The Keepers

Hello everybody! I hope your month of May hasn't been too crazy. We have a few announcements and things:

New site theme

As you may have noticed, we have a new site design! Hopefully this one will be a little less...fiery...and more suited to the tenor of the guild. I really wanted to use the draenei-themed one because of our Keeper crystals, but the backgrounds behind the posts and widgets weren't opaque, and that made it hard to read, so this one is a compromise of sorts. We'd love to hear your feedback in the comments!

EDIT: With many thanks to Thess for his help in CSS-wrangling, we now have a legitimate custom theme! The new background is concept art of Oshu'Gun by Peter Lee.

Tabard Design Poll

Guild members, please vote in the poll over to the right on the following tabard design options! The idea is to have our tabard reflect the Keeper crystals that are central to our little support network here: i.e., originally white/colorless and ornately glyphed, activated with blood, and becoming usually a shade of blue or purple.

The poll will be open through Saturday, May 19th, and you may choose more than one option for each section. If you chose "other," please submit your suggestions in the comments!

Click to embiggen:

Log in on your alts

If you have alts that you haven't played in a while but want to keep in the guild, please log into those characters before Monday, May 14. We have had an activity policy in place for a long time, but it hasn't been enforced very strongly. However, it is very discouraging to new recruits (and returning members) to look through the roster and see so many people who haven't been online in months and months. Members and alts who have not been online for two months or more will be removed at 11PM server on 5/14, except for members who have previously indicated that they are on extended leave. 

A list will be posted in the forums of all characters who are at risk of being removed; I hope to have this up by Friday evening, and a link to the thread will be added to this post as well. Private messages have been sent to everyone who is at risk of being removed who has an account on the guild site.

It should go without saying that any member who is removed who wants to rejoin upon coming back to the game/server/whatever will be welcomed back with open arms! Just whisper an officer.

We have Twitter going again!

Look at the sidebar! (It's over there, to the right of this post.) Twitter updates!

I do my best to put up event announcements and reminders in a timely fashion, but Twitter is also for anything else the guild wants to talk about or announce. If you have something you think I should tweet or retweet (an event, a member achievement, something awesome happening) send @KeepersofWrA an @reply or PM me (Abhayaa) on the forums.

Anything else?

Questions? Comments? I'm excited, guys.

The fifth in our installment of Keepers interviews, this week we present Abhayaa!

How long have you been on the roleplaying scene?

This is actually my first time being part of a legitimate realtime RP community, though I have been around the edges and known people who RP seriously for a long time. I must say, I'm enjoying it immensely! My first experience was forum RP on AncientSites, a community for ancient history enthusiasts that let you have an online persona as well. This was back in...7th grade? So, 13 years ago. The group I was in (the Royal Court of Crete) didn't call it roleplaying exactly, though!

What got you interested/into RP?

I've always played make-believe and dress-up, and for me WoW is an extension of that. My characters have generally tended to have at least personalities, if not backstories, so being able figure out where they have come from to get where they are and then throw them out into the world to rub elbows with other people has been a really neat experience. Still, I think I enjoy planning and discussing RP more than I enjoy getting down to the actual writing, sometimes! Blame it on my fascination with how people work.

How long have you been playing WoW? What is your favorite class and why?

I have been in WoW since 2005, and my favorite class is definitely priest. I've always conceived of myself as a healer of sorts, so the role fits me very well. Unfortunately, this also means that I am hopeless as DPS or as a tank, since healing is all I've ever done! I'm working on gradually expanding my skillset, though.

How do you create new characters? What is your method?

I generally start with a race or a class that I want to try playing, then choose a class or a race to go with it. From there, I develop a basic personality concept and choose a name based on it - though sometimes this goes in reverse. (My characters' names are chosen for their meaning, with one exception that I can think of.) Funnily, I probably spend more time on coming up with character names than I do on any other aspect of their characters. Since I don't keep that many characters active in-game at one time - and, let's face it, I was just never meant to play some classes just due to straight game mechanics - I keep a spreadsheet with all of the characters I've ever created so I don't forget their names. (This also lets me resurrect them sometimes!) With Shaatnez, for example, the idea of a draenei death knight seemed so incongruous - talk about two things that don't go together! I loved the idea of a character based on incongruity, so that is what Shaatnez is - and his name reflects that concept.

What do you like most about being in the Keepers?

I like that the guild seems to be a safe space and that it emphasizes personal relationships both IC and OOC. I feel like there isn't a strong hierarchy, so the relationships in the guild aren't based on power and formality - they're built on mutual support. It's been a great fit for me so far, and I'm looking forward to future interactions and adventures. :)

The fourth in our installment of Keeper interviews, this week we present Enveri!

