Appendix: Types of Organizations #

Across Elyra, many inhabitants choose to band together into organized groups. There are countless number of these organizations, but in general they can each be described as one of three main types.

Guilds #

Guilds are large groups, most often formed around the basis of ensuring economic prosperity for its members. Some guilds seek to dominate certain segments of of the market within local, regional, or in rare cases global scopes. Others seek merely to facilitate commerce and trade for its members with a higher degree of ease and lower risk than they might find in an open market.

Guilds commonly share some or all of the following traits:

• They are race and culture agnostic in terms of membership
• Their purpose is to unite and promote specific trades or activities
• They generally have a single leader, though their structure may vary as it descends from the top

Examples of guilds include a stonecutters guild which pursues contracts related to stonework and masonry, an adventurers guild which pursues mercenary or protective work, and a thieves guild which works to establish an underworld crime network.

Orders #

Like guilds, orders are generally large, unified groups with a single membership base that share a common goal. Orders differ however, in that their shared purpose is often derived from belief a higher purpose, such as a divine or patriotic calling. Because these callings can vary widely, orders often have different specific purposes. Some orders may be militaristic in nature, while others may seek to spread a religious or political doctrine. Still others may exist for the purposes of worship, exploration, and more. The commonality however is that an orders purpose is always dictated by a command, whether explicit or believed, from a religious, patriotic, political, or moral authority.

Orders commonly share some or all of the following traits:

• Orders may impose limitations on membership to specific races, cultures, nationalities, or else to only those willing to accept and embrace their doctrine
• Orders imply a higher purpose
• Orders generally have a single leader, whos authority is derived from proximity to, or specific private knowledge of, the entity who’s purpose the order exists to serve

Examples of orders include religious orders that seek to spread their faith to others, or militaristic orders that seek to further the interests of the nation or kingdom they serve.

Coalitions #

Whereas guilds and orders are single organizations with a unified membership, coalitions are made up of two or more organizations that agree to work together to further a shared interest. Coalitions may be made up of any combination of governments, guilds, orders, parties, armies, or other organized groups. Generally the purpose for forming a coalition is to overcome an impediment or withstand a trial where, individually, the groups would fail. In some cases the groups may have different goals, but band together and share resources and strength to complete the goals of each participating group.

Coalitions commonly share some or all of the following traits:

• Coalitions are almost always race, class, and culture agnostic
• Coalitions are partnerships between organizations with similar goals
• Coalitions are usually formed when one group cannot reach a goal by itself
• Coalitions usually do not accept members directly, but rather accept all members of each partner organization

Examples of coalitions include those formed to defend against an overpowering enemy or threat, to pool economic resources for the sake of advancing a civic project, or to consolidate political power.