What do successful Linkshells do differently?

[Pompidou]

I started my own linkshell for Windurstians only. My goal was to have a large group of people that could heavily influence region control and keep Windurst on top in the Conquest rankings. Of course, now I want to use it for the more mundane tasks such as RSE, AF, and Genkai assistance, and some regular large scale events like BCNMs and Ecowarrior, as well. That's all sounds good. My problem is that I'm incredibly picky in recruiting. You see many people shouting for members, or posting on message boards and getting waves of new members. I don't like this idea because I think a linkshell group should be more cohesive than just a random assortment of the miscellaneous rabble you can pick up near the auction house. My linkshell is for the top tier of my friend's list, trimmed down even further by only taking those who are Windurstian.

Because my linkshell was stagnating, I gave recruiting power to the only two members that use my shell exclusively (and have no others that I know of). So now my best friends can recruit their best friends that don't happen to be in common. What's the problem then? Well, it certainly isn't getting along. My group is around 18-20 members now, and everyone is good friends with everyone else. My problem is keeping the members I do have, actually communicating via my LS. Pretty much everyone has a secondary linkshell. I can only assume those linkshells are much busier than my own. It seems you have to be a busy linkshell to stay a busy linkshell. It's a catch 22, and I'm curious how other linkshells got busy in the first place, to reach the level of continuous activity to keep people logging in.

 

[ArmachiA]

Umm... I guess you could consider mine a successful linkshell (As the sig says, we're celebrating our one year anniversary soon ^^). Keeping a linkshell interesting is really, really hard. In my case, we're a roleplaying linkshell, so if I don't keep the story moving then things can stagnate pretty quickly. You gotta keep people interested is really all there is too it. Wither it be storylines, planned quests, missions, or just stupid things for fun (My ls once did a Survivor: Ghelsba Outpost, in which everyone was a level one job and the last one that survived one the price money. FUN I TELL YOU!). You have to promote community and there has to be some kind of thread of loyalty.
That's really all the advise I can offer. It's hard running an ls, so I commend you for it ^^

 

[Pompidou]

Hey, that Survivor idea is really cool. I want to try something like that. The best part about it is, it doesn't require a tight level range in terms of main jobs - a problem my linkshell currently faces, as the level range is greater than the number of members. This would be great to finally get everyone on the shell at the same time. If you don't mind, I think I'll host a similar outing. Great idea. Now I've gotta think of a good place.

 

[jender]

Wither it be storylines, planned quests, missions, or just stupid things for fun (My ls once did a Survivor: Ghelsba Outpost, in which everyone was a level one job and the last one that survived one the price money. FUN I TELL YOU!). You have to promote community and there has to be some kind of thread of loyalty.
That's really all the advise I can offer. It's hard running an ls, so I commend you for it ^^

Wow - that ROCKS!!!!! I wish my LS was more creative

 

[masterorion]

also....people dont like empty linkshells or non talkative linkshells.
if i get a ls that has tons of people in it but rarely any talking, its probably getting dropped, same thing with the ones with a small amt of people in it...also to mention dont pick up any jerks that like to harrass everyone(*cough*ethar*cough*) makes more people mad and makes people leave when you have types like that

 

[Shayla]

The LS that I helped start is a pretty successful LS in terms of the goals that we have set. It's a small LS that only let's in members that are more than willing to help out other members with the understanding that they will receive help when it comes to their time around. We have a selection process on how we accept new members where all the Pearl Sack holders have to agree beforehand. What helps a lot in our LS is the feeling of loyalty to one another. This sense of loyalty I think comes from helping each other out. This is probably true for a lot of successful LSs out there. But that's what I think will work. Oh and another thing, we also have weekly meetings for all members to figure out who needs what, what needs to be addressed in the LS. Anything outside the meetings are addressed in our message board.

 

[Runekane]

We've been around since mid Feb., and we started out small. Just my real life friends, and newbies that had shown potential for learning and were nice people while partying in Valkurm for the third time in our gaming careers. Eventually, these people would bring their good friends into BigFun, and we'd founded a solid base of about 30 members who were very close to one another. I've never been very strict about having another LS that they visit, because I don't want my BigFun LS to feel like a prison, but more as a place that people go to talk with others and an environment that allows people to continue to enjoy the game. I've placed limitations on topics of discussion in the LS (No politics, religion, or controvertial issues to keep tempers at a minimum), and everybody seems to be happy with it. A lot of the stuff I've done for BigFun has been trail-and-error, and was almost terrified of starting a LS way back then. But now, it's a responsibility that I enjoy, and am constantly having people send me /tells ingame to ask if they can join, or how nice and helpful people from my LS are. I try to arrange events every now and then to keep people interseted in the LS, and we VERY often group with one-another, bonding us even closer together. I've only had to break 1 linkpearl, and that's because the guy kept harassing one of our female members to the point where the game wasn't fun for her at all anymore, and she dreaded having to come online. I've had to ask some people to leave in interest of the LS, but I still stay in touch with them. Some conflict is good; too much is very, very bad. Good luck with your LS; you're in for a lot of work. 8)

 

