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Post by Pencil Stick on Jan 27, 2014 14:39:22 GMT -8
Rank Revamp
Our rank system has always been a wonderful part of our outfit. In order to clear up the current TxR rank system we decided to streamline it and make the on-going requirements clear and concise. The major changes to take note of are: The Need to Maintain Ranks
If you are not living up to the standards of your rank you can now be demoted to an appropriate rank. This is most important for those who are squad and platoon leaders. Participation is required to maintain elevated ranks. Members will no longer attain a rank, then keep it forever. The Change in Outfit Leadership
Previously, the only path to leadership in TXR was through Planetside 2. This has caused problems as we have expanded beyond Planetside 2 and into other games. The new rank structure does not include "staff" positions with enhanced privileges and responsibilities. These are dealt with separately. Additionally, the position of Community Leader has been developed to recognize and empower leaders in non-Planetside games so that they can run their own sub-community for their game under the TXR umbrella.
More Useful Ranks
The need to be able to quickly identify our proficient squad and platoon leads is crucial, so we are adjusting some of the ranks to reflect this. We want leads who are really good at it, and continue to practice so if you become inactive or do not platoon/squad lead routinely you can be demoted down. Additionally, for non-leaders, ranks are being adjusted to be a reflection of participation in outfit events and proficiency, rather than other factors that do not indicate the worth of a player. The ranks are intended to be self-explanatory. If you have any questions or confusion, let us know, and we'll clarify.
| Rank: | How You Gain It:
| How You Keep It:
| | Conscript |
- Join the Total Recoil outfit in Planetside 2
- Register on the Total Recoil Forums
| - Participate in two ops in your first two weeks
| | Soldier | - Participate in at least 2 ops
- Follow orders
- Use comms appropriately
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- Don’t violate the CoC
- Don’t go inactive more than a month without notice
- Continue meeting basic expectations
| | Specialist | - Become certified in a specialty division
- Have a preferred class or role that you are proficient with
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- Participate in ops or a division event at least once a week
- Maintain high standards of comms and personal conduct
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| Champion
| - Excel in a particular role
- Frequent participation in Planetside events
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- Attend ops more often than not (66% attendance rate)
- Keep kicking ass
- Inactivity or poor personal conduct are grounds for demotion
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| Sergeant
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- Must have led a squad under the supervision of a Leader
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- Must continue to squad lead once a week or more
| Captain
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- Must be a proven and trusted platoon leader
- Either: Must have squad led during ops at least 6 times
- Or: Must be an active recruiter, leading public platoons at least once a week
- Must be capable of after-hours platoon leadership
| - Either: Attend ops more often than not (66% attendance rate or more)
- Or: Regularly lead public platoons for the purpose of recruitment
- Must remain available to squad lead during FNO when needed
| Major
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- Must be a proven and trusted platoon leader- “War Room Ready”
- Either: Must have led a Wednesday and a Friday Night Op
- Or: This rank is available to lieutenants and co-leaders of specialty divisions
| - Attend ops more often than not (66% attendance rate or more)
- Must remain available to platoon lead as necessary
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| Community Leader
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- Leads a non-Planetside group in TXR
- Granted limited administrative privileges to manage sub-community
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- Maintain activity for your game- if the game goes dark, you lose CL status
- Don’t abuse your privileges
| Leadership
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- Total Recoil Staff: Previously Lt. Commander and Commander
- Handles responsibilities like: Division Leadership, Forum Administrator, Applications, TeamSpeak Admin
| - Don’t fuck up.
- Do the job assigned to you.
- Don’t disappear.
| Generals
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- Presidents of TXR
- Council of 3
- “Owners” of the outfit
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- Don’t die
- Don’t leave
- Don’t do something REALLY stupid
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Post by dclxvi on Jan 27, 2014 17:31:04 GMT -8
So what becomes of my current rank of officer? Sergeant now? Also, you should make another field for the rights of the cadre. Teamspeak privileges, outfit invite capabilities etc.
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Post by Pencil Stick on Jan 27, 2014 18:38:53 GMT -8
NCO was a rank that was in a weird place. Some people were in there because they were regular squad leaders, some because we want to recognize their dedication as a role model player. It was about fifty fifty. Those who squad lead go up the chain to Sergeant, while those recognized for their skills as a player/member go towards Champion. NCO has been removed.
