“Legends of Tristram” Guild

Legends of Tristram (LoT) started as purely a leveling guild back in Classic and now is a level 25, successful Horde raiding guild. In June 2012 we celebrated seven years together. We were the first level 25 Horde guild on Gilneas. Throughout the game changes and expansions, LoT has remained a great place to level, play, PvP, raid, and meet other genuinely nice people.

Back in Classic WoW, folks would level in LoT and move on to other "raiding" guilds. Members of the guild, including founder and 1ast GM Akashaa, thought it was sad that people thought you couldn't have a guild that was a great place to level and a great place to focus on end game content, but unfortunately that was the approach most guilds took. Even Akashaa eventually joined the ranks of ex-LoT members to get some pre-BC raiding experience with other guilds. Clearly there was a good foundation in the guild, but members were spread out through other raiding guilds in order to attain that experience and content.

With the release of the Burning Crusade, many of the founders of LoT, including Akashaa, Veneficus, Joobadax, and Poisonblade, who had left LoT to raid, returned home to build something new and ramp up and conquer the new content. Since that time, LoT has retained its status as a great place to level and hang out, but over the years has become a very successful raid guild as well.

Akashaa always had a vision that a guild doesn't have to be solely focused on raiding and raiding alone to be successful. As only the 2nd GM in the guild's 7+ years of existence, we think people build bonds through leveling together, doing instances together, getting achievements together, and so on. When players have these bonds and shared experiences we think they create a stronger, longer lasting, and more enjoyable group with which to do end game encounters.

Over the years, as we grew and developed as a more raid-centric guild, we did come to understand the complexity of trying to do it all. It's hard to make everyone happy and give them the in game experience that is the most fun for them when you have players with conflicting goals, ambitions, skill sets and availability.

So, we've tried to create something that is the best of both worlds through the use of established policies, good recruiting and development of players, and a strong core of officers. We have a dedicated and skilled raider groups, but we also still allow for casual members, friends and family, and some purely PvP focused players. However you like to play WoW, we support that.

We also have retained a lighter raid schedule of just 3 days a week for 3 hours, to accommodate people who have work, school or just enjoy spending time outside of WOW (yes those people DO exist!). At the same time during periods of progression we add extra days to our raiding schedule for those players who are interested and able so that they can tackle new content.

Over the years, Blizzard helped lower the barrier to entry for raiding, by giving players multiple ways to gear up without being a drag on the guild: 5 man instances, reputation rewards, questing, scenarios, and LFR are all great ways to quickly ramp up so that players can join and immediately contribute to a raiding squad.

We also retain the belief that real-Life comes first. So whether it's date with your significant other, homework, business, or family - those priorities always come first. No one is going to make you feel badly because you have to live your real life and perhaps won't be on for a few days or even a few weeks to focus on other things. People who have other obligations don't have to worry about being removed from the guild. We will be here whenever you are willing and able to play. When our members come back we have helped them gear back up and rejoin one of our raiding groups if they so chose.

So if you are a nice person, interested in a playing with other nice, helpful people or you have a friend in the guild, please don't hesitate to apply or speak with an officer. Our recruitment is different depending on what type of member you join as. We do also recruit for standby and future raiders beyond our regular Blue and Red 10 man groups. Healthy competition does go a long way and raiding spots do open up all the time. Standby raiders enjoy all the same benefits as raiders including: paid repair bills, free enchants and flasks, etc. In addition, they are first in line to receive epic BoE items that are not upgrades for players in the raiding squads.

Over our 7+ years we still retain many members that have been with us for years. Our current raid leader has been with the guild since BC. This is a great source of pride for us. At the same time there has been much evolution of the player and officer base as the game itself has evolved. What remains, though, are the key tenants that Akashaa had originally put in place. People first. Fun, relaxed atmosphere. Most of our officers have been with the guild for many many years, which really helps foster an atmosphere of respect for the great things that the guild does and the people in it, both past and present.

So, thanks for taking the time to read this. If you have more questions, please speak to Sindrelauris or one of our other fine officers in-game. If you are interested in applying directly or are looking for other information please feel free to check out our guild website, link posted below.

Take care, see you in game.

Sindrelauris, GM
<Legends of Tristram> - Gilneas (US)