Rank System & Icons

[Krahl]

Greetings!

As you've no doubt seen, The Palantir has a slew of new rank icons. Taliesin designed the icons and we have been implementing them over the past few days.

The rank system is a reward for activity which reflects positively on the allegiance of the user in question.

While "renown" is a reflection of how well a user's efforts are percieved by the community at large, it is not necessarily the best measure of activity for the allegiance itself. I suppose you could say renown is more of a broad brush while the rank system is a more defined, detail brush. With these two systems working concurrently, it is much easier to tell how a user is performing in all facets of their Palantir experience.

A few details are certainly in order. The Rank system takes into account many things. Some of these are when a user posts on the site in a manner which reflects positively on the allegiance, making a new allegiance member feel welcome and that they can come to the allegiance for help. Helping the allegiance with projects, attending allegiance meetings, being recognized by the leadership of the allegiance or site for work performed in the name of the allegiance.

Promotions also take into effect effort toward getting the allegiance recognized, such as winning battles in the campaign (or tournaments, etc.), using a sig or avatar that boosts awareness of the allegiance. Another thing that will count toward gaining rank is submitting user or zine articles to the site that are based on your allegiance (battle reports, painting, terrain, etc.)

As you can see, the methods to get promoted in your allegiance all depend on doing things to help your allegiance. If you haven't been active so far, now is definitely the time!

This system is newly kicked off so there will no doubt be course corrections. Hang in there and work with us as we all work together to make The Palantir better and better!

I invite questions and comments.

Krahl

[z5strikers]

sounds good...

[Soldier of Rhun]

Aahh good good....I was thinking how are you supposed to get your rank up by Renown on its own!

[zAk]

Awesome! Who will be in charge of the ranks? the Allegiance leaders? BTW Krahl i just cant see your allegiance button...

zAk

[Ortheron]

the icons are looking great Taliesin! i dont think Krahls is showing up, as it is not there yet. surely he deserves some super-uber one:tounge:

guess i better get more active.

[fosco sandybanks]

this is cool, well done

[Krahl]

One quick note - becoming an assistant leader of an allegiance grants you a temporary one rank increase while you hold and perform that position (obviously, up to a certain limit).


I probably won't have one as I am not a member of an allegiance. Fear not, titles will soon be in place to take care of that.

I'm really glad you all like the icons, I think you'll love the system too, once you become more familiar with it.

Krahl

[Londrandir of Mirkwood]

Sounds good. I like the new ranks and symbols, great job!

[Losliath]

Deffinately a great jon on these, thanks so much for doing this and getting the rank system in order. It looks great.

[Trolldude]

Just a question, am I supposed to be able to see my own rank?

Well, anyways great job on the icons they are really great looking!

[Tar-Minyatur]

Just a question, am I supposed to be able to see my own rank?

Yes, but you can't see yours because you aren't member of any allegiance.

[Krahl]

Tar-Minyatur is correct, once you join an allegiance you'll be able to see your rank Trolldude.

Krahl

[lotrchampion]

Quick question,
What are the bonuses of each rank number, other than bragging rights? ;)

[Krahl]

Quick question,
What are the bonuses of each rank number, other than bragging rights? ;)

As of now, no other perks.

However, many the things that have to be done to acquire ranks within the allegiance will also earn "volunteer points" toward the Patron levels - which DO give extra perks. Many of them, in fact.

As the Allegiance Leaders discuss it more, the staff is open to discussion about ranks themselves granting bonuses. I can also foresee bonuses within the allegiances themselves happening due to the rank system.

For now, though, it's all bragging rights other than the Patron volunteer levels. (More info will be released about that within the next day or so).

Krahl

[The_sea_of_Rhun]

Just a quick question when will i get my Champion of Rhun status back under where my name is on the left.

cheers

[Krahl]

Just a quick question when will i get my Champion of Rhun status back under where my name is on the left.

cheers

The new method we're using of showing ranks is via the icon at the bottom of the postbit (under the avatar area). As for titles, we are no longer doing those other than as perks for the Patron system.. either via donations of money or time to the site itself. There will be a news item about that program either tonight or tomorrow - keep your eyes open for that. :)

Krahl

[Alcargon]

minor suggestion - different symbols for different elves? perhaps a silver star on blue for the noldor? (Fingolfin's colours)

as i play several different armies, i'll find it hard to choose an allegiance, but looks very cool

well done

roughly how mant people are in each allegiance?

[The_sea_of_Rhun]

minor suggestion - different symbols for different elves? perhaps a silver star on blue for the noldor? (Fingolfin's colours)

as i play several different armies, i'll find it hard to choose an allegiance, but looks very cool

well done

roughly how mant people are in each allegiance?

It varies, the serpent kingdoms has about 30 as does Gondor and Mordor, some of the other allegiances are in need of more members because of lack of numbers.
For a better estimate check out the who will you fight for in the campaign thread.

cheers

[Taliesin]

minor suggestion - different symbols for different elves? perhaps a silver star on blue for the noldor? (Fingolfin's colours)

Wow, that's weird. We already have a silver star on blue for the High Elves. I know someone is carrying that icon somewhere. Anyhoo, great idea!

