Your new title is....

[tennyson]

Hi Everyone,

I'm running a FR campaign right now for four of my friends, and the story is heavily based on in-game rank advancement. When I say "rank advancement" I do not mean leveling in the tradition XP sense, but rather in a roleplaying context.

For example, the adventurers are all members of the local Watch, and have just returned from "Quest A". They have been recognized by the authorities for their bravery and have been given a raise in rank. Throughout the entire story, one of their side goals is to raise in rank, therefore gaining more prestige and political sway along the way.

My question is this: for your average Watchman, what would be the typical order of rank? I'd rather not have it be something based in reality (such as seargent, corporal, etc.), but I'm having a hard time coming up with titles. Any suggestions? Thanks!

ps. One of the PCs is a member of an archer division, would the ranks be different?

 

[Lord Judas]

I did something similar in my last campaign. It might not fit your concept, but ill lay it out in case it sparks something.

The 1st stage of the campaign was, basically, a murder mystery. The town was a little out of the way shire with a single sheriff who requested help. This was the premise for assembling the heros. 2 Were sworn in as Deputies and given a cheap bronze badge. The sheriff has a silver one. The campaign, as you can imagine, was set in a border realm that was somewhat lawless, like the old west. Anyhow, in time the heros advanced to "Marshall", and given a Gold badge. This made them like "State Troopers", roaming the countryside and doing all manner of heroic acts. Just to keep them in check, there was the Royal men as well, basically the FBI. I guess thats only 3 tiers, but it gave them something to strive for. Also, the Sorceror was a Professor of History at the mages school (guild) and became Dean of History, then of course, Dean of the School.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I believe but may be mistaken that AEG DM's Toolbox has a table on it, I don't have it with me of I would check, thick it was called the Misc. Official Title.

Some I have used:
Guard - single member
Hand - Leader of Five members of the guard
Sheriff - Guard member that over sees a ward or district
High Sheriff - highest ranking guard
Marshall - Free range guard, equals Sheriff in rank but can cross wards/districts

 

[Ambrus]

Well, it's a little tricky if you don't want to use *any* real world ranks since you'll just end up with verbal gibberish, which isn't neccessarily a bad thing. For instance I once played a dwarf who was part of his race's military force, akin to a sargent, but whose official rank was "Dar". Everyone, even the other PCs, reffered to me as "the Dar". Even gibberish can sound good if repeated often enough in a serious tone of voice. If that what you like, just make up whatever sounds good.

If you want to consider some real ranks and titles as alternatives though heres a quick ranking system I just made up (starting from lowest to highest):

Armsmen (perhaps a civilian militia man)
Watchman (a professional enlisted guard)
Constable (the lead of a guard squad)
Deputy-Constable (in charge of the constables of a city's single ward or district)
Watch-Detective (investigators of serious crimes such as homicide and arson)
Watch-Captain (in charge of all the city's guards)

If you want to give distinctive titles to members of particular squads (such as archers and wizards) then I'd suggest that only the bottom most ranks have such distinctions since once you reach the higher ranks, only your authority matters (such as generals and captains) not where you started your career. People in authority aren't usually expected to fight themselves afterall.

Members of each division could be named seperately though I'd suggest keeping it sounding consistent. Sword-wielders could be called "swordsman", "bladesman" or simply "armsman". Archers could be called "archman", "bowman" or "linesman". I'd call watch-wizards "artsman" and watch-clerics "godsman". Other titles you might want to consider would be beagle, bachelor, bailiff, marshall, reave, patrolman, lawman, man-at-arms, sheriff or crown-agent.

In my campaign, the lowest members of the guard are known as Armsman and Artsman (depending on whether they fight with weapons or magic). The next highest rank is simply "Deputy-armsman" or "deputy-artsman".

Be careful about raising their rank too high however because it realistically leads to unpleasant campaign situations such as added responsibility, paperwork and overseeing subordinates not to mention the political games played by the higher ranked members of any organisation.

 

[kigmatzomat]

I would use something based in reality, but use a foreign language. Here's a Japanese military rank chart I pulled off the net. Choose a language that has the kind of sound you want and check their military.

Taisho=*General*********=Admiral
Chujo*=*Lt General******=Vice-Admiral
Shosho=*Major General***=Rear Admiral

Taisa*=*Colonel*********=Captain
Chusa*=*Lt Colonel******=Commander
Shosa*=*Major***********=Lt Commander
Taii**=*Captain*********=Lieutenant
Chui**=*Lieutenant******=Lieutenant(JG)
Shoi**=*2nd Lt**********=Ensign


IJA Enlisted RANKS (with approximate equivalents)
Juni***= Warrant Officer
Socho**= Sergeant Major
Gunso**= Sergeant
Gocho**= Corporal
Heicho*= Lance Corporal (leading Private)
Jotohei= Superior Private
Ittohei= Private First Class
Nitohei= Private

 

[NewJeffCT]

The small problem you might have with your situation is that if your PCs get promoted from the equivalent of a private is that they might be called upon to lead separate patrols or sections of the guard. Granted, that could be rectified by having several guard units called into a major situation...i.e., orc war party breaches the city walls, war between rival thieving guilds, special unholy night for some followers of an evil god, etc.

I would say that the archer division might be named differently, but have equal responsibility.

2) Patrol leader – the head of a particular watch/guard patrol. The equivalent of a corporal.

3) Shift leader – heads the watch/guard patrol of a certain precinct during the daytime or nighttime (night shift leader may be a promotion from day shift, as it has more ‘opportunity’ to advance)

3.5a & b) In between Patrol Leader & Shift Leader, you can have a “special forces” type SWAT unit that is designed to combat special situations – evil mage or cleric, undead, etc. They are either under the direct command of a precinct leader or ward leader. You can also have an “undercover” squad as wel.

4) Precinct leaders – supervises the shift leaders. Responsible for all within his or her precinct, including the behavior of all of the guard/watch under their command.

5) Ward leader – supervises several precinct leaders, also is the liaison between the guard/watch and the local nobles / politicians in their ward.. Max of four in the whole city.

6) Guard/Watch Commander. The head of the watch throughout the city, ultimately responsible for all planning activities (i.e., anticipating that orc incursion, or the gang war between guilds or that Unholy Night) and any major crimes within the city. Liaison between King/Duke that heads city and the guard/watch – also deals with other major figures in the city.

 

[Evilhalfling]

I ran a military campaign, on an equivelent of Hardrians wall -
It had some titles in common with RL military, but with enough variation to seem fantastic.

Soilders- used in squads personally led by a Knight of the Wall
Wardens - small elite groups sent out on their own
Knights of the Wall - usually command units of soilders, but occasionally gathered into units for big problems. It was both a prestige class and/or a title. Even the title required light armor, and a martial weapon.
Under Captain - in charge of dispatching Wardens, mostly a desk job
Knight Captain - In charge of Knights, the head of one of 3 companies
Knight Commander - head of the organization

my organization was the opposite of Ambrus' in that your class only mattered once you got above Knight of the Wall - Then the titles were given by individual - Deacon, Song Knight, Eldrich Knight(again both a title and/or prestige class)
the highest level thief was only a Knight, and no distiction was ever made of warrior types.

The campaign ended after a few sessions as Knights, as playing the higher level desk jobs, would have been less fun. I created but never ran an interlude where the least assertive player would be given charge of NPC soilders run by the other players.

 

[diaglo]

break out your 1edADnD PHB (1978) and use the names for each level based on class.