The Nursery, a fifth ward.

[Expyraine]

This idea came to me during the Ward of War meeting earlier this evening. War (as with all the other wards) has a bit of a problem with dead weight. And this should not be so. We all take pride in our individual wards, and in the guild itself. And i know i am not the only one who is bothered to see some one wearing the tag and not participating.nnSo i propose this, a fifth ward for new members and less active ones.nnUpon joining Nyx, a member does not enter a ward, but rather pledges themselves to one and works towards achieving a place in its ranks. The normal guild trial period would still apply, but upon completing the trial, graduation from the ward of nursery is not garunteed. This will give the newer members a chance to test the waters before diving in. nnI recommend the requirements be set very low, but be very broad. For example the Ward of War may have a requirement of 500 resilience to gain membership. But many people will have that very easily, so also put a requirement such as 5,000 honorable kills. A participation requirement should also be in place for each ward to keep ones place, something like attending one event a week unless there is a reason (irl, etc). Consistent problems with attendance should be brought forward to the member before it is considered moving them back to the nursery.nnThe requirements should be a bit lower, but still take a bit of work to obtain so that fresh 80s and newer players aren't jumping into a position they are not ready for. Nursery residents can still attend whatever events they wish, and are encouraged to do so.nnThoughts? Comments?nnFirst of many edits:nThe ward is not so much a punishment, as they do not have any real restrictions placed on them aside from the normal guild rules, and maybe the rules of the ward they are seeking membership in. But rather this is intended to make our current wards more of a position of prestige, and for them to be a badge of honor within the guild.nnThe Nursery also wouldn't be classified a full ward in that it would not have the full rank structure that the others have, but rather it would be under the jurisdiction of G&N. It seems like it would be the best fit there, seeing as how they are the keepers of the guild itself in a way. It would be a joint descision of G&N and the individuals ward they are graduating into when they are ready to move forward in assuming full membership in the tribe. This also gives each ward the opportunity to craft their own 'initiation ritual' if they so will it.

[Cobriana]

I like this idea... Maybe let people have a little taste of all the wards. they might find another suits them more.

[Aitana]

How to handle people that don't meet the requirements of any ward has been up for discussion in the officer forums. What we are currently discussing is putting a designation by the person's ward to show that that person wants to be in that ward, but has not met the requirements. This is another alternative that we should discuss as well.

[Locomono]

I agree with the idea of a limbo before joining a ward and for very inactive members. Ward or member note makes no difference to me. As far as calling the ward The Nursery I'm not sure about.

[Expyraine]

The name was suggested by Leothiel. And i Agree that it can have a bit of a negative connotation sometimes. The whole thing came to me in a day dream, so im updating and refining it as i go along nnSomething else i have thought about is even outside the context of this suggestion, New members should have to attend 1 event from each ward in order to move into the full ranks. This would encourage participation across the board, and make sure the newer players are comfortable outside of their little group.

[Asarelah]

The name was suggested by Leothiel. And i Agree that it can have a bit of a negative connotation sometimes.

nnI strongly disagree with the name "Nursery." It has far to many negative connotations. If it's a leaderless Ward and simply a holding pool, call it what it is. Ward of the Ephemeral.nn

It would be a joint descision of G&N and the individuals ward they are graduating into when they are ready to move forward in assuming full membership in the tribe. This also gives each ward the opportunity to craft their own 'initiation ritual' if they so will it.n

nnAs Aitana mentioned earlier in this thread, this has been and is still being hashed out in the officer forum. G&N simply does not have the man power at present to administrate more than what they already do for the guild.nnThe G&N task list is endless, and 24 / 7. Putting more on their plate is just flat not fair. It would make you quite ill if you saw the long long list of thankless tasks that G&N takes care of, behind the scenes, around the clock, seven days a week, without end.nnMost folk do not notice their quiet works behind the scenes, but G&N is the grease that keeps the engine of the Tribe running smoothly and efficiently.nnBut maybe, something of this nature doesn't particularly need an administrator if it's just a holding pool and people are striving to "leave" it to get in to the Ward of their primary interest.nnMaybe.... I will have to think about this... More later after some reflections... And I will want to hear Myyah's and Ulua's thoughts first and foremost.nn

Something else i have thought about is even outside the context of this suggestion, New members should have to attend 1 event from each ward in order to move into the full ranks. This would encourage participation across the board, and make sure the newer players are comfortable outside of their little group.

nnThis is a fine idea in theory, and I like it, but you can not "order" another person's gaming time. nnFor example: If the person's primary interest is PvE and Trials, and their focus is solely on raiding, they are not going to have much interest in Lore or War, most of the time. And demanding that they participate in another Ward's events will not sit to well with a hard core raider. We have lost good people in the past for this very reason.nnSuggest, yes. Demand, no. It would have to be VERY carefully worded and handled if implemented.nnAdditional thoughts to consider:nPerhaps we should scrape automatic Ephemeral to Shade promotions all together (as we have been discussing in the officer forum and are already implementing - to eliminate bureaucracy and move jurisdiction to the appropriate Wards), and give people good cause to work for and serve a particular Ward. Let them stay an Ephemeral forever if they do not align with a Ward, contribute to the Ward in what ever manner they are able, and get promoted to Shade within a Ward purely based on merit.nnNo paperwork, no bureaucracy. Rank based on merit, out of the Ephemeral Ward, after one month, at the discretion of their particular desired Ward Leader. Or remain Wardless, in the Ephemeral pool if they are not going to be a participating member in the Tribe.nnDone deal. No muss, no fuss.nnEDIT:n

But maybe, something of this nature doesn't particularly need an administrator if it's just a holding pool and people are striving to "leave" it to get in to the Ward of their primary interest.

nnIF it’s in G&N and called “Nursery” then getting out of it and in to a “Real” Ward might be a good carrot on a stick to encourage people to participate elsewhere so their time there might be short sweet and productive…. I will think more about this too…

[Locomono]

The main reason I did not like the name nursery is that no Nyxian should have to babysit or be babysat. And we know of some that would like to be babysat and would gladly use it to there advantage.

