Often we hear about how active a given guild is or how one guild is meticulous at going through their roster and removing anyone not active every month. But there is another way to look at that. Not as those members being ‘inactive fillers’ but as people who will be returning to a guild they chose to be with; returning to their spot, their home-online and expecting to find their digital berth available and inviting. Here are Sons of Numenor with a fresh take on how to look at your ‘inactives’ as well as a peek into the workings of their guild, courtesy of Benjimir their founder and leader.

I got to play around with SoN's very elegant logo. I'm all jealous now!

Quick Stats:

Allegiance to: The Galactic Republic

Server: Lord Adraas

English, US East (EST)

Forum and website usage required

Founded on December 28, 2008, led by Comstrike

99 members

SoN Banner

What prompted the formation of your guild?

The launch of The Lord of the Rings Online in 2007.

How did you pick the name?

I wanted a title that invoked an almost fraternal bond to something intended to sound older, larger than any single person. Since our roots lay in Lord of the Rings Online, the name obvious had to have a link within its legendarium. The name is mainly a nod to our groups heritage. From an RP standpoint, you simply wouldn’t acknowledge that connection in-game.

How many members are you strong? How many are active?

Presently we have over 500 active members, as defined by people who play in a given month. There are over 1,800 characters already in LOTRO. We have over 70 confirmed pre-launch members for SWTOR, and that many more who will join after the launch chaos is settled down.

SoN Guild Leaders page art

What is unique about your guild? What, in your opinion, makes it stand out from the crowd?

Being a true “community within a community.” We have managed to do something rare and difficult in guild communities. We’ve grown large, avoided drama, embraced many differing styles of play, and are even taking on two major games without compromising the quality of the group in either.

Sons of Numenor has a tradition of not dropping members for inactivity. It comes from having had two of our many active and reserve duty service members deploy a month after we formed, and their finding their characters and community still behind them when they got back.

Tell us about your guild’s artwork!

The direction I gave to our guild members, was to create a logo that meshed elements of Star Wars: The Old Republic, with hints of Numenor in Tolkiens legendarium. The current version was crafted by our member Tessariael. We found a common link in the symbol of the Galactic Republic, which has six “wings,” with a star held aloft in the middle. The symbol of Gondor in the ‘Lord of the Rings’, features a white tree with seven stars. The two combine with the six stars behind each of the “wings” of the Republic standard, with the largest star, being the same as in both banners. We then use the famous white tree as a background to the republic symbol, which adds a near perfect blend of the two images. Adjustments continue, but for now we are pleased with what we are going live with.

SoN Logo. Note the White Tree in the background.

What is the most important piece of advice you would give to a new guild starting up?

Even in MMORPGs, it is ultimately about an individuals journey. People should join as friends, and should know that if they find a better fit in another group, they leave as friends. Start there, and your stress, and that of your members, will be greatly reduced as people come and go. Plus your reputation and relationships with the server community will flourish.

Likewise, keep things humble, simple, casual, and friendly. Too many groups start with over enthusiastic ambitions, spend untold hours crafting rules nobody will remember, take themselves and their activity too seriously, and thus become unfriendly organizations due to stress and pretentiousness. Remember that ultimately it is about finding the right fit for yourself and your members.

Very good advice but not always easy to follow I think. It is a goal that is worthwhile to set for yourself as a new guild leader or officer though.

SoN Lore Page art.

Are you looking for more members?

We recruit on an ongoing basis. If an individual is friendly and mature, we welcome them. A community is made-up of all sorts, so we don’t rate anybody over another, so long as they represent themselves well, to our members and the server community.

When looking at prospective applicants and their applications, what is your pet peeve? Or what would you advise NOT to do?

I frown on people who choose to apply to a guild by starting with saying what, or who, they hated in another guild or game. It is no sin to join Sons of Numenor and leave if you find a better fit, because this is about your journey. However, if you are joining a guild to spite another person or game, that is the path to the dark (drama) side. We will pass on your application.

Oh you are hitting one of my issues with that. There is so much negativity already on the internet a guild should offer some shelter from that.

SoN 'Our Guild' page art

Do you have a naming policy and if so what is it?

A name should be a name, not a title. If a name has any plausibly defensible value, we won’t dwell too much on it. We may even accept an “iffy” name, if the person is up-front about wishing they hadn’t used it, and that they will avoid it with “alts.”

How did you guys pass the time and keep the excitement and guild commitment up while waiting for the game to release?

We have the advantage of having a thriving, growing community in LOTRO. All of our SWTOR members are either currently active in our LOTRO division, or have been recently. Those who will play in SWTOR also, have been happily busy in Middle-earth, while they wait to explore the galaxy far-far away.

SoN second banner

What was your guild looking forward to doing in SWTOR in particular?

We are looking forward to exploring all of the nooks and details that lend themselves to RP, relaxing, and enjoying the world created for us. Likewise, we are looking forward to replicating our long list of in-game traditions in a new universe.

Guild amenities. What does your guild have to offer its members?

We sponsor both Vent and TS servers (Vent for our raiding group, TS for everything else.).

The guild sponsors in-game RP, Lore, and Raiding workshops for members new to a game or activity. We have a custom built site that is used very intensively for organizing, communicating, educating, and recruiting. In January 2012, we are launching a native iPhone/Android/iPad/Tablet app for both SWTOR and LOTRO. This will give members a way to follow news, guild activities, and interact anywhere. We have a growing list of real-world events, including a pre-and-post screening gatherings nation-wide, for Star Wars 3D. We have monthly game-card awards.

And in July we are hosting our first guild convention at Cedar Point, in Sandusky, Ohio.

We love to see pictures from that when you guys get back!

SoN Numenorian Guard page art

What was the toughest hurdle for you and your guild to get over in the time you’ve spent together?

The lag at our largest gatherings.

Tell us about You. What draws you to SWTOR?

I was born in early 1974, and my late mother took me to see Star Wars many times during its original run. I had….and still have, the original toys, saw the Holiday Special on TV, and grew up with Star Wars. I need my Star Wars fix, and this game will be that.

What class will you be playing?

Jedi Consular.

SoN Background art

What made you decide to run a guild?

I wanted to add to my MMORPG experience by RP’ing, adventuring, and socializing with people that shared a common style and interest.

Anything else you’d like to add?

A common and warm memory for most of our members, are the times when people who have had real life issues, family, work, health, or serving over seas, come back to the game, and find their characters still home in Sons of Numenor, and that the “family” is still alive and thriving. We value the people over the level, skill, or amount of time they can spend with us.

SoN Our Community page art

Thank you so much for sharing Sons of Numenor with us and for your good advice as well. I hope we will see you guys back here on TORWars sometime over the next year but whether or not I hope you all have a great launch week and lots of awesome adventures together in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

 ~~~

This week’s Galaxy of Guilds is brought to you by Enjin.com, where you can set up and host an epic guild page for free.

If you would like to submit your guild to the Galaxy of Guilds feature series please write toKristen @ TORWars DOT com. Mark the email ‘Galaxy of Guilds – YOUR GUILD’ and tell me why you think your guild should be included in the series.