Everything you need to know about RL Cooldowns. Click any question to see the answer.
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Questions about how to join and what to expect
Joining is simple and free:
The whole process takes about 5 minutes. Check out our Getting Started Guide for detailed instructions.
Nope! We don't do applications, interviews, or trials. Just join Discord, read the rules, introduce yourself, and you're in.
We trust people to self-select - if our values resonate with you, you'll fit in. If not, you'll figure that out quickly.
No! While many of our members are parents, RL Cooldowns is for any adult whose real life doesn't pause for raid night.
We welcome:
The common thread is valuing flexibility and understanding that life comes first.
Perfect! We love helping new players. Just mention you're new in your introduction and people will offer guidance.
We have zero tolerance for gatekeeping or elitism. Everyone starts somewhere, and experienced members genuinely enjoy helping others learn.
Yes - you must be 18+ to join. RL Cooldowns is an adult community with adult conversations. We keep it family-friendly (no NSFW content), but topics often involve work, parenting, relationships, and other adult life situations.
Questions about time commitment and involvement
Zero required commitment. That's the whole point.
Play daily, weekly, monthly, or sporadically - all are welcome. We don't track attendance, require minimums, or judge participation levels.
That's perfectly fine! Many of our members are in the same situation. We specifically build flexible rosters so people with limited time can still participate in organized content.
Quality over quantity. If you have 3 hours to play this week, make them count by gaming with people who understand your schedule.
No. We don't kick for inactivity, period.
Life happens. Maybe you're dealing with a new baby, work deadline, health issue, or just need a break from gaming. Come back in a week, month, or year - you're still part of the community.
No "comeback" explanations needed. Just say "Hey, I'm back!" and jump in.
Just say so! "BRB - kid woke up" or "Gotta bail, work emergency" is always understood and accepted.
We plan for this by over-recruiting for organized content. If you need to drop mid-raid, we'll fill the spot or adjust. No guilt, no drama, no questions asked.
Not at all. Check Discord when you want to game or when you're curious what's happening. Mute channels that don't interest you.
Some members are in Discord daily. Others check in weekly. Both approaches work fine. Use it as much or as little as suits your life.
Questions about gameplay, groups, and progression
Currently active: World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, Path of Exile 2, and Arc Raiders.
We add games based on member interest. If 3+ people want to play something together, we'll create channels and support it. Recent requests include Diablo IV, Destiny 2, and Guild Wars 2.
Check our Games page for detailed info on each title.
Varies by game, but generally Normal to Heroic difficulty in most content. We focus on progression that's accessible to people with limited time.
WoW: Normal/Heroic raids, all M+ levels, casual PvP
FFXIV: Normal raids, Extreme trials, all roulettes
PoE2: Endgame mapping, all league content
We care more about enjoying the game together than bleeding-edge progression.
We use in-game systems (personal loot, need/greed, etc.) whenever possible. For organized raids where loot rules matter, we discuss them before pulling and post them clearly in Discord.
General philosophy: Be fair, be transparent, don't be greedy. If you don't need something and someone else does, pass it along. Drama over loot = fastest way to get kicked.
For most content: no. For coordinated raids or harder content: it helps but isn't mandatory.
Many members just listen and type in chat. Do what's comfortable for you. If you have kids sleeping nearby or can't use voice for any reason, that's totally fine.
We over-recruit for every event. If we need 10 people, we aim for 13+ signups. This way if 2-3 people can't make it or have to drop, we still have enough.
Sign up if you're interested and available. If life changes and you can't make it - just update your signup or drop a message. We plan for this and adjust on the fly.
If we don't have enough for the scheduled activity, we pivot to something else. Flexibility is built into the system.
Absolutely! That's the beauty of a multi-gaming community. Play WoW on raid nights, FFXIV on weekends, and PoE2 when you just want to solo grind. Or focus on one game exclusively.
Your community follows you wherever you game. Same values, same people, different games.
Questions about how we operate and what to expect
We actually practice what we preach. "Life first" isn't marketing - it's Rule #5 and it's enforced.
Most guilds say: "Real life comes first!" Then they track attendance, require sign-ups, and get passive-aggressive about absences.
We say: "Life always comes first." Then we build flexible rosters, never ask where you were, and celebrate when people prioritize their lives.
We're also multi-gaming, which means you're not locked into one title. The community follows you across games.
We have a strict no-drama policy (Rule #3). If you have an issue with someone:
People who can't follow this get removed. We're too old for guild drama and won't tolerate it poisoning the community.
Yes! Share the Discord invite with anyone who you think would be a good fit.
Just make sure they understand our values before joining - life first, no drama, no pressure, no gatekeeping. If they can't vibe with that, they won't enjoy it here and neither will we.
Guild leadership handles major decisions (rules, moderation, community direction). Game coordinators manage game-specific activities (events, rosters, channels).
We're open to feedback and suggestions - post in #suggestions or DM leadership. Good ideas get implemented quickly.
We don't do democracy for everything (too slow), but we listen to the community and adjust based on what's working.
Zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination, or hate speech - immediate removal, no warnings (Rule #1).
For other violations (spam, drama, gatekeeping): warning → timeout → removal if it continues.
We'd rather be a smaller community with good vibes than a large community with toxic members. Quality over quantity.
Absolutely! We love when members step up to organize content. Want to run a weekly M+ night? Schedule FFXIV map parties? Organize achievement runs?
Just post your plan in the appropriate channel or DM a coordinator. We'll support you with Discord tools, announcements, and whatever else you need.
Questions about servers, platforms, and practical details
WoW: Stormrage (US-Alliance) - but cross-realm works for most content
FFXIV: Famfrit (Primal data centers) - cross-DC coming soon
PoE2: All platforms welcome
Check the Games page for current server info. It sometimes changes based on community needs.
Depends on the game. Most modern games have cross-realm/cross-server features that let you group up regardless of server.
If your game/content is server-locked and we don't have enough people on your server, you're still welcome in Discord for the community and to find groups for content that does work cross-server.
Varies by game. For WoW, we have a guild bank with basic supplies and crafting mats. For other games, we coordinate sharing in Discord.
General philosophy: help each other out when you can, but no requirements. If you can spare materials, potions, or gold to help a member - great! If not, no worries.
No fees, no donations, no requirements. RL Cooldowns is completely free to join and participate in.
Discord is free. Website hosting is covered. We're not monetizing the community - we're just gaming together.
Currently most active in NA East and Central time zones.
Most organized events happen between 5pm-1am Eastern on weekdays, with more flexible timing on weekends.
That said - people game at all hours. Night owls, early birds, and oddball shifts all find groups.
Check #announcements in Discord - we post all important updates there. Make sure you have notifications enabled for that channel.
For day-to-day stuff, browse #general and your game-specific channels. If you're only checking Discord occasionally, #announcements has everything you need to know.
Can't find what you're looking for? Join our Discord and ask in #general, or reach out to any moderator. We're happy to help!
You can also email us at info@rlcooldowns.com
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