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Rank Structure and New APL Games
Shad's recent appearance brought to mind something he wrote some time ago in the comments following a promotion announcement about the PGHQ rank structure and new PG games - that is, the number of available scenarios grows, but (so far) the rank structure has stayed fixed. TheDoctor and I were discussing how, in D&D, whilst the experience point differential grows as one increases in level, so too do the experience points awards (one is more powerful and thus overcoming more sophisticated and powerful monsters/obstacles): in effect, the same number of "encounters" leads to a level jump as one progresses. Here, a play is a play whilst the rank separations (plays to earn next rank) grow. NOTE: not a criticism, just thinking "out loud."
So we were talking about ways we might consider to accommodate this (if it were up to us) and thought, to the extent that anyone might care, to invite discussion.
1. Not broken, don't fix it: it will take a few ages of the universe for anyone to make it to 3-star or 4-star rank even as it is (Matt, Driddle, Beast and Nebelwurfer not withstanding!!). Get a real job, PY.
2. Expand the play-per-rank structure above currently held ranks ... that is, accommodate the anticipated scenarios from new/pipeline games into the plays required for LTC and up through the flag ranks.
3. Implement a newer, larger jump between bird colonel and brigadier general ... that is, keep the existing structure up through O-6, but make the promotion to brigadier general and within the general ranks very large jumps (least importunate to existing structure).
4. Shift the officer ranks (in terms of play requirements) by one by introducing the rank of Command Sergeant Major (like to Sergeant Major much as First Sergeant is to Master Sergeant) at the top of the enlisted ranks. This, of course, would be "problematic" insofar as a "demotion" would be involved ::ducks and covers:: That is, the plays required to be a 2LT now would make one a CSM, to be a 1LT would become a 2LT etc.
Right, well, I've finished my second cup of coffee and will go away.
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