So I will move from Hobbit to Dwarf. Okay.
About 95% of me doesn't really fuss over post counts and designations. I definitely don't assign value or rank through post counts (some people on another forum were really into posting in one word games so they could get their counts up in the 1,000s then were upset when told the forum was looking for evidence of meatier posts.)
But the 5% of me that does 'care' is the part that giggles over action figures, trading cards, etc. It's childlike fun.
Having said that, It'll probably be a long time before I make another 100. The child in me would enjoy some change before that. I think 'in the old days' counts came much quicker. Things are different for me these days.
If we're looking at 'races' we can consider these divisions: Men/Mortals, Dwarves and Elves (or Quendi)
Among the Men/Mortals these might be fun:
- Beornings
- Woses (also called Drúedain)
- Hobbits
- Dúnadain
- Rohirrim
Instead of Half Elf and High Elf how about some of the divisions Tolkien set up
see:
www.glyphweb.com/arda/e/elves.htmlalthough there isn't a strong heirarchy here.
- Avari (could be considered an unattractive status to a member)
- Eldar
- Vanyar
- Noldor
- Teleri
- Falmari
- Sindar
- Silvan Elves
- Nandor
Then we could expand the list into the Ainur
Outside of those three categories we have
I haven't listed any more of the 'bad guys'. No one wants to be a 'bad guy' and we all complain. The only reason I could think of for adding any of these in is to break up the low post counts so the new member is so entranced by their changing bad guy status that they don't get too annoyed by being a bad guy. But adding these takes the place of an added 'good guy' designation.
- Easterlings
- Haradrim
- Trolls
- Orcs
- Uruk-hai
- Dragons
- Balrogs
At EZBoards (DA's forum), after reaching a certain level of post counts, the member could chose their own designation. I don't know if that was an EZBoard function, a function DA set up... or if that's even available here at Proboards.
And, obviously, I've listed way more titles than we have the capacity to include. I'm off school and indulging in research more than suggestions. My suggestions would have to be.... (hmmm.... thinking)
Outside of the administrators, no one had reached the upper level of 300. And those that are in the 200's aren't currently very active. (That is to say, they're not soaring towards 300 and likely to pass beyond it soon) I would like to break the counts below 300 into more levels with maybe an added top level at 400. (And that's a definite 'maybe'. I could live with it and without it)
How about something like:
0 - 25 - 50 - 75 - 100 - 150 - 200 - 250 - 300 - 400
or
0 - 25 - 50 - 75 - 100 - 125 - 150 - 200 - 250 - 300
This gives the newer members some movement they can feel.
As to what designations to add...
I'd say stick to keeping only that 0-25 count a 'bad guy'.
I have no problem keeping Maiar, Valar, and Iluvatar as moderator designations. In fact, I probably have a preference for it.
I'm not really sure how I'd work in Ents or Eagles. If I ever reached the highest count I think I'd like to be an Elf but that's just me. Ents and Eagles lie outside the heirarchy of Man/Dwarf and Elves.
If I had to vote on my top 9 favorite groups they would be (in no particular order)
1. Woses (also called Drúedain)
2. Beornings
3. Eagles
4. Ents
5. Hobbits
6. Rohirrim
7. Dunedain
8. Noldor
9. Eldar
10. Istari
I love the Elves and would love to move through various ranks of Elves. But the heirarchy is iffy and I wonder if it's unfair to use multiple titles for Elf designations when not everybody loves the Elves as much as I. I am just as happy moving through the other cultures.
Whew... can you tell I'm out of school? I am nuts sometimes!