Phoenix Valley Policies

Here you will find various pieces of information on more specific pack policies unique to Phoenix Valley in particular. Most of these are more in-depth versions of those found in our policies table on the forum, but you should still read through them for clarification and understanding! If there is anything you feel needs to be updated or made more clear, please contact one of the leaders. Thanks!

Ranks, Promotions and Demotions

Ranks in Phoenix Valley, like all other packs, are determined according to a respective player's "post count" (how many new in-character posts they have made with their Valley member character in any of the IC roleplaying subforums, including neutral territories and other packs) at the time of the "rank shuffle" (when these numbers are tallied up and promotions/demotions are decided on, at the same time every month). For the most part, promotions and demotions are almost entirely decided on OOCly, but with many understandable exceptions. For example, a member will not be promoted any faster due to IC activity — such as a Fuerre-ranked member making several hunting-related threads all at once — but it is definitely kept under consideration in the long run. Members are expected to have their characters making posts and threads related to their ranks at the time, but in general, just making posts and getting good post counts is what leads to faster promotions at the time of rank shuffles.

As for the in-character side of ranks, which is probably more important, promotions and demotions reflect the character itself and their actions in the pack. Technically, if you as the player aren't posting enough to be promoted, then the character itself is not showing its face or being "out there" enough to have learned anything new to deserve promotion. After all, they must not be doing that much if you're not posting a lot about them. If you're posting a lot, then your character is around a lot. It works out either way.

Unique to Phoenix Valley is the different tiers of ranks that keep characters at equal levels of authority in the hierarchy as they move up. With the exception of the puppy ranks, the leader ranks, Genus, Loas, Elu and Sulein, all other ranks are at equal with at least two others. The layout of the rank table, as well as descriptions on the Ranks page here, will determine which ranks are equal.

What is the expected activity for post counts at time of the shuffles?

At the time of the rank shuffle...

To be promoted up one rank: You must have at least 12 new in-character posts on your Valley character.
To stay at your current rank: You must have at least 5 new in-character posts on your Valley character. Five new posts at the shuffle is the expected activity for Valley players; having at least 5 means your character will not move up or down this shuffle. It is the expected "minimum" amount of posts you should have at any given shuffle.
To be demoted one rank: Less than 5 posts made on your character at the time of the shuffle will result in a demotion one rank. A special note: Members cannot be demoted past Genus, and will not be put into Elu or Sulein except under certain circumstances.
Demotion to probation rank: At the time of the shuffle, if your character has absolutely no new posts (0 new posts), they will be demoted from whatever rank they are at, regardless of height, immediately to the Elu rank. This rank, as mentioned on the ranks page, is almost entirely an OOC rank, serving as a probation. The member will remain at the Elu rank until the next shuffle; if they gain at least 5 new posts they will be moved out of it, usually somewhere near but below the rank they formerly held. If no new posts are still made the following shuffle, the character is removed from the pack and must rejoin.

Please note that any members on the Absentees List can be made an exception to demotions during the duration of their absence. However, it is at the leaders' discretion whether or not to demote a player due to activity while on an absence. Players anticipating a scarcity in their posting consistentcy or an otherwise interruption to their ability to post are highly encouraged to post to be added to the Absentees List, as well as to contact the leaders with notication.

When do rank shuffles occur?

Rank shuffles currently occur twice a month, once on the 1st and again on the 15th. These dates are subject to change, and if they do, post requirements will also shift. There will be ample notification if this is the case.

What is the procedure for rank shuffles?

1) One of the pack leaders pulls up the previous post count numbers from the previous shuffle and also glance over counts from the previous month. We look for consistencies and discrepancies to see what we would like to expect for the coming shuffle and decide early what needs to be accomplished count-wise for each member according to their previous count(s).

2) We look over the Absentees List for the duration of the current shuffle we are doing to see who may or may not need to be excused, and decide early if their reasonings are worth excusing (if members are worried their numbers will not be excused despite their being on the Absentees List, contact a leader; more often than not, members are excused).

3) One by one, we go down the entire rank table, starting from top to bottom and including the leaders and puppies. We pull up each characters' profiles, take their current post count listed there and archive it. Depending on the number, we decide to promote or demote them (also considering Absentees and other circumstances in mind) and mark down at that time what rank they will be moving to, if movement is necessary. Then, move down to the next name and start over.

