Forum Ranks - Brainstorming

[Mania]

My recent futzing with other forum software had an interesting side-effect: I learned how to use this forum software a little better. One of the things I learned is that I've been doing forum ranks (the title you get from your post count) the wrong way.

Since I need to re-do ranks the right way, I thought this would be a good time to brainstorm changes to the ranks.

There are two basic requirements for a rank system:
- It needs to have some appropriate flavor for this community, and
- It needs to be reasonably obvious what the order of the ranks is. (This is the biggest problem I have with our current ranks.)

Each rank can have a text title (like "Beaststalker", which is what we have now) and also an image. The image is usually a little bar that goes under the avatar. (Or over it, I suppose.)

I hooked myself up with an example so you can see what I mean - an ugly little row of happy-fed pet faces a little row of adorable pawprints, courtesy of Taluwen, below my avatar. It's common for this image to have text that reflects your role. For example, check out these example rank images: http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/6929/ukazkads9.png. (Zangor, you made some a while back, didn't you? Can you link those here?)

What might make good ranks, do you think, and how can we use the text and the image to the best advantage?

[Lisaara]

Well I suppose you got your basics..

Pack Leader (Obviously Mania)
Pack Guardians(Mods)
Pack Member(Regular Members)
Pup(Newbie)

Could expand on that kinda. Image? Why not use like a pawprint or something? :3

[Vephriel]

Little pawprints would be a cute candidate for the row of pictures beneath names. Not only is a pawprint the icon of the Petopian guilds, but it's also one of the best universal symbols for pets in general. ^^

[Zangor]

i kinda would like one for director or something.....but thats just something id like due to me running the youtube channel hehe
but ill try to find those pictures mania....not sure if i even kept them if i didnt id be more than willing if you give me some size constraints and color suggestions....il PM you the details

[Kalliope]

The pawprints are adorable! The one in the circle especially appeals to me for some reason (maybe because it's green...).

[GormanGhaste]

How many ranks do you have in mind? Would give a starting point for coming up with names.

And maybe the image could be used to indicate relative rank? This is a bland example, but something like a focus bar, starting out with low focus, and getting more with higher ranks.

[Gumballs]

How many ranks do you have in mind? Would give a starting point for coming up with names.

And maybe the image could be used to indicate relative rank? This is a bland example, but something like a focus bar, starting out with low focus, and getting more with higher ranks.

Ooh, what about a Tame Beast cast bar? The higher your rank, the closer tame beast is to finishing?

[Kalliope]

How many ranks do you have in mind? Would give a starting point for coming up with names.

And maybe the image could be used to indicate relative rank? This is a bland example, but something like a focus bar, starting out with low focus, and getting more with higher ranks.

Ooh, what about a Tame Beast cast bar? The higher your rank, the closer tame beast is to finishing?

Would that make Mania tamed?

[Mania]

Ideally it would be nice to be able to expand the ranks out if we need more, but I'm willing to give up easy expansion for flavor. We need at least 10-ish, though.

Keep in mind we're only talking about rank (post count) titles here. Special titles like Hunter Trainer (and Hive Queen) will stay on the current system.

[GormanGhaste]

I'm actually partial to the current names. If some sort of visual indicator of rank is in the image, then we wouldn't have to come up with new rank names.

[Kalliope]

Good point, Gorm. I like how the paws look! Maybe have different colors for different ranks?

[Lisaara]

I feel glad I contributed. XD yay! Yeah you can easily change the color of the paw prints.

[Cialbi]

I actually am really liking the paw print idea. Maybe higher ranks would not only be denoted by different color to the paw prints, but different kinds of paw prints as well (cat paws with retractable claws, dog paws with the claws actually leaving an impression, puma tracks, wolf tracks, grizzly prints, etc)

[GormanGhaste]

what about a paw print trail going from left to right? each higher rank would add a paw print to the trail.

[SgtMakkie]

Would that make Mania tamed?

Just

Nice one Kalliope

[Anyia]

what about a paw print trail going from left to right? each higher rank would add a paw print to the trail.

I like this idea. Dibs on drawing the invisible pet leaving the prints!

[Razzy]

I made some tags that resemble the actual ranks in-game. Not the best but it could be an idea?

&

[Kalliope]

Ooh, I like those, Razzy! Very simple, but the drop shadow makes them classy!

<The Hive Queen> will look AMAZING. xD

[Razzy]

[Kalliope]

Heeee! xD