Joining clans from the academy

Yes to mandatory.

I also support mandatory for major clans, although newbies should be warned, especially during warring times. (Although enemy clans should also take into consideration newbies.)

Hidden clans shouldn’t be able to have that option. Trust, stuff like that. Engineering companies are usually ok for newbies since engineering companies usually don’t deal much with PvP, if newbies want to take it slow on learning how to play.

how about clans at the beginning of eras (app’d clans, main govs) are academy joinable, and the rest have ask the imms for their clan to be put up as one. that way governments that spring up in the middle of the era that need to carefully select who they have join can weed out who would be good and who would be bad for them and other clans that would be less discriminate can open themselves up to everybody

Academy Joining is great. I like Fishies idea, but instead of having to code in the asterisk or special symbol, a simple form would be what a lot of clans do: Recruit/Inductee/Applicant rank. The first division could be set solely to training and sorting out, a kind of HR division. For example:

The Empire:
Division 1: Imperial Academy
Ranks: Recruit
Academy Instructor
Academy Head
Division 2: Imperial Army

and so on..

(Note: Instructor and Academy Head are just put in there for extra ranks..it takes a dedicated individual to train people/newbs full time. I’d do it <!– s;) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!– s;) –>

Just an idea…

Aw man..I just came up with a great idea..time to toy around with it in my head..

Except people can change divisions really easily, and in the case of an existing clan, it would be almost impossible to make an alteration like that without messing literally everything else up. Coding a special symbol means more work for the imms, but less work for every clan leader ever from when the change goes in to the end of the game.

i just say keep it simple. no need to adjust divisions. anyone with induct can set a person to the proper division.

Newbies are amazing to have in major clans. They’re generally the best grunts you can get, they’ll take orders and not give the higher-ups a bunch of &quot;I am a badass, I don’t care for authority (even though I willfully enlisted in a military)&quot; rp. I really don’t understand why people wouldn’t want newbies in major clans. It isn’t like you’re trying to hide yourselves in a hidden sector or something. <!– s:P –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_razz.gif" alt="" title="Razz" /><!– s:P –>

Some newbies are really awesome to have around.. other are adorably clueless handfuls that need to hold on to their buddy’s hand on field trips, and it can suck being put into a position where the errant newbie should really be receiving some.. negative consequences.. but you feel like a total tool for scaring newbies away.

But then I suppose the newbies who get in that position and don’t learn anything from it and get scared away, were never really going to learn anything and stick around anyhow, and the ones who are trying but don’t really know what to do, will learn a lot from getting in hot water.

Fishy’s idea is okay in principle, but a red mark for Academy joiners doesn’t distinguish newbies from trolls, those who need help from those who don’t.

Traditionally, Major clans have been academy joinable and that has sometimes bolstered the ranks with arguments, questions and deaths. However, many newbies have flourished thanks to the major clan environment. I just think immortals should keep an eye on Major clans and actively encourage everyone(within reason) to help those who need it. Especially division heads, they should be training their new players.

Major clans = Compulsory.
Engineering/Minor Clans = Default, but with good reason optional.

Although better descriptions, or even help files with brief descriptions, at the Academy would be a great idea.