The following guidelines have been set forth as the path for new 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.
Contents
- 1 Novitiate/Journeyman Guidelines
- 1.1 NV1 (Initiate) to NV2 (Apprentice)
- 1.2 NV2 to NV3 (Recruit, Cadet, Novice)
- 1.3 NV3 to NV4 (Trainee, Trooper, Proselyte)
- 1.4 NV4 to JM1 (Runner, Private, Neophyte)
- 1.5 JM1 to JM2 (Courier, Sergeant, Acolyte)
- 1.6 JM2 to JM3 (Yeoman, Lieutenant, Hunter, Padawan)
- 1.7 JM3 to JM4 (Professional, Captain, Knight)
- 2 Equite & Beyond
- 3 General Notes
- 4 Credits and Version Information
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 to NV3 (Recruit, Cadet, Novice)
One basic activity, such as:
- Pass a Shadow Academy course (except Trial of Identity)
- Submit to a competition
- Reach Trust Level 1 on the Forums (see below)
- Have an approved character sheet on record
- Earn a competition award (Crescents, Novae, Legions of the Scholar or Pendants of Blood)
- Earn one (1) Cluster of Fire or 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 to NV4 (Trainee, Trooper, Proselyte)
Complete three of the following:
- Total of any two (2) Shadow Academy exams (excluding Dark Brotherhood Basics, Advancement Survey, and the majority of the non-Order courses in the Fundamentals department). This can count up to two times if a total of four (4) Shadow Academy courses are completed
- Participate in any Dark Brotherhood competition. This can count up to two times if you participate in two (2) competitions
- Earn five (5) Clusters of Earth. This can count up to two times for ten (10) Clusters of Earth. Each Cluster of Fire earned counts as two (2) Clusters of Earth
- Join Telegram or IRC and visit your Clan channel
- Logon to the DJB Voice Server
- Sign into the Dark Brotherhood forums, and reach Trust Level 1 by entering 5 topics, reading 25 posts, and spending 5 minutes reading posts
- 500 word Character Development Fiction submitted to your Master or House Leadership, this can count up to two times if a 1000-word fiction is submitted
- Any four (4) non-order, non-Basic Shadow Academy courses in the Fundamentals department, this can count up to two times if a total of eight (8) courses are taken
- The above courses do not count towards any other Shadow Academy requirement
NV4 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 Dark Brotherhood Basics, Advancement Survey, and the majority of the non-Order courses in the Fundamentals department). This can count up to two times for a total of twelve (12) courses
- Participate in three (3) total competitions. This can count up to two times for a total of five (5) competitions
- Earn ten (10) Clusters of Earth. This can count up to two 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 times for two (2) Clusters of Ice
- Earn one (1) Cluster of Graphite. This can count up to two 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 times if a 1500-word fiction is submitted.
- Join Telegram or IRC and visit your Clan channel
- Logon to the DB DJB Voice Server
- Any eight (8) non-order, non-Basic Shadow Academy courses in the Fundamentals department, this can count up to two times if a total of sixteen (16) courses are taken
- The above courses do not count towards any other Shadow Academy requirement
JM1 to JM2 (Courier, Sergeant, Acolyte)
Complete six of the following:
- Interact with members of the Brotherhood in a social setting: this can include visiting your clan channel on IRC, using the Brotherhood voice server, posting a constructive comment on the Brotherhood site, or a constructive post on the Brotherhood forums
- Total of any twelve (12) Shadow Academy exams (excluding Dark Brotherhood Basics, Advancement Survey, and the majority of the non-Order courses in the Fundamentals department). This can count two times if twenty-four (24) courses are passed
- Participate in three (3) total competitions. This can count two times if you participate in five (5) total competitions
- Earn a total of twenty (20) Clusters of Earth. This can count two 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 times if you earn four (4) Clusters of Ice
- Earn a total of two (2) Clusters of Graphite. This can count two times if you earn four (4) Clusters of Graphite
- Complete Antei Combat Center Basics Exam and your Character Sheet if you have not already done so - ACC basics can count towards your Shadow Academy exam course total
- Qualify for the Antei Combat Center
- 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
- Minimum 750 word character fiction to be approved by your House leadership or Master, this can count up to two 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 and run it with the assistance of your leadership if required. This can count two times if you run two competitions. Competitions must be in compliance with the requirements outlined in the Notes on Running Competitions section below
- Earn a Merit Medal. This can count two times if you earn two merit medals
JM2 to JM3 (Yeoman, Lieutenant, Hunter, Padawan)
Complete nine of the following:
- Interact with members of the Brotherhood in a social setting: this can include visiting your clan channel on Telegram or IRC, using the Brotherhood voice server, posting a constructive comment on the Brotherhood site, or a constructive post on the Brotherhood forums
- Participate in five (5) total competitions. This can count two 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 times
