Event burnout- questions for other faction leaders

[stealyourface]

I have been the leader of a faction since day one, and we have grown into a strong and competitive group, we've now been in the top 100 for the last 3 events and have done so hacker free and with a diverse set of good people including a few high school and college students that do not spend a dime on the game but are extremely dedicated to our group.

After this most recent event I decided to step down as leader as the toll of these events to remain competitive is becoming more work than it is worth, I can no longer commit to lead that effort for the cost it has on my personal and professional life (frequency of events/events running into work week/monetary cost as scores push up/continuous battling). This was an extremely difficult message to deliver to my group because I genuinely care for many of the people here, and do not want to turn my back on them.

The response I received from many was that they were feeling the same way I was (I had two cash out their bases after this event), and would prefer to scale back the efforts and remain together, rather than continuing to try to push for that next tier. This has me reconsidering what I wanted to do, I have a sentimental value in this group as it has been a focus of mine for the last 7 months of my life...I've met some great people from all around the world...so it pains me to leave, but I am totally burnt out on the events.

I am considering pivoting the direction of the faction to be less event focused. Either turning into a pure social faction to take advantage of the faction bonus and the comrade of the team, or change our battle strategies to be less intense, like maybe a Sat/Sun only and let our rank fall wherever it does and not worry about it.

One of my primary considerations is, though the events have reached a burnout stage for me, the events themselves are also part of what brings us together and where many of our memories lie. So I am concerned that even though it sounds like a potential solution, in practice it may not be as exciting when we are at event time and not battling together as hard as we've been in the past. If I make this shift in faction culture, it is going to be hard to change back if it doesn't work out.

So I am seeking advisement from leaders in other groups that maybe have gone through a similar set of circumstances and have gone from competitive to less competitive. Or members of groups that have a type of culture that is one of more social or less intensive in events, what are some things you do and how has this worked out? Any advisement would be appreciated so I can make the best decision for my team.

And also if you are in a top group with a few openings, PM me and we can discuss cultural fit to see if I can offer an option to some of the scorers in my group that still want to compete and want to find another group to move to if we become less event focused

[SGT Rud]

We started top 400 in brazil, and have moved places up continously through each event. We finished top 500 in Madagascar. We have a bunch of faction members feeling the same. They are giving less and less effort into WD. Everyone is more focused on LTQ. We are also experiencing internal turbulance. Members are beginning to bicker and argue over donations because to the donation log, and which bonus we should get next. Me, as the leader, even if I say this is the bonus, they begin to bicker over donations again. We have had two members leave over it. Everyone is getting burnt out. We need more time between WD events. Even if it is more events that are not faction driven, like crate or boss.

I would run an internal poll on what everyone wants to do. If they want to camp for the events or slow down, they can. If they want to play hard, let them as well, but don't hold them back. I have had a few players want to leave voluntarily. I have helped set them up with other factions of equal or greater WD ranking through here. (Thank you to the leaders who helped me - you know who you are.) You could try to do something like that, depending on how your factions members feel.

[Mongo]

I'm not sure I can offer much advice, but I want to offer support and reassure you this happens to other groups/leaders. Our faction has never reached the heights as yours, we have never been below 250, as high as 111. Our core met by pure coincidence in Brazil with a less than talented leader, and out of that strange beginning and near coup that followed I was appointed as leader. I have tried to pass the baton but never get very far, and the ties that we have built over time plus satisfaction in occasionally executing our gameplan is what keeps me around.

What I don't fully understand and what I think is a sign of "system" that needs fixing is the catastrophic dumping. In many instances it comes from our strongest players, ie someone pushes too hard, has a crisis moment, I suspect often facilitated by the personal/professional pressures you've described, and then dumps the game cold turkey, cleans out their base and disappears. Somewhere must exist a healthier transition.

One idea I've suggested but never seen any encouragement on is some variation in the events to create different intensity/reward scenarios. One example would be tiered events, by strength, past record, gold spending (yes lock in the gold that can be used) or ? Also it would make sense to me to build retirement, or at least rest, into the equation, ie what motivates the same high end teams to keep bashing on one another to end up in the same order is beyond me.

I will say that I have found the game to be an incredible window to life, that includes aspects good, evil, and everywhere in between. Perhaps this is its true value, and if so an element of pain is not only necessary but even desirable.

So thanks for saying what at least some of us are feeling, and maybe someday the game will evolve in response to some of these issues.

[stealyourface]

Thanks guys, please understand I am not looking to turn this into a tread that leads into suggestions to what Gree should do, there has been plenty of discussion about that over the months and not much change, so I am really looking for advisement on how other groups work within the current system to keep from burning out.

[Max Power]

Becomming a common theme these days.

I can tell you that I enjoy the banter with a number of the guys in the many factions I am in, but none of em are coming to my funeral. It's nice people with game handles in far away places and we shouldn't get so caught up in confusing this with real family and friends. JMO, obviously and I am sure some people feel different.

