Rank Update

[pointlessbob]

Rank System

Hello, this is here to propose some quick ideas that could spruce up the current rank system for guards, wardens, and mods alike.  Being an ex-guard myself and still hearing current day complains about the system, it seems that the ranks need an update.  Throughout the history of MCP, guards have been resigning because the job gets boring, which I can agree with.
Besides parkour, answering questions, and the occasional fight, the three things you have to do as a guard is limited and eventually gets boring after a month.
The following is a proposed system start to give more options and things for guards to do.

Firstly, I propose that a power system is put in place.  This meaning the higher rank you are, the more power you have over lower ranked guards.  For example, an A Guard has power over C Guard and can order him to patrol or stand guard on the catwalk.  This gives guards something to look forward to; ranking up.  Currently, you rank up and get one extra power: patrolling the chat.  This proposed option allows guards to look forward to commanding their own soldiers to an extent.
The second proposition is to allow more powers to higher ranking guards while supporting it by adding new ranks.  The new rank system I propose will be posted below, explanation here.  Powers given to higher ranking guards such as Sr. Guard and Head-Guard will include training new guards and interviewing guard applicants in their own office.  The purpose of this is to not only give guards something to look forward to, but it gives them a lot more options to commit to rather that patrol C Block and do parkour.


Owner
Supreme ruler and god of the server, all supreme lord; all so mighty.  We gaze under your absolute power, our children pray at night to be in your presence.  Oh, might Silas_Bowen, the greatest of all the gods, spare the lives of the guards, have mercy on the souls of the /rankup, the inactive cat sitters, and the region deleting 'it wasn't me!' wardens.  Hail Silas_Bowen!

Warden
Server admin, has power over all ranks.
Can accept applications & interview guard applicants.
Can demote and promote any rank.


Head Guard
Absolute power over the guards.
Can interview guard applicants and train Jr. Guards.
Power to command guards and give orders.
Can patrol chat.

Sr. Guard
Has power over all lettered guards & trainees.
Has power to train new guards, granted by Head-Guard or Warden.
Can patrol chat.

A Guard
Has all the powers of a guard and can patrol chat.
Has power over C and B Guard.

B Guard
Has all the powers of a guard.
Has power over C Guard.

C Guard
Official guard, lowest rank excluding Jr. Guard.
Now has all the powers of a guard.

Jr. Guard
Guard in training, being mentored by a Sr. Guard+.
Has no power as a guard and is only on duty with supervision.



Officer
Patrols the chat.
Introduces new players to the server and builds community.
Makes sure everything is running smoothly on the server.

Chief Officer
Same power as the Officer, but has jurisdiction over A Guard~below and Officer.


*NOTE: The officer ranks replace the mod ranks.

Some important things to consider: 

Jr. Guard is guard in training, they can be instructed by Sr. Guard +.  They can only patrol with another guard on.  The process will last a day or two.
Sr. Guard acts as the most experienced guard, essentially replacing the current position of Head-Guard.  They are making the transition into a higher ranking position.
Head-Guard is changed a lot: they now have their own office they can interview guard applicants in, they have power to accept new guards after the interviews, and they are not obliged to guard 24/7.

Application System

The new application system I propose works like this.  As usual, the player posts their application on the forums and await for a Warden to accept it.  Once it is accepted, similar to real life situations, they are sent to the Head-Guard or a Warden to get interviewed.  The Head-Guard or Warden can decide if they get accepted as a Jr-Guard or not.
This really just extends the guard process, but makes it more lengthy for a good cause.  It gives the staff more things to do, which is the purpose of these propositions.


This is just a quick write up of some ideas I've had.  As said before, the purpose is to give more things the staff can do.  I think a lot of these ideas not only makes the prison theme more distinct, but adds more things for staff to do and look forward to.
I look forward to feedback in the comments of this post.  I wish to discuss more possible ideas and how to implement them into the current system.

[cougarboy]

+1 Really nice suggestion but may I add that maybe the head guard could go anywhere? Such as all the spawns.

[pointlessbob]

+1 Really nice suggestion but may I add that maybe the head guard could go anywhere? Such as all the spawns.

I think they already can, but if you imply all of the rank spawns like Baron, Citizen, and Free, that maybe a stretch.  Guards shouldn't be allowed outside of the prison because of the kits they would bring into the free world.

[cougarboy]

Good point... Still a great suggestion

[LaughNgamez]

Okay Bob, for starters fuck you.

You always write these god dam long, well written, logical posts and I am obliged to respond to them.

For starters I completely agree 100% that guarding is a repetitive boring task and I'm surprised any of the guards have stuck around long enough to get anywhere. (Nate is a good example)
Guards do resign because they find it boring, honestly (in my opinion) this comes from the nature of the job and likely because MCP's player count is not very large. When it comes to PvP on MCP it is usually in the form of a few Free+ rank players together and deciding to diddle guards in unimaginable ways. While this is a part of the job and balance is focused around it I wish there was more to it which there would be if the server had more players. If there was more players guards would always be busy with the little things such as an odd C blocker fight or small fights going on all over.

