Input wanted for gaming group

[ten]

Hey peeps.

I am currently in the process of making a cross-gaming group, after I was member of a community that was close to being a safe space for me, but ended up still confronting me with too many microaggressions for comfort. I was inspired by that group's relaxed and mature attitude though and, being no stranger to being a guild officer/leader, I decided I have to take matters in my own hand.

The idea behind the group I am making is to be a comfortable, relaxed hang-out space where people can have a good time with each other and also game together. The emphasis is on the people, not the games. The application will be a questionnaire about who the applicant is as a person, not what games they play how. The overarching rules aim to prevent the many ways in which numerous gamers are excluded and attack in the gaming world, including but not limited to sexism, racism, homophobia and transphobia. The central hub of the group will be a forum, but there will also be voice chat and of course the various forms of in-game groups.

While the rules and philosophy of the group are pretty much standing, there can never be too much input from different individuals in such an undertaking.
Specifically, I am looking for input on what you, personally, would want to see or not see in a guild/clan/community in order to feel comfortable and welcomed. Whether it's something big and overarching ("I don't want to see misogynist language") or something specific and subjective ("I hate it when people type their forum posts in different colours").
Any input would help me make the group more inclusive and welcoming, and I may very well be pointed toward something important I haven't thought of yet.

Thank you for your time reading and possibly commenting!

-Ten

Edit for clarification: the group is primarily video game focused (though if members wish to form Pen&Paper/Tabletop groups among each other, they are welcome to use the forum and/or voice chat, if resources allow it).

Comments

My experience is WoW-slanted.

[faesdeynia]

I'm pretty happy with the guild I'm in currently. The biggest rule that we have is that there is no swearing or foul/hurtful language in guild chat, or ventrillo lobby. Forums, you are expected to exercise maturity in your posting. Anywhere else is fair game, but I think these rules help make it a more comfortable place for everyone. It caused me some annoyance at first (my previous guild was free-for-all), but I've been with this group for about 18 months, and I've gotten used to it. I just drop into a room as soon as I log in so I'm not in the lobby.

We also require that as a term of joining the guild, you agree to settle your grievances in a mature matter, and if it's a big deal, to ask an officer for help. We have very few problems, but that may also be because our guild attracts older players. Some players bring their families, hence the language rules. In my time as an officer, I've never had a problem, and I've only had to remind someone about rules once. Also, officers don't reprimand people in guild chat, it's private.

We keep our loot rules fair, and make it clear that if you need or can use something, it's your responsibility to speak up about it. We don't use DKP or anything like that; we use a MS roll, OS roll, and then vendor roll. This includes BoE's, so if someone in the raid can use it, they get a fair shot at it.

Re: My experience is WoW-slanted.

[ten]

Thanks for your input!

[havocthecat]

Primarily, I don't want sexist storylines in the games I play. Are you talking tabletop rpg or computer/console game instead?

[ten]

Primarily video games, sorry for having been unclear.

[havocthecat]

Thanks for clarifying! Lots of video gamers tend to forget that tabletop exists, or to clarify for those of us that play both.

[boundbooks]

I like language that explicitly states that things like sexism, racism, homophobia and transphobia are not tolerated. In my experience, there's a big difference in experience between just saying 'oh, don't say that kind of stuff' when those things come up, and having it be a huge part of the group identity.

I think it'd be good to have language that says something along the lines of 'we explicitly want and welcome people who are gay or transgendered or female,' rather than simply saying 'we don't like it when you harass these people.' :)

Explicitly saying 'we are pro-inclusion and have members who are X' will actually make people seek you out to play with you, similar to Taint in WoW

http://taint.rtgc.org/guide.php?guideid=1
http://taint.rtgc.org/guide.php?guideid=26

[ten]

Thank you for the input!

[the_escapist]

I agree with all the above comments. Making it clear from the outset what will and won't be tolerated is a good start, and then enforcing that politely and firmly. Gamers are a mixed bunch, and free-for-all groups can get ugly quickly.

And as a matter of taste, personally I find myself avoiding forums that use dark backgrounds with light text. Aside from being hard on the eyes, I think a more professional dark on pale helps keep the space professional and mature.

As a point of reference, TOG is the best I've seen. I'm a member, but don't use the site much (maybe they're a little TOO big for me to feel comfortable, I don't know). But they do well keeping things civil and organised, from what I've seen.

Will you post a link when it's up and running? I think I'd like to check it out.

[ten]

The basic hub, the forum is up and running (I hope it's okay to post this in comments) and you are free to check it out :)

I'm not officially recruiting yet, the group will go 'public' with Guild Wars 2, and I'm still working on some details here and there, but if you have feedback or just want to keep an eye on it, go ahead!

I'm afraid I'm not close to being as professional as TOG yet though.