Structure

The structure of a clan, or how it should look on the level of organization is something that should be clear from the outset. Before you start recruiting a number of things should be very clear, so clear in fact that you yourself should hesitate to change them.

1. Hierarchic or single level. All military organizations are based on the hierarchic principle. On top you have the commander, at the bottom you have the private third class. This is done for a reason: you do not want any discussion on what the team should do in case of a match. You do not want any discussion on how we could best defend our base, while it is

under attack. Therefore, you should always try to incorporate a hierarchic structure as soon as possible. The clanleader calls the shots no matter what happens during battle. However, if you decide that your clan will not be bigger then ten people a hierarchic structure will only hinder any form of co-operation, and you will end up promoting everyone to the toplevel. In that case choose the flat organization, with as its so beautifully called: a �primes inter pares�, first among equals. One person with a sort of chairman-like power who runs the organizational element.

2. Meritocracy, aristrocracy? It is only natural that, if you start a team on the premise of working with �friends first, strangers later�, you will have the seed of revolt in your team. You should decide on what basis your team is going to be run. If you choose the �aristocracy-model� it will mean that your friends occupy all staff positions, while you let recruits do the dirty work. Take into account that this could work severely demotivating on any recruits, who will see that the happy few are deciding everything and they have no chance of getting up there. Furthermore, what will you do when one of your friends make a gross mistake during the match? Will you tell him/her off, or will you pardon the friend on the basis of your friendship? Pardons on the basis of �Well, I have known him already so many years...� will be demotivating for any of the recruits. On the other hand, if you work on the basis of the meritocracy, i.e. whoever is best gets promoted, take into account that this might not go down well with friends who were looking forward to a nice position in the clan �on account of my best friend is the boss anyways�. They can even turn away. However, if they turn away, you might want to consider that their motivation for your team was not so great to start with. The suggestion would therefore be to work on the basis of meritocracy: if somebody has a knack for defensive lines give that person the job of setting them up. Observe your recruits and teammembers during practice and promote them if they show that they are good. However, be very careful in this, as you would rather have an excellent squad leader then a mediocre defensive commander. Furthermore, a well-thought out principle for development and promotion will also guarantee that, in case the teamleader decides to quit, the team will not automatically fall apart, as unfortunately a lot do. Plan ahead: you could be leaving before you know it, and you do want your clan out there as one of the best!

3. On the level of giving away positions. Let time and experience be your guide. Do not start by creating a staff and then recruiting a number of �privates� to do the fighting but let everyone start as a recruit. Hold some test-matches whereby you divide people in teams and observe. Hold chat-sessions, and if possible meet people face-to-face. If people have a strength or the promise of a strength this will show.

4. Responsibility at the lowest level, or as it is officially called �subsidiarity�. Once you have a clan under you there is a certain responsibility you will have to bear. This means keeping the team together, settlement of disputes, organizing activities, etc. However, the larger the team gets, the more work you will have to do to fulfill this responsability. Work therefore on the basis of division. Objectively divide tasks and assign them to teammembers. Objectively, as there are sometimes people who will give out the work and keep the �nice bits� for themselves.

5. Always srtrive for a clan larger then 10 people. When a clan only counts ten or less you might find out that the organization of matches becomes difficult as you are dependent on all agendas even to come up with a minimum strength team. If you have more then ten not everybody needs to be there and you can start to handpick people. You can, for instance, start A,B, and C-teams where A is the most advanced and C-team contains the fresh recruits. You�ll also notice that when people leave your clan you will have ample supply of replacements.

6. Decide on a name and an abbreviation, which players can add to their name. Names should be concise, to the point and have a good �mouth� quality. The �Zombies Infernal Team� would be an example on how not to do it: its abbreviation is ZIT. Also any name involving a lot of syllables is wrong: �Primal Marauding Swashbucklers� is too long to remember, it doesn�t �mouth� well, and its abbreviation is...