Post by Zou ۞ on Aug 31, 2010 3:13:30 GMT -5
Section 5: Rank Requirements and Their Organizations
There are several different kinds of Ranks and statuses that provide certain levels of authority among the many worlds. Some of these may be prerequisites for higher Tiers of Release, and some are simply for more control over a larger range of subordinates. Regardless, Ranks come with influence and power, so they are valued by those who wish to be in command. Remember, Ranks can be stolen in combat! If you lose in a Rank Battle, your Rank is given to the challenger and you drop down to the next available one. This may issue a chain of events where you are required to battle for the lower-Ranked position if those beneath you are taken. Alternatively, if a spot is open, it can either be applied for through character app approval or applied for through submission of a "Change It Up" or CIU for short. If you apply for a promotion using a CIU, we require a minimum of three threads for justification. These threads can be any type, including a PvP that your character may have lost, so long as promotion justification exists within it. We still need to see your character's desire for improvement and growth.Soul Society Ranks
Two types of Rank systems are available within Soul Society. The first of the two is the Gotei Thirteen. This includes the squads in which most Shinigami are found. Rank and prestige are gained by becoming more powerful and moving up through the seats of your squad until you reach the Captain. From there, it is possible (albeit very difficult) to ascend to the position of Captain Commander. This is the Captain of Squad 1, but they are also the head of the entire Gotei Thirteen. It is not an easy position to achieve. Normally, this would only be available to a Shinigami, but any Beast-Clansmen who take on a Zanpakutō at Class 2 may also take this Rank. For information on Beast-Clansmen, please visit "Section 2: Races, Releases, and Leveling Up."
The second type of Rank is the Beast-Clan pack. Packs are just as the name suggests. They are a gathering of individuals under a leader. This isn't very different from the Gotei Thirteen, but the Gotei Thirteen does not normally allow Beast-Clansmen within their Ranks unless they have unlocked a Zanpakutō. Instead, Beast-Clansmen band together with those who wish to live outside of the Gotei Thirteen and form a pack whose leadership is determined purely by power alone. These members are namely Rogues who agree with the pack mindset, but there may be others. To find an updated list of who occupies which Rank, please go to "The Soul Society Rankings."Shinigami Ranks
Rogues and Vizards are not eligible for Shinigami Ranks. Currently, they can only join a Human World organization or become Mercenaries.
- Shinigami Hopeful - This is a beginner's Rank when you are not yet part of a squad. This is a Low-Tier, low-power Rank, and you may start off by going through an Academy Thread. When you meet bare minimums in your character application, you have the option to skip the Academy (an unwise choice) and begin as an Unseated Officer. Please check for minimum requirements using the "Shinigami Template and Explanation."
- Unseated Officer - You have been accepted into your squad of choice. To get here, you must either have a slightly better-than-normal character application or have completed the Shinigami Academy Thread.
- Seated Officer - Your character must be at least 55-years-old and at least Class 6. Your Age of Appearance must be at least 16-years-old. Nobility can take Seated positions at any age as long as their Age of Appearance is at least 13. This applies only to squads under dominion of the family.
- Vice Captain - You must be at least 70-years-old and at least Class 3. Your Age of Appearance must be at least 20-years-old. Nobility can take Vice Captaincy at any age as long as the Age of Appearance is at least 16. This applies only to squads under dominion of the family.
- Captain - You must be at least 200-years-old and at least Class 2. Your Age of Appearance must be at least 24. You can command anyone in the squad, kick people out of the squad, and set new regulations for the squad. The Captain of Squad 6 must be a Kuchiki and become head of the Kuchiki House. Nobility can take Captaincy at a minimum of 40-years-old as long as they are Class 1 and their Age of Appearance is at least 18. For this clause to be valid, that squad must be under dominion of that noble's family. Additionally the top 3 captains gain an aditional 200 Stat Points.
- Captain Commander - You must be at least 1000-years-old. The Age of Appearance needs to be a minimum age of 65-70. This is not an easy Rank to achieve and must be earned through effort and plenty of character development. Applications for Captain Commander are almost certain to be rejected. Additional Bonus: The Captain Commander gains an additional 400 Stat Points.
