[attr="class","APP3"] Progression in learning new proficiencies are made by turning in completed or archived threads. Each post has a value based on the type of thread that is being turned in. Posts are weighted depending on thread activity. Throughout this thread the word upgrade is used, which also includes adding new proficiencies.
Event Posts/Staffed Missions For every two posts made, three posts are removed from your total requirements (x1.5 multiplier).
Player-Run Missions For every five posts made, six posts are removed from your total requirements (x1.2 multiplier).
General Threads Training, socials, etc fall under this catagory and are weighted regularly (x1 multiplier).
Solo Threads It takes three solo posts to equal one regular post towards requirements to upgrade (x.33 multiplier).
Dynamic Threads Threads that shift between one thing or another are weighted in sections. Say an event ended and two players stuck around to socialize for a page or so after, those posts would be scored as general. If after that one person stuck around in the thread and wrote solo posts, they would only be awarded the solo thread rate.
Deductions
Risk Deduction: -5 posts required for each submitted thread involving a fight to the death that your character survived against another member's character of a staff NPC. This can only be claimed when a death occurs to the opposition side (limit one claim per event/staff led mission).
Patience Deduction: -10 posts from requirements for each month since the last upgrade occured. (Can accumulate during periods of inactivity but it does not roll over to the next upgrade, as long as the character has been upgraded at least once).
Diversity Deduction: -10 posts from requirements if at least 3 characters belonging to other members are involved across all submitted threads.
Upgrading and adding new proficiencies (Rookie-Veteran) Genin: 35 posts -deductions + 5 for each prior approved upgrade. Chunin*: 55 posts -deductions + 10 for each prior approved upgrade. Jounin*: 65 posts -deductions + 15 for each prior approved upgrade. *Rank claim characters. You retain the scaling of the rank you begin with.
Mastery and Grand Mastery Master: Requires 80 posts -deductions. Grand Master: One additional proficiency at master, 3 S-Rank Missions/Event completions while holding two masteries. Only one grand master per character. Threads turned in cannot be used for other upgrades.
Tonight we have went through and worked out a more standardized version of our system that simplified our process a bit so that we could release harder targets without explaining a lot of algebra to everyone. We'd like to get some participation in the poll above (one vote per member) to see how you feel about it in comparison to the current progression system.
The post is not locked to commenting if you'd like.
Key wickets. Starting lower ranks gives you an advantage at gaining versatility as you have a better rate on getting things up to veteran.
The experience of master and grand master is the same for everyone. This means jounin aren't totally chumped out by the discount of the lower ranks because of their head start.
There is room for give or take on the post requirements a little, the number is a guideline for you to know when you are ready to get a thing.
I suppose the only thing that really sticks out like a sore thumb is the definition of a "post".
What constitutes a post? While there's no required word count, which is fine sort of [Different opinion for a different topic], a person writes 3-5 paragraphs a post vs the 1 paragraph poster is at a disadvantage just for writing quality over quantity. I feel like without a spelled out definition of a post, and provisions made to reward quality posting over just posting rapidly and with shorter (potentially substance lacking) posts is going to simply undermine any real system for character advancement one has.
While I applaud the move to transparent guides and expectations. For how much effort is needed into advancement, without the aforementioned, the requirements for each upgrade simply seem like way too much and progression is going to be simply stunted. Not only for the quality writers, but it's going to leave everyone with a 'less is more' mentality as people rush out sub-par writing in the name of "getting stronger".
The third point is I feel like the numbers per upgrade are a bit too intense. I know the object is to keep this sort of like a Season 1 Naruto type power-level, but the +5 increase per upgrade is a bit unwarranted. I'd suggest lowering it to +1 or 2, as +5 is just going to make things too much in the long run. A lot of us are adults with real lives, full-time jobs, and this is a hobby. If a system does not feel rewarding, people are not going to stick around long-term and player growth/retention is going to be a major problem as a result.
So when it comes to defining what a quality post is, that can be a tricky subject. 3-5 paragraphs where 4 paragraphs are internal monologue in my opinion detracts from the story rather than adding in my opinion. The other reason I don't put a lot of stock in length is because I believe post splicing produces poorer quality writing than linear posting.
Post splicing, sometimes called conversation splicing, is where instead of reacting to the post at the end the responded goes through and interjects their reactions inside of the last post.
Normally when a post begins the writer has control of the scene and lose control of the scene when they pass to the next person. When you post splice, actions posted aren't really finitie and people are posting "inside" of your post. The problem that can occur is that if I say
"How are you feeling?"
and then
"I had a bad day at work."
in the same thread, and then through splicing someone interjects
(quote)"How are you feeling?"(quote)
"I am pregnant."
(quote)"I had a bad day at work." (quote)
"I am sorry you had a bad day at work."
The problem here is that the first writer lost agency. They wouldn't have responded to the person being pregnant by immediatly complaining about work. To compensate to recover that agency, they are now going to have to interject their own sentences into what happened before the previous writer responded to the conversation about the work day. It compounds and creates a very confusing to read thread, or more likely the writers just accept agency being in the hands of another writer.
Note: I am not a huge puritan about splicing and accept that it has been ingrained in a lot of people as a standard practice. I think linear is better form overall, but I can write in whatever style my partners like because I am mostly just happy to be here.
Aside from dialog, this can also be done with actions, which is especially problematic in combat threads.
We do sort of assume that people here are actually interested in roleplaying, if someone was being really rediculous and writing posts that did not move the story forward over and over for the sake of rapid upgrading we'd probably pull them aside and talk to them. There are times when a snappy paragraph reply is appropriate though. Removing the pressure to have to write a certain amount would actually hopefully encourage more back and fourth activity instead of having to wait until you can muster the energy to write 500 words. --- Pacing wise if your waiting at least a month between upgrades and threading with 3 different people, 15 posts is pretty generous I feel. With additional months of time reducing requirements further it is a self adjusting system. That is only 60 posts over 4 months (a post every other day) to go from rookie to veteran if you focus on one thing. In game time that is less than a year, which is much faster than canon to try to accomodate to RP.
Veteran to GM is designed to take about a year or so if you focus on the things needed for it, and leaves you with a master as well.
I am okay with having some turnover at the cost of having a system that can last long term.
