Clan Guide
Clans - what are they all about then?
Well, many love the team aspects - playing in a clan is the next step to becoming one of the best, and is a lot like going ‘professional’. You’ll experience victory, defeat and some of the closest matches known to man.
Computers and computer games are no longer considered ‘geeky’. In the US, on-line gaming is incredibly popular, although on this side of the pond the development of on-line gaming has been restricted somewhat, due to the per minute charges.
Nevertheless, thousands of gamers go to battle for the honour of their clan every day, so that they have the right to say, “We won the WP Q3 CTF league twice in a row”. Or “we came from nowhere to finish a respected 3rd in the league”.
Almost every quality on-line multiplayer game (from Quake to Air Attack) have clans. Some have years of experience, while others have only been going for a short amount of time.
Generally, playing in a clan match will mean an ‘enlightened’ experience. You will rarely find campers, who sit and ruin the game for everyone.
Free-for-all deathmatches can only take you so far. Joining and playing in a clan will test you to the limit.
So how do you get involved?
Well to join a clan, this is probably the best route to take as it’s a bit easier than setting up your own clan. There are several ways in which to get into a clan:
Spotting an existing clan member (who are easily identified due to tags in front or behind their name, like [PASC] Fat Rabbit), and asking for details of maybe a web site which they have is often a good start.
You can also use the mIRC program and find a clan’s IRC channel. From here you can be put in touch with clan members or the clan leader.
Perhaps the ultimate way in which to join, is to be offered a position in the clan. This can often be achieved by playing well and someone spotting you. Even playing badly, but maybe having a unique attitude or team spirit can help you join.
Tips for joining a clan…
Be sensible - If you want to get noticed, forget about camping or runway ramming, and don’t bother swearing (especially before 9pm). If you’re going to lose (which will happen), at least have the guts to be a good sport about it.
Pick carefully - Different clan’s have different styles. Check out a clan before you join. If you’re looking for serious players, try and look for a serious clan. If you’re after humour, then look for it. Whatever style you’re into, there’s a clan out there for you!
Approach, but don’t bother - If you spot clan players on servers, and you like the way they play, then ask about joining. But be aware that they may be busy, so don’t bother them too much.
Get the best of the best - Try and equip yourself with the best kit available. No matter how good your set up though, there always seems to be someone who has better - but that’s life.
No more space left? - If a clan won’t have you, it’s often because they have no more spaces left. Why not set up your own clan…
Creating your own clan…
Creating your own clan can be as easy or as hard as you like. Here are some tips to help make your life easier, and increase your popularity:
What’s in a name? Well, your clan name is probably the first thing that a possible member is going to notice. If you’ve got a lame name, then first impressions may not be that great. Obviously, names aren’t everything, but they can help you to get noticed.
Details, details, details - Try to set up your clan with clear goals and aims. Possible clan members will often look for a unique clan, which is ‘not just another clan’.
Don’t get overwhelmed - Don’t go entering leagues, ladders and cups before you have enough members. Doing this, and saying just before the match, “I’ve only got 3 members”, is going to ruin your clan’s image and spoils the fun for everyone. Start off by entering just one league or ladder etc. Then just build on that.
Web sites and forums - Try to get a web site and perhaps a forum. These are invaluable tools that tell the world about your clan and serve as a base for members to visit. Try and list important things on your site, such as clan goals and aims, member lists and fixtures etc.
We would recommend using free services, such as Fortunecity or Tripod for your site. For your forum, we would recommend Ezboard as it’s free, but has many features.
Choose your members carefully. If you want dedicated members, see how many nights a week they can play. There’s nothing worse than having 30 members, and only 10 of them bother to turn up. Obviously, you can’t expect them to make every match or practice, but some kind of commitment is needed.
Practice makes perfect - Organise it so that there’s at least one practice a week. You might also want your clan to meet for a match really early and ‘have a kick about’. In other words, this can serve as useful practice before a league, ladder or cup game.
Alpha, Whiskey, Foxtrot - Make your in-game communications easier by using programs like Team Speak or Ventrilo. These are voice communication tools, which save you typing everything out, but you’ll need a microphone to do this. If you must type out your communications, then bind keys to pre-set orders or text. For example, you could bind “Defend the base” to the D key. Consult a games manual or support pages for info on how to do this. There are so many games, that telling you how to bind keys in each would be impossible.
Whether you’re planning on joining a clan or want to create one, I hope this column helps you and that you have fun. After all, that’s why games are made…
