Aurora

Chapter I: History
At last, here we are.
Across a tumultuous terrain of guilds where hypocrisy reigned,
Integrity wasted; a whisper of anarchy, all was in flames.
Fought to survive, not succeed,
Time was lost, not spent,
Voices were spoken, not heard.
Dreams were dreams, no less.

At last, here we are.

Haunted by the past, honed by the present, hailed by the future, chosen
Stand united neath the seal of Aurora, to hunt for the forgotten:
The pursuit of glory, a
Promise of candor,
The dash of euphoria.
Dreams are dreams, no more.

At last, are you here?

04/09/14 first draft of the guild policy, opened for editing

04/05/14 premier council discussion on the foundation of the guild
Chapter II: Definition

General:
Type: Hardcore, endgame-oriented PvX guild, inclined towards PvE.
Server:
Faction:
PvE Elder Game Times:
PvP Elder Game Times:

Mission Statement:
Nothing short of a legacy. Our main goal is to foster an environment that has the potential to mediate
strong camaraderie within the roster, yet not allow that quality to act as leverage for individual prowess.
We hold high standards for each and every member, including leadership, as we strive to make best of
the limited time we choose to utilize for our endeavors. More importantly, we aim to establish complete
transparency throughout the guild, and provide a consistent platform for our player base to succeed
with.
Preparation, personality, and patience are the key to victory; and we foresee no less.

Philosophy & Expectations:

1. Hardcore Attitude, not Hardcore Hours
Endgame does not need be a chore; having the right attitude makes all the difference. We expect our
core members to have the appropriate specs, all accessible gear and consumables, and have researched
any information available prior to the time of entry into the instance. Each player will be held
accountable for their performance and further improvement, as necessary, for the success of the task at
hand. Finally, during the hours invested, all involved parties must effort to remain focused and limit
distractions, as time is of essence of which we only have a minimum of.

2. Guild and Community First

Overstated, yet undermined. While we hope every player within our roster to have personal aspirations,
they should not supersede the goals and purpose of the guild. To build an enduring community,
empathy and sacrifice are important qualities to entertain whenever possible. Moreover, any action
taken or decision made by one will impact the fraternity as a whole; thus caution must be explored to
attain only beneficial results in the end. This, in itself, will be the leaderships main focus and we expect
it from each of our members as well.

3. Reputable, Drama-free and Classy

The allegory of a black dot on a white page is quite appropriate here. All members must understand
that they are of Aurora, and any internal or external conduct will transcend past them to include the
guild in entirety. In light of this, maturity (no relation to age) and diplomacy are characteristics that we
expect from everyone. The ability to respect self, others, authority and honor will be sought after when
building and sustaining our roster. With the diverse constitution of gamers at hand, no one is asked to
fancy all; all that is required from each is to not negatively affect anyone elses gameplay.
Chapter III: F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What type of guild is Aurora?

We are a PvX guild built on the principles mentioned in our philosophy. [link]

a. What does PvX mean?

Player versus X, where X includes E (for Environment) and P (for Player).
In our case, our primary focus will lie with PvE (twenty and forty-man raiding), but we
wont shy away from the PvP Elder Games (arenas and forty-man warplots) either.
b. What sets you apart?
There is nothing more important to us than achieving our goal.
We have taken every measure to build a system that can endure through the hullabaloo
that other guilds fall apart for.
First and foremost, we believe in nomocracy, where the policy we set out governs all,
including every leader. We have also set up a redundant loop of responsibility, such that
one officer would never end up defining the guild. These properties together will
prevent much of any probable power trips or voids.
Secondly, we follow the code leave work at work. The dedication, intensity, and
gravity required to raid proficiently are confined to the nights of raiding or plotting war,
and any prep-sessions required to build efficacy. Beyond that, all other hours are
devoted to keeping the atmosphere light and engaging with events, contests, group-
building games, random questing or instancing, jibber-jabber, or just quiet walks on the
beach. This is to ensure we can control burn-out and repetitiveness that a MMO usually
carries.
Finally, we will never inflate our numbers. We have no bench. We do not believe in the
concepts of lock and best; we have not, and will not, entertain any sort of
favoritism. To us, every single member of this guild is a valued individual and not just a
warm body. Our focus with community has always been the inclusion of our entire
roster in all of our activities, including Elder Games. By minimizing skill disparity within
our roster, we are able to maintain a strict rotation protocol with our players, which
include officers, such that no man is ever left behind.
c. This is too crazy to be true!
We never said we were sane.

