Remove "powers" on Sanctuary medals and allow official PCs to give them out when they are due.

[Pentaxius]

I'm not a fan of these medals having powers like keen 1/day and other related stuff. I'd much rather see a unique power which basically just flashes it. Prestige is its own reward.

Attributing medals has been neglected with the lack of a PC director/DMs to oversee majority directorate votes in cases where these medals are obviously deserved as per their description. Removing their magical powers and giving PC officials more levy to interpret the will of the Directorate would remove concerns of "gaming the system".

Numerous times I wanted to give out medals, and I'm not the only one. But its really not readily doable currently, and its not because the prerequisites to earning them aren't met.

[GrumbarGrumbler]

I like the powers on them. To address your valid concern, how about a "bronze" version of medals which can be given out by PCs without a DM or PC director? They can be upgraded at the discretion of some NPC official.

[domare]

I actually like the metal system. It provides an opportunity for PC’s to interact with government officials (namely the PC Clerks or Prefects). I think if you are supporting a character who is deserving recognition, then drop an IG note on the forum. Allow the Clerks the ability to obtain a statement of the story…speak to the potential recipient if they choose, prior to awarding, or staffing the nomination up for Director review/consideration. I think in the long run, a character who has been decorated could use that to gain political or supportive clout. To me, that is very cool.

As far as the enchantments on the metal, I think those are cool too.  Largely, because when you use them, the characters around you take note of the metal.  

[Tala]

Since it was brought up, do people still get medals for serving as Watchers/Warders? I don't see Watchers/Warders/Clerks/Prefects care about it, but I can only say it from things I see on the forums (which is currently none at all in that aspect). Before starting to award some of the more prestigious medals, the servitor's medals is a good way to start.

I admit that this thread puzzles me a bit, but maybe not everything is clear.

The Medals of Sanctuary

Administrative Awards

Administrative awards are granted to citizens of Sanctuary in good standing who have achieved various objective milestones. A citizen who has reasonably approved to a Clerk of Sanctuary that they have achieved the respective milestone will be granted the Award by the Clerk.

[hide="Administrative Awards"]
Service Ribbons - Service Ribbons are granted to those whom have served in one of Sanctuary's 'chartered' institutions in good faith and merit for a proscribed period of time. The Ribbon is a solid color of copper, silver, or gold from which hangs an octagon medallion cast from the corresponding metal. The medallion is embossed respective of the institution for which the Awardee has served. A quill is embossed upon the medallion for those whom serve as a Clerk, as well as Mausoleum attendants. A helm over a shield is embossed upon the medallion for those whom serve in the Watchers. A lamp over a cog is embossed upon the medallion for those whom serve in the Auxilliary. Finally, a candle over a stone-arched portal is embossed upon the medallion for those whom serve in the Wayfinders.
The ribbons are awarded after the following proscribed time periods:

• Copper Ribbon - 1 Months
• Silver Ribbon - 3 Months
• Gold Ribbon - 5 Months

Patron of Sanctuary - The Patron of Sanctuary is granted to an individual who has donated 10,000 coins to any of the various charities within Sanctuary. It is a gold ribbon upon which dangles a heart shaped, golden medallion embossed with a crown.

Recruiter's Badge - The Recruiter's Badge is awarded to those whom have directly influenced five individuals to enter direct service to Sanctuary. The individual must vouch for the influence, can only indicate one recruiter, and must server through earning at least the Copper Service Ribbon. The Recruiter's Badge is a green ribbon from which hangs a circular, bronze medallion depicting one central figure over five figures in a semi-circle beneath.

Strength of Aegis - The Strength of Aegis is awarded to those who have worked to secure the safety of Sanctuary through strengthening the Shield by collecting baublium. An individual who has turned in over 500 units of baublium qualifies for the award. It is a blue ribbon with a circular, silver medallion embossed with a dome over a fortress, depicted as two towers on either side of a gate.[/hide]

The administrative awards can be given by Prefects as well, and they SHOULD be given by them. As simple as keeping track of when Watchers and Warders have enlisted to the Watchers/Warders keep notes of people they recruited and something to show to the Prefects. If it's a Patron of Sanctuary thing, feel free to let us know on IRC or your PCNs that you donated 10k somewhere.

Standard Medals

While Administrative Awards are not Medals, per se, Standard Medals are literally termed and are those Medals that can be awarded without Directorate Vote.

[hide="Standard Medals"]

Citizens Commendation Medal - This medal is granted to those citizens who have performed some exceptional and meaningful service directly contributing to the well-being of Sanctuary. It can be recommended by any ranking official of Sanctuary and is awarded unilaterally by any Director. The medallion is an octagon cast in silver, dangling from a blue ribbon. The first award depicts a chevron inverted. Each additional award adds a chevron inverted until there are four chevrons. A fifth award is annotated on the medallion with a single star over the four chevrons. This cannot be awarded a sixth time.

Servitor's Commendation Medal - This medal is granted to those members of Sanctuary's chartered institutions who have performed some exceptional and meaningful service directly contributing to the well-being of Sanctuary. It is recommended internally by the member's superior officers and awarded by the ranking officer of the respective organization. The medallion is an octagon cast in silver, dangling from a blue ribbon. The first award depicts a chevron inverted over a wreath. Each additional award adds a chevron inverted until there are four chevrons. A fifth award is annotated on the medallion with a single star over the four chevrons. This cannot be awarded a sixth time.[/hide]

Can be recommended by any ranking official, and on the second one, can also be awarded by the ranking official. So Sergeant/Inspector/Engineer/Agent all can recommend. And the process to get a Director's (these medals don't need a vote!) attention isn't really that much different than sending a forum letter to an ordinary PC.

