Promotions in DM factions
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I am curious, how can one earn promotion within a DM faction?
I just checked the Approved Character list, and I noticed that most of the faction members are low ranking. Sheriffs have like 5 ranks, Red Harts have 4, Zhents, Cormyr have 3.
If the DMs (and players with experience in DM factions) could give a basic tutorial on how to earn promotion, that would be appreciated.
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I am curious, how can one earn promotion within a DM faction?
I just checked the Approved Character list, and I noticed that most of the faction members are low ranking. Sheriffs have like 5 ranks, Red Harts have 4, Zhents, Cormyr have 3.
If the DMs (and players with experience in DM factions) could give a basic tutorial on how to earn promotion, that would be appreciated.
The original system was points-based. Good (IC) actions would speed it up, bad (IC) would slow it down. Second (and I believe current) system was basically do enough to prompt a DM discussion about whether or not you're doing a good job and earned a higher slot.
Promotions basically come at whether or not your character's doing enough to further the faction's agenda.
For example the lowly Zhent grunt can't expect to become High Chieftain of Bane if he doesn't do much, but the guy that goes out and destroys Bane's enemies, spreads Zhentil influence and spreads fear of Bane probably will get lots of promotions, possibly even Blackguard status and who else knows what.
Or at least, that's how it was over the last few years.
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I was active in the Zhents, pulled in players, interacted with PC and NPC factions, recruited, led quests, and talked to tons of people, wrote up five different agreements, two of which got signed.
Got promoted to Swordhar in a few weeks.
Sadly, activity fell through heavily in the faction. Things seem to stagnate no matter what I tried, so I got out.
Edit: The key idea is to do alot of stuff with a lot of people. Fail or succeed, you have to at least try.
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Far as I can see, there's no longer a system where you gain points for promotion, but rather do things to advance the cause of the facton you are in to get that promotion. When in doubt if what you are doing is actually helping the cause, a good idea might be to ask about it with a DM or two who are active with your faction. You know, the old "I've been doing x and y, but don't seem to be getting anywhere, something else I should be trying?"
Open communication and willingness to accept some criticism of your efforts can work wonders for getting things moving in a positive direction.
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Did you really want to know the DM point of view or just hear conjecture from players?
If so, ask in Ask a DM and I'll tell you–but it basically comes down to--are you rocking out the faction, pushing its goals and involving people in whatever it is that you're doing? Have a promotion.
Tracking 'points' just was too time intensive to do, so now we just wing it when a DM thinks any particular faction player is rocking it out, we ask the others and tell them why we think that way and have a vote.
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I personally attributed promotions to completing major DM plot lines ..
Complete a plot whether it be killing some monster thats terrorizing the server or uncovering some hidden plot to kill the queen. retrieving the Magic sword of Uberness and putting it back together.
basically to do this stuff in a way that positions your faction favourably,
You need to do this.to get the first promotion I only needed to complete one such plot.
to get the second took accomplishing roughly three i think.disclaimer : Anyway this is my view on how it works so I am sure the DM's have some system on keeping track of how much they want to incinerate you etc.
-EDIT- an now I just read this:
Did you really want to know the DM point of view or just hear conjecture from players?
If so, ask in Ask a DM and I'll tell you–but it basically comes down to--are you rocking out the faction, pushing its goals and involving people in whatever it is that you're doing? Have a promotion.
Tracking 'points' just was too time intensive to do, so now we just wing it when a DM thinks any particular faction player is rocking it out, we ask the others and tell them why we think that way and have a vote.
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Well I on the other hand almost got promoted in Zhentarim, due to rolling around exploring and with the power of sheer dumb luck, collecting a set of keys needed to aquire a sword shard, then left the faction due to certain character's plotting (who later quit the faction, huh).
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Adventure and intrigue.
