SGS NA Regulations

=The Saint George Squadron of the White in Naval Action=

The Saint George Squadron of the White is a player-driven clan operating under the umbrella of the Saint George Society. The Regulations found below apply only to the Squadron in Naval Action. For the rules and processes of the Society in other games, please see the appropriate page.

=Changes=

The Regulations govern important aspects of the Squadron's operations. Because of their wide effect, major changes (ie, changes to an entire section or greater, or, a change to a clause which will affect the way a Captain shall operate on the Caribbean) shall undergo a Squadron Vote for ratification. Minor changes (ie, anything that is not a major change) can be made at the discretion of a Flag Vote. Spelling and grammar (but not wording) may be changed at the discretion of the appropriate Board of Flag member.

Squadron Vote

 * 1) A thread is started in the Naval Action Officers Wardroom. It must include details of the change including the exact wording or graphic of the replacement.
 * 2) A poll is created with a Yes or No option (to adopt the new regulation).
 * 3) The poll must last 5 days and allow re-voting to be valid.
 * 4) A 2/3 majority (yes) result is required to change the regulation to that proposed.
 * 5) Any changes must be announced to the squadron in the Wardroom and on Discord upon conclusion of the vote, and added to the wiki within three days by either the proposing officer or the Squadron Secretaries.

Flag Vote

 * 1) A thread is started in the Naval Action Board of Flag Officers voting forum. It must include details of the change including the exact wording or graphic of the replacement. A discussion topic must also be created in the Flag officers root forum for discussion with the advisory council.
 * 2) A poll is created with a Yes or No option (to adopt the new regulation).
 * 3) The poll must last 5 days and allow re-voting to be valid.
 * 4) A simple majority (yes) result is required to change the regulation to that proposed.
 * 5) Any changes must be announced to the squadron in the Wardroom and on Discord upon conclusion of the vote, and added to the wiki within three days by either the proposing officer or the Squadron Secretaries.

=Chain of Command= The Squadron was originally founded with the intention of grouping together and having fun. With that said, we do operate a Chain of Command.

When in a Group
The group leader is to be considered the commander and their orders should always be followed. This includes when you are sailing with members of different societies and even if you are ordered to carry out a task which could result in the sinking or capture of your ship. When joining a group you:
 * 1) Are encourage to think carefully about who is leading a group.
 * 2) Automatically agree to follow the orders of the group leader, no matter their rank or status. Although you may make suggestions as to a course of action, once an order is given by the group commander you should follow it without question.
 * 3) Should not criticize group commanders during the engagement, if you are unhappy with the commanders abilities you should discuss the situation after the battle.

If at any time you are not happy with the operations of the group, you should leave it.

General In-Game Activities
Is based on Seniority according to the Captain's Roster, with the highest ranking officer online having command of the Squadron. Orders to join a group or play a specific style will not be enforceable.

Out of Game
The Flag Officers are each responsible for managing a separate aspect of the Squadron. Therefore, they will each have seniority when in situations pertaining to their portfolio. Eg, the Nation's group leaders are asking the squadron for their preference in a port flip. As this is a NvN matter it comes under the Chief of Naval Operations.

=Board of Flag Officers=

Offices of the Board of Flag
The Squadron is managed by the members of the Board of Flag. Flag Officers get to vote on promotions, awards as well as strategic, out of game decisions.

The Board is made up of 8 roles, and can have multiple officers in each role. They are:

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)
The CNO is responsible for the Nation vs Nation (NvN aka RvR) efforts of the Squadron. This includes suggesting ship builds, representing the society to the nation and organising operations