2. What server are you situated in?

Currently, we are of ____________, a PVE Realm.

a. Why that server?

It sounded ravishing.
b. Why not a PvP server?
We felt that uncontrolled open world PvP could be severely detrimental to our plans of
PvE (e.g. collecting consummables, or questing for reputation) endgame. As the only
 difference between the two styles of realms is choice, it was in our best interest to
choose a PvE realm.

3. What faction do you belong to?

______________

a. Why not the other one?!

Cause.

4. What is your websites URL?

______________

5. What is the VoiP you use?

__________

a. Do we need to be on 24/7?
Not necessary. You are only required to be on during any organized PvE or PvP events.

b. Can I bring my friends in?

As long as it does not interfere with any of the guilds events, yes. Keep in mind that
they will have to adhere to our code of conduct while on our grounds.

6. What are your times of activity?

We are a mix of time zones and youll more or less see many faces throughout the day;
however, our peak will lie somewhere between 3 PM PST to 12 AM PST.
Our PvE raid times will be ________________________________________.
Our organized PvP times will be ____________________________________.
Events and contests will be randomly dispersed throughout the week and for that you best
consult with the all-mighty calendar. [link]

a. I am not PST, translate!

For CST, add +2 to all the hours; for EST, add +3 to all the hours.
b. I am neither of those too!
Please consult with any officer for an individual quote on the exact time-shift from
where we are to where you are.
c. How active is your chat and VoiP?
That will depend on the time and atmosphere of the day. During peak hours, and
organized group events, they will be bustling; and otherwise, itll be luck of the draw.
During raids or warplots, we expect silence for the most part to ensure the leaders and
those with specific duties are heard.
d. Rate your chat please!
 NC-17. We are all adults and use George Carlins seven dirty words, where applicable.
That being said, excessive use of such language, abuse of politically incorrectness, or
repeated discourteousness towards individual(s) is immediate grounds for removal from
the guild.

7. What is the atmosphere around the campfire?

While raiding or warring, we strive for success, and such the atmosphere is focused, serious, and
rearing to dive into the opponent and tear them apart. When not, we are laid-back and love to
just kick our feet up and waste our time away with each other. We prefer to do things ensemble
and maybe, just maybe, make a friend or two.

a. Will there ever be any denouncement?

No; and strong action will be taken towards anyone who chooses to employ such a
strategy.
b. How are conflicts resolved?
By speaking your mind to those involved, privately, and at all involved parties leisure. If
this does not bear fruition, we have an officer dedicated to resolve conflicts; please
approach this individual and hopefully everything is settled to satisfaction. Moreover, if
you are a non-confrontational individual, please exercise the latter option and let the
officer know that youd prefer to remain anonymous.
c. Are the officers approachable?
Hell yes. We are gamers ourselves and we are here to play with you all. If you ever have
any issue, we maintain an open communication line; so take us aside and let us know
what is bothering you. We will try our best to provide you with a solution.
And yes, you can also just say hi.

8. Are your raids and warplots fun?

Thats subjective; but we find them fun.

a. What attendance rate are you looking for?

