Promotion Guidelines

You must unlearn what you have learned. This article contains obsolete data. It reflects a Dark Brotherhood policy, position, or object that has been removed or replaced. It is preserved here for historical purposes only and should not be used/referenced.

The following guidelines have been set forth as the path for members to follow on their journey through the ranks. Completing the activities indicated in each of the following steps will qualify a member for promotion. The purpose of these various items is to provide a solid base of knowledge for new members that will allow them to succeed in the future.

Novitiate/Journeyman Guidelines

The list of activities that are provided are a series of examples of members' accomplishments that will qualify an individual for promotion - but promotions at the Novitiate and Journeyman level are not limited to these tasks. Substitutions for items on these lists are acceptable on an individual basis, so long as the substituted work is of similar or equivalent effort. If a member completes the tasks as they are defined below, they will be promoted accordingly, but it is not the only way.

NV1 (Initiate) to NV2 (Apprentice)

Complete both of the following:

• Validate your e-mail address
• Complete the Trial of Identity

NV2 (Apprentice) to NV3 (Recruit, Cadet, Novice)

One basic activity, such as:

• Pass a Shadow Academy course (except Trial of Identity)
• Submit to any level competition
• Sign into the Dark Brotherhood Discord, and link your dossier
• Have an approved character sheet on record
• Earn a competition award (Crescent or Nova). The deprecated awards Legion of the Scholar and Pendant of Blood also count towards this requirement, but are not currently obtainable.
• Earn one (1) Cluster of Fire or Earth (A Cluster of Fire counts as two Clusters of Earth)

This is just an example. You need to do any one activity that shows that you are active and ready to proceed. The activity done here can be counted for the next promotion as well.

NV3 (Recruit, Cadet, Novice) to NV4 (Trainee, Trooper, Proselyte)

Complete three of the following:

• Total of any two (2) Shadow Academy exams (excluding any courses in the Fundamentals department). This can count up to two (2) times if a total of four (4) Shadow Academy courses are completed
• Participate in any Dark Brotherhood competition. This can count up to two (2) times if you participate in two (2) competitions
• Earn five (5) Clusters of Earth. This can count up to two (2) times for ten (10) Clusters of Earth. (A Cluster of Fire earned counts as two (2) Clusters of Earth)
• Join the Dark Brotherhood Discord Server and link your dossier
• 500 word Character Development Fiction submitted to your Master or House Leadership, this can count up to two (2) times if a 1000-word fiction is submitted
• Any four (4) multiple-choice courses in the Fundamentals department, this can count up to two (2) times if a total of eight (8) courses are taken
  • The above courses do not count towards any other Shadow Academy requirement

NV4 (Trainee, Trooper, Proselyte) to JM1 (Runner, Private, Neophyte)

Complete three of the following:

• Begin to outline your character history for eventual posting on the Brotherhood Wiki, and have this outline approved by your House Leadership or Master
• Total of any six (6) Shadow Academy exams (excluding any courses in the Fundamentals department). This can count up to two (2) times for a total of twelve (12) courses
• Participate in three (3) total competitions. This can count up to two (2) times for a total of five (5) competitions
• Earn ten (10) Clusters of Earth. This can count up to two (2) times for twenty (20) Clusters of Fire. (Each Cluster of Fire earned counts as two (2) Clusters of Earth)
• Earn one (1) Cluster of Ice. This can count up to two (2) times for two (2) Clusters of Ice
• Earn one (1) Cluster of Graphite. This can count up to two (2) times for two (2) Clusters of Graphite
• Have an approved character sheet on record
• 750 word character development fiction submitted to your Master or House Leadership, this can count up to two (2) times if a 1500-word fiction is submitted.
• Join the Dark Brotherhood Discord Server and link your dossier
• Any eight (8) multiple-choice courses in the Fundamentals department, this can count up to two (2) times if a total of sixteen (16) courses are taken
  • The above courses do not count towards any other Shadow Academy requirement

JM1 (Runner, Private, Neophyte) to JM2 (Courier, Sergeant, Acolyte)

• Two weeks at JM1

Complete six of the following:

• Interact with members of the Brotherhood in a social setting: this can include joining the Dark Brotherhood Discord and linking your dossier, or posting a constructive comment on the Brotherhood site
• Total of any twelve (12) Shadow Academy exams (excluding any courses in the Fundamentals department). This can count two (2) times if twenty-four (24) courses are passed
• Participate in three (3) total competitions. This can count two (2) times if you participate in five (5) total competitions
• Earn a total of twenty (20) Clusters of Earth. This can count two (2) times if you earn forty (40) Clusters of Earth. Each Cluster of Fire earned counts as two (2) Clusters of Earth
• Earn a total of two (2) Clusters of Ice. This can count two (2) times if you earn four (4) Clusters of Ice
• Earn a total of two (2) Clusters of Graphite. This can count two (2) times if you earn four (4) Clusters of Graphite
• Reach Level 2 (GMRG:II) in the Grand Master's Royal Guard
• Reach rank II (Freshman) in the Shadow Academy Society
• Reach rank II (Apprentice Inquisitor) in the Inquisitorius
• Reach rank II (Womp Rat) in the Shroud Syndicate
• Minimum 750 word character fiction to be approved by your House Leadership or Master, this can count up to two (2) times if a 1500-word fiction is submitted
• Work on your character history document for eventual posting on the Brotherhood Wiki, and have this effort approved by your House Leadership or Master. This should include significant updates to the character's pre-Brotherhood life
• Create a competition at 4th Level Crescents or higher and run it with the assistance of your leadership. Running two (2) competitions counts two (2) times.
• Earn a Merit Medal. This can count two (2) times if you earn two merit medals

