The WoW guild Method had a rather infamous exit. But with Shadowlands, they want to make a fresh start – with new rules and new faces.
It had been quiet around Method for a while. No wonder, after the guild broke up, the leader Scott McMillan (“Sco”) took a break from everything. Now the project is in reconstruction. During World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, they aim to compete again in the “World First” races.
What happened to Method? The guild Method came to a rather disastrous end. Allegations of sexual misconduct by some members of the guild surfaced, even reaching as far as rape. That alone was not all, but also the fact that such rumors were apparently known to the guild leadership. It was an “open secret” that no one seemed to take seriously – not even the guild leader Sco.
When all the incidents finally boiled over, Sco took action with his Method project. The guild was disbanded, and numerous members left.
What has happened now? As reported by colleagues from Buffed , Method is now back. Still led by Sco, the guild is to be rebuilt to achieve top performances again in Shadowlands. New structures are supposed to help avoid the problems that led to Method’s downfall in the future.
Below is a code of conduct for all employees, which documents the values of Method and binds all members to it. After all, Method should be a pleasant place where players, other employees, and also viewers feel comfortable.
If there are complaints, there will be a dedicated email address for that. It will also be managed and archived by an outside party, so another person can always read the complaints.
Method itself is now initially looking for new members to refill the raid roster.
A Method alternative also exists: Many of the old Method members have since gathered in another guild. The guild “Echo” now hosts many players who were previously with Method. They also want to actively participate in the raid events with the launch of the next expansion Shadowlands.
Echo has already secured some sponsorship deals, as they recently announced on Twitter. They managed to recruit Logitech and Blue Microphones for the guild.
Raiding in WoW – more than just a game: For the players in the professional guilds Method, Echo, and many others, raiding in World of Warcraft is far more than just a game feature. Many rely on it for a large part of their livelihood, mostly supported by sponsorship contracts or income from streams. Having a good, secure raid position is therefore an important prerequisite to turn a profit in the World-First business.
Whether Method can be led back to former glory and good reputation with the new concept remains to be seen. It also remains to be seen whether the “new Method” can keep pace with the performance level of the old guild.
By the time of the opening of the first major raid in Shadowlands, we will likely experience it live, as the best guilds in the world compete for the World First Kill. When exactly that will be the case remains to be seen – because WoW: Shadowlands has just been delayed.
Do you think it’s good that Method continues under Sco? Or do you think the whole brand should have been shelved and buried?
