[BIG][BIG]Overview[/BIG][/BIG]
I have talked with many
people who are playing AC, and one of the dominant topics is the allegiance
system. So many people like the concept, however, they just don't know where to
start, or better yet, how to start. How do you prove your self-worth to others
in an online environment that is devoid of real faces, real values, real
personalities? How do maintain friendships and relationships that will last?
Once you gain pledges of allegiance (Vassals), how do you keep them faithful to
you? I hope to give you some pointers in this article, and open up an entire new
realm of thought that may seem 'obvious' to some, yet completely foreign to
others.
[P][BIG][BIG]Honor, Maturity, Dedication, Professionalism,
Creativity[/BIG][/BIG]
It is a fact of life that those who are
energetic, creative, fun loving, etc. are like magnets in social circles. They
attract us, draw us in, and make us want to be associated in one way or another
with them. Oftentimes, people who are charismatic and fun to be around, are
popular and never lacking friends. This rule does not only apply in real life,
but it also crosses over into the virtual worlds we know and love. If you take
time to speak with others, in mature and creative ways, you will definitely make
an impression that will last. For instance, I know a person who goes by the name
of "Santiago" (among many other personae), no matter what this player is doing
(in any game), everything is an adventure to him. A simple trip to the bank can
become an epic saga, an encounter with a PK can take a hilarious turn. When
adventuring with Santiago, it seems that the whole world wants to get involved
with our group, because we are having that much fun. Do you think that Santiago
would have a problem with Vassals and Pledges? Not a chance.
[P]I realize that some of you are evil beings... or murderous villains. Being
"nice" may not be a part of your persona. Well, that is a great point, and you
must be true to your "roleplay persona", however, you need to realize that real
world influences are equally important. Make sure that every so often, you step
out of character and let people know just want kind of person you really are on
the inside. You can easily jump back in character afterwards, and continue your
evil-doing. So many times, I have met player killers who just didn't have a clue
about maturity, professionalism, "Creativity"... they excused all their ignorant
actions on the simple statement, "Hey, I'm a PlAyErKiLLa, I can't be nice!" -
Guess what, that is a crock, pal! You are the player who will miserably fail in
Asheron's Call and miss the point of the Allegiance System. Sure, you may have a
bunch of wanna-be "killas" who cling to you because you are the strong man of
the day, but this group will never last. Why? Because they are not interested in
you for who you are as a person/character, they are only interested in you
because of your PVP skill. Once a better ticket comes along, they will be
history, and so will you. So, if you are playing the part of a 'bad guy/gal' in
AC right now, you may want to reconsider your play style and make a few creative
adjustments.
[P]Good or evil, you should still have honor, compassion, and
maturity. Real people are playing behind the characters, ranging in ages
from 13 to 55 years old. We all have one thing in common, we want to have a good
time and enjoy the game. Remember that.
[P][BIG][BIG]In Game and Out Of Game[/BIG][/BIG]
As with any
online game, you all realize how huge the community is. News sites are jumping,
message boards are flying with posts, rants, tips, complaints, ideas and more.
Guild/Clan sites spring up, often hundreds per week! All in all, there is no
lack of friends, villain, allies, and even pledges and vassals! They are
everywhere... it is a virtual meat market out there! So, what are some ways that
you can secure some friendships, pledges and much desired fame? I will tell you.