JM2 (Courier, Sergeant, Acolyte) to JM3 (Yeoman, Lieutenant, Hunter, Padawan)

• Three weeks at JM2

Complete nine of the following:

• Interact with members of the Brotherhood in a social setting: this can include joining the Dark Brotherhood Discord Server and linking your dossier, or posting a constructive comment on the Brotherhood site
• Participate in five (5) total competitions. This can count two (2) times for ten (10) competitions
• Pass a Shadow Academy leadership exam from the Department of Leadership, Law, and Communication. Pass two exams for this item to count two (2) times
• 1000 word character fiction to be approved by your unit leadership or Master., this can count up to two (2) times if a 2000-word fiction is submitted
• Complete two (2) Antei Combat Center matches. Counts up to two (2) times for four (4) matches
• Reach Level 3 (GMRG:III) in the Grand Master's Royal Guard
• Reach rank III (Sophomore) in the Shadow Academy Society
• Reach rank III (Apprentice Inquisitor) in the Inquisitorius
• Reach rank III (Womp Rat) in the Shroud Syndicate
• Place (1st-3rd) in a competition. This can count two (2) times for placing in two (2) competitions
• Have a total of fifty (50) Clusters of Earth. This can count two (2) times for 100 Clusters of Earth. Each Cluster of Fire earned counts as two (2) Clusters of Earth
• Have a total of five (5) Clusters of Ice. This can count two (2) times for ten (10) Clusters of Ice
• Have a total of five (5) Clusters of Graphite. This can count two (2) times for ten (10) Clusters of Graphite
• Earn a merit medal. This can count two (2) times for two (2) merit medals
• Create a competition at 4th Level Crescents or higher and run it with the assistance of your leadership. Running two (2) competitions counts two (2) times.

JM3 (Yeoman, Lieutenant, Hunter, Padawan) to JM4 (Professional, Captain, Knight)

• Four weeks at JM3

Complete eleven of the following:

• Earn a merit medal. This can count two (2) times for two (2) merit medals
• Earn either two Legions of the Scholar or a major competition award (crescent or novae)
• Earn two major competition awards (crescents and/or novae)
• Participate in eight (8) total competitions. This can count two (2) times for fifteen(15) competitions
• Create a competition at 4th Level Crescents or higher and run it with the assistance of your leadership. Running two (2) competitions counts two (2) times.
• Pass two Shadow Academy leadership exams from the Department of Leadership, Law, and Communication
• Assist your House or Clan summit with a project
• Complete five (5) Antei Combat Center matches. Ten (10) matches counts two (2) times
• Reach Level 4 (GMRG:IV) in the Grand Master's Royal Guard
• Reach rank IV (Junior) in the Shadow Academy Society
• Reach rank IV (Apprentice Inquisitor) in the Inquisitorius
• Reach rank IV (Womp Rat) in the Shroud Syndicate
• Have a total of 75 Clusters of Earth. Counts two times for 150 Clusters of Earth. Each Cluster of Fire earned counts as two (2) Clusters of Earth
• Have a total of 7 Clusters of Ice. Counts two (2) times for 14 Clusters of Ice
• Have a total of 7 Clusters of Graphite. Counts two (2) times for 14 Clusters of Graphite
• Minimum 1,500 words of character fiction to be approved by your House Leadership or Master, this can count up to two (2) times if a 3000-word fiction is submitted.
• Earn a Shadow Academy Degree (excluding the Dark Pundit Degrees)
• Using the Character Page Template, complete a quality character article. Contact the Wiki Staff to review your completed wiki page for approval
• Serve successfully as Battle Team Leader or higher for at least one (1) month

Equite & Beyond

Promotions beyond JM4 are decided on a case-by-case basis, and not on the basis of activities lists (like Novitiate/Journeyman ranks). The Master at Arms looks at the whole record of the prospective promotee including but not limited to competitions entered and hosted, medals awarded and why, projects completed, leadership, and administrative experience. The latter two often holding a greater weight with each subsequent rank. Attitude and how one interacts with the larger Brotherhood also plays a role as it represents ones growth and maturity in the club. Strive to establish your strengths and never be afraid to test your weaknesses.

The time in rank and leadership (or equivalent) requirements listed below are intended to be minimums, and it is unlikely that a member would be promoted early, and virtually impossible that a member would be promoted without fulfilling some sort of leader or project role. Rare members will meet expectations early, but most members will take at least the time provided and usually longer.

