What's a clan?

"I just applied for membership and then saw this post. I am level 5 with a headquarters and if accepted will pledge my heart and sword to the clan. Honor and your good name are all that follows you to the grave." Toebin's original pledge to the Death b4 Dishonor clan (30/12/2003)

Blue Castle from SXC.HUSimply put, a clan in Lords of Legend could be considered your home. It will become somewhere to return to when you need help or assistance in game. Up to 29 other members will be your clan mates, many in the same situation that you are – trying to find their way in the game. They are there to help you and you can be there to help them. Think of them as a battle-buddy, only you’ll likely have more than a few of them!

A clan is a group of players, often with similar ideals in mind. Some clans rebuild from round to round and are almost ever present whilst others form for a round or so and then move on. The dynamic nature of the game ensures that people interact with one another, some moving from clan to clan, thereby providing new faces every time you restart a round and rejoin/join a clan.

It is always worth taking the time to explore the type of clan that you’d like to join. The clan game allows you plenty of time to think about your options (from when you begin right up until level 40) so don’t feel as if you should rush things. It is not always the best idea to take the first offer that comes along because there are plenty of clans that will make an offer should they spot a player that has not yet found themselves a clan place. Explore those options, particularly if they write you a personal letter, and consider whether or not they feel the same way that you do when it comes to a style of play. Think about what you want from your clan and what they can offer you as well as what you might be able to do for them. The process works both ways. For example, if they want you to log in 4+ times a day, can you do that?

You don’t have to wait for clans to approach you first either. The process can begin earlier if you feel like being proactive. There is plenty of information on clans, and the way they operate, in the LoL forum (see the Clan Headquarters board). Reading some of these threads should give you more of an idea of what sort of clan you’d like to join and where you’d have the most fun as a member of the LoL community and as a clan member.

What types of clans are there?

Different clans will play together for different reasons. At the end of a round, only one clan can come first but there is no reason that others clans can’t count as "winners" when it comes to working and playing together. You don’t have to come first to have fun!

You may find that your clan can make more of a difference in the grand scheme of things that you think! Clans wanting to be ‘top dog’ have often been thwarted by other clans that some may think "small and insignificant".

There can be many clan styles or goals and it depends very much on what the members of that clan, and the clan leader, wants from the game. Often, it may be that the goal is just to “have fun” and that is something that can be done many different ways.

Some example goals may include the following:


What can you do in a clan?

There are a number of different options that being part of a clan grants you. Once you have joined, you will be able to see how the well the other members in the clan are doing and should therefore be able to have others you can compare yourself against. The clan headquarters will show the names of the others who have joined, their attack points, and some building and army statistics. Also, hovering the mouse over their names will show you how much gold they have won and lost.

At a basic level, you get the headquarters screen and an in-clan web-based chat to talk to others on and as you buy more levels of clan headquarters, other options will become available to you. These levels provide you with the ability to see the clan’s status in terms of overall gold won and lost against other clans. There are other screens as well, such as the clan attack which will show you who has attacked clan members and whom they have been attacking, but they are better visited in play.

In terms of what you can do FOR your clan as a new member, you might be surprised. There are always a number of tasks that clan leaders need help with – perhaps you’re good at playing the diplomat? Perhaps you’re good at keep clan records and can monitor clan growth? Many clans have a number of roles like these and there is often room for co-leaders if you think you might be able to help. Some clans may also have a Forum Monitor who gives any important news (from the forum) to the clan since not all clan members will likely visit the forum. Roles and the clan structure tend to vary from clan to clan – some will have leaders and co-leaders only whilst others will have a form of council structure. Often though, you’ll get to have a say in anything major that the clan decides to do (e.g. who to strike if you’re going to war).

How do I join a clan?

The simplest way to join a clan is to get to level 5, buy your headquarters and visit the clan listings page. From there you can pick a clan and click on the ‘apply to clan’ button. You might find it better though to consider your options before applying.

The best option is to read some of the threads in the Forum’s Clan Headquarters board and pick something you like the sound of that still has places free in clan. A clan cannot have more than thirty members so look for those that have 29 or less when applying. When applying, you might want to send a Lolmail to the leader of the clan or post in the clan’s thread letting them know why you’d like to join. Don’t feel like you have to do this though, it’s just a nice extra touch that might help your case.

In the clan headquarters screen, you can also click to accept or reject any offers that you have received from other clan leaders who wish you to join them.

Can I run my own clan?

You can, yes, and there are many reasons you may want to. Often though, it is better to join an established clan as they can help you through your first steps in the game. After a little time, you’ll be better armed and prepared to give advice to those new members and apprentices that come along later. Running a clan often takes a lot of time and effort but, if you chose to do so, then the rewards can be great indeed.

