What's a clan?

[Lib Feathers]

I keep hearing that word. How is it different from a guild?

[dangerousden]

Hi Lib Feathers

A clan is the same as a guild, but the name is used in other on line games.

[Davy]

A Clan can also be a non-guilded group of friends. I do not know why someone would do this, but sometimes players like to be outside of a guild.

[Dr. Zeppers]

Ok, ill take a shot at this, having owned/operated/managed an online gaming "Clan" for 9+ years now.

As stated before a Clan is pretty much the same thing as a Guild. I would equate a "Pirates Clan" to being your standard POTCO guild.

In my case, my "Clan" aka Old Farts eXtreme (OFX) has been a circle of friends, which has definately changed over time as members interests varied... that play online games together. People that share the same gaming styles, get along together etc.

Our clan was formed long ago because we were tired of playing games with adolescents that constantly found it necessary to practice using the new 4 letter words they'd learned, boast about thier gaming prowess (usually achieved through using some autoaim/wallhack cheat), etc. We wanted a circle of people we trusted to be fair, not to cheat, had similar interests, and were of similar age (we had a rule of 30yrs old or older ONLY in our clan... although we've loosened that up over the years).

The term "Guild" to me is actually the new term, which to me is associated with MMORG games. But it serves a similar purpose. In most online gaming they are used like "team" designations... showing your colors.

As a "Clan" my group has competed on various gaming ladders.. ok, ready.. this will date me..

We started with "Duke Nukem 3d" LOL ancient history....
Moved to quake 2, then quake 3, then Counterstrike source. (all online shooters).
Now we actually specialize in online racing (rFactor, with multiple mods covering various racing disciplines) with only a few of us interested in POTCO. Matter of fact, I am currently on vacation at our 3rd annual Clan get together at the NASCAR All Star race in Charlotte, NC (OFx's from all over the US attend).

The actual term "Clan" is associated with Family... often used in early european culture. Scottish decendants will often speak of the "Clan" of thier ancestory.


Zeppers lvl40
http://pirates.teamofx.us <-- Foul Windbags "Guild" site (Disney wouldnt allow "Old Farts")
http://www.teamofx.net <-- Current Clan website
http://www.ofxgamer.com <-- Old Clan website

[Bella]

Zeppers, thank you for the explination. I have long wondered the same thing.

Well Lib looks like our "guild" is turning into a "clan."

Especially with us trying out other games together and already discussing a get together. LOL I also might add that "our" men are as much of our guild as you or I yes, I am speaking of Johnny, G and, Pat.

[Lucrecia Merlose]

It's as simple as this: Guild, Clan, and Organization are all typically the same thing in every MMORPG.
Anarchy Online uses Organizations and Clans (clans not to be confused with the clanner faction)
EverQuest uses guilds and it has a more fantasy (elves and dwarves type of fantasy) appeal, and so it's typically used in those sorts of MMORPGs..
Clans is also a recognizable way of defining the proper alignment of individuals.

There are also Teams, Crews, Groups, and Parties...these are not to be confused with the former. These terms are used to describe a usually short term hunting party (though it is best to fight together with people you have successfully teamed with in the past)...Terms for describing such events are more loosely knit with specific genres of games though game developers choose one of these terms to describe these short term groupings. In EverQuest they are formerly called parties but many players asked one another "Want to join my team/group?" even though it was less likely for an EverQuest player to ask "Would you like to join my organization/clan?" instead of using the formal term, Guild.

Simple, eh? I have played way too many MMORPGs for a sane person.

Originally Posted by SamuelMcMalley

...and were of similar age (we had a rule of 30yrs old or older ONLY in our clan... although we've loosened that up over the years).

That was a good idea to loosen that rule. I think I would be rather miffed if I were denied membership inside a clan which my boyfriend was in. ...I can be a bit petty I suppose but I would be dishing out the guilt trips.

[Steely Jim]

There does seem to be a lot of names for the same thing, doesn't there? The anthropological terminology isn't much more clear either, with sib, gens, sept, among others, being used to mean clan. Clann is a Gaelic word for a particular family unit.

In general, clans involve multiple lineages that all claim common ancestry to one particular person (possibly even a quasi-mythical or legendary person); whereas, a guild is a common-interest association, often associated with some sort of trade skill (also often has quasi-mystic elements and rituals).

I would say that most gaming organizations would really be common-interest associations (i.e. guilds); but, I've also seen organizations that were formed around 1 or a few legendary characters and/or strong elements of fictive kinship being professed by members of the organization.