Overall activity since a member's previous promotion is the most important factor - but consideration is also given to time factors. For example, an Equite 1 with a year in grade that has gone through a long period of inactivity (say six months) - is unlikely to be promoted after just a week or two of activity.

Rank	Minimums
Equite 1	2 months minimum; 4 months average sustained activity
Equite 2	4 months minimum; 6 months average sustained activity
Equite 3	6 months minimum; 12 months average sustained activity; 3 months of CON-level leadership or equivalent
Equite 4	8 months minimum; 16 months average sustained activity; 6 months of CON-level leadership or equivalent

In preparation for the experience points (XP) system roll out, this section has been deemed redundant.

Holding a leadership or administrative position in the Brotherhood is an important achievement for a member, and it also serves as an important marker for evaluating member progress by the Master at Arms staff. We do recognize that direct unit leadership is not always possible, either through a lack of opportunity, or a desire to do something else. This should not adversely hamper a member's chances for promotion. Therefore some equivalencies to three months (these are all predicated on the notion that the member is successful and active in their role) as a Consul are: * Six months as either Proconsul or Quaestor * Seven months as a Aedile * Nine months as a Battle Team Leader * Nine months as a Rollmaster * Six months as a Praetor * Nine months as a Magistrate, Shadow Academy Professor or Docent, or Antei Combat Centre Judge

There are other positioned and non-positioned activities that a member can engage in that are in keeping with the spirit of the above. These include (but are not limited) to: working and actively contributing to the large-scale Brotherhood projects, large-scale Clan projects, working on the Brotherhood wiki, non-positioned Shadow Academy service, and mentoring members to the rank of Professional/Captain/Knight. It is important that members wishing to progress start to engage in activities that move beyond that of a competing (and even winning) regular member - but that work need not be a position - so long as it is demonstrated that they have contributed to the greater clan/Brotherhood.

Further, all of the above positions and associated timelines are meant to show transparency in the Master at Arms staff thought processes. There is no guarantee that a member will be promoted upon hitting the number of days in a position.

Looking at recent examples of Equite promotions is a good method of learning what other members who hold that rank did to earn it.

Clarifying notes

The Trials of Identity and Acquisition, while noted on dossiers as Shadow Academy Courses, do not count towards the number of Shadow Academy Courses in the above promotion guidelines

Credits and Version Information

Currently in version 4.5c

• 4.5c version update by James Entar, removing ACC qualification as a requirement - 07 November 2022
• 4.5b version update by James Entar, removal of PoBs and removal of Discourse related activities - 28 August 2022
• 4.5a version update by James Entar to reflect chat platform migration from Telegram to Discord - 24 September 2021
• 4.5 version update by Dracaryis, Mune Cinteroph, and Howlader, adding Shroud Syndicate point to Journeyman ranks - 28 March 2021
• 4.1b version update by James Entar, cleaning up and simplifying language separating Fundamentals and Non-fundamentals courses - 23 September 2020
• 4.1a version update by James Entar to reflect retiring of DB Basics exam - 27 July 2020
• 4.1 version update by Howlader, Teylas, Qyreia Arronen - 30 November 2018
• 4.0 version update by Howlader and Teylas - 8 June 2018 - Cleaning up Equite section to remove confusion
• 3.4 version update by Howlader and Teylas - 19 February 2017
• 3.3 version update by Aabsdu, Howlader, Mav with new Equite time-in-grade requirements - 12 November 2015
• 3.2 version update by Aabsdu, Evant, Rial, Teylas, Howlader, James - 17 February 2015
• 3.1 version update by Kalen - 17 January 2014
• 3.0 version update by Howlader, Kalen, and JaM3z - 26 November 2013
• 2.0 version update by Korras(with Kalia and Fremoc): major edit, to reflect ToR as a major platform. - 26/02/12
• 1.4a version updated by Korras: changed EQ requirements
• 1.4 version updated by Korras: Removed obsolete items (histories on dossiers are no more), added EQ guidelines, altered time requirements. - 10/02/11
• 1.3 version updated by Kaek: changed note about running competitions as participation to require leadership to tell me when this occurs. Updated links to DB Basics and ACC Basic - 7/24/09
• 1.2 version updated by Kaek with modifications: Shadow Academy double-dipping policy clarified; Shadow Academy courses completed beyond the base promotion requirements but before the actual promotion can be applied to the next level of promotion per new language; the Master At Arms will no longer assign House tasks but can still be contacted to assist new members; fiction length requirements lowered - 7/7/09
• 1.1a version updated by Kaek in order to clarify language. Requirements remain the same - 11/13/08
• 1.1 version updated by Kaek based on feedback and analysis - 10/21/08
  • Originally derived from the promotion guidelines of every Clan. Compiled by Sklib and Tarax. Initial revisions/additions by Kaek. Subsequent revisions/additions by Sarin, Muz, Kir, Kaek and Raken. Final revisions/additions made by the entire Dark Council: Sarin, Muz, Kir, Kaek, Aabsdu, Shikyo, Jac, Sashar, Braecen, Phoenix, Chaos, Anshar, Ashia and Ashura - 10/14/08