How do you get your guild into baking?

[Bennan]

Ahh by bank-rolled, I mean the guild pays you a wage to just make stuff for raids. Not to just hand over money to get you to 250, and as you or someone said Baking is not a huge cash cow.

The guild gives you X money per month, and in return you provide baked goods to the whole guild, with hopefully the money paying for your time, effort and skill level.

[Ariene]

I agree with all the people who say just pass it out. It worked well for me. I was skilling up on Halas Pies and started passing them out on all the raids. That was pre-PoP when they were about the best melee food available. They got so used to me handing them food that they started asking me if I needed stuff instead of me needing to ask them. Whenever we killed a dragon I would pipe up with oh, that meat makes Dragon Steaks! with a link so they could see the stats. When PoP came out they already knew I was a baker and started saving me whatever they found.

It is amazing to me how many people still have no clue about stat foods. I gave some to a 65 cleric the other day who is a great cleric and knows the game well and had to explain to him how stat food works. Educating them is the only way and the best way to get the attention so that they remember is to keep handing them food.

[Tiniane]

Another vote for free samples here. Tanks love Halas Meat Pies, casters love Picnics, everyone loves Holy Cake for raids. I tend to take a few stacks of things to a raid, and pass people who are interested half a stack. When I was skilling up on Truffles most people got several stacks just so I could get rid of them

Earring of the Solstice quest helped a lot - my main reason for becoming a GM baker was to make the baked components for my Guildies. We had a concerted effort where those with tradeskills did the combines, and those who weren't tradeskillers farmed the components. Gave a great family feeling

Hugs,
Tiniane.

[Clementine]

I'm fairly new to my guild but I'm guessing that half if not a majority of them are aware of the miraculous drinks/foods out there. I've offered my services to those who might need it, but so far no one has taken an interest... there are a few tradeskiller in my guild but as someone else has mentioned more players seem to value other trades such as Tailoring, Pottery and Blacksmithing over Baking or Brewing . I've handed out free food and drinks to my close friends who all appreciate it, but I seriously doubt they would buy such items if they had to pay for them. There is a problem with handing out free food/drinks on a regular basis, it does cost time and money to make whatever it is you're handing out, and there will be a few people who take advantage of a tradeskillers generosity. It really varies by player to player on how they see the stat food/drinks, some are willing to pay and understand the time/money it involves, others couldn't care less unless it's free. Hope this kinda makes sense to the original question

[Idana Phoenixfyre]

Transcript from a note I left on my guild webpage...

*Brandishes a huge spoon*

Ok, perhaps you've forgotten my reign of terror in ToV. Do not, I repeat DO NOT ever destroy meat or anything that looks, smells, or sounds edible. If you need the pp, I will pay you. I have eight, count them EIGHT points left to max out baking and I will personally flog anyone caught eating or destroying possible tradeskill points. If you need food, just ask, my mule has like a whole backpack full of picnics. I will bake your food FOR you, hand it right back, what ever it takes. I MUST GAIN THOSE SKILLPOINTS!!!!! Anyone not cooperating will be fed fish head soup and tripe until they beg for mouldy bread and brackish water.

I love you guys.

Idana

It was all in good fun but the bottom line is, the tradeskill items are trickling my way and I have one point left to go. Folks are now asking me what the items make and if they are any good and so forth. I don't care about making them and handing them right back, I just hate having my creativity stifled lol. Have fun with it!

[Ortrillian]

At first only a few guildmates were interested in stat food when it first came out, particullarly holy cakes and halas pies so I kept handing out samples when ever someone asked for summoned food. Now with the PoP food, hero sandwiches & stirfry mostly, I can't make enough to keep up with demand of 100+ guildmates asking for food. Luckily a couple other members are skilling up.

Remind them that STA counts towards HPs! Pay attention to your tanks and lower HP casters especially. They will get hooked eventually. Now I have 4 mules with stacks of tradeskill stuff from guildmates saving them for me (I do pottery, brewing and JC also).

[Clementine]

LOL Idana