Player Associations Archive
Thread: Should I join a PA?
This is an honest question and not a snarky remark. I've been playing since July, so I'm not looking for "help" in my gaming per se. This is more of a "what-else-is-there-for-me-to-do" problem. I've done nothing but solo in SWG and I'm considering joining a PA, but I've been put off by the whole GCW and the general lack of SOE attention to griefers. I really don't want my limited game-time to get sucked up by vendettas, personal or guild, so I'm looking for feedback on what the actual benefits are from joining a PA.
I don't see any benefits from joining a guild in SWG other than socializing. For instance, group XP is not better than solo PvE XP; solo you can still buy items from anywhere's; you can always gain AXP from somewhere's, etc. Is it the fact that there is no real measurable benefit, like better terminal payouts in a PA city, rather there's just better access? For example, you can gain AXP solo, but you can gain a lot more easily in a PA? Does joining a PA just give you more opportunities to buy stuff, train, fight, etc? If so, that's not enough for me, because the PvP rules of SWG and the ongoing behaviors of a fair number of players really offset the benefits of "more stuff".
Just looking for honest feedback to help me in my decision. Not criticizing. Thanks.
The most unique part of being in a PA is the socializing and the friends and people you meet and become friends with. If you are looking for some benefit for you to actually playing the game, such as getting more credits, new and better equipment, etc.. then joining a PA is not for you. Some PAs offer people bribes to join and stay, but I don't approve of it and generally it's a waste of time for those who fall for them.
My personal opinion of being in a PA is, you only get out of it what you put into it. If you're looking just to aquire personal wealth or equipment, you are truly better off staying solo or findingone of the 'hard core gaming' PAs, but they generally are just full of greed.
There are no game benefits that you get just by joining a PA. It's what you do while in the PA that decides what benefit you get from it. Hope that helps answer your question.
Well, I enjoy joining and being a central part of a PA because...
In several years when I have moved on in my life or this game has ended... I won't have my stats, credits, equipment, weapons,or skills. I won't have a PA Hall or Harvesters. My character as it exists will cease to exist. However, I will still have friends, emails, and future hunting partners for future games. I still exchange email with friends from EQ though I have never met them and I haven't played EQ in three years. Friends from DAoC are now a part of my SWG PA. The strength of contacts you make in a PA can transcend SWG.
Well there are many different reasons for joining a PA but it always differs with everyone else. However I'd like to share with you my reasons why I chose to do so.
I come from a solo player background having played several MMORPGs before SWG. I never needed help doing things such as money making, hunting, etc. I was highly self-suffiencient in taking care of myself. I always had the mentality that all PAs told you what to do and to babysit you when you're new.I mean if I wanted to be told what to do all the time, I wouldn't need a video game for that (ie: work, girlfriend, family, etc.) After a while, playing solo in a MMORPG was getting very lonely and did not offer me any kind of enthusiastic thrill.One day I decided to join a PA and give it a try to see whether it was what I assumed. The first few PAs I joined were the huge ones that recruited just about anyone and didn't care much about the players so long as they had the numbers to back them up. It really distraught me asking for some kind of help because I felt that even though I asked, I was treated as if I were still a solo player. So I left them and moved on. But I decided to give it a go one more time.
I was out solo hunting one day and I happened upon a group that arrived to a spot I was in. Rather than claim the area as theirs, they kindly asked me to join the group rather than fight over it. I accepted and during the hunt had some very good conversation. The group itself acted very orderly and had excellent teamwork strategy. They were from a small guild which had formed a few days ago but I saw that they all had great communication with each other. I admired this and asked if they were recruiting. They were and I had a week to decide if I wanted to stay on a permanent basis. Well I stayed. They shared items with each other, gave money to people who needed it, helped those with poor combat skills with training, etc.
From there I have had an excellent time with this guild I joined based on the teamwork aspect that existed. I admit there are going to be times when people have their fights and people will leave or someone joins and disrupts the PA. But overlooking beyond all of the negative and focusing on the positive aspects more, being in a PA was worth joining. I realized that by helping and participating, I immersed myself with even more content than what the games had to offer. I didn't care if I got back less than what I gave because doing those things kept me entertained. Not only that but I now have good friends from all over the world who share similar common interests as me. I mean come on, VNV Nation is not a nation it is a band.
But that is my experiencetransforming froma solo gamer to a PA member. The current guild I amin has its roots in Earth and Beyond and has carried over to SWG. I'm having a great time managing the city we co-run as well as guild duties. I know it is "work" but my feeling is it is filler content that adds on top of current game material to immerse myself in and keep me entertained. So long as I'm not bored, I'll stick around. So it is up to you as an individual to find out what it is you really want in a PA. We all have different needs that must be catered to and it is based on trial and error to find one that suits it. I hope you find what you're looking for.
I recently formed a new PA in order to bring some additional content to my own playing experience. I decided to model it in a way that made sense for the type of character I play, and am in the process or working in promotion system for the ranks that I set up. Basically to answer your question I enjoy running a PA, and so far my members have stated that they enjoy the way I run the PA and my attempts to bring more content into our lives.
Honestly, if you don't care one way or another then you might just want to talk to a few PA's and see if they will let you tag along a little and observe what they typically do, and see if it is something you would be interested. I personally nevr thought I would want to run a PA, although I enjoyed being in one. Now I'm not certain I could enjoy the game as much if I didn't run the PA.
Hope that helps. If you want to know more detailed information on what I set up please feel free to look at the thread in my sig, or the PA website (as it is only an informational page really).
If you like playing with people and socalizing do it but I suggest you join a gaming org vs just a SWG pa. Reasoning is that games are fickle. We will play them for a while untill the newest and best game comes out and everyone will migrate to that one. So in a gaming org you can make friends that may also play those different games which helps you start out in new games. Just a though. We play about 5-6 online games in my org and we plan on playing a few more as they come out. I always knwo there will be someone I know in a game I play which is nice.
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