| "Why did you decide to apply for an open | | | | common goal and upon success, they see their |
| position here? Do you have any references? | | | | long preparations and teamwork rewarded, |
| What time commitment can we expected from | | | | while looking forward already to the next |
| you? What might sound like a job interview to | | | | raid. |
| most, is indeed a typical application | | | | |
| procedure - for top raiding guilds in World | | | | The level of organization becomes apparent |
| of Warcraft. They pride themselves in being | | | | when looking at the tools a leader of a |
| the most skilled players and they are just as | | | | raiding guild uses to manage his members: |
| picky if it comes to select new members. Is | | | | |
| this just tough corporate guy acting, or have | | | | - Guild portals to manage guild websites, |
| player-made organizations evolved into | | | | news, member listings, openings and updates |
| something much more complex than ever | | | | |
| anticipated? | | | | - Forum software to facilitate discussions of |
| | | | strategies and publish announcements |
| For most of the six million World of Warcraft | | | | |
| players, slaying the biggest dragons on the | | | | - Server licences and servers for |
| servers, getting the mightiest swords or | | | | multi-conference VoIP applications |
| becoming one of the most powerful mages is | | | | |
| their biggest dream inside the game. There is | | | | - Mailing software to notify members of |
| just one little drawback: You don't get there | | | | emergencies and short notice raids |
| alone. This is one of the reasons why players | | | | |
| band together in guilds - groups of players | | | | - Incentive databases to track raid |
| with a common interest. For the really big | | | | attendance by members allowing to reward them |
| goals, you need lots of friends. 40 is the | | | | accordingly with virtual items |
| maximum and often required number of players | | | | |
| it takes to kill the mightiest dragons in | | | | There are dozens of different providers for |
| ""WoW"" - the affectionate abbreviation World | | | | guild portals, databases and game-specific |
| of Warcraft players use for their game. | | | | VoIP programs that cater to the need of |
| Guilds that specialize on those big hits, are | | | | raiding guilds and other professional |
| being referred to as raiding guilds. | | | | players. Software sellers adapt more and more |
| | | | to this emerging market and recognize the |
| It's a little bit as if the table has been | | | | earning potential. The guild's requirements |
| turned around on Super Mario. Instead of one | | | | rise and the growing number of vendors |
| hero fighting never ending waves of foes, | | | | suggest that they are taking their |
| it's groups and armys of players now fighting | | | | organizations serious enough to spend |
| one big evil monster. These epic battles in | | | | significant money on them. |
| the virtual realm require strategy, | | | | |
| coordination and practice. Players discuss | | | | Already there is a Leadership e-book on the |
| possible strategies in chats and forums, play | | | | market, written specifically for guild |
| together every evening to make their teamwork | | | | managers in World of Warcraft. The World of |
| perfect, use headsets and Voice-over-IP | | | | Warcraft Guild Management Guide ( adds a |
| (VoIP) software to coordinate their efforts | | | | game-specific twist to the self-help, how-to |
| vocally, watch videos on YouTube of other | | | | and leadership literature. It seems to be |
| groups fighting them and read up on strategy | | | | only a matter of time before the first guild |
| guides how to beat the next big dragon in | | | | consultants pop up. |
| their path. They are full-time players, | | | | |
| members of raid guilds. | | | | Raiding guilds still seem to be in their |
| | | | infancy when looking at their recent and |
| Members of raiding guilds often recount their | | | | silent rise. Maybe the competitive members of |
| ""raiding schedules"" - sometimes with pride, | | | | those online game sports clubs manage to take |
| sometimes with a tired sigh. Weekly | | | | things a little further. It happened before - |
| attendance requirements usually have them | | | | take a look at the nationwide success, TV |
| play 5 hours on 4 evenings a week. And those | | | | broadcasts and tournaments for the game |
| time frames are meant only for actual raid | | | | Starcraft in Korea. If serious sponsors |
| encounters and do not include preparations | | | | become interested, who knows - maybe dead |
| inside and outside of the game. This of | | | | dragons will soon be presented by Pepsi and |
| course leaves little free time for other | | | | you'll see Lenuvien, the Elf popping a can |
| activities, though most of them seem content | | | | for the next commercial. |
| with that. They work together to achieve a | | | | |