I actually like the hierarchy that OP posted!
My thoughts: I think the Grand Companies are pretty much the military and policing faction of all the city states presented, as we don't really see any other factions doing patrols and the like. I think there would be a variety of paths, those that are fully committed to the Grand Company (Go through the ranks, obtain positions and the like do the desk job or be on the field) and Reserves or Volunteers (where most Adventurers would fall into if they decided to be part of the GC structure in the first place, depending on rank of course). Now, authority is kind of difficult, because either a character can accept said authority or not, so saying "Oh yeah! You wanna play it like that? Well I'm such and such rank of a certain GC, you are under arrest!" can be annoying as seen at a different thread. My personal view on that is a Flame has no authority in Gridania nor does an Adder in Ul'dah, A Grand Company would only have real authority of the city state they represent. About rank and age, I agree with Lalah on that one about RP, but as countless people have said it, you RP your character in whatever way you wish!
Iliette does not have a Grand Company rank (not truly anyway) apart from doing what is available for Adventurers in the first place (Hunts posted, company missions, hunt logs and the occasional patrol when they are short staffed) if doing either of these, she would be in full uniform of a basic guard, which she IC would have to hand back at the end of her shift. (One of my great joys of self-RP I had when idling was to stand near Mikh-khet in full guard uniform and pretend it was patrols, and when called to do a dungeon or something, Iliette would go on her linkpearl and try to get out of doing it by seeing if the other person patrolling (and NPC) was looking at her or not, speaking in hushed tones and the like) She has no other obligation to the Adders other then taking on small trivial jobs or the occasional bigger mission if the Adders would deem her useful for the situation and in character she gets paid a small wage for those efforts. Apart from the people in the Free Company she is serving in, she has no real right to pull rank over anyone and even then Iliette deems it more fun not to do so. (A chance to fight is a chance to fight, she ain't gonna pass that up!)
And to answer Ragnar's question. I think that's because most soldiers in the City would be off duty or on light duty at best. Police officers can expect trouble and it is their job to break up fights and the like on varying levels, which can be a painful job if not appropriately armored.
And this was my two cents!
My thoughts: I think the Grand Companies are pretty much the military and policing faction of all the city states presented, as we don't really see any other factions doing patrols and the like. I think there would be a variety of paths, those that are fully committed to the Grand Company (Go through the ranks, obtain positions and the like do the desk job or be on the field) and Reserves or Volunteers (where most Adventurers would fall into if they decided to be part of the GC structure in the first place, depending on rank of course). Now, authority is kind of difficult, because either a character can accept said authority or not, so saying "Oh yeah! You wanna play it like that? Well I'm such and such rank of a certain GC, you are under arrest!" can be annoying as seen at a different thread. My personal view on that is a Flame has no authority in Gridania nor does an Adder in Ul'dah, A Grand Company would only have real authority of the city state they represent. About rank and age, I agree with Lalah on that one about RP, but as countless people have said it, you RP your character in whatever way you wish!
Iliette does not have a Grand Company rank (not truly anyway) apart from doing what is available for Adventurers in the first place (Hunts posted, company missions, hunt logs and the occasional patrol when they are short staffed) if doing either of these, she would be in full uniform of a basic guard, which she IC would have to hand back at the end of her shift. (One of my great joys of self-RP I had when idling was to stand near Mikh-khet in full guard uniform and pretend it was patrols, and when called to do a dungeon or something, Iliette would go on her linkpearl and try to get out of doing it by seeing if the other person patrolling (and NPC) was looking at her or not, speaking in hushed tones and the like) She has no other obligation to the Adders other then taking on small trivial jobs or the occasional bigger mission if the Adders would deem her useful for the situation and in character she gets paid a small wage for those efforts. Apart from the people in the Free Company she is serving in, she has no real right to pull rank over anyone and even then Iliette deems it more fun not to do so. (A chance to fight is a chance to fight, she ain't gonna pass that up!)
And to answer Ragnar's question. I think that's because most soldiers in the City would be off duty or on light duty at best. Police officers can expect trouble and it is their job to break up fights and the like on varying levels, which can be a painful job if not appropriately armored.
And this was my two cents!
![[Image: 41d1e703-f74d-469d-9bce-1f5fbc86bd8f.jpg]](http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj602/Veronika-Barbara_Rideg/41d1e703-f74d-469d-9bce-1f5fbc86bd8f.jpg)