- 1000 word character fiction to be approved by your unit leadership or Master., this can count up to two times if a 2000-word fiction is submitted
- Earn two (2) Pendants of Blood. Counts up to two times for four (4) Pendants of Blood
- Complete two (2) Antei Combat Center matches. Counts up to two 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
- Place in a competition. This can count two times for placing in two (2) competitions
- Have a total of fifty (50) Clusters of Earth. This can count two 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 times for ten (10) Clusters of Ice
- Have a total of five (5) Clusters of Graphite. This can count two times for ten (10) Clusters of Graphite
- Earn a merit medal. This can count two times for two (2) merit medals
- Create a competition and run it with the assistance of your leadership if required. This can count two times for running two (2) competitions. Competitions must be in compliance with the requirements outlined in the Notes on Running Competitions section below
JM3 to JM4 (Professional, Captain, Knight)
Complete eleven of the following:
- Earn a merit medal. This can count two 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 times for fifteen(15) competitions
- Create a competition and run it with the assistance of your leadership. Running two (2) competitions counts two times. Competitions must be in compliance with the requirements outlined in the Notes on Running Competitions section below
- 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 times
- Reach Level 4 (GMRG:IV) in the Grand Master's Royal Guard
- Reach rank IV (Junior) in the Shadow Academy Society
- Reach rank III (Apprentice Inquisitor) in the Inquisitorius
- 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 times for 14 Clusters of Ice
- Have a total of 7 Clusters of Graphite. Counts two 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 times if a 3000-word fiction is submitted.
- Earn three (3) Pendants of Blood. Counts up to two times for six (6) Pendants of Blood
- 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 month
Equite & Beyond
Promotions beyond JM4 are decided on a case-by-case basis. 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 Deputy Grand Master may promote up to EL2. Only the Grand Master can promote up to EL3
There are no activity lists for Equite promotions, and the time in rank provided is meant as an average minimum. Rare members will meet expectations early, but most members will take at least the time provided and usually longer. Activity is expected to be recent. A member who has been an Equite 1 for over a year but only returned to active status two months ago is unlikely to be promoted. Large scale activity may make up for time in rank, however, including Brotherhood wide vendettas or prolonged projects that reach conclusion.
There is no clean path toward an Equite promotion, no absolute rules or expectations. Be active. If you want to know what you can do, speak to your unit leaders and ask to assist with projects. Apply for leadership positions, experience that is required for the upper Equite ranks. Leadership is evaluated based on consistency, achievements, and the satisfaction of your superiors.
If you are striving to earn Equite 2, look at other members who hold that rank as an example of how they earned it. Equite 1 may be earned by sustained activity over a period of months, but a sub-unit Quaestor will not earn Equite 4, which requires a wider impact on the Brotherhood as a whole. Those who go the furthest are the ones who work together for the betterment of the group.
The Master at Arms encourages members to keep personal activity logs that can be shared with your leaders periodically.
Leaders looking to submit an Equite promotion are encouraged to first contact the Master at Arms to determine the member’s eligibility while consulting the MAA Policy: Writing Recommendations examples.
| Rank
|
Expectations
|
| 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
|
General Notes
- For the purposes of counting competitions, the Promotheus tool general keeps track of these competitions. This has not always been the case, and the website note displaying all of a member's participation must not impede their progress. When recommending a promotion for a member, simply note that the website is incorrect.
- IRC trivia competitions, when participated in or hosted by Journeymen for the purpose of promotion, shall count as one-half of a traditional unit (or Dark Council) run competition. For instance, if a member wished to fulfill the Jedi Hunter/Padawan promotion guideline for participating in ten (10) competitions using only IRC trivia, then that member would need to participate in twenty (20) competitions.
Competitions
In order for a competition to count towards a promotion, it must meet the following criteria:
- Award 4th level Crescents or higher
- The competition will count towards the promotion requirement only once it has been completed, scored, and awards have gone out
Leadership
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:
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, non-positioned Shadow Academy service, and mentoring member to the rank of Professional/Captain/Knight.
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.
Credits and Version Information
Currently in version 3.4
- 3.3 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