Just Play The Game

It’s really apparent to me that although I may boom over my boisterous opinion about whatever is the topic of discussion, I’m actually a softy at heart. At guild meetings, it’s a worthwhile exercise of trying to bring everyone up to speed on what’s been going on and trying to fish for some fresh ideas etc. It’s mainly me doing the talking but that’s really because I just want to cover some relevant subjects surrounding recent and upcoming activities around the guild to make sure everyone who attends gets an understanding of the mindset which is directing the guild going forward.

I say softy because I have a tendency to allow trusted members as much powers around the guild as possible, encouraging people to take and show their responsibility and generate influence among the rest of the guild. I am only too happy to place someone on a pedestal and elevate them to legendary Dambuster status which means nothing out there in Azeroth but it’s at least what a guild leader can offer to his most trusted allies who help lead the guild. It’s not much but it’s a little bit of recognition and it means a whole lot to me. It can be a chore that takes time away from your normal gameplay to help with running the guild but ultimately if such a person continues to do their best then there is no reason why they won’t stay as a highly regarded officer of the guild.

The problem comes when that influence I mentioned turns a person from what was a useful and helpful leader and trusted friend, into a selfish power hungry guild cannibal. Sometimes a person who gains a lot of influence in a highly regarded position might start to doubt their guild leader, favouring decisions they would have made instead of the decisions the guild leader is making. The influential officer can become frustrated because they know best and among their circle of influence, they might talk about how something could have been done differently.

This is a very dangerous precedent to set in a guild like the Dambusters because inevitably it boils down to the fact that a trusted friend and elevated, influential member of the guild (whom I have personally seen fit to push into power) has decided to come to loggerheads with me. The problem lies with my ability to be soft-hearted and to allow the person to become influential and you know something? That’s not something I am willing to change. Thankfully, the guild is set up in such a way that although people are able to get themselves into situations where they feel they can showdown with the guild leader, actually it only proves to me who are real Dambusters and who are corruptable egg-heads who just crave power and control.

Honestly, this guild is set up nicely for people to be able to just play the bloody game so instead of underestimating the ‘soft’ guild leader who seems keen to elevate people to officer positions, just play the game and enjoy it. Hell, invite your guildies and pugs from around the server to play too and just enjoy the hardships of getting no loot together.

It’s the nature of my role as a guild leader that there will be shit decisions to make, people to tell off and disputes to mediate but that’s what I signed up for and although I will happily deal with the drama when needed, I would much rather concentrate on killing that noob Kanrethad and get green fire spells on my newly boosted destruction warlock 🙂

Part of the reason I get so arsey with officers who overstep the mark is because I expect them to be squeaky clean and beyond reproach regards behaviour. If I ever catch an officer being ‘that guy’ in /tradechat then you can be sure he is getting a 1-way chat from me at least. Officers have a task to carry out within the guild and while some tasks are more demanding than others and while I do expect the guys to do that work, I’m not some cruel taskmaster who demands officers play 24/7 and only think of their officer job. What I do expect tho, is supreme behaviour, classy attitude and utter unblemished support for fellow officers including their guild leader.

What I never expect is for an officer to disrespect the rank by acting like they own the place. Guild members can sense that, and they start to wonder why their guild leader allows it. I allow it until a point and then it’s flame time when I make my move. I’ve done it before and I always will move to strike when someone who feels they know best acts upon it to the detriment of the guild. Trust me, I know best. Not a soul can see it from my perspective but I have seen it all before. The person who talks to everyone else like really it’s them running the show and sneakily getting others to agree with that sentiment, seen it….dealt with it, moved on. The guild is strong because of it. The nickname ‘Captain Banhammer’ was coined by my friend Sprawdale who is no longer with us and really it’s an ironic nickname because it shows the appearance of a cruel axe-weilding tyrant when really the Gentle Ben figure is more my personality.

I hope I get plenty more opportunities to offer good people chances to prove themselves as real leaders and strong enough individuals that they don’t need to big themselves up as controllers of their friends. I expect I will find plenty more hidden gems like Sidney, Spyrot, Meatblocker and Shethehunter and I am sure I will also weed-out plenty more corruptable power-hungry people who have no long-term place in this famous old guild.

/Salute