About New Characters

[Rocky]

As I came back from my incredibly long absence, I decided to read over all the approved bios just for the fun of it. Starting on page three and reading most of them, Ive noticed some things that just dont add up.

We have characters that are incredible soldiers at age 19 without a scratch on them and it seems theyre putting petty weaknesses in just so they can have outstanding strengths. I.E Strengths - Great swordfighter, Talented Archer, Amazing tracker Weaknesses - Cant climb a tree, sing, or cook or dance.

Then we have Long Patrol Officers with high ranks that are incredibly young. One of them from a while ago I remember, someone made like a 19 or 20 year old Lieutenant Colonel. I think if your character is:

15-19 - Private
20-24 - Corporal
25-31 - Sergeant
32-37 - Lieutenant
38-42 - Captain
42-47 - Major
47-54 - Colonel
54+ - General

After doing some research, these are considered "normal" age groups for rNks with a few exceptions of age and such.

I personally dont see how a 20 year old hare can be a Captain or Major in the Long Patrol.

Now for vermin...

We have 18 year old warlords running around with "Massive bodies" and little to no battle scars.

Ive also seen a 21 year old corsair captain. Now I know that could be possible but it doesnt seem realistic unless you somehow inherited the captain ship, was elected despite a young age, etc.

Theres alot more that Ive seen but these are some of the more un realistic bios Ive seen and I encourage people wanting to make a new bio to please not make anymore 22 year old LP Captains or 17 year old warlords and the such. And you all have no idea how tedious it is for admins and mods to read the same strengths and weaknesses for every bio. Make your guy blind. Make him missing a limb. Give him half a snout, i dont know.

Role-Players enjoy realistic characters! It gives them something more to focus on in RPing

[Rocky]

Prankster man, Ive known you long enough to know that your bios are fiiiine. You guys dont HAVE to follow what I wrote, its just more original. A 19 year old corporal is perfectly alright man

[Grath]

From experience with family members, I can tell you that Lieutenant up are commissioned ranks. These are Officers, they attend Officers School (like West Point) instead of boot, or basic. One can be a lieutenant right out of 'school'.

A commissioned officer is:
An officer who holds a commission and ranks as a second lieutenant or above in the U.S. Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps, or as an ensign or above in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard.

A non-commissioned officer is:
An enlisted member of the armed forces, such as a corporal, sergeant, or petty officer, appointed to a rank conferring leadership over other enlisted personnel.

Lets look at the difference between commissioned and non-commissioned officers.

An officer is a member of an armed force or in some cases uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position. Commissioned officers are typically the only persons, in a military environment, able to act as the commanding officer (according to the most technical definition of the word) of a military unit.

Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in positions of authority can be said to have control or charge rather than command per se, although the use of the word "command" to describe any use of authority is widespread and often official.

Here are some resources that may prove helpful or useful in creating a military bio.

Officers

Battlefield Promotions - The most used type of promotion in bios.


This is something that has been in my mind a while, most people don't seem to do their research in how a military would actually be structured, and just chuck things in there 'til 'it feels right' or 'it fits what I want' subsequently the fan portrayal of the Long Patrol or any other organized military is very haphazard and irregular. Rocky, would you be interested in having a guide like this added to our Encyclopedia? I could do more research and get one done (and include ages!) I am going into the Military so if I don't get something right I can fix it later, though other input is good. ^^