“Shard mafias” are just the players who are regularly at the top cooperating with each other so they can maximize rewards and minimize time requirements and pain. Since the invention of changing payout times I haven’t heard of any shards that aren’t willing to cooperate with anyone who isn’t purposefully trying to mess with people.
anyone who is competitive and isn’t already talking to their shard mates should start by sending them a message :)
my guildmates can change but I have been playing with my shard mates for years and years-