Clan-Hopping is a term used to describe a person who moves from clan to clan alarmingly often.

This has often been regarded as a taboo, a sure sign that this gamer has no loyalty to the team. Not only that it often pisses former members off to see the “hopper” with a new tag and can often result in the banning of the former member from the old clan’s site and server. Clan loyalists will often tell you that this is treason and unacceptable action. I know a lot of older gamers and clan leaders who still believe in this anti-hopper philosophy, but I simply cannot buy into it.

Why It is SO Offensive:

The main reason clan leaders and members as well view this kind of action as treason is because the person leaving is being dishonest or deceptive. Most of the time the person has not provided good cause or does not provide enough “separation” time before meeting back up with old clan friends. So a lot of the tension comes from the leaving member’s inability to handle things diplomatically. At the same time, the leaving member is often written off and treated with just as much disrespect for joining a different clan.

This all creates a situation of unrest and generally creates problems for the clan that last long after the member has left. It is a destructive series of actions that may even lead to the failure of the clan outright.

Understanding the problem will provide the solution.

So, we understand that the problem from clan-hopping is both a clan acceptance issue as well as a lack of communication problem. Now, lets solve the problem. We have to tackle the issue on two fronts, and only one of them is under the clans control. Lets begin with what is easily controllable first…

the Freedom Philosophy.

It is important to understand that clans change over time, and people change just as often. It is our very nature to evolve and move around to meet our desires and needs. People will leave your clan, it is unavoidable. That does not mean they will leave because they hate the team, it just means they are ready to move onto something new. Sometimes it is a matter of unhappiness, but more often it is just that the member needs to try something new. This should not be a surprise, in fact didn’t you leave a clan to start your own? How many of your members have been in another clan before yours?

If you build your team on the philosophy of independence and create your rules with personal freedom in mind you will lay the ground work for a clan that understands a members need to move on to other things. I promise that you will get farther as a team if those who leave your clan still brag about how great your team is, than if everyone who leaves your clan hates you and tells everyone about the horrible time they had when they left. Consider it. Would it help your recruiting efforts if former clan members praised you?

Here are a few rule ideas that could help promote this concept:

- Members are free to leave the clan as they wish, but must not wear the team tag after leaving.

- Members who leave are welcomed to return if they left on their own accord.

- Leave of absences are available upon request.

- Private consultation and suggestions are welcomed, please e-mail concerns to:

Of course specifics are up to you, and some clans will have a better use of this philosophy than others. The important thing to remember is that by giving an honest attempt to understand a members need to leave the clan in an unbiased way will go a long way to ensuring good relations. When it all comes down to it the member is going to leave no matter what you say, so you either burn the bridge or strengthen it.

the Other problem.

As we discussed above, the other problem is the member fails to communicate an issue that has caused them to leave or they are scared to tell everyone. Perhaps they have found a different team and have a bad case of “the grass is greener”. Either way the member is now leaving and you are not certain why.

So very much of this falls on the opinions of the member and the willingness of that person to be straightforward.  This is not something you can control, but you can help to alleviate the problem if the person is willing. Personal communication is best, a phone call or voice program conversation can work wonders. A few quick tips here…

- Be as private as possible. This provides comfort and can help a person to speak freely

- Do Not badger a person for answers, be conversational and understanding. Well-wishing if you will.

- Do Not try to convince them to stay. If they change their mind,  it should be because they wanted to.

Finding what we are looking for.

Above all, most clan hopping members are just looking. It is rarely a matter of deceitful intent, but rather a desire to try things out before settling on a final team. Call it looking at several different homes before deciding which you want to buy. It is about exploring the options and deciding what is best for you as a gamer. Some people are not the clan type, others are trying to find the “perfect” clan. The best clans not only understand why people do this, but are capable of remaining flexible enough to prosper from it.

- Hedge

© 2009 tribehaven