Something has always confused me about Massive game conventions. It’s generally agreed that the point of these things is playing with other people. (That’s the second ‘M’ in MMOG.) While the Guild structure is well established, and present in almost every modern game I can think of, smaller groups of individuals who consistently adventure together are ignored by game mechanics.

Given that most fantasy-like titles appear to be reaching for the pen-and-paper experience, that’s very confusing. I have lots of friends spread across many game worlds, but I also have several friends that I game with on a regular basis. Why can’t we form a smaller group to represent our commitment to each other, even though we’re not ‘guild-sized’?

The average pen-and-paper session runs from three to six people, plus a gamemaster. Through in-game lore, this group will usually commit themselves to each other in a formal or semi-formal manner. When I run a game, I usually ask my players to come up with a party name. Besides sparking an inevitably funny argument, it fills the function every formal group does: it promotes unity through separation. By being part of a group you cement your bonds to each other in a real way.

Guilds can evoke these feelings, and if you look at Guilds with longevity I think you’ll find they have an actual social structure. Whether codified along military terms or one of those ‘family’ guilds, if they’re doing well there is likely some sense of belonging. The WoW guild that I joined prior to the game’s launch has since dissolved, because of a lack of leadership and a dissatisfaction with the guild’s social structure.

This is all well and good, but it’s really hard to get close to a group of 30+ people. At the height before the crash, my WoW guild was close to 80 people strong. The smaller the social group, the tighter the bonds can be. A small group with a common banner to gather under would have an even tighter bond.

The question is, why is the party relegated to a fleeting existence? As a small and important social group, doesn’t it deserve recognition?

It seems tedious to add yet another title to a character’s likely already bulging name. Perhaps a prefix or suffix would be appropriate, if the game in question doesn’t use them extensively already. One option would be to require formal parties to be all of the same race, and reward party members with a common last name. Familial connections are often used in PnP games as a way to promote togetherness, and I have seen this convenient fiction can work in Massive games as well.

My preference would be to show formal group alliance via some visual cue or doodad. A tattoo, necklace, bracelet or other physical symbol would be a simple and effective way of declaring your fraternity. Allowing the group members to choose exactly what that symbol is would be the ideal, encouraging creativity and roleplaying among those who might not otherwise think in that direction.

In games with housing, the formal group should be allowed a unique form of lodging. Perhaps instead of a personal home or apartment, the party members could combine resources to rent or purchase a group lodge. As a party lodge, the goal should be to  show off the personality of the team and celebrate the group’s notable accomplishments. Common loot vendors, unique decorations … make them feel special.

My secret desire behind this idea is a thumb of the nose at the raiding guilds. Those of us that sigh with regret because of busy social lives should have opportunities to experience unique and dramatic content. Allowing a formal group access to special dungeons or instances would be the ultimate reward for a well-developed group relationship. Reward quality of gameplay on the same level as quantity of playtime.
At the end of the day, my hope is that future games will recognize the importance of groups big and small. The sign on the door to teh funz reads ‘do not apply if you do not have 40 spare hours a week’. I’d love to see a smaller sign on a smaller door nearby that reads ‘only cohesive groups may apply’.