I am sure clans afford some sort of security to some types, as I have friends that rave about clans and how I should join one, however; Like your hubby I've never been a big clan person.
There are two types of clans for the most part:
A) Theif Clans - The entire clan is a coverup where you are required to do some stupid initiation ritual that usually involves dropping your hard earned gear (which of course they then relive you of it and are gone.) *Note there are several writeups and other clan scams just do a search on this site for more info here*
B) Real Clans - Clans that are a collection of people who actually wish to band together to better themselves/party/team duel etc.
The problems with A is obvious, while B still has its share of issues. Normally there is some sort of chain of command built into any clan structure, this breeds normal political garbage that is already part of everyday life.
There is almost always a clan leader(s) -- usually whoever started the thing. These leaders are usually alot better equipped, higher level, richer etc than the later joinees. These leaders are almost always 'unavailable' or 'too high on the totem pole' to do the remedial things like help level lower members or stand in a game so they can mule.
Most of the time clans want you to display their "tag" which usually consists of symbols or letters ie -=EBG=- or some sort of variation, these "tags" are usually an acronym of what the entire clan name is (ie in the example above Elite Barb Guild). Since you cannot rename your character in diablo2, this requires you to create a new character of each type that you want associated with the guild. It also requires you to explain to everyone why you have -=EBG=- in your name if the clan no longer exists. Another possibly small thing about "tags" say you are in a clan, and some member of the clan turns out to be a huge scammer, he goes around tries to scam people with his clan tag in the name, pretty soon people will remember his tag and simply associate YOUR tag with a known scammer. One bad apple spoils the bunch eh? So you kick him out of the clan? Matters little if people actually remember the tag chances are they dont remember his name.
On the plus side if you are relativly new and need gear or help learning the ropes a good clan could be the way to get you started on the right foot, some even offer "clan mules" which are characters stocked with spare equipment. Of course you can usually find games which offer free gear to newbie characters which will usually be of the same quality as anything left on a community account. The downside to this community mule is most of the time it will be very basic gear of little value, as whomever left it there didn't value it enough to try to trade it for something for their own characters. If you happen to be in the clan and are donating all your extra findings to the community mules, where is your characters income? All that junk gear could easily add up to enough perfect gems to trade for a pul/um or 4.
Hmm anything else... I guess everyone should make their own decision as to if a clan is right for them or not. I personally am not a big fan of the political crap that usually goes on with clan life, "he said this", "so and so is leaving because what's his face called his friend a newbie." whatever. Then there is the almighty clan "leaders" who have the "power" to kick you out of the clan.. (wonder how they force you to take your clan tag off) and more garbage.
I personally reccomend developing friendships with people in the game to do things with, uber trist/cow/level/mule etc. But please be extremely careful with this after all someone can be friendly to you for 3 weeks and then just as soon as you go to xfer a really good pile of items they can snag them up and be gone. Nothing you can do about it except wish you had dropped something of lesser value. It's just the evil nature of the human brain (:
*edit* also read:
Do people not see the benefit of joining a clan???
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