I like to break out interesting ranks instead of going "ololz, I iz admiral" even though my RP could theoretically allow it.
For example, instead of "Captain Rodney Salas" or "Admiral Rodney Salas", I may opt to go with "Fleet Captain Rodney Salas". It's like an honourific title that goes between the two without the responsibilities of an Admiral.
I call my LN Indie a captain, because he commands a cruiser, so the rank is logical. I think Ive 'orderd' people prehaps enough time to count on one hand over the years (not counting on occasion when [LN] officers told other [LN]/Indies to follow me for whatever reason).
That said if someone just declared themselves an 'honroable high admrial' or some gibberish, they should expect to just be laughed at.
Now, if someone was to have a char in a military ID, AND have people following him and declare emself a flag rank it would be compleatly logical and there would be no reason to complain because the person got people to follow em BEFORE declaring said rank.
That said if said person tried to order other folks arround that wernt part of his group, and EXPECTED them to always listen, you'd eventualy see a slap down (or people docking/logging/cruising when the inevitable barghest swarm arrives rather than backing you up... )
' Wrote:Joe kills more people in his Guardian than with the Durango, his dread.
Its opinions like this that cause people to call me Joe whenever I log on the Durango.
Self-given titles, though. Thats a sticky one.
Of course if some dude just proclaims to be an admiral because he bought a battleship, he'll be laughed at/shot down/both. On the other hand, a new player might see a member of a high command/respected indie anywhere and go 'why do I have to take orders from him? what has he done to earn his position!?', when they have done a lot in their own rights for their respective NPC factions.
It all depends on the experience you have of those players, the character representing the player and whether or not you choose to give your respect out for things that they've done which have never in any way, shape or form, affected the way you play.
This is why factions are generally given limited power to enforce some things around the place, since some do not give their respect out for much at all. Of course you will always have people wanting factions to have more of this power and people wanting factions to have less power.
I think the balance is generally fine now, though I do think that its a bit restrictive when it comes to weapons and ships.
@Harcourt: One could say that a battleship commanders rank should be an Admiral, in logical terms...
I actually think indies shouldn't have some Title names or some letters in their names. HMS or things like that make you look official, or LN(etc) and I had an ship that "appeared" official fire on my transport for example.
Ofcourse, I looked at the destroyers cargo, noticed some half eaten guns and no armor and I knew it couldn't be official, but smart indie can easily pull it off with a capital ship and shoot a transport
I used to call myself Admiral Barnes , just to annoy Tovig Kelt , he didnt realise i ment my actual name was Admiral Barnes ...First name Admiral Second Barnes. So then i had to go to a deed poll office on Toledo and change my name to Jim Barnes.... But to him i was always Admiral hehehe.
' Wrote:@Harcourt: One could say that a battleship commanders rank should be an Admiral, in logical terms...
One COULD yes, however that'd still be pushing it.
Tops I think anyone should go for is commodore, and even then only if they create their char and have RP set from the get go (and even then only with a BS command)
Of course it all depends on how you use it.
My LN Indie never orders folks unless he cant avoid it.
Unless its sume idjut power trading / exploring for fun and oorp thru virginia or Z21.
I think its ok to give indies that title, as long as they don't metagame with it and begin to order around people they have no authority over. Which is why my LSFC Commander always says please when asking a pilot/soldier to go do something for her:)
Yeah if I tried to order odds are It'd be a case of 'hey this guy seems allrite but he's abbout to walk into a hurt locker and/or do something that'll reflect bad on the rest of us'
Actualy the only time in ages Ive gave orders were when a [LN] dropped some folks in on me in Virginia because I'd been raping the livin frak out of miners using virginia as an anti-pirate shortcut. (srsly, whats so hard to understand.... cruiser says leave system you leave, shooting/running just means BOOM HEADSHOT! )