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April 03, 2006

Guild Churn by Server Type

We then looked at whether guild member churn was different across the server types. The data showed that member churn was significantly and consistently higher on PvP servers than RP or PvE servers. The member churn rate on PvP servers is about 75% to 100% higher than that on RP or PvE servers.

Off the top of our heads, we had no explanation for this dramatic difference. It was clear that characters were more likely to leave and switch guilds on a PvP server, but it's not clear whether this is because of the PvP setting or because players who join PvP servers are apriori different from those that join RP or PvE servers.

Server Sample: RP (High), PvE (High), PvE (High), PvP (High), PvP (High)
Sampling Period: Month of January
Sampling Resolution: ~12 minutes
Parsing Method: The sample unit is each unique guild with a guild size greater than 1.
Data Filter: None
Sample Size: 5,285 guilds

Posted by Nick & Eric

Posted at April 3, 2006 12:31 PM

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Comments

Having limited PvP exposure (eq2) I found that groups became much more important in the PvP world than in the PvE worlds. When assembling a group one tends to look first for other Guildies to join before looking into the general population. Because of this, the guild becomes more important on a PvP server than on the PvE server. On PvE servers I tend to solo quite a bit so the guild isn't as important when it comes to grouping - instead I look for a more social guild to join. However on the PvP server I am almost forced to group so that becomes a higher priority and I am more likely to switch guilds if I have trouble finding groups within the guild. So, basically, in the PvE world the guild isn't as important to me and therefore there is less of a reason to change guilds even if I am not 100% satisfied with my current guild.

Posted by: Kevin Mentzer at April 4, 2006 05:59 AM

I totally agree with Kevin. The PvP worlds (servers) are more dangerous places. You need better coordination and dedication when it comes to Guild Tasks.

This dedication often translate into more strict rules in guild. I personnaly experienced with one of my PvP guild. Officers were systematically deleting from the guild characters that did not log for a couple of weeks without notice. And if a guildmate behaviour was not considered appropriate, it was simply kicked out.

Successful PvP guilds MUST have strict rules. The "honor" factor is much more important. So dedication it is!

Posted by: LEKO at April 4, 2006 07:13 AM

I don't know, I'd assume that, if Kevin and LEKO were correct, we'd see something of a balancing effect: PvP guilds may "cut" people more, but the same "coordination and dedication" should lead to a more stable core guild base.

As a roleplayer / pvp'er, I'd say that the social bonds built in roleplaying seem stronger and more lasting than those I encounter in PvP guilds.

PvP guilds are more utilitarian in function- players join to find good leadership and teammates quickly for battle. If the guild fails to deliver either, players move off to others that more meet their needs.

Conversely, I've seen RP guilds where people loyally stay, even when they experience dysfunction in leadership or team conflicts would disintegrate a PvP guild.

Posted by: Chas at April 11, 2006 02:02 PM

I agree somewhat with Chas, particularly that PVP has a utilitarian focus: people are more interested in game mechanics, maximizing their characters for survival and ease in PVP.

A lot of PVP'ers feel the _must_ do raid content, to have access to proper equipment ... this mixes nicely with their rank-based equipment, and the result is a lvl 60 character that can take three freshly-60 characters at once. There's a term commonly used to differentiate these two different toons, even: "still in greens".

Raid content is very hard to do with pick-up groups: you need your guild to handle assembling the raid at all... especially if you want to actually "do well"/cover much of the instance. I think this could show itself as both "guild churn" and perhaps lack thereof ... it would bring people to hop guilds quickly, looking for one that can do the content the player needs - also the seriousness and commitment of many successful guilds in raid content can drive people away.

Posted by: GodsofLust at August 10, 2006 10:36 AM

I think it comes down to personality types.

Certain personality types will be more inclined to choose a PvP vs RP vs PvE vs RPPvP server.

It seems natural to assume that more agrressive personality types migrate towards PvP servers.

Posted by: Rob at April 16, 2007 01:07 PM

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Posted by: Colleen Wilcox at November 12, 2008 02:55 PM

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