About Paradigm

Paradigm is a family of like-minded players united in friendship and upholding the virtues of Honor, Integrity and Loyalty. Together we will face an uncertain future, and together we will prosper. We know that our greatest strength lies within our unity, and we seek to enjoy all aspects of the game including forming friendships and loyalties, sharing trust, overcoming challenges, and embracing each other’s differences and strengths. We understand that great rewards are earned and we would not be satisfied if it were any other way. Arrogance, freeloading, and immaturity are not welcome in Paradigm.


Our Goal

The goal of Paradigm is to continue as a successful guild with strong values and an emphasis on game enjoyment. We believe this can be accomplished by maintaining a high level of organization and by choosing "quality over quantity" when it comes to our members. It is our philosophy that a small team of highly skilled players can easily out-maneuver a much larger team of inferior quality. We feel that this will also add an intimacy to Paradigm that will distinguish us from the rest of the world.


Our Focus

The overall focus of the guild and its members is on successful completion of top-end raiding instances and content. We schedule regular raid events for members to attend and conquer together. We expect player preparation, both in game or out, to help us achieve raiding end-game success.

Paradigm is interested in excellence in any portion of the game. Superior command of one aspect of the game usually translates into skill and advantage elsewhere. We have players who enjoy or dislike just about any particular aspect of the game. Some love pvp battlegrounds, and some do not. The same idea applies to reputation grinds, resource gathering, arenas, holiday events, world pvp, questing, exploration, auction bargain hunting, and just about any other aspect of the game.

The Burning Crusade expansion (and future WOW expansions) raiding content demands full and practiced knowledge of your class mechanics and encounter and game mechanics. They also demand the ability to think and react to changing and random situations, learn new mechanics and ways of playing the game and controlling your character, and willingness to take on roles you are not used to or that might not be your favorite, and roles that may require additional preparation. Sacrifice of current in-game gain for future benefit and progression may be needed. We recruit new members to help fulfill our goal of end-game raiding excellence and for whom membership and joint-achievement is a match for their game goals and interests.


Brief History

Paradigm was started the first day Moonrunner opened on July 21, 2005. We started as a guild targetted to raiding, back in raiding's more casual Molten Core days. Membership was near 80 members through most of the original game, and we've been at the top or close to the top of Horde Moonrunner progression since those early days. We've progressed through all of the raid content at a decent clip, clearing all of MC, BWL, AQ40 (main bosses) and 8 of 16 bosses in the original Naxx. We raided and progressed right up to release night, finishing off Gluth just 2 weeks pre-TBC.

The Burning Crusade expansion changed the membership a bit. With significantly fewer raiders needed in the instances and personal attention/skill requirements increased, our membership attendance and performance requirements increased and the roster shrank. We have defeated all of the content in TBC pre-Sunwell and are working through Sunwell now, still leading the raiding progression of the Horde of Moonrunner. These days we maintain an active raider roster of about 35-45 members.

In September 2008, with Brutallus defeated in Sunwell (2 of 6), waning active membership due to new games and pvp server transfers, and a lack of recruitment talent, the guild transferred to the Bloodhoof server. With Eastern timezone playtime and a much larger recruiting pool with very few active raiding guilds, we are looking to find interested talent to prepare for Wrath of the Lich King expansion raiding.

Part I: Guild Application

A. Requirements -- To become a member of Paradigm you must meet the following requirements:

1. Your character and demonstrated play skill must be at maximum character level and at some reasonable amount of character development and progression for the current state of the game to begin trial membership. The exception may be in the weeks following a raised level cap or the beginning of a new stage of progression. Feel free to browse our forums and other member applications to understand our current recruiting focus or needs and the level of game compentency we desire.

2. High presence (attendance) at guild events is expected. If your life situation is such that you can not commit to and maintain multiple nights a week of raiding, we likely are not the guild for you. Community and knowledge of content is difficult to achieve without regular presence.

3. We are looking for long-term members, not temporary bodies. If you are looking for a temporary guild home for just a couple weeks/months (i.e. summer school vacation, or a down period at work, or just to pickup a few gear upgrades for a particular character), please consider another guild. Your goals are not aligned and compatible with our long-term focus on raiding excellence.

