What do you look for in your FC when you consider joining a new one?

[MrKusakabe]

I have principles, and one of them is to be loyal until the end*. I would want to be in a FC where the FC leader has a trustworthy core of friends or mates that can and will keep the FC together and trough rough times without caving in and throwing rules aboard (or summon new ones).

I (thought I) found my best FC on May 22nd and just 2 months and 1 week later, the guild leader left and in Discord they basically voted to remove certain stipulations required for being in that FC. I was massively heartbroken because I just thought I found my home. In fact, I was loyal to the end, as they voted to turn the FC I joined into something different. That was on MJ's 10th death anniversary (25th of July) and to this day, I can not even think of another FC because I fear it's the same guild-hopping, today-this-tomorrow-that shit going on.

So, FCs out there, keep your FC healthy and with longevity in mind. Set up rules and stick to them. Also, don't try to be a "We do everything" sort of thing FC, because this is kind of to be expected that, when everyone likes each other, you tackle all sorts of activities. To me it sounds like "We are generic and change our minds so much that nobody is actually doing anything after all". The perfect formula to be put aside in job interviews as well. No, show your strenght, your direction instead. And stick to it.

As said, I am still feeling sad about what happened to mine. It only exists on paper. A huge slap in my face as it was the first FC where I joined Discord, where I posted pictures of myself, and in the end, all of that was in vain because of jumpy and irresponsible leaders. I am longing for a new group of people and reading their chat and share the game with, but I do not want to expose the stress of filling myself into a bunch of players again and again just because people create FCs on an instable foundation and might disband said FC in 3 weeks for whatever reason.

So:
* Put up rules and stick to them
* Start with a foundation strong enough (at least 3-5 likeminded people that you know and can lead while you are in vacation or simply do not want to play the game anymore. They will be the glue that keeps the core together in rough times)
* Do not be a "Jack of all trades" FC as this generic and waters down interests (if 33% do crafting, 33% do dungeons, and 33% do roulettes, you have a problem that maybe 1 player online is pretty much alone in his desire and can't find like-minded mates)
* Be serious about it
* Do not blindly accept new members and check if they are able to form a few proper sentences to avoid fluctuation
* Do set up a minimum age for the reasons stated the bulletin before
* Do not be a private party (my first FC was online at 22 : oo/10PM - locking me out from everything as I do work the early shift). It can be very disengaging if you have two circles - the inner circle that does everything together - and the outer circle - the people that are left over - in your FC, talk about things you personally did together in the FC or, the worst, in your native language

*certain deal-breakers can make me leave, like changing core-rules over night, but that is on their part then.

Sincerely,

[Dreamsoap]

Don't be one of the millions of FCs that does this:

"Tired of all FCS being the same? Check us out because we have a copy paste recruitment message that in no way demonstrates how we're different than the others! He's several facts about us that make us exactly like all the rest! We have buffs, a house, we're level 8, and we use the same buzzwords like chill, friendly and active!"


For naming, again. Think of something unique. Often that alone can demonstrate you're different, people don't have much to judge you on other than your name. For example I avoid FCs with "role-play" esque names like the plague because they tend to be extremely boring and rule heavy. Like "Knights of the shadow blood oath" or "Celestial angel gold sparkle ninjas". Everyone does this.

[Unsung_Wanderer]

"Celestial angel gold sparkle ninjas". Everyone does this.

Asking for a friend, what server is this fc on?

[Dreamsoap]

Asking for a friend, what server is this fc on?

You don't sparkle enough for this club, my friend.

[Unsung_Wanderer]

Oh well I guess I'll be a squire of the Kinghts of the Shadow Blood Oath

[Makeda]

1. Nobody saying racist or sexist stuff in game
2. Nobody saying racist or sexist stuff in Discord
3. Nobody saying racist or sexist stuff in some other medium
4. When somebody does say racist or sexist stuff, seeing them get tossed out on the first offense because this is 2019 not 1954.

- that right there has made it extremely difficult to find an FC.

After that I check to see if they’re doing stuff in my timezone and have spots for a role I am interested in. Which as a west coast player who games on weeknights ends up cutting out most of the remaining groups...

It’s amazing how few FCs say what timezone they’re doing content together during. Everyone actually does have an answer to this, and if you don’t know it you’re not paying enough attention to your own members...

Many of them when asked just say “we have people from all over and do stuff all the time” which... is not true. You will actually always have a core time around which the bulk is centered...

And it’s such a basic fact that it’s super telling when they don’t know it...

