Recruitment

The Recruitment Section on the main page will usually have our current needs.

1. High level characters should check the class needs sticky at the top of the recruitment section in our forums to make sure we have room for your class. We sometimes place limits on the number of new players in certain classes in order to maintain an appropriate class balance in our raids. Low level characters are generally welcome regardless of class.

2. Read this guild charter and make sure you are comfortable with it. These are the rules our members are expected to play by.

3. Sign up for an account and post an application in the recruitment section. The required information is in a sticky at the top of the recruitment section.

4. Contact the appropriate class leader in game. The class leaders are identified in the guild roster on this site. They can handle the interview and inviting process and are the best place to go if you have any questions about our guild.

Ranks

Storm uses the following rank structure. Each rank has all of the rights and powers of the ranks listed above it.

Hail (New members (Prospects) and members on probation) All new players start out in this rank. Existing players that cause problems will also be demoted to this rank. Any infractions at this point may result in being removed from of the guild. Prospects will be promoted to member following two weeks of active play with no disciplinary problems. Prospects have access to guild chat.

Squall (Alternate characters) Any player in good standing can have their alts automatically invited to the guild. The main character associated with an alt is identified in guild notes. Alts may only join end-game raids after the first invites, with normal class-balance rules. Alts do not have access to high-level (end-game) bank materials.

Thunder (Full and unrestricted guild member) Most main characters should have this rank.

Blizzard (Experienced and helpful players) Players with this rank have proven themselves to be exceptionally valuable members of the guild. That is accomplished in a variety of ways including regular participation in guild activities, trouble free behavior, and frequent work that helps the guild and its members. These are people who might one day become officers.

Tropical (Alternate characters & banks belonging to officers) Any officer alt can be automatically invited to the guild and placed in this rank. They have access to officer chat and officer information, but do not have full officer privileges. Officers are expected to use their main character for things such as invitations, promotions/demotions, or removing players from the guild.

Cyclone Can invite new characters to the guild and promote/demote players up to officer alt rank. Players are promoted to Officer, or above by majority decision of the officers.

Tornado Can remove people from the guild and promote/demote players up to Officer rank. They can also change guild information and message of the day.

Hurricane The guild master has authority to promote or demote senior officers and has high level guild maintenance commands.

Guild Jobs

Each officer is expected to have a job or area of responsibility. These jobs are shown in player information on the guild screen.

Raid Leader - The raid leader organizes and runs all major raids. Major raids are the 20 and 40 person instances.

Role Leader - Each role has an officer who is responsible for all things related to that role. They are responsible for inviting, promoting, demoting, or removing members of their role as needed if the related class leader is not available.

Class Leader - Each class has a class leader who is responsible for all things related to that class. They act as advocates for their class with the other officers. They are responsible for inviting, promoting, demoting, or removing members of their class as needed. Class leads are expected to understand their class intimately and know the talent specs of their constituents.

Assistants - Raid and class leaders may have one or more assistants as needed. These assistants have the same authority and responsibilities as the leaders.

General Policies

Guild members of Storm are in the guild to help each other. We are here to promote each other; and to promote this guild's World of Warcraft content progression by working together. We do like to be friendly with other guilds, but we don't exist to promote their members or their progress. As such Storm has always asked that our members refrain from any behavior that could be seen as a conflict of interest towards this guild.

Policy Making Process

Advice and feedback is routinely sought out from guild members to formulate our rules and policies. Rules are then added to the guild charter if the majority of officers vote in favor of them.
Conduct

We expect our members to show a certain degree of courtesy and consideration at all times. This includes non-guild activities.

Following Instructions - Members are expected to follow officer instructions. This includes matters of both conduct and strategy.

Courtesy - It is not our intention to censor members discussions, but we ask that everyone bear in mind that we have a large and diverse membership that include people of all ages, sexes, nationalities, races, and religions. Behavior that is clearly intended to offend or hurt people will not be tolerated.

Drama - We have a very low tolerance for drama, particularly in guild chat. Complaints and criticisms should be either directed to an officer or posted in the rants section of the guild forum.

Ninja Looting - Ninja looting will not be tolerated. This goes for pick up groups every bit as much as guild runs. If our guild name shows up under yours, then you represent us. We will not be associated with this kind of behavior.

Disputes

Disputes with other players should be brought to the attention of your class leader or other officer. That officer will work with all involved parties to resolve the situation promptly and discretely. Guild chat is not an appropriate place to resolve disputes.

