Guilds

Guilds are another result of trade. A guild is a medieval union; groups of people that are of the same profession and get together. This story will tell the pros and cons of guilds:

Senerio One: GOOD

There are three blacksmiths in APWorldville: A, B, and C. A and B charge horseshoes for $4, but C charges horseshoes for $3. People flock to C because of cheaper prices. But soon they realize that those horseshoes last for only four months while horseshoes from A and B lasts all year. People flock to blacksmiths A and B.

One day, A, B, and C realize if they get together and form the International Brotherhood of Horseshoes, they can control the price. If they all charge everyone $5 a horseshoe, then there won’t be competition from anyone because “anyone” is their friend! That way, we all make more money, there is nowhere else the villagers can get horseshoes. Of course, we won’t overcharge or produce bad quality because then villagers get desperate and head out to the next village.

Scenario Two BAD

Another thing they realize they can control is access to the profession. Blacksmith D comes into town and charges everyone $1. To protect their shops, A, B, and C play dirty. They can tell everyone “hey, A’s got 24 years experience, B’s got 30, and C’s got 264 years. This new guy, he’s only got 3. Every week, we get together and swap horseshoe knowledge so you know we’re smarter than D. Who do you trust? And by the way, he uses really bad material for his horseshoes.” And they wink at the end. That’s how Guilds work.

Scenario Three GOOD

So D is desperate to join the International Brotherhood of Horseshoes (IBH) so he can have a life. But the IBH gives their customers quality assurances. So how would they live up to that potential if D stinks at blacksmithing? This is where the Guild is good. The IBH has a system of qualifications, standards, for the profession. So when Mr. Jellinek walks into a blacksmith shop with membership to the IBH, Mr. Jellinek can be assured that he’s going to bet a good horseshoe because that blacksmith has been through a proper education. This prevents people from waking up one day going, “I’m a master blacksmith!” and ruins everyone’s life by giving farmers awful horseshoes. No. You’re certified a master blacksmith by other master blacksmiths.

Scenario Four GOOD

D decides to join the IBH. But first he must pass the tests. D starts out as an apprentice to A. First, D starts by just watching A work, working in A’s shop, and learn the skills that way. When the time comes, A will promote D to a Journeyman. Now is D’s chance to make horseshoes right alongside with A! As D work, A will always be by his side, inspecting and helping his skills as a blacksmith. Eventually, D feels confident in his skills and asks to become a master blacksmith. He creates a masterpiece that reflects his knowledge of blacksmithing, presents it to the next IBH meeting, and a) gets rejected or b) gets certified. D opens his own shop, has a successful life, and dies after becoming infected with the bubonic plague. But until that death, fear of competition and going out of business will never worry him. J

Overall GOOD

The Guilds have a LOT of good things and only a few bad things