WARNING: This information is subject to change in a moment's notice as the Ring
takes shape!

Q: Who/what is the Ring?

A: We are an unofficial ultra-secretive inter-server rogue association.

We are NOT an official EQ guild. Our members do NOT have guild tags and we are
NOT registered/sanctioned in any way by EQ GM's. We operate "under the table"
so to speak and that's just the way we like it. Our membership is to remain
anonymous but we will have some type of "in-game" identification so members
can recognize Ring brothers and sisters if they know what to look for.

Q: What is the Ring's main goal?

A: In a nutshell, our main focus is to provide a far-reaching, self-sufficient
inter-server support network for our members, by our members. IOW, our primary
goal is to HELP one another have successful roguely careers! Here's a list of
some specific things we might provide/offer:

a) Financial backing (loans, newbie charities, underwriting major item
purchases, etc.) - each server may maintain a coffer of coinage donated
by established members. There will be NO DUES FEES collected so the
source of this money is based purely on member donations. However, each
server should have 'treasurer' characters ('mules') in order to keep the
money (as well as items) separate from our main PC's bank vaults. We might
want to have a 'treasurer' in each city and town so every member, regardless
of race and proximity, will have relatively easy access to this person.

Perhaps we set up a 'banking' schedule where these treasurers will be
available for an hour or two every now and then, otherwise we'll just have
to arrange meetings between the donors/recipients to make sure money and
items get transferred to and fro the parties involved. Or maybe we can
decide on a very "out of the way" spots to be our "drop zones" where we
simply drop stuff on the ground that can be picked up by treasurers at a
later date. And maybe a "pick up" zone for recipients... So basically
"drops" can be made anytime and the treasurer would be responsible for
checking the drop zone daily lest some passerby snags our stuff! However,
arrangements will definitely need to be made between a recipient and
treasurer because the treasurer ain't gonna just drop stuff on a whim!
We can use just keep a box somewhere for these transfers. Comments?
Ideas?

b) Manpower (and womanpower! *grin*) - For undertaking quests, retrieving
sought items, hunting trips, dungeon crawls, etc.. Essentially just
being there to provide another able body when someone needs a companion
or two to group with, or just someone to provide a shoulder to weep on.
"Whhhhhaaaaaaaaa...rogues suck. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaa...why do I bother!?"

c) Training - We hang out with newbies once in a while to help them get
started, show em around, etc.. Perhaps we have a rotating schedule of
trainers who spend a couple hours a week helping a newbie. maybe being
a trainer is part of some type of *internship* that's part of "paying
one's dues" for full *partnership* in the Ring... ;-)

d) Area guides - Maybe a tie-in with training whereas someone plays *tour
guide* for a night for scheduled touring. For instance, I know
butcherblock like the back of my parrying pick and can show the
hotspots to members visting from Freeport.

e) Equipment loaning - We have a stash of surplus equipment (donated when
the veterans get better stuff) stored in *mule* characters' bank vaults
(see item A above about 'treasurer' characters). We loan the stuff out
(it can be tracked in GuildBoss *grin*) until no longer needed by the
recipient and it gets handed down to someone else or put back into the
vault.

Someone had the idea of providing newbie "starter kits". This is a good
idea but we don't want to get too fancy--some cloth armor, a rusty
scimitar or spear, a bag, etc.. Just the very bare necessities--we want
them to *earn* the really good stuff. We might also think about getting
this stuff back when they reach level 5 so we can give it to newer newbies.

f) Regulated marketplace - for selling goods to members. Fair prices--no
baloney (just SPAM) *grin*. Perhaps some type of money laundering or
fencing racket where members can "unload" unwanted goods for a decent
price (better than NPC vendor pricing, that is!). Then the fence member
can sell to players (non members) or other members or whatever. Good
method to keep LORE ITEMS in circulation and from being destroyed with
the newest policy of not being able to have duplicate LORE ITEMS on a
single PC.

g) Wholesale crafting - using our Trade/craft skills to help members, like
smithing some nice banded armor for 2 plat over cost or somesuch.

Q: Is there any sort of government (blech!!) or ranking scheme?
A: We will set up some kind of *hierarchy* for each server so things stay
organized and tidy (once again, it can be done in GuildBoss). On top
is the server Director, beneath this are Masters, Agents, Interns,
whatever. We can set up specific jobs/duties like Treasurer, Scribe,
Roster Admin, etc. and give Titles/Ranks and give people some basic
responsibilities. Note that some jobs may require "mule" characters
so if you volunteer you'll need an open character slot on the server.

Bottomline, however, is that we remain "loosely" organized and NOT
get into "heavy-handed" legislation, politics, or governing. On the
contrary! We are, first and foremost, freelancing volunteers, providing
a bit of our time and energy to helping one another when possible.

But then again, a little bit of organization will make us a far more
efficient entity and better able to serve one another in the long haul
(get it? "haul"? we're thieves? okay, sorry, that was a pathetic pun).

Q: Does the Ring have a website?
A: Working on it. Currently our home is the Root Cellar forum at the
Safehouse (all-rogue message board) which you can get to via this URL:

http://www.guildboss.com/safehouse

Note that access to the Root Cellar requires a password that all Ring
members are given upon completion of the registration process (see below).

Q: How do I sign up for the Ring?
A: Follow these instructions:

1. The first thing you must do is create an EzBoard account, either
Local or Global. I suggest you create a global account so that
you can access other EzBoard message boards, otherwise with a local
account you'll only have access to the Safehouse.

To being creating an account you must click the "Reserve Name" link
(upper right hand area).

2. Then you'll have the option of creating a Local or Global account--
choose Global.

3. Next, all you need to do is come up with a login name (this is the
name on your POSTS so maybe use your EQ character's name!). You also
need to provide your email address.

4. After you click the Register button, the EzBoard system will send you
a 'temporary' login password--do not confuse this password with the
Root Cellar password!! They are completely different. This 'login'
password is used to gain access to the entire board and your User
Profile. In fact, as soon as you get this temporary password you
should login to EzBoard and click the Edit Profile link and "change"
your password!

Okay, so now you're a registered user of the EzBoard message system
and you're halfway there to Ring membership!

5. Next, you need to go and register for Ring membership by filling out
the registration form at:

http://home.earthlink.net/~paulsoares/safehouse/ring_reg.html

6. When I receive your registration I'll send you the password for Root
Cellar--remember, this password has *nothing* to do with your EzBoard
login! Once you're logged in to EzBoard you simply click the Root Cellar
forum link and enter the Ring password (that I send you!) and viola!
You're in! In fact, once you gain access to the Root Cellar you will not
be asked for the password again until I change it.

IMPORTANT: When filling out the registration form please use your actual
in-game character name in the Character Name field!

Q: How do I update my Ring membership profile?
A: Use the registration form at:

http://home.earthlink.net/~paulsoares/safehouse/ring_reg.html

Q: Who do I contact if I have any further questions/ideas?
A: If you're not in The Ring then send all feedback to:
paul@guildboss.com. But if you're a member then go to the
Root Cellar and discuss your topics there.

- Remmi, Keeper of the Ring