dMw & SoG

[TeaLeaf]

Message from dMw Head Admins to dMw Section Admins re WoW.

TL.

I have agreed with TeaLeaf that we will approach Vargen (Guild Master of SoG) with the aim to merge SoG into dMw.

We are fully aware that this is going to ruffle a fair few feathers but the reasoning behind it is sound and if it's handled properly with good communication to the members then we're hoping that the benefits to the community will be appreciated.

This is an early headsup for you section leaders and we would appreciate it if this information is kept within this section for now.

Why do it?

SoG are proving to be a valuable resource for dMw. Since their arrival we have seen a tremendous increase in forum membership - no doubt steered here via Google searches for WoW based info but here none the less and able to see the full range of facilites we provide. Since their arrival, SoG have evolved into an organisation that has much more in common with dMw then when they first arrived. They have (with TeaLeaf's influence I'm sure) made their members much more aware of the need to display a mature attitude at all times. As an example, TeaLeaf informs me that it is now normal for anyone caught swearing to be jumped on by the other members. In addition, SoG's recruitment process has been tightened up so as not to recruit immature players. So in effect we have a WoW section with dMw's ethos blossoming, with a dMw 'Head Admin' high in its ranks but with no official ties to dMw. And we, dMw, have no official WoW section. It makes sense for us to approach Vargen with the aim of making SoG the official dMw WoW section.

How would this work?

Vargen, like you guys, would become a dMw Section Admin (for WoW). He would have the same visibility of dMw forum sections as you have now. Likewise, you will have full visibility of the SoG sections. The SoG name will remain as will the SoG membership structure. Just as its your responsibility to recruit into your own section, it will his to do the same. The recruitment criteria will not be watered down. Only mature, teamwork oriented people will be recruited into SoG.

What about Alpha, Bravo, Charlie?

Hmmm. This is something we discussed at length. In all honesty, the ABC structure currently only really fits the CZ section and its something we all need to discuss. It was devised with TCS as a basis but has little relevance to BF2, Dead Men Racing or indeed SoG. My suggestion would be for each Section Admin to devise a structure that best suits their own particular section. Bugger - yet another re-org.

How will this affect me?

How people perceive this move will in large depend on how well we communicate it out. The migration of SoG to our forum caused a lot of flack because it was percieved as a 'bad thing' which could have been different had it been communicated differently. It is inevitable that some people will feel extremely put out by this proposal and will see it as a watering down of the dMw they know and love when in truth it will actually have very little effect on any individual. How does dMw having an official WoW section affect the playing of BF2, CZ or GTL?

So what's in it for SoG?

They get to be an official part of the dMw community with all that a successful community like ours can offer. dMw members wishing to give Wow a go or existing dMw WoWers looking for a guild will be steered towards SoG. SoG members will be encouraged to join in other dMw persuits (participation in a CZ tourny has already been posted by a SoG member).

What now?

Think about the things mentioned above and let's have a full and frank debate. As I said before, please keep it under your 'Section Admin' hat for now and as soon as Vargen has responded we will let you know.
__________________
-=[dMw]=-OldBloke

[KreuZ]

In all honesty, I don't see much change except it being official that SoG is a part of dMw. Aslong as we will still have seperate leadership so it won't affect that the officers are still the ones who control SoG and the ONLY ones who control SoG, I'm all for it. :tongue:

[Padding]

I'm in

[Padding]

Should we ever consider a guild name change, dMw is a hell'uva cool name for a guild i think

[Bastet]

Nah, dont change anything, otherwise it is cool, i think its kinda like going through w/ what allready been coming for a while :happy:

[Ragnarh]

Resitance is futile ,you wil be asimilated.
Give me som cool gizmoes like a lazereye and it is all ok with me.

[Tanales]

Im ok with this, so lets make it happen.

[TeaLeaf]

With apologies for the delay, here's the draft wording from Oldbloke to announce  SoG's appointment as dMw's official WoW Guild.  If you agree with the wording then he'll post it up.

TL.

dMw has devloped over the years from a small group of friends playing counter-strike into a truly international online gaming community.  We now play a variety of online games and dMw try to provide support for those that have 'critical mass'.   We have done this with a number of games in the past, from CS to CZ, CZ to CS:S, BF1942, BF2, GTL and LFS etc.  It is the popularity of the games we play and the companionship we find amongst our fellow dMw members that brings us back to our forums, our LANs and our servers time and time again.  It is this activity and your contribution that is the lifeblood of dMw and we wish to encourage this participation and contribution to the community wherever we can.

We are therefore delighted to announce that the World of Warcraft Guild, the Silver Oak Guardians (whose forums have been hosted within the community for several months now) have agreed to become dMw's official WoW Guild.

SoG have brought dMw a tremendous increase in forum membership and activity.  There is already a growing group of SoG members posting in the main forums and joining us online in other games.  SoG currently receive about 45 applications to join their Guild each month and each of these applicants has to register on our forum in order to apply.  Other new forum members arrive no doubt steered here via Google searches for WoW based info, but they end up here at dMw none the less and able to see the full range of facilites that dMw has to offer.

SoG's organisation and ethos has evolved tremendously over the last 6 months and now has a lot in common with dMw.  Like dMw they have a structured application process and weed out immature and inappropriate applicants and as a result the Guild is populated with mature and sensible gamers having fun with their online game of choice.  

SoG has developed into a premiere and highly popular Guild with a well-deserved reputation for being one of the friendliest guilds on the Aszune server.  It is also one of the very few Guilds that can provide its members with not just the usual 5 person party content, but the opportunity to experience the highest level 20 and 40 person raid instances.  SoG's success with this end-game content highlights their commitment to teamwork and their tactical approach to the game.  These are some of the key characteristics that dMw hold so dear.

How would this work?
SoG's Guild Master, Vargen, will become a dMw Section Admin (for WoW). He will work with the other Section Admins and Admins to ensure that the dMw ethos survives, thrives and develops.  The SoG name will remain as will its membership structure. Their recruitment criteria will not be watered down; only mature, teamwork oriented people will be recruited into SoG.

How will this affect me?
In truth this will actually have very little effect on any individual. How does dMw having an official WoW section affect the playing of BF2, CS or GTL/LFS?  However what it should do is increase the pool of active online gamers within dMw so that more people will discover the dMw way of playing and join us online.

So what's in it for SoG?
SoG get to be an official part of the dMw community with all that a successful community like ours can offer. dMw members wishing to give Wow a go or existing dMw WoWers looking for a guild will be steered towards SoG. SoG members will be encouraged to join in other dMw pursuits.

We have already seen some cross-fertilisation from WoW to other dMw-supported games and vice versa.  We hope that the official welcoming of the SoG Guild into the dMw community will develop and strengthen the dMw community as a whole.

Please join me in welcoming the Silver Oak Guardians and its members to the dMw community.

[Tanales]

looks allright to me

[Padding]

Yep, nothing harmful in there. Good to go

[Bastet]

nice, very good text