Foreword

 

 

I wrote about the first five pages of this, then realised that a number of you might not know where I’m coming from with all these wacky ideas. So, a quick history of me at DM, omitting anything and everything that could ever possibly make me look bad, and playing up absolutely everything that makes me look wonderful. :D

 

I started at DM during its first few months, and over the past seven years I’ve played over thirty PC’s and major TPC’s, adding to that a host of lesser TPC’s, NPC’s and bits of randomness, and I’ve played characters in every division of the current DR PSW save the Wolfkin. During these seven years I’ve been on SG staff on three different occasions, FL staff three times if you include my current appointment as DL, Warder staff under different capacities, Seanchan staff and from late 2001 to early 2003, I was an AoL PSW Incarn.

 

So I’ve gotten around a bit :-).

 

The main thing I bring with this is a lot of experience with a huge variety of systems that different divisions have used, some of which have had great success and others which have crashed and burnt. One of the main things I’ve drawn from this is that no two divisions are alike, each have their own way of running things and, it isn’t just the division in its own right, but rather its members that determine whether something will work or not.

 

The Freelanders are no exception to this. In fact, this is the division where that truth is easiest to see. Each player is free to pursue the story they want, because their character’s loyalties in the RP are their own to determine, it isn’t predetermined by the division as the division has no specific agenda IC like the Band for example, or the Black Tower. More than any other division, a Freelander’s RPing rests in their own hands.

 

Its because of this, I don’t think the standard ways of running a division work with the Freelanders. So, we need to begin looking at new ways of managing the Freelanders, but also in a way that allows people to retain their right to write the RP’s they wish. Grand words I know, but I think the ideas I have are at the very least, a good step in the right direction.

 

Enough on that though, onto the important stuff. :-)

 

 

Guilds and Staffing

 

After a great deal of thought, I plan to abolish all the OOC guilds. The reasons for this being:

 

- The primary purpose of a guild is to function as management for fellow members of the guild, and divide the responsibility of management between multiple people.

 

- There isn’t a large enough membership of the Freelanders to merit dividing management of the members, at least not in a manner based roughly around character type.

 

- I did consider the value of guilds in building identity and helping along RP. I think that people are more than capable of organising the stories they want to write on their own, as they have had to with essentially little to no guild leadership thus far.

 

 

So, the question is what alternatives are available. So far, the only piece of management we have is me, as Division Leader. Currently, there isn’t enough work that I’m swamped, though as time goes by and Freelanders grow, the need will arise for staff.

 

The possible staff positions are numerous in variety. I could need a bio checker, I could need someone to mind the shop while I’m gone, maybe someone to manage records, be responsible for monitoring interdiv RP’s etc. Yet, I’m inclined to wait until the need for something appears, rather than try and force a specific management system, and that way let a new staff naturally develop.

 

Having said that, while I might not have permanent staff for awhile, that isn’t the end of it. I will deputise people authority were required on behalf of the Freelanders. For example, an interdiv RP involving a few Freelanders called A, B and C with the Band. After giving it the initial approval, I might then tell player B that they’re in charge of keeping things going for the Freelanders and making sure everything was kosher (or the players might want C to do it, whichever).

 

Similarly, I may do the same for people who want to set up information. You want to volunteer to do something like set up a few inns, businesses etc in a city? I give you the go ahead to get it organised, so what you make (as long as it doesn’t have lasers and sa’angreal mounted on it) is recognised, and recorded.

 

 

Need for Advancement System and Rank in the Division

 

 

It is needed, that simple really. Either there is a system which allows you to gauge when people are ready for stuff (blade mastership, a crown, maybe a power wrought chainsaw or Sa’angreal toothpick), or it has to be all done on case by case. While I favour case by case, it is also pretty subjective by itself, so its best to strike a balance (as well as have guidelines for people to have an idea of what to expect to get special stuffs).

 

But, systems can be rigid, plus they tend to make you do a lot of training stuff. Plus, what if a guy makes a bio about twenty pages long, has created RP outlines and has put in so much work, they deserve to perhaps start a bit higher off the bat just for sheer effort? Also, systems tend to be linked closely to IC, yet FL is so spread across different character concepts, how could what could suit a tailor then carry over to a soldier or a young nobleman?

 

Not only can this apply to requirements, likewise in other divisions, rank also tends to be highly based on where your character is in the RP. For example, take the WT or BT, you start off as a Novice/Soldier, then your advancement in rank is IC as you go to Accepted/Dedicated. Because those divisions are streamlined along one main character concept, that works in those divisions. In the Freelanders where everything is spread so widely, that isn’t possible.

