Starting a new guild - questions...

I like the guild I'm in, and I like the alliance we're part of, but I hate the cape (petty gripe, I know), is it possible for me to leave my guild, start my own guild, design a cape I like, and join the alliance so I can still chat with everyone? What are the downsides?

There is no downside, as long as the alliance is willing to include a guild that only has one member. You might want to check with your alliance leader before you take any steps on this journey.
And if you are thinking of taking some members with you to your new guild, that will most likely guarantee that you will not be invited to join the alliance.

There is a limit of 10 guilds in an alliance. So, if your alliance already has 10 guilds in it, then your new guild will not be able to join.

Since the number of guilds is limited, many alliances are not willing to give one of these precious slots to a one-person guild if there is a chance of filling it with an active guild of a reasonable size. Your alliance might be an exception. You'll have to take that up with your alliance leader.

Wouldn't it just be easier to open up a discussion with your guildies about changing the cape? If you're willing to pay for it and can show them a nice design, perhaps they'll go for it.

I'd imagine the only downside you'd have is missing out what's being said in your original guild's guild chat. If someone is looking to vanquish an area you needed and they don't ask in alliance chat, then you would miss that opportunity. Unless everybody currently chats in alliance chat frequently, you could be missing out on some guild activities.

The plus side is that you can choose your own cape and hall. If you need services, you can just go use another alliance's hall NPC's.

i suggest bribing the leader to change the cape

Unless you are doing PvP, just turn the cape off. I never have understood what the big attraction of a cape was. If you simply must have a cape, and simply must have it look a certain way, then start your own guild. But guilds are not about capes, they are about members who have similar interests. If you like your current guild and alliance, leaving because of the cape is a pretty stupid reason.

So quoted for truth!!!!

The group your playing with is much more important then the colors your wearing! You can't choose where your born either, and changing nationalities in real life will not be accepted on the base simply that you don't like the colors of the flag! You can however chose where you wanna live in most circumstances.


Lucky my guildies are happy with the cape, but yeah they all helped design it too so maybe they are in a lucky guild too

You'd probably be shunned in alliance chat as 'that guy who left cos of the cape' and they might laugh at you in guild chat.