How long have you been on the roleplaying scene?

"Since... 1995. Whoo."

Where did you begin roleplaying? Forum, AIM, LARP, etc.

"Tabletop - White Wolf. A combined werewolf/vampire game."

What got you interested/into RP? Why do you continue to RP?

"I have been writing fanfiction and stories about characters since I was 6 years old. Even before I considered that you could RP in MMO games, all my characters had backstories."

How long have you been playing WoW? What is your favorite class and why?

"Since 2005. My favorite class is probably a druid, due to their versatility. I have been playing a shaman since BC release though. :)"

How do you create new characters? What is your method?

"I pick a face that I like, then choose a name. I often have a basic personality in mind, and then go from there. I rarely use Played Bys, although lately I've found them more useful."

What do you do to get into your character's head? What inspires you?

"I draw them. I try to think about their lives, and every day situations and try to illustrate what makes them individuals. Music helps too."

What do you like most about being in the Keepers?

"Hands down, the people. I had the pleasure of meeting one of the best friends I've ever had in game here (and incidentally one of the best RP partners I've ever had). I'd follow some of these people across any server, any faction."

The third in our installment of Keeper Interviews, this week we present Lannissa!

How long have you been on the roleplaying scene?

"About five - six years I would say. Not nearly as long as my fellow Keepers I'm sure."

Where did you begin roleplaying? Forum, AIM, LARP, etc.

"I actually started with WoW. A friend and myself rolled up on Scarlet Crusade, not really knowing what RP was when we got there, but joining because it was a low population server, and new (terrible of us, I know). We eventually managed to get inot a very friendly guild that helped us learn the ropes, and then we began to branch out and explore more on our own."

What got you interested/into RP? Why do you continue to RP?

"My interest in RP came from being around other individuals that really seemed to enjoy the amount of depth they could give their characters. I personally love telling stories, but have never fancied myself a terrible strong writer, and saw RP as a way to practice and let out some creativity. I try to continue to RP as a way of evolving and creating new characters. I love meeting other characters and the different directions continued meetings can take. It really can be surprising how much you can learn about another character, or even of your own when presented with unfamiliar situations."

How long have you been playing WoW? What is your favorite class and why?

"I have been playing WoW since vanilla, about a month after the game came out is when it was purchased for me. My first 60 was a rogue, and my first raiding experience came on my shaman (back when you healed and liked it dammit!) I played a holy paladin through BC, and was a part of arenas on that character (this lead to my disdain for PvP). My favorite class kind of differs depending on what role I look to fill. For tanking, it is always paladin. I just love the combination of skills and ability to react to almost every situation. For DPS, it is Death Knight, strictly unholy! And for healing it is shaman, a call back to my earlier playing days."

How do you create new characters? What is your method?

"Character creation for me general involves very little. I like to come up with a personality type to start, and a little backstory to get the ball rolling. With Lannissa, I actually started out with a friend, as a brother/sister combo. We came up with some personalities, a little backstory if anyone asked, and then set out in Stormwind after the starter quests. Over time, I tend to develop a bit more of the backstory for a bit more depth, and as an explanation for certain traits. I very much like to have most of my character traits created through RP for others. In fact, most quirks that Lannissa has arise from events that actually occurred with others. Finally, I like to add a little something that perhaps would not be noticeable at first, but may be questioned later on."

What do you do to get into your character's head? What inspires you?

"I force myself to think like my character, and draw from their experiences. It's always hardest when you know your character would act in a way that would make you uncomfortable, but sometimes it can provide great joy when you stick to it. For inspiration, I like to try and come up with little stories to explain character absences, and give them new direction. Or, of course, interacting with others can always send you down a path!"

What do you like most about being in the Keepers?

"The Keepers have always been a reliable group of storytellers and lighthearted individuals. I find that as a group we can be very understanding and helpful to newer RPers as well. I've always been an admirer of the others within the guild for their ability to paint with words (something I sorely lack). And they always welcome me back with open arms when I have to take long hiatuses to deal with work!"

The second installment of our short interviews, this week we present Astreala!

How long have you been on the roleplaying scene?

"I've actually been roleplaying in some format since unno, 2001 I believe."

Where did you begin roleplaying? Forum, AIM, LARP, etc.

"Forum rp on Neopets actually. It used to be pretty decent till the site was turned into a money making machine."

What got you interested/into RP? Why do you continue to RP?

"Browsing the internet and being curious. Its fun and entertaining and I live to tell stories. I'm an aspiring novelist."