 

So, while there is a need for an advancement system and ranks to go with it, for it to work for the Freelanders, several things need to be kept in mind.

 

- The system must be flexible enough to allow for the huge variety of character concepts and RP’s. Therefore, the system can’t streamline people along specific IC requirements.

 

- The system has to reward the amount of work a person puts in, and if someone makes an extraordinary effort, then that should receive the recognition it deserves.

 

- Ranks cannot be IC based, due to the wide spread of characters. Also, a person may not wish to raise their character’s rank IC, yet still deserve recognition OOC.

 

 

Rank System

 

 

Following that last thought, here is what I envisage for ranks:

 

 

Freeborn – A new member of the Freelanders.

 

Freelander – A member who has been with the division for awhile.

 

Freelancer – A longstanding member of the division.

 

It is simple, and furthermore it is OOC based. But, on to the Advancement system, then we’ll look at how the two fuse together and the advantages of it.

Advancement System for Rank

 

No mandatory classes. If you’re a member of other divisions, you’ll already have done classes. If you’re not, you will if you join other divisions, so either way you’ll end up doing the classes.

 

Instead, the requirement for advancement is going to be that you RP, that simple. No, there isn’t to be an activity sort of requirement where you must post once a week or something like that (unless the character is granted on special dispensation, like the Queen of Manetheren, but that’s an entirely different kettle of fish and that stuff is worked out case by case).

 

The requirement is just RP, thread based. Say you’re in an RP thread, you need to post a minimum of five times on it, 150 word minimum per post (works out to be about three paragraphs), for it to count as a requirement. It can be anything from drinking tea with friends to a political coup.

 

There is no requirement for you to do the RP with anyone else just in case everyone is already committed to RP’s, though it isn't the most fun to do stuff on your lonesome. Then again, if you’re doing some writing to detail your character solo, it counts.

 

Also, if you don’t write posts that long (doesn’t fit your writing style, the situation, etc), its alright. If you post say two paragraph posts, just do a few extra posts to make up the shortfall or whatnot.

 

 

Advancement System for Weapon Score

 

 

Depending on the character concept, how much effort has been put in, etc, a new player to the division can have their character start off with a WS as high as 7 (its changed to 5 now after Owen raised an objection, so as to match the other divs max). Something that would merit that for example would be a mercenary who had been in the business for a few years, seen some action, and picked up the skills along the way. If the bio had enough work put into it about his mercenary life, and the character well rounded, I have no problems with starting someone that high.

 

But, the next step is how to improve your weapon score. Like I said, we won’t have mandatory classes at Freelanders. So, for WS there are two options:

 

 

- Training RP where you have a mentor of some description that walks you through a new fighting skill or such. It could be a military instructor, or perhaps a demonstrator at a fair, or even someone you meet on the road or traveling companion that shows you a new skill.

 

- Combat RP where your skills are put to the test and the experience helps you raise your WS. Lower end WS like a 2 or 3, it could be some fisticuffs. At soldier level between 5-10 it’d be against opponents who are trained like yourself or even better. It could be a fight with the city guard while resisting arrest, raiding a caravan as a bandit, fighting for your country in a battle, etc etc.

 

 

There are the same posting requirements as for normal RP’s. There is one extra factor to mention though. Whichever you do, it has to be a decent effort. If it’s a quick mastering of the skill in five minutes, or easily trouncing a dozen people with a spoon, that sort of godding will get no recognition (beyond a spanking anyway). If you’re unsure about what would constitute a WS raise, can always ask me (or a staff member in control of handling WS stuff, when I end up getting one)

 

Also, there is a requirement on how many threads you do per WS raise. From 1-5, you need only do one RP that is fighting or training. From 5-10, that’s two threads. 10-12, that is three threads. At that point onward, everything has to be negotiated with me, or someone I delegate to handle it. That is the only way pretty much to ensure a parity across all backgrounds.

 

As a plus though, it does mean that the stuff can be negotiated to match your specific character’s circumstances, and you get to pursue your own story ideas rather than having to possibly subvert your character to a degree (unless absolutely indubitably necessary). For example, you can never work with authority figures, so therefore it’d be near impossible to serve a demanding master, might work out that you end up fighting a series of battles for your next WS raise that doesn’t compromise your character’s hatred of authority figures.

