: Posted by Amanda Noon in Discussion - What is Fleet Identity?
: * Problem: What is the problem that you are addressing? Why is this problem important to address? Include any relevant background information.
: * Proposal: What is your solution (the plan)? How does your solution address the problem? This is where the edict text would go for edict proposals.
: * Discussion: What are some forseen pros and cons? What would your plan cost the club? What would the club gain?
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: What is Fleet Identity?
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: In the discussion on Fleet Identity our new President said...
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: "When I say Fleet Identity, I mean something IC which distinguishes it from other fleets. History, culture, race, landmark, all of these are methods of enhancing fleet identity. Using the oft referenced Fleet 4 as an example, Crell (Not Larry, the planet :P), the Crag, the Seetha and the entire record of the Fleetwides that gave the fleet its name and unshakeable identity that lives with us all these years later."
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: Yes that is part of what gives a Fleet it's identity... but there is much more to Fleet Identity.
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: Fleet identity used to include more than just the IC stuff, it is the style of command, the type of ships, speed of posting. It is the people that make that fleet and their creativity. It is past events that have happened to that fleet....
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: The Great White Fleet.... and the Pink one.
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: The Fleet Seven Race was unique to Fleet Seven.
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: Fleet Two is the crazy fleet.
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: Fleet Four is not only Star Wars but one of the most traditional.
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: With our President asking us to consider strengthening Fleet Identity, maybe first we need to say what we as a club consider makes a Fleet's Identity. More importantly before we pin ourselves down to standardised report forms.... (a slippery slope towards losing identity maybe?) we should consider what makes each Fleet Unique and how we are going to build on that.
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: What does the club gain from strong Fleet Identities? I think Andrew describes this best in his election website.
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: "4. Encouraging Fleet Identity and Individuality
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: During my last term as FComm-5, I made it a mission of sorts to give Fleet 5 an identity. Whilst I achieved this to a certain extent in previous terms in this role by introducing the Animal Nickname ceremony to the Fleet along with Symon Silvester, its expansion into the mainstream club as a method of indoctrinating newly frocked Captain's made it feel important to me to give the Fleet a greater IC flavour by giving it what identity I could. In concert with the other GM's in the Fleet (I was and still am GM'ing the Entente) we spent several months in email conversation swapping ideas and seeking the best way to integrate our sims more directly into the IC history to create a more corporeal Fleet in the minds of the crews who play in it and those who play elsewhere.
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: Whilst we didn't get as much as I would have liked done, before the RL gremlins took me, several key ideas were placed to begin giving Fleet 5 an identity.
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: Fleet 4 has always been known for the Crag and the Fleet-wide sim which gave the fleet its Star Wars-ian identity, much as Fleet 2 has been known for the Flarn in recent years. A Robinson/Olinski administration would like to see each fleet given the tools and resources it needs in order to create its own identity and flavour. We feel that the enjoyment and sense of realism that can be achieved by an undertaking such as this is well worth the effort required to determine with the Command Staffs and crews of the ships in each fleet would like to see as part of their own fleets identity. "
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: It is interesting to that the first thing he mentions and is proud of is the OOC tradition of animal names for Captains. Fleets need both OOC and IC identities to become strong, supportive communities full of friends who want to stick around for years.
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: Just my twopennorth to get the ball rolling....
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: Amanda Noon

Bringing this to the front... as it is very relevant to the proposed "standardised" report form.... or should we call it "homogenised"... cos that what it feels like it is doing.

Amanda