World Of Warcraft: Evaristin's Inferno: Interview with Grayrage of Darkenbane

Guildleader interview: GrayRage of Darkenbane (www.darkenbane.com)

[Evaristin]: Why don't you start by introducing yourself and the guild.
[Gray]: I am known as GrayRage to most, but have the Alias Gray or Graraige (ghey naming policies in EQ). On Sullon Zek most knew me as Grunter.
[Gray]: I am the leader of Darkenbane and have been since the mid 90's
[Gray]: Although some other folks have led us in other games as well
[Evaristin]: How would you define your playstyle?
[Gray]: We began as the PvP branch of Crusaders of the Realms a goody goody guild on AOL NWN
[Gray]: in the mid 90's when it cost 3 bucks and hour to play
[Gray]: In UO after Beta, however, we split off from COR and became a guild on our own
[Evaristin] Gotta love those thousand dollar phone bills, eh? That's when you know you're hardcore. Nowadays people whine over $15 over $10 per month.
[Gray]: We played through UO to EQ beta then EQ on Rallos Zek (PvP. Then EQ on Sullon Zek (PvP).
[Gray]: Our guild branched to DAOC, Shadowbane
[Gray]: and our Sullon Zek folks moved to Planetside
[Gray]: We have folks now playing a variety of games whilst we eagerly await the arrival of WoW
[Gray]: We are and have always been know as ruthless PvPers
[Gray]: We ask for no mercy nor give it
[Evaristin] So to summarize it all; you're one of the few dedicated WoW guilds with a solid history, am I correct?
[Gray]: we are organized and plan out our PvP strategies very seriously through variety of different communicative channels
[Gray]: Do date, yes
[Gray]: though i suspect more of the old school guilds will come around when beta begins
[Gray]: SIN and KAAOS both have boards dedicated to it and will likely organize soon
[Evaristin] Oh, we'll probably touch on KAAOS and the like soon enough. ;)
[Evaristin]: Do you think that's all good though? Surviving since oNWN sure is a merit, but you've had problems along the road too. I seem to remember (with the lack of dirt-digging prior to this interview) a certain "mutiny" within your guild. Do you know which incident I'm talking about? Care to tell us?
[Gray]: We have had many :p
[Gray]: over the years
[Gray]: In UO we had none
[Gray]: in EQ RZ we were pure
[Gray]: On Sullon Zek, however
[Gray]: our German branch known as the Ordens split off from us
[Gray]: They became angry when many of us left Sullon Zek to gear up on the Legends server
[Gray]: Their complaints had merit, but we made our decision and went with it
[Gray]: To date, they are angry with us and I doubt it will be resolved
[Gray]: Which is a shame because they are great players
[Evaristin] Cute.
[Evaristin] You seem to have taken it pretty lightly, but if I recall correctly there were a few very angry newsposts on your site. Or perhaps this was another incident. Don't you just love guild drama?
[Gray]: Most of our drama happens ont he private boards :p
[Gray]: luckily
[Gray]: hehe
[Gray]: We are planning on trying something new tho for WoW
[Gray]: Some folks do not like the idea, but i kinda want to try it for entertainment purposes if nothing else
[Gray]: something i have dubbed "the hate poll"
[Gray]: once each month folks can PM me with a name of someone they hate in our guild. I will put that name on a poll on the first of each month
[Gray]: if that person get's 5 votes, they stand to have DKP docked and be put on probation
[Gray]: if it repeats the next month, they could be removed
[Gray]: I am hopeful this will make folks THINK before trolling or otherwise agravating their mates on purpose :p
[Gray]: Some people have said this could lead to "political killings"
[Gray]: where clics' vote people out
[Evaristin] That seems like an idea which can only arise in Everquest. You'd think an oldschool PvP guild was more tight knit than that...
[Gray]: but we will leave the discipline/removal officer discretion.
[Gray]: the poll will be just to help them sort out problem folks
[Gray]: We used to be
[Gray]: But that is with LOW numbers
[Gray]: We expect to have a roster around 80 for WoW
[Gray]: Going from 20 or 30 core guys on Rallos
[Gray]: to 40 or 50 on Sullon
[Gray]: we realized that numbers = drama
[Gray]: 80 = ALOT of drama :p
[Gray]: so we want to stem it some
[Gray]: or try
[Evaristin] Browsing through some of your old enemies forums, I see there's still a lot of hate going on. Lot's of boardwarrioring. How would you describe your relation with KAAOS (Another very old guild that's still around) for example.
[Gray]: Well, I suppose in a forum such as this, I should not troll so I will be honest.
[Gray]: KAAOS IS, in fact, one of the oldest guilds around now
[Gray]: And has some of the oldest gamers around
[Evaristin] I wouldn't expect anything else. No bullshit, give us the info straight up.
[Gray]: Fact is, it's FUN to have old enemies
[Gray]: and there is none better then KAAOS
[Gray]: they are good at games and ALWAYS tough foes no matter the game
