Welcome

Two reports in—does that make it official? I think that means you're stuck with me now.

Hope everyone has been doing well! We've seen some changes to Star Wars Squadrons and plenty of gaming activity. I want to thank everyone who has been making use of both the matchmaking system and the new LFG options our digital overlord graciously implemented for us.

Throughout this report, I’ll provide updates on our current projects. But most importantly, if you haven’t seen it yet, go check out the release of the first season!

Parabellum Chapter 1

Gaming Battlepass

I have continued discussions with Bubba and the Council regarding the implementation of the Battlepass system. We are currently working through the setup details to ensure automation. However, I can provide the following information to clarify our intentions. Please note that none of this is final and will depend on the site's ability to manage the proposed milestones.

We are looking at setting up a system that would have between 3-5 “gates” with each gate achieved by completing specific milestone(s) and then moving on to the next more difficult series of trials.

Gate 1: Initiation

Focus: Easy-to-complete activities designed to introduce players to the system.

*Example set of goals: *

• Participate in 1 gaming competition.
• Earn 150 Clusters of Fire.
• Create 1 gaming competition. (Clan level minimum)

Rewards: - May include additional credits and a seasonal trophy for completing the first gate.

Upon completing the first gate, you will progress through the second, third, and subsequent stages, unlocking rewards along the way. However, with the Cluster Review project’s significance and the upcoming launch of Seasons, we’ve decided to aim for the end of Q2 before implementing the Battlepass system.

As we evaluate the feasibility of using the Trophies system to automatically assign rewards when milestones are met, there will likely be adjustments. I understand this has been a topic of ongoing discussion, and the community is eager for its release. That said, I want to ensure we deliver a high-quality product rather than rushing the process.

DJB Gaming Community Feedback

DJB Gaming Community Feedback.

Note that any submissions to this form will only be reviewed by myself, my Praetor and the Council as necessary.

We have only had a few responses to the survey and I would appreciate any of you who game to take a few minutes and fill this out as it will help us in knowing your favorite platforms, feedback, etc.

Are there any areas where you feel improvements can be made?

“Greater utilization of the Game Matchmaking option in Discord. This seems to have fallen out of favor.”

• Response: I have ensured that my staff and I use the Matchmaking tool as often as possible. In recent weeks, there has rarely been a night without at least one group actively running games in the Discord gaming channels. That being said, I will continue to encourage the community to participate. However, I want to clarify that this is not a requirement. Sometimes, people just want to game with their friends or duos, and I don't begrudge anyone with limited time for choosing to play with those they know.

“Your staff projects are a good step toward making gaming more accessible and increasing activity opportunities. In the past, finding games was difficult, as some members kept their groups closed—either for convenience or to limit others' progress. While this has improved, there were times I spent more time searching for a group than actually playing. The Fist staff setting an example by organizing games has helped, and I hope this continues with the new team.”

• Response: As stated above, ensuring there are options for members to jump into open parties, use the LFG tool, etc to ensure that members can game when and wherever possible is important to me and my team.

“Rebalancing the weekly cluster caps—Star Wars games are in a rough spot. With so many cheaper or free high-quality alternatives, SW titles have largely become single-player or gacha-focused. The era of multiple strong multiplayer options is over, making a "buff" to SW games and their weekly cap feel unnecessary”

• Response: While I’m not personally in favor of attempting to increase rewards to encourage specific games to be played. The Cluster Review project may end up encouraging SW activity anyway. Our intention is to ensure that your time and effort no matter what game you’re playing is appropriately rewarded.

Project Charter: Review of Cluster Values Phase #2

We are prepared to begin accepting submissions for the review of our approved titles in the Brotherhood. Using this form. I would appreciate submissions of 5-10 matches for averages to be generated, I do intend to record and reward those who contribute to gathering this data.

Project Information:

Objective

The Review of Cluster Values Project aims to enhance fairness and consistency in the reward system by reassessing Cluster values across various game titles and activities. This initiative will leverage community participation to gather data and establish balanced time-to-reward ratios, ensuring an equitable gaming experience for all members.

Goals

1. Compile a Comprehensive Dataset

   • Catalog all approved titles and their associated game modes.
     

2. Analyze Activity Completion Times

   • Collect data from the community to establish benchmarks for effort and reward.
     

3. Propose Balanced Cluster Values

   • Determine reasonable expectations for members to achieve weekly reward caps for different platforms.
     