[chpal]

my main LS BoK has no leader. Pesmegra (the leader) broke his computer and couldnt play anymore. But we are still a LS and a very tight one at that. We have had our share of problems before( runekane left to form his won LS which made lots of ppl leave) jedah trained a Kraken to some LS members and they died. They left. Aceoffire started his own LS only for the sole pourose of desttryoing BoK. His LS is gone now. ; ; But besides all these problems I still LOVE BoK! EVERYONE (i mean everyone) in it I get along with really well. Thre are only about 15-18 members. The last person admitted was Gamya a low lvl rdm. She is currently our only non SJ, non rank 3+ person. I like BigFun too, but sometimes I feel like there are a lot of ppl in it but not enought talking. When I log to BigFun mostly its only a few ppl who are talking. Sometimes its just one or two ppl posting, but in BoK almost everyone talks. Even jedah, our highest lvl charecter is really cool. Yesterday, for example I helped silenas with the yagudo necklaces quest, then diamonds came to help then emnize came. She finished it really fast. I really like these ppl, sometimes its just 4 or 3 ppl on but we are always talking about something: anime, how much we hate something, farming, how cool rdm is over whm anyday, personal stuff, if clubs is really the LS brain or if jdex should have that tittle. I really like there ppl, that I never want to leave them^^ We dont really need leadership since we are somewhat mature and dont invite everyone we see.
Current members:
Chpal^^ Silenas(she is one of the coolest ppl ive met^^) Jedah Amidaru Jdexhooper Aceofclubs Aceofspades Aceofdiamonds Curejaa Barita Onimucharo (sp?) Ryam Iphigina Emnize
Sparten Itsaboy Sodium Quezot Syine Thorr and our newwest member : Gamya
thats all I guess. wow, my longest post ever ; ;

 

[Mohoso]

The key to running a good well balanced LS is creativity.

Just like the next guy we all want something outta the norm in this game.

The LS should be an avenue for that. The leader shouldn't have to be the only one coming up with suggestions.

I myself encourage all of my members to come up with Ideas.

The LS is my constant in-game support group so whenever they need something I help them as long as I am able. We all understand that we can't be everywhere so we work around peoples schedule and try to plan some of the important stuff.

One good thing to learn is when everyone's peak hours are so you can adjust accordingly if you have a pretty open ended schedule.

Running a GOOD LS is tough to do if you don't have the time to manage it.

Also, just try and make a couple rules of thumb to stick by some "guidelines" if you will.

That way you always have a constant to fall back on.

I have applied these methods to my LS and all has worked out great for almost a year now.

Need anything cleared up just reply or send me a message.

Hope this helps.

Mohoso

 

[Endless]

Hmm...how to keep your members?

Make em' feel like indentured servants, so they'll feel guilty about leaving!~

 

[ultraseven]

Ultra pokes Endless.

Pearl please.

Thank you.

 

[Endless]

no, its ok.

 

[Ecks]

Hrm.. Shades of The Lost has been around for a looong time now. Originally I had joined a LS called FallenFromGrace (I think thats what it was called, been a while now), which had apparently been made up by several members of a former LS called FallenAngels. Obviously something happened, FallenFromGrace kinda broke up but a large majority of members joined another LS created by a lil guy named Andark.

He called it ShadesOfTheLost, I think i joined sometime right after it had been created. At the time i was still in Valkrum as my Warrior. (my god that seems so long ago, hey wait, it was) This was im guessing, sometime in late December or early January.. i really just cant remember.

So ive been a part of SoTL for quite a long time, the linkshell has went through multiple "dramas" so to speak. We've had many members come and go.

Lately the LS is fairly small in size, usually under 10 people on at a time. Rare occasions ill see more than 10 people. The LS use to have 10-20 people on at almost anytime when I had joined, unfortunately a great many of those original people I had met either no longer play the game, dont play the game that often, or have gone to other LS.

However there are still a some people ive known since I joined that still are in the same LS. Im not sure, i think its because of them I still stay. I enjoy talking with them, and the newer people too. We usually just have a good time and talk about anything, game related or real life stuff.

At times the shell is pretty quiet even when people are on, but thats because we're probably all busy doing something. I know I dont talk much when im in a party, too much party chat going on anyway to really pay attention to LS chat.

I don't know if you can call the LS successful or not. It certainly isnt a bad LS, and I do enjoy being a part of it. Its nice too, because since ive been in it so long I get the feeling im important or something, because everyone there knows me unless they're new. Thats kinda why i dont use multiple shells that often. Infact I really havent untill recently when I joined BigFun as well. What attracts me there is that a lot of them are forum users here. So its nice to be able to talk to them ingame and not just on the forum, not to mention they're a pretty bright group of people too. Which i can say about both LS I'm now a part of. Good stuff.

For me its just another one of the reasons I enjoy playing this game.

 

[ArmachiA]

My LS used to HATE the FallenAngels LS. They likes to harass us for some reason. I don't think they knew we were CP ,but man we always had problems with them.