How long have you been playing WoW? What is your favorite class and why?

"Been playing WoW since whatever was 9 days before cata went live back in 2011. Paladin is my favorite class, its what I rolled first and Tanking will always hold a special place in my heart. Maintankadin! <3"

How do you create new characters? What is your method?

"I decide on both what class appeals to me the most and then what race gives the best dps/healing/tanking advantage. I'm a min/maxer due to years of gaming and unfortunately cant get out of the habit. I play to be the best I can be."

What do you do to get into your character's head? What inspires you?

"Depends on the character. Tyra I play music that reminds me of someone battling a inner battle. Astreala is actually me with a few twists here and there. Arachane I have to sit and think because she's fallen Gilnean Nobility turned commoner and I'm a redneck in RL, so its a bit of a stretch to play her. As for inspiration, Everything! I've been inspired to write short stories over the way leaves travel across the grass in the wind. Anything can inspire someone to do great deeds."

What do you like most about being in the Keepers?

"Best online family ever. I've made so many friends in this game because of The Keepers who have dragged me across multiple servers for worthwhile adventures. Wouldnt have it any other way."

The first in an installment of short interviews of our Keepers, this week we present Heiros!

How long have you been on the roleplaying scene?

"Off and on, I probably have been involved with rp for 12-15 years. Until coming here, I exclusively dealt with pen and paper rpg systems though (Ad&D, Shadowrun, Heroes, TMNT, Paladium Fantasy)."

Where did you begin roleplaying? Forum, AIM, LARP, etc.

"I was first dragged into it by a friend that was into AD&D (yeah, no edition number after that...) when I was in Jr High. Started out doing short things after getting off the bus (waiting for classes to start) and during lunch at school."

What got you interested/into RP? Why do you continue to RP?

"I’m afraid it started with books. Yes, literacy is dangerous. My father had a huge collection of sci-fi/fantasy books, got tired of relatives sending me kids books, and made me read The Hobbit when I was in 1st grade. It was all downhill from there. :p

So far, I prefer the (in person with a group of people) pen and paper rpg set-up, I just wanted to explore this version of rp. I’m pretty much just along for the ride for now to see where it takes me."

How long have you been playing WoW? What is your favorite class and why?

"Off and on for about 2 years. To be honest, priest is probably my favorite, but I’m just not that good with them. I like healing, so usually play classes that have that ability. Priests just have a lot of other tricks to them and 2 buffs to randomly apply to people in passing."

How do you create new characters? What is your method?

"Mostly, I try to make use of the game world, and how someone might see it from coming from a certain part of that world. What would their life have been like before some war or major event impacted that area.

It starts with a class I am curious about (for instance a warrior, which I have never followed through with past lvl 20ish). For a protection warrior, it just made sense to me to have a dwarf. you are the immovable force for your group, so why not a warrior with stoneform? Now, since I am not real up on lore, I will have him come from Ironforge. If I have him recently recovered from injuries in the airfield battle, then it makes sense for him to not be directly in the military anymore.

The hardest part for me (and for some other people I know) is the naming. I usually make use of the internet name lists. So instead of Angus, my dwarf ends up with the older spelling Oengus which turns out to be available.

The main thing is.... at the very start there has to be something I can identify with about the character. This is can be a personality, a class, or just some angle on the game I feel like exploring. Without that connection, my drive to play that character doesn’t usually last past lvl 10. Which is exactly how far I made it on the one warlock I have ever created."

What do you do to get into your character's head? What inspires you?

"Really, for me, it all goes back to how I envision the background of the character. Going back to this dwarven warrior. The airfield battle was against Dark Irons, but at the same time Moira is in the throne room of Ironforge supposedly representing the Dark Irons.

At this point I have a some choices. How will Oengus make sense of this in his head? Does he trust Moira? Does he trust the other 2 leaders, or just wish that somehow Magni was back? Is he still loyal to the kingdom, and does that include a certain amount of loyalty to the throne (no matter who is on it), or would he be willing to participate in rebellion if the opportunity arose? At the very least, if he is still deciding on these things, how does he handle the stress.

Working through a process like that (just working with what is in game) usually gives me enough to run with. There is also plenty of opportunity for putting quirks in the character. While I can sometimes be inspired by books or music or whatever, I have to come back to what is in game to work with and make a character that lives and breathes in this world."

What do you like most about being in the Keepers?

"While I have not been here long, probably the best thing is that there has been pretty much zero guild drama (outside of rp that is). I’m sure that among us there are a lot of different views on life, morals, ethics and the question behind 42, but so far we all seem to get along well enough. That is probably the most important thing for a guild in my opinion."