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

[Seriphyn]

Oh ofc a free company is a different story, especially that free companies are "intended" to fall under a Grand Company anyway.

[Aduu Avagnar]

Or the unit can merely be a plot device for backstory *whistles innocently*

[Aldotsk]

Due to Anelia's backgrounds, she could have been 1st Lieutenant in logic wise. But now that Kale has mentioned about this regarding everyone being lieutenants, I am not sure if I want to put myself to any part of rank in Immortal Flame and try to figure something out to make it work with players. Because I think being in a pretty high ranked Sultansworn is enough as it is. 

 

Though it is enough debatable that should we let people gain highest rank (Erik being exception because plot of his does support it), it'll just not be fun as it'll be. 

 

But in the end, it's your character and what you want to do. We all can work it out to make it fair for everyone else and be happy. That's why there is now a SS/BB/IF directory thread for you to make yourself known of which rank you are!

[Coatleque]

For my part, I'm perfectly content being the grunt that others get to order around. Leadership is too much work and makes my brain hurt.

[TheLastCandle]

The Adventurer's Unit and/or lone operative approach works well for me, because I've had bad experiences with "military RP" groups in previous MMO's - most notably WoW. I was in a few, and each of them tried very hard to portray an actual unit within the armies of their respective factions. A couple of them even did it very well! But in all of them, including the one I ended up being an officer in, it always felt like everyone who wasn't an officer was simply a face in the crowd and only really there for the purpose of furthering the GM's goals. Everyone was expected to fall in line, be in uniform at all times - there was little room for individuality except for outside of guild functions, and the ones that weren't expressly "on duty" events requiring uniform were few and far between.

 

I'm glad there are people who enjoy that, and more power to them! But honestly, I would be bored senseless.

[Aya]

Everyone was expected to fall in line, be in uniform at all times - there was little room for individuality except for outside of guild functions, and the ones that weren't expressly "on duty" events requiring uniform were few and far between.

Hehe... welcome to the military!

 

I haven't played an MMO character yet that would make a good soldier (Aya is one of the worst in that regard), but those seem like the sort of things that a military guild would usually expect

 

I mentioned it in an earlier post, but I am really happy that Final Fantasy has provided these "adventurer" hook-in organizations. It seems that everywhere you go you encounter some sort of organized NPC activity - and while its somewhat formulaic, its also wonderfully immersive. It also provides great RP opportunities all around, from the Flames, to the Sultan Sworn, and the true adventurer types still serving as militia in their GC. Its great stuff.

[TheLastCandle]

Everyone was expected to fall in line, be in uniform at all times - there was little room for individuality except for outside of guild functions, and the ones that weren't expressly "on duty" events requiring uniform were few and far between.

Hehe... welcome to the military!

 

I haven't played an MMO character yet that would make a good soldier (Aya is one of the worst in that regard), but those seem like the sort of things that a military guild would usually expect

 

I mentioned it in an earlier post, but I am really happy that Final Fantasy has provided these "adventurer" hook-in organizations. It seems that everywhere you go you encounter some sort of organized NPC activity - and while its somewhat formulaic, its also wonderfully immersive. It also provides great RP opportunities all around, from the Flames, to the Sultan Sworn, and the true adventurer types still serving as militia in their GC. Its great stuff.

 

-Chuckles.- I never said that it wasn't true to the theme or unexpected, only that I personally found over time that it's not for me. Just not my kind of fun.

 

And I agree, the backdrop of the Grand Companies adds a rather nice hook for those of us who choose to take advantage of them for our characters. Even if I and others choose to do so with a markedly less strictly regimented approach.

[Guest Ragnar]

On the subject of ranks, where do medical personnel fall? In modern militaries, medics are NCOs and doctors are commissioned officers, but historically, they've existed as neither. Many army/navy doctors did not hold a rank of any kind and answered to the commander of whatever unit they were attached to. So my question is, does anyone know how medical personnel are handled in the Flames? If not, any ideas on how we should handle it?

[ZindelloTarantella]

I'm sure someone else has noted this, but like I also mentioned in another thread, it seems that in this case it boils down to an issue of players not quite separating in-game mechanics from their own personal roleplay. Yeah it's all well and good to play how you want and have fun but when you're fun and play effectively ruin immersion for others to the point where you are being rude, it's not good.

 

Like the ranks thing--just because you ARE a certain rank doesn't mean your character is. Like Aya said, Miss Foxheart is likely a terrible candidate for an officer (granted I've known RL officers who were also terrible candidates for an officer too so, grain of salt), but the fact remains that all of these little side things, especially where the Beast Tribes and anything with a rank are concerned, are not there for roleplayers.

 

They're there to extend gameplay and replay value. They could literally call them ANYTHING else and take away titles and it would serve the same purpose; the only reason there are military ranks is for the sake of building a world.

 

Let's not be taken in by our own propaganda, so to speak--or in this case the creator's game mechanics. I know everyone wants to be a special snowflake for their character but sometimes, one has to do better than throw a title around and hope for the best.

 

 

Which brings me to my next point--these types of threads seem almost to preach to the choir after looking over the posts. Most everyone seems to agree or has found a work-around. So it seems to me that the issues are far more uncommon than common, at least as far as this community is concerned. Seriously, count up how many people say 'Oh, I don't do that' versus those that admit to doing it.

[Melkire]

Seriously, count up how many people say 'Oh, I don't do that' versus those that admit to doing it.

 

I PLEAD GUILTY!

[ZindelloTarantella]

Seriously, count up how many people say 'Oh, I don't do that' versus those that admit to doing it.

 

I PLEAD GUILTY!

 

You still don't count nearly enough to tip the scales, I'm afraid!

[Verad]

It is very much choir-preaching. Quite often, the people who would disagree are people who are not on the forum where the post is made.

[LiadansWhisper]

On the subject of ranks, where do medical personnel fall? In modern militaries, medics are NCOs and doctors are commissioned officers, but historically, they've existed as neither. Many army/navy doctors did not hold a rank of any kind and answered to the commander of whatever unit they were attached to. So my question is, does anyone know how medical personnel are handled in the Flames? If not, any ideas on how we should handle it?

 

It would appear that, in the Adders, at least, they have a supervisory role as well as serving as healers.