Looking back on things, the couple months in AoC were quite well spent. Drama and all. Why? Cos it wouldn't be a social game without human nature getting in the way.
And the main reason why I started casting around looking for something different was because I'd spent 3 years shut away from politics and loot and drama, indulging in the casual loner, odd-job PUGer and solo vs computer challenge playstyle.
So it's a novel experience to remember: guild bonding, guild implosion and all.
Of course, I don't need extra helpings of this kind of stuff. (I'd go play Eve if I like to swim in it.) Sooner, rather than later, I might get tired of it.
I think I made the right choice going with the more stable core group, rather than the stranded drama queen. I mean, one can't fence sit forever like an indecisive wallflower. When push comes to shove, you go with your gut instinct or your logic, you declare an allegiance, and you hope you trusted the right person.
Ultimately, it's all a gamble.
I think it's less likely that our current guild leader will dive headfirst into drama (even if he's mudslinging with the best of them on the crapsite that is the AoC forums) than the other one, but hey, I could be wrong. Nobody's a saint. I expect him to be decent enough, but I'm also ready to accept it if I misjudged the situation.
Once you have more than one person in the same room, yer going to have politics, y'know? And every person is going to have their blind spot and their lil power trips. It's only human.
I think the key is to expect it and not be disappointed or crushed or shattered if/when drama ultimately happens. Cos people are people.
The key is not to invest deeply, not to care too hard, nor fanatically latch on to some unrealistic ideal of anyone or any guild or any such society. They come and go. That's the flow. That's time and history for you. Organizations get born, they grow, they die. Repeat cycle. Not even countries last forever.
On my own part, I was seeking out a guild for the feel and flow of people around me. Guildchat chatter. Some people to group with. Some people to feel connected to, cos we're wearing the same tag ("Green!" "Purple!" say the Drazi), and so on. That's still an easily served purpose by any such grouping of people.
And hence, WAR. I'll try to stick to my current group, as long as they accept me and we don't get into too much ridiculous drama again.
But if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work. I'll just drift off and be somebody else, and see if I can find some other guild. WAR's grouping system is really good for pushing people into bumping into each other and getting accustomed and familiar with the sight of each other. From there, social networks form.
Things I'm planning to achieve in WAR:
Run around and experience the game's flow from lvl 1 to 40 and beyond. Join in open groups as I feel like it. Learn how to play the classes I choose well. Improve my RvR skill slowly but surely just like in FPSes.
The rest is all open to negotiation - if I find some good people, I'll try the 6-man dungeons, if I get into a sturdy enough guild, we can go keep capturing and so on.
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