Okay, so this is my part on guilds and expanding in to other territories. Although this isn't the reason I was asked to be here, I feel that I can add an insight to this subject as well.
I shall make this as simple as possible, and then those who want extra help on the subject can either reply here, or PM me.
Starting a Guild
The first thing that you want to do is to set up your guild well, but keep it simple. If you aren't established at all, then you're an indy guild, simple as. This means that you can be expecting your 'company' to be doing their shows in gym halls and other small locations, to crowds of no more than a couple hundred people.
Keep your sub-forums to a minimum, as these are all that you need to begin with:
- The Show (e.g. Saturday Night Evo)
- Match Archive
- PPV Show
When you're starting, this is all that you will need. Other things, such as profiles, can be sorted within a thread. If you have no reputation within the G-Fed community, you're not expecting to get the top names straight away, so don't expect it all to go brilliantly straight away.
Inviting Members
When you first create a guild, send out as many invites as you can, and don't be afraid to do it. If you have a decent introductory message, and have set out your guild neatly and easily, then you have more chance of getting the big names. If you're sending individual invites (always good for the big names), then do it by Private Message, and compliment them. Everyone likes hearing how great they are, and if you're an admirer of them, then let them know.
Your First Match Card
If you're lucky, you will have 6 or 7 matches on your first card, but that's if you really are lucky. You should be expecting no more than 5 matches, and that's just for simple one-on-one matches.
Your first card should be used to decide who is set for your main events, upper card, middle and lower card. Under no circumstance should you give title shots to yourself, to friends of yours who aren't good at roleplaying but have asked you nicely, or to those who tried blackmailing you in to joining your guild in return for a World Title shot.
Keep it simple, and try to build on your next card.
Championships
Only give title shots to those who have proven themselves to be worthy, especially if you want your guild to be prestigious. Taking the example of WWE:E's World/Undisputed Championship, it's had five reigns since :E's birth in 2007, and that's between four Superstars. It is quite possibly the most prestigious World Title in Gaian history, and that's because everyone wants their shot at becoming part of it's exclusive history.
Setting up how many Championships you have should go by this formula:
Per every 4 active Superstars you can have a Championship.
That means that if you only have 10 people on your first card, then be prepared to only have a World Title and one other. Don't stretch the number of titles, and be prepared to drop one or two if your guild is going well and then activity suddenly drops.
You also want people to know exactly at what level the titles are considered, and where they are within the guild. If you think that they're World Title material but give them a mid-card title, then it means that those within the mid-card area are missing out on a potential title push. So rememeber to keep those boundaries.
Your First PPV Card
As an example again, WWE:E had their first PPV at least 6 months after their first house-show card. It was built up well, and then there were only 5 matches on the card. You can actually see the match card here.
Don't expect it to be anything too special, so keep to only some 'hardcore' stipulations, and don't expect to bring any concept matches in to the guild straight away.
A work in progress. Questions are always welcome.
I shall make this as simple as possible, and then those who want extra help on the subject can either reply here, or PM me.
Starting a Guild
The first thing that you want to do is to set up your guild well, but keep it simple. If you aren't established at all, then you're an indy guild, simple as. This means that you can be expecting your 'company' to be doing their shows in gym halls and other small locations, to crowds of no more than a couple hundred people.
Keep your sub-forums to a minimum, as these are all that you need to begin with:
- The Show (e.g. Saturday Night Evo)
- Match Archive
- PPV Show
When you're starting, this is all that you will need. Other things, such as profiles, can be sorted within a thread. If you have no reputation within the G-Fed community, you're not expecting to get the top names straight away, so don't expect it all to go brilliantly straight away.
Inviting Members
When you first create a guild, send out as many invites as you can, and don't be afraid to do it. If you have a decent introductory message, and have set out your guild neatly and easily, then you have more chance of getting the big names. If you're sending individual invites (always good for the big names), then do it by Private Message, and compliment them. Everyone likes hearing how great they are, and if you're an admirer of them, then let them know.
Your First Match Card
If you're lucky, you will have 6 or 7 matches on your first card, but that's if you really are lucky. You should be expecting no more than 5 matches, and that's just for simple one-on-one matches.
Your first card should be used to decide who is set for your main events, upper card, middle and lower card. Under no circumstance should you give title shots to yourself, to friends of yours who aren't good at roleplaying but have asked you nicely, or to those who tried blackmailing you in to joining your guild in return for a World Title shot.
Keep it simple, and try to build on your next card.
Championships
Only give title shots to those who have proven themselves to be worthy, especially if you want your guild to be prestigious. Taking the example of WWE:E's World/Undisputed Championship, it's had five reigns since :E's birth in 2007, and that's between four Superstars. It is quite possibly the most prestigious World Title in Gaian history, and that's because everyone wants their shot at becoming part of it's exclusive history.
Setting up how many Championships you have should go by this formula:
Per every 4 active Superstars you can have a Championship.
That means that if you only have 10 people on your first card, then be prepared to only have a World Title and one other. Don't stretch the number of titles, and be prepared to drop one or two if your guild is going well and then activity suddenly drops.
You also want people to know exactly at what level the titles are considered, and where they are within the guild. If you think that they're World Title material but give them a mid-card title, then it means that those within the mid-card area are missing out on a potential title push. So rememeber to keep those boundaries.
Your First PPV Card
As an example again, WWE:E had their first PPV at least 6 months after their first house-show card. It was built up well, and then there were only 5 matches on the card. You can actually see the match card here.
Don't expect it to be anything too special, so keep to only some 'hardcore' stipulations, and don't expect to bring any concept matches in to the guild straight away.
A work in progress. Questions are always welcome.
