Now, I just heard about this, and I couldn't help but think :wtf:

Apparently Nessa has put a GF lock on anyone who is GR1 or GR2.. and to get to GR3 you have to complete a mandatory set of requirements which include essays and a variety of other nonsense.

Now.. is it just me.. or does this just stink to high heaven of what made Achaean guilds so utterly and completely horrible?

Mainly I'm just curious to know if what I hear is true and as bad as it sounds to me?

You don't have to do essays. It is an option.

As for the GR1 and GR2 lock that is perfectly acceptable, there is no rule saying that people have to be given GR2 and GR3. The issue in Achaea was that in order to be a full member of the guild(classed) there was a large amount of hoops to jump through. This does not exist in Lusternia as you are a classed the moment you finish your 24 hour novice period.

If you don't like structure don't play in Hartstone, as that is exactly what is being promoted, getting people involved in the guild. If you are not involved in the guild why should you be given GF's?

My guild does this as well, and I see no problems with it. It makes sure that full, voting members of the guild have enough basic knowledge about the world and the Nihilists/Demon Lords in particular to be able to function and know a bit about themselves.

We've had people who are perfectly content to sit at gr1 with their full skills and not advance in the guild. That's their choice, and they're welcome to it.

Essays or 'presentations' does not get you involved in the guild. Honestly, Gregori, you were a Moondancer once.. where -nothing- is required, and they are so friggin united it isn't even funny. Essays make you HATE your guild, unless you voluntarily pick a scholar path.

And saying "Well, either deal with stupid assignments, or get out" is not the message you want to be sending new players.

Also, if I might ask, what are the other options for Nutling and Sapling aside from essays?

Nihilists don't require an essay.. you require levels, skills, and a ritual. That I could totally tolerate. Enforced essays are completely different.

Rewards
-------
When passing a branch stage, for the
Nutling - granted guildrank 2
Sapling - granted guildrank 3

===========================
The Branch Study of Nutling
===========================

After graduation, a Hartstone Druid begins with the Branch Study of
Nutling. Before embarking on the journey of the power of knowledge,
the Hartstone Druid must be well versed in the tasks listed in GHELP
ADVANCES to ensure a smooth passage.

In this stage of nutling, a Hartstone Druid learns all about the
Hartstone, its history, its recent past, what the Hartstone's role
within the commune and in Serenwilde Forest is as well as its goals
for the future.

It is also during this stage the Hartstone Druid adopts and practises
the Ways of the Hart, gradually working to be part of the Grove's
community.
Type MORE to continue reading. (79% shown)
1416h, 2064m, 2172e, 10p ex-more


Once aimed with this knowledge, the Hartstone Druid may seek out a
Caretaker or an Assistant Caretaker of the Circle.

Check CLHELP PRESENTATIONS for ideas and rules on how to present
your work.

1416h, 2064m, 2172e, 10p ex-clhelp presentations
Composed by: Nessa
Composed on: 2005/08/13 12:05 GMT

Presentations
=============
Presentations for any of the tasks and branches can come in any form
imaginable.

To name the more common ones
- essays
- in-room presentations
- demonstrations
- indept interviews

....... I see NOTHING about forced-essays.

Essays suck.

No matter what.

The end.

I see something about indept interviews, which looks suspiciously similar to inept interviews. Ha!

Whelp My alt isn't going anywhere in that guild.

That's why I left achaea.

To get to GR2 in the Blacktlaon you just have to know stuff about the guild ans show effort. After GR2 everything else is a point system. Where you have to earn so many points to attain the next guildrank. You get points for sparring OR influencing OR essays. Cause yeah.. I hate essays too.

You people are blowing this insanely out of proportion. All it consists of is you standing up and explaining everything. No need for an essay. Wing it!

Once again Jairdan comes to the forums to flap his lips about something he knows nothing about, because he can't read the help files. Perhaps he should put his alt to use and read what is going on instead of whining about crap all the time.

There is no forced essay, your presentation can be oral or written. It is your choice, and yes, do the work, sit at GR1, or get out is a perfectly valid argument. I happen to want people in the guild willing to put in the effort to do more than breathing.

Moondancers are not Hartstone either. What works for them is great, but I am sorry not every guild aspires to be a copy of the Moondancers. As much as I love the RP they have, and I have great admiration for Skyla and the rest of the Moondancers who organised their structure, it is their structure. If you like it so much, go join them, no tears will be lost when you leave.

Because nobody wants him there, either.

*whine*


I have to do sappling stuff too.
I didn't have to do nutling because I wrote HELP GUILDNOVICE HARTSTONE

And, I'd have thought, Ialie, Nutling would be our favourite one.

EDIT: (Or was it NUTLING? CRAP!)

Hey, Moondancers have the Witching Path implemented now ... I've got to catch up with eight ranks of contemplations before doing tasks.

Umm, or I could just maybe somehow do some other things to get favours? But I'd feel badly if, as a Wisdom, I hadn't/haven't done the contemplations.

I won't say anything about the Witching Path except that, at least theoretically, it is optional. (In practice I am not sure how that will pan out, it has been looking iffy so far. But that's not giving it a proper chance.)

Incidentally, I prefer essays/presentations to rituals. They require no creativity, just knowing things. Maybe this one's different, but I don't know. One essay is hardly bad.

Heh, if you want to see essays, you should take a look at the Nihilist political path I wrote. You better love writing if you decide to go that route in guild advancement!

(Then again, I'm a political science major, and so I do love writing, heh )

One essay is immensely bad. At least, for someone who has a severe dislike for writing. (I know, I know, I have the wrong job in the wrong game for this. Eeeeeek.)

And, for the record, the crap they make you do to get to gr2, is really easy stuff, and things EVERYONE should know. None of this crap where we have gr4s who don't know what the Hartstone's purpose is, or where Hart is.