However since that problem is really hard to address we'll have to focus on some other things. We need some unique ideas to spice up guarding and this is one of the topics I'd like suggestions on the most. Besides the planned possible rework of guard drops & the addition of the guard dog class there are not many ideas (that I know of) to spice up guarding. SO PLEASE GIVE US GAMEPLAY SUGGESTIONS TO SPICE UP GUARDING.


Now, as far as you "power system" goes in my mind it's either already in the background or wouldn't be effective. I completely agree guards need something to look forward to when they rankup despite a bigger paycheck and chat perms.

What I mean by already in the background is that much of this is already implied and just not used.
The idea of guards having "power" over each other is sort of implied, higher ranking guards are more experienced and therefor newer guards should listen to them when it comes to their tasks. There are no official rules for this (might be added later) because the guard task is so straight forward and requires little adaptation. Guards go sit in C wait for a riot and then die (if the riot gets really exciting they'll it will end up in the courtyard). That's the problem, guarding is so straight forward so at this point until guarding has some changes there is really no need of an "official" power system.

Now as far as the higher ranking guards it is actually implied that they have a say in picking the new guards and when they give feedback I actually listen. The problem is they don't have the power to accept guards so its always just me thinking "okay time for a new guard " *throws dart at list of apps to choose next guard*. Regardless, if a head/sr guard takes the time to message me with a staff recommendation I'll generally listen. On top of that I feel the need to have head/sr guards interview players in their office is far to much work to be worth it, it would add maybe 10 minutes a week of content for a few staff members and that's it while requiring a new system/rules.



However, here are my thoughts on the ranks as they are:


Owner
Personally I me being in this position wasn't like it is. I wish that I was more of a writer/director rather than the writer, director, crew, maintenance, and user.
Besides Zeedin doing the backend & building (thank god he does that) I handle most of the gameplay related things such as adding new features, coming up with new ideas, bug fixes, and managing most things.
My problem with this is that I wish I had someone or some staff that could do some of these things but unfortunately I don't have anyone who is close enough to the server and me to help me act out these ideas. Since I have done/made most things it's hard to let someone in to help with new/old things but I wish I could.

Warden
Would it be bad of me to say I'm not happy with wardens? Not the current wardens we have but the wardens in general.
I wish wardens could help more with the owner rank but honestly none of them are really capable with their knowledge of things besides in game management. Wardens tend to spend 10% of their time fixing bugs while the other 90% of their doing whatever wardens do.
Wardens are helpful and they do help out (that can't be denied) but I wish either
A) they'd be more independent and help the server in their own creative ways. (Unfortunately A is hard due to me liking to know what's going on and having a creative line.)
B) be able to help out more on the back end of things and help with creating new things. (Unfortunately B is hard due to wardens just being experienced players and not owners/devs)
Despite these thoughts, for the situation wardens are in right now they do well, so thanks for the help guys.

Head/Sr Guard
Head/Sr Guard are virtually the same thing and since I have no intention of adding a jr guard or "power system" there is little change to do with them.
Sr Guard is literally there for staff who are inactive/don't have anywhere to move up to (not ready for warden)
I'd like to abolish/change Sr Guard and maybe give Head-Guard a bit more meaning in some way.
Suggestions are welcome

A Guard
I'm quite happy with A-Guard honestly, with removing of moderators there rank seems quite mature and effective.
If anything I'd maybe like to reduce the jump between B - A Guards and close the gap between A - Head guards if head-guards are changed some how.

B Guard
Really just a C guard with a higher paycheck and access to the never pvp'd in B block.
I'd maybe like to change B-Guard a bit more, maybe when guard dogs are added it will require players to be B-Guard +

C Guard
Honestly I'm quite happy with the way C-Guard works.
C-Guard is quite well put together, maybe a few tweaks are needed but I'm quite happy with them and feel due to this there is no need for a Jr. Guard

Jr. Guard
I feel as if addition of this would not be an effective use of time as I said I'm happy with C-Guards and creating a short term rank for new guards is almost pointless since MCP has a fairly effective new guard selection process and quite a good pool of candidates.

Officer
I honestly don't hate the idea of a mod rank but don't love it.
Maybe turning it into an officer would be a good idea but the rank would have to have some changes.
I still haven't made up my mind if I fully want to bring back mods if I do I may change the rank name.
Lizzy was a test mod who I specifically instructed to welcome new players and be their aid so that is what the rank is focused at and I'm not happy with how it's being executed.
More thought will need to be put into the mod rank.

Chief Officer
In the case of officer it would basically be sr mod and pointless.
I never really liked this rank.

Those were just my thoughts on the ranks and I'd like feedback on some of the ideas I put forward. As of now I'm quite content with how the MCP staff ranks work out and maybe it does need some changes so I'll definitely think of those if anyone could put forward sturdy changes.

Once again thanks for such great feedback/conversion starting Bob.