Power groups are essential to RP. They help build relationships between players and spur activity. In order to accommodate these goals, the rules have been greatly simplified for Althanas 3.0. Here is a rundown of the rules:

Power Groups

Power Groups (PGs) are Althanas version of clans. They come in all sorts of flavors including adventuring parties, guilds, religious groups and cults, secret societies, mercenary armies, gypsy groups, and just about any other organization one can imagine. Anyone can create one and anyone can join one, if the leader approves.

Why join a power group?

There are plenty of reasons why you belong in a power group. Here are a few: (1) You will often be allied with a group of more experienced players that can give you tips on how to improve; (2) You have the possibility of gaining an abundance of IC rewards including EXP, GP and special items; (3) You'll meet new friends and RP partners along the way; and (4) You'll have a greater opportunity to leave a lasting affect on Althanas canon.

Registering a Power Group

Anyone may register a Power Group at Althanas, and there is no GP charge to do so. To register, post a thread in the PG Registration subforum in the Realm of Greeting and include the following information: a link to a website, or a recruiting thread in the PG forum that describes the PG's history, goals, purpose, ambitions, leadership and sub-rules for its members. That's it. Then a moderator will approve or deny the PG as appropriate.

To find out how to add your clan's name your postbit, please see the Social Group FAQ.

PG Wars

PG wars are large scale battles that are waged between two or more PGs. These wars will be ran like group tournaments, with each team constituting a team. The PG that wins the war will receive a magic item and an amount of EXP to be determined by the moderator that is monitoring the war. There can also be more than on PG war going on at a time. Here is how they work:

(1) To start a Clan War, you must fill out the "Clan War Request Form," which you can find in the PG wars sub-forum. Both clans must fill out a request before the war will be consummated. Once the submission have been received, the moderator will post a quorum thread within 48 hours. Each participating member of the clan (or hired mercenary), must post their intention to participate in the quorum thread. The quorum thread will remain open for three days in preparation for the war.

(2) Upon the completion of the quorum, the moderator will discuss terms of the war with the PG leaders. They will decide upon a format (whether it is 1v1, 2v2, Gisela or "Facade/Ice Reaver" style) for the war together, but the moderator will randomly choose the match ups.

(3) Then the moderator will post the battle threads. Like with most tournaments, the first poster will choose the setting for the battle. Battles will last 7 days and will be graded using the standard Althanas rubric. The winner will move on to the next "round." Rounds will continue until one clan is victorious, either by complete domination or by attrition. Attrition occurs when one PG has four or more players remaining than the opposing PG.

(4) Groups rewards will be handed out at the conclusion of the war, but individual EXP and GP will be awarded between "rounds."

Power Group Headquarters

There will be three PG Headquarters. HQ owners will receive bonus EXP and have their own private subforum on Althanas for clan activity. The first three HQs will be granted as a reward to the top placing PGs during a special event held in February 2011. After that, HQs must be won from their owners.

Attacking a Headquarters

The three (3) PGs that have headquarters will have to defend them from time to time. However, the incumbent PG will always have the advantage over the attackers, as they know the layout of their HQ better than the enemy does. Here are the steps for attacking and defending a PG HQ:

(1) A PG that does not already have a HQ can launch an attack ONCE every three (3) months on an enemy HQ. To launch an attack, a thread must be posted in the PG Wars forum by one of the members of the attacking group. Make sure that your thread specifies your PG wishes to attack. You may announce the PG to be attacked at this time or you can keep it a secret by sending a PM to the PG moderator. Once posted, the PG moderator will make a quorum thread. To validate the attack, at least 60% of the assaulting PG members must post their intention to participate in the quorum thread within three (3) days of posting. This number does not include mercenaries, though they must also post in the quorum at this time.

(2) Once the attack is confirmed, the PG being attacked will be notified (if it doesn't already know). A similar three (3) day quorum will be held for the defending PG. However, there are no participation requirements for the defending PG except attrition. Once the quorum is complete, it will be up to the defending PG to look at the list of attackers and choose match-ups and the format of the war. Any format (1v1, 2v2, Gisela or "Facade/Ice Reaver" style, etc.) can be used. Because of the home field advantage, the defenders will also be allowed to describe the environment they wish to battle in. The environment will be the same for each battle during the attack, so it is important that defenders choose an advantageous location.

(3) Then a moderator will create battle threads and the battle will begin. Battles will last seven (7) days and will be graded using the standard Althanas rubric. The winner will move on to the next "round." Rounds will continue until one clan is victorious, either by complete domination or by attrition. Attrition occurs when one PG has four or more players remaining than the opposing PG. Special exceptions to the seven day rule can be made depending on the chosen style of the war.

Power Group HQ Rewards

Aside from the obvious benefits of being in a Power Group (protection, friendship, assistance), there are extra bonuses for the PGs holding a Headquarters. At the end of each month, the three Power Groups that are holding Headquarters will recieve these rewards:

-1 magical item
-200 GP per member to be split up however the PG wishes
-EXP Bonus of: (500 x level).

In order to qualify for rewards, the PG must be active. In order to be considered active, the group must have three active (posted in within seven (7) days) threads. Individual clan war and HQ match-ups are considered active threads. It is up to the PG moderator to determine whether threads outside of wars are PG related. In general if the thread advances a PG's interest at all, it will be counted.