Bear in mind that we're still going over the ranks. Where you are today may not be where you end up. There's a lot of stuff to go over to get everyone where we want them, and it may take a few passes. Don't fret if you're specialist, or even if you have two ranks or no ranks (which would be a mistake- notify us!). We're in beta with this.
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Post by dclxvi on Jan 27, 2014 18:47:00 GMT -8
Pfft. Your mom's in beta with this.  |
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Post by lexxaar on Jan 27, 2014 22:03:53 GMT -8
I like it!
Good job leadership, you guys are amazing!
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Post by Changes on Jan 27, 2014 23:04:41 GMT -8
Thanks Lexxaar, we put a lot of thought into this.
I know we can't make every single person happy, but we feel this new structure is an overall improvement.
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Post by docfry on Jan 28, 2014 7:42:49 GMT -8
Love the overall simplicity; I'm particularly fond of the Rule of Three - Three enlisted, three officers, three leadership. It makes sense and keeps the grouping easy. Thanks for the effort guys, and keep up the good work!
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Post by PoorRichard (AKA - The Guido) on Jan 28, 2014 9:59:57 GMT -8
So that explains why I didn't have my butterbar on TS when I was on this morning. So does this mean that those who were former NCOs will be given Sergeant? Since I have the time to lead on Wednesday Night Ops, and squad lead quite often in the off hours. Pfft. Your mom's in beta with this. I'm in beta with your mom! Pfffffffft |
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Post by Hans1942 on Jan 28, 2014 12:20:52 GMT -8
Pfft. Your mom's in beta with this. I'm in beta with your mom! Pfffffffft I'm in beta with your mom's mom! Pfffffttt |
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Post by PoorRichard (AKA - The Guido) on Jan 28, 2014 12:32:39 GMT -8
Actually reading this in more detail (was in philosophy class when looking the first time), looks like NCOs will be split between sergeant and captain. Maybe Captain will be more the tune for me as since back and more active, I plan on getting back to the public platoons like I used to. It seems we've been running fewer of those lately.
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Post by tarz on Jan 28, 2014 13:52:15 GMT -8
I'm somewhat confused as to this system. Sergeant seems like a step down from NCO while Captain seems like a step up. I feel like most of the guys who had NCO previously were there due to time constraints, not being unqualified for further positions.
Some thoughts:
I feel like there isn't a distinction at all between inactivity from disinterest or inactivity from simply not having the hours in a day. To me it feels like I'm being punished for not attending everything, even though I would like to(I'd love to play competitive) but simply don't have the time to play that much. It also feels like it limits my ability to move up leadership wise within the outfit.
Would it be possible to work in an exemption to the attendance requirements due to life circumstances? IE, school, medical/health related, family related, etc. (Obviously this would be at the discretion of command in general, and would not be given for silly things - IE "Meh, bored with ps2 but want new tag")
If not possible, is it possible to add distinction "medals"(for lack of a better term) for contribution to the outfit? Things for - adding to outfit resources(manuals, guides, etc.), longstanding contributions to the community, years/months of service, veteran tags, recruitment, etc.
I'd like to hold myself up as an example in this situation: I attend as much as I can, post at least every 3 days on the forums, read daily, and in general do what I can when I manage to get some down time. That being said, I "work" long hours with school, and obviously this takes the majority of my time.
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Post by PoorRichard (AKA - The Guido) on Jan 28, 2014 14:12:24 GMT -8
You hit it right on the head, tarz. I was thinking the same thing. During the summer months, I have all the time in the world (minus FNO due to work). During the school year (depending on my class schedule), I can be on from nil to my current 3-4 days a week, maximum. Hence, I was on hiatus during the fall semester and I have time this semester. For instance, regarding Captain, attend Ops more often than not (66% or more). For me, that's impossible, because there are 2 Ops days and I can only attend one, making my participation rate never more than 50%. That in itself doesn't mean that I don't contribute to the outfit in the capacity required for such a rank. I understand we're in beta with this and dece's mom, so just some input.
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Post by Talron on Jan 28, 2014 14:34:27 GMT -8
Leadership understands Tarz and Richard that real life comes first. Hell, I have taken a back seat from playing PS2 as well because of real life but since I am the founder of TXR I have an "exception rule" that I will always be a General until I step down.