4) After finishing tracking all the numbers, we make sure there are no gaping holes in the rank table as a result of shifting members and if needed, take time to discuss any movements in particular or why specific characters should not be moved, etc. More important promotions or demotions, such as a character moving up into a subleader rank or down into Sulein, are also discussed and decided at this time, often with input from other pack leaders.

5) When all ranks are solidified, we post to have titles changed by the administration, and then start switching up the rank table to match. Finally, we update the Twitter/Announcements letting everyone know the shuffle's happened. Ta-da!

Borders and Greeting Newcomers

More recently, several ranks in Phoenix Valley were solidified as banned from "greeting" potential joiners — that is, entering any topic made in Phoenix Valley denoting a loner or "Wanderer" status 'Souls member looking to join the pack. These threads are denoted as joiners using a "J" somewhere in the title. Most members are allowed to greet joiners. However, several are discouraged while others are forbidden from greeting them at all.

Ranks discouraged from greeting joiners:

Elu (should be focusing on posting elsewhere; are not considered "active" enough to keep up with joiner threads)

Ranks forbidden from greeting joiners:

Loas (too new, not trusted yet)
Sulein (potential to set a bad example)
Tyro (too young)
Tyke (too young)

Ranks highly encouraged to greet joiners:

Senex
Locum
Tenens

All other members are allowed to enter joining threads.

Things to keep in mind BEFORE entering a joiner thread ICly/OOCly —

Be friendly and helpful. If the new member has messed up some, politely nudge them in the right direction.
If the joining thread looks altogether incorrect or improperly done (no OOC information, etc.), do not respond to it. PM a leader letting them know, then if you wish, keep an eye on the thread and join it when it's been fixed.
Do not join or respond to OOC joiners.
Do not enter a joiner thread that another PV member has entered or a leader has replied to. Having more than three people (including the joiner) in a thread slows the entire process down. If the leader has already replied before any regular member has, please don't join it.
Do not respond to IC joiners with only OOC messages. Under no circumstances should a player ever post an entirely OOC post in an in-character subforum such as the packs or neutral territories. It throws off your post count and just generally makes a bit of a mess for the staff to fix up.
Only enter joiner threads if you are active enough to respond to it multiple times in one day. It is very important for joiner threads to move quickly.
Remember that you are representing Phoenix Valley to non-members when you respond to joiner threads. Be professional and on your best behavior; in particular, characters who act up towards potential joiners (ICly) will be punished far harsher than in most other circumstances. OOCly, it is the same — you can risk being banned from joiner threads altogether.
Joiner threads should have priority over other threads. You should be replying to joiners faster than most other threads.
Members who are of a rank forbidden to greet joiners but do so anyway will have their posts deleted. There will be no IC consequences, but an OOC reminder through PM. Everyone makes mistakes! :)
If you have any questions about the joiner, procedures of the thread, etc., feel free to PM the leader!

When your character greets a joiner ICly —

They should be particularly friendly with joiners who are not breaking any rules. Any potential joiners who are trespassing over the borders, backsassing them, etc. can be warned and reminded, but Valley members should not be dealing out punishment or long-winded scoldings. That's ~~Jefferson's~~ the leaders' job! ~~(And trust us, Jefferson does it best.)~~ Yaaaay!
You should limit your personal replies to the joiner to about two or three posts tops before calling for a leader. As said before, joiner threads should be fast so that the newcomer can start posting bigger threads, meeting people and feeling like a real member as soon as possible!
Characters can feel free to say hello, ask for the stranger's name and purpose of being there, and howl/call for the leader as soon as possible. Members can continue to post with the joiner for as long as needed until the leader is able to reply; at that point, the Valley member can introduce the joiner but leave most of the questioning to the leader. Valley members should not be asking things like what the joiner can do for the pack, their strengths, etc. but more generalized things like their background or where they came from.

Housing and Dens in Phoenix Valley

Members of Phoenix Valley need a place to sleep — that's a given. Phoenix Valley is a rural, more laid-back pack despite its proximity to Halifax; all over the territory, log cabins stand empty and ready for occupancy. These cabins are for the most part stocked with things for humans, though now covered in dust due to age. Cabins, open and occupied, can be seen on the map.

Members above the Genus rank are allowed to claim a cabin! Simply send a PM to Lin with the one you want and we'll see what we can do!

As for other members who just want the more typical, outdoorsy home, dens can be carved out anywhere in the territory the member wishes. Beneath trees, between rocks, whatever! You do not need to request anything for these, but if you'd like your character's home added to the map, just let one of the leaders know and we'll take care of it for you.