A Word from your Guild Figurehead

Welcome to Occam’s Razor. Many may wonder who we are, what our goals are, and the direction we are heading as a guild. We are aiming for a slightly different guild than most. As with all guilds, we want to experience as much raid content as possible though this alone is not our primary goal. Our primary goal is to provide a family-like environment. We are working toward a guild where comradery and constructive criticism are priority for creating a stronger, more united guild, while striving to help each other become the best players possible. We believe that if we do this, progression and gear will inevitably follow.

As a member of Occam’s Razor, you should expect clear raid schedules (with raids starting and ending on time), a fair DKP system, and fair loot distribution that respects both the guild needs, and the individual merits of the players. You should expect respect from every member of the guild, as well as respect for your time.

Along with the primary goals of the guild, there are always other goals that we work to accomplish while reaching those primary goals. One of these goals is to have a guild where every member can lead a raid, organize guild events or fill other leadership roles when needed, be it short-term or long-term. We want everyone to feel responsible for the success and failures of the guild. We believe this is a way to help give people this feeling of responsibility.

As with any group, organization plays a major role in helping groups succeed. Guild leadership is here to help in providing that organization. These leaders (aka officers, veterans, etc.) are in charge of different aspects of running Occam’s Razor. Though an officer may have a primary role, it is our expectation that officers are able to step up and perform any role when needed (i.e. lead a raid if our raid leaders are not available).

Unlike the leadership of other guilds, Occam’s Razor relies heavily on input from members in making its decisions on guild policy. After all, what’s the point in creating policy if members will not support/follow that policy? In Occam’s Razor, we respect our members and expect them to give input in guild discussions. Though the decisions will inevitably be made by the officers, these decisions are typically done with input from the members of Occam’s Razor.

Though we have many guild discussions in our forums, one of the vital areas for member input (short of policy discussions) is regarding our applications. Our members are what make up our guild, and are the ones that will have to be able to get along with future members in order to keep the sense of family and comeradry that we experience. If our members do not like each other, it detracts from the atmosphere we are striving to obtain. It is the responsibility of the officers, lead by the recruitment officer, to determine which applicants to bring into the guild for further review, based on input from our current members.

Some guilds have open recruitment policies, and then use several tiers of members, putting barriers between them, from new recruits to guild leaders. Though Occam’s Razor wants to see every member as part of the 'inner circle', it would be a lie to say that we do not have our own tiers in membership. One thing that we believe makes us different, however, is that once we recruit new members, we tend to work hard at keeping those members. For this reason, we need to be careful who we let into our family.

Occam’s Razor focuses its recruitment on mature, smart, good players. Evaluating gear is still important and is primarily done as a sign of commitment, and class know-how. Yes, we are elitist, to an extent. Any guild that does not let everyone become a member of their guild is elitist, in some way or another. We mostly discriminate based on level of maturity, class knowhow and, simply put, compatibility with our goals. If your primary goal is progression over all else, Occam’s Razor is not the guild you are looking for, and you likely won’t last long here.

Finally, I’d like to comment on my role as figurehead. When Occam’s Razor was formed, it was the belief that if “everything is working well, then I should never have to act in this official capacity”. I still am of the belief that most decisions should be solved through the input of the “guild members at large.” At the same time, I also realize that decisions need to be made in a timely manner. As a result, some decisions may be made by the figurehead and/or officers without initially getting input from the members of Occam’s Razor. In some more specific cases (i.e. demotions, /gkick), decisions will be made without any input from members at all.

As with the founding father and former figurehead of Occam’s Razor, I believe that a guild like ours is harder to put together. Similarly, I believe that if we truly are working towards the goals I have outlined in this statement, then nothing will ever destroy this guild. Just as we have overcome various issues thus far, we will be able to continue to do so. We will be impervious to guild-killers like loot-whoring, DKP-whoring, conflicts with raid schedules, secret agendas, hard instances, and even the lack of content.