4. Good Communication, Honesty, and Trust are key to achieving our goals. These manifest in many ways. Plans and preparations cannot be accurately achieved on false information. Inform officers or leaders in advance if possible of potential absenses or conflicts. Request and provide help in a constructive and respectful manner.

5. Raid communication is achieved in English, both spoken and written. The abilities to read, write, speak and understand spoken English are required. Exception may be discussed in private with an officer, but an officer may require some proof that you are not just trying to bypass this requirement. Use of Ventrilo is required for our raids and events, at the very least to listen, and if you have a permanent or temporary role that requires speaking, speaking in Ventrilo is required.

6. We do not currently require advance disassociation with your current guild in order to submit an application. Please note that if we grant trial membership status, we will want your character to attend our raids and events and not commit further to being saved to other raid IDs for instances or events that our guild might pursue as guild sponsored events.

7. Your character and account are expected to be played by a single real-life player for the duration of membership in the guild. We expect consistent ability and actions from a single player. We can not improve as a team if we can not expect consistency is actions and reactions, and progression of encounter learning. This requirement continues into membership and also applies to family members for raids. Your sibling, spouse, parent or friend may not play your character to attend a guild-sponsored raiding event. We expect to be clearly informed if another family member or some else is using a given character. Permissions to guild resources are also character-based, and misuse of those resources because of additional real-life players on an account will not be tolerated. MAINTAIN YOUR ACCOUNT SECURITY.

8. See the application section of our forums for additional requirements.

9. Failure to meet and maintain these requirements will result in application termination.



B. Conduct -- All applicants are held to the conduct regulations as guild members. Any conduct by an applicant unbecoming a member of Paradigm that is brought to the attention of the officers may result in application termination. Application termination as a result of bad conduct disallows future reapplying.


C. Process -- All applicants will adhere to the following process:

1. Starting Trial Membership – Once you apply to Paradigm, your application will be reviewed and you may be asked to talk with an Officer. Some other members or community members may leave comments as well, and you may answer questions raised or leave additional comments. Private comments to an Officer are also welcomed, but may be given less weight. If your class, chosen specialization, play skills and style, character progression and development, game play schedule, and personality seem to be a fit for the current needs of the guild, an Officer will contact you to discuss starting a trial membership.

2. Trial Membership -- You will be a trial member for approximately one month. During that one month period, you are being evaluated, and member will make note of good and bad items on a private thread. You are encouraged to play, speak, act, and be present as you normally would anytime, which should be to the best of your ability. You are encouraged to be present often during the trial period and play to the best of your ability. This period could be extended or cut-short at the discretion of the officers.

3. Guild Vote -- Becoming a member of Paradigm is accomplished through a guild vote. After about one month, you will be put up for a vote. Your vote will run for one week, and you must secure at least 85% “Yes” votes. “No” votes must be explained, via a post or to an Officer in private. If a vote fails, the situation will be reviewed by the officers. In some cases applicants are allowed to continue application due to failing member vote, continuing trial membership. Applicants may be put up for admittance vote 2 times after which they are not allowed to apply for a time no less than 2 months from last failed vote.

4. New member probation -- All new members will be on probation for four weeks, during which time they will be expected to continue a minimum of 70% raid event attendance. Failure to make this attendance requirement may result in guild removal at officers’ discretion.

5. Family Members -- Immediate family members (Brothers, Sisters, Mothers, Fathers, and Spouses) to full guild members may be guild-tagged aside from current class recruitment goals, but will need to go through their own trial membership to be considered for raiding member status. This is simply to be friendly and social. Without raiding member status, the family member will have the guild tag, but will not be eligible to attend guild raid activities. The family member will be subjected to the usual recruitment policies stated above if they want to raid. Officers reserve the right to deny or remove membership for family members at their discretion (this is generally connected to bad reputation or bad behavior).


D. Changing Main Characters -- A new member is not eligible to switch mains for at least six months after joining the guild. The guild interviewed, evaluated, and prepared for future content with your current character and role in mind. If you decide to change mains within six months of joining, you can disband and follow the normal applicant requirements. You may only change mains once every six months. This same restriction applies to changing functional specialization for raids without discussing it with your class leaders or the officers (i.e. switching from Elemental to Enhancement spec shaman). Exceptions can occasionally be made on a case-by-case basis by the officers as needs arise. Also see the DKP section of the Charter for more information.

