In keeping with the nature of a Star Trek sim, promotions are always a prominent issue, especially since rank structure is an integral component of a Federation starship. That being said, it is necessary to devise a method that is not completely arbitrary for determining when and which characters will receive a promotion. Although we, the GMs, will still have the final word regarding promotions, this guide will help to outline and explain what it takes for a character to attain a new rank.

Promotion Timeline:

• Ensign to Lieutenant j.g. - Approximately 3 to 5 months (minimum) after join date and player must have completed at least one mission.
  
  
• Lieutenant j.g to Lieutenant. - Approximately 6 to 9 months (minimum) after last promotion
  
  
• Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander - Approximately 9 months to 1 year (minimum) after last promotion
  
  
• Lieutenant Commander to Commander - Approximately 1.5 to 2 years (minimum) after last promotion



• Beyond Commander - Unless this character is transferring to his/her own ship as a commanding officer, no PC will reasonably be attaining a rank higher than Commander

The above numbers are not set in stone - they are dependent on many factors, which will be detailed below. These criteria will bring promotion more quickly to some, and far slower to others.

1. Simmers must be consistently active on the sim. For example, if you miss more than two posting cycles (one posting cycle is two weeks and one post is the minimum) in three months, it is unlikely you will gain a promotion to Lieutenant j.g. As well, if you have been on hiatus for two out of the three months, it is also highly doubtful you will earn a promotion. Those who go beyond normal posting may gain a promotion in a shorter amount of time, with exception, of course.
2. Sheer volume of posts, as well, does not necessarily lead to immediate promotion. Those posts dealing with characters performing actions related to their actual position aboard the ship are weighed more heavily than those that do not. The same goes for players who contribute more substantially to each mission's plot, and those who are more active in their department (eg. creating a department-related task for yourself and carrying it out with little direction, or involving others in your department or other deparments to increase participation).
3. Creating a character that has been an Ensign for three years does not mean that character will be promoted sooner than, say, one that has been on the sim for three months longer. Character history has little bearing on whether a promotion is earned or not; that character's performance on the ship, as well as the player's performance, will determine if a promotion is merited. So, creating a character that has been an Ensign for three years simply to expedite promotion won't work
4. A character's actions will affect his/her liklihood for promotion. Insubordinate behaviour, unruliness, breach of conduct, and other unStarfleet-like behaviour, while sometimes contributing to a great storyline, would not realistically lead to a character receiving promotion. If you are writing your character acting in such a fashion, it is safe to assume you are not looking to get him/her promoted, but for those who are not aware of that and begin to wonder why, after five months, your character hasn't been promoted, please note that such things simply wouldn't happen in the Star Trek universe.

   Rest assured, however, that characters may redeem themselves, and still maintain some of their edge to perform effectively and eventually receive a promotion. Look at Tom Paris as an example - promoted, demoted, promoted, then demoted again, and once more promoted, and through it all still maintained his rebellious spark. So, this is not a condemnation of those characters that are not model officers - this is simply a clarification of why they might not climb the ranks with ease. Above all else, however, stay true to your intended storyline and to the character you're writing, and if a promotion is what you want, feel free to speak with the GMs to express that desire and we can definitely give you tips on how to get your particular character there.

5. OOC behaviour, such as that on the Sulu OOC list, may influence your character's liklihood for promotion. Of course the OOC list posts are not IC posts, but disrespectful behaviour on the list will not be encouraged by promoting one's character.
6. Department heads may recommend promotion for a character in their department. This may be done OOC, IC, or both, such as an OOC discussion with the GMs about a player you feel has been writing great stories, which might turn into an IC post where your department head makes the same recommendation to the captain. Then that recommendation can be either approved or rejected by the GMs depending on the factors mentioned above.

   As well, players may feel free to approach the GMs themselves to request a promotion for their character. We may decide against it at that time after reviewing your history on the sim, but if it is clear a promotion is what you're aiming for and something your character is, as well, we will gladly give you advice on what more you need do to receive one. The same will go for commendations, although the qualifications for earning one of these are far more relaxed.

Well, that's basically it! Of course, we may add to the list over time, but we hope this gives everyone a clear idea of what is required of you and your character to secure that extra pip. In the end, if there are any questions...just ask!