San Francisco, CA, March 30, 2010—It's no picnic leading a guild in a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game such as World of Warcraft or Lord of the Rings Online. Guild members look to their leaders to solve problems, plan raids, and guide them to riches and fame. But few leaders know exactly what it takes to keep a guild going, and the list of failed guilds is miles long. Fortunately, guild leaders don't have to be born with this knowledge; they can learn.
In The Guild Leader's Handbook (No Starch Press, April 2010, 216 pp., $24.95, ISBN 9781593272586), readers learn how to create, grow, and maintain a successful MMO guild. Author Scott F. Andrews, a longtime guild leader and columnist for WoW.com, begins by helping new leaders determine a purpose for their guild and establish a meangingful guild identity. He then goes on to cover a multitude of other common challenges that guild leaders face, such as recruiting quality members, managing reluctant officers, creating and enforcing effective policies, and, perhaps most importantly, resolving the drama that can threaten the harmony of any online community.
"When I started leading a guild, new guild leaders were very much on their own. I was unprepared for how challenging and complex the role would be," said author Scott F. Andrews. "I wrote The Guild Leader's Handbook to share the knowledge I've accumulated over the years through personal experience, research, and communicating with hundreds of players."
The Guild Leader's Handbook is for MMO players in leadership positions who want to:
- Plan successful raids, player vs. player battles, roleplaying sessions, and contests
- Deal with problem players and keep a lid on guild-fracturing drama
- Solve loot issues and choose the best loot distribution system for their guild
- Boost morale, enhance reputation, and build server presence
- Promote and motivate an effective officer corps
Whether readers are established guild leaders in need of sage advice or dedicated players seeking to form their own guilds, The Guild Leader's Handbook is the essential guide to building and managing a successful guild in any MMO game.
For more information or to request a review copy of The Guild Leader's Handbook, contact Travis Peterson at No Starch Press (nostarchpr@oreilly.com, +1.415.863.9900, x300), or visit www.nostarch.com.
About the Author
Since 2007, Scott F. Andrews' weekly advice column "Officers' Quarters" on WoW.com has been helping guild leaders and officers build better guilds and meet their online goals. A veteran of the MMO genre, he leads one of the oldest surviving guilds in World of Warcraft.
Additional Resources
Chapter 3: "Nonhuman Resources: Recruiting Players and Evaluating Recruits" (PDF)
Table of contents overview
Detailed table of contents (PDF)
Index (PDF)
Large cover image
The Guild Leader's Handbook
Strategies and Guidance from a Battle-Scarred MMO Veteran
by Scott F. Andrews
April 2010, 216 pp
ISBN 9781593272586, $24.95 USD
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1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000
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