Part II: Raids

A. Minimum Level -- Main characters in the guild will be subject to the minimum level requirements we have decided upon for certain instances. All applicants and Alts must meet the minimum level requirement. Gearing requirements also exist for each tier of instances, generally requiring gearing at the previous tier to be prepared to raid at the next tier. Exceptions can be made by an officer for reasons including, but not limited to, classes needed and loot rot.


B. Non-Guild, Non-Applicant (Friends) Attendees to Raids -- Minimum level applies. A guild member or applicant may request that a Non-Guild, Non-Applicant character attend a raid. Request is subject to rejection by officer. All responsibility for making sure that the attendee obtains all knowledge pertaining to their role in the raid, questions about the raid and everything else the attendee needs to know (our loot process, raid rules, general conduct rules, temporary raid invites etc.) falls on the member or applicant who submitted the request for them to attend. Only guild members are eligible to win BoE raid loot. In the event that the aforementioned do not claim the loot, it will be banked or looted for disenchant.


C. Raid Conduct -- All General Conduct Rules apply during raids.

-- 1. Conduct Sanctions -- Failure to follow the specified conduct rules, both during and outside of raids, will be handled first by a general warning in guild chat to stop the insults or offending behavior. If the behavior continues, a tell will be sent to the person(s) warning them that any further misbehavior will lead to an immediate boot from the raid. Finally, continued disruptions will lead to temporary or permanent guild removal. Repeat offenders will be handled by skipping the general warnings and moving straight to a boot from the raid.

-- 2. Following Instructions and Orders -- Following instructions and orders is imperative to raid success. To attend a raid is to agree to follow all orders given by officers or raid leaders during raid and pertaining to the raid as well as orders by non-officer raid leaders pertaining to their lead role in the raid. Example, Non-officer group makers orders on group changes will be followed, Non-officer pullers orders on pulling and advancement will be followed. Failure to follow instructions and orders during a raid may result in dismissal from raid.

D. Waiting outside the instance -- The raid needs backup players in case a new encounter requires a changed raid composition or if a raid member needs to leave for some reason. See the DKP section for more info also.
-- Attendance credit is earned for being in the raid, but not in the instance, if you have been asked to wait outside by the raid leaders.
-- Players waiting to join the raid are expected to be available with a few minutes notice to arrive or be summoned to the instance. A player may play on the character in the raid, play an alt, or simply be available in Vent.
-- If a player is not responsive in game or Vent after several minutes, they may be removed from the raid, and partial or full attendance credit for that raid may be deducted.

E. Official Raids -- An Official Raid is defined by any raid where a majority of the members have access to the area, the event is an active guild target, and when a majority of the raid force is supplied by Paradigm. In such cases, loot is handled by the officers.

F. Unofficial Raids -- An unofficial raid is one that fails to meet one or more requirements of an official raid. The leader(s) of unofficial raids should clearly state the loot rules being adhered to AHEAD OF TIME. Randomed loot is the preferred method, with preference given to the main spec of the characters on the raid. Among Paradigm members, preference is suggested to be given to 25-player raid main characters main-specs.

G. Raid-Call Authority -- Officers or designated raid leaders have the authority to call raids, either to begin or end a given raid.

-- 1. In the event that a priority target has spawned after a night off has been called, the officers / designated raid leaders will re-evaluate the motd/night off.

Part III: Loot and DKP

A. Dragon Kill Point Merit System -- Paradigm uses a Dragon Kill Point (DKP) merit system. The way this works, in short, is that you earn points for attending raids and cash those points in on loot. In theory, those who attend and contribute more, gain more upgrades sooner, so they can continue contributing at a high level of effectiveness into new content.

--1. All Character Earning and Spending -- All characters spend DKP at their discretion. Be advised that whatever you bid, if won, will be amount deducted. (IE: If you bid 120 DKP to assure a win on an item, You will pay 120 DKP.) Bidding must be in whole point increments, not fractions.

--2. DKP is only used for 25-player raids in Paradigm. Loot is handled by officers or officer-designated class leaders or members on 25-player raids. 10-player raids will generally use random rolling on a Need-before-Greed basis, with priority to main-spec main-characters being given upgrades over off-specs or Alt-characters. Be open to discussing amongst the 10-player raid what is really an upgrade for your character. For 10-player raids, any deviation from this should be discussed ahead of time while assembling the raid and whenever new players join the raid.

