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

[Aya]

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...

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

[Kage]

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...

 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]

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...

 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.  GC ranks are so tied into anything that its difficult to imagine any active level 50 character not being max rank.

[Kage]

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]

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.

[Kage]

I was adding TO C's point about why it's got practically zero relation to the main story. I didn't quote his post because there was nothing to say against it.

[Erik Mynhier]

I once had a finger pointed at me very accusingly for being a IC Flame Captain. This person took my entire story as fine but that rank, he couldn't get past. What's funny is that by accepting my backstory, he accepted that Erik has been a Flame for almost 20 years. Now I was an O2 a million years ago in the service (Lt JG). I enlisted and worked my way up and after 6 years when I left I was an O2. So my point to him was if Erik was one grade higher then mine irl after 20 years... that didn't make him op or special, it made him a terrible soldier. That's the furthest he's gotten? I may copy Nat's title on the forums, call Erik the Worst Flame Ever.

[C'kayah Polaali]

I once had a finger pointed at me very accusingly for being a IC Flame Captain. This person took my entire story as fine but that rank, he couldn't get past. What's funny is that by accepting my backstory, he accepted that Erik has been a Flame for almost 20 years. Now I was an O2 a million years ago in the service (Lt JG). I enlisted and worked my way up and after 6 years when I left I was an O2. So my point to him was if Erik was one grade higher then mine irl after 20 years... that didn't make him op or special, it made him a terrible soldier. That's the furthest he's gotten? I may copy Nat's title on the forums, call Erik the Worst Flame Ever.

Seriously. It's pretty common in the Air Force (or it was when I was doing ROTC in college) to make Captain in a few years. Now, granted, you'll typically stay a Captain for a long time, but getting there is pretty quick.

[Aya]

Well, we don't really have any clue how long it takes, or what the total rank structure looks like.  Captain, though, seems entirely reasonable: someone has to herd all of these 2nd Lieutenants

[Erik Mynhier]

Also to note, unless something really crazy happens to the meta game, Erik will be a Captain as long as this game runs. I like being called "the Captain". Not so much Major or Commander. Captain is perfect, low enough to sit with the troops, high enough to get to use all the goodies.

[Seriphyn]

 

 

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".

 

 

No, that's the field uniform of a Flame Lieutenant/Captain. All the other stuff on the Grand Company store is just for mechanics/gameplay, not roleplay. But like I said in the OP, only the Private and Sergeant outfit is available. I never wore the pot helm, of course, because Helmets Are Hardly Heroic. Though arguing in favour for it, even if it sucks to look at, you wear it. This is the military etc. etc.

 

This is what you want to look at. Your character should be wearing the Sergeant outfit, obviously [edit: ah, 'cept he's not a regular anymore, gotcha]. I've milked the hell out of cutscenes and kept an astute eye on NPCs, and this is basically SE's framework.

 

I'll do one for the Maelstrom, since people are after it! Nice posts here, didn't expect it to hit 3 pages so quickly 

 

EDIT WITH REPLY:

 

Ok, regarding 'it goes boring and alone' roleplaying a regular, that's exactly why I sought out other like-minded roleplayers and formed YATAG, initially as an LS. I went around doing my thing, dressed up like an NPC or whatever (in the city, the only one NOT wearing an officer coat, heh), got some attention, and explained ma gig. I was able to find a good number of folks interested in this sort of roleplay and the rest, they say, is history.

[Shizuka]

 

This is what you want to look at. Your character should be wearing the Sergeant outfit, obviously [edit: ah, 'cept he's not a regular anymore, gotcha]. I've milked the hell out of cutscenes and kept an astute eye on NPCs, and this is basically SE's framework.

 

I'll do one for the Maelstrom, since people are after it! Nice posts here, didn't expect it to hit 3 pages so quickly 

 

Dat Marshal uniform.:bouncy: If I could get my hands on that.... 

 

As for my input into the RP, I do play a character who is higher ranking (I tend to leave it as vague, and people rarely ask specifics), who is often very, very busy with a variety of commissions and such. She does not have time to sit in the taverns. She does not have time to solve your problems (but she tries to make time to do so anyway). That being said, she's sometimes requested to work in tandem with other GCs in larger scale efforts (read: Primal threats, etc.), so she's not completely tied into only Thanalan for work. She absolutely does do the majority of her work there though.

 

I've never really used her position as a way to throw her weight around or push other characters around. I HAVE used it to prevent someone from pushing her around though, once. Other than that, it's a big part of her background and personality development, and explains her often tight schedules. She does have her own side ventures (she does run the Sails for the Captain), and does command groups at times, but she generally prefers working with people who don't NEED commands. A lot of this does take place offscreen, so I don't worry about the fact that I don't currently have a uniform appropriate for her rank.

 

I generally don't nitpick at people who play the game however they want to play it. I don't always agree with the people who RP as being high ranking, particularly when they clearly don't act in a way that's appropriate, or if their age is WAY too young to have advanced to that level already. But I don't really have to agree with how someone RPs their character. I figure it's their business, and as long as they don't try and screw up my RP (read: be a raging jerk), I don't really mind.

[Guest Ragnar]

Slightly off topic, but why do the soldiers wear less armor than the police?

[Ridegmuve]

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!

[LiadansWhisper]

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...

 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.

 

You can't access Dungeon Roulette without maxing out GC rank.  