Eighty (80) percent; only this will ensure that the guild we are opting to run will be
successful (please refer to our Attendance & Elder Game Policy [link] for specific
details).
b. Is anyone ostracized publicly?
No; but you must have some thick skin when we ask you to leave the raid (this will be
done privately) to possibly bring someone else who we feel can add more value for that
instance.
c. Do your raid leaders yell?
Every raid leader has their own unique way of leading raids and warplots, and it is hard
to judge how a leader will respond to variables they do not expect. While we promise
we will control our emotions to the best of our ability, sometimes you just have to brace
for the worst.
 d. Are leaders rotated as well or do they get permanent spots?
They will be rotated alongside; no one will be exempt from that.
e. Do I need to do anything special to get into a raid or warplot?
Just be ready fifteen minutes prior with your consumables, specs, and do your research.
f. Are there streams or recordings available?
We have a stream running during our organized PvE and PvP times at _____________
We also have an archive of our previous adventures at ______________
g. Will you ever add days or extra time to your current raid days during progression?
We will never add extra days. Extra time will be a rare occurrence which will be
dependent on the specific situation at hand (for example, if we had a boss at 2% health
on our previous try, we might sneak in one more try). However, this extra time will
always be voted upon by the individuals involved and never just a leadership decision.
h. What if I cant make it or am late?
Just inform us at your earliest convenience (preferably a reasonable amount of time
prior to the date), and if appropriate enough, no consequence will ensue.
i. When do you plan on starting Elder Games?
Currently we are expecting to kick start the prep-work early July, and delve into Elder
Games by mid-July. This time-frame allows all our members to enjoy the game and what
it has to offer before coring down and crunching those numbers.

9. For PvE, what loot system do you employ?

Through the years, we have trialed them all and the safest and least resistant way that we found
was Suicide Kings. We have modified it a tad to add the clause of attendance (i.e. not attending
raids will cost your standing on the ladder). The ladders will be separate for tiers of gear and
encounters; and they will be posted and updated on our site regularly. This also will help
distinguish individuals who play the game and treat loot as a consequence from those who only
play for loot (the latter are not desirable for the guild). For more on this, please check our
Attendance & Elder Game Policy. [link]

a. I prefer loot council, would you consider switching?

No.
b. I like EPGP, would you consider switching?
No.
c. I <3 silent DKP, would you consider switching?
Bite me.

10. What is the style of your recruitment?

We employ a pretty standardized style of recruitment. Drop in an application (formally on the
site or informally with an officer), and you will be approached by the leadership (please allow at
least twenty-four hours for this).
We will conduct a small interview (fifteen to twenty minutes), after which, if deemed a good fit,
we will offer you an invite into our guild.
From here in you will remain on a two-week probationary period; this will aid us to evaluate you
and what you bring to the guild and also help you understand who we are and whether you can
mesh well with us or not.
If all goes well, you will be promoted to an appropriate rank; if not, you will be given one
additional week with pointers as to where we feel you can improve or change to meet our
standards. If at the end of this additional week, you do not meet our expectations, you will be
requested to leave the guild.
You are also more than welcome to leave at any point during this trial with no hard-feelings.

a. Will I get loot during this period?

You will not be added to our ladders until after the period has completed; however, you
will receive the choice of accepting any loot that we do not need.
b. Will I be competing with other recruits for a spot?
That will depend on the exact moment you choose to join. While there might be
competition, we will still evaluate you against our existing member base and not
another recruit.
c. What specific types of people are you looking for?
We will update our specific needs as they appear; please check our recruitment thread
[link] or our recruitment gadget [link] for information.
Our general recruitment will be focused on endgame PvX-ers who are more inclined
towards PvE than PvP, endgame PvE-rs, and endgame PvP-ers. Since our main focus lies
with PvE, endgame PvX-ers who are leaning towards PvP will not fit well here.
We also seek any casual players or crafters who just want to aid the guild in other ways
or simply enjoy the atmosphere we entertain.
d. What is your maximum player-base?
We are capping our PvE base at fifty (50).
At least twenty (20) other spots will be open for those who only PvP.
And finally, ten (10) to thirty (30) spots will be open for casuals and crafters.
That brings the total cap to eighty (80) to hundred (100) players.
e. Any reason to apply if you are not looking?
If you strongly feel we will be a good match for you, do not hesitate to apply. While we
may not have updated our recruitment needs, many developments might be occurring
underneath the surface, and we might consider you now or in the near future to fill the
gaps as they fall into place!
f. I need help; what is the number for altahoic anonymous?
You are allowed to have a maximum of three alternate characters within the guild.
g. Any other nuances?
Yes, please have a computer that doesnt breakdown every other hour, and a stable ISP!
And once in the guild, activity on the website and VoiP will be preferred.
Chapter III: Leadership & Ranks