--3. Conducting Loot Tells -- Loot bidding will be offered in the assigned raid channel, and a "last call" will be made to indicate bidding is about to end.
a) As soon as the first loot call is made, Players should send a /tell with bid amount (privately, in game) to the officer conducting bidding for that item.
b) Players will pay whatever they have bid. So only bid what are you are willing to spend.
c) If you need a few more moments to figure out a bid, inform the officer taking bids via a private message in-game. Please don't take an excessive amount of time doing so.
d) In the case of an officer wanting to bid on an item, before bidding starts, another Officer will be assigned to take bids on that item. A role/class leader or other member may also fill this role, if needed.

--4. Off-spec / off-class bids -- Offspec bids are capped at a certain DKP value. Players may only bid over the off-spec cap for gear intended for their main spec/role. At the discretion of the Officers, certain raiding members may be given permission to bid as if they are main-spec in two different roles. Guild members will be informed of members in such roles.

--5. A player must always base maximum bids on the numbers that appear on the DKP webpage, minus the value of any items he/she has won that are not yet recorded/displayed. Do not base bids on DKP awards for events that are not yet recorded on the webpage. The officers understand wanting to use all possible resources to win a good loot item. This policy of using the current displayed value makes the DKP process more fair and uniform, because you only need to bid according to the displayed values for all members, not according to what you might guess various members may or may not have earned recently.

--6. If the high bid is a tie between two players, Officers will quickly discuss the loot history, attendance, DKP history, Current DKP and class-role, resulting in a decision of whom to award the item to, and the given DKP bid price.

--7. Casual-rank Raiding Members are those with a 30-day and 60-day attendance record under 70%, according to the DKP section of the guild website. DKP is earned at a Full rate, but bids are capped to a certain value of DKP. The bid-cap may change over time. For attendance purposes, each DKP-award event is considered a separate equal event in the percentage, so partial-time attendance on a given raid-night is counted reasonably accurately. Exceptions from casual-raider rank may be made for planned special absences, like a vacation, surgery, or business trip, at the discretion of the officers.

--8. Trial members Earning and Spending -- Trial members are awarded DKP at a full rate, but Bids are capped to certain value of DKP. This guideline also applies if someone is in a raid as a "pre-trial", but has not been guild-tagged yet (if they are not picked up for membership within a few weeks, the DKP total will be wiped). The bid-cap may change over time.

--9. Guild Removing & DKP -- People who leave the guild or are removed will have any positive DKP total reset to zero.

--10. Friend/Family rank & DKP -- Members who decide to stop raiding on a regular basis will be moved to the Family/Friends rank and any positive DKP total will be reset to zero. Family/Friends rank members do not earn DKP.

--11. Non-Member and DKP -- Non-members do not earn DKP. The exception is someone who is "pre"-trial-membership, which is covered above.

--12. Alts will not be awarded DKP because they generally do not raid with the guild for 25-man content. Exceptions can be made for alternate characters who are played at the request of an officer due to needing that class for the raid. In those instances, the Alt will earn full DKP, and can assign that DKP to their main character or receive DKP at a 100% rate.

--13. Negative DKP -- Negative DKP will be allowed. You may always bid the minimum bid on an item, even if you don't have the DKP points to cover the bid. However, if you are bidding against someone who will not go negative, your bid will be disqualified.

--14. Loot Complaints -- The Paradigm DKP & raid policies have been developed through the hard work of many current and former leaders. If you disagree with a policy, feel free to discuss it with an officer OUTSIDE of raids and guild events. Loot "bitching" during raids may result in your removal from the raid. ALL DKP item debates should be PM'd to an officer, not debated in open raid or guild chat.

--15. If a player is kicked from a raid, the player's DKP earned for that raid will be set to zero. Leaving a raid because of a decision on loot will also result in loss of DKP for the raid. If either behavior is made a habit, further actions will be taken.

--16. Waiting outside the instance -- DKP is earned for being in the raid, but not in the instance. Players waiting to join the raid are expected to be available with a few minutes notice to arrive or be summoned to the instance. A player may play on the character in the raid, play an alt, or simply be available in Vent. If a player is not responsive in game or Vent after several minutes, they may be removed from the raid, and partial or full DKP credit for that raid may be deducted.