T.

[Lord Of Fangorn]

Do the Gondor symbols change with rank or is it always the same picture as shown by my delightful rank image under my name?

[The_sea_of_Rhun]

Do the Gondor symbols change with rank or is it always the same picture as shown by my delightful rank image under my name?

Nope they all stay the same throughout all the ranks.

cheers

[Lord Of Fangorn]

Fair enough I guess. Still, somebody could have some fun in a few months to come!

[Krahl]

Well, they do change but the basic icon (in this case, the crown) doesn't.

Examples:

http://www.thepalantir.org/img/ranks/gondor1.png

http://www.thepalantir.org/img/ranks/gondor2.png

http://www.thepalantir.org/img/ranks/gondor3.png

Etcetera, all the way up to rank 10, which is the Steward of Gondor.

Hope that helps.

Krahl

[Alcargon]

my picture (noldor) doesn't show. is that a problem?

[Krahl]

Have you joined the Noldor Allegiance?

[Alcargon]

i can access the rivendell page, and things say i'm noldor.

the noldor icon in my posts isn't coming up

[The_sea_of_Rhun]

i can access the rivendell page, and things say i'm noldor.

the noldor icon in my posts isn't coming up

It also doesn't say in your profile that your in the Noldor allegiancy.
Straaaaaaange :blush:

cheers

[Krahl]

i can access the rivendell page, and things say i'm noldor.

the noldor icon in my posts isn't coming up

It was an error on my part, it seems. Anyway, all fixed up now.

Krahl

[Alcargon]

thanks Krahl

[Krahl]

thanks Krahl

Welcome!

Krahl

[Lord Of Fangorn]

Is this as far as the rank system will go or is there still more to come (other than renown which hopefully we all know about)?

[Krahl]

What do you mean?

The current rank system is rather involved and has a lot of depth to it. We do plan future updates to it, but primarily aimed at making the system a lot easier to use for allegiance leaders than the current method.


Krahl

[Losliath]

Speaking of which if we name a second in command do they get a special rank or icon?

[LAE671]

Speaking of which if we name a second in command do they get a special rank or icon?

Last I heard they get a promotion of one rank, I think that's what GK got.

Cheers,
LAE671

[Krahl]

Temporary one rank increase while they perform the job, yep.

:good:

Krahl

[Lord Of Fangorn]

What do you mean?

The current rank system is rather involved and has a lot of depth to it. We do plan future updates to it, but primarily aimed at making the system a lot easier to use for allegiance leaders than the current method.


Krahl

Sorry should have explained Krahl.

I know that it is already incredibly advanced compared to some stuff on other sites but I just wanted to know what updates to the system would be like.

Hope that clears up any confusion.

[zAk]

Itd be good for Krahl to have an icon ^^! All i see now is a question mark... are you part of any allegiance Krahl? I am guessing not but...

[Lord Of Fangorn]

Itd be good for Krahl to have an icon ^^! All i see now is a question mark... are you part of any allegiance Krahl? I am guessing not but...

Theoretically he is supposed to be Mordor but hey he always was a bit strange!:veryhappy:

[Krahl]

Got'cha LoF. :)

Is my rank icon area showing a "no image" placeholder? I guess I didn't realize, I thought it was just empty. Please post here if you ever see things like that and thanks for pointing it out to me. We'll fix that up directly.

Krahl

[Lord Of Fangorn]

Got'cha LoF. :)

Is my rank icon area showing a "no image" placeholder? I guess I didn't realize, I thought it was just empty. Please post here if you ever see things like that and thanks for pointing it out to me. We'll fix that up directly.

Krahl

Will do Krahl! As an englishman I enjoy pointing out the flaws of others!:veryhappy:

But back on topic: Ranks are looking great can't wait to increase mine.

For more information on Gondorian Ranks; JOIN GONDOR!

[kathrynloch]

Also to mention, the new folks who haven't yet selected an allegiance show a "broken link" x icon. Maybe we could adjust that too?

[Lord Of Fangorn]

Also to mention, the new folks who haven't yet selected an allegiance show a "broken link" x icon. Maybe we could adjust that too?

Yeah I noticed that too! But I thought it was just my browser. I realise now that my browser is fine and that I'm just paranoid.:sorry:

[zAk]

Yeah I noticed that too! But I thought it was just my browser. I realise now that my browser is fine and that I'm just paranoid.:sorry:

thast exactly what i see under Krahl and new users... i thought someone alreeady pointed this out...

[LAE671]

That's kinda strange because I've never been able to see anything under Krahl's name... Perhaps it does have to do with browsers. I'm using FireFox.

Cheers,
LAE671

[Lord Of Fangorn]

That's kinda strange because I've never been able to see anything under Krahl's name... Perhaps it does have to do with browsers. I'm using FireFox.

Cheers,
LAE671

I'm on IE so I'm probably getting the best idea of what's wrong. I find Firefox only good for RSS feeds.