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We've spoken a bit in public now about training and ranks for the new timeline, but we haven't had a dedicated announcement about them - until now. We've made some big changes to training and ranks for Dawn of the Republic.
In a nutshell: training will no longer be a formal part of main factions, and the starting rank in main factions will be the Jedi Knight level (or whatever the equivalent rank is in other factions).
Here are some of the big reasons behind that:
Over the next few days, we'll have an announcement about what the ranks actually are. In the meantime, if you have any questions about what was announced here, please feel free to let us know. We're really excited about this change because we think it'll be hugely beneficial to the site, so we hope you like it as well!
In a nutshell: training will no longer be a formal part of main factions, and the starting rank in main factions will be the Jedi Knight level (or whatever the equivalent rank is in other factions).
Here are some of the big reasons behind that:
- Why is training being eliminated? Training is something we've tried to make work effectively for years now. Unfortunately, no matter what we attempt to do, it makes very little difference to the fact that training is a months-long process that acts as a barrier for new members getting more actively engaged in the timeline. If you have to spend 2-3 months learning how to be a Jedi or be a Sith, that's 2-3 months that you're not getting actively involved in the main plot of the timeline. We've tried, in the past, to make training more about missions, but inevitably those missions end up being tangential to the timeline. It also doesn't solve the issue of having to be in training threads, like classes or other forms of instruction.
- I thought training was a good way for new members to learn about the site, though? We told ourselves that for years. Theoretically, it's true. In some theoretical perfect training environment on the site, it makes sense that it's a good way for people to build RP relationships, learn about the factions, learn about the site, and more. In practice, it's just a barrier to entry. We want to remove that barrier. The best way to learn about the site and to get involved in the timeline is to dive right in. By allowing people to get actively involved right away, we think we'll avoid a lot of the dropoff that we see where members register, sign up for a faction, and then disappear.
- Why start people off at the Jedi Knight level? It immediately makes you part of the core of the faction. Whether it's Jedi Knight or its Sith equivalent, that's the main rank of a main faction, so starting off with it means you can immediately be part of the action and be part of the core group of the faction. You've earned it just by virtue of joining the faction.
- Does this mean I can't be a Padawan? You can be a Padawan (or its equivalent in other factions) if you want, but it won't be a formal rank in the factions. Because training also won't be a formal part of the factions, if you want to go through training with a master then it will be your responsibility to find that master to work with you. Every faction will have its own dedicated OOC board, of course, so you can always ask there if anyone is interested in being your character's master.
- Can I start off as a higher rank than Jedi Knight? This is another interesting thing we're doing with ranks at the start of this timeline: except for Faction Leaders and Assistant Faction Leaders, no one will have a rank higher than the Jedi Knight level when the timeline begins. That makes everyone part of the core group, and it means that no one gets a higher rank without earning it first.
Over the next few days, we'll have an announcement about what the ranks actually are. In the meantime, if you have any questions about what was announced here, please feel free to let us know. We're really excited about this change because we think it'll be hugely beneficial to the site, so we hope you like it as well!