Guild Overview

Guild Name - Self-explanatory.

Guild Type - Six specializations:

  • Assassins' Guild - Specializes in assassination jobs. Could be highest-bidder, covert government operation, or religious in nature.
  • Black Market - Trades embargoed or high-taxed goods, cursed items, slaves, and other illegal merchandise.
  • Explorers' Society - Buys, sells, or guides others to unique locations like ancient ruins, lost dungeons, and hidden temples.
  • Spy Ring - Specializes in infiltration, forgery, cryptography, and counterintelligence. May be highest-bidder or government sanctioned.
  • Thieves' Guild - Jack-of-all-trades catch-all for other guild types or specializations.
  • Trading Company - Uses thieves for counter-theft measures or as a front for other guild types.

Guild Alignment - Identifies if your guild is largely good, neutral, or evil. Can include law or chaos if desired.

Primary Guild Activities - Notes field. What major quests/missions/jobs are being undertaken? What types of jobs is the guild willing or unwilling to take?

Membership

Responsibilities - Member obligations. Examples include:

  • Temporary Dues - New members or those in trouble may give more earnings to the guild.
  • Obey Leadership - Almost always yes, but chaotic guilds with poor leadership may differ.
  • Participate in Guild Activities - Some guilds allow more freelance work than others.

Entitlements - What the guild provides to recruit and retain members. Some may be role-based (Master members get private rooms). Examples:

  • Protection - Members expect backup if they're in trouble.
  • Loans - Members can borrow from the guild, usually at discounted rates.
  • Legal Help - Does the guild bail out or break out caught members?

Consequences - Applied when members fail responsibilities. Consider consequences that don't interrupt ability to work or bring profit to the guild.

Thieves' Cant - Special words, phrases, or signs that distinguish your guild from others.

Leadership Structure

Structure Type - Six organizational models:

  • Rigid Hierarchy - Guild Master as central authority.
  • Devolved Hierarchy - Multiple hierarchies within the same overarching guild.
  • Hierarchical Conglomerate - Multiple groups (each under a master) unite under one roof to combine skills.
  • Core Criminal Group - Masters share leadership with no definitive leader.
  • Organized Criminal Network - More of a gathering of like-minded people than a formal structure.

Structure Model - Three approaches:

  • Hierarchical - Typical guild structure with graded ranks.
  • Cultural - Insular, requiring members from same neighborhood, city, species, etc.
  • Enterprise - Organized like a legitimate business to ensure profitability.