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FreelanceWizard · **09-09-2014, 12:34 PM**

(09-09-2014, 11:43 AM)Zyrusticae Wrote: Just what does the rank actually mean in regards to the adventurer units?

Going just by the quests provided based on rank, it seems you're trusted with increasingly dangerous and politically sensitive missions as your rank increases. You're also granted access to materiel in return for services rendered (via company seals) and trusted to take on certain tasks (expert deliveries, for instance). Other than that, it seems largely ceremonial to me, at least.

Sounsyy · **09-09-2014, 12:34 PM**

I imagine the ranks listed under Petty Officer & Soldier (Private 3rd Class > Chief Sergeant) mean next to nothing as far as the Adventurer Unit is concerned. However, once you reach the rank of Second Lieutenant you begin the Commissioned Officer category of ranks.

Commissioned Officers most notably, lead. In the 1.0 GC Storyline, once you achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, you actually LEAD an assault on Castrum Novum in Mor Dhona, and you had several adventurers and other enlisted under your command.

If you look at some of the upcoming ranks in the Commissioned Officer list, you'll see First and Second Commander. This means that eventually we're going to be passing the NPC that gives us GC quests at our respective HQs. High Commanders control more than one Unit in their respective GCs. So does this mean that we'll be in control of the Foreign Levy or the Free Brigade eventually?

I have a strong feeling that the reason they haven't raised the GC ranks more is that once we reach Captain/Commander, we're going to be thrust into a GC specific storyline that will cause us to rise through the ranks similarly to the very involved GC storyline in 1.0. Why do I think this? Because near the top under Champion is the title "Grand Marshal." Each GC currently has one Grand Marshal that is a named NPC that appears in quests. So I have a feeling poor Eynzahr Slafyrsyn of the Maelstrom is going to die... =/

Lady Rivienne · **09-09-2014, 12:39 PM**

I never officially gave Rivienne a title among the ranks, to put it frankly, she does report to her Commander and also The God's Quiver as well. She is an operative (Bond?) who does not wear a uniform (since she isn't to let her cover be blown) and receives special instructions about her orders from higher command, though I play it that it is the Npc's that do that.

She is an Adder, of course, by affiliation. But, she isn't one to give orders to anyone that is a PC. I never encountered an issue with this in game however.

Kage · **09-09-2014, 01:38 PM**

(09-09-2014, 12:34 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: I imagine the ranks listed under Petty Officer & Soldier (Private 3rd Class > Chief Sergeant) mean next to nothing as far as the Adventurer Unit is concerned. However, once you reach the rank of Second Lieutenant you begin the Commissioned Officer category of ranks.

Commissioned Officers most notably, lead. In the 1.0 GC Storyline, once you achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, you actually LEAD an assault on Castrum Novum in Mor Dhona, and you had several adventurers and other enlisted under your command.

Isn't it the same for when the adventurer leads the attacks CM and Praetorium? Granted ranking in GC wasn't required but I assume that the storyline in 2.0 is more moving you along that you'll work with the "new" "company" that isn't meant to be a GC but kinda is.

Then again we're all still affiliated with choosing GCs but then again... well... it could be a reason to be in the new one.

Melkire · **09-09-2014, 01:44 PM**

I agree withÂ some of the constructive criticism in the original post. Folks shouldn't roleplay as 2nd Lt. just because the in-game mechanic says that's what they are (I play Osric as a Chief Sergeant, and use the Search Info box to denote that). The "weekend warrior" approach undermines any attempt to roleplay as a soldier, and "special commando" status should not be an excuse to sit around in taverns all day.

That said, as someone who roleplayed as a stand-aloneÂ Immortal Flames regular (read: NOT an adventurer) forÂ quite a fewÂ months (read: no fellow IF folks to consistently RP with, no GC-oriented FC of IF regulars, etc.) there are quite a few points that I take issue with.

