Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.  Ulysses S. Grant

Care and feeding of your friends team

• Always invite friends that are 1 or 2 power levels above you. They will last longer and are more likely to hire you. Much more and you are no use, much less and they will die in the first area.
• Try to hire all your friends every day. They will see your name more often and are more likely to hire you as well. I wish I had 50 friends.
• Only keep friends that regularly hire you. Once the "i" disappears next to their name they have not hired you for a WEEK. If they are above your level, let it slide. If they are equal or below, drop them like a bag of dirt.
• Invite friends that compliment your class. As a warrior most of my friends are archers or mages. If a particular area is hard, see if the abilities of a particular friend will help. This is like choosing the right golf club.
• When hiring from your friends in the tavern, ALWAYS click show and check them before you part with that gold. If a player left a bunch of things with the blacksmith or the White Wizard when they went offline they will be no good to you. I have gone into battle with friends who could only punch for 8.
• Two reasons to remove a friend. They are not hiring you or they die in combat. Don't be sentimental. 
• If a friend is guildless, drop them a quick chat that your guild has openings. Many people are unsatisfied but don't want to have the hassle of guild shopping.

Guild Leader Evil Betty shown here coaching friends in the tavern.