--17. It is the responsibility of each player to check the "DKP" section for the guild website to make sure you are listed as an attendee for the correct events. Discrepancies should be PM'd to a DKP officer.



B. Looting order --
-- 1. In general, there is no reason for anyone to loot bosses except a particular officer linking the loot to the raid.
-- 2. Everyone is expected to wait until all raid members are rezzed, alive, and within 100 yards or so of the boss before looting gold, emblems, and any quest items.
-- 3. If in doubt, wait for instruction before looting, or ask an officer or class leader.


C. Limited-quantity drop Quest Items -- Items that are part of quests will have a fixed DKP price. Once tells are taken, the person with the highest current DKP will be awarded the item. If giving the item to a particular member or class is needed for a specific progression or gearing reason, that person may be given precedence. For any quests that require multiple pieces, should any person have the other quest piece, they will be given precedence over any that do not. (This hasn't really existed since the AQ40 quest chain)


D. Raid-only Spells drops (irrelevant in the expansions so far) --
-- 1. Class-specific, raid-progression spells (IE: Tome of the Tranq. Shot) will not cost DKP but be based on attendance.
-- 2. Raid-drop Spells, like those from AQ20, will be open to random for all members of that class in the raid, with main-spec priority if relevant.
-- 3. The character requesting the spell must be the proper level to use the spell.
-- 4. Non-raid world-drop spell books (AI, Fort, GOTW) will simply be open to roll for the given class.
-- 5. Banked Spells -- All unclaimed spells should be turned over to an officer for the guild bank. Priority will go to any main-spec raider in the guild, then any off-spec raider, then anyone else in the guild.


E. Profession specific Recipes / Patterns / crafting mats
-- 1. In order to be awarded any recipe you must currently have the required profession and skill level to use it.
-- 2. Non-raid world drops will be awarded by a random roll.
-- 3. Raid drop profession-specific recipes that result in a "single-craft" personal BOP item will be open to roll for those in the raid for main-spec use. If no Main-spec in the raid needs the pattern, it will be saved for other main-spec members in the guild who might need the pattern for gear improvement, but are absent. If the item would still go unclaimed, it will be available from the bank for claim for off-spec use.
-- 4. Raid-drop multi-use recipes will be given to a member at the discretion of the officers. Highly considered in the decision will be tenure, attendance (raid-hours and off-hours), and any other consideration at the discretion of the officers. The goal is to have the recipe available reasonably on demand, as needed, for as long as possible or relevant in the future.
-- 5. Unclaimed recipes will be looted for the guild bank.
-- 6. Raid-drop crafting materials that are intended for progression craftables will belong to the guild bank, and their use and distribution will be determined at that point in progression.


F. Banked Items -- The following rules apply to banked loot:
-- 1. Droppable Loot -- Trash raid loot and disenchant should be handed over to an officer. The loot will then be posted for claim or placed in the guild bank.
-- 2. Purchasing Droppable Loot -- Guild members can purchase droppable loot from the bank. Such items and how to claim/purchase them will be dealt with individually and posted on the forums.


G. Changing Mains and DKP -- Members for longer than six months can switch mains by informing an officer or posting their intent. The new main can begin raiding with the guild once he/she meets our applicant requirements. The old main must have a minimum of 60% raid attendance to switch main characters. If this minimum percentage is not possessed, the person must wait to switch or reapply to the guild. You may be asked to wait on switching classes to assist with progression in a certain role. See the end of Section 1 of the Charter for more information also.
-- 1. New mains that were previously alts will have their DKP reset to zero (or negative if it applies). The new main character will then begin earning DKP at a full rate.
-- 2. The old main will have his/her DKP reset to zero.
-- 3. If the guild officers request that a player change mains to meet a particular need in progression, the old main character's DKP will be transferred to the new main character.


H. Unauthorized Selling or Trading of Earned Loot -- Engaging in any transaction of earned loot for other items, services (power leveling, etc.) or money, be it WoW money or real money, is prohibited without prior consent from an officer. Giving away earned loot is prohibited without prior consent from an officer. Consequences will be 1st warning issued / DKP penalty. 2nd warning / guild removal.


-------------------------------------

THE DKP NUMBERS:

1. DKP Earned -- Earning DKP numbers listed below. These numbers will change over time. DKP points will be awarded at the end of a raid (or occasionally mid-raid).