Handling of Infractions

Warning - First time offenses will normally result in a warning. This is usually all that is required.

Probation - If a warning is not sufficient to stop bad behavior, then the player will be demoted to prospect rank. Any further problems at this point may result in removal from the guild. The probation will end and the player will be promoted to member after two weeks if they remain active and well behaved for a two week period.

Removal from the guild - We do not take this step lightly, but it is sometimes necessary for us to remove someone from the guild. We will work with the player to avoid removal, but anyone who continues to be a problem or places an unreasonable burden on the guild will be removed.

Inactivity / Rejoining the guild

If a player is inactive for more than two weeks without providing notice they may be removed from the guild. Notice should be given by posting in the member forums. This is nothing personal, but a means of keeping our roster clean and accurate.

Members who are removed as a result of inactivity are free to return to the guild when they become active again. Other members who leave Storm for their own reasons are free to re-apply in our recruitment section.

Upon rejoining members will start at prospect in a normal probation period, like any new member of the guild. Any EPGP these players have earned will be removed if the player has been out of the guild for more than a week. These players will not restart with more than zero points. In the event the guild is in a progression raid period the officers reserve the right to inflict an additional point reduction to be fair to the current raiding members.

Loot

Need rolls - If you need the item as an upgrade and will equip it, then roll need. If you will sell or disenchant the item, roll greed. Rolling need on Bind of Equip items with the intent to sell the item is not acceptable. If you are not willing or able to equip the item immediately then do not roll need. If you intend to roll need on something it is highly recommended that you announce this in advance.

Class Preferences & EPGP Rulings - Storm uses a performance based raid point system (EPGP) that is designed to promote active raiding and even distribution of end-game equipment (aka: Raid Loot). However, we also recognize that there are many ways for someone to play their class. As a result we do not place class restrictions on who may receive a piece of loot. However players are encouraged to consider who would gain the most benefit from an item.

So far, the members of Storm have shown solid wisdom in this area, but as the guild grows there may come a time when the officers will need to step in on a special item drop. As an exception to the rule, the officers of Storm reserve the right to overrule any EPGP bidding on a unique, special or legendary item in favor of a particular class or veteran member that would best benefit from the item that dropped.

Please know that the officers do not take this ability lightly and will only use this exception if absolutely necessary.

Battle Looting - We ask that our members do not loot during combat. This can be dangerous and distracting, especially if a need/greed dialog box pops over part of your UI.

Rez before looting - Do not loot mobs until everyone has been resurrected. Dead players may not receive their share of gold or be close enough to have items awarded to them.

Master Looter - Master looter is used for all end game raids. It may also be used during regular instance runs at the discretion of the group leader. This is most likely to occur for boss fights or if there are non-guild members in the group.

Alternate Characters

Any player in good standing can have their Alts automatically invited to the guild. The main character associated with an alt is identified in guild notes. Alts may only join end-game raids after the first invites, with normal class-balance rules. Alts do not have access to high-level (end-game) bank materials.

Raiding Alts - The officers of Storm cannot force a person to play a particular WOW character at all times. However, when it comes to the success of the guild in the end-game instances and our current raiding schedule, we ask that the person play the character that was originally invited into the guild and is known as their main toon.

We, the officers of Storm do reserve the right to deny access to a raid for an alt character unless it meets the requirements set forth in this guild charter and will serve to complete raid balance. We also reserve the right to withhold loot from an alt in favor of a main in the event that such loot distribution would severely hamper the main's effectiveness at raiding or create disharmony within the guild.

Alts becoming mains - Only guild members in good standing may consider ever switching their characters. Only alts who have completed all previous bidding requirements are eligible for consideration. The player must gain permission from the guild officers, and the class leader of the class they are changing to must approve.

Alts may only become mains if the current guild class balance allows. When this switch is made the old primary character is now considered an new alt, and as such must meet all alt bidding policies before allowed to bid again. In addition the player must pay a EPGP penalty of 100% of all their EP earned.

Guild Bank

We have several guild banks distinguished by the type of items that they contain: general, enchanting, tailoring, leather, blacksmithing, etc. These banks are run by voluntary contributions from guild members.

Everyone is encouraged to donate items that could be useful to other members. Typical contributions include bind on equip set pieces, spell books, bags, and materials for various professions. Reputation items collected during raids are also sent to the bank by the master looter.

