Warlords of Barsoom: A Very Unusual Guild

Read no further if you are looking for a typical World of Warcraft guild.  This guild is unique and only a few will qualify for membership.  Only a few would enjoy playing with us.  We are only for older players who are twenty-one years of age or more.  Our focus is on casual, low and mid level play and the social aspects of the game.  While we do instances together, that is not our main focus.  Instead we concentrate on those activities such as chat, crafting, mid level questing, and trading at the Auction House that can be accomplished in one or two hours rather than the three to six hours it takes to run a high level end game instance.  We are not hard core gamers and have a life outside of World of Warcraft.  Power levelers and end game specialists will not be comfortable playing with us.  Many of us are interested in the game primarily as a way to keep in touch with family and friends who live far away.  The gameplay is fun, but it is secondary with us.

Now, if this sounds good to you, we hope you will join us.  But there are some requirements for membership.  First, you must meet the age requirement.  Everyone in the guild is an adult over the age of twenty-one.  Some youth have time to play this game twenty hours a day and a hundred hours in a week.  This age requirement screens them out.  They wouldn’t like it here anyway.  Second, to join you must start a new character named from the ten Mars novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs.  For those who are not familiar with the novels we have compiled a list of names that is available on this website. Third, you cannot belong to any other guild on the Sentinels server. Fourth, you must play your guild character at least once every thirty days to remain on active status and be listed as a member of the guild in the game.  Fifth, if you are an officer with the rank of Dwar or higher, you must play often enough to staff your organization.  For each of the five Warlords, that means choosing four Dwars, and for each of the Dwars, that means choosing, training and playing with a Padwar.

More later…

Good News and a Few Changes

It is no longer necessary to create a new character named from the Mars books of Edgar Rice Burroughs.  Anyone can join with any name.  Also, our alternate characters or “alts” can now be enrolled in the guild.  Previously, each of us had to choose a “main” and that would be the only World of Warcraft character allowed on the membership roster.  This is the good news.

As for the changes, henceforth only those with a character named from the Mars novels can be considered for rank advancement beyond the beginning rank of Panthan.  To be a Padwar, Dwar, Warlord or Jeddak one must have a “main” named from the novels.  Fortunately, it doesn’t matter what level your character is as long a you have been with the guild long enough to demonstrate your loyalty.

Finally, we have two new members that we are thrilled have joined us.  Alissia and Gnys are veteran gamers in World of Warcraft and will be a great asset.  Alissia saved us from certain wipe on numerous occasions when we went through Slave Pens in Coilfang Reservoir about two weeks ago.  She is an excellent priest and sorely needed after the loss of Mitch who was also known as Beargas, Flayner, Prayner and other characters.  Gnys is a dear friend of mine that I have known in real time for many years.  He and his wife are playing on Sentinels, and Gnys has joined us as a gnome mage.   He has played a level 70 mage on another server, so he knows his way around the block. Let’s play with him every chance we get.

Finally, don’t forget the guild bank.  Any member can have anything in the bank by contacting the Jeddak  or the Warlord.  If you don’t see what you want, or if the bank is mostly empty, feel free to put things in.  Our inheritance from Mitch will not last forever.

Knights Renamed Dwars, and Squires Renamed Padwars

We have made a recent change to the rank structure in the Warlords of Barsoom. Although we have left the structure and responsibilities of officers the same, we have changed some of the names to more accurately reflect the Barsoomian military. The head of the guild will remain the Jeddak. He is the chief Warlord and will head a “House” composed of four Dwars, each which his one Padwar just as the other Warlords. However, as chief Warlord, he will have four other Warlords who will serve him as vassals, each of these Warlords is also the head of a House commanding four Dwars. Each Dwar will be able to choose one Padwar who will serve him as a Squire once served a Knight in medieval Europe. Every Dwar will be responsible for training his Padwar and teaching him the customs and protocols of the guild. And each Warlord, along with his Dwars and their Padwars, will be a “House” which will also be a raiding group or team for doing instances and other difficult missions and assignments. When a new member is recruited to the guild, he will join as a Panthan which is the Barsoomian name for a class of itinerant fighters unattached to any “House” or nation. Panthans are awesome fighters but they have not yet found a home in the “House” of a noble Warlord, nor have they received their training as a Padwar serving his Dwar. All of these changes have been made to more accurately reflect the Mars novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs and to further our efforts as a role playing guild on an RP server.

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Guild Structure of the Warlords of Barsoom

Definition of Terms:

Jeddak:
The Jeddak is the High Warlord, leader of the guild. This is an elected position, chosen from among the existing Warlords. The term of office is yet to be determined, with no limit on the number of terms served.

