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Probably one of the most important things for us to get right for the CCA is make the first few steps memorable. I will give two examples of how other communities do recruitment cycles, and then how we might do our own later.
Disclaimer. This isn't to shit on other communities, all incentive systems have rewards and punishments. I am writing it in a very raw and crude way without kindness intentionally to see the underlying mechanics. There are plenty of good things about both of these models. If they both didn't have upsides that outweighed the negatives they wouldn't function.
TnB:
TnB's cycle is really simple. Once a month they open applications and for a very brief window you're allowed to apply, and then its processed in large volume. Once that ends the first few days are an insanely busy as they get excessive attention, and the have other recruits to bond with. Squad leaders spend the whole time competing to see who gets the best of the best recruits, and as a result there's an immense pressure to interact with recruits. It is common practice to give promotions to those who can secure the best recruits. If they don't apply in this FOMO period, or play extensively in this FOMO period they are punished with not getting to play.
Willard's:
I am a little less familiar with this, but from what I gather there's a really strong and robust formula they have. From my understanding to become a cop at Willard's there's an excessively long application you have to spend ungodly amounts of effort on. This alone is a strong incentive to make you play the character. The burden of character development is forced entirely through your head, and then scrutinized by everyone else. Given its a difficult task I assume people have pride and status in that they got accepted. I imagine if you are accepted walking away would seem like a very heavy sunk cost feeling.
The short of it is we need some way to make people want to apply, as well as want to play their characters. The moment you get your flags you should be seamlessly in a process where you're given a lot of immediate character development. Willard's probably has it too, but given their application is 4000 words long you come in with a lot of it immediately. TnB creates an environment where everyone is encouraged to interact with your cop as much as possible. Despite being a normal recruit you are the star of the show and much more novel and interesting than high ranking cops for a short window.
The way I would like to do things different is simple. I want to hold the option of a Willard's style massive high quality text wall, but also offer people who don't like writing gigantic applications a chance to get it. Individual choices in how you like to play and engage with this process will let people pick what makes them happier, but also allow more people to join in. Players are totally welcome to do both if they wish. If someone is willing to do both it shows our model is working, and they're highly dedicated.
General broad overview.
(The time of the application process is welcome to be adjusted.)
As a pitched idea every 3 weeks all applications will be processed in unison. Having a naturally reoccurring event like this that's not a ping will help boost player count. Moderated to a healthy not over the top level TnB's forumla is really good at retaining player engagement for recruits. Recruits have two weeks to be accepted into a squad, and an artificial waiting period of roughly a week would be good so they can bask in the spotlight. After one week has passed we can open applications.
There should be two means of entry.
1. Generic massive Willard's text wall. Anyone who writes something that long is worth having around usually.
2. An IC route where an applicant is encouraged to get on for the duration of an application period. They will be routinely pestered by all sorts of CCA/CA characters until they meet criteria where they're accepted on the application processing date. This will have similar effects to Willard's giant 4000 word applications. However, it can also give your average player more to do than just generic cop AFK infront of the nexus RP. We can make a more robust system for this if we do take this route.
They should be welcome to take both simultaneously if they want. That is a very solid sign of engagement.
@AbeBatJes I would be delighted to understand better how Willard's treats first day recruits.
Disclaimer. This isn't to shit on other communities, all incentive systems have rewards and punishments. I am writing it in a very raw and crude way without kindness intentionally to see the underlying mechanics. There are plenty of good things about both of these models. If they both didn't have upsides that outweighed the negatives they wouldn't function.
TnB:
TnB's cycle is really simple. Once a month they open applications and for a very brief window you're allowed to apply, and then its processed in large volume. Once that ends the first few days are an insanely busy as they get excessive attention, and the have other recruits to bond with. Squad leaders spend the whole time competing to see who gets the best of the best recruits, and as a result there's an immense pressure to interact with recruits. It is common practice to give promotions to those who can secure the best recruits. If they don't apply in this FOMO period, or play extensively in this FOMO period they are punished with not getting to play.
Willard's:
I am a little less familiar with this, but from what I gather there's a really strong and robust formula they have. From my understanding to become a cop at Willard's there's an excessively long application you have to spend ungodly amounts of effort on. This alone is a strong incentive to make you play the character. The burden of character development is forced entirely through your head, and then scrutinized by everyone else. Given its a difficult task I assume people have pride and status in that they got accepted. I imagine if you are accepted walking away would seem like a very heavy sunk cost feeling.
The short of it is we need some way to make people want to apply, as well as want to play their characters. The moment you get your flags you should be seamlessly in a process where you're given a lot of immediate character development. Willard's probably has it too, but given their application is 4000 words long you come in with a lot of it immediately. TnB creates an environment where everyone is encouraged to interact with your cop as much as possible. Despite being a normal recruit you are the star of the show and much more novel and interesting than high ranking cops for a short window.
The way I would like to do things different is simple. I want to hold the option of a Willard's style massive high quality text wall, but also offer people who don't like writing gigantic applications a chance to get it. Individual choices in how you like to play and engage with this process will let people pick what makes them happier, but also allow more people to join in. Players are totally welcome to do both if they wish. If someone is willing to do both it shows our model is working, and they're highly dedicated.
General broad overview.
(The time of the application process is welcome to be adjusted.)
As a pitched idea every 3 weeks all applications will be processed in unison. Having a naturally reoccurring event like this that's not a ping will help boost player count. Moderated to a healthy not over the top level TnB's forumla is really good at retaining player engagement for recruits. Recruits have two weeks to be accepted into a squad, and an artificial waiting period of roughly a week would be good so they can bask in the spotlight. After one week has passed we can open applications.
There should be two means of entry.
1. Generic massive Willard's text wall. Anyone who writes something that long is worth having around usually.
2. An IC route where an applicant is encouraged to get on for the duration of an application period. They will be routinely pestered by all sorts of CCA/CA characters until they meet criteria where they're accepted on the application processing date. This will have similar effects to Willard's giant 4000 word applications. However, it can also give your average player more to do than just generic cop AFK infront of the nexus RP. We can make a more robust system for this if we do take this route.
They should be welcome to take both simultaneously if they want. That is a very solid sign of engagement.
@AbeBatJes I would be delighted to understand better how Willard's treats first day recruits.
