Senior Crewmembers

[mrimatool]

Welcome fellow Auroran.

You're probably wondering what it is today in suggesting. My suggestion today isn't about balance and it isn't about something that's missing that we really need. It's about a little mechanic that me and a couple staff members thought was a nice one.

I came up with the idea in Msay in the last round I played today, Senior Crewmembers, but you're probably thinking, but Tool we already have those don't we?

Yes we do mister Auroran, but this is a bit different.

Basic idea:

So, here's the basic principle. If a Whitelisted(Head) player creates a character that is over thirty, is a Doctor, Engineer, Security Officer or Researcher and if the created character is over thirty years of age(This could go up, but it's mostly just serving a purpose currently) then that character will be given the Senior Doctor, Senior Engineer, Senior Officer or Senior Researcher title, respectively.

Purposes

1. Designating Head able characters.

Of course any character can become a head of a department, but this would basically make crew aware of characters that are Whitelisted, meaning they would be looked at more favourably for Acting Heads of Staff(but this isn't mandatory, it'd just be an option. The choice still lies with the person promoting the acting heads, but this would show them who's Whitelisted so if they haven't got better ideas, they can offer it to the Senior crew member)

2. Providing new players with a mentor

Heads of Staff are often busy being well.. Heads of staff. Which often means they're too busy to train newer players, but these Senior staff members would be looked at more preferably for the new crew members. You look around for someone to train you but they're all the same rank as you except that senior engineer who's suiting up now. They'd be trusted to look after newer players as we Whitelisted players should already be doing.

3. Providing a new dynamic to roleplay

Think about it. You'd have basically supervisors in the departments who could take charge in the absence of an actual Head of Department. You'd have people who the Heads of Departments could trust more and give more responsibility to. People who newer players and characters could look up to, that are recognised by Nanotrasen.

Extra Comments:

One thing to remember is it wouldn't give all Whitelisted players a senior title, just the ones who meet the age and job criteria. Oh and they'd get no extra access from these job titles.

One idea was to make it an option for Whitelisted players to choose as their job title/job

Anyway tell me what you think!? But please, I want a friendly discussion, anything other than that will result in the thread being locked down.

[Frances]

I'm mostly wondering how to make this from a coding perspective. Because I think you can only ban by job, and what you're suggesting is simply a title for the same job, and I don't think there's any way to restrict those for now. And we don't want to make the joblist any longer than it already is, so... bleh. I dunno.

Anyway, I think it would be a minor but good addition. There's already a list of in-universe job titles, complete with qualifications for advancement, if that can be of any help to you: http://aurorastation.org/wiki/index.php?title=NanoTrasen_Occupation_Qualifications

[Guest]

From coding it wouldn't be a new job, more a renamed job title as you spawn before any kind of mind/records setup happen. Making banning by job the same as it always was.

He's also suggesting that it requires a age limit and if you are white-listed which can and is checked when you spawn.

[Guest]

I really like this idea. I think with a little bit of coding magic, a coder could easily make it so whitelisted players have the alt-titles available to them.

[Guest]

This is an interesting concept, I like it.

[ZipZero]

I dislike this for several reasons.

My first concern, would this be optional? There can be many cases where a head-whitelisted player creates a character who is over thirty years old, but is not qualified to be a head of staff. They might not want their character to have "senior" before their job title.

Second, it might decrease the number of people who are made acting head of a department without being whitelisted. I foresee preference being given to characters with "senior" in their title, leaving no chance for other players to obtain experience in a head position before becoming whitelisted. I am not yet whitelisted for head positions, yet I consider the times I have been acting as head of a department to have given me valuable experience that shapes the way I see those positions.

Lastly, it puts an additional restriction on characters based on something that is OOC, the whitelist, and it openly broadcasts OOC information in an IC way. If the senior crewmembers are those considered by NanoTrasen to be qualified for the position of a head of staff, then this prevents players who are not head-whitelisted from creating characters who are considered to be qualified for those positions by NT.

Please, let us not force OOC restrictions IC. A head of personnel can already grant a title to a character who has the proper qualifications in their records. Let's keep it that way.

[Guest]

I'd make it optional, your second paragraph is something that I am worried about.

[mrimatool]

I dislike this for several reasons.

My first concern, would this be optional? There can be many cases where a head-whitelisted player creates a character who is over thirty years old, but is not qualified to be a head of staff. They might not want their character to have "senior" before their job title.

