As noted in the Karma thread, the old Karma Board is retired. Instead, it will be replaced by the Attendance Ranking Board. This thread is to discuss it and, later, host it.
What is it?
This is a rating on the players of Bay 12 and their attendance.
So we're penalized every time we can't finish a game? I have life!
It's not about always completing a game. It's about how you leave, along with how often you leave, and how you play in games you do complete will make a difference.
So how does it work?
Each quarter, the games that are played are tracked for attendance issues: negatives such as repeated prodding, frequent substitutions, and flaking (not playing completely without any warning) or positives, such as good activity and willingness to substitute. Those are then compiled into a Grade (which should make some of the folks still in school groan a little).
How Permanent are these grades?
Each grade is tracked for the season. When a new season occurs, the grades are reset. Your grade for last season and the current season are listed together. Beyond that, each season's thread will be locked and stored so that people can dig them up if it is that important.
Overall, though, it is mostly a matter of how you did the past 6 months.
What are the grades and what do they mean?
First, the standard ones:
A+ Rank : Active and Self-motivated. 1 prod max per quarter, No Substitutions and has subbed in a game
A Rank : Solidly Reliable. 1 prod max per quarter, No needed Substitutions
B + Rank : Reliable. 1 prod max per quarter, 2 or less Substitutions
B Rank : Suitably Reliable. 3 prods max per quarter, no more than 1 prod per game. Substitutes by request only - 2 max
C Rank : Fickle. Only 1 of these: 3+ prods in a quarter / more than 1 prod in a game / more than 2 requested Subs
D Rank : Unreliable. Two or more of these: +3 prods in a quarter / more than 1 prod in a game / more than 2 sub requests.
E Rank : Flaker. 1 or more forced Substitutions
With each rank there is also a Minus (i.e. A-). If you performed an act that warrants a loss of rank but have a suitable reason for it (i.e. a sudden vacation takes you away from 3 games) then you will retain your rank with a Minus. Special situations can warrant rank changes as well.
Special Ranks.
N Rank : Novice. Those that have played less than 5 games and have not done anything to earn a D or lower. Should be deemed as Reliable.
S Rank : A specialized rank set above A rank. Marked for Active playing even in the face of horrible situations. When the game falls nearly dead, they are the ones still trying to keep things active. If a game of just these players is run, not a HINT of a prod should appear. If they are silent, they are either locked away from a computer, or scum talking up the Mafia Chat instead.
F Rank : A specialized rank of Failure. Only for extreme cases, such as horrible rule violation or flat out real attempts to ruin games.
Note that, on top of the ranks, will be notes to help explain the rank.
So how are these ranks used?
Hosts are allowed to filter games based on attendance, such as allow C Rank or above. It will be the host's decision on what their game can handle.
So we're just going to see S Rank Only games now?
We shouldn't. Most players will be in A, B, or C rank and those people will be reliable for just about any game. D rank and below may be a major issue, however, but you need to have regularly joined games you couldn't keep up with to do that.
To note: An N rank can join any game that allows up to A ranks unless the host says specifically otherwise.
So HOW does one become an S Rank?
The process for becoming an S rank is as follows:
1. Become an A- rank or above for 2 full seasons.
2. Become Nominated by 3 separate players, along with 1 host of one of your games.
Note: no more than one S rank may be among the nominators.
3. Have more Yeys than Neys in a vote among the current S Ranks
Note that this will be modified if there are no S ranks currently in existance.
Once an S rank, you retain the rank even through resets until you perform actions that will result in you dropping to B or lower rank in any season.
What are these Grades NOT used for?
-Determining Skill Level (A ranks may be terrible players and beaten regularly by a C rank. The A rank is just around more often)
-Elitism (no, you don't need to let that S rank badmouth you)
-Punishment for 'bad play' (excluding rule violations)
-establishing a Good Old Boy system (The ranks are made Objectively, with the exception of the S rank which can still be lost in a heartbeat due to the objective parts of the rule)