In the Starfinder organization there are obviously different ranks. Venture-captains, First seeker, Faction leaders etc.
But I haven't seen anything about how this applies to "ordinary" Starfinder members, other than the Field Agent title/rank. Is there a rank system within the Starfinder Society? If not, what would be your suggestion for including a semi-military rank structure?
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Link to a discussion about Pathfinder Society ranks
I'd assume that the Starfinder Society would be the same. Anyone under Venture-captain would be a Field Agent or perhaps a trainee.
I wouldn't apply a military rank structure, because I don't see it as a military organisation. They're primarily explorers and historians, not a military.
At most I could see it being Agent > Senior Agent > Venture Captain > Faction Head / Other Special Title > First Seeker
Thanks for input guys. I guess using the pathfinder as a guide would be the closest thing since the starfinder society is said to be modelled on the pathfinder society.
They mention in the book that it is different in structure in many ways from the SF Society of pre-gap. They also mention "rising through the ranks" but they don't really give enough divisions to make that possible.
So, I know it's not a strict military org, but for my game I have kind of 'badges of recognition' you get from the SF community that give you effective titles as follows. Note that I'm distinguishing between rank and position/assignments here to maintain the terms already mentioned in canon...
RANKS (Typical Level):
recruit (1)
Not an actual rank. Has been officially recruited but not yet fully trained and certified for missions.
Scout (1-3)
On your own, expected to prove yourself.
Itinerant (4-6)
Some respect. May stay in dormitories at SF facilities.
Wayfarer (7-9)
Expected to help lower level Starfinders, sometimes mentor. May reserve/use Skyreach Gala Hall and attend Forum meetings in Hall of Discovery as non-participant.
Explorer, 2nd Class (10-12)
Can tell lower ranks what to do within reason. Limited access to Archives and Data Vaults.
Explorer, 1st Class (13-15)
Upper level Access to Archives and Data Vaults.
Chief Explorer (16-18)
Considered the person in charge in the field. Full access to Archives and Data Vaults, as well as Communion Vaults. Expected to take part in planning missions at SF complexes between missions.
Venture-Captain (19+) [NPC only]
Gives out missions to all field agents. Not a field agent anymore but tend to the various Society Lodges. Full access to all areas of SF complexes. Permanent quarters at a SF complex.
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POSITIONS (These overlap rank)
Field Agent
Takes on missions in the field. Ranks from Scout to Chief Explorer.
Faction Leader
Leads a faction. May be any rank but typically is a Chief Explorer or higher.
Forum Member
Member of the Forum governing body, elected by all Starfinders. May be any other rank or position, but typically a Venture-Captain.
First Seeker
Leader of the Pathfinder Society, elected by the Forum. Takes on a grand mission.
I haven't decided if they will raise in rank automatically with level, but it would be kind of cool if they only generally did this, but not perfectly predictable. That way there would be variation among the PCs. So, perhaps when they go up in level they roll a d20 and add their level and there are DCs for each rank?
Your thoughts appreciated :)
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If Pathfinder is any indication, Venture-Captains would not be as high as you have placed them. They'd be somewhere around lvls 11-15, by my estimation. Their leveling is mostly cut short by their effective desk job status. This is exemplified and explicitly stated in PF by the seeker level content. Mind you, this is using PFS as reference, so...grain of salt.
I view it much more vaguely. I don't think that the SF Org has as much rigid level structure because there is not that many SFs for it to be necessary. Lorically, I'm pretty sure that the SF Org is fair small at the moment.
i.e.
Recruit (1-2)
Agent (3-6ish)
Senior Agent (7-10ish)
Specialist (12+)
and Venture-Captain would fit into the Position category you have instead of rank.
(EDIT: Now that I think about it, because of the mechanics of the SF system, "Specialist" is exceptionally accurate. The scaling difficulties built into the system mean that if your don;t specialize in something, at higher levels you most definitely can't achieve the respective DCs.)
That's a great point about Venture-Captains, and about their probable levels (this is why we have a community!) thanks.
I think I would prefer more levels so maybe I will move Venture-Captain to a position as you suggest (one a PC wouldn't take because they want to be an adventurer and not work a desk job). Then I'll scale down the levels on the other ranks. Maybe something like this:
RANKS:
- recruit (1)
- Scout (1-3)
- Itinerant (4-5)
- Wayfarer (6-7)
- Explorer 2nd Class (8-9)
- Explorer 1st Class (10-11)
- Chief Explorer (12-14)
- Senior Explorer (15+)
POSITIONS:
- Field Agent (Scout to Senior Explorer)
- Venture-Captain (Chief/Senior Explorers)
- Faction Leader (Chief/Senior Explorers)
- Forum Leader (Senior Explorer)
- First Seeker (Senior Explorer)