I am going to want to hold an in-game meeting with myself, the Ranger team, and all Rangers interested, who are above 30th circle sometime in the near furture. I'm thinking possibly next Saturday day (March 11th, about noon PST).

The discussion will be player input on Ranger reqs from 75th to 99th and 100th on. Discussions will be held on quest ideas for accquiring 100th (you didn't think we were just going to give it to you did you?)

I am asking, if you plan on attending this meeting, that you come with realistic thoughts. Coming and saying, I want to be the fastest advancing guild is going to fall on deaf ears. Coming in and saying you want 10 spells per circle is going to be ignored as well.

Keep in mind the following criteria we use for reqs; a) survivial oriented. b) marine corps mentallity of being the hardest guild to advance in (whether you agree or not, that is this guilds leggacy.) c) reqs have to be a subset of the previous reqs (so people don't have to catch up). d) maintaining respect and value in the environment and with relation to other professions.

Why am I not making this guild-wide? For a couple of reasons actually. First, until you've been there, you have no clue what it is like to advance in the 30th+ circles as a Ranger (yes, I may not be sympathetic, but I am aware of how tough it is). Second, I want this to be a real, intimate, and down to earth face to face with those that do know, and there won't be any throttling (silencing or signup board) so it can't be 1000 players.

I also don't want any false expectations...these are "player input" sessions. What we discuss and what you suggest, might be used exactly, might be used in an altered form, might only be considered, might be ignored completely. In the end, it is the Ranger staff that has to design and be responsible for the system.

We will take the ideas you put forward, the ideas we have, and we will compile them into a general alpha proposal. We will then hold a face to face Ranger meeting at SimuCon with all the Rangers there, to discuss this further (if you can at all make it to SimuCon please be there). Then after SimuCon we will hold a game-wide meeting to present the beta proposal and hold a question and answer with all the Rangers regarding this subject.

From there, the staff will go work our magic.

Now there are going to be those of you who aren't Rangers, who are reading this, saying "What about my guild?"

I can't discuss your Guild. Obviously as the SGM for the Guilds I know what they plan to do, or don't plan to do, or wen they plan on addressing it...but that is uo to your guild GM. Not all guilds are the same, not all guilds have the advancement challenge that Rangers do. Also, I have always taken player (guild member) input on the requirements of the Guild at the time the requirements are set up...I have found the players are typically harder on themselves than we are. :)

So just because your Guild GM isn't doing something like this doesn't mean you're being ignored, it could be its not even relevant for your guild at this point. It could mean they already have it scope'd.

Also, understand that even those who are involved in this process are never going to know the exact details. First of all we don't reveal exact numbers to players, and secondly you might know you have to accomplish X...but that's all you'll know. How to do it, what's involved, and what you'll experience, will remain something for you to discover when the time comes.

Your next question is..."How will I get to this meeting?" We will set up a means for you to get to where the meeting is without having to worry about traveling via known means. I will set up a room where we meet and when you leave, you'll go back to where you were in the game.

And finally...PLEASE DON'T SPAM THE BOARDS with these discussions. I know every pre-30th player in the guild has their opinions, and they are going to want to tell me and the others how it should be...take that to the one list or the Ranger's slate. I've told you all I'm going to until we get together. I'm not going to respond to questions, I'm not even going to spend time reading the messages. Anything you discuss at this point will be from a "I have no clue what I'm talking about" point of view, because there are things I will discuss at the meeting that you don't know right now. So please, just bite your tongue for the time being and let things transpire.

No, the meetings are not secret. I'm simply controlling the environment. I have no problem with captures of the meeting being distributed after.

Comnplaints that these discussions are not guild-wide is going to fall on deaf ears. I have stated my reasons why. If you're 28th or 29th circle and want to be a part of these meetings, I suggest you focus on getting 30th before the 11th. 30th circle will remain the cut-off. And it won't matter if you were a 90th level Ranger in another life, or if someone got to where they were by scripting 24/7. I don't have time or the desire to deal with those issues...if the person is a scripter and therefore an "idiot" when it comes to Ranger issues, then we know it, you know it, and it will likely be very apparent in the capture.

Oh, and the 11th is subject to change, please don't take vacation days or whatever...I could change it if it conflicts with something going on in the game. I also expect it to last as long as it has to last...that could be an hour, it could be 9 hours. Whatever it takes. So have a full supply of coffee, tea, sodas, chips, dip, and cigarettes if you smoke. :)

I will firm up the date some time the middle of next week.

Regards,

Trev