[Asarelah]

And we know of some that would like to be babysat and would gladly use it to there advantage.

nnAin't that the truth!!nnPerhaps they should only be allowed to linger in the holding pool for a set period of time, and if they do not find a Ward home, shown the door? No babysitting allowed !!

[Myyah]

I recommend the requirements be set very low, but be very broad. For example the Ward of War may have a requirement of 500 resilience to gain membership. But many people will have that very easily, so also put a requirement such as 5,000 honorable kills. A participation requirement should also be in place for each ward to keep ones place, something like attending one event a week unless there is a reason (irl, etc). Consistent problems with attendance should be brought forward to the member before it is considered moving them back to the nursery.nnThe requirements should be a bit lower, but still take a bit of work to obtain so that fresh 80s and newer players aren't jumping into a position they are not ready for. Nursery residents can still attend whatever events they wish, and are encouraged to do so.

nnMany have proposed the 5th Ward , Including myself. The primary objection as I understand it is the paperwork and forum restructuring that would follow suit. nnPerhaps, in order to alleviate this paperwork, we could make the 5th Ward a more informal one. Call it something, Like Ephemeral Like Lah suggested, put that tag into the member's guild note, and there they remain until they apply for and meet the minimum requirements of their destination ward. nnAlternative B is that they enter Nyx as an Ephemeral, and stay wardless all together. So there guild note is left blank,, there is no special place on the forum for them.. that's it. They are like the general population, the civilians. Comparing our Guild Structure to RL, Ward of War is like the Marines, Trials = Army, Lore = Hollywood , G&N = Social Services. And just as is rl , we all don't work for one of these four sectors, so maybe Nyx doesn't either. nnPerhaps we make the minimal requirements for ward subscription higher than what Expyraine suggests? That way, Trials is happy through and through with its' membership, and no dead weight can exist. Should anyone fall below standards, they are moved to the 5th ward until their plan of action and improvement has been accomplished, or they stay there because it is more suiting. nnthe 5th ward can be one of noncommittment. One where you log in , and putz around in the game. You don't *have* to answer the call of World PVP should you not decide to. But if you are in War, you must. Those from G&N should not *have* to go to war , but they should if they can if at all possible. In much the same way in RL, we don't send all of our government administators to War , or the Hollywood Actors to war, but if some from these sectors desire, they certainly can go. nnThe 5th ward , while noncommittal in orientation, could still be seen by the formal wards as a source of conscription. Perhaps one of the 5th ward could be inspired by one in the Ward of War to fight for his/her guild. They can then stay inspired and work to become part of the Ward of War, or go back to their civilian ways after the call of danger is answered. nn

Additional thoughts to consider:nPerhaps we should scrape automatic Ephemeral to Shade promotions all together (as we have been discussing in the officer forum and are already implementing - to eliminate bureaucracy and move jurisdiction to the appropriate Wards), and give people good cause to work for and serve a particular Ward. Let them stay an Ephemeral forever if they do not align with a Ward, contribute to the Ward in what ever manner they are able, and get promoted to Shade within a Ward purely based on merit.nnNo paperwork, no bureaucracy. Rank based on merit, out of the Ephemeral Ward, after one month, at the discretion of their particular desired Ward Leader. Or remain Wardless, in the Ephemeral pool if they are not going to be a participating member in the Tribe.nnDone deal. No muss, no fuss.

nnI love every single thought on the above , Lah, You second your motion on this. This would make life easier. nn

nit would be under the jurisdiction of G&N. It seems like it would be the best fit there, seeing as how they are the keepers of the guild itself in a way. It would be a joint descision of G&N and the individuals ward they are graduating into when they are ready to move forward in assuming full membership in the tribe.

nnI love half of this idea. The 5th Ward could full under the general jurisdiction of G&N, if you agree with me that G&N is the Social Services of Nyx. Civilians utilize social services in RL, but rarely go to the Army, Marines or Hollywood for help. But as far as one from the 5th Ward moving into Trials, for example, the move would be facilitated and decided entirely between that Ward's officers and that 5th Ward member. nnI say we move forward on this, this is something we've been kicking around for such a long time, I swear we've written out more agrument for and against it than it would have taken to just modify the forums and get it done. *chuckles*

[Gorehorn]

Speaking as one of the wardless, it seems there is no consideration of what may be called the "Nuclear Option". nnActually place expectations upon ALL members of the guild.nnPick a ward and meet the requirementsor become wardless. Each month of being wardless reduces the rank of the member until Ephemeral. If down-ranked to Ephemeral for 3 months kicked for inactivity or failing to meet guild standards.nnIt would certainly inspire people that actually want to stay get their bottoms off of the "planning stage" and into the "doing stage" of their ideas (like me) or cut the dead weight people looking for hand outs and carry alongs.nnUnderstanding of course that this will be THE SINGLE MOST UNPOPULAR IDEA EVER, I put it forward, none the less.