Approved Naval Ranks and Progression

[Talinn Ryalor]

Naval Ranks Overview​

The Imperium has, in recent years, with the modernization of its fleet into a “proper” Navy added many new ranks, specialties, and positions for the various crewbeasts who serve in its most valuable asset. Much of this was driven by necessity, such as the new engineering positions for the various steamships now making their appearance, others were created to assist in the creation of and retention of skilled sailors, who, even in a predominantly naval power, are in short supply these days. As the ten year period of the Empress’s peace appears to be coming to a close, there are many opportunities for even the lowliest deckswab to ascend the ranks through a combination of skill, luck, will, ambition, and a healthy degree of insanity.​

Naval Ranks FAQ​

I want to join the Navy. What rank(s) can I start at?​

As the Captain is given significant OOC leeway in how they organize and run their ships, the true answer is “any”, but general suggestions for them suggest newer players not familiar with the Imperium start off in the “Ratings” category and then eventually progressing into Warrants and Officer positions over time with experience, activity, and time for roleplaying. If you are on a tight schedule, a role in the Ratings might be best for you. If you have a bit more time, you could look at the Warrant positions, and if you have a fair amount of time and want to work with the Captain on content creation and get experience there, the Officer positions may be best for you. If you want to be a Captain, although the VI tries its best to avoid becoming a “jobby”, tends to require the highest level of “mandatory” activity in the sense they are to actively create content, manage their ship, and be in contact with the Ministers for plots and the like.​

How do I get promoted?​

Ask your Captain either on the site or (highly suggested) join the Discord. Ministers can promote you as well, but as said before, they defer heavily to Captain in how to run their ship.​

Where do I see who holds what rank?​

Each ship forum will have a member list, and in that member list all characters shall be listed along with their ranks. You will also get user titles confirming your rank. ​

What is the lifestyle my character can expect with the different rankings?​

Barring other sources of income such as factions, businesses, plundered loot, et cetera, the higher you go, the more pay and benefits your character receives. Ratings tend to start off with a working class income, albeit with significant government subsidies such as free healthcare, room and board on the ship, and various allowances and stipends. If not living aboard the ship, the lower ratings can usually be found to have decent to modest abodes in the Slups or comparatively small ones in the Trenches, Barracks, and Imperial Condos area, although often with roommates. The upper ratings can afford quite a good home in the Slups, or a modest dwelling in the three areas above alone, and if living together can afford quite a comfortable dwelling in them. Warrants, being more senior, specialized, and skilled, tend to be able to afford what upper level Ratings can. ​

Officers are the best paid positions aboard, but with a much wider wealth distribution. An Aide-De-Camp might be paid around the same as a higher-ranking Warrant as even the lowliest Officer position requires a certain dignity, with Ensigns and Lieutenants making even more. These lower level proper officers are only rarely seen with a residence in the Slups these days, usually out of either preference or in an attempt to save money to climb the social ladder or for other ventures-most tend to live in quite comfortable residences in the Barracks, Imperial Condos, or Trenches, or even a small foothold in the upper middle class Zann’s Backyard and Alley. Captains, being the most senior rank aboard the ship, get paid well enough to live comfortably in Zann’s, or even in the smallest residences in the Insanely Rich Area, and are often eligible or found in the ranks of the Gentry. Finally, at the top of officer ladder is the position of Admiral, almost always a member of the Gentry or Nobility in the new Imperium, and able to afford a comfortable existence in the IRA.​

I want a position but it is occupied already, what do I do?​

Oftentimes, especially for the Ratings, it is possible to have multiple positions open, so you can have, say, more than one Engineer’s Mate. Warrants and Officers traditionally tend to be more limited, but the Captain is largely free to organize their ships how they see fit. If you wish to rise higher in the Navy, but find someone in the position you want, try reaching out to them and your Captain to see if accommodations can be made, or, as the site grows, seek to join a new ship where such a position is available. Occasionally positions in the more active roles will open up naturally as people find they either have more time and experience to move up the ladder, or move down the ladder to accommodate new schedules, or even leave the Navy entirely to focus on other aspects of the site (although the Ministers always recommend having a naval character as it is one of the core aspects of the site). ​

I have a problem with [xyz]. What do I do?​

As stated elsewhere, talk to your Captain, message a Minister, or use the anonymous feedback feature on the Discord if it’s something sensitive you wish to discuss (it’s actually anonymous, this is not a honeytrap by the staff, believe it or not).
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Naval Ranks and Progression​

Ratings ​

Ratings are the enlisted sailors who perform all non-combat daily tasks required to operate a ship. Ranks are equivalent to pay grades rather than specific duties for ratings. All ratings are sailors first and foremost before whatever duties they particularly occupy, and no rating has official superiority over others, with the exception of Mates when acting in the role as assistant to the Warrants.​

Deckswab – Lowly recruit, doing the most menial tasks and grunt labor while “learning their ropes” to become a real sailor. Not expected to excel at anything.​

Able Seabeast – Competent sailor with experience in all basic seamanship skills, such as knot-tying, sail handling, and understanding and raptly executing work signals and orders in combat situations. To get able seabeast, deckswabs must pass an examination on sailing knots, work signals, and basic skills. Performs some useful function as needed depending on what they are good at (lookout, singer, musician, cook’s assistant, mechanic, etc.)​

Senior Seabeast – Competent sailor who has started to mentor crew and take a foreclaw role in work. Assumes all responsibilities of Able Seabeast, including continuing to hone whatever craft(s) they’ve picked up.​

