This is not a Hardcore Pawn Stars recruitment thread (though we are always glad to welcome new members!), but rather a general recruitment thread. It would be so much easier set up exiting, balanced, large challenges, if clans in general had more members (and not just the same clan actives in many clans).
The clan feature as a whole would benefit from a larger number of participants, so, the clans want YOU!
Here's some reasons why you might be hesitant to join, and why those reasons don't excuse you:
1) But I might get half a million games, and I can't play that many! I don't want to get swamped by a lunatic clan leader on a rampage!
Clans have different policies regarding issuing challenges - many do as I do: when you join, you tell me the maximum number of concurrent games you are comfortable with, and you won't get more games than that at any given time. You control how many games you play.
When considering joining, just drop a note to the clan leader and ask about the clan policy regarding challenges. If you're not happy with it, join another clan!
2) I'm not good enough - I'd really want to join clan X, but my rating is not nearly as good as those guys!
So what? Here's the thing - I dare to say that most clan leaders are more interested in getting members with a wide range of ratings in their clan, because that enables them to better match up challenges with other clans. In other words, if your rating is not similar to the majority of ratings in the clan you want to join, you'll probably be extra welcome. If you note that a clan you are intrigued with has no members around your rating, all the more reason to join.
3) I'm too shy to ask, what if they don't want me?!
Ask away, clan leaders don't bite. If a clan is
recruiting, that generally means that they are RECRUITING. You can list all recruiting clans by going to the clans page, and clicking on Recruiting clans. If you're not a confessed serial killer, openly cheating, or don't introduce yourself with Hey you bunch of incomptetent half-wits, I'd like to grace your clan with my presence!, you're quite likely to get a warm welcome. If not, then just ask another clan!
4) What if I get in a loosing streak, and end up costing the clan precious points!? Oh the shame! I cannot bear to think about it!
In such an eventuality, your clan leader will gladly supply you with a standard issue katana to perform a ritual suicide with, to restore your honour! π If you get in a loosing streak so what? It happens, nobody's going to crucify you. No need to tie that noose, or jump off the ledge! Points are nice, but that's the extent of their role. The main point is to have fun, play exiting clan matches, and maybe learn a bit about chess along the way.
5) But what about vacations? What if the evil clan boss, out of sheer malice, just keeps shoving games down my throat when I'm on vacation!
Put you vacation sign up, make yourself unavalable for clan duty. Problem solved. When you come back from the vacation, quit the clan, and join another that doesn't have an evil clan boss. π
6) I don't have the time!
Excuses, excuses... as said before, you pretty much control how many clan games you want to play. If you are exceptionally busy at some time, just let your clan leader know, and make yourself unavailable for clan duty. Easy as that.
7) What if I just don't want to join a clan?!
That's called denial. Stop deluding yourself.
That's all the reasons I could think of covered... So what's your reason for not being in a clan?
-Jarno
Some of you may ask yourself. I know now that joining a clan is not bad, but why should I join a clan?
1) Playing in a clan is playing in a team. So, you are part of a team. Chess not necessary has to be an individual sport. You can make it team based by joining a clan.
2) You get to know more people when you are in a clan.
3) You don't have to search that much for games anymore, because the clanleader will do that for you. Most clans are looking for equally matched challenges, so you will get equal opponents most of the time.
You probably play more different opponents.
A lot of good things have already been told by Jarno in the first post, so I won't mention them again.
Just one thing more: You can always join a clan just to see how much fun it is. If you don't like it anyway, you can always leave, but I am pretty sure you won't regret it.
Greetings,
Sander (leader of the clan "Losing is also an art"π
Originally posted by tejoNo applicants to the HPS clan at least so far... Come on you clanless, turn your life around, leave behind your evil ways, and join a clan! Without delay! π
I guess everybody joined a clan, because nobody respondsπ
Just realized that I forgot to deal with one more excuse not to join, so here goes:
"What if I don't want all that mushy friend business, no chatting in friendly games, just plain, brutal, full contact chess?!"
While clans may be a good way to get to know people and make friends, nobody is obliging you to do so. You can, if you want, join a clan and limit your participation to playing clan games only, and nobody's going to think worse of you for it. No socialising oblications whatsoever!
Now that that's out of the way, I REALLY cannot think of any more reasons not to join a clan. π
In fact I may have to start playing hardball here:
Did you know that there is a little known tennent shared by all major religions of the world that all RHP members not in a clan will spend the first 1000 years of their afterlifes writing "I promise to behave better in the future" on a giant blackboard, over and over and over again! And you can forget those 70 virgins too (that's a clan benefit)! π
-Jarno
Did you know that there is a little known tennent shared by all major religions of the world that all RHP members not in a clan will spend the first 1000 years of their afterlifes writing "I promise to behave better in the future" on a giant blackboard, over and over and over again! And you can forget those 70 virgins too (that's a clan benefit)! πOf course, if you join the Freethinkers you will be exempt from this penalty. The question then is whether you were exempted because you joined a clan, thus avoiding the penalty, or because there is no afterlife and thus no penalty to be applied?
-Jarno[/b]
Originally posted by crythiasAhh... now I see what you mean - the "recruiting clans" link doesn't work properly - when click on it, the first page of recruiting clans will be visible, but clicking on next page, you'll be taken on page 2 of the "all clans" list, not the "recruiting clans" list. I'll drop a note to Russ about it.
How about because the list of recruiting clans stops at the first page?
And no, that's not a proper excuse either! π π Most clans are recruiting, so using the "all clans" list in your clan hunt is unlikely to cost you many futile clicks...
-Jarno
Originally posted by PhlabibitIf you're from the Midlands or the surrounding areas, join the midlands cc. - take a look at our website for more details
Come join the Chess Lords! if you desire a first page clan... we'll be back in a couple weeks or so.
Got some room for you if you are ready for as many games as you like.
P-
http://www.geocities.com/jay_ess1980/midlands_chess_clan
foa members of the british clan - leave such a lowly clan and join the UK's #1 clan.