Back to the issue, I think Gree is getting to the point of diminishing returns with all these events. I can tell you by far that the most fun I have in WD is with my factions that say no spending if you don't want, no pressure. Just a bunch of guys throwing haymakers and getting whatever final prize comes our way. That is way more fun than trying to get the next tier, trying to lure gold spenders from other factions, etc. People self-impose ridiculous goals on themselves in these events, thinking that you should always be improving. No. That's exactly what Gree wants. Instead of always improving, you should always be having fun. That's what games are for.

[DeT Bob]

we decided not to grow anymore and stay max 40 members. but we know each other, participate regularly and have a lot of fun. fun is the most important thing. we consider ourselves a top500 faction but if we won´t achieve this goal next time: so what?

teamleader offered to retire and step back too but in fact it doesn´t matter how is technically the teamleader as we act together. we vote about next bonuses and so on.

we even think about a forum meeting. noone wants to get a professional mw-player and we all respect that we have a real life. if someone can´t participate for any reason, he/she cant. fullstopp.

[stealyourface]

Yep, all points well taken, exactly what I am trying to sort through.

Becomming a common theme these days.

I can tell you that I enjoy the banter with a number of the guys in the many factions I am in, but none of em are coming to my funeral. It's nice people with game handles in far away places and we shouldn't get so caught up in confusing this with real family and friends. JMO, obviously and I am sure some people feel different.

Back to the issue, I think Gree is getting to the point of diminishing returns with all these events. I can tell you by far that the most fun I have in WD is with may factions that say no spending if you don't want, no pressure. Just a bunch of guys throwing haymakers and getting whatever final prize comes our way. That is way more fun than trying to get the next tier, trying to lure gold spenders from other factions, etc. people self-impose ridiculous goals on themselves in these events, thinking that you should always be improving. No. That's exactly what Gree wants. Instead of always inproving, you should always be having fun. That's what games are for.

[Tosken]

Your post catched my interest. I normally do not respond to posts, but this one deserve that.

I do understand you 100%. I was in the same situation. What I did was that I left the faction, created my own, started from scratch and recruted only low rated players (knowlegde, A/D, Insight of the game etc etc). The purpose was simple, learn others to master the game including Battle strategy, becoming stronger and what to do to Climb "the hiarchy". That gives a different feeling over many Dimensions. One: You feel that you master leadership, Two: You see other players develop and achieving more, Three: teaming is stronger since it is tied to Learning and developing and NOT ranking, donations and internal Battle of who did what, Four: You can choose your self how much you want to be involved. So for me it is rewarding to see a player at Level 10ish With a/d around 5K in first WD event, only loosing and coming back in the NeXT one at Level 30, a/d around 30K and scoring 10K without spending gold. I am still personally holding us withing top1500/1000, but I am less and less needed to win Battles. Yes we loose some, and sometimes take a hell of a beating, but then members come together, understand and follow the gameplan discussed and agreed and they win and Reading comments after the Battle. That does not make you feel burned out. So that is my advice to you and how I tackled the same thing. I have the luxurery to be involved then I feel for it and the members Accept that I can be absent for a day. Then you get the best from game and from the rest of your life.

[Burnt]

...but I am totally burnt out on the events.

Amen brotha!

Seriously though, we go through that every event cycle. Now we rotate faction leadership and are trying to delegate more tasks to people. All we try to do is continually improve. Sometimes we are successful, sometimes we are not. It is alot of work to stay competitive, but in the end it's just a game. Bottom line, it sounds like you do need to step back, reassess and see if you can carve out some enjoyment spending less time on this game. Did I mention it was *just* a game?

[Jhenry02]

And it's up and down the board. There are multiple top 10 and 25's that feel the same way.

[jjm521]

We're going to alternate from basically gold free/stress free one war, to going all out the next. Yes, 4 day weekend wars every 3 weeks is just stupid but its up to the factions not to take each of them so seriously. If every 6 weeks is still too much, just do one serious war followed by 2 more casual ones. You dont have to go all out every war. If you do, you WILL burn out

[Gringo]

We placed 16th in Madagascar, im currently asking all members for there views on the next event.
I have burnout from Madagascar, four of us getting over a million wd points are sitting this one out!
No rushing home from work on monday for the final push. To much to often imo!

[People's Front of Judea G]

We consistently placed top 50 in every event since Brazil, where we placed top 100. Enough. After Madagascar several of us have taken a break from the faction (including me) because Gree's relentless schedule is just way too much. A game that should be fun and stress release has become work and stressful because Gree just ramp and ramp the schedule to the point of burnout. So, time to call it quits and just play as an individual rather than pound the Gree treadmill.

[GreenwichKid]

Yup I've been thinking the same for a while, we're smaller but have been everything from T1000 T500 and now T750, And yup burn out is what alot of the guys are feeling. The problem with the event is Gree are really only interested in how earning as much as they can as quickly as they can, in the same way a drug dealer isn't really interested in anything other than extracting as much from you as they can until the next addict comes along.

[stealyourface]

Thanks for the feedback guys, it sounds like many of you are in the same boat. Alternate wars and rotate leadership are two items I heard to consider.

Anyone in a competitive group that went totally casual, playing for 750 or 500 and just working toward upgrading all your bonuses/socializing?