Scope

This project focuses on evaluating Cluster values for the following game titles:

1. Apex Legends
   
2. Casual Gaming Queue
   
3. Dead By Daylight
   
4. Destiny 2
   
5. Diablo 3
   
6. Diablo 4
   
7. The Finals
   
8. Halo: Infinite
   
9. Hearthstone
   
10. Helldivers 2
    
11. Heroes of the Storm
    
12. Jedi Knight Series (Jedi Academy)
    
13. Mario Kart 8
    
14. Overwatch 2
    
15. Pazaak (Discord)
    
16. Pokemon Unite
    
17. Star Wars: Battlefront II (2017 release)
    
    • 17.1 Members vs Others Battlefront (PvP)
      
    • 17.2 Members vs Environment Battlefront (PvE)
      
18. Star Wars: Customizable Card Game (SW:CCG)
    
19. Star Wars: Hunters
    
20. Star Wars: Squadrons
    
    • 20.1 PvE and PvP
      
    • 20.2 PvP
      
21. Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR)
    
22. Warframe
    

Methodology

Phase 1: Community Engagement

• Announce the project and its purpose through official channels.
  
• Encourage members to volunteer to verify times and activities for individual titles.

Phase 2: Data Collection and Validation

• Gather reported match completion times for the identified titles.
  
• Perform spot checks to validate the accuracy of submitted data.
  

Phase 3: Baseline Analysis

• Analyze collected data to determine baseline expectations for effort and reward.
  
• Define reasonable goals for members to achieve:
  
  • The “210” weekly cap on general platforms.
    
  • The “350” weekly cap for Star Wars games.
    

Phase 4: Proposal Development

• Based on the analysis, create a balanced and updated Cluster value system.
  
• Finalize the system for review and implementation.
  

Participation Opportunities

Community involvement is critical to the success of this project. Members can contribute by:
- Submitting match completion times for designated game titles.
- Assisting with data validation and feedback.

Recognition for Contributions

Volunteers who actively participate will be acknowledged and eligible for awards to recognize their efforts.

Expected Outcome

By re-evaluating Cluster values with accurate data, this project will:
- Establish a fair and consistent reward system.
- Create a more engaging and rewarding gaming experience for all members.
- Foster collaboration and community spirit within the Brotherhood.

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If you're interested in contributing or have any questions, feel free to reach out! Let’s work together to create a system that rewards effort and enhances the overall gaming experience.

I would love to hear any ideas the community has for the best way to collate this data.

Admin and Policy Reminders

All current Gaming and Fist Policies can be found on the Gaming Information page. I encourage all members to read this page, as it contains valuable information. I will ensure this page remains updated to reflect all current office policies.

Other Items of Note:

• Review your Submissions before Submitting. We have recently seen an increase in submission errors. Most of these are minor, such as the number of games not matching the number of screenshots, failing to select available competitions, or a player's name not being listed on their dossier. While we do our best to catch these mistakes, we encourage the community to take a moment to review their submissions. Please ensure that the number of screenshots matches the reported games, that competitions are properly selected, and, if you consistently play a particular game, consider adding it to your dossier instead of leaving a comment each time.

• Submission Processing:
  The staff has 24 hours from the time you submit gaming activity to approve it. If your submission has been sitting longer than that, there is likely a problem. If it hasn’t, there’s no issue. The staff works hard to process gaming submissions as quickly as possible, but remember, they are real people with real lives. I do not expect them to sit behind a computer all day processing submissions, and neither should you.

• Solo Submissions:
  Solo submissions are never acceptable for Clusters of Fire. My staff and I will reject any that come in. You must play with at least one other DB member—no exceptions.

• Proposal Submissions:
  While I appreciate proposals and great ideas sent via Discord, please email the staff list (the email is provided at the bottom of this report). I also ask that your House and Clan leadership review your proposals before you send them up. This isn’t to add bureaucracy but to ensure your leaders are aware of your efforts to improve the Club. This also helps with award and promotion recommendations. Feel free to cc your leaders on your email to me and my staff.

Helpful Links

• Send us an email at [Log in to view e-mail addresses]
• (Gaming Information)[https://wiki.darkjedibrotherhood.com/view/Gaming_Information)
• (Supported Games)[https://wiki.darkjedibrotherhood.com/view/Supported_Games]

Uji Tameike

Fist of the Brotherhood