Leadership knows the commitment you have made for TXR. When you guys have the ability to play more and apply for captain position your application will be granted faster then the average person applying for this position for the first time.
Does that make sense? We need to uphold ranks due to activity and service within the outfit and when you guys are able to commit more you will be able to uphold your leadership rank. If you go on a leave of absence without letting leadership know your where about then I am afraid you will be demoted down to sergeant level.
We have to maintain a certain activity level, but knowing both of your resumes you will have the ability to re-apply with ease as to someone who is applying for leadership for the very first time.
Hope this kind of answers both you're questions?
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Post by magnifiscent on Jan 28, 2014 15:00:13 GMT -8
The new ranks aren't rewards. Losing a rank isn't a punishment. It's just a reflection of your activity and what you are comfortable doing. You're not less because you're a sergeant instead of a captain, it's just a reflection of where you're at. It doesn't mean you're not CAPABLE of being a captain or major even, just that you aren't able to do it right now for whatever reason. RL, interest, whatever. It's all good.
We needed to have a rank system that would represent what we've got to work with at any given time. We defined how ranks are gained, but also what it takes to maintain that rank. Specialty divisions became less of a club you join out of interest and more of a reflection of your particular specialization. If your interest in leading decreases, your available time evaporates, or if you get tired of flying or driving tanks, your ranks and badges will change to reflect that. It isn't that you are being punished for not participating, just that you aren't currently meeting the requirements and might not be the guy to go to when we need a platoon leader or someone to fill up the skywatch squad friday nights.
No one should look down on someone of a lower rank (I don't know any who do). Our ranks should only be representing what a particular player is bringing to the table at any given moment, not what they are capable of or what they used to do for us.
If you were an NCO and are now caught between captain and sergeant, it's ok. It's not like captains get to boss more people around or wipe their asses with silk while sergeants have to use burlap.
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Post by Pencil Stick on Jan 28, 2014 15:14:54 GMT -8
Everyone else has said it well. The intention here was for people to move up and down the ranks more.
Also take note that there is no required rank for anything. If you're less active, your rank will be lower, sure, but that does not necessarily reflect at all on your skill as a squad lead or player or whatever. You can still squad lead or do whatever whether you're a Sergeant or Specialist.
As for exceptions, there is always the player hiatus thread if you're going to be especially busy. We felt that 66% attendance was a good number- it works out to attending about 4-5 ops a month, or "once a week plus one". If you're one of our members who is on a whole lot and is really active, but just happens to have a schedule keeping them busy Wednesday and Friday, talk to one of our leaders, and we'll figure something out. I'd rather not have anyone feel snubbed by this or like they're being treated unfairly.
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Post by Hans1942 on Jan 28, 2014 17:29:15 GMT -8
Perhaps where that should be reflected is in the teamspeak medals in terms of recognition. So you have your rank badges and then other recognition is reflected in those badges. Because really those are two different things. Once is for actively leading and the other is for the recognition of what you do contribute.
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Post by Hans1942 on Jan 28, 2014 17:31:43 GMT -8
On that note I think you should divide the ranking system in names into 3 parts.
Planetside Soldier Ranks
Planetside Leadership Ranks
TxR Leadership (Since this reflects more than just planetside aka community leaders and planetside may not be the main game we play in the future)
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Post by docfry on Jan 28, 2014 21:00:55 GMT -8
Hans.... I love your signature. Off-topic, I know, but true.
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Post by Pencil Stick on Jan 29, 2014 9:14:42 GMT -8
On that note I think you should divide the ranking system in names into 3 parts. Planetside Soldier Ranks Planetside Leadership Ranks TxR Leadership (Since this reflects more than just planetside aka community leaders and planetside may not be the main game we play in the future) This is pretty much what we're going for here. One of the big reasons we needed to do this in the first place was to accommodate the Final Fantasy guys- there was previously no path to TXR general leadership or privilege that did not go through Planetside. Now, we have a second community for a second game with a member base almost as large as the Planetside group operating under our umbrella. We can't be a multi-gaming community if we only really accommodate Planetside, that had to change for us to grow. |
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Post by savoybrown on Feb 2, 2014 12:07:49 GMT -8
Leadership must understand that our squad mates have different levels of certification regarding what they can use in combat.
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