Blackhawks Event Calender

Frequently Asked Questions

and Guild Charter

A: The Blackhawks are a guild of MMO Players unlike any other. We exist for the purpose of helping others - both in and out of guild. A blackhawk is someone who will race across three zones to help you kill a quest mob or offer a ressurect to a complete stranger. We conduct ourselves honorably in all situations.

The Blackhawks are dedicated to mutual advancement, fun, profit, and adventure. We exist for the camaraderie of playing on a solid team and to maximize the enjoyment of the game. We welcome everyone, Qeynosian and Freeporter alike!

A: We are a multifaction guild - we allow all sides in, and the guild has no official stance - a hawk qeynosian is a true and loyal servant of Qeynos and a hawk Freeporter is Fiercely loyal to Lucan. Any other city is also welcome. The guild does not believe in restricting your personal play choices. It is, however , strongly recommended (but not requied) that all members have at least 1 alt that is qeynosian, as that is the city in which we most often hold guild meetings.

A: The first thing you should do is try and get in touch with Leader Kaalenarc he will welcome you to the team and once you have spoken to him you will go from a guild Recruit to an Initiate. If you have not yet done so, Please read the whole FAQ and the Guild charter below. Also - you will need to register for the guild forums To be able to post you must be a registered member of the Guild. (there is a little yellow register button on forums page). Only forum names that match your guild character firstname will be accepted. We do not support anonymous posts - they will be deleted. If you must post something without being identified, please see kaalenarc to have it posted for you. Once your account is created, Kaalenarc will approve you to post. After that, once you have made your first post, you will be eligible in game to be promoted to member rank.

A: My best advice is ... get to know your team! Our members are often forming groups for XP gain, writs, Heritage Quests and any other adventure we can get into. Don't be afraid to start a group yourself! We are founded on the principle of helping others, and you should find it easier than you think. Another rule is present yourself honestly - joining under false pretenses will get you booted fast. Remember - the hawks are an exclusive team, we respectfully ask that you not join other guilds with your alts.

A: yes - they are definitely welcome! We encourage (but don't require) your alts to join our team. You are not, however, allowed to have an alt in another guild on our serve )other servers are fine of course) as split membership is a conflict of interest. Additionally we require all members to be completely open and upfront about their alts. We do not supprort hidden , locked or secret alts.Additionally - please dont add alts unless you are sure you are going to play them regualrly - we welcome all alts - just make sure you will play them. All alts must be verifiable on eq2players.com

A: The guild has several "ranked" positions. Aside from our Leader, we have a Council that meets regularly to decide policy. There are also two other ranked positions The ranked positions are Commanders and Captains. The order of our guild's ranks is as follows: Recruit, initiate, member, senior member, commander, captain, council and leader. There is occasionally a special post - called the rangers - described below.

A: Basic promotions happen based on length of service and amount of status earned. Once you are recruited the first promotion is to Member. This happens after you speak personally with the guild leader and have created your first post on our forums. The next title, Contributor ,requires at least two full weeks in the guild and a minimum of 5000 earned status points (per toon - alts do not inherit your main's rank!) Contributors and above may take advantage of guild perks like buying certain status items and limited bank access. The next prmotion,Senior members, are veterans of the guild who have been here for 2 months and earned a minimum of 15,000 status points.

To be promoted to Commander - you can either be nominated by two of your peers or by someone of higher rank. To become a Captain you need the nomination of two Captains or higher. ALL nominations are subject to Council/Guild Leader approval. A Commander will have a limited number of guild abilities enabled. These will be specified at a later date. Captains will have slightly more authority. All ranked position holders generally have to have been a member of the guild for at least two months and have accumulated at least 20000 guild status. Council members will be selected from the ranks of Captain or via special appointment from the Guild Leader.

All promotional guidelines are subject to change at any time. On rare occasion a member may be promoted before meeting the criteria posted aboove. This is at the discretion of the guild leader. Occasionally, we may also hold elections if the number of nominated people is high.

The promotions process is , as a general rule, intentionally vague. We are not seeking members who aspire to become commanders and above for the sake of holding a title, or wielding authority. Instead, we seek those individuals who lead by example and action, show organizational and leadership skills and an overwhelming desire to help others. That is the best way to get promoted on our team. Help people who need it, take the initiative and host some events, show maturity and leadership by example.

A: The Rangers are a very elite unit of selfless players appointed by the Guild Leader and recommended by the Council. They report directly to the Guild Leader. Rangers exist in secret, general work alone, and are virtually unrecognized for their work. A ranger may be sent on special missions at the request of the Guild Leader or a Council member. They exist not to spy, but to defend the guild from threats both external and internal. A ranger agrees beforehand to remain 100% anonymous and any circumstance that reveals their existence publicly removes them from the position. Rangers are forbidden to hold any ranked position.

