Hey guys
First of all, congrats on the release! Must feel great to get it out there. I think guilds are great, but there are a few issues that I think could really hinder it, for each one I'll propose a solution.
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Because each person can pick 3 guilds, but are likely only ever going to sail for 1 of them, this leads to active guilds being extremely hard to find because it's full of people who are in one and sailing for another.
Solution: Each person can only be in 1 guild, or be able to sail for multiple at a time (i.e. their own, and one more). -
There is no contribution requirement to do the distinction challenges. Someone could join a distinction X guild, contribute nothing, and get the whole rare ship set. This makes it feel kind of undermining to try and level one up.
Solution: Each distinction challenge should have a proportional level contribution, so a player cannot just join and instantly get everything and leave. I.e. "while sailing for a distinction I guild which you have contributed 4 or more levels to, do ____ challenge. There should be a separate commendation "Contribute levels to guilds", and for each distinction challenge you have to also have completed the level contribution. -
Leading on from 2, since you can join a high level guild and get everything without doing any of the levelling, people will start selling spots on high level guilds. There will be adverts on fiverr and ebay, "Distinction X guild SOT for commendations, £25 per day". I think this would really suck and end up being incredibly predatory.
Solution: Solution 2 works for this too. If there's a proportional contribution requirement, then buying access to a distinction X guild wouldn't be overly helpful. -
There is potential to invest 1000's of hours in a guild, then get kicked because the owner decided he wanted to invite a friend and it was already full. People are very unpredictable, and while I'd like to think most wouldn't do this, I think the constant threat of being kicked makes the whole experience kind of unnerving. Also, leading from 3, if people can sell guild spots, how long before they start kicking the original players out in the hopes of making some money?
Solution: After a certain amount of contribution to a guild, lets say 10 levels (maybe the owner can decide), a player should earn tenure for that guild, which means they cannot be removed by the owner. This would come with certain exceptions like inactivity, or poor behaviour (aggression, threats, racism etc).
I think guilds are great, well done. But I really think these issues need addressing before people start getting guilds to high levels. Overall, the thought of investing 1000 hours into a guild, only to either get kicked, or for someone to join and get everything without doing anything, is a bit de-motivating honestly.
Great job anyway, and happy Sunday. :)