- Zero Division Intermediary - The Zero Division typically explores many distant worlds to fend off threats and keep tabs on what may one day be a calamity in the Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and Human World. To interact with the Seireitei, there are the Zero Division Intermediaries (ZEI Members). There are six of these spots, and though they cannot break the 400 cap on Stats and do not have access to Zero Division Gear, they still gain the 200 extra SP. Their purpose is to watch over the Seireitei and to kill Vasto Lorde in Hueco Mundo. Only when a huge calamity appears do the ZEI Members visit Seireitei. Their primary job is the "first line of defense" should something invade the Royal Palace. These spots can be applied for by players and do not require invitation. ZEI members are required to have domain over an aspect of nature. This must be written into the application after Fighting Style and must be explained. Aspect of Nature is custom. It can be something like "I am responsible for naming everything in Soul Society," or "I forge all the Zanpakutō spirits" and anything similar.
- Academy Teacher - Many retired Shinigami choose to become instructors at the gigantic Shino Academy. It could outnumber most of the existing Factions with its student and applicant numbers, alone. That is why we need lots of Teachers. Usually, a retired Shinigami takes on this Rank. Academy Teachers can never obtain Bankai unless they change their Rank to one that can. Academy Teachers that once had Bankai have grown weary from their retirement and lost touch with their Zanpakutō. They are a little out of tune and cannot use Bankai without changing Ranks. Academy Teachers must be a minimum of 200-years-old and have a minimum physical age of 30.
Beast-Clansmen have the options of either forming their own groups within Soul Society or becoming Mercenaries. Their individual groups are known as "packs" and are treated similarly to a custom organization. Each pack is organized into four Ranks. They are Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omega from highest to lowest, respectively. The amount of members per pack forms a pyramid since there can only be one Alpha, up to three Betas, and numerous Deltas and Omegas. For a pack to acquire its higher Ranks, it must first fill the lower ones. For example, a pack that only has one individual has only an Omega. If there is at least one Omega, a spot is freed up for a Delta. For there to be a Beta, at least three individuals must be of lower Rank. For an Alpha, at least five lower-Rank members must exist first. This means there must be a total of at least six members with three being Deltas or Omegas for an Alpha to exist.
While packs do not require every member to be a Beast-Clansmen, at least a third of them must be of this race. This means that, for the smallest pack size option, at least two members must be Beast-Clansmen. Each Rank has a specific Class requirement. Even if the required number of pack members are present, Ranks cannot be taken without first achieving the proper Class. In order to be considered a Rank 4 Alpha, the Alpha must have at least two members of the pack at Class 2+ and able to simultaneously combat and defeat all pack members.
Beast-Clansmen can also take on Shinigami Ranks at any time, but there are limitations to which Ranks they can take. Before Class 3, they are limited to Unseated Officers. At Class 3, they can become a Seated Officer up to Third Seat. If they choose to take on a Zanpakutō at Class 2, they can qualify for Vice Captain or Captain as long as they meet the normal requirements (Bankai for Captain, etc.). If a Beast-Clansman joins the Gotei Thirteen, their Rank is determined the same way a Shinigami's would.Beast-Clan Packs
- Omega - Omegas are the bottom of the barrel under the beck and call of every other member of the pack. Omegas are typically new to the pack have fallen from grace to the point that they are considered the weakest link, but valuable enough to keep around rather than exiling. These can be of any Class.
- Delta - Though not the weakest, Deltas are still lacking in the ability to command more than the bottom-rung Omegas and are considered general members of the pack. They must be at least Class 5 to have this Rank, and there must be at least one Omega.
- Beta - As the second-in-command of the pack, these individuals have a lot of influence and can certainly command the majority of the members. Though they defer to the Alpha in terms of power and leadership, they are always ready to take that position for themselves. They must be at least Class 3 to have this Rank, and there must be at least three lesser members per Beta.
- Alpha: An Alpha is the one who is the strongest with the most authority. Alphas are not to be questioned and expect their underlings to obey at all times. They have the strength to back up this belief. There can only be one Alpha per pack. They must be at least Class 1 to have this Rank, and there must be at least five members of a lesser Rank. Additionally, two other pack members must be Class 2+, and an Alpha has to prove their authority by taking on the entire pack at once while all other conditions are met.