Advancement in the Harpercraft

Please Note: These guidelines have been recently revised, and those changes are not yet reflected here. Please see the Tackboard in the Harper Office for the current guidelines!

Advancement in rank is achieved by interest and effort displayed within the harpercraft, including also activities within the Harper's Tale MOO in general.

Acceptance into the craft

Acceptance in to the craft can only be obtained through a recommendation given by a harper journeyman or master. This is usually done by means of an interview, which can be given by any harper (apprentices included), mostly for the purpose of meeting the newbie and getting them started. An interview should challenge the RP skills of the applicant, while yet giving them the opportunity to express questions or concerns they might have. Don't make it too easy, but don't make it too hard either. If the interviewer is not of Journeyman rank or above, he or she must make a report to a senior harper, whereupon the senior harper may decide to admit the applicant. Note that for purposes of MOO orientation, all applicants are required to have 10 hours of role-playing time before they may be granted an interview.

Advancement from Apprentice to Journeyman

Advancement to journeyman is done by means of a major project which is completed under the advice of a journeyman or master. After the project has been accepted by the senior harpers, an exam must be passed before the new journeyman may 'walk the tables'.

The project and exam should reflect the student's area of interest and be of sufficient merit, maturity and polish to show the harper's readiness to take on the responsibilities of the journeyman rank.

Before an Apprentice begins work on a project, a project outline must be approved by the senior harpers. Generally, a promotion to Senior Apprentice is granted at the time of approval for the period of time during which the Apprentice is working on the project until final promotion to Journeyman.

Advancement from Journeyman to Master

Some journeymen choose, after having journeyed for a while, to return to the Harper Hall to study for their mastery. This course of study is particularly intensive, and requires not only dedication and independent work but also a great deal of endurance, which comes in handy during the final exams after finishing one's masterpiece. These exams test every facet of the harper's knowledge, lasting three full days or more and consisting of written, oral, performance and debates. That's IC. OOC, it's nearly as bad, only we don't play out every minute of the tests. :) Any current master may overrule a promotion to master.

When a Journeyman wishes to take the Mastery Exams, he or she must write to the Harper Hall to declare his or her intentions. At this point he or she will receive some form of guidance as to what course should be pursued in order to have the best chance of passing the exams and being accepted by the other Masters. Possibilities include the compilation of existing and previous work into a portfolio which is representative of the skills and experience of the candidate as a precursor to the exam, or a tinyplot that illustrates aspects of the journeyman's skill and character. At the culmination of whatever events are decided upon, the test shall be taken and the existing Masters will vote based upon all the factors with which they are presented.

Harper Life and Craft Policy