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Experience Points and Character Levels
In our last announcement we talked about how characters in Star Wars: The First Sith can earn higher ranks by leveling up. Everyone on the site will start at the first level and will need to earn experience points to gain higher ranks and levels. We're calling these experience points "credits." This does not equate to money, and this is not a site financial system. It just adds a bit of Star Wars flair.
How are credits earned?
You automatically earn credits by posting on your character sub-account(s). Every 100 words equals 1 credit. In order to advance to level 2, you must achieve 750 credits (75,000 words). Level 3 will require 1750 credits (175,000 words). Level 4, the highest level, is 3000 credits (300,000 words). These credits are cumulative, so you won't have to start at 0 every time you reach a new level. This is the reason why we are bringing back sub-accounts and making them mandatory, as they will be used to track the credits for each character.
Earning credits will not only be based on word count, however, as there will also be bonuses to earn additional credits. These include: thread completion, willingness to engage in PvP, minor and major plot completion, and more. Additionally, in the event of character death, a new character made to fill that newly-opened character slot will receive 50% of the total credits earned by the dead character, plus the remaining experience earned from that character's remaining threads. Character death will be the only means of removing a character from play and retaining some of the credits earned. Archived characters cannot have their credits transferred to a new character, and those credits will be lost forever.
It should also be noted that the staff will not tolerate any post fluffing to unreasonably boost word count. Fluffing includes copying and pasting to hide extra unnecessary words within a post, adding or quoting entire IC verbal conversations from previous posts into current posts, taking 30 words to describe a salt shaker, and more. Staff will take the time to review posts, so this will be caught. Members caught doing this will earn a warning, and any action taken afterward will result in infractions and bans.
Fluffing in the sense of writing passively, or taking the time to describe what is going on around your character, is perfectly acceptable and will not be punished. Be creative!
Level and Rank Breakdown
Here is a breakdown of what the levels and ranks will look like.
Levels-
- Level 1: Starting Rank
Characters of this rank will be relatively unknown, mostly known only to family, friends, and other characters they have already met. - Level 2: 750 Credits
Characters of this rank are relatively well known among members of their faction. Their deeds and accomplishments are such that even those who don't know them personally within their faction have more than likely heard of them and can probably recognize them either by name or by face. - Level 3: 1750 Credits
Characters of this ranks are well known among their faction and known to the enemies of their faction. Their reputation is such that nearly everyone in their faction know of them well, and many enemies know of and can recognize them. - Level 4: 3000 Credits
Characters of this rank are known of by nearly every being in the civilized galaxy. Every person in their faction likely knows them by face and name. Their enemies know of them just as well, and while lacking more intimate details about this character, recognize them by face and name.
- Jedi: Knight > Master > Councilor > Grand Master
- Exile: Apprentice > Master > Lord > Warlord
- Hutt: Enforcer > Vigo > Lorda > Supreme Mogul
Distinction Between Levels and Ranks
Levels are gained strictly based on the amount of credits you have and nothing else. They are primarily an Out of Character determinate in how strong a character is in the Force, how well known they are throughout the galaxy, and whether they are eligible to hold a rank/title within their faction.
While levels will be an automatic tool, ranks are based on plots and will be determined by staff. In order to be eligible for a certain rank, you must meet the minimum level for the rank and complete plots for your character. Plots can begin before achieving the required amount of credits to expedite the process. Members will be required to complete major plots in order to prove they are committed to higher ranks and have an impact on the story. Rank will determine how much say you have in the direction of the faction and have some influence on the effect of plots the character can lead.
There will also be the option of not ranking up, for those who wish their character to remain at a certain rank for story or other purposes. Characters that level up and choose not to rank up will still gain any of the notoriety and other perks that come with leveling up. Which leads to...
Level = Power... Kinda
One of the most discussed topics for our team is the question of whether rank should equal power. After long deliberation it was decided that levels would influence a character's skill and mastery in their chosen areas...to a degree. It will not, however, be to a degree where a Jedi Master could automatically defeat a Jedi Knight level character without breaking a sweat, while accounting for the fact that it would also be rather ridiculous if an Exile Apprentice could battle on the same power level as the Jedi Grandmaster.
As far as the Force is concerned, higher level characters will generally have more stamina, power, and/or finesse in the Force than characters of a lower level than themselves. The scaling of this will be a gradual one, with level 2 characters being only slightly more powerful than a level one character, and so on. This does mean a level 1 character would be fairly outclassed against a level 4 character, just as Asajj Ventress was easily disarmed by Yoda in The Clone Wars. This does not mean, however, that being a higher level than another character will be an automatic win; a well-written Jedi Knight could defeat an Exile Master, and a well-written Jedi Knight could defeat a poorly written Exile Lord. Inversely, the Jedi Grand Master could probably hold their own against two Exile Apprentices.
The reason for this change is simple. While it is "fair" in the current system for everyone to be on even footing, the addition of an experience system and other changes necessitate a reward for those who contribute to the site through activity and plot advancement. This also reflects a more realistic portrayal of the Star Wars universe, and the larger emphasis on story and plot in the new timeline.
This is a pretty big change and a very long announcement. Let us know if you have any questions!