View source for Award Standardization

===History of Award Standardization===
Over the two years preceding the 2007 [[Gathering of the Clans]] a document put together by many people from different kingdoms was circulated. [[Kurse]] was as leading figure in it's creation and a champion for it's adoption by the then eleven [[Kingdoms]].  At Clan that year The [[Circle of Monarchs]] ratified the document with every monarch presenting a yes vote. 

==The meat of the document==
===Section I – Agreement===
1. The Kingdoms of Amtgard recognize through binding
action by the [[Circle of Monarchs]], that all Ladder 
Awards leading to the bestowal of Knighthood shall be
unified through an agreed framework and that no
kingdom shall add to, remove, or modify the agreed
upon requirements independently nor will any kingdom
alter their individual corporas to contradict this
agreement. The monarch retains the ability to bestow
any award or honor as granted by their respective
kingdom corpora. This agreement does not prevent the
monarchy from creating non-Ladder Awards that do not 
impact the line of Ladder Awards.

2. The Kingdoms of Amtgard resolve, through binding
action by the Circle of Monarchs, to remove
definitions of Ladder Awards, Ladder Masterhoods and
Knighthoods from their respective corporas. Ladder 
Awards and Masterhoods being those that lead to
Knighthood.

A. Definitions of Ladder Awards, Ladder Masterhoods
and Knighthoods, as detailed in this document, are to
be placed inside the Official Amtgard Rulebook with 
the proviso that they do not fall under the adopted
rules revision process.

B. Changes to the definitions of Ladder Awards, Ladder
Masterhoods and Knighthoods, once adopted, can only be
made by one hundred percent (100%) approval of the 
existing kingdoms of Amtgard.

===Section II – Scope===

1. This framework pertains specifically to the four
orders of Knighthood, Ladder Masterhoods, and Ladder
Awards: Knight of the Flame, Knight of the Serpent, 
Knight of the Sword, Knight of the Crown, Master Rose,
Master Smith, Master Lion, Master Dragon, Master Owl,
Master Garber, Warlord, Order of the Rose, Order of
the Smith, Order of the Lion, Order of the Dragon, 
Order of the Owl, Order of the Garber, and Order of
the Warrior.

2. This framework does not replace or address awards
existing outside of the Ladder Awards framework
excepting that no kingdom may replace or supplement 
any other award for an existing Ladder Award, Ladder
Masterhood, or Knighthood.

===Section III – Framework===

1. [[Knighthood]]: Below are the recommended criteria for
becoming eligible for the four orders of Knighthood. 
Having these awards only grants eligibility and does
not require that Knighthood be bestowed. Whereas
Masterhood is recognition of skill, Knighthood is also
recognition of character in addition to having skill 
beyond that of a Master. It is suggested that orders
that reflect a player's positive character (Griffin,
Walker in the Middle, Jovious, Mask, etc.) be
considered when determining any class of Knighthood. 


A. Flame: A player may be eligible for [[Knight of the Flame]] after obtaining Masterhood in Rose, Smith, or
Lion.

B. Crown: A player may become eligible for [[Knight of the Crown]]
after serving with excellence, and completing, four 
terms in any of the following [[offices]], in any
combination, at [[Kingdom]] level: [[Monarch]],
[[Regent]], [[Prime Minister]], or [[Champion]]

A player may become eligible for [[Knight of the Crown]]
after serving with excellence, and completing, six 
terms in any of the following [[offices]], in any
combination, at [[duchy]] level or higher: [[Monarch]],
[[Regent]], [[Prime Minister]], or [[Champion]].

Note: The position of Kingdom [[Monarch]] counts as two
offices. The position of [[Champion]] can only be counted 
once toward these qualifications.

C. Serpent: A player may be eligible for [[Knight of the Serpent]] after obtaining Masterhood in Owl, Dragon, or
Garber.

D. Sword: A player may be eligible for [[Knight of the Sword]] after obtaining Masterhood of the Order of the
Warrior, known as a [[Warlord]].


2. [[Masterhood]]: Masterhoods are recognition of skill in
a field of work. Meeting the criteria below does not
automatically grant the associated Masterhood. 
Masterhoods are granted when a player has both the
recommended requirements set forth herein and obvious
expertise in their field.

A. [[Master Rose]]: A player may be eligible for receipt
of the title of Master Rose upon earning their tenth 
Order of the Rose.

B. [[Master Smith]]: A player may be eligible for receipt
of the title of Master Smith upon earning their tenth
Order of the Smith.

C. [[Master Lion]]: A player may be eligible for receipt 
of the title of Master Lion upon earning their tenth
Order of the Lion.

D. [[Master Owl]]: A player may be eligible for receipt of
the title of Master Owl upon earning their tenth Order
of the Owl.

E. [[Master Dragon]]: A player may be eligible for receipt
of the title of Master Dragon upon earning their tenth
Order of the Dragon.