Second, it might decrease the number of people who are made acting head of a department without being whitelisted. I foresee preference being given to characters with "senior" in their title, leaving no chance for other players to obtain experience in a head position before becoming whitelisted. I am not yet whitelisted for head positions, yet I consider the times I have been acting as head of a department to have given me valuable experience that shapes the way I see those positions.

Lastly, it puts an additional restriction on characters based on something that is OOC, the whitelist, and it openly broadcasts OOC information in an IC way. If the senior crewmembers are those considered by NanoTrasen to be qualified for the position of a head of staff, then this prevents players who are not head-whitelisted from creating characters who are considered to be qualified for those positions by NT.

Please, let us not force OOC restrictions IC. A head of personnel can already grant a title to a character who has the proper qualifications in their records. Let's keep it that way.

 

As said previously, preference probably will be given to players with the senior title. But the whole idea of having a head whitelist is that players who are Whitelisted can play as heads, those who are not, cannot. Of course there's times when other players are chosen(which Is fine by the way, I'm not suggesting we stop promoting people who don't have the whitelist).

And the way most people go is they create a character, then when they get the whitelist. Then, they make them qualified for head roles. Even ones who play heads on other servers, for example Jamini. Nasir was suspended as an IC reasoning for him not being a head of staff.

And finally, it isn't meant to dictate who Nanotrasen deems worthy of Head of Staff. It's just who they deem worthy of being granted a senior title. Senior Engineers are more likely to be chosen because they're older meaning they have more experience.

It was also discussed about raising it to fourty.

[witchbells]

As said previously, preference probably will be given to players with the senior title. But the whole idea of having a head whitelist is that players who are Whitelisted can play as heads, those who are not, cannot. Of course there's times when other players are chosen(which Is fine by the way, I'm not suggesting we stop promoting people who don't have the whitelist).

And the way most people go is they create a character, then when they get the whitelist. Then, they make them qualified for head roles. Even ones who play heads on other servers, for example Jamini. Nasir was suspended as an IC reasoning for him not being a head of staff.

And finally, it isn't meant to dictate who Nanotrasen deems worthy of Head of Staff. It's just who they deem worthy of being granted a senior title. Senior Engineers are more likely to be chosen because they're older meaning they have more experience.

It was also discussed about raising it to fourty.

 

Frankly, this seems like it would bring too much unnecessary restriction. The heads of staff who end up promoting staff to command (and aren't just doing so to fill a void) are perfectly capable of doing so without a senior designation. I think this would only serve to show OOC preference for some players over others, and be confusing and disheartening to those who aren't.

[mrimatool]

As said previously, preference probably will be given to players with the senior title. But the whole idea of having a head whitelist is that players who are Whitelisted can play as heads, those who are not, cannot. Of course there's times when other players are chosen(which Is fine by the way, I'm not suggesting we stop promoting people who don't have the whitelist).

And the way most people go is they create a character, then when they get the whitelist. Then, they make them qualified for head roles. Even ones who play heads on other servers, for example Jamini. Nasir was suspended as an IC reasoning for him not being a head of staff.

And finally, it isn't meant to dictate who Nanotrasen deems worthy of Head of Staff. It's just who they deem worthy of being granted a senior title. Senior Engineers are more likely to be chosen because they're older meaning they have more experience.

It was also discussed about raising it to fourty.

 

Frankly, this seems like it would bring too much unnecessary restriction. The heads of staff who end up promoting staff to command (and aren't just doing so to fill a void) are perfectly capable of doing so without a senior designation. I think this would only serve to show OOC preference for some players over others, and be confusing and disheartening to those who aren't.

 

It isn't supposed to be like that at all. But your feedback is appreciated.

[Jakers457]

I believe the purpose is to show who has the most hands on experience in their respectful area. Not to create an exclusivity but to streamline command during emergencies and also to streamline the teaching of newbies.

[Guest]

If your goal is to encourage people to teach newbies, I suggest implementing the OOC "Mentor" position some other servers have.

I think implementing Mentors as Senior positions ICly will end up with the hierarchy becoming a bit too convoluted.

[SgtSammac]

Mentor is just some servers replacement of moderators, started at bay IIRC.

[Guest]

As one of the primary Captain players on the server, I can honestly say I'd probably not take into consideration the crewmembers with 'Senior' in their name when choosing Acting Heads, because I know how vital it is for players to get Head experience before they apply for Head. Also, I dont like many of our command staff characters, Id be more likely to promote someone I can get along with, can get the job done, and needs experience. But thats just me, but I always put the needs of the player before the needs of the character, if someone LOOCly tells me they need Head experience before they apply for whitelist, they're gonna be my prioroty applicant for it.