Champion(s) Guild Leader(s)

~ (Administrative and Officer Lead)
~ (Loot Distribution and Member Evaluation)
~ (Recruitment and Conflict Resolution)

Senate Officer(s)
~ (PVE Raid Leader & Strategist)
~ (PVP Raid Leader & Strategist)
~ (Community & Casual Manager)

Guardian(s) Role Leaders

~ (Melee DPS --- Warrior, Engineer, & Stalker DPS)
~ (Ranged DPS --- Spellslinger, Esper, & Medic DPS)
~ (Heal --- Spellslinger, Esper, & Medic Healing)
~ (Tank --- Warrior, Engineer, & Stalker Tanking)

Solaxys PvE & Hybrid Players

Lunaxys PvP Players

Anemoi Casuals and Crafters

Mortal(s) Alternate Characters & Retired Characters

Grasshopper(s) Recruits

~~
Five Rules of Leadership
1. Do not try to control any individual; just show them the door.
2. If emotion is getting in the way of logic, log off.
3. Not about keeping everyone happy, but everything fair.
4. Only expect to get what you give.
5. Lose a battle, win the war.
Chapter IV: Code of Conduct Policy

1. All members must have an appropriate and respectable name for all their characters that are of
the guild. In other words, names of well-known characters or individuals (real and fictitious),
names containing vulgarity or an undertone of innuendo or obscenity, names containing a
phrase or a sentence, and names containing multiple chain of names will not be allowed within
the guild.

2. All members must act respectfully at all times, and never conduct any action that would
negatively affect our community. Spamming, trolling, phishing, scamming, flaming, griefing,
ego-tripping, whining, condescending, excessive use of profanity, any involvement with bigotry
or racism, and any crudity are all offenses which could net a removal from the guild.

3. All members must treat each and every individual respectfully whether they are of the guild or
not of the guild, whether it is in a PvE instance or a PvP instance. Harassment, denouncement,
trash-talk-ing, and any behavior which compromises another players comfort level repeatedly
are all offenses which can be grounds for removal from the guild. All members must resolve
conflicts privately or via our officer; never publicly. In any communal situation, all members
must cooperate as necessary, and treat everyone as theyd expect themselves to be treated.

4. All members must respect leadership. Any public abuse or non-constructive criticism of the
officer-base will more often than not result in the removal from the guild. If any disagree with
our actions or our decisions, they are encouraged to let us know privately at an appropriate
time. We will listen and take into consideration all the opinions at hand, as we only want whats
best for the guild.

5. No member is ever allowed, while within the guild, to speak negatively about Aurora publicly or
privately. This includes, but not limited to, sharing matters of conflict, differences of opinion,
and impotence with content.

6. No member is ever allowed to be part of, or be the cause of, a clique or a sub-guild, while in
Aurora. No member is ever allowed to be part of another guild while having a character within
Aurora.

7. All members are free to report any individual that they have observed to have violated our
policy (with evidence such as voice recording or screenshot). Immunity and anonymity will be
guaranteed, as this action would be conducted to protect our interests.
Chapter V: Attendance & Elder Game Policy
1. All members must record an attendance rate of eighty (80) percent to the specific attribute they
are slated for. If a member is of the rank Solaxys (PvE), they must maintain an eighty percent
attendance rate to all scheduled raids. If a member is of the rank Lunaxys (PvP), they must
maintain an eighty percent attendance rate to all organized PvP events. As all hybrid players are
of the Solaxys rank, they only have to maintain their attendance clause to PvE and not PvP.
Those of the rank, Anemoi, are exempt from these rules, and only have to maintain a fifty (50)
percent overall attendance rate.