Some things you should bear in mind whilst running a clan:

Send personal letters to prospective new members wherever possible. You’re more likely to get a response and it can often make the difference. They may be getting many offers and you should try to make your offer stand out from the crowd. Tell them what you and the clan can offer and what they can expect from joining you – even if it’s just the promise of having fun and learning how to play together. Be prepared for them to say no, it happens a lot – even to seasoned players and clan leaders. Don’t be too disappointed if you don’t receive a response, keep moving on and asking others to join you.

Interact with the clan you’re leading. Relate to them and share your experiences of the game and (possibly) your day in general. It’s good to have a little Q/A session so that you can find out what one another like or what people in the clan do outside of LoL. It doesn’t have to be too in depth but you can chat about what countries you live in, what you do as other hobbies, etc, as well as the game. Other clan members may also be able to help you find other prospective clan members. Sharing the responsibilities may help the clan interact so don’t feel like you have to do it all alone! Do ask if anyone would like to help you lead the clan – that’s what the 1st and 2nc in command are there for.

If you’re having trouble getting clan members, don’t feel discouraged. It’s the nature of gaming that people often want to join those clans that are high in the rankings. Keep trying and you will surely find some others who want to join you. If you have been trying for a while and still haven’t managed to find any clan members, reconsider your options and think about joining another clan. It is better than playing alone and after level 40, you’ll need to be part of a clan regardless.

Give game advice to those who need it, if you can. If you can’t, direct them to somewhere they can (LoL’s Apprentice board on the forum for example). Be helpful. It’s okay to say "I don’t know the answer to your question but 'here' will".

Remain polite. Though someone might not join your clan, they may consider you in future if you are pleasant to deal with.

Why be in a clan?

You might wonder why all the fuss about clans but here's what a few of our players had to say about it all.

"Being a part of a clan is like being in a tightly knit family. You choose what clan you pledge your allegiance to, you fight on behalf of the other members, you protect your clan's name and gain respect as you grow closer as the round(s) go by. You get the chance to play with some of the best players, and watch some of the new players develop to become some of the best. You have all the friendly competition you could ever want around you, 29 other players trying to achieve their best while contributing to the success of your clan. Nothing quite like it! And the wars and wins make playing together even better, you suffer together and you rebuild as a clan. Being in a clan is one of the reasons I love Lords of Legend, the friends you gain, the great RP stories, the sense of pride you get in seeing your clan succeed." – Arwin

"Being in a clan puts me inside a group of people who all have a vested interest in seeing me do well in the game. In a clan, I will have as many as 29 other people to offer encouragement when I fail a run and a pat on the back when I succeed in a run. But more than that, clan mates have the opportunity to meet the personality behind the warlord. I have made some good friends via my clans, even though I have never set eyes on them." – Jan8

"Being in a clan for me is being among friends. People to have fun with and who you can count on. Having lead a clan several rounds it has taught me a bit about diplomacy, about how to deal with different personalities (granted not always successful..) which are lessons that are even valuable in RL. But mostly it's sharing the joy of successful building runs or a nice coordinated war and knowing you have people with you who will taking a massing for you or who will defend you when you take the beating." – Nyissa

"For me it's the camaraderie..."we're all in this together" and also it makes you part of an exclusive club in a way....a bit like hanging out with your mates down the pub...especially on those huge msn convos that crop up when you least expect it. When I was a noob, there was always someone in my clan who could help me, advise me, laugh when I messed up. Now I think I have a clue so I try to help others and that gives me a great deal of satisfaction." - Minerva

There are many others reasons and sometimes a clan will have more than one goal or way of playing. If you are a new player, it can often help if you search out a clan that will help you learn how to play but don’t feel restricted because there are always those that will assist you, both in the game and the forum. Don’t be afraid to ask someone, especially if you don’t understand. No-one will think that you’re daft – we all had to start somewhere!

Clan Loyalty

Many players feel a certain sense of loyalty towards their clan and will defend it, and their other clan mates, when it becomes necessary. If you find that a clan that you have joined is not working out for you (and you are less than level 40), you can find yourself another. It’s best to speak with the clan leader and explain the situation as best you can – often they will not mind and wish you well in your new choice. If you have seen a “better” clan to join, think carefully before leaving your old one. Leaving and joining other clans, if done a lot is known as ‘clan-hopping’, and can sometimes upset the clan leaders and members of the clans that you are passing through. Think carefully about your choices – and you DO have the time – because once you have passed the level 40 cap that clan is your home until the round ends and a clan has won the game.

The important thing to remember here is that you often get out of a clan what you put in. Participating in clan ‘manoeuvres’, clan chat, mail and wars and generally sharing your experiences will put you in good standing once others see that they are in the same situation. Communicating with your other clan members will help your own game experience grow especially if you share your ideas and findings whether it be about playing a particularly race or the type of day you’re having.

Your clan mates will become your family in Lords of Legend and as they become important to the clan and you, so too will you as a clan member to them.

Last updated May 2008

Many thanks to those players who provided their snippets of advice about playing in a clan.