ONE-TIME ---- (All Applicable bonuses are applied)
+ 7 DKP for realm-first completion of an encounter
+ 4 DKP for first completion of an total instance by the guild
+ 4 DKP per first completion of the final version of any hard-mode or heroic encounter. Incrementally from 1-3 for the intermediary versions.
+ 1 DKP for first completion of an encounter by the guild


RECURRING Encounter completion and progression --
+1 DKP for each raid encounter completion

+1-2 DKP per hourly attendance call during new progression or near-progression fights. Attendance will be taken every hour during the raid.
-------(Hourly DKP will be removed after achieving a given kill or achievement approximately the second or third time.)
-------(The duration will be at officer discretion and different for each boss or achievement.)
-------(2 DKP hourly will only apply to particularly hard achievements or hard-modes, and will likely be learned about as we go.)

+1 DKP per hour if present at the raid, start to finish (new "progression content" only, officer discretion only)

+1 DKP for being on-time to the raid, in the raid group, at the zone, and ready to start.
-------("Ready" means gear and consumables prepared, and a respectable understanding of upcoming bosses/events.)


RECURRING Achievements --

COLISEUM specific ---
+ 1 DKP additional per Heroic mode encounter completion
+ 1 DKP per achievement
+ 1-3 bonus for "X Skill" achievements

ULDUAR specific ---
+ 1 DKP per achievement that goes towards the "Heroic: Glory of the Ulduar Raider" meta-achievement but does not give more loot (not technically a hard mode)
+ 1 DKP per kill in which no one died on the first attempt of the raid week (Conqueror of Ulduar achievement progress)
+ 1 DKP per non-meta acheivement (Achievements which qualify are listed elsewhere. Not all heroic raid achievements get this bonus).

ICECROWN CITADEL specific
+ 1 DKP additional per Heroic mode encounter completion
+ 1 DKP per meta and non-meta acheivement (Achievements which qualify are listed elsewhere. Not all raid achievements get this bonus).
+ 4 DKP Additional bonus for Heroic Arthas

2. DKP BIDDING

A. Trial and Casual-rank raiders are capped to 50 DKP maximum bids.

B. Off-spec bids are capped at a maximum value. Off-spec gear also has a lower minimum bid. Both are listed below.
---- Each character has one spec that is considered his/her main spec. Bidding on gear that is not for a main spec will be subject to this off-spec bid cap.
---- Some members will be considered to have 2 main specs, as they switch roles mid-raid often. (Pally tanks who heal when not tanking, feral druids who tank and melee dps, etc.) These will be well-known amongst the guild. All others are subject to the off-spec bid cap.

C. DKP minimum bids -- Officers may occasionally override the minimum if a particular item is needed in a particular place.

D. These values may change over time depending on DKP inflation.



ULDUAR-T8 / COLISEUM-T9 / ICECROWN CITADEL-T10 ---

15 DKP minimum bid (50 DKP bid cap for Trial and Casual-rank raiders)
3 DKP offspec minimum bid (14 DKP offspec bid cap)

Ulduar Legendary Mace: Officers decide who will receive the mace fragments, in priority order. The decision will be highly influenced by tenure and raid attendance. It is not open to bidding. Each time a shard drops, it goes to the highest priority person present. That person will be charged 150 DKP when the mace is completed.

Icecrown Legendary Axe: Officers decide who will receive the axe quest fragments, in priority order. The decision will be highly influenced by tenure and raid attendance. It is not open to bidding. Each time a shard drops, it goes to the highest priority person present. That person will be charged some amount DKP when the axe is completed.

New Onyxia is /rolls only, but giving priority to raid main spec



3. Vanity mounts and pets will be open /roll to raiding members. (not trial members or casual rank members) A member may only win a given item once, unless all members have the item.

4. Legendary and better items will be awarded on at the discretion of the Officers. Generally, they will carry a fixed DKP cost also decided on by the officers. Tenure, attendance, performance, and guild contribution will all be factors.

Part IV: General

A. Applying to Another Guild While In Paradigm -- Submitting application for membership to any other guild, agreement or commitment to participate in the making of a new guild, or accepting temporary (or permanent) guild invite to another guild (without notifying an officer and receiving approval) is prohibited and may result in guild removal. For an applicant to Paradigm this will result in application termination.


