Award Standardization

Notice

The following rules are from an out of date rule-set

Current Award Standards

For rules regarding the current award standards as of V8 please see Award Standards

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.

From Randall regarding standards for Crown "In 2006, several people got together to work on a project to standardize ladder awards across Amtgard. The names I see in our discussions include Kurse, Brennon, me, Michael, Luke, and Fionna. Our guiding principle was to change as little as possible, but rather identify the way most of Amtgard handled awards most of the time, and write that up as a proposal for all kingdoms.

In February 2006, we started digging into the way crown knighthood was handled by the various kingdoms. We had to balance competing factors, such as that many kingdoms only gave it out for serving in kingdom-level office; a few allowed consideration for service outside of kingdom office; and the existence of static crowns prompted a concern that kingdom-only requirements would exclude people unable to move to a static crown or form a kingdom but perfectly able to build their own park into a duchy. There was also some discussion that some kingdoms were already looking at tightening the requirements for crown. We looked at a few ideas floating around the game (like points for offices, a hypothetical Order of the Crown, Master Lion counting for crown), and concluded that they all represented dramatic change for most kingdoms, which would violate our self-imposed guidelines. By the end of May, we had come up with a proposal that set crown as three offices at the kingdom level (with monarch counting for two) and a fuzzy allowance for ducal offices to be counted. Keep in mind that many corporas at the time allowed one term as kingdom monarch to be enough.

Feedback, once this proposal was floated publicly, consistently called for tightening and increasing the requirements to meet Amtgard standards and desires—many kingdoms had already shifted to requiring two terms as monarch, and everyone wanted something stricter for duchy office-holding. This happened each time we released a new draft. In June, the proposal had been revised to count three offices at the duchy level or higher (kingdom monarch always counted for two in each of these variations); as a fun aside, Brennon touched base with then King Anatole to talk about it that month ("He also has potential as a fighter. He's dedicated, if not overly skilled at this point. I hope he sticks around for a few decades."); by the end of June, people were wanting more offices (five or so) if duchy offices would be included; in July, the proposal counted four offices at duchy or higher; by mid-July, champion was reduced to only ever counting once; later that month, the Circle of Monarchs nodded to the project, agreed with leaving Lion under Flame, and a six-month timeline for release of the final version was established; around October, more feedback came in wanting higher requirements than four at duchy; and by November, the four kingdom/six duchy-or-higher version was in place. I think the final wording was Kurse. Feedback in December was positive and supportive.

What happened then was kingdoms Althings started voting to support it—and in July 2007, the Circle of Monarchs unanimously approved Award Standardization.

That's more or less how it went, and why we have the current requirements in place, and why a mix of kingdom and lesser offices needs to add up to six."

The meat of the document (OUT OF DATE)

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 Awards: 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: Tunics, 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.

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Award Standards Proposal at Amtgardinc.com: Award Standards Proposal