Guild A guild was an organization composed of like - minded individuals to further and protect their interests . Guilds appeared in many different forms but typically offered benefits such as camaraderie and even financial support to members . Large , powerful guilds could even control an aspect of a city , such as trade in certain goods . Guild membership . Guild membership was generally open to those who possessed some skill in the guild ' s primary activity . In many cases , interested persons needed only to approach the guild and apply for membership . Occasionally , additional entry requirements such as belonging to a certain race were imposed . Some guilds , such as thieves guilds , were secret societies so even learning of the existence of these guilds could be difficult . Guilds normally required an entry fee as well as periodic fees to remain in good standing . Benefits of membership in a guild could include access to the guildhall , discounts on trade materials and possibly financial support in the form of loans . Guild types . Adventurers guilds . In some cities , those who hunted monsters and delved in dungeons banded together to form adventurers guilds . These guilds functioned as employment agencies for members and offered additional services , such as search parties for missing adventuring groups . Notable adventurer guilds : Arcane guilds . Guilds made up primarily of arcane spell casters were known as arcane guilds . Membership was generally limited to mage s , sorcerer s , and other users of arcane magic such as bard s . Notable arcane guilds : Criminal guilds . These guilds were made up of those operating outside the law . They tended to be highly secretive and could be difficult to join . They offered benefits such as training , employment , and help selling stolen goods . Notable criminal guilds : Laborers guilds . These guilds were associations of low - skilled manual laborers . Not surprisingly , laborers guilds were unpopular with merchants and others who depended on low - paid workers . The Cellarers ' & Plumbers ' Guild of Waterdeep was an example of a laborer build in the Realms . Mercantile guilds . The most common form of guilds , mercantile guilds were associations of merchants engaged in trading a particular good . Large mercantile guilds could be extremely powerful and could control trade in their area of specialization . Some mercantile guilds required practitioners of a trade to join before setting up shop within their area . Mercantile guilds offered benefits such as protection from criminals and excessive governmental taxation and might even loan money to members . Notable mercantile guilds : Performers guilds . Performers guilds were made up of bards , actors and others who performed for a living . These guilds promoted entertainment events and would match members with complementary talents to form troupes . Scholastic guilds . Guilds whose members were primarily engaged in scholarly pursuits were known as scholastic guilds . Membership was usually composed of sage s and mage s . Many guilds had libraries and extremely large guilds founded colleges . Some arcane guilds could be considered scholastic guilds and " vice versa " .