A: The Rangers are selected exclusively from the ranks of the guild by the Council and Guild Leader. You may not request a Ranger position. Asking to become a Ranger instantly disqualifies you from holding the position. Why? Because we want completely SELFLESS players as Rangers. You won't know they are there - but they exist and they will help you. If you ask to become a Ranger - you are demonstrating a desire for personal recognition. So do NOT ask. Ranger appointments are extremely rare , and often temporary. If you ever become one, you will know why.

Q: Well, how about Commanders and Captains - what are their responsibilities?

A: They are similar positions - the first "ranked" promotional step a member may take is that of Commander - nominated by anyone in the guild, these folks have the ability to induct, new members. They are also responsible for some administrative functions as well. Captains are the next step up - made up of a select few members - these are potential future Council members. In addition to having greater abilities in guild, they also help out greatly in the planning organization and running of guild events. Captains may also recruit new members to the team. NOTE: as we progress in the game these levels of permissions may change as will the level of guild bank access.

A: Correct. The forums are reserved for people who are exclusive members of the hawks. Meaning they are members of the hawks in at least one of the games we play and are not a member of a competing guild in any of the games we play. You must provide a valid, non-yahoo/non-hotmail address.

Q: Okay. I'd like to bring in a friend. What are the requirements for recruiting someone and how do the mechanics of recruiting work?

A: You have a couple of responsibilities with your new recruit. Take him to one of the ranked members to get him recruited in. The recruit must be present and not already in a guild in order to join. If he needs to leave his old one - the command is to click the remove from guild button with his own name highlighted on the members tab of his current guild screen (U key). Prior to applying for membership, your recruit should have completely read, understood and agreed with this faq.

A: Email Kaalenarc or send him a /tell ASAP - we love that stuff! Also - see any Council member, or post your idea on our chat forum! Don't be shy - and if you require help - just let us know.

A: Well, anyone who engages in inappropriate behavior (racism, insulting others, or recruiting for another team, etc) should be POLITELY reminded that they need to cease that activity immediately. If they do not stop, alert a Council Member who will take appropriate action. Foul language IS allowed by EverQuest 2 - while we don't necessarily encourage it - it is allowed by the game - use the /filter command to avoid this. We respectfully ask that members do not intentionally circumvent the filter as there are a couple of younger players in the guild.

A: Unfortunately, yes. In EnB we had to remove 7 players over two years due to bad behavior. In Star Wars Galaxies - we have had a couple of bad apples be removed - this resulted in team developing the screening process you are partaking in right now. In Eq2 we have removed a couple of folks for violations of guild policy, but not many.

Q: What if I someday want to leave the team? Will I be hunted down and killed?

A: No, but we would ask that you be respectful about it - give the leader the courtesy of a heads up a day or two before you do it. It's the honorable thing to do.

UPDATE - As of 8/28/05 - It is now required that upon deciding to leave the team, you give the guild leader a live chat heads up 24 hours before you actually remove yourself from the team. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of rights to apply to be readmitted for no less than 30 days without Council or Guild Leader exception. Additionally - you get to maintain forum access unless you are an active member in any game of a guild that exists on the same server we do.

Q: I am a player who has left the guild/game and now I wish to return. Am I still welcome?

A: Yes, we believe this team is a family and as long as you left on amicable terms, you will usually be welcomed back in. If you are uncertain of your status, contact Kaalenarc in-game or via email and he will find an appropriate resolution. There is a standard policy of a two-strikes rule - if you leave the guild once - and on good terms (i.e give notice 24 hours ahead of time and conduct yourself honorably in the interim )- you would be welcomed back - if you leave twice you may not return without the entire Council's approval. Additionally, if you leave without notice, your alts will also be removed from the team, and you may not RE-APPLY for membership for thirty days. There is no guarantee that, if you quit with no notice, that you would be welcomed back. Its advisable that, if and when you do decide to leave the team, you give at least 24 hours notice.

As a rule we try very hard to be understanding about inactivity. We try not to remove people. However - over 90 days with no activity MAY result in TEMPORARY removal from the team. This is done due to the fact that the guild's status earned per member is divided by the number of members. If inactive members are not contributing , they MAY be removed and notified via email. Upon returning to the game - these characters may be re-admitted to the guild.

