What makes a good Free Company?

[ArilynSkye]

So the game is down for a 4 hour maintenance (again) and the need for a passing distraction has driven me to two drastically dangerous acts. Thinking, and posting.

So I have to ask a question. What makes a good Free Company?

In any game there is always a distinguishing difference between Guilds/Clans/Companies/Frat Parties that see glorified prosperity and those that are in a constant struggle to maintain themselves. Why is that? What is it that makes that difference?
And I'm not really asking out of a need for personal education but rather I'm interested in hearing what everyone's opinion is.
Pretty much every FC I see on our server these days has been advertising themselves as a close-knit group of friends, family, and casual gamers, just looking to have fun and enjoy the game, making me feel simultaneously happy that our community is so friendly and good-natured and yet morbidly afraid that I'm going to be hit by a stray care bear stare.

[ArilynSkye]

On an unrelated note I'm forced to double-post in order to express my disbelief that each individual post is limited to a mere 1,000 characters long?! What the hell kind of self-defeating forum RESTRICTS communication when that is a forums one singular purpose?

Who designed this? -.-#

[Zoomie]

On an unrelated note I'm forced to double-post in order to express my disbelief that each individual post is limited to a mere 1,000 characters long?! What the hell kind of self-defeating forum RESTRICTS communication when that is a forums one singular purpose?

Who designed this? -.-#

The trick is to post something THEN edit it. You can add as much text as you want while editing. I would shamelessly link our recruitment thread as an example but that's not what this thread is about.

#shamelessFCplug

[Shuon]

in theory, it should be a community that caters to your needs i.e. casuals should be in a casual group, and raiders find themselves a raider group.

in reality, if a fc only focuses on the casual things without future plans for at least some engagement with end-game activities, its members will slowly leave because the game is designed with progression in mind, be it in terms of running dungeons, or lvl-ing high lvl crafts. so i guess my take on an 'ideal fc' is one that does not remain idle, where the leaders constantly look at what the members r doing / need to be that one step ahead of everyone else.

re word limit, you could post, and edit over and over again and the limit wont be a problem anymore!

[gadzi_h]

in theory, it should be a community that caters to your needs i.e. casuals should be in a casual group, and raiders find themselves a raider group.
so i guess my take on an 'ideal fc' is one that does not remain idle, where the leaders constantly look at what the members r doing / need to be that one step ahead of everyone else.

Being active is critical. But also having a genuine desire to help out other players is a big part of what a good free company is to me. I would rather do things like farm materials for a FC member then sell them at the market for bottomed out prices, or run a dungeon with some low level players just to help them out and learn the fights. Basically your free company is a community in the game and each one is going to differ based on each players attitudes. Your going to find everything from casuals, to elites. It's just a matter of taste really.

Edit: One more thing. Probably the most critical. Find out what time your FC plays. I was in one that really didn't have any members on at the same time as me. That really doesn't help out for reaching end game. Time zones are critical.

[ArilynSkye]

That is a good point about helping out players, Gadzi. In my experiences in online gaming one of the most prevalent causes for developing players of a Guild, or in this case an FC, to leave is because their questions or requests for help are ignored. As such, I think its important to reply to someone even if just to tell them you don't know the answer or can't assist at this time. That way they at least feel acknowledged.

By contrast, however, there are also many cases of high level players leaving because less developed players are constantly asking for help too. There is a balance there, I think, where perhaps a Free Company should not extend it's population beyond what it's veteran members are capable of assisting. Otherwise it may overtax them.

But I imagine even that is just a small part of what must make a truly good Free Company.


Oh and thanks for the work-around tip on the thousand character limit, Shuon.
Planning for the future also makes a lot of sense. There is a saying, strife breeds unity. The idea is that when faced with a common threat or problem, people band together to overcome it. Although that is a more intensive way of putting it, the challenges of a common goal works much the same way. I would imagine a Free Company that doesn't keep it's members moving in a mutual direction is destined to stagnate.

[Dedayius]

First and foremost, like-minded people. If you want to do A but everyone else wants to do B, it will never work. Someone who wants to raid 5 days a week is just incompatible with someone who can only raid on the weekends. This sort of covers time-zone, which is equally important.

Secondly, active and true leadership. If the leader/officers are not online, and are not speaking with and helping their members, the whole thing will fall apart. Likewise, if they are online but are not true leaders, things will fall apart as people become frustrated with the lack of direction/progression.

And thirdly, what you pointed out Arilyn, I think falls under growing too quickly. It happens in every MMO, the first few guilds formed spam-recruit everyone they can to get their name out there and try to get the best people. Unfortunately, they often implode or have a mass exodus as their membership is too varied in their desires and typically they don't have enough leaders.

At least, that is how I have always evaluated guilds that I am looking to join. It can be quite difficult to find one with all of the above mentioned, so these days I typically start a guild along with some friends I have coerced into joining the new crazy game with me

[Rizzarak]

It can be quite difficult to find one with all of the above mentioned, so these days I typically start a guild along with some friends I have coerced into joining the new crazy game with me

This time it was my doing! MUHAHA!

[PapaSteel]

I'd like to propose an alternate theory about why guilds/free companies/whatevers advertise themselves the way they do - because, just like in the real world, buzzwords sell. When you have fourteen seconds to sell a product in a commercial, you want a catchy slogan and something that'll stick in the mind. The same is true when you have one shout in which to attract people to your FC, leading to groups that advertise themselves as 'laid-back hardcore' or 'recruiting all players for our tight-knit community.'

Which, unfortunately, means that truth in advertising can be really hit-or-miss.

Everyone above me has made some excellent points and pretty much nailed it. I just wanted to add one more because it's something I've been seeing a lot of lately.
A FC is like a company that anyone can start - but there's a big difference in who actually profits from this. Outside of Eorzea, a big-name CEO ends up getting to kick back and relax at the top of the food chain, and I think many players start a FC with this idea in mind. They'll attract like-minded players to make everyone's lives easier, including their own, and tackle the content they're struggling with.
The reality is that this couldn't be further from the truth. It's the leadership that has to work the hardest, organize constantly, make tough judgement calls, and adapt to the FC's needs.
A lot of players don't quite fully realize this and it can show in a FC's day-to-day.

[Rizzarak]

It's the leadership that has to work the hardest, organize constantly, make tough judgement calls, and adapt to the FC's needs.
A lot of players don't quite fully realize this and it can show in a FC's day-to-day.

And you Good Sir are wise beyond your years.

No one can stand without crawling. Some of us it took years and many MMO's to figure this out. As with any FC, Guild, Outfit, or Organization, you are only as strong as your weakest link. If that weak link is it's leadership then it's paper thin and will crumble at the slightest wind.

Solid foundation and a steady play ethic can make a fortress that will weather any storm that is thrown against it. That foundation would have to be a balance of Leaders and Members. If both can not see eye to eye and achieve the same results then it will ultimately fall apart at the seems.

A Good FC or Guild would be a place that I can play my way with others that share the same goals or mindsets. If you not having fun playing a game then it is no longer a game at that point. A Good FC or Guild keeps that fun in the game and does not make it become a second job.

Mindsets are important because in our minds we picture this character. We want to see our chosen character do things we normally could not do in Real Life hence why we play this Fictional game. Items, gear, money, all revolve around our desires to succeed or accomplish the things we set for ourselves.
If I'm in a FC / Guild that makes things hard for other people, well that's not my mindset. I like to help people and have a good time doing it. So I joined a FC where both could be done at the same time without losing something in the process.

Best of Luck to whatever you do,