Chief Seabeast – Recognized as the most experienced of sailors. Strong mentor and guide, natural leader in group work. Fulfills all the abilities of a Senior Seabeast and is on the way to mastery in their chosen craft(s).​

Mate – A respected chief seabeast who has earned the interest of a warrant and is now apprenticed to that warrant in addition to all normal sailor responsibilities. Shadows and assists the warrant as required (e.g. for a Bosun’s Mate, assisting in discipline and work orders).​

Eligible for promotion to the warrant role when the role is vacated. When not performing specific assistant duties, performs regular sailor duties. Sometimes there are no Mates for a particular warrant, or just one Mate – fluctuates based on need.​

Types of Mate are attached to whichever warrant they assist, in the form “(Warrant’s) Mate”: Purser’s Mate, Carpenter’s Mate, Surgeon’s Mate, Armorer’s Mate, Bosun’s Mate, Master’s Mate, Engineer’s Mate.​

Warrants​

Warrants are specialist non-commissioned officers who keep all the gears of the ship in motion, from pay, to healing, to organizing labor to setting course. Where the Officers plan, strategize, and order, the Warrants have the power over the crew or particular ship functions to execute those orders. Oftentimes when a vessel is undercrewed, either the Mate of a vacant Warrant fulfills their duties until promoted, or another Warrant is assigned to multiple Warrant roles.

Warrants are all assumed to be peers rather than arrayed hierarchically. All issue regular reports on their ability to put in motion what the commissions (officers and Captain) have ordered.​

Quartermaster (Master)– Oversees navigation and steering, ensuring the ship stays on course. Also handles crew discipline and resource distribution in tandem with the bosun to make sure the ship makes it where it is supposed to go. The seniormost of warrants, though not technically in command of the others.
Aided by the Master’s Mate(s), senior sailors learning their work.​

Master at Arms – Oversees the ship’s armory and its maintenance and repair, ensures cannons are in working order, ammunition is stocked, distributes weapons before battle, and trains the crew in their use. Leads gun crew orientation during battles.​

Assisted by the Armorer’s Mates, senior sailors who are learning their work.​

Boatswain (“Bosun”) – Responsible for maintaining the sails, rigging, and anchors and their cabling. Commands the deck crew and coordinates, plans, and schedules all routine and nonroutine work, and enforces crew discipline when needed. Supported by the Boatswain’s Mate(s), senior sailors learning their work.​

Purser – Manages the ship’s funds, oversees provisions, and ensures fair distribution of plunder and wages.
Reports on wage allocation and money issues to the Lieutenant and Captain. Assisted by Purser’s Mates, senior sailors who are learning their work.​

Carpenter – Executes build projects, maintains the wooden structure of the ship, repairs damage from combat or storms, and builds or fixes tools, masts, etc. as needed.
Assisted by the Carpenter’s Mates, senior sailors who are learning their work.​

Surgeon – The ship’s medical officer, responsible for treating crewmembers’ ailments and injuries, and managing and establishing guidelines for general health and safety practices among the crew.
Advises on medical matters to the Lieutenant and Captain. Assisted by the Surgeon’s Mates, senior sailors who are learning their work.​

Engineer – Technical warrant overseeing the engines, working in tandem with the Quartermaster and Boatswain to execute ship movement plans relayed by the Lieutenant and Captain. Assisted by Engineer’s Mates.​

Officers​

The official leadership of the ship with commissions from the Minister of War, responsible for command, operation planning, and strategy. Noble, wealthy or heroic in origin, paw-picked from the Imperium’s best and brightest (or shiniest, in the case of those with the gilders to bribe their way in).​

Responsible for assessing current status, planning future expeditions and actions, and correcting course at any time, as well as being the ultimate answerable parties in all things honor, valor, and war. The ship is a tool, and the Officers wield it with brutal efficiency.​

Aide-de-Camp (Midshipper) – Junior officer-in-training, learning the ropes of leadership and ship operations. Acts as an assistant to a senior officer, performing the role of a secretary, messenger, and errand beast, as it were.​

Not all ships have one; usually a favored role created by an officer who wishes to guide a young noble into officership.​

Ensign (Second Officer) – Commissioned officer assisting the First Officer in reviewing reports from warrants, relaying the First Officer’s and Captain’s orders to the warrants. Expected to lead boarding and shore parties in battle and missions.​

Eligible for promotion to Lieutenant. ​

Lieutenant (First Officer) – Senior commissioned officer responsible for personally leading and planning combat operations, advising the Captain, and working at a strategic level on navigation and ship management.​

Holds regular meetings with warrant officers to discuss and assess future expeditions and actions and current expedition and action status. Assisted by Ensigns.​

Expected to stand in for the Captain in any situation and pass judgment in accordance with naval law. ​

Captain (Commander) – The ultimate authority aboard the ship. Defines the vision and objectives of the ship and regularly assesses the execution of the ship’s processes toward that vision, and corrects course as often as needed to ensure mission success. The final word on all things aboard the Imperial vessel they command. Presides with absolute authority over trials, meetings, announcements, and punishments. All officers report on all pertinent Navy activities to the Captain.​

Admiral – Most senior commission. Oversees strategic naval operations, including managing multiple fleets, planning campaigns, and assessing needs of the Imperial fleet, strengths and weaknesses against other powers to ensure naval superiority. Reports directly to the Minister of War (if the Admiral is not already also the Minister of War and Her Imperial Highness the Empress.​

General Progression Chart

This tends to show the "typical" progression of a sailor's time in the Imperium, albeit much like DND, player characters tend to be "atypical" by default, so can rise (and fall) much faster than described here. This is more of a general sense for how people evolve in the Navy. ​

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