Maybe it's the time of day I play, but these seem to me to be the three main Itani guilds. I wonder if any of the three guilds has enough members on together at a time to engage in real cooperative efforts. Is anyone interested in merging the three into a single new guild? I don't want to quit one and join another as that doesn't solve my issue, just rearranges rosters.

If the coming VO marketing is in the near future, and not the distant future, then I'd say leave things as they are. Do we know when that is scheduled to take place?

--Harpo

We've beeen in... discussion about this in [IA]. Contact me ingame to discuss, Harpo.

a single unifying itani guild

yeah! me like!

The differences in idealogy are too great. True, all guilds are Itani-only. However, one offers a policy of non-aggression, one of steadfast aggression, and one teetering in-between. And that's only the tip of the iceberg of differences. There are reasons that IA split from IDF (yes, I know, not all IA members were in IDF. But most were), and a reason that SKV was formed.

I'd like to remind some that before there were many Itani-only guilds, there was one Itani-only guild.

If some of you are having second thoughts about having left IDF, we're in recruitment mode!

Although the current forces are spread thin (not that many players online these days), the concept of squadrons in IDF could be used to group certain activity focuses.

Technically, IDF is still a defense force. But, killing agressors is ..hem.. still a defense.

Mogul Velaio
Lieutenant-Council, Itani Defense Force
Cromwel squadron

Hey, Mogul... how's that kid O' yers? :D

@roguelazer: Just for the record, the big reason I left IDF for IA was because I was unhappy w/ how aggressive IDF was, and I hoped IA would be more strictly defensive. As it turned out, that hasn't been the case, but anyway, so far I really haven't had the impression that any Itani guild, including IDF, has had as strictly defensive a posture as I personally maintain. Of course, in large part that's due to how boring it can be...

Just went to go check, and [IA]n00b is still in [IA] Har Har.

I was never in [IDF] because I was too n00bish. I joined [IA] because Smittens went around inviting ANYONE. And I was on "sabbatical" for 2 months when [SKV] was formed.
<sigh> I'm so uncultured.

IDF has laxed the min requirements for adhesion.

We realized that it was difficult to ask 4/4/4/-/- given the scarce population of the universe.

However, 4/4/4 isn't too hard for anyone to obtain. It's just long (unless some BP crazyness comes about again).

As for IDF not being "defensive" enough, I dont recall we've ever launched a coordinated attack. IA turned out to be way more agressive than we ever were.

I remember Smitten's tactics for enrollment. I resisted it. I'm glad I did.

I'm glad I joined [IA], became council, went away, came back to find Smittens gone, became council again, saw Smittens join after leaving [SKV], and now Smittens is my personal assistant. He makes GREAT coffee...

Didn't see ya tonite Harpo. Perhaps tomorrow.

"One Guild To Rule Them All™"
Roguelazer we could just have divisions of responsibility within the guild...

The main problem, as I see it, with the guilds is that everyone wants to have their own agendas. It seems it's too tempting to be Commander of a guild where everyone follows you.

There are things in IDF that I'd do different, but time restraints make it so that I'm darn happy with my current role.

But I would leave my Lieutenant-Council post for a multi-guild merge. I miss the days when we were many online with similar goals and directions.

Come to think of it, when you look at IA and IDF, they're not all that different. Thong excluded.

This is why I recently suggested we have some sort of governing body within nations. So that we can regain that specific feeling of being part of a large(r) group.

I would not object to a unification of the Itani guilds, however, I can't say that I would love the idea of welcoming tons of unexperienced players into said guild, which I think is a big possiblity considering what guilds are - organizations that rely on what members do. IA relies on it's members to put effort and time into the guild, and we're a close knit bunch because we all respect each other, and have a mutual understanding. Lots of players would take away from the 'close knit community' that I currently enjoy in IA.

Granted, having guilds are great, and loads of fun. Having guilds full of guys who do nothing but ask questions about the game isn't so fun.

Yes, I'm somewhat elitist, and don't want tons of questions interfering with my gameplay. n00biness is a state of mind, and until players overcome that, then I can wait to invite them.

I also don't think that all 3 major Itani guilds could come together with a common purpose, because of the many directions we focus in, and have it be a 'fun' experience for all - it would just fragment into separate guilds again as people found their 'groupies'. I DO think it would be possible to form into 2 major guilds however - after all, until BLAK orchestrated the creation of SKV, that's the way it had been.

And Leber, we both know IA is the way to go. :D

~Holdan
LT & Councilmember, Itani Alliance

@ Harpo

Wow! What a great idea! Why haven't any of us thought about that? Oh wait...

@ Leber's first post

Shhh! You'll give it all away!

@ Leber's first post and Mgl's responce

In actuallity IA was looking to expand, I saw a not totally-n00b Itani with "mac" in the name, and figured we'd give it a shot. Rogue, you're thinking of ISP in the later days

And Mgl, I recall that for the first while I asked you to join you responded saying you didn't think you were good enough for such a step up...or something along those lines.

@ Harpo
As Rogue put it, differences are too great. And its true, number of players online at any given time is small atm. Merging guilds wont solve this.

@Holdan
SKV was created as a pvp oriented guild by a group of friends who enjoy playing together as a team. We do not strive to become a big or a major Itani guild, nor seek any support from other Itani guilds.

@Mogul
Its not very tempting to be a commander of a guild. Ask anyone who did it and is still doing it. Commanding a large guild....eugh.

Unlike IDF or IA, SKV is not openly recruiting nor are we interested in any merger.

Bojan

In fact, IIRC, SKV was founded by IDF people unhappy with the way its council runs things. So a merger with SKV is, like, impossible.

And IA and IDF, for all their so-called "differences in ideology", are too much alike: a bunch of has-beens (most of them not even playing the game any more) given to preening and boasting in public. Merge them, meld them, shake them, mix them, you won't see a difference at all ingame or outside. So what would the point be, one less occupied space in the Guild list?

"@ Harpo

Wow! What a great idea! Why haven't any of us thought about that? Oh wait..."

Excuse me for not being the first to suggest it. Do you feel better now for expressing your distain?

Let me revise my statement. The differences are too great, ayuh. However, if the guild system were changed to allow for squadrons and subgroupings, combination (at least of IA and IDF) would not be beyond the realm of possibility. That would also allow for an even more close-knit feel if you had your own squadron and squadron leader. I was in one of the big X-Wing leagues way back when, and it would be amazing if we could get that kind of a feel. Those were MMORPGs before MMORPGs existed, with squadrons and fleets and battles and duels and rankings and all, and it was done without any game support whatsoever. Hmm. Munchies for thought.

Like I said, a has-been.

I think jexkerome is right. Even if all three guilds merged it wouldn't change anything. You would still have as many active itani players as you had before, not many. And I know no one would want to give up thier commanders position.

I do agree that the 3 guilds should communicate more. I realize you all have a differnt agenda. Maybe it you talked more another guild might be able to help you with it.

Some people say I already talk TOO MUCH Jestatis.