The user ranking system is based on a kyu/dan ranking system used by many martial arts schools. You begin at the initiate level,
Jukyu, and work your way up by being an active member of the forums. Note that posts made in the Chit & Chat and Forum Games areas will not add to your post count. This is because it is particularly easy to rack up posts in these areas without actually saying anything relevant. Just as in martial arts training, higher-ranking users are deserving of respect and may be viewed as mentors. They've been around for a while and know how things work.
Users will begin at the
kyu (student) levels until they have made enough posts to show that a) they are willing to stay active and follow through with their "training," and b) they can make enough posts to graduate without being banned beforehand. The
kyu ranks are, in ascending order:
- Jukyu -- 0-9 posts, an initiate
- Kukyu -- 10+
- Hachikyu -- 25+
- Shuchikyu -- 50+
- Rokkyu -- 75+
- Gokyu -- 100+
- Yonkyu -- 125+
- Sankyu -- 150+
- Nikyu -- 175+
- Ikkyu -- 200+
If a user lasts through this trial period, the
dan (master) ranks may be achieved:
- Shodan -- 250+ posts
- Nidan -- 500+
- Sandan -- 1000+ (At this rank, a user earns the right to have a non-gallery avatar.)
- Yodan -- 2000+
- Godan -- 5000+
- Rokudan -- 10000+
- Nanadan -- 25000+
The remaining
dan ranks are reserved for staff members:
- Hachidan -- Moderators; elected by the kudan
- Kudan -- Administrators; elected by the judan
- Judan -- Me!
A user must become a
nidan or higher before he/she can apply to be a mod. Only a mod can be promoted to admin. All mod and admin promotions will be decided by existing staff, and I hold veto power over all promotion decisions.
Any attempt to defraud the ranking system by making meaningless "fluff" posts will result in those posts being deleted and stricken from your post count. You can only achieve higher rank by training often and
well; don't post unless you actually have relevant input in a discussion.
Users may be demoted to a lesser rank for breaking the forum rules.