Warlord:
The Warlords owe their fealty to the Jeddak. They command their houses in his service. At the time of guild establishment, the Warlords are selected by the Jeddak. Subsequently, however, these positions are filled through an election, with the existing Warlords casting their votes. There is a limit of four Warlords per Jeddak.

Knight:
The term “Knight” is simply a placeholder at the moment. A more “Barsoomian” term will be substituted once the guild officers decide on one they favor. Knights owe their fealty to their Warlord, and to the Jeddak through him. Knights are the swords of their houses, through which the guild makes its presence known. Knights are hand-picked by their Warlords, chosen for their loyalty, honor, and commitment to both the guild and their Warlord. It is an honored position, and the highest office most guild members will achieve. The Warlord does not select his Knights lightly, as each Warlord may only command a total of four.

Squire:
Again, the term “Squire” is a placeholder for a more theme-appropriate title which is yet to be determined. Squires are the newest entrants to the guild, selected specifically by a Knight. All guild members start in this position. They owe their fealty to their Knights, to their Warlords through their Knights, and to the Jeddak through their Warlords. The position of Squire is a proving ground to demonstrate their honor, loyalty, and commitment. Being Knighted is no small thing, so many Squires may remain in this position for a significant time. During this time, they are expected to involve themselves in the guild, and hopefully forge friendships with both the Knights that would be their comrades, and the Warlords they wish to serve. Squires are selected with deliberation and care, as each Knight may only command the service of one.

Duties of various positions:

Jeddak:
The duties of the Jeddak are the heaviest of all offices in the guild. In governing the guild, Jeddaks are expected to treat their Warlords with honor and respect, and lead the guild as a whole in a unified direction. The Jeddak will be responsible for overseeing all administrative areas of the guild, including elections (with the exception of the election to office of Jeddak). The Jeddak will also preside over ceremonies of Knighthood and the creation of new Houses.

Warlord:
The duties of Warlords are to carry out the adminstrative efforts of the Jeddak, commanding their Houses in his service. The Warlords exercise a degree of independence in the government of their Houses. Warlords are free to direct their vassals in directions of their own choosing, as long as these decisions do not conflict with the Jeddak’s instructions, or the rules established for the conduct and governing of the guild. For instance, one Warlord may wish to focus the efforts of his House on gaining honor on the field of battle. Another Warlord may direct his house in the gathering of knowledge through the schools of crafting. In all things, the Warlord commands his House for the purpose of strengthening the guild as a whole. Warlords are expected to select their Knights with care, bestowing the title on those that can be trusted to bring honor to the guild.

Knight:
Knights are the arm of the guild–its face and its sword in Azeroth. They are expected to conduct themselves with honor befitting their position. In all things they are loyal to their Warlord, as his right hand, following his commands without hesitation. They are also the main voice of the guild in elections as the largest voting group. Knights must form solid relationships with their comrades at arms, as a House demands unity. Knights are also the gatekeepers to the guild, the main recruiting force. Each Knight may initiate into the guild one Squire (at a time). If and when each Squire is given the title of Knight, the Knight that recruited them is then free to select a new Squire. Knights are expected to select their Squires very carefully, and with solid judgement, as their decisions will affect the strength and quality of the guild. Knights are required to train their Squires in the ways of the guild, and their role in Azeroth. Knights must treat their Squires with dignity and respect, while also testing their commitment to the guild and quality as players.

Squire:
The duties of a Squire are simple: To serve their Knight without hesitation, and to prove their honor and commitment to the guild. Squires are under the direct scrutiny of every member of the House into which they have been inducted. They are expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting both their position in the guild, and in a way that will garner respect and honor for the guild as a whole. Squires are often required to perform mundane tasks to serve his Knight.

Methods of Promotion:

Jeddak:
This is an elected position, determined by the majority vote among the Warlords and Knights of the guild.

Warlord:
Upon the initial establishment of the guild, this position is filled by the Jeddak in command. Subsequent promotions of Knights to the position of Warlord are determined by the majority vote in an election held among the Warlords and Knights of the guild.

Knight:
This position is filled on the sole discretion of the Warlord of each House. A Squire is presented to the Warlord for promotion by his Knight. Upon the Warlord’s decision, a quest may be issued to the Squire as a final test of his worth.

Squire:
This position is filled on the sole discretion of the Knight of each House, with consideration to the Warlord of the House.

Other Details:

Each Jeddak is allowed a total of four Warlords. If guild growth demands the promotion of additional Warlords, the guild will be divided under the command of two Jeddaks–at which time a Jeddak of Jeddaks will be elected to govern both Domains.

New Names Added

I just finished adding a lot of new names to the approved names list of characters from the Mars novels written by Edgar Rice Burrough. I will continue to add even more as time permits.

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Was Edgar Rice Burroughs the greatest American writer?