Some other things I like to see but are hard to spot before joining:

• Good gender balance. I like to see men and women both talking in voice. If there’s parity but one gender is avoiding voice I smell drama issues... If there’s no parity I smell unconscious bias issues
• One tab of the FC chest fully open for people to easily pass junk around. Not used to store valuables - just a “take and leave freely” tab.
• A discord channel for posting screenshots and another for linking music. I like sharing those things.
• Not too strong of cliques. Open inclusion of the nee members
• Nobody harassing folks in game. One FC I recently left liked to use world visit to visit a certain RP server and troll RPers by pretending to be ERPers...
• Some folks with multi-MMO experience so my “old dog tales” have people that can relate.
• A skill level similar to mine: not a great player but keen on improving. I don’t want elite pros and I don’t want nobody cares casuals. I want the middle.
• No extreme job or FF-race bias. Weirdly... I have been in FCs where there was a strong bias against non-PLD tanks and a strong bias against non-Lalafels... which I imagine are not common issues, but it’s hit me twice...
• No strong glamour shaming bias... I for example use a skimpy glamour and it throws up red flags for me if folks start having negative or weird reactions as a result...

[Nora_of_Mira]

I avoid FCs with "role-play" esque names like the plague because they tend to be extremely boring and rule heavy. Like "Knights of the shadow blood oath" or "Celestial angel gold sparkle ninjas". Everyone does this.

this cannot be closer to the truth.

edit: I find any FC that has to establish rules to be boring and i dont last long there. I dont even break rules, its just the rulemaker loses their minds at some point, always.

[Wanzzo]

I enter a lot of them before deciding. I don't see any problem in doing this.

I don't like FCs with so many members, so I'll go for small ones. But, if they don't interact, don't do stuff togheter (like events, talks, etc) then, I'll probably leave it. Eventually, I find one that is focused in social stuff more than name, ranks, or anything else. Oh, and, I try to find some nice people. Polite, respectful and softminded. We are here to play, to have good moments, to share good moments without being disrespectful or dumb to others or being obliged to follow dumb rules or to aplause the "char-made-god" inside the FC that always needs attention and love from everyone (I had my lot on this matter, but no more!).

For raids, the best thing is forming statics or go for linkshells designed for it. In a FC we can have all types of play styles. So, let people be themselves and not pressure anyone to do anything in specific by force. The only one rule should be: be respectful and do stuff togheter when you want. And if you don't feel confortable inside a FC, nothing will stop you leaving it.

I believe that is hard to find a good one, but it's nobody's fault. People are people. Everyone have something to make a place receptive or avoidable for the others. No leader have to be blamed for the social structure of a FC. But, he/she can do stuff in order to change it for the best. But "the best" frequently means different things for different people.

So, don't think a FC is a definitive thing. It's not a jail. You are free to try different ones in different moments. Just go there and "taste" them. And even if you find a great one, always remember tha people changes and things changes (even you). So, no problem if you feel like leaving it. All your friends could be from different FCs and you can do a LS to keep them in touch, if you like

[SenorPatty]

Actually stick to what your FC is offering, not what you're offering. The distinction may be small but it's important.

The classic mistake I see FC recruiters do is saying a whole bunch of things about what they do and how they're helpful.

No sorry, you and Jeff and Sophie, who have been friends for over 4 years in real life are helpful. Everybody else got recruited the same exact way so when you three are gone, nobody's doing that thing you were recruiting about. You know, being helpful and going on raids and stuff.

So when recruiting, be absolutely sure that what you're offering is what most people in your fc is prepared to do. Don't say your fc loves doing treasure dgn maps when you're the only one, once a month, to either coerce or beg to do it. Don't say you're looking to raid with everybody when it's only your core group that's going ( or only your core group doing the newest raids the moment they're out, the rest of your recruits can come for the older, expired ones).

So yes, follow through with your recruit ad. Big, big thing, for me at least.

[Arazehl]

I'm leader of a moderate sized FC and yeah you have to decide what size of FC you want too. I don't don't like an FC that is too big because it can turn it into hotbed for drama. One of my rules is no drama in open FC chat. You have a problem take it to /tells. We've been around since 2016 and I can say we've only had a couple of incidents, and those players are no longer with us. So just set a few ground rules, without being too demanding on your members.

Don't recruit ever, by shout or shooting an instant invite to a potential recruit. They see it as rude and nobody likes rude. Greet them with a simple /tell saying "Hi, how are you?", the conversation will carry more weight that way.

Ranking- Set rank names based on what name you choose for your FC, at least it was for me. Have a 30 day trial for new recruits with rank name to match. That gives them and you time to get to know each other. Don't set up dumb expectations to achieve certain ranks. The rank of officer should have a few expectations and other ranks should be base on their loyalty to family and friends. Your members log in to relax in game, not to do more chores.

Lastly, make everyone feel welcome. As leader don't ever show favoritism. All your decision for the FC should be base on the whole and not the one or two. Remember it's not "your" FC, but every member there. The FC belongs to them, including the workshop and any other amenities an FC offers. So when your submarine brings back spoils, note that it belongs to the FC and your decision on what is done with it should benefit all. Make smart and fair decision with the FC always in mind.

Main thing is to have fun.=)
A sense of community should be your priority. Make each and every member feel like family. Oh and good luck with a name, it's the hardest part.