2. All members, barring any strenuous circumstances, must attend all required guild meetings and
specific-to-their-rank prep-sessions. Raid-logging is strictly prohibited; all members must be
active across the week and not just for scheduled PvE and PvP Elder Games.

3. All members must post on the absence forum [link] for when they will be late or not available
for any relevant, scheduled Elder Games. If this option is unavailable due to unforeseen
circumstances, then it becomes the responsibility of the party involved to inform an officer via
forum, e-mail, private message, or phone as early as possible with the reason for their absence
or late, and the extent to which this behavior will continue (i.e. if more days will be missed or
the event is a recurrence). All members must post on the absence forum and inform an officer
of any extended leaves they might be taking; failure to do so and resulting inactivity can be
grounds for removal from the guild.

4. All members must be available for any relevant, scheduled Elder Game fifteen (15) minutes
prior to the start time with all requirements for the event at hand and all distractions taken care
of to the best of their ability. All members must remain focused throughout the event, and must
obey the orders provided by the leader of the event. Any disagreement should be indicated
privately to the leader and should not amount to affect the group in entirety. The officer in-
charge is asked to take any such message into consideration, however is not required to act on it
should he or she choose not to. All members must adhere to the Code of Conduct Policy [link]
and any form of raging, yelling, or leaving the event (either by logging off, or quitting group) can
be grounds for removal from the guild.

5. All members are required to have researched and applied the appropriate specs per encounter,
to have the required consumables, and to have read up on the encounters and strategy we will
employ. While it will be our responsibility to provide easy access for each of our members to a
bank of information, it is up to the members to do their homework and be ready for any
scenario. The forum will be an open discussion and all members are encouraged to discuss and
challenge strategies, ideas, and suggestions.

6. All members must understand and accept the loot system: Suicide Kings [link].
 a. Simply, all members of the guild will be ordered into loot lists (first list will be developed
via random roll, and will be reset for every tier transition). The list(s) indicates order of
priority with which the individual with the most priority (highest on the list) can choose
to bid or not bid on an item; and if the latter, it will be passed down to the next priority
for the same choice. Once a certain member chooses to bid on an item, they will be sent
to the bottom of the list, relative to the players that participated to attain the loot drop.
To prevent exploitation, if all members of the list pass, then the loot in question will
either be broken or sold (with the resulting sale benefitting the guild bank), or given to a
new recruit not on the list.
b. While there will be no benefits for desirable behavior, there will be consequences for
unacceptable behavior. Failing to attend a raid and not provide an adequate reason
within an appropriate timeframe will net a yellow card for the involved party across
ALL lists that contain their name. If repeated, then they will receive a red card, which
is an automatic suicide (i.e. they will be taken to the bottom of the list(s) irrespective of
their position on the list(s)).
c. Any penalty to the position on the list(s) for a member breaking the Code of Conduct
Policy will be determined on a case-by-case basis
d. There will be separate lists for class-specific items and cross-class items; as well as
separate lists for loot tier, and instance tier. Any loot that does not fall into these
categories might net a new list or might be administered via a loot council (at the
discretion of the officer in-charge)
e. The leadership has all authority to override the loot system should problems,
complications, or hints of exploitation arise.
f. All members retain the right to contest the system or any offices decisions regarding
loot, however, this must be done after the scheduled event has finished and in a private
manner. No member should ever be part of any sort of loot drama. This is a serious
offense and will be grounds for removal from the guild.

Any infractions of either policy will force the party in question into a trial, where they will be told of their
actions that broke our law, and then be provided with a chance to administer a defense on their behalf.
A thorough evaluation of the evidence, testimonials, and previous offenses will ensue, after which the
party will be informed whether they are to remain within the guild (with or without penalty) or to leave
the guild. Penalties include, but not limited to, rank change or loss, loot position change or loss, reentry
into or extension of the probationary period, additional chore, and time-out.