I mentioned slow response times regarding WoW's GMs in this thread: WoW loses the coveted "Game of the Year" from PA.
Well here is why I wanted support. After spending a week+ getting 10 signatures for a guild (we had like 6 core people and it took a while to gather the final couple). I returned to the guild master, right clicked on him and got the usual interface to purchase a guild charter. I was confused. I expected an option to present my charter. I opened my inventory - and its gone. Hmmm.
/g sup with this?
"You are not in a guild".
Grrrrr!
Ok, fine I'll get another charter for the same guild and re-collect the signatures. "Guild name is not available" So it did register? I figure either someone else was allowed to make a guild charter for the same guild name and beat us out - or something broke.
I contact tech support and wait several hours and nothing comes of it - the next day I got an email reply:
Answer: If you wish to create a guild, please get another Guild Charter and make sure that the people who sign your guild charter have not, and will not sign another charter while obtaining enough signatures for your guild registration. If the guild name was already selected, then you will also have to get a new charter and choose another name. Place the guild charter in your main bag, and then register the guild. We are working to correct the current complications with guild creation as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
This did nothing for me. I still didn't feel I had a deffinitive answer - and ideally they push a few buttons and setup my guild. I therefore made another request for support around 9pm PST. Played until 12am. Then gave up and went to sleep. Next morning I have a new email from 2am:
We are working to correct the current complications with guild creation as soon as possible. If your charter was lost, please petition a Game Master; you may have your charter fee reimbursed if we can successfully verify your loss. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
Heh, petition a game master you say? I thought I just did that. And becauase I'm a glutten for punishment I yet again petition a game master and yet again give up waiting for a response, and finally I get this email response:
Answer: There are a few items that may prevent a charter from being accepted. Please be certain that when you turn in the charter it is in you main bag. Also, if any of the characters that signed your charter signed any other charters, or belong to any other guilds, then your charter will become invalid. Lastly, if the guild name you choose is already in game then your charter will become void.
and as my friend joked: ...and if the sun is in the house of Aries, then just plain forget about it. I'm stunned this got out of beta like this. First of all - they probably shouldn't allow more than one charter with the same name (I still doubt they allow it). Second, has to be in your main bag? Didn't they have extra bags in beta? Lastly - if someone who signed joins another guild - just remove the name from the charter.
That process sounds like a total pain in the ass.
I should add - WoW rocks in my mind, and Bliizzard have given me such faith in their skills - more than any other developer. So I don''t mean to whine about the game or anything. Mainly I mention all this for two reasons, a) to bring attention to their currently poor customer service times - which I''m sure they''re working to address. b) to warn others planning to make a guild in the future that the process has some quirks. c) to get any help/feedback from this community since there are still some unanswered questions.
I did not have the charter in my main bag. It is possible that someone who signed the charter joined another guild, or signed another charter - but I have no knowledge of it. So most likely the fact that I didn''t have the charter in my main bag is what broke it. So why can''t I make a new guild charter with the same name? It seems like the guild was made, but not associated to my toon. You''d think they''d want to fix any orphaned guild data.
It is the habit of every aggressor nation to claim that it is acting on the defensive. - Jawaharlal Nehru
Heh, don''t all relate/console/advise at once.
It is the habit of every aggressor nation to claim that it is acting on the defensive. - Jawaharlal Nehru
((Looks around surprised))
Oh ... wow, that sounds terrible! I''m uhh ... so sorry to hear all the problems!