Greetings, glorious adventurers! If you're joining in our Alpha One spot testing, please follow the steps here to see all the latest test info on our forums and Discord!
Options
[OCE] THE PRETERNATURAL SOCIETY | PvX Optional RP | Scholarly | Casual & Multi-guild Friendly
smallcaps
Member, Braver of Worlds, Kickstarter, Alpha One
Greetings and welcome to the forum thread for the Preternatural Society. This is a casual PvX guild, currently based in OCE but looking for cross-server presence, with (very) light and fully optional RP, based on a fantasy medieval academic society.
Really at the theory-crafting phase, I'd like to set up a kind of guild that's not-quite-university, and closer to a research institute bringing together a loosely associated society of explorers. You can most certainly be members of other guilds, and I see membership to the Preternatural Society as complimentary to your main guild. Of course, if you'd like to be more involved with the development of the Society and you fancy yourself as an "Indiana Jones" -type, please keep an eye on the thread, chime in, and let's work together to flesh out the idea.
Thanks for reading and looking forward to participating in the Ashes of Creation Community!
The Preternatural Society
The Preternatural Society is an association of detectives, investigators, scholars, mystics, explorers, adventurers, and other professional researchers concerned with the field of Preternatural Studies.
The Society takes an integrative approach, encouraging the cross-pollination of disciplines to break new ground in this exciting field of transdisciplinary study. It offers its members access to state-of-the-art research facilities and interaction with a supportive network of experts and like-minded individuals.
Membership
Active membership in the Society affords rank, as well as honorific nominals based on merit. Service towards the ideals of the Society and the benefit of all its members allows those looking to make a significant impact in the field of Preternatural Studies a chance to rise in rank, responsibility and opportunity within the Society. Higher rank affords more funding for research, better access to resources, more influence to shape the Society, etc. Active Members also have the opportunity to dedicate themselves more wholeheartedly by seeking out governance and administrative positions within the Society.
Active Members are not barred from joining other societies and associations, so long as the integrity of the Preternatural Society remains untarnished through such associations. This can most easily be achieved by assuring the conduct of ethical research and the transparent dissemination of truthful and accurate research findings.
The prerequisite for consideration of Active Member status is a certification from a chartered institute, otherwise, proof of equivalent professional experience in lieu of an academic degree will be considered.
Investigative Rank
Active members are afforded the use of post-nominal letters, in designation to their rank and service. Members are encouraged to use the below forms. Use of nominals is optional and are to be used at the discretion of the Society member.
Principle Investigator (PI)
Principal Investigators are experts in multiple disciplines. They conceptualize, plot, forecast and manage all research conducted by the Society towards a focused vision and tangible outcome. They are in charge of the overarching research areas such as alchemy, demonology, etc. They are considered paragons above and beyond their respective fields and are also highly respected members of society. Principal investigators are afforded complete autonomy to set research agendas, are given a monthly research stipend, and can apply for residency within one of the Society’s complexes in order to conduct continuous research.
Inspector (Ispec.)
Members of the Inspector rank are generally known to have been Society members for an extended period of time and are respected experts in their discipline. Inspectors are expected to uphold the highest ideals of the Society. Inspectors have full access to all the facilities afforded by the Society and may propose original research within the scope of the Society's research agenda. Successful applications by qualified Inspectors will be granted a one-time research stipend, dependent on the expected cost and scope of the endeavour. A succession of successful grant applications towards a focused yet multidisciplinary thesis will allow Inspectors to apply for Principal Investigator rank.
Detective (Dtec.)
Neophyte members start with the rank of Detective and generally show promise in a research discipline, be it theoretical, experimental or field-based. In order to be considered for Detectiveship, a certified degree or equivalent is required, otherwise, proof of equivalent professional experience in lieu of an academic degree will be considered. Once a Detective has completed a significant portfolio of research, they may apply for Inspector rank promotion.
Activities
Investigators for Hire
Preternatural Society members can be hired to pursue investigative activities. Society members can set their own pricing rates, while investigative activities are sometimes granted pro bono for those in dire need. Details of obligations are established during the contract development between the client and the Society member. Contract templates are available for modification from the Society Membership Services office.
Crafting of Preternatural Equipment, Scrolls, Potions, and Other Artifacts
Society members can be commissioned to research, prototype and develop preternatural artefacts. Laboratories and crafting stations are freely available to all members to use. Production from research activities can also be sold on consignment via the network of Society distributors for a nominal fee. Please reach out to Society Membership Services for more information.
Lab-based & Fieldwork-based Research
All Society members are expected to conduct their own research on behalf of the Society, be it lab-based or fieldwork-based. Members can apply for research grants and stipends, as well as have full access to the research facilities afforded by the Society headquarters. For more risky endeavours, members can apply for accompaniment by a retinue of protectors, sourced internally or from the Society's network of mercenary guilds. Members with significant research findings are encouraged to publish in the Society's academic journal, The Rusted Quarterly.
Publishing of Preternatural Research Findings in the Rusted Quarterly
The Rusted Quarterly (RQ) is the preeminent academic journal for Preternatural Studies and is assembled, edited, and published by the Preternatural Society.
The Rusted Quarterly has a quarterly release schedule, as well as accepts proposals for special issues season-round. We invite submissions for single-blind peer review with consideration for both the regular journal as well as special issues. Selected manuscripts will afford the author an opportunity to be published in the prestigious RQ, and present their research at the headquarters of the Preternatural Society. Authors of first-time, accepted-for-publication manuscripts will be automatically granted Detective status within the Society. Interested authors, please contact an Editor for manuscript preparation and submission instructions.
1
Comments
Truth be told I've only ever participated in guilds so this is a bit new for me. I do have a url for the guild tho and hope to build a community website for it soon.
Hoping to find some collaborators leading up to release but equally excited to be a guild of one if there is limited interest in the concept!