The Importance of Fun and Friends (2009-05-18)

Some think a clan should focus on being fierce and elite, having only the most highly skilled players. I disagree with that approach. Those clans tend to foster extreme competitiveness and often implode due to internal confrontations.

If a clan is friendly and fun it will have a much better chance at survival. That doesn't mean the clan shouldn't have high standards. The clan still needs to be elite, but in a different sense... new members must have a good attitude that will integrate well with the clan's friendly atmosphere. Competitive games like Halo tend to attract a lot of people with arrogant, obnoxious, or self-centered attitudes. It takes a lot of careful and time-consuming screening to find players who will be a good fit in the clan.

But what about skills? If the clan is large enough, you'll always be able to pull a strong team of skilled players together when you need one. I think PÕQ Clan has become a good example of that. We don't focus on skills and yet we are a formidable force, and up for any challenge.

My personal goal has been to make PÕQ even more fun and friendly. I admit I'm not doing it by being the most friendly and fun person in the clan... I'll have to leave that title to someone else. Instead, I am trying to create an environment and infrastructure that will encourage friendships and fun. My approach has been to provide more and more for our members... more activities, more features, more facilities, and more members.

More members? Yes, one of the best ways to be able to do more is to have more people involved. We already have many members who are involved in improving the clan by volunteering their time or by donating. With more members like that we will be able to achieve more, and be able to offer more to our members.

Some may think a large clan will be impersonal because it becomes difficult to know everyone well. But having a large clan also improves the chances that members will find like-minded individuals within the clan to develop friendships, and more opportunities to continue to expand their circle of friends. Members naturally gravitate together according to their interests... some spend more time in the forums, others in chat, and others hang out in particular game servers. With enough people in the clan, these can all be hubs of constant activity where friendships can develop.

If managed well, a large clan can provide many more opportunities for fun and friendship.