[Nik]

Eh. I like the idea, since it can clarify IC that you aren't just some grubby ass non-head, and we can be segregated from you newly not-baldies.

But actually. Those who get a temporary head status are usually those who are also heads and known by other heads. I'd never make some random doctor a CMO because he needs chemistry access, I'd just give him chemistry access.

A head should be a character who knows everything about that job and has been ICLY trained for it. Saying that this player is trained just means slightly less of a "...C-can anyone become CE and fix the singularity engine?" and more "Nasir, fix that fucking engine, you're promoted!", and allows for a player to openly admit to not being /just a scrub detective/ when they are cleared to become the HOS, for example.

[Jamini]

I really don't see the point in this.

Employment records exist for a reason.

[Jakers457]

They do but in work places, there are senior positions aswell to help with delegation. In care homes or some wards, there are Senior Nurse positions.

For example, lots of people are wounded on the station. The CMO is busy doing Surgery on a patient who's bleeding out but the floor staff are trying to keep the clusterfuck on order. Someone needs to take charge, who? You can waste time looking up records or you can go to the clearly highlighted senior staff member to keep things together and relieve the pressure.

I can see this being useful. It's about cohesiveness at the end of the day.

[Jamini]

They do but in work places, there are senior positions aswell to help with delegation. In care homes or some wards, there are Senior Nurse positions.

For example, lots of people are wounded on the station. The CMO is busy doing Surgery on a patient who's bleeding out but the floor staff are trying to keep the clusterfuck on order. Someone needs to take charge, who? You can waste time looking up records or you can go to the clearly highlighted senior staff member to keep things together and relieve the pressure.

I can see this being useful. It's about cohesiveness at the end of the day.

 

People will do this automatically, VIA personality and experience, or they will be assigned by the local heads of staff on an as-needed basis. I see no real net gain in this, except for a vehicle for a few players to try and throw out the "I'm better than you" and "I'm the senior X, so do as I say." card. I would much rather hierarchy below heads of staff/command roles develop organically.

This is really quite unnecessary.

[Jakers457]

Well, I like to think the people with Head whitelists wouldn't have that kind of mindset. Most of the heads, in my opinion, seem to be sensible enough to have senior in their job role.

[Jamini]

Well, I like to think the people with Head whitelists wouldn't have that kind of mindset. Most of the heads, in my opinion, seem to be sensible enough to have senior in their job role.

 

Most people who play heads are also readily recognized by their departments and/or other command staff. The title just... isn't really necessary and promotes elitism.

[Jakers457]

It wouldn't promote elitism. It has no reason to promote elitism, and if someone does think themselves better for having it then what a sad bastard they are indeed

I personally think it'd be a nice touch, besides I have faith in our little community of heads. I don't see why giving them a trial run would be out of the question.

[witchbells]

It wouldn't promote elitism. It has no reason to promote elitism, and if someone does think themselves better for having it then what a sad bastard they are indeed

I personally think it'd be a nice touch, besides I have faith in our little community of heads. I don't see why giving them a trial run would be out of the question.

 

I also have faith in our heads. It's precisely why I don't find this necessary.

Command officers are perfectly capable of making this kind of judgement call without giving the other whitelisted players a little silver star. Like I've state previously, a senior title wouldn't serve much further than to alienate those who don't.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

As HoP if someone saunters up to my desk and slaps down their card asking for command level job title because they have "senior" in their title I'm going to close my blast doors in their face.

I don't really like this idea; we already have people being smarmy and trying to act like mini-heads, having more of that officially condoned with be a nightmare for my last nerve.

[Jakers457]

Sadly I'm having difficulty with seeing the apparent social issues that would follow a simple title.

I remain adamant that it would be a nice touch and that it would not hurt to present a trial run to test the waters. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[Guest]

As HoP if someone saunters up to my desk and slaps down their card asking for command level job title because they have "senior" in their title I'm going to close my blast doors in their face.

I don't really like this idea; we already have people being smarmy and trying to act like mini-heads, having more of that officially condoned with be a nightmare for my last nerve.

 

I don't think it's about being a mini-head. If they act like that, then there's gonna be some issues.

It's honestly, the way I see it, a method in which more green players can look at the crew manifest and see a Senior personnel listed, and think, "Oh, hey, this guy's a Senior dude. By the looks of it, I think he's someone I should look up to, and work by their example."