team have remained and we will strive on to reach our goals. Just not on this server.

3 days ago. The majority of my guildies decided they are done with this server and we should leave together. After Midnight is not dead. After Midnight is surviving and transforming into what it should be, into what it deserves. Just not on this server.

The idea came up during an officer meeting. The idea was presented to our core and 17 to 2 voted in favour. We then presented the idea to most of the raiders and so far reaction has been positive. Many of us are finished with this server and are hoping to start fresh somewhere else.

The research for a new home has been arduous. We wanted a PvE realm. We wanted something with better progression, player base, economy, pugging situation and mature population. We found what we are looking for an players wanting to come have unanimously voted in favour. Were going to go.

There are much more planning to do before we do go, but the situation is ripe for change. ICC is at the brink of being released, our DKP is about to reset, our website subcription is up and so is our vent server.

I will be keeping a log of our transfer process here and will most probably post this when we're done. As I am expecting major trolling I will not be disclosing where we are going or what our guild will be called. This is a clean cut. We're ripping off the bandaid in one fell swoop. After Midnight as it is will cease to exist and hopefully we'l be finally left alone.

8 comments:

  1. I love amy one that loves my Tommie Boy.

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  2. Wow... That's incredibly shitty to have had to deal with that crap. But at the same time, that's amazing that you had built a guild where the majority of members rallied around you and the guild that you built and together maintained to move from an untenable situation and insidious malignant members to make a fresh start.

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  3. just like you napps, only allow posts that make you look good without allowing the truth.
    don't let the Uldaman door hit you in the ass on your way out.

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  4. I thought I'd let everyone know yes I am moderating this. Two previous commenters wanted to list where I was and well one wrote the word chicken. This is what was written last. Glad I left.

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  5. Great to stumble upon your post here Naps. I hope it works out for you guys!

    Ive already said this and I can still say that my time in 'After Midnight' was very good. You helped to create a strong sense of community within the guild and kept fair performance-based policies.

    I'm a player that expects a lot from a guild. In my 5 years in game, I've raided on five servers.

    And truly I can say I was very happy with my time in after midnight -- apart from terribly slow progression of course. And I agree the server's talent pool limits progression severely.

    But do choose wisely on your server Naps. After leaving Uldaman I went to Crushridge, where I found all three of top guilds there had terribly poor attitudes; and the server itself was no better, having pug leaders ninja loot as regular practice! I didnt stay longer than a month on the server.

    A good fit is hard to find, with good people and good progression. I think Ive found it now though with 'Play' on Hellscream. I hope 'after midnight' can find a good home as well.

    PS, I named changed to Adorno (Bakunin was taken)

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  6. Just thought I'd give you a heads up that Acelinn has already posted on the Uldaman forums disclosing your new location. May wanna ask him to delete his post.

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  7. Seems everyone knows now anyways... He won't delete it, I know him that well.... Heck I sleep with him even though he snores, I should know him that well. ;)

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  8. Ah well he deleted it, must be love... lol

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