Ray Bradbury, one of the founders of modern science fiction, thought so according to this website. If you ever get a chance to read the Introduction to the best of all the biographies of Edgar Rice Burroughs, do so. It is written by Ray Bradbury, and makes clear in definite terms how deeply he revered the memory of Edgar Rice Burroughs. The biography, written by Irwin Porges, is one of the most prestigious publications in the long history of Brigham Young University Press. It is entitled Edgar Rice Burroughs: The Man Who Created Tarzan and was first published in 1975. Unfortunately it is long out of print, but used copies are easy to find on the Internet at the many websites that search for used books. Amazon.com can even direct you to many copies for sale.

Technorati Tags: science fiction, american literature, literature, 20th century, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Mars

The Mars Novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Here is a list of the eleven Mars novels written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The first ten are available online, and I have provided links to them below. The eleventh one may not yet be out of copyright, and I have not yet been able to locate an online copy. However, I will keep my eye out for one. And if I find one, I will link to it here.

1) A Princess of Mars
2) The Gods of Mars
3) The Warlord of Mars
4) Thuvia, Maid of Mars
5) The Chessmen of Mars
6) The Master Mind of Mars
7) A Fighting Man of Mars
Swords of Mars
9) Synthetic Men of Mars
10) Llana of Gathol
11) John Carter of Mars

I read all of these books in 1964 when I was nineteen and serving in the US Marines. I read all of them again in the mid 1970s when I was in my thirties. They are the best escape fiction I have ever read, much better than the Tarzan novels which are justly famous. Do yourself a favor and read them. I’m going to read them again for sure. To this day Princess of Mars, the first novel Edgar Rice Burroughs ever wrote, is my all-time favorite novel. In my opinion, a thousand years from now, Edgar Rice Burroughs will be the only English language author anyone remembers from the 20th century. True, he was an author of pulp fiction, but then so was Shakespeare. The one thing they both had in common was the ability to tell an incredibly good story.

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Some Names From The Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Note from the Jeddak, Morskajak: These names are just the beginning of a list. I extracted them from the first of ten books in the Mars series. The rest of those books are linked above in the post which lists them. If you do not like one of the names below, find one that you like from one of the other books. This list will be expanded as I find the time and as other guild members help me extract the names.

Barsoom (the name for Mars used by its inhabitants)
Lorquas Ptomel (an enormous chieftain over Tars Tarkas, and Jed of the tribe)
Woola (a faithful martian hound)
Dejah Thoris (the Princess of Helium)
Tardos Mors (father of Mors Kajak)
Tal Hajus (Jeddak of Thark)
Thark (a Barsoomian place name)
Helium (the capital of a red martian empire)
Dor (a valley on Mars)
Iss (a river)
Thoat (a riding mount)
Korad (the place where John Carter fell in love with Dejah Thoris)
Calot (wild Martian dog)
Bar Comas (Jeddak of Warhoon)
Zodanga (the capital of Helium’s hereditary enemies among the red men of Barsoom)
Ptor (a “house” or family of a Zodangan gentleman)
Sab Than (a prince of Zodanga)
Than Kosis (Jeddak of Zodanga)

What makes a good guild?

I just posted the following to the Guild Recruitment forum on the official World of Warcraft website.

I am Lifebringer, a level 50 Dwarf Priest on the Boulderfist server, and I have belonged to two different WoW guilds that became defunct. The first one is still around but all of the players are inactive. The second one is being dissolved by the guild leaders because they have lost interest in guild administration. I have tried in vain to find a guild like the legit Diablo guild, The Knights of the Forgotten Order, that I belonged to for several years. It was democratically run with elected guild officers, an excellent website, regular weekly meeting in IRC, members that stayed in touch on ICQ, a published charter and rules, ranks determined by ingame accomplishments rather than begging the guild leaders for a promotion, a rigorous screening process for joining the guild, and a sense of camaraderie that I have only experience once before, and that is when I was in the US Marines in real life.

How does someone put together a guild like that in WoW? What makes a good guild? Suggest something here, or leave your suggestions on the Warlords of Barsoom website at http://warlordsofbarsoom.wordpress.com/.

I really don’t want to start and run a guild, but if that is the only way I can find a good one, I will.

Various Recruiting Methods

Well, yesterday I spent considerable time in the game trying out different recruiting techniques for Warlords of Barsoom, ie. WOB.  A number of interested players were too young to fit the charter.  A couple of others asked for additional information but have not gotten back with me.  Kelvaris, my son-in-law, said that he would like to join.  But inasmuch as he and my daughter are traveling and will not be at home again until the end of August, he will undoubtedly spend most of his time playing his level 60 Paladin rather than participating in WOB activities and recruiting. –Johncarter