 

Edited to Add: I'm now confused as to where to fit my own character. She's native Gridanian, and she joined before becoming an adventurer, because in my mind, most young people in Gridania would probably enlist if they had skills that could be used, at least so that the leadership had some idea of who they could call up in times of crisis. Especially with an active Castrum in the Shroud, I would think that this would be a much more pressing need than in ages past. But my character recently took employment with a mercenary group that needed a medic, so now she's kind of an adventurer I suppose!

[Sounsyy]

I'm now confused as to where to fit my own character. She's native Gridanian, and she joined before becoming an adventurer, because in my mind, most young people in Gridania would probably enlist if they had skills that could be used, at least so that the leadership had some idea of who they could call up in times of crisis.

 

Well, according to this, Liadan and other Conjurers would serve as supervisors for each Unit within the Twin Adders. So one or many conjurers would be assigned to the Wood Wailers, the Gods Quiver, the Red Otters, the White Wolves, the Black Boars, etc. These conjurers act as healers for the Unit as well as guides through the forest to quell any Elementals the Unit may disrupt while performing their duties. Remember that killing invokes Woodsin, no matter the reason you take a life.

 

If you are a native Gridanian, you would not be placed in the Yellow Serpents.

[Ridegmuve]

If you are a native Gridanian, you would not be placed in the Yellow Serpents.

 

Oh? I did not know this! Can you please elaborate?

[Seriphyn]

Slightly off topic, but why do the soldiers wear less armor than the police?

 

The Grand Companies are light infantry and rank-and-file. Equipping them in plate would be highly expensive and time consuming, especially for training;  they're not elite troops. All they need is a weapon and basic head protection. One could say the Brass Blades and Stone Torches are heavily armored because their owners are wealthy.

 

The Hunt Elite armour is IC worn by Hunter-Scholars of their respective Grand Company. My character says this IC, too.

[LiadansWhisper]

I'm now confused as to where to fit my own character.  She's native Gridanian, and she joined before becoming an adventurer, because in my mind, most young people in Gridania would probably enlist if they had skills that could be used, at least so that the leadership had some idea of who they could call up in times of crisis.

 

Well, according to this, Liadan and other Conjurers would serve as supervisors for each Unit within the Maelstrom. So one or many conjurers would be assigned to the Wood Wailers, the Gods Quiver, the Red Otters, the White Wolves, the Black Boars, etc. These conjurers act as healers for the Unit as well as guides through the forest to quell any Elementals the Unit may disrupt while performing their duties. Remember that killing invokes Woodsin, no matter the reason you take a life.

 

If you are a native Gridanian, you would not be placed in the Yellow Serpents.

 

What I'm unsure about is if they specifically hold back Hearers or if they would assign them like any other Conjurer.

[LiadansWhisper]

If you are a native Gridanian, you would not be placed in the Yellow Serpents.

 

Oh? I did not know this! Can you please elaborate?

 

The Yellow Serpents are the Adventurer's Only regiment within the Adders.  If you're native, you would be in a different unit.  I'd think even if you weren't active 100% of the time, this would be the case (and I'm sure that those who are farmers and the like would need time off to harvest, plant, etc).

[Sounsyy]

Oh? I did not know this! Can you please elaborate?

The Yellow Serpents are the Adventurer's Only regiment within the Adders.  If you're native, you would be in a different unit.

 

I think Liadan summed it up pretty well! ^^

 

What I'm unsure about is if they specifically hold back Hearers or if they would assign them like any other Conjurer.

 

This I've got no lore to answer with unfortunately. My assumption would be that Hearers would not receive preference over base Conjurers from the Guild for the sole reason that the Twin Adders conduct the entirety of their business within the borders of the Hedge. (What few notable exception to this there are, are the battle of Castrum Novum, the Battle of Carteneau, and the 2.0 simultaneous offensive against all Eorzean Castrums detailed in the MSQ "Operation Archon.")

 

Furthermore, a Hearer could "hear" where disturbances in the Wood originated, and thus would be able to more efficiently direct their Unit to the destination necessary. Again, just speculation, but we do have a few quests where we'll kill some voidsent or garleans or something and then a Hearer and Wailers/Quivermen will show up afterwards saying "Oh, the Elementals foretold of something amiss here, but it looks like you took care of it." yadda yadda.

[Ridegmuve]

If you are a native Gridanian, you would not be placed in the Yellow Serpents.

 

Oh? I did not know this! Can you please elaborate?

 

The Yellow Serpents are the Adventurer's Only regiment within the Adders.  If you're native, you would be in a different unit.  I'd think even if you weren't active 100% of the time, this would be the case (and I'm sure that those who are farmers and the like would need time off to harvest, plant, etc).

Hmmm, that seems reasonable and thank you!

[Seriphyn]

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.

 

Tsk, tsk, a soldier wears what he's supposed to, not what he or she wants to 

 

Also, don't think the Immortal Flames have a 'black ops' unit (obvs would go by a different name in Eorzea) outside of the Bloodsworn, who answer directly to the Flame General.

[LiadansWhisper]

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.

 

Tsk, tsk, a soldier wears what he's supposed to, not what he or she wants to 

 

Also, don't think the Immortal Flames have a 'black ops' unit (obvs would go by a different name in Eorzea) outside of the Bloodsworn, who answer directly to the Flame General.

 

Doesn't mean someone can't make one.

[Erik Mynhier]

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.

 

Tsk, tsk, a soldier wears what he's supposed to, not what he or she wants to 

 

Also, don't think the Immortal Flames have a 'black ops' unit (obvs would go by a different name in Eorzea) outside of the Bloodsworn, who answer directly to the Flame General.

 

Rule #1 for creative RP, the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.