F. Master Garber: A player may be eligible for receipt
of the title of [[Master Garber]] upon earning their tenth 
[[Order of the Garber]].

G. Master [[Order of the Warrior]] ([[Warlord]]): A player may
be eligible for receipt of the title of Warlord upon
earning their tenth Order of the Warrior.


3. [[Ladder Award]]s: Ladder Awards start out at zero and 
progress to tenth level. Attaining the next rung on
the ladder should require a demonstrable level of
ability beyond that required for the previous rung.
This does not necessarily require bettering a player's 
previous work so long as the work itself is sufficient
to achieve the next rung. All levels must be earned
consecutively. Monarchs have the discretion to award
multiple levels of award to the same individual but 
all awards must be given in sequence.

Note: The examples given in each order category are
not meant to define the service required to earn the
stated level of award, but are meant as only
guidelines as to what might be the appropriate level 
of service for those levels.

A. Rose: Awarded for service to the club not
necessarily related to an elected office. A first
level [[Order of the Rose]] indicates a very minor service
to the club such as picking up trash, while a tenth 
level Order of the Rose could be comparable to
providing consistent, long-term service to the club.

B. Smith: Awarded for organizing and running
battlegames, quests, workshops, demonstrations, and
the like while not in office, or for running such 
events above and beyond the requirements of one's
office. A first level [[Order of the Smith]] might be
awarded for running a good battlegame at park level. A
tenth level Order of the Smith might be awarded for 
running a series of fun, immersive, and well-scripted
battlegames or quests providing direction for an
entire reign.

C. Lion: Awarded for going above and beyond the call
of duty in the execution of an office, or for 
leadership outside of office while performing a
service to Amtgard. A first level [[Order of the Lion]]
might be awarded for organizing Fighter practices on
off-Amtgard days. A tenth Order of the Lion might be
awarded for running a series of demonstrations that
increase attendance and ingratiates the club with the
local community.

D. Owl: Awarded for demonstrating ability in the
construction sciences of Amtgard. Weapon construction, 
armor construction, furniture, shoes, belts, etc. A
first level [[Order of the Owl]] could be awarded for
constructing your first legal and functional sword. A
tenth level Order of the Owl might be creating a full 
suit of decorated and articulated armor, or
introducing critical new technologies and construction
advancements that affect the group as a whole.

E. Dragon: Awarded for demonstrating ability in the
arts of Amtgard. Performance, painting, sculpting, 
photography, cooking, banners, artistically focused
garb, writing, acting, roleplaying, etc. A first level
Order of the Dragon might be awarded for doing a good
reading of a non-original poetry piece. A tenth level 
Order of the Dragon might be awarded for writing and
directing an excellent play for entertainment at a
large event.

F. Garber: Awarded for the creation of garb: [[Tunic]]s,
tabards, pants, cloaks, gloves, sashes, pouches, 
handbags, etc. A first level Order of the Garber might
be awarded for creating a simple, well-constructed
pouch. A tenth level Order of the Garber might be
awarded for making themed, elaborate and intricate
court garb for a group of people.

G. Warrior: Awarded for fighting prowess. Orders of
the Warrior follow a regimented pattern for
distribution:

1. A 1st Order is granted for winning three
consecutive matches in any tournament or for 
battlefield prowess.

2. A 2nd Order is granted for winning five consecutive
matches in any tournament or for battlefield prowess.

3. A 3rd Order is granted for winning seven
consecutive matches in any tournament or for 
battlefield prowess.

4. A 4th level is granted for winning nine consecutive
matches in any tournament or for battlefield prowess.

5. A 5th level is granted for winning eleven
consecutive matches in any tournament, or for taking 
at least 3rd overall in a kingdom-level tournament.

6. A 6th level is granted for winning thirteen
consecutive matches in any tournament, or for placing
at least 2nd overall in a kingdom-level tournament. 

7. A 7th level is granted for winning fifteen
consecutive matches in any tournament or placing 1st
over all in a major kingdom-level tournament.

8. An 8th level is granted for winning seventeen
consecutive matches in any tournament or for winning a 
second major kingdom-level tournament.

9. A 9th is granted for winning nineteen consecutive
matches in any tournament or for winning a third major
kingdom-level tournament.

10. A 10th is granted for winning twenty-one 
consecutive matches in a kingdom-level tournament or a
fourth, first place win in a major kingdom-level
tournament.

Note: Major kingdom-level tournament is defined as
[[Weaponmaster]], [[Warmaster]], [[Olympiad]], and/or an 
inter-kingdom event tournament. The level of
competition and number of entrants in all tournaments
must be considered before handing out [[Orders of the
Warrior]] above seven. The difficulty of the tournament
must warrant the level of order awarded.

Note: The title of [[Defender]] (awarded for serving with
excellence in the office of Kingdom [[Champion]]), which
may be earned only once, confers a single
kingdom-level tournament win upon the title's 
recipient.