When I started out, I decided that I wanted to roleplay as a Ul'dahn soldier who'd inadvertently found himself drawn into the politicalÂ struggle between the Royalist and Monetarist factions of the Syndicate.

The very first issue I ran into while leveling was gear. This was back before the glamour vanity system was in place, so I couldn't run around dressed as an IF soldier while progressing through the story (this is still an issue for new characters). So I told myself that I'd wait until I could dedicate the proper time to roleplaying instead of leveling, and that I'd save up sealsÂ for an outfit while I did so.

The second issue I ran into was this: without other people to play off of, roleplaying a regular gets tedious fast.Â You're essentially on your own, writing for yourself; you just happen to be throwing that writing out there into a public space for others to witness and maybe, just maybe, interact with. At the same time, you don't really want to go out of your way to contrive chance meetings withÂ fellow regulars outside of your off-duty hoursÂ (that doesn't really feel dynamic, and as a soldier you have a schedule to abide by, so finding yourself out of your usual way is a rare occasion).

The third issue I ran into was "what exactly should my character be doing with most of his time?" I wasn't going to go the "standing around a Thanalan outpost" route; that would cut meaningful interactions down to almost nothing because for some reason roleplaying outside of a city, tavern, or residential area is anathema to most roleplayers.Â That same phenomenon is why, when I finally decided to go the Full Metal Jacket route of "I'm training recruits, duh", I opted to do so within Ul'dah as opposed to, say, Drybone. No one roleplays on a regular basisÂ at Camp Drybone, despite it beingÂ an excellentÂ location for such. So Osric ended up as a Chief Flame Sergeant who'd crossed the Monetarists, so they stuck him in a time-consuming post at home to keep an eye on him.

Last but not least, the issue of uniform. While the Flames are by far the most visible of the three Grand Companies when it comes to soldiers out in the field, there arises of the issue of just what constitutes the uniform. Case in point: Sidimund's outpost at the Forgotten Springs. They give every indication of being regulars (as opposed to irregulars), and yet their "uniform" differs.

[Image: 767_s.jpg]

When I saw they were standing around wearing unattainable brown Sipahi-esque turbans and shirts, I more or less threw my hands up into the air and cried, "open season".

So I took a Flame Private's Jerkin (which I have YET to notice a NPC wearing), and Flame Private's Jackboots, threw on a Sipahi Turban (trying to break that public perception of "fly-maskÂ means Brass Blade"), and opted for goatskin armguards and a fuma hakama for aesthetic purposes to bring the ensemble together. Was it strictly uniform? No. Did I haveÂ reasonable/feasible/plausible IC justifications for it? Yes ("what do you mean, our suppliers ran out of materials because they're all going to spring skirts for the ball?"). Did it make myÂ character a "special snowflake" to walk around not inÂ a Sergeant's shirt (despite that he looks awful in it and a pot helm)?Â Depends on your perspective, especially considering that the outfit was, more or less, a Flames outfit. Â

I imagine Osric used to get a lot of flak from his direct superiors for not being "in uniform".

He's an irregular now (moreso than most, helloooooo black ops). His duties more often than not require him to not be in uniform. As a final note, I skipped over the Ul'dahn Soldier set and went straight for the Officer one. Is it an officer's set ICly? No, I'm taking the same approach with ranks and applying it to gear: the Soldier set looks awful due to darker tones, whereas the Officer's pops more.

tl;dr:

1. Playing a standalone GC soldier is difficult due to lack of command structure owing to the nature of RP.

2. Playing a GC soldier inÂ a GC-oriented free company is difficult because most FCs are irregular organizations by default. Those that come close to being "regular" are still, by the nature of free companies, somewhat independent of the overall hierarchy.

3. Folks who are not level 50 are going to have a hard time dressing up in the appropriate gear. This is understandable and something that has to be tolerated.

