I consider myself a pretty good player (I played against a good player 1 on 1 recently and lost, but learned a lot...especially about a setting we hadn't used). I also have a couple friends that are decent players too. We pretty much just play against each other, but want to do some tournaments, play against other groups, etc. Also, we don't experiment with settings as much (a lot of that has to do with having no member).

We like to win, but it isn't everything. We play to have fun.

None of us are members (I have said this before, but I would buy one if I knew an iPad app was coming soon).

Should we start a clan? Should we join a clan? What have some of you seen in terms of experience enhancement from being in a clan?

I'm not really in to 1 on 1 matches (prefer FFA or teams), so I don't really like measuring myself in a 1 on 1 setting (totally different style of play and since I don't play those I know I would not be as good). I guess maybe the best way to go is to join a tournament and see how we compare to other people out there.

Any advice?

I think it depends on how many people you have. If you have 10+ I would advise making your own clan. If you have 10 or less invite me to a game and we can try you guys out.
I've always enjoyed clans, and I think most people do.

Forming a clan with the friends you are now already playing now will add nothing to your gaming experience except a fancy tag that makes you easier to find in the tournament list

Jsa's post is the fallacy of clans in my opinion. If you have 10(+) players that you know well, like to play with trust etc. Why do you need a tag? You already have most of the benefits of a clan.

You don't need a tag in front of your name to befriend people and arrange games with them.

If you want to be taught again it is something you can achieve by yourself ... ask a good player.

If you want to start a 'war' with another clan - maybe you need to start a clan. Though even then I would guess that if you contacted one of the current clans and suggested some kind of game between them and your friends I'd be surprised if they would refuse.

depending on how many people you would want in your clan, why not just make a pseudo-clan like [GeZyS]? it gives you a group identity but you don't necessarily need to have any more than 3 people.

Well, the answer is two friends. And the problem is all the open tournaments suck. They are all FFA or 1 v 1. Nothing that we'd be able to join and play against other people. The one tourney we got invited to was deleted before it even started.

So I thought we might be able to play in more interesting games while also improving playing with some better people.

It seems like there are never medium sized 3 v 3 tournaments at all, and we are not members. Maybe that is the first step, for the people who do make tourney's to start inviting some more people outside their circle that aren't just trolls of course.

I run a lot of tournaments a mix of 1v1, and over. Some are open tournaments. But you have to understand that sometimes I want players who have player more than 5 team games.

Chris, there's a lot of tournaments always looking for players; many (most??) of them are for teams. Are you (almost) exclusively playing against those friends? That would mean you will probably not be on many other people's invite list and (I think) being on many invite lists is the best way to receive tournament invites (all it takes is for one person who knows you to hit "Select All" and "Forward Invite".

But, you can also look for tournaments yourself. If you go to "Multi Player" and select the "Tournaments" tab, there's a list of tournaments. But above it is a little text and three buttons. That text says "If you're looking for tournaments to join, check out Open Tournaments". Have you ever noticed that line? :) When you click it, a list of available tournaments will be shown! Not all of them specifically list the team size in the tournament name itself, but (if I didn't miscount) three of the nine that do are for teams.

After having played one tournament you'll be on lot of invite lists and you'll also start receiving invites for "closed" (invite-only) tournaments.

RVW has as good point, just start playing others in the open tourneys and you will soon have more invites than u know what to do with.

Some clans are ok but you dont need to join one to get better,just play better opposition, and ask questions

I said I check the open tourney list. I also said they are all 1 v 1 or FFA. I suppose playing in some of them would maybe get me on some invite lists, I don't know. I would think more people would add you on their list if you played with them...but I guess some would as an opponent too if you do well and they want you as a teammate later.

And sorry, but I feel a little insulted that you asked me if I have ever noticed that. Makes me sound like a complete noob. Plus I said in my last post that there are no team games in the open tournament list.

Not here to change your opinion, but if you become interested in joining a clan, make a 1v1 to talk to me.

I see over 10 team tournaments still waiting for players. I guess that some of them have requirements you can't reach, but I can't believe that there's not a single one you can join. Here's some examples:
Four Castles Fury 3v3
Strategic 2v2 Double Elimination
3v3 poland (balanced)
Crossword tournament!
3v3 - auto 9x9 -no cards
Team Tournament East Asia
Rise of the Shogun

Nothing?

I'm already in two of them, just waiting for players. I joined one before that was deleted before we ever started. I figured clans set up team matches (internal or external) and they actually happen more often than some of these large tournaments that may or may not start.

Thanks Eagle. min is helping me test my Sanctuary map (he tested my other map I made as well), so he will have at least seen me play a couple games.

And sorry, but I feel a little insulted that you asked me if I have ever noticed that. Makes me sound like a complete noob.

And sorry, but I feel a little insulted that you asked for help and then yell at me when I try to give it. Makes me feel completely unappreciated.

I had half-written a paragraph about me not being able to forward you any invites at the moment, because tournaments disappear from my list after I've declined them. It was only when I went looking if I could find those declined tournaments somewhere when I noticed the "Open Tournaments" link myself... After figuring that out I rewrote my post to direct you to that list as well.