Major Medals

Major Medals are those that require Directorate Vote before being awarded to only the most deserving individuals. These Medals are only rarely granted and are coveted by those who have not received them These may be awarded multiple times, and worn as an additional medal, unlike any of the previous awards, of which only one Medallion per award type may be worn.

[hide="Major Medals"]

Sword of Sanctuary - The Sword of Sanctuary is awarded to those who have contributed in a meaningful way in a major offensive on behalf of Sanctuary. It can be considered that, without the actions of the recipient, the offensive would have been in danger of failing. It can be recommended for any Citizen of Sanctuary by any ranking member of any of Sanctuary's various institutions and is then awarded by majority Directorate vote. The Sword of Sanctuary is a polished, golden, star-shaped medallion overlaid with two crossed sabers and hanging from a red ribbon.

Scroll of Sanctuary - The Scroll of Sanctuary is awarded to those who have contributed in a meaningful way to a major diplomatic resolution on behalf of Sanctuary. It can be considered that, without the actions of the recipient, diplomacy would have failed entirely, to the detriment of Sanctuary. It can be recommended for any Citizen of Sanctuary by any ranking member of any of Sanctuary's various institutions and is then awarded by majority Directorate vote. The Scroll of Sanctuary is a polished, golden, star-shaped medallion overlaid with an open scroll and hanging from a white ribbon.

Shield of Sanctuary - The Shield of Sanctuary is awarded to those who have contributed in a meaningful way in a major defensive action on behalf of Sanctuary. It can be considered that, without the actions of the recipient, Sanctuary's defenses were in danger of failing. It can be recommended for any Citizen of Sanctuary by any ranking member of any of Sanctuary's various institutions and is then awarded by majority Directorate vote. The Shield of Sanctuary is a polished, golden, star-shaped medallion overlaid with a shield elegant and hanging from a red ribbon.

Sanctuarian Cross - The Sanctuarian Cross is the highest award that can be bestowed upon an individual in Sanctuary. It is awarded only to those whom have served above and beyond any reasonable calling, whose actions have bettered Sanctuary and helped to ensure it's long term survival. It can be recommended for any Citizen of Sanctuary by any ranking member of any of Sanctuary's various institutions and is then awarded by unanimous Directorate vote. The Sanctuarian Cross is a golden cross with equal arm lengths hanging from a purple ribbon. The cross is wrapped in platinum thorns and studded at the end of each arm with a ruby rose.[/hide]

Naturally, the most prestigious and harder to get, but if someone has done awesome things for Sanctuary. Feel free to recommend, but you should expect it should take longer than the others.
 

[Pentaxius]

Its me not being very clear. I was referring to the major medals (Unanimous directorate vote) or commendation medals (Director approval), since these are the ones that carry prestige. Perhaps changing the Commendation one to require Prefect approval would be appropriate, since we do not do PC directors anymore.

[GrumbarGrumbler]

If I recall correctly, there is an OOC note promising doom to anyone who has not earned a medal on the box.

I think this may be a case of miscommunication.  Tala (and presumably other DMs) thinks medals can and should be given out.  Players think only a DM can authorize them(other than the service medals for time).  Pentaxius clearly thinks so, I assumed that as well.

Service medals for time don't get given out because PC Watchers don't know about them, don't ask or don't log their time.  PC clerks don't hand them out for the same reason.  For any clerks reading this who didn't realize, you absolutely can hand out the "time" medals.

[Tala]

Major medals should be 100% tough to earn. But Commendation medals require you to write a letter/get interaction with a single NPC. It's not so different than writing a letter or interacting with a Director PC. I just don't see the difference. Will be happy to read/answer letters about it, and if ICly deserved, I don't see why not award them.

But maybe something else can be arranged with involving Officials/Prefects to some degree. Suggestion has been noted.

[SHSLDetective]

I actually didn't even remember those medals existed...

[zDark Shadowz]

Didnt know these existed and Karaz was in the Watch for a month or two before he quit.

[Random_White_Guy]

Keep the powers.

Reducing them to guild badges is foolish imo. People just have to be more active in pursuing/rewarding/reccomending them.

Also Prefects should be adding more clerk PCs! they can show people to the NPC recruiter and get them outfitted easy.

[Twelve]

Had no idea they existed either.

[EventHorizon]

The surprise bandwagon is very, very full in this thread. Also, I'm hopping on it - I knew there were medals of some sort lying around, but only in the House of Governance.

[Tala]

Right, naturally DMs won't just tell every PC that comes across to keep tabs on medals. We have a Sticky on Medals in The House of Governance Official Proclamations regarding those medals, and another sticky about them in the House of Governance Association forum.

Prefect/Clerk PCs used to get lists from Watchers regarding when a new Watcher joined. I enjoyed the RP involved and it was just one of those little things that might didn't mean much, but still fun interactions. Thomas' Prefect even tricked my Watcher into getting a Pink Ribbon even when she didn't want one.

If you guys aren't going to take care of this aspect IG and IC, then naturally, this sort of thing will get lost.

[CondorHero]

Yeah, it's jsut a matter of getting a PC who keeps track of these things and hands them out. It's not super exciting plot stuff, but it's one of those "nice to have"