ArenaNet added many of the updates for WvW in advance of “turning on” the restructured WvW. Because alliances have been scrapped by them, they added a 6th guild slot so servers/guilds can create their own alliances. A bit of an FYI for those not up-to-date on the process:
How It Works
- A group of players/guilds gets together and a new guild is created for their alliance.
- All the players that want to participate in that alliance are invited to the new guild.
- Players then choose the alliance guild as their WvW guild in the WvW panel.
- Players can then still rep their usual guild, but will be put on the same team as their alliance guild.
- Commanders will still run their own guild squads at their regular times, with their usual comp (or just open/PUG squads).
One way this is of benefit is that alliances can recruit guilds and players to create more even coverage throughout a day to fit their needs. Many of the NA servers would suffer during our “off” times. Smaller guilds that aren’t necessarily looking for big fights can team up to play off of larger fight guilds, allowing for different styles to achieve various goals. Smart alliance leaders are going to be looking for diversity in the membership.
This can also be good for mostly PvX guilds that have wvw players, but aren’t organized on WvW. Those players can stay in their current guilds, but select to play wvw with an alliance guild. So if you are playing regularly with a wvw guild besides OTG, ask them about any plans for alliances.
If you are in an organized wvw guild, and they join an alliance, you may find them limiting the number of current guild members that can join the alliance guild. Guilds are capped out at 500, so in order to be fair to the multiple guilds joining the alliance, less active members may not receive invitations to the alliance guild.