A: If you left due to a conflict with another member - I strongly recommend you apologize to the individual and attempt to work it out. You weren't in the wrong? Doesn't matter. We're a brotherhood here, a family. If you expect zero conflict between hundreds of people, you are unrealistic. I say apologize, offer a hand in friendship, and try to look for a solution to the issue. Be open to criticism. Most importantly, be aware that if you are welcomed here - then you are a hawk - with all the rights that implies. You don't have to like everyone on the team, but you do need to respect the Blackhawks guild tag. Therefore - no member will dictate who is or is not on the team. That right is reserved for the council.

Dont misunderstand . Inter-guild conflicts in the hawks are EXTREMELY rare - but when they do arise - we look to see who is the one who handles it the most diplomatically. Dont look to win the fight, look to solve the problem.

A: Coffee mugs are sold AT COST to members. I make ZERO Profit on anything I sell - It may take some time for delivery as I send them the cheapest shipping method possible.

A: The Council is a small group of players who have proven themselves loyal to the team and have been hand picked to assist Leader Grogan in the actual running of the team.

A: because the name "Cheese Eating Space Chickens" is silly and it takes too long to type!

A: Well the inspiration came during the initial formation of the guild in the game Earth and Beyond. The original 6 members (Grogan, Skeletor, Tika, Bettie, Byclaun, and one other I can't remember) were tossing around names (yes, including CESC!) and someone suggested Blackhawks. I had recently seen the film Blackhawk down, and was inspired by the men whose story was shown in that film. I also recalled reading Blackhawks comic books as a kid. For those of you unfamiliar with them, The Blackhawks (fictional comic) was a paramilitary force that fought during WW2 - they were essentially made up of a group of men who, instead of fighting for any one country, formed their own, independent, organization. They fought for what was right, regardless of their national backgrounds. So, drawing from both sources, I liked the idea of a courageous team, that welcomes members from all planets (at that time there were a lot of Jenq-only, Terran-only guilds), that believed in fighting for what was right and helping others.

In Star Wars Galaxies - when Legolauss Orla and others came to Tatooine, they put Orla in charge of naming the guild. At that time, she wanted to call the team Blackhawks but opted not to out of respect for the fact that Grogan was not in that game and in deference to the EnB team. So the name Deux Soleil (french for Two Suns) was chosen. It reflected both the guild. and the city. With the closing of Earth and Beyond, and the arrival of Grogan in Star Wars Galaxies, the team was restored to the Blackhawks name. The name of Deux Soleil was kept for the city - to keep the proud heritage of that name alive.

Since joining EverQuest 2, it was decided that, based on our heritage in the prior two games, the name would be retained permanently.

A: Yes actually - Guild chat, this website, and our forums are for the enjoyment of all. They are not to be used to promote any illegal activity, or be subjected to pornographic or inappropriate material. We have some minors who should not be exposed to this material. If you have something commercially you want to promote on the website - seek out Tiberius- to ask permission BEFORE you do anything.

A: Well, after a series of issues came up, it was decided to create a Guild Charter - a set of guidelines for defining just what it means to be a Blackhawk. Originally written to reflect Earth and Beyond gameplay in 2002, it was extensively revised for Star Wars Galaxies in April of 2004 and once again for EverQuest 2 in March of 2006

The Blackhawks Guild Charter

FOREWORD: When this team was initially founded, it was resolved to keep the “government” of the team simple. We had three basic rules: 1. Help others – especially your teammates 2. Have fun and 3. Don’t be a jerk. That was it. And for a long while that suited us. Time and experience have directed me to rethink that simplistic view and so, I present the Charter. While not meant to be a heavy handed set of Guild “laws” , it is meant to expound upon the three basic principles mentioned above.

Code of Conduct

The Blackhawks are about helping others. A true ‘hawk is someone who’ll race across he world to help you, or show you just how to kill that mob that you haven’t been able to beat, or anything else necessary to help you along. With that in mind a few simple things to remember:

COMBAT

1. If you put out an open call for “anyone who wants to hunt” = then anyone means ANYONE – regardless of skill levels – word your invites carefully else you might be leading a group of level 8 fighters to their doom in the DeathFist Citadel.
2. Be reasonable with loot – share it with your group mates – if there is a particular item you want and you are leading the group, that is acceptable. But, it’s not in keeping with Blackhawk tradition to hoard everything. Need Before Greed should be the rule and not the exception.

3. Blackhawks WILL defend their own in all circumstances. Wearing the Blackhawks tag means you are part of a brotherhood, a family. Do not sit idly by if someone is bothering or harassing a guild member.