4. Folks who are 50 might dress up in GC gear that isn't, strictly speaking, "uniform." This should be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

TheLastCandle · **09-09-2014, 01:55 PM**

(09-09-2014, 12:34 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: I imagine the ranks listed under Petty Officer & Soldier (Private 3rd Class > Chief Sergeant) mean next to nothing as far as the Adventurer Unit is concerned. However, once you reach the rank of Second Lieutenant you begin the Commissioned Officer category of ranks.

Commissioned Officers most notably, lead. In the 1.0 GC Storyline, once you achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, you actually LEAD an assault on Castrum Novum in Mor Dhona, and you had several adventurers and other enlisted under your command.

If you look at some of the upcoming ranks in the Commissioned Officer list, you'll see First and Second Commander. This means that eventually we're going to be passing the NPC that gives us GC quests at our respective HQs. High Commanders control more than one Unit in their respective GCs. So does this mean that we'll be in control of the Foreign Levy or the Free Brigade eventually?

I have a strong feeling that the reason they haven't raised the GC ranks more is that once we reach Captain/Commander, we're going to be thrust into a GC specific storyline that will cause us to rise through the ranks similarly to the very involved GC storyline in 1.0. Why do I think this? Because near the top under Champion is the title "Grand Marshal." Each GC currently has one Grand Marshal that is a named NPC that appears in quests. So I have a feeling poor Eynzahr Slafyrsyn of the Maelstrom is going to die... =/

Don't you dare. Don't you dare. He's going to retire happily and marry Admiral Merlwyb. Don't show SE's writers this post!

Pulling myself back to the topic at hand, I agree with you on where the GC story is likely heading. The story presented in the game is very much a typical JRPG "Chosen One" tale, so it's only natural. As for how he/she gets there: well, I'm looking forward to witnessing the journey. So long as what you suspect does not come to pass. ;_;

Aya · **09-09-2014, 01:56 PM**

(09-09-2014, 01:44 PM)Melkire Wrote: At the same time, you don't really want to go out of your way to contrive chance meetings withÂ fellow regulars outside of your off-duty hoursÂ (that doesn't really feel dynamic, and as a soldier you have a schedule to abide by, so finding yourself out of your usual way is a rare occasion).

Quote:that would cut meaningful interactions down to almost nothing because for some reason roleplaying outside of a city, tavern, or residential area is anathema to most roleplayers.

These two go together, I think Smile

There aren't that many places that attain critical mass so that you can just walk in and find RP - these areas are limited, not coincidentally, to "cities, taverns, and residential areas" in particular.Â Finding RP outside of these areas usually requires planning of some sort, i.e. contrived instead of dynamic.Â Not to say that there are not wonderful possibilities in these other settings, its just a little different!

I think discussion of the in-game ranks versus in-character ranks should be pretty obvious.. I mean "everyone" is a 2nd Lt. for the exact same reason that "everyone" is level 50.Â MMO game mechanics do not translate well into a world defined by varied ability and varied experience.

I'm just going to add that I think its quite neat that FF provides and builds up these organizations for players to interact with or play off of.Â They add an interesting element to the game world, and I really have appreciated those that I've interacted with in-character (mostly Flames, by dint of Aya's present occupation Smile

).

TheLastCandle · **09-09-2014, 01:59 PM**

(09-09-2014, 12:34 PM)FreelanceWizard Wrote:
(09-09-2014, 11:43 AM)Zyrusticae Wrote: Just what does the rank actually mean in regards to the adventurer units?

Going just by the quests provided based on rank, it seems you're trusted with increasingly dangerous and politically sensitive missions as your rank increases. You're also granted access to materiel in return for services rendered (via company seals) and trusted to take on certain tasks (expert deliveries, for instance). Other than that, it seems largely ceremonial to me, at least.

I very much agree. I personally see the adventurer ranks as a way of recognizing outstanding service, with benefits.