B. Selling Accounts "Ebayers" -- Selling accounts, gold, and items is not tolerated by the guild. If a person chooses to sell their account to someone outside the guild that character will be removed from the guild due to the obvious reason that the new account holder is not a guild member and therefore must go through the applicant process. Threatening to sell an account (ex: Posting on our (or any other) message board that the account is going to be sold) will result in that character being removed from guild due to the inability for the guild to insure that the threat is genuine or not. Selling an account to someone outside the guild will disallow future membership to Paradigm by that (the sold character) or any other character. "Lending" or "Giving" an account to someone outside the guild will result in the same consequences. For applicants to Paradigm this will result in application termination.


C. Conduct. Guild members should avoid the following conduct:

1. Disrespect Towards Officers -- At no time will disrespect towards officers be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, slandering, cursing at an officer in guild chat and failure to follow lawful and just orders (a lawful/just order is defined by any order given to a member that does not violate any guild or WoW policy, and is pertaining to the task or situation at hand). Conduct such as this may result in being asked to leave a raid or other guild function and/or temporary or permanent guild removal.

2. Disrespect Towards Members -- At no time will disrespect towards members be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, slandering, cursing at a member in guild chat or any situation where the member feels they are being unjustly treated by another member or applicant. It is policy that when a member or applicant has a disagreement with another member or applicant that they either work out their problems in tells only, or they create a channel and include a mediator (guild officer) with any and all parties pertaining. Consequences could include, but are not limited to, being asked to leave the raid (if during a raid), and/or temporary or permanent guild removal.

3. Vulgar Language -- Vulgar language is acceptable within reason. The use of the bad word filter in WoW will eliminate all vulgar words when spelled correctly. Vulgar language written in slang (ex: Fvck, Sh!t ect) is not filtered and if excessive use of slang vulgar language by a member or applicant offends another member or applicant then the offended party can request in /tells that the person cease with the slang language. If the offender persists, the offended party can contact an officer, so that the problem can be handled in a channel (or somewhere other than /guild).

4. Sexual Harassment -- Sexual harassment in any form will not be tolerated, regardless of sex of the character or sex of the true person. Sexual harassment is defined by any form of conversation or body language that has sexual connotations from one member or applicant to another. A situation becomes sexual harassment when a member or applicant becomes offended by the words/actions with sexual intent of another. The offended should first contact the other party in /tells and explain their grievance to them and ask them to discontinue that type of interaction. If the offender persists then he/she should contact an officer so that the problem may be worked out. The situation will remain confidential between all parties included.

5. Discrimination -- Discrimination based on, but not limited to, race, religion, political ties, origin, creed, sexual orientation, and nationality will not be tolerated. This may result in guild removal.

6. Conflict Resolution -- In any situation where you have different kinds of people together there are bound to be conflicts. Members are strongly encouraged to resolve any conflicts via tells or a private channel in an adult fashion and way that does not disrupt the workings of the guild. Should you be unable to resolve your conflict, the following is an outline of acceptable protocol for conflict resolution.

--a.) Send a tell to an officer. If the situation demands immediate attention, alert him/her of the situation, and a time to discuss it will be determined. The officer will (I) Attempt to resolve the situation; (II) Request you speak with another officer online; or (III) Request you PM the officer so it can be given the attention of all officers.

--b.) If the officer is unable to resolve the conflict to your satisfaction, you may follow up with a tell to the Guild Leader.

--c.) If you have spoken with an officer or the Guild Leader for conflict resolution, understand that it will be moved to the officer forum where it will be discussed by all officers. This means that the officers will do everything in their power to make sure a speedy resolution is achieved, however, be aware that it is unrealistic to expect a resolution immediately. This is purely by nature of having more than one voice involved. Once a conflict has reached the level requiring all officer input into the resolution, the end decision of the officers will be considered final.

--d.) All internal matters will be handled internally. If the matter has been elevated to the highest authority (Tell to the Guild Leader for resolution by all officers of the guild) and is still not resolved to your satisfaction, you may decide to petition official WoW customer service personnel. This should be considered as a last resort of unsatisfactory handling by all officers and the Guild Leader. Any guild member who circumvents this chain of command (i.e., guild officers, guild leader, then WoW CS personnel) will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including guild removal.