Working on the Marine Corps

[The Talatheen Amalgam]

[member="Karen Roberts"]
[member="Vincente Zann"]
[member="James Justice"]
[member="Triter Zone"]

Hey all, so first of all, I've begun working on the Marine Corps in depth, so it will function properly once we begin recruitment and we'll encounter as many hiccups as possible when getting everyone situated and settling down as a faction. You can find the thread here, provided you haven't already seen it: Link

It's still a very heavy work in progress, and I expect (and hope) to devote a good chunk of my time throughout the next few days fleshing it out, then subsequently formatting it so it looks all pretty to look at. However, as of right now, you can still probably get and understanding of what I'm going for formatting and information-wise.

So I hope to get some feedback! I'm not married to any ideas present, so please feel free to ask me to make corrections to better suit the faction-held vision of a proper Marine Corps.

 

[Triter Zone]

[member="The Talatheen Amalgam"]

I like, I like! Only a few suggestions.

You may want to streamline the ranks a little bit; I would take our navy ranks as an inspiration, more or less. The structure and style of the Line is going to very much resemble space pirates; there isn't a great deal of formality, and the chain of command should tend to be short.
And bear in mind that the marines will likely be doing a lot of combat in shipboard environments, or as surgical strikes against strategic ground targets.
Our strategy should be to invest the smallest amount of resources necessary to achieve an objective; we make use of force-multiplying methods, novel tactics, etc. Units should be light and mobile.
If we ever need to resort to massed tactics, we'll have droids for that.

Also, I might suggest that some of the ranks should sound suitably archaic; the Line is going to be invoking a lot of ancient history in its image.

 

[The Talatheen Amalgam]

[member="Triter Zone"]

Done, done, done, understood, and done!

 

[Jsc]

[member="The Talatheen Amalgam"]

Sexy. Very good job as an outline. My only suggestion would be to understand your target audience. Your demographic.

Writers who join this website to play Marines are only going to want to know a few things. Where is the action and when do I shoot stuff. Lol. New writers who want to play a Marine will be from the ages of 14 - 40. The kids will be inexperienced and the adults are usually real military personal IRL with hardened opinions. Both will give your information a once-over and then proceed to doing their own thing. Forever.

So the more detailed you get? The more your audience becomes a Codex Judge and less of a Player Character. Strive to keep it simple. Remember your target audience. Aim for your demographic. Less, is more.

2 cents. Cheers.

 

[The Talatheen Amalgam]

[member="Triter Zone"]

Updating for the simplification of command structure (and, in addition to this change, I suppose resource-use reduction), better capability of precise usage and lighter units, and more archaic sounding names.

Notes: I left some larger groups in the hierarchy, but those are primarily noncombatant or rare (if at all, they're likely personal); it helps with organization and extends over larger campaigns where the Marine Corps would be far more present.

Is this more along the line of what you were looking for?

 

[The Talatheen Amalgam]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

Understood and glad you like it! While I'll still strive keep longer descriptions, for the sake of details to add authenticity, I'll hide them behind

Spoiler

s. In addition I'll add tl;dr versions below, so it can be skimmed through.

 

[Triter Zone]

[member="The Talatheen Amalgam"]

This looks excellent! I think I can safely say I made a good decision getting you on board.

 

[The Talatheen Amalgam]

[member="Triter Zone"]

Glad you approve! I'm very much enjoying myself on this, so expect to see it evolve dramatically over the next few days. Feel free to tag me on this thread or pm if you have any questions, suggestions, or want me to change something to better match your idea!

 

[James Justice]

[member="The Talatheen Amalgam"]

Your totally doing awesome. I do agree with JS Clark. Less is more, I personally think that if a player joins and they are active, they should be allowed to start as an officer if they want.

Obviously they shouldn't start as an admiral unless they meet a lot of caveats in my opinion, but most should not start out as Privates unless they want to. Later, as we get more, sure, fill those lower ranks (but also as we get larger we will need more officers too )

So, just my opinion. And, yes, organic simplicity can be the best. C. S. Lewis was my hero in that respect.

 

[Jsc]

Just to mention something about new members and ranks. New members do not suck until they've proven they suck. Don't restrict them. I've learned to plan for a simpleton, yes, but to greet every new member like their already Lord Commander. That is how you greet potential. With vision.

Look. I know it's easy to grab a top rank and then tell everybody else they have to "prove" themselves. But really? Did we? Did Triter? Did I? ...Did any of us actually "prove" that we could be an Admiral, or a General, or a Pilot? No. And I've been the Supreme Commander and FO of the GR before. Does that make me better, more qualified, or more creative than any new member who walks in our doors? Nahh. Because we're all the same. We're just writers.

So. Yeah. My advice about restricting people to lesser ranks again is this. Plan for a simpleton yes, please do. But visualize and create opportunities for every new member so that they could outrank you. Beat you. Do it better than you. Right from the start. Don't restrict them. ...Because that is real. And that is how you maximize potential. That, is how you build.

...And...

Yeah.

If they turn out to suck as an Admiral? Well. *smirks* We'll just demote them back to Lt. Commander (Solo Frigate) and let them try again. Easy as pie.

___

Also, [member="The Talatheen Amalgam"] that looks great. I'll update our Marine Ranks in the Resources when you're all finished. It looks like I missed a few the first go-around. Cheers!

 

[The Talatheen Amalgam]

[member="James Justice"]

You're absolutely correct. As for organic simplicity, I'm doing my best; though, setting out to organize a system, simplicity can lead to a formless, amorphous image that becomes ultimately dull. Each rank should be able to offer something - the player should want to play the rank they chose and ultimately give more to it; I hope to make it feel unique.

For example: the Lances, while low ranking, are independent and tailor to smaller, more connected teams; Blades tailor to a more total war aspect; however, with every specified class, that may or may not tailor to individual characters or writing styles, there is a basic class with equal flexibility and development: Sergeants, Captains, etc. I hope to sacrifice a very simplistic tree for one, still small and easy to learn, that gives the illusion of depth.

I just added a few, very specific ranks that offer nothing different other than tailoring themselves to equally specific personalities; but I'm careful not to infringe on the structure.

But yeah, they'll be able to start off wherever they want, which gets to my next point...

[member="Karen Roberts"]

I won't be asking anyone to prove themselves - though I do hope to start their careers with an optional training thread. This could help assess their abilities as a writer, it can introduce the character, and it can help me depart some details absent in the current information thread.

(I tried to hide them being spoiler tags, but it caused the formatting to glitch.)

I don't want to restrict them to lower ranks; that's the last thing I want them to do. I want people to have fun - and for some people, that comes with the opportunity of progression; that they can work towards something: a goal. My position is only IC, and I'm taking extra time to OOCly build a structure which will outlast me - I want people to try and dethrone me, and I'll probably encourage success; I'm not married to the position. Far from it.

 

[The Talatheen Amalgam]

Update: First draft of the Marine Corps command structure and ranks are completed.

Feel free to request changes.* <3

 

[Jsc]

[member="The Talatheen Amalgam"] - Marine Ranks have been changed to match the new listing. Cheers!