C'kayah Polaali · **09-09-2014, 02:11 PM**

(09-09-2014, 01:56 PM)Aya Wrote: I think discussion of the in-game ranks versus in-character ranks should be pretty obvious.. I mean "everyone" is a 2nd Lt. for the exact same reason that "everyone" is level 50.Â MMO game mechanics do not translate well into a world defined by varied ability and varied experience.

This is something you see a lot of in games where rank is an integral part of the leveling experience. In Star Trek Online, for example, all max rank Federation characters carry the title Admiral. It's of course ludicrous that everyone is an Admiral, so most people play their IC ranks as far lower than that (mostly Commanders and Captains, as most players want to retain ship command ICly).

FF is a little bit of a special case, in that everyone has a GC rank they've obtained as part of leveling their character, but it's not a really integral part of the experience. I think that's part of why it's not so widely acknowledged that IC GC rank should be different than OOC GC rank.

Kage · **09-09-2014, 02:25 PM**

If I remember correctly, there is nothing in the MAIN story quest line that requires you to be higher than the beginning GC rank.

Sure if you want to PVP, chocobo, relic... but they're not the MAIN story quest...

Aya · **09-09-2014, 02:27 PM**

(09-09-2014, 02:25 PM)ExKages Wrote: If I remember correctly, there is nothing in the MAIN story quest line that requires you to be higher than the beginning GC rank.

Sure if you want to PVP, chocobo, relic... but they're not the MAIN story quest...

Â Canon: you can't acquire the building permit to have your own room unless you're a 2nd. Lt. in a Grand Company!

Kage · **09-09-2014, 02:36 PM**

(09-09-2014, 02:27 PM)Aya Wrote:
(09-09-2014, 02:25 PM)ExKages Wrote: If I remember correctly, there is nothing in the MAIN story quest line that requires you to be higher than the beginning GC rank.

Sure if you want to PVP, chocobo, relic... but they're not the MAIN story quest...
Â Canon: you can't acquire the building permit to have your own room unless you're a 2nd. Lt. in a Grand Company!

*pat* Personal rooms are not main story either!
You also must be in a free company and level 50.

Aya · **09-09-2014, 02:39 PM**

(09-09-2014, 02:36 PM)ExKages Wrote:
(09-09-2014, 02:27 PM)Aya Wrote:
(09-09-2014, 02:25 PM)ExKages Wrote: If I remember correctly, there is nothing in the MAIN story quest line that requires you to be higher than the beginning GC rank.

Sure if you want to PVP, chocobo, relic... but they're not the MAIN story quest...
Â Canon: you can't acquire the building permit to have your own room unless you're a 2nd. Lt. in a Grand Company!
*pat* Personal rooms are not main story either!
You also must be in a free company and level 50.

Sorry, I'm trying to figure out what the main story has to do with anything.Â GC ranks are so tied into anything that its difficult to imagine any active level 50 character not being max rank.

Kage · **09-09-2014, 02:48 PM**

What I'm saying are that GC ranks are tied to the game mechanics but if it is like my memory serves, they lend absolutely nothing to the adventurer past being a part of one.

You do not need to have gotten to the "new" "company" through being a 2nd Lt. You do not need a chocobo. You do not need to have a relic. You do not need to PVP. You do not need a personal room to have defeated Ramuh etc.

None of those iirc are REQUIREMENTS to continue in the main story.

Melkire · **09-09-2014, 03:09 PM**

(09-09-2014, 02:48 PM)ExKages Wrote: None of those iirc are REQUIREMENTS to continue in the main story.

...I think C's point was that because in XIV there is little to no correlation between the main story and your GC rank, there is then a distinct lack of consensus on how to treat OoC ranks ICly.

Contrast to Star Trek Online where, because the main story forces your rank to that of an admiral, there is then a consensus to disregard OoC rank ICly.

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My observations/thoughts about Grand Company RP (1500+ words warning)

RPC has moved! These pages have been kept for historical purposes