 

Two notes about rank in relation to WS. You must be at the rank of Freelander to negotiate your WS beyond 12. You must then be at the rank of Freelancer to be allowed to push your WS beyond 15.

 

 

Advancement and Rank Fusion

 

 

Ok, now for how this all works.

 

Freeborn: A new member of the Freelanders. Free to make and join RP’s but the RP’s they make can’t have a large impact on the world. Unless their bio plus extra effort was beyond the call, their character will be limited to lower to middle order status in society. Using the noble example, you can be a minor to middling member of the nobility. Cannot apply for special items such as power wrought weaponry, angreal and the like, nor can you push your WS beyond WS 12. To advance, you must complete ten RP threads.

 

Freelander: A member who has been with the division for awhile (would have been to complete ten RP’s). Not only are they free to join and make RP’s, but the RP’s they make that have a world impact are in the realms of approval. Once again using the noble example, they may be able to run an RP that is the rise of their family, the fall of another’s, and if they’ve been putting in a lot of effort, even become Royalty.

 

Now that you’ve reached this stage, you can negotiate for special items and to go beyond WS 12 (but no further than 15). Doesn’t mean you’ll get what you ask for (no, you cannot get sa’angreal!) but modest requests have a good chance of going through. To advance to the next rank, you need to complete another twelve RP threads.

 

Freelancer: A longstanding member of the division (At this stage, all up you’ve completed twenty two RP’s, you’ve definitely been longstanding by this stage, or amazingly devoted). You’ve been around and done enough to mean that there are no limits to what you may apply for. Doesn’t mean you’ll get it, but as a Freelancer you’ve been about long enough to get anything considered.

 

If you’re a channeler, you get your One Power boost (for women +3 skill, for men should by some bizarre twist of fate we ever end up with any its +3 strength), and if you’re looking at improving your WS, the WS 15 cap is removed (once more it all needs to be negotiated).

Freelander Membership

 

 

This is important to cover, as there are certain quirks which are a bit different to other divisions which are:

 

Freelander rank is OOC based, not IC based. Therefore, should you choose to quit your character, you don’t necessarily relinquish your division membership. Should you make a new character immediately afterward, or even a year down the track, you still carry the same rights that your rank grants.

 

Also, because Freelander rank is not tied to a specific character, it also means that RP’s with your PC aren’t the only way to fulfill reqs. Should you use an FL TPC for a specific RP, or play a Division character (they used to be FLPC’s, now they’re called NSW’s, but Division character is easy to remember. You know, the chars the div owns, but can loan out), that can count as well. Playing two chars in the same thread does not count as twice the RP though.

 

It is possible for you to have Freelander membership without ever having had an FL PC. If, in theory, you played enough TPC’s, NSW’s that were FL to go up rank, well, the RP’s and your use of the character were approved by the division, so it counts.

 

 

Advanced Standing

 

 

One of the most frustrating things for someone when making a new character is that when they join a new division, they generally have to start from the bottom and their previous work only gets so much consideration.

 

While there are no mandatory classes for Freelanders under the proposed system, I would take this a step further. While everyone must start off as a Freeborn when they first join the Freelanders, I do believe in leniency to those who have been part another division, depending on the application.

 

For example, someone who had an Aes Sedai character for several years then wanted to make a full Kin character off the bat. I personally think that it’s a fair enough recognition of the Aes Sedai’s experience with playing a female channeler. If a Warder had worked their way to a WS 18 character, likewise I’d be favourable to granting them a higher WS than Freeborn are normally permitted.

 

Yes, they may have not been in the Freelanders previously, but I do think that its unreasonable to think that someone who has had substantial experience in a similar character from another division has somehow not proven themselves capable simply because the previous RPing was in another division.

 

Hence, why I propose a policy of advanced standing. If someone has done the training and requirements, does it really matter which division they were in when they did it? Experience is experience, and at the very least deserves to be considered.

 

Having said that, rank progression would remain the same for all.

 

 

World Information

 

 

This is a somewhat ambitious project I have in mind, and not only would it take some time to throw together, but its something that’d have to be maintained.

 

Any sort of information in the world, from sword forms to herbs, the royalty of the different nations to which countries the Dragon owns. All of this info centralised in one place, that’s the plan.

 

Its also the trade off with classes. Rather than having people do classes where they must go over the info, the information is kept separately as a reference. As people need the info, they can go and look up what they need. If the info isn’t there, they can contact staff and something can be worked out, the missing info found or made up if there isn’t anything to find.