Originally Posted by
Xada
Ugh, I'm the guild master of a heroic raiding guild. The purpose of the guild was to have a focused progression raid group that only raids for 12 hours a week max so people have their game time while still having ample time to do things outside of WoW, especially weekends. Recently, I heard of a friend mention to me that he has a friend from an old guild looking for a raid spot. Well, I needed a tank and invited him. Started clearing heroics until about 10 o'clock when he says he needs to go. We ask why and he just says he needs to go, so we get up to malkorok and end for the night. Heard later his dad was in the hospital. Now before you think I'm a heartless, read the entire story. I tried to get in touch with him yesterday and today and have not heard anything except stuff from his friends, and one that informed me he's turned into a flake. So now, I have to consider that he might of decided against raiding this week, hell, he could have made it all up, it wouldn't be the first time I've had to deal with a liar. Against my better judgement, I decided to vent on a board with a wow thread. Apparently, I'm just an inconsiderate jerk and should let him do as he pleases because wow's just a game and blah blah blah, all the while I have raiders with pitchforks wanting me to cut him loose for wasting our time, including his friend who referred him to me.
I thought I made it clear while screening him that our guild is a meant to progress and by expressing intent to raid with us, they are expected to be there or communicate with us that they won't be there. I understand life happens, but my guild has lives, goals, and plans. I stress attendance because it is by far the problem that constantly keeps my members from doing the things they want to do. If they can't, post, let someone know, I don't care how obscure. I just need to know so I can try and put something together. In all my time I have been a GM, the only people who couldn't find the time to let me know what's up were the ones who didn't care to. I try to work things out, make adjustments, compromise, all the while having people clawing at me on what I should do. I take it all with stride, but it does wear on me. I almost lost it on that one thread, I didn't have anything personal against the guy, but I have to do what's best for my guild.
While no doubt most of the readers here will ask "where's the substitutes?" We have a 3 person bench, 3 people were out this week who made it known that life happened, he was the 4th and I had to get an answer from him. I'm tired of being told it's just a game, I can't get the guild to progress without people showing up. And then what about my members, they're my friends, I personally keep in touch with everyone of them to make sure their needs are met or just to be there for them, and we want to finish this fucking raid. Hell, it's led to a relationship with my raid leader that has gotten serious recently. Point is, we want people to know what they're getting into and what's expected of them on this team.
Any tips on how to deal with the pressure? Especially since I am still planning ways to keep things interesting till WoD releases. This is just absolutely a no win situation for me, so in all honesty, I really don't care if someone thinks what I did was wrong. If you want to say it to get under my skin, go for it.