PART I:

Firstly, one month is a hell of a long time to make six events. I mean, cut that down to one or two weeks. I give one week as an option mainly because of this:

Weekly ToG
Weekly D&D
Weekly Penguin Hunting
Weekly Raids
+ Saturday/Sunday events

There are your six events in a single week. Now maybe the person is busy one week, so I say two as a maximum.

Another restriction I'd put in there is a maximum number of events that can be skill oriented and a maximum that can be combat oriented.

On top of that I'd expand on the "One of the events must be a War Training Session," by requiring one combat event to be a PvP World event (ie: Raid), as well as something 'safe' which could be the War Training Session or a PKRI at CWA.

Keep in mind if someone goes to all three raids and a war and War Training Session and then the weekly ToG, they aren't eligible because there is far to much weight on the combat section of the events requirement. I'd start it out at an even 3-3 for skill and combat oriented events required.

Also, this whole "Screenshot of five WG friends," needs to be cracked down on. People just go into the lobby and ask for people to add them. Sure that's all well and good, but that's like asking someone on a test the answer to a question. It's cheating. We normally don't know who it is we're adding (by 'know' I actually mean have had more than 3 conversations lasting longer than 10 minutes each, not simple greetings and queries). Make the applicant actually go out and make friends. We should also discipline ourselves to not just randomly add people who are trying to graduate. Sure sometimes it happens if we're massing at BH and we're adding people so we can see them on the map, that's fine because there's a reason behind it (a valid one), not just some "Oh, you need one more person, alright." There's no getting to know anyone through that until after the applicant is a full member, at which point it's not really necessary to get to know anyone (although highly encouraged to do so!).

In combination with that, I'd like to require the "Five friends must post on this topic," be people from the person's friend list section of the graduation. This way you can't just ask someone for your support. Also, I'd like for some sort of actual support not just "Yeah. Support." I'm thinking like one paragraph with some examples as to how the person would add to the clan. Not talking monumental things like creating a new structure, but just stuff like "He's got a great sense of humor and that would really help just brighten peoples' day," or "He's constantly training and I know that will help our clan's warring capabilities. He may even be a good sniper if he desires."

Likewise, I'd ask of something more substantial by the mentor since that person is supposed to know the applicant fairly well.

To sum up that fairly large chunk of text:

- No more "Please add me I need two more WG members," and "Yeah, one second I'll add you."
- The people that must post on the topic giving the applicant support must be from the person's friends list section of the application.
- All the on-topic supporters should post a paragraph stating why they're giving their support with some examples. More detail from the mentor who is also posting.
- Mentor should be mandatory for the on-topic support and the friends list picture (meaning, if the requirement remains at 10 friends, the applicant would need 10 and the mentor to qualify, likewise for the on-topic support it would be 5 friends plus the mentor adding up to 6 supporters).
- Shorter time limit for graduation
- More details on what events must be attended and an even distribution of types of events needed

I know it sounds harsh but I think it should be done. I mean seriously, one month is a hell of a long time to do six events which can really be done in a single week, and easily in two weeks.

PART II

Now, I think this would be a pretty simple way to manage the topics:

After someone is granted 'Trial Guardian,' the person who granted acceptance should immediately make a topic in the Graduations forum with a title something like this:

Basically that title gives all information needed:
- The status of the applicants graduation
- Name of the applicant
- When the application must have ALL information

I guess you can think of it like applying for college, there is a deadline and you've got to get all your grades, test scores and recommendations in ON TIME. Obviously if someone is out of town you shouldn't be penalized, but if someone is in town and they forget, it's on the applicant. They've got to take the initiative and keep up with people by just sending them PMs on the forums saying things like:

It shouldn't be the other person's responsibility to remember things for you. It's your graduation, so take care of it and get it done.

The same goes for all pictures needed and such.

I know it sounds like a lot, but really it's not much. Two weeks starting from admission day to attend six events, ask five people (not including mentor because he's mandatory) to post their support for you, grab 6 pictures proving attendance, and getting to know 10 members of the clan (again, not counting the mentor).

Thoughts? Improvements?
 
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I see your point:

1. We as a clan take pride in our community and our ability to function as a clan that provides both combat and skill oriented events. I think it makes perfect sense to require our Trial Members to go to an equal number of both. Otherwise if they just go to combat oriented events when skill oriented events come up they might think:

Well, that's not exactly good community to me. Sure they can make up their minds after they've tried both sides. Not saying they've got to keep up the equality thing, but just for the start I think it would be a good decision.

2. That's very true. I suppose an arrangement could be made for F2P Trial Guardians, not sure what that could be without making it unfair for our P2P Trials.

We could say F2P only need 4 events because they don't have as many events for them. Or they don't have any skill oriented quota because there aren't any skill events for F2P. I'm sure something could be worked out.

3. Remember, I'm not talking lifelong friends here. Just a few conversations that are more than:

Don't have to know each other as if you'd been together your entire lives. I'm talking friends where if you get a level you PM them in-game and they respond as if it's a huge accomplishment regardless of what the level was.

I was thinking about implementing the system where you only need a picture with five WG members on the friends list, but all of them have to be the referals, with the addition of the mentor who doesn't count towards the five.
 
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I totally agree with you on this part. I almost received 20% warn once over this issue.
 
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July 5, 2007 - June 27, 2011

lmao I loved that comment. I actually do add people very easily, however I am a follow up kind of person. If your on my friend's list then, I better know you. I delete anyone that doesn't talk much to me or if they are rude. But mostly I do get to know alot of the intros and trial members.

I actually talk to people because I love people. I want to know if you have a puppy or your mom gives you chicken soup when your sick. All the lil silly things that people tell me are what make wg communtiy more personal. I really care if your mom is hurt or your dog died. My PM is open for everyone.

I don't agree with more rules. I just think if you as a member ~ add someone ~ you can check up on them. If I'm asked for referral then I take it more serious and make sure I would want you in the family. I took well over a month from my time as intro to applying. I pretty much knew alot of the clan and my application was accepted very quickly. Pros and Cons of speed in applications. I wanted to be sure I really wanted to be in this clan before I applied. Taking it more serious. I actually check up on some of the people I refer by talking to their old clan mates that I might know.

Stop bringing up skill/war events. We are one clan with many interests. If someone joins and only does war, I don't want to hear complaining. It goes the same way with skillers. You have made it clear that war is very important by how you set up the applications as they are. Make strong bonded friendships and people will want to attend events to be with each other.
 
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Thank you Garrett and Dallar.
“The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems
is the day you have stopped leading them.
They have either lost confidence that you can help them
or concluded that you do not care.
Either case is a failure of leadership.” ~~Colin Powell ~~

I think we're on the same page here.

I'm a little iffy on the first section though. I think that way is a little to formal, you know? I mean, we're not a business. I get the idea behind the closeness and importance of making the choice, but biographing and stuff like that I think is a little much.

I'd have that included in the on-topic referral where people provide actual examples as to why the Trial Guardian should be allowed to graduate. The other little details about personality and stuff will come from the conversations that the people have. The idea is that all falls into place, and we should be able to tell based on the content of the on-topic referrals whether or not the stuff was total BS or if there was actual meaning to it.

Overall, I think you and me are thinking the same way.

Rachel, you proved my point entirely. It's not a matter of mass-adding people, but the fact that some just add people for the sake of adding them. Rachel actually gets to know them, and talks to them when she's got the chance, and that is what the adding of WG members is supposed to do. Foster friendship, not just a "get in" quick card.
 
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