Guild banks regularly update their roster on the web site to show all of the available items. Players may request items from the guild bank by sending an in game mail to their class leader, or other officer if their class leader is not available.Requests will be handled on a first come first serve basis based on the following rules.

o You must be a full guild member in good standing to receive items from a guild bank.

o A player's alternate character will not be allowed access to high-level (end-game) materials. Nor will they be given consideration on items the officers feel should be reserved for primary members.

o You may not sell items from the bank for personal profit. These items are intended to benefit the guild, not provide pocket money.

o You must be able to use the item immediately. That means you are the right class/profession and level to equip or use the item.

o Certain rare items can be withdrawn only to complete quests for items and enchantments. You must already have the necessary quest, reputation level and all other components.

o Certain items that can only be farmed in end game raids are used by officer permission only. Because these items are rare and highly valuable they are used where
they provide the maximum benefit to the guild as a whole.

o Bind on Equip epics gathered from guild raids are sent to the guild bank if no one in the raid wants them. Players withdrawing these items must pay the full GP cost against the applicable raid point pool.

o Officers reserve the right to screen requests for reasonableness.

o Gold donated to the guild bank will be used to provide goods and services for the benefit of the guild.

Raiding Policies

Raid Conduct

Players are expected to obey orders from raid leaders. This includes clearing all forms of communication during loot distribution and boss fight instructions. One warning will be given and further offenses will result in a five raid point penalty. Players who cause a wipe by not following instructions may lose raiding privileges.

Scheduling

Invitation time for raids is normally scheduled using server time. Times are subject to change; but are usually 7:45pm and first pull at 8:00pm. Raids will run until 11:00pm There are no scheduled raids on weekends.

First invitations go to Class Leaders for major raids. They will then invite people based on the number of class-type spots available for that specific raid.

Secondary invites and alts will be invited if the raid is not full at the raid/class leader's speed. The first pull should begin no later than 30 minutes after invitations start.

The raid leaders have the right to deny or allow any character to a raid based on skill/equipment/level of difficulty of the fight.

End game raids will only be scheduled by an officer.
Events that use raid points will be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance to give people notice and an opportunity to prepare. Most events are usually scheduled one week in advance.

Punctuality

Players are expected to be at the starting location at least twenty minutes before the first pull in order to buff and distribute conjured food & water. You are responsible for traveling. Do not assume that anyone will summon you. Summoning takes valuable time away from raid setup.

Raid Absence

Your spot in a raid may be given to another player if you are Away From Keyboard or disconnected for more than a couple minutes. These raid instances are on strict respawn timers, and we cannot wait in most cases.

Raid Loot

Master looter is used for all end game raids. Bind on equip green and blue items are automatically sent to the guild bank, unless a player explicitly requests the item. Reputation items are sent to the bank, and may only be received by requesting them from the bank. All harvested materials are to be sent to the banks as well.

Epic or better items are allocated using a bidding system. Players may not sell bind on equip items gained from raids. Anyone receiving BoE gear will be inspected to confirm that they have equipped it. Failure to equip these items will not be tolerated.

Certain special items will be handled outside of the current bidding system. Mounts and certain rare items like bags are allocated via rolls. People who have already received one of these drops are not eligible to roll.

Legendary items will only be awarded by officer vote, and will still cost a EPGP value.


Guild Endorsed Add-ins & Programs

Storm encourages its members to use the following World of Warcraft add-ins and programs. Mods that are compatible to these are allowed.

Required by all raiders Mods: (direct links are available on the front webpage)

Omen Threat Meter greatly improves our ability to track the flow of an encounter.

Ventrilo (Vent) provides voice communication. You must use Ventrilo in order to participate in end game raids. Microphones are optional.

Bossmods greatly improve our ability to react to the timed nature of numerous encounters. We have found that both BigWigs and DeadlyBossMods are solid mods for this.

EPGP (reloaded) This is one of the add-ons we use to track and distribute loot from a raid. This is a required add-on to raid with Storm

EPGP Lootmaster This is one of the add-ons we use to track and distribute loot from a raid. This is a required add-on to raid with Storm

Conclusion

Thank you for taking the time to read our charter. Please feel free to contact any of our officers if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to seeing you in the game.

Easy Link BBCode Link: [guide=GuildCharter]Code of Conduct[/guide] URL: http://www.stormguild.net/guide/GuildCharter

BBCode Guide