One way to leave an impression.

The holidays are over and it's the dawning of a brand new year. You log into WoW with fresh resolutions and a bunch of facepalm-worthy stories to tell your friends. Then right before the night's raid, you find yourself in an ominous conversation with the GM. At some point, you realize what he's trying to tell you: You're getting kicked from the guild.

Scary thought, but it's reality for many raiders. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, don't make it worse than it has to be. Here are some things to remember when facing removal from your guild.

1. Don't fall apart

   Keep your chin up and take the news like an adult. Sure you'd like to cry on the spot, beg the GM to reconsider or bribe him with sexual favors, but you're just making it worse for yourself. That approach didn't work when you got passed up on that piece of loot, so why would it work now? No crying, sobbing, begging or bribing. Keep your composure and emotions in check.

2. Don't take it personally

   This isn't a personal attack. It's just raiding. Don't turn the situation into a confrontation and don't ever consider making it physical. It's bad enough that you're unguilded: you don't want to be thrown in jail too. Plus, your GM could probably wipe the floor with you IRL. You don't want to be /gkicked and embarrassed.

3. Don't sink the entire ship

   Don't rat on your friends and guildmates and don't start pointing fingers. Remember that former guildies are also potential references for future guilds. Your rogue buddy isn't going to hook you up with a name in his brother's guild if you tell the GM he AFKs on trash.

4. Don't turn to sabotage

   Once you're out the door, don't start bad mouthing the guild to the rest of the server. Word gets around very quickly: guilds will be wary to invite anyone who speak so poorly of their previous guild. What will happen when you leave them? Talk well of your former guildmates—even if they were top-class mouth-breathing mongrels.



5. Don't steal

   If they're nice enough to let you leave the guild on your own terms, don't pillage from the guild bank. It can be tempting, but just... no. If you want the opportunity to join another reputable guild, don't do it. Even if you don't care about your reputation, remember that Game Masters can easily confiscate the stolen items from your inventory. Just stay calm and say your goodbyes.

6. Don't seek vengeance

   Threatening your GM or your ex-guildies with violence IRL is a bad idea. It's just a game. Things are never as bad as they seem.

You should stay in the good graces of your former guildmates. They'll come in handy in the future for references and networking. The most important thing to remember after losing your raid slot is that it's for the best. They've given you the opportunity to find a place more appreciative of your talents. Don't squander it.