The Blackhawks are a pretty tolerant organization. We welcome people from all walks of life and each person is entitled to his or her own opinions. We value this diversity and believe that it makes us stronger. Some guidelines then for acceptability in guild chat:

1. While we are primarily an adult guild, our members have ranged in age from 9 to their mid 60s. EverQuest 2 does allow for foul language and provides a filter for those who don't want to hear it. However, please keep rough language to a minimum. This is not a moratorium on bad language – an occasional reference is not a big deal – but persistent, offensive language (offensive is defined as anything that gets you negative attention from the members online) should and will be addressed. Please do not circumvent the filter and this will never be an issue.
2. There are some topics that ARE off limits -> Hurtful, non joking insults to any team member (exception – it is perfectly acceptable to make fun of Walsinghams combat effectiveness - or lack thereof ), recruiting for another guild (this one is ZERO TOLERANCE and will get you immediately removed and suspended from the team), gross anatomical references, and drug references. This is by no means a complete list and again I stress that an occasional joke or reference in good fun is fine – but if asked to stop – don’t argue, just accept it and take your conversation to private tells.

3. Guild conflicts – While the hawks have been fortunate not to experience very many conflicts between members, they are bound to arise in any large group. If this happens – please use common sense. If its clear that neither party is going to concede, then agree to disagree or ask Kaalenarc, a council member, or an officer to intervene and act as an impartial mediator. Handle arguments via private tells. Guild chat is NOT the place for heated arguments. If requested, the Guild Leader or any Council Member would be happy to moderate a discussion, or referee a duel.

1. If a member persists in engaging in negative behavior, despite repeated requests to stop, it is the duty of the Council, upon conferring with their peers, to remove the offending member from the team. This act is to be considered a suspension rather than a permanent removal. The suspension lasts until the Guild Leader is notified and can resolve the situation.
2. Certain behaviors, such as recruiting for another team or city, can result in immediate removal from the team with no prior warning.
3. Any removals/suspensions will apply to the PLAYER not just one specific alt. If one avatar is removed – all known alts and or spouses characters will be removed as well. Act accordingly.
4. For purposes of clarifying the situation with Kaalenarc, both the suspending Councilor and the suspended party should record their guild chat for review purposes.

5. Guild fines - the guild reserves the right to fine members financially (in-game coin), reduction in rank, assigning tasks, or thru any other means it deems appropriate to resolve violations of policy. Refusal to comply with fines can result in removal from the guild.

Guild Leadership

This is how the guild is governed:

Leader – acts as “President” of the team – has final say on all matters – often looks to the advice of the Council.(sorry – Leader is not now, nor will it ever be, an elected position – sorry but I’m here for the long haul –don’t like it – go build your own team.)

Council – an extremely select group of players either appointed by Kaalenarc or voted in by the Council(nominations approved by Leader) These players have not only showed an outstanding commitment to helping others, but have also shown wisdom, patience, and the desire to improve everyone’s gaming experience. They act as advisors to Kaalenarc and have input in all major decisions.

In general, Grogan makes all major decisions which affect the team. He does so 99% of the time by first seeking out the opinions of the Council but may act alone if the need arises.
If you have an issue with anyone in the Guild – from a first day Recruit to the Guild Leader - feel free to take it up with that person first – even Kaalenarc– you may be surprised at how easily it is resolved.

Prodigal Sons

From time to time and for various reasons, members may leave the Guild and wish to come back at a later date. The following are the guidelines for re-admittance to the team:

1. Anyone who leaves and wishes to return may do so with the approval of the Guild Leader – do not re-recruit someone until he (or the Council) is made aware and approves it.

2. If you have left on good terms (i.e. – notified the Guild Leader in live chat 24 hours prior to leaving and left under amicable circumstances) – you will be welcomed back into the hawks.

3. If you did not leave on good terms (left abruptly or in anger, or were kicked out for bad behavior) – You CAN return! The Blackhawks believe in redemption and giving second chances. For those who wish to return under these circumstances – the Leader will poll available Council members online and make a decision. Usually that may mean a waiting period of thirty days during which the candidate for re-admittance may take the opportunity to demonstrate their willingness to assist the team. Once re-admitted – they are subject to a probationary period (usually one month) during which negative behavior could result in final exclusion from the team.
4. If you leave the team, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, for ANY length of time (excluding accidental presses of the leave button) and are readmitted – you must Re–earn any previous rank or title you held within the guild. Titles are NOT restored upon re-admittance.
5. THE DOUBLE JEOPARDY RULE: - If you leave the Guild twice, you will NOT be considered for re-admittance except by special vote of the council.

Closing Thoughts

The Blackhawks are a unique entity in all of gaming. We are founded on the principle of helping others. We don’t back down from a just fight, and we support each other. I truly believe there is no finer collection of players on this, or any other MMORPG. Please see this document for what it is – a clarification of the standards I believe that we practice on a daily basis. Stay Safe.

"There are no great men. There are only ordinary men, capable of meeting great challenges" - Admiral Wm F Halsey