Guild Database (Boo!)

Sorry... but I personally don't like the database idea at all. Here we have hundreds of guilds (some 2 or 3, some 20 or 30+) that need to get their names out, and all they get is dropped into a mix.

For me, I've started a very unique Guild, but I have no WAY of advertising it here. I've added our name to the Database but it's now lost (towards the end I might add) in a sea of HUNDREDS of others.

I would suggest that you still allow recruitment here but under strict rules that you may only post only so often, and must follow a format (like it used to be).

I agree with you about people should be able to recruit members for the clan, but not constantly, but the idea of the Guild database i think is pretty good. ^^

The idea is good... but there's no depth to it. All you have is a bunch of names piled together without hope of anyone finding you. As it is, I don't think most people put serious thought into joining a guild, they find one that sounds ok and go for it.

But, somewhere in that mass of names and descriptions is the perfect guild for everyone. Good idea, but bad execution is what I would say.

Oh and what really sucks is since the database only displays 100 guilds on a custom search... you only get up to the R's and never anything past that. There is no second page to view more additional Guilds.

Yes we do have a little weakness here. We are introducing extra elements (and removing the search elements).

If there are fields (and features) you wish to see added, post them.

I'd like to recommend a "competitive" checkbox option, and possibly a "social" or "cooperative" option in addition to the Roleplaying checkbox.

While Roleplaying is a good distinction, it refers to a very specific style of gaming, and alone doesn't really distinguish between those designed for competitive tournament play and those designed around a more casual approach.

For example, my guild is designed for the casual player, however we do like to play all of the game styles - PvE, PvP, GvG and RP. Yet we're not a "Roleplaying" group in the traditional sense, and wouldn't really appeal to the experienced player looking to join a competitive guild.

I guess what I'm hoping for is a simple way to seperate the more serious competitive guilds from the casual social ones when searching. I feel that this is one of those fundamental distinctions which comes up for a lot of people when looking for a guild.

I am actually quite glad that the database is the way it is. Back on the old forum, I somehow got my guild listed as the first one on the page (The Tribe). I recieved over 40 new recruits in under two weeks, all from the Guru.

When the database idea was finally put into effect, I have only seen a few random new recruits. Which helped me slow down and be able to spend some quality time with our new folks. We have put togther an awesome team of players with the help of this site. I put a link on my main pages back to here for helping us out so much .

Anyway, I think there could be alot of changes made to the database to make it a more effective guild finding tool. Like adding search options for types of guilds, and other things like guild of the week, or something like Guildwars.com has, but use the guild database here instead of the ladder. Just a random guild picked and reviewed, or a interview with their leader.

Thanks for the love Guru!

I'm putting serious thought into any guild considered. I was hasty with my first couple here, and it bit me in the ass both times.

I'm going over the database with a fine-toothed comb. As it stands, though, I've pretty much given up.

Poor Talon! Don't give up!!
I have ran with our group and love it, we just got a few more members and so far they have no complaints. I am open to any ideas and we just keep getting better and better. Sorry to hear about your problems with your guilds, but it is great fun to have a group to hang with and talk to in TS, we have players at all lvls of the game and the higher guys come back and help us low lvl players There are a ton if guilds out there, just keep looking. Maybe run with a group and if they work well together ask if they are recruting, we get that alot as well...maybe you will find the perfect fit for you. Good Luck!!

*admin how long does it take to get your Guild in the database? We added Guided by Voices the second day the database was out and we are not listed, should we try again??*

I've just checked out the database, and it seems to me it could use a few more metadata fields to search against. Such as age range, location timezone preference, etc. Even an index description field for keywords could help narrow down the list. Ultimately, searching for [X] Recruiting and [X] RP flags just doesn't allow for enough filtering to bypass the "more than 100 returned" buffer.

For someone like me, it leans toward unusable since I can't filter out enough noise.

I just added a few fields.

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=10549

Cool stuff... can you add the fields to the search page too?

Yeah working on that - search is a bit ... tricky (as it gets to become pretty complicated internally). Hopefully in the next 24 hours (and the ability to search requirements and description).

Well, i'd rather there be a Guild Database then no Guild Database at all. The search features will be handy though!

Maybe I lucked out, but I found my Guild (House Kito, tag [HK]) through the database. I searched for what I was interested in, and they'd listed a house website. I liked what I saw, contacted them, and it went from there.

I think when used properly (and perhaps with the added search fields) the database can be a very useful tool. It all depends on what type of information -- and how much of it -- the Guild itself chooses to publish there.

I certainly agree the tool is useful... and it looks like efforts to improve the search will only make it more so.

And search is updated.

Looking sharp... thanks for taking the time!

[EDIT] Suggestion: Instead of Min. Age, I'd search against the Description field (unless you store it as a blob). Maybe even just have a "keyword" that searches against both Requirements and Description. Something to think about...

If you must recruit people you don't know, you have no chance.

Only guilds with rules, and close members have a chance.

Both description and requirements are a simple text column ... and instead of breaking down what is typed in as one word each (or doing a fulltext search), I just do a simple %form_input% (this of course applies only to the requirement input box).

As I see it, description is simply about the guild. A person searching for a guild wants to see what is required to get in (thus the input box for that). After that, they can read the description and figure out what they want.

What you've done is a great improvement. For example, I can search on "mature" and get a wonderfully small subset. That works great for me

As for the reason to search description, sometimes people put locations in their description or play times... so a search on keyword "west coast" or "PST" or "nights" might actually have a result... which could help narrow playing with people during similar timeframes.

All in all your time has been well spent and I appreciate your efforts.