[Gray]: and the OUT of game fighting is always as much or MORE fun then the in game
[Gray]: this actually makes defeating them (or losing to them) MORE important and fun
[Gray]: bragging rights = everything
[Gray]: I am pretty sure...SOMEHOW...we will be on the same server as them....different faction :)
[Evaristin] So it seems, the KAAOS boards doesn't quit put your relationship in the same light. But forget about them, Hedron can mail me if he wants an interview. ;)
[Gray]: :)
[Evaristin] Let's more on to more general things, I think we got history down pretty good, unless you have something to add.
[Gray]: Nay
[Evaristin] Coming from EQ; another game not really (I am the queen of underestimating) geared for the PvP crowd, how do you think WoW will turn out for PvPers like yourself?
[Gray]: I made a post on WoW forums regarding this issue here: http://www.battle.net/forums/wow/thread.aspx?FN=wow-general&T=643142&P=1&ReplyCount=369#post643142
[Gray]: It is the seoncd most replied to post on their forums
[Gray]: And asks folks if they are willing to play on a faction based PvP server
[Gray]: the overwelcming reply with close to 300 respondants is yes
[Gray]: This is what we wish to play on in WoW
[Gray]: Some folks worry they will not have PvP servers
[Evaristin] It doesn't seem like Blizzard is taking heed just yet though. Perhaps it's time to give up, realize Shadowbane was just a naïve dream, and start pulling those ubermobs?
[Gray]: if they have only servers where PvP exists in SOME zones
[Gray]: We will likely lose many folks
[Gray]: I think they are paying attention
[Gray]: they COULD have posted NO they will not do it...but they have not
[Gray]: The differnce between SB and WoW is like apples to oranges
[Gray]: I believe a good PvP game MUST have good char developement and good PvE content
[Gray]: Planetside is ALL PvP
[Gray]: and whilst fun...it get's boring FAST
[Gray]: SB IMHO came up just a tad short in the PvE department
[Gray]: A game must make you CARE when you die in PvP
[Gray]: to do that it must have pretty deep char dev and PvE
[Evaristin] What if it turns out there is nothing more than instanced PvP in certain regions, will you tell Blizzard to stuff it and go back into hibernating?
[Gray]: We are having this debate as we speak on our private forums
[Gray]: I am one of those postive guys that keep saying they WILL NOT DO THAT TO US
[Gray]: But
[Gray]: if they do
[Gray]: We may switch to EQ2
[Gray]: At the LEAST
[Gray]: if they do that
[Gray]: MANY DBers will SURELY switch to EQ2
[Gray]: even if some stay to play WoW...PvP gimped.
[Gray]: It will weaken us as we split our numbers among to games
[Evaristin] Ooh, you just spoiled your chance at recruiting those Battle.net Blizzard "fans" by uttering the name of the devil.
[Gray]: which is something i wish to avoid
[Gray]: hehe
[Evaristin] Hypothetical situation; Two of your members start bickering, over... say a piece of good loot. One of them is an old loyal member, one is new, but you think the new guy actually deserves it "more". How do you settle the conflict, or that isn't part of your job description?
[Gray]: We have a DKP system (dragon kill points) which awards points based on a variety of factors including class, level and time spent on specific events.
[Gray]: Loot is awarded based on how many points you have so their ius no disputes
[Gray]: there is often discussion about what is worth more points ect ect...but that is often talked about on a board we will have for that purpose
[Gray]: no favortism will ocvcur in DB. U put int he time...u will get the phat loots :)
[Gray]: Sorry for the typos :p
[Evaristin] Ah, most EQ players are familiar with this system. Fair perhaps, but doesn't really give you a feeling of "loyalty". People might play for the loot instead of for the good of the guild, no?
[Gray]: I renowned for that :)
[Gray]: Many of our folks have been in DB for years. Most for other DB games. Many speak to each other ont he phone and ALL will speak to each other on Teamspeak
[Gray]: DBers form friendships...and most if not all know each other with exception of the few new folks we see filtering in once in a while
[Gray]: Loot, however, is always something everyone wants...
[Gray]: especially if it makes them better at killin' folks :p
[Gray]: But DKP works it out
[Evaristin] Thank you GrayRage, I'm afraid this is getting too long. Do you have anything you want to say to the WoW fans out there, or something you think I completely ignored that must be seen (I'll most likely edit it out anyway, *evil laugh*)?
[Gray]: hehe No, u covered most stuff pretty well it seems.
[Evaristin] This interview is a wrap.

What to say?

I think it's safe to say that if WoW has a satisfying PvP option for guilds like Darkenbane, they'll definately be a force to be reckoned with (in both PvP and PvE), but it's important to realize that this isn't the same guild as is was 5 or even 2 years ago. Past success is never a guarantee in a different situation. It's a damn fine advantage though.