Wow - that ROCKS!!!!! I wish my LS was more creative

We try to stay creative as to not get bored. We so all kinds of stupid NON LEVEL BASED (As are members from from 17WHM to 60DRG) activities. We did a mass suicide in Sandoria once, We go on boat rides (Being pirates and all ^^ just to mingle and such, Explorations (We went to the Hall of the Gods for a Roleplaying event, a bunch of high levels took a bunch of low levels so everyone got to see that awesome place. And it's pretty easy to get to if you have sneak oil, anyone can do it!), Duck Duck goose in Bastok mines... yeah we're a little weird. ^^

It's hard to keep people interested when you have a lot of members (at our peak we had 55 members, we always have around 20-40 members usually at a given time though ) but we do what we can ^^;

 

[jender]

/sigh...I need a new LS Mine just constantly tries to outdo one another - we help eachother sometimes, but then when we try to start a static or plan on doing something productive together, it always falls threw. EX: I was supposed to start lvling w/ someone once I hit 36 (first it was starting at 34...I got to 34 first, and he told me to WAIT - so I did....now he continues to lvl past me saying "there is nothing else to do" last I checked he was a 36, with a lvl 10 sub - yeah "nothing to do" MY ASS :roll: ) <---normally this wouldn't bother me, but it is someone I adore, so I am a tad pissy about it...

ANYWAYS - always looking for a fun and HELPFUL group of people to chill with on the game. Lemme know if anyone is interested in a smartass RDM... :twisted:

 

[Endless]

i heard you like to sleep during important stuff, like me... Won'tchu care to join mine? Old man Pauk is innit, along w/ 5 kyul ppl... we like to hang out ToGetHer when we're bored n' such. w

 

[jender]

i heard you like to sleep during important stuff, like me... Won'tchu care to join mine? Old man Pauk is innit, along w/ 5 kyul ppl... we like to hang out ToGetHer when we're bored n' such. w

LOL - that only happened ONCE i swear! I had no clue that Rank 5 took so long - it was like 2am (on a work night) when we finished. Tenkax is tha man tho <3 for carrying my tired ass around.

What is your LS like? Would love to party w/ some forum peeps...my LS is so quiet lately...it is almost eery...

 

[Pascal]

/sigh...I need a new LS Mine just constantly tries to outdo one another - we help eachother sometimes, but then when we try to start a static or plan on doing something productive together, it always falls threw. EX: I was supposed to start lvling w/ someone once I hit 36 (first it was starting at 34...I got to 34 first, and he told me to WAIT - so I did....now he continues to lvl past me saying "there is nothing else to do" last I checked he was a 36, with a lvl 10 sub - yeah "nothing to do" MY ASS :roll: ) <---normally this wouldn't bother me, but it is someone I adore, so I am a tad pissy about it...

ANYWAYS - always looking for a fun and HELPFUL group of people to chill with on the game. Lemme know if anyone is interested in a smartass RDM... :twisted:

I can give you a linkshell to TheWatchers. They are a good bunch of people, and very chatting and helpful. I'm only looking for a new shell, so that I have a second shell to switch to when things are slow there. I spend alot of time chatting in the game.

 

[alanon]

/sigh...I need a new LS Mine just constantly tries to outdo one another - we help eachother sometimes, but then when we try to start a static or plan on doing something productive together, it always falls threw. EX: I was supposed to start lvling w/ someone once I hit 36 (first it was starting at 34...I got to 34 first, and he told me to WAIT - so I did....now he continues to lvl past me saying "there is nothing else to do" last I checked he was a 36, with a lvl 10 sub - yeah "nothing to do" MY ASS :roll: ) <---normally this wouldn't bother me, but it is someone I adore, so I am a tad pissy about it...

ANYWAYS - always looking for a fun and HELPFUL group of people to chill with on the game. Lemme know if anyone is interested in a smartass RDM... :twisted:

You'd be more than welcome in my LS. We are more a fun loving LS. I cant tell you how my times Ive been in the middle of battle and spit out my beer because of something in Green Text that I saw roll past the screen. :lol: If you're interested, Ill have Kiere get you a Pearl (I know you two hang out a lot).

 

[buell]

your smart ass rdm can party with my drk anytime jender. i think we've partied before.

i'm fairly new to my LS. i've been with them for maybe a month but i really like the people in it. i think the key to enjoying a LS is you need to see that stuff is happening in it. i like to log on and see a conversation going. it does get anoying sometimes when your doing something and there is ten lines of LS chatter going byevery second. but rarely is my LS every to the point of eery quiet. not long ago when we were all doing mundane tasks we started a name that movie quote contest. that was fun.

if your having trouble keeping members in your LS (this is what the post started out on right?) one thing that helps is if you take time to help the lower lvl players that are in it. anything from helping them get subjob items, to getting rank 3, or kazham keys. putting in a little time to help insure that people stick around. if you spend time doing this stuff it creates comrodery (did i spell that right?) wich will keep conversations going. when someone hops on the LS i always say hello, and i always say goodbye when they logout. pretty much i do what i would like people to do for me. and i've grown to like the people in my LS. 2 of them are family, all of them are friends.

so if you see any Gobtrain people running around say hi. we are a good group of people