Conjuring Candles

Back at release we were always told there would be guild halls, and while this never happened many guilds decided to use the large homes in the game like the ones in South Qeynos as their guild halls. While this is a nice effort by the guilds they truly function as regular homes and are not really set up for the use of a guild.

Last night I had a dream… a very strange dream in which the hooded black robed guys from Lord of the Rings were chasing my fae. My fae kept running and running, and they would not turn back and reset. Well obviously hacking their way in from another game they just didn’t know the mob rules! I ran to the safety of my guild hall. I zoned in and felt instant relief knowing these mobs could not follow me. I greeted my guild mates that where crafting or just going through on their way to their apt. Just when I thought I was safe the mobs popped up in the guild hall and slaughtered me. Yeah… it sucked, but when I woke up I thought to myself, “That was an awesome guild hall!”

It could possibly be too late to implement this kind of guild hall in EQ2, but perhaps not, and regardless it is a great idea for other games as well. This guild hall while beautiful on the outside with its large columns and white stone was also set up perfectly on the inside. The inside had a great room where guild mates had set up an area where guildies could hang out and chat or hold meetings. Off of the great room there was a door that led to a large room that had crafting tables set up (with a butler to purchase fuel), and there was also a hallway off of this main room. Down this hallway was many doors and guild mates were zoning in and out of these. These doors were guild housing! Like apartments!

The guild house not only held everything needed for the crafters and guild meetings, but it also had rooms for the guild members to live in! How great would this be? This would make the guild halls completely functional. Players wouldn’t zone into an empty house or hall to see no one around, but into a living breathing useful place. It would be great to run into your guild mates on the way to your home, or while crafting. Player could stop and chat, or even give a wave. This would not only had to utility, but also adds a bit more immersion.

As for players being able to buy out of your house to save on broker fees this could be d0ne one of 3 ways:

1.  First option would be allowing the guild to set the guild hall to private or to allow visitors. If visitors were allowed players not in the guild could zone into the guild hall and find the apt of the person they wish to purchase from

2. Players wishing to purchase an item from a player who lived in a guild hall set to private could right click on the door   to the guild hall and select the players name bypassing the guild hall itself and zoning directly into the players apartment.

3. Last, there could be a guild merchant that holds the items for everyone in the guild hall, yet keeps track of the individual sellers that place the item for sale, in which the person selling would still claim their money from their merchant board.

Now how do guilds get a guild hall? Some of you may be thinking when they reach a certain guild level, and some of you may think it should just be available for purchase for all guilds, which maybe there should be a smaller type available in that manner, but I think a great way would be to use the city raids for guilds.

You know which I am talking about. The ones that you are asked to take your guild to do in the name of the Queen or the Overlord, but no one ever does because the raids are pointless and give nothing for the effort. Well after doing so many of these or working up to a certain city raid, the Queen or Overlord could be so impressed that they award that guild its own special hall within the city! This would make something in the game that is pointless have a purpose.