[P]What you do in game is incredibly important. Whatever persona you have for
your character, be professional about it. If you are evil, do it with pride and
be creative. You don't need to be offensive, insulting, vulgar, etc. to emanate
evil. If you are going to be good aligned, well, be really good. Help people
out, guide newbies around town or to safety, when needed. Donate excess supplies
to those who may need them. Train new players in minor fighting or spell
techniques. Basically, show others how nice and helpful you are, and you will be
amazed at how quickly your character name (and/or Guild Name) becomes well known
in the lands. As a side note, if you run a guild, you should be extremely
selective during your recruiting phase and bring in members who share this
vision. If you recruit good and honest people, your guild will be known and
trusted, beyond a shadow of a doubt. This fame will follow you for years to
come, in all the games you may enter.
[P]Now, there are huge opportunities for 'fame advancement' outside of the game.
Just look around...message boards are everywhere! Use them! Everything you post
publicly should have the same level of maturity and creativity that you have in
game. Become a regular, if you can, and get to know the community surrounding
the various AC News Sites. Crossroads of Dereth is a great place to start, as is
AC Stratics. The communities are huge, and it won't take long before your
nickname is known and your words appreciated. As people get to know you on the
forums, it won't take long before you are bumping into those same people in the
game. Instant trust and friendship, so long as you are a stand-up person. Also,
you should get involved in player-quests that are mentioned on the news sites.
Attend player weddings. Attend guild events. All of these things get you in
touch with the community, and your personal awareness of the other players will
increase each time.
[P]Fame does not happen overnight. It takes weeks, months, even years before you
become a household name. Of course, this isn't the rule for people who are
immature, offensive, rude or basically out to ruin the game for others. Very
quickly, their names are immortalized forever as being a "Moron", "Punk",
"Idiot". Not something that I would personally aim for in the expanding online
game arena. I would much rather work hard and earn my fame, then to do something
stupid and become known for how much of a jerk I am to others. Make sense? Now,
there are exceptions to the rule when it comes to how long it may take to earn
large fame in an online game. Some of these exceptions are:

• First to obtain a certain level in game.
  [LI]First guild to conquer 'Monster X' in game.
  [LI]Reporters and staff members of various news sites are usually respected and
  appreciated. (Hint)
  [LI]People who are known to selflessly help others in game and on the forums
  usually rise to fame quickly.
  [LI]People who have comic sites (i.e. rants, real comics for the game, etc.)
  become famous rather quickly.
  [LI]People who create 3rd Party Utilities that help players with a certain game
  are often famous.
  [LI]People who have large and formidable guilds are usually famous.
  [LI]If you host many events that are mentioned on the game news sites, you will
  have your name remembered quite often, usually helping with fame.

[P]As you can see, there are many other things that can also lead to more public
awareness of your character and/or guild.
[P]This all leads to the final topic...
[P][BIG][BIG]How To Gain Pledges[/BIG][/BIG]
Remember, I didn't
say this was an overnight process. It takes time, skill, patience and lots of
face-time with the communities of your game, in this case, Asheron's Call.
Guilds (in my opinion) may have an easier time with finding people who serve as
vassals. Especially guilds with solid rules, regulations and leadership
structures out of game. (Side note: I cannot stress this enough, to be
successful, you must have a solid leadership structure in place outside
of the game. Do not use the in game system as the basis for your leadership
structure.)
[P]Some guilds are large, usually well over 100 members. In the case of my guild
(Shameless plug: http://www.lostorder.com), we have about 160+ members. As we
enter new games, such as AC, we already have a good 30 to 60 members playing
that game. Once we announce a Game or Faction leader, our vassals know how to
line up and who to swear allegiance to. Not everyone is as lucky as we are, and
it does take time and lots of mistakes to finally succeed. If you are guildless,
you should strongly consider joining a guild or trying to form your own (another
article altogether!). You may start at the bottom, but at least that is a start.

[P]If you do not want to belong to a guild, but you still have visions of
becoming famous and having vassals, all is not lost. Many players are out there
who also do not want to be in a structured and politically explosive
organization. They want to keep it simple, make a few friends, and enjoy the
game. If you can meet up with people such as this in game, or on the forums, and
if you can show them that you are someone to be trusted - you may be on your way
to gaining an allegiance of your own.
[P]One thing to remember: Never 'buy' your pledges from anyone. If you must pay
for popularity, you will lose not only your money, but any chances of truly
becoming famous in this game. If a player accepts your money and becomes your
vassal, they don't respect you... they pity you and are only looking to make a
quick fortune on your behalf.