Heya LadySilverMage :) Wanted to pop in and try to answer your questions a bit :) Firstly, I was referring to a new guild effort in the works by some of the artists here (and I do mean in its very barest idea level of infancy). I of course cannot be sure of a final name for it, but I am referring to it for now as the Free Market Guild. Let me explain how it is different from the current Renderosity Merchants Guild. With Renderosity Merchants Guild, there are only about 20 or so artists who are "members". These people were chosen by the owners of Renderosity for their high sales. So it was more an award of merit, but somehow it got named "guild" and that may have accidently caused alot of confusion, and yes, even pain, for other artists who were not invited in, and who also keep saying, "guild... you can join a guild... I want to join, how do I join..." and no one answers them with the specifics, since the specifics are fairly snobby sounding when told in a bald faced way, meaning, "sell LOTS of stuff." Ok... so that is the state of affairs on that existing guild known as the Renderosity Merchants Guild. What some here have been discussing the last 3 weeks or so is a triple pronged effort. It will probably be alot more inclusive of alot more ideas too once heads have time to think it out, and once a brainstorming meeting can be organized to be called also to be able to be attended in an open chat session here of those interest. For starters, this guild would be a real actual honest to god you better watch out medieval style guild. Meaning it is actually OPEN to being joined. And not just by Renderosity artists and members, but by BBay, Renderotica, 3d Commune, PFO folks, anyone and everyone from various sites who have an interest in the guilds objectives, and who want to committ themselves to those objectives and help others reach those objectives. At this point there is no discussion of any membership fee, though there has been some discussion of ways for guild members to voluntarily "give back" as you will see at a later point in my explanation :) Some of our goals and objectives: Formed by a small group of the "highest ranking" artists in the overall community. These are names you know already, and I would dare say at least respect. Controlled, operated, and managed by the members, not by a company, or a store, or a particular website. Membership Fees: None monatary fees are planned so far, though contributing to either education or free stuff may in fact be the "fee" in the end. Voluntary testing services for those who wish to have their product tested by a double blinded panel of artists in the guild in order to recieve a stamp/mark of approval. This testing is still up in the air as far as what criteria, but a good system might be a checklist that is run down of basic things, each one having a certain number of points attached, and then one gets a total points value, and from there a grade. The idea is for any artist selling anywhere, or even free stuff artists who give away their work, to have a way to have it tested independently for good quality. You know, basically Kid Tested, Mother Approved, sort of Good Housekeeping type seal. We aim to have this testing available to all artists, not just guild members, though alot of how many items we can test will depend on how many members there are able and available to do testing :) Another goal is in fact revolving around free stuff, and there has been alot of opposition to this goal and controversy, even a threat (later retracted) to ban those who would join such a guild, and I guess there will continue to be controversy. The goal is simply to release into free stuff excellent quality merchandise by the guild artists, as they have time, can afford it (since so many of the artists actually derive their literal money they live off of from making products for Poser), and feel like it. If these items released to free stuff happen to be a better crafted solution that saves customers from spending money on a product which is being sold somewhere that is inferior, then the goal has been served, as well as the community. Another goal under discussion is centering around some of the very top artists, whose effort this guild idea is, to share some of their "trade secrets" with others, so that anyone who wishes to make better quality things, either for sale, for free, or just for themselves, will have a chance to actually learn if they put their back into it and take that opportunity. The overall goal and motive of this guild would be to encourage the release of better quality items through any tool at our disposal, be it training, voluntary reviews, or out and out rabid "competition" through the release of superior items crafted to replace an exceedingly poorly crafted item, so as to offer an alternative for those seeking such an item. The reason this has not been made public before now, is that it is a VERY serious idea and plan, and therefore is taking real planning. It cannot be swiftly decided who even initially qualifies for an invitation to a meeting on the concept, since we are not going to use dollar value sold as our criteria of who is good or not good. However, since the existence of such an idea being worked on has been made public, before others misunderstand its intent, having heard all sorts of panicced fears out of other artists who are speaking in fear and ignorance, it is best to try to describe the thought processes going on so far. Hope this helps answer a few questions.