Hey everyone. I just wanted to take a minute to highlight the new Shadow Academy Exams in the Combat Writing Department and put out a call for another ACC Judge.

New Exams

We’ve recently completed work on two new exams. I’m going to highlight the latest one first, which is the Lightsaber Combat exam.

Lightsaber Combat

A while ago, we published the Lightsaber Forms wikipedia page alongside a character sheet database update. Since then, there was a bit of limbo as to what to do with the existing Lightsaber Studies exams in the Shadow Academy. After some talk with the new Headmaster (Farrin ftw) we were able to figure out a solution and were able to splinter Lightsaber-based exams off into two different pieces.

Created for the purpose of helping members write Lightsaber Combat in the ACC Guide, you can now take the brand new Lightsaber Combat exam in the Shadow Academy. A separate exam is being worked on to help members get to know the fabled weapons of the Jedi a bit better.

As with all of the updated/new Combat Writing exams, there are no course notes. This is because all of the answers for the Lightsaber Combat exam can be found by reading the Source Material articles linked within. The exam was designed to help show that you read the documentation and to expand your knowledge organically by looking up or answering each question.

Let me know what you guys think! Feedback is always welcome, especially with new exams.

(I’d also like to make a quick shout out to Sildrin. The artwork that she had contributed to her lovely web-coded Lightsaber Guide did not get carried over to the abridged, more condensed Lightsaber Forms article. If you take a look at the article now, you will notice that each form has a templated box with a nifty sketch or drawing relating to the respective form. Thanks, Sil! (Send her a hug if you see her to remind her how much cooler the article looks.)

Martial Arts: Form Studies

As mentioned in my previous report, there is also a new Martial Arts Forms exam that is simple but effective in helping learn some of the new changes that were deployed. Check out the exam here.

Any feedback or questions, let us know!

On Combat Writing and the Shadow Academy

It’s been a work in progress over the past year and a half since I became Combat Master, especially considering my outspoken history against the Shadow Academy as a platform. Having gotten to work more closely over the years with people like Solari, Ood, and now Farrin and Marcus, I am happy to be an ancillary part of the Shadow Academy team as the Docent for the Department of Combat Writing . Like the new Lightsaber and Martial Arts exams, the Qualification and Combat Studies were similary created from the ground up with a very specific design philosophy.

ACC Qualification -- The majority of the Qualification is multiple choice or true/false questions lifted directly from the common errors and questions members get confused about. The two writing prompts at the end take a bit of time, but have proven a great way for us to gauge if someone will have a good time in the ACC. Feedback has remained positive between new, old and even returning members.

---

ACC Combat Studies -- You are presented with two Character Sheets, and a full 2/2 match. Answering a list of multiple choice questions will address--organically--a lot of problems we’ve seen come up in the ACC. You get to see, in real time, how skills, powers, aspects and feats can be written. It is not a required course, but if you are serious about the ACC and competing, it can be very insightful.

To me, the purpose of the Shadow Academy should be for members to get insight into what questions are important to the activities they engage and participate in. Knowledge for the sake of answers or as a game undermine the ability to learn material, so if some of the questions seem too simple or too easy, it is actually that way for a reason.

Each exam was crafted with a focus on demonstrating your ability to read the documentation we use and comprehend how it affects the activities you participate in (which, for this case, is writing combat in not just the ACC, but for your fictions and Run-Ons as well).

I’m always open to feedback. Whether it is spotting a typo or asking if something can be clarified, hit me up at [Log in to view e-mail addresses] and CC the Headmaster and P:Headmaster to make sure that we make any changes that need to be made.

Thank you all for your support. I appreciate it, and hope you enjoy the new exams.

ACC Staff Updates

Vivackus resigns

I’d like to thank Vivackus for his service to the ACC and Brotherhood. Viv has been a good friend, and we’ve worked together on ACC changes, updates, and improvements since before I even became Combat Master. Due to real life time constraints, however, he has stepped down from his position. I’ve awarded him a Dark Cross for his work to date, and wish him best.

Thanks Viv, and congrats on the shiny!

New Judge position open

With Viv stepping down, I’d like to bring in another ACC Judge.

Responsibilities

• Grading ACC Matches
• Grading ACC Qualification Exams
• Keeping up to date with the ACC Rubric, Guideline, and Policy adjustments.
• Assisting the Combat Master with projects.
• Contribute input to discussions on the CS Mechanics, additions, and revisions.

Here is what I am looking for in an ACC Judge:

Required Qualifications

• ACC Qualified
• Passed (100%): ACC Combat Studies Exam
• Strong command of English language, writing and grammar — feel free to submit sample writing.
• Not have served previously as an ACC Judge

Recommended

• Experience as a proofreader
• Keen eye and attention to details.
• Experience with the ACC since it has been re-opened — Feel free submit sample matches.

New Judges will go through the same training that all previous judges have:

• You will co-grade 2 matches with the Combat Master.
• You will co-grade 2 ACC Qualification Exams with the Combat Master.

After this point, you will be a regular staffed Judge and able to grab Matches and Exams as they pop up in the queue.

Why be an ACC Judge?

ACC Judging counts as a form of leadership in the Brotherhood. You are providing in-depth feedback to members about their writing, and on Qualification Exams you are working to ensure that members are learning the intricacies of the system we use as a platform for activity. If you haven’t had luck as a unit leader for various reasons, this is another great chance to give back to the Brotherhood community. Aside from that, you are getting to be an active part of the development of Character Sheet mechanics.

Please send all applications to [Log in to view e-mail addresses].

Applications will run for one week until (6/16/16), but I reserve the right to close them early if I find what I’m looking for beforehand. Any questions, let me know.

Journeyman Tourney - Final Combat

Also, remember that the Journameny Tourney still rages on. Blade and Aul are battling it out in the Colosseum, while Aiden and Solas duke it out in the ruins of Dromund Kaas. Support your Journeyman!

Kill them back, Guardians! (I have the Destiny reveal stream playing in the background as I write this, shutupdontjudgem).

Voice Report -- Call for Magistrates

Evant posted his latest report, updating everyone on what is going on with the Voice's office and the projects we track on. He also put out a call for new Magistrates to serve alongside Atra and I!

This is very exciting. I can say, as someone who served as Magistrate for years before becoming CM that it is one of the more fun jobs I've had in the Brotherhood. You will learn a lot, help people, and I include M:Voice's in any of my projects alongside the ACC Staff. If you like the fictional system and the development side of the club, make sure you apply!

You can find an archive of my previous Combat Master reports HERE. These reports contain a lot of helpful information, so if you’re a new or returning member, I’d suggest leafing through them.

ACC Links

• Species Wiki
• Disciplines Wiki
• Aspects Wiki
• Skills Wiki
• Force Powers Wiki
• Feats Database -- CDawg

ACC Exams

• ACC Combat Studies
• ACC Qualification Exam
• Lightsaber Combat
• Martial Arts: Form Studies

Thank you kindly.