Mmm not really. Consider the fact about how an Individual cannot gear him or herself if they weren't in any clan. Seen people playing since 2011 frequently and still struggling for dl and edl.
In my experience there is a scale on which MMO's fall. Some MMOs are extremely clan-based, where you need to be in a clan to get geared, others are extremely independent, where clans are only social and don't have any real game impact. CH falls towards the heavy clan-based side. You don't need to be in a clan, you can buy drops, but in all reality, you need to be in a clan. This is the type of game that OTM created for Ch. And they don't hide this. The game description asks "Are you worthy of the clans?"
For those players, like myself, who find themselves blacklisted from the EG clans, or just don't want to join them, they made choices that led them there. I was blacklisted for a long time, and it's 100% my fault... For those who just don't join the top clan, that is there choice. And it is a 100% acceptable choice, but by doing so these players need to realize that it may be harder to get certain key gear pieces...
All in all, success in a MMO boils down to patience and perseverance. The more players in a clan, the easier it is to dominate time zones and the bosses, but the more players you have to gear. Its all a balancing act. That's why there are some clans of 10 people who all trilog and never sleep, and then others of 150-300 who prioritize offline over online time, but they compete pretty much equally.
Feel free to pm me about anything or talk to me in game
Bob The God
This Bob guy is a guide? Legitimately?
Former EG try hard who’s now relaxing midgame on crom.
Fire Mages are where its at