In closing, remember that if you decide to join Occam’s Razor, or are already a member of this guild, you are more than just a member. It is my hope that you will stay and help us to make this guild the best guild on any server. Not only based on the content we clear, no, let it also be known that this is a guild that strives to help each other and progress as a group. Not as individuals using the guild to accomplish their own personal ambitions.

As I have said for years, “Life is what you make of it, make the best of it!” Things are only as bad/good as you make them seem. If you are striving to “make the best of it”, you will go far in helping to make Occam’s Razor the guild we are hoping it will be.

03/01/09

Lias, Figurehead of Occam's Razor

Original Figurehead Statement

Greetings everyone. I'd like to give a word about the project we're building here at Occam's Razor. At OR we are aiming for a slightly different guild than most. Yes, we do aim to get to Naxxramas eventually, but that is not our main goal. Our goal is to provide a guild atmosphere where everyone is comfortable, and everyone respects each other. Guild leadership is not here to tell you what to do, just to keep things organized. As a member of OR you can expect clear raid schedules, with raids starting on time. A clear, and fair DKP system. Fair loot distribution that respects both the guild needs, and the individual players merits. Respect from every member of the guild, and respect for your time.

If you look at the guild roster, and even this letter, you will note that my position in the guild is that figurehead. I do not see myself as the guild leader, and neither should you. Who is the guild leader then? In short, every member is. Our ultimate goal here at OR is to have a guild where every member can lead a raid, organize guild events etc. We want everyone to feel responsible for the success (and failures!) of the guild.

Obviously, we need some organization. We have officers, in charge of different aspects of running a guild. For example we have DKP officer. This does not mean that DKP is his sole domain. We all get pitch in our ideas and thoughts. It's the officer's duty to take them all and give us a DKP system that works, and works well.

We also have class guides. These are the people in charge of making sure that their class is getting what they need (for example do we need to set MT priority on certain items?) and making sure their class provides the guild what they need (make sure MTs are geared and specced properly, for example).

We have a recruitment officer. This is a key role. The reason is that OR is more like a family-guild, than most raiding guilds. We want to trust every member implicitely. Some guilds have open recruitment policies, but then have several tiers of members, putting barriers between members, from new recruits to guild leaders. In OR we want to see every member as 'inner circle'. Hence, we need to be careful who we let into our family. We want mature, smart, good players. Of course gear is important, but mostly as a sign of commitment, and class know-how. Yes, we are elitist. Every guild that does not let everyone is, in a way, elitist. I, for one, like our way of elitism better than most. We do not discriminate based on time played, not so much on gear used. Mostly, we discriminate based on level of maturity and, simply put, compatibility with our goals.

Finally, there is one officer that deserves mention, and that is the figurehead. I currently hold this position. In this role, my responsibility is to do as little as possible. If everything is working well, then I should never have to act in this official capacity. Every issue should have an officer in charge, and should be solved by the guild members at large. However, there will be times when disputes arise. Usually these will be resolved 'in council' by all officers with input from the whole guild. Sometimes, a quick, definite decision is needed, unfortunately. That is where I come in. As figurehead I wield one special weapon: The Hammer vs Asshatness. If someone is being an asshat to someone else in the guild (no matter how good friends we may be), I promise you, they will be hit by The Hammer. What happens if I am the one being the asshat you may ask? Who gets to hit me with the hammer? The whole guild. There are provisions (or will be) in the charter on how to deal with a Figurehead problem, including complete removal from the post.

I believe that a guild like ours is harder to put together. However, I also believe that if our aim is true, and we achieve our goals, then nothing can ever destroy this guild. We will be impervious to guild-killers like loot-whoring, dkp-whoring, conflicts with raid schedules, secret agendas, and even hard instances.

In closing, remember that if you decide to join OR, or are already in, you are more than just a member. I hope you decide to stay and help us make the best guild, on any server.

06/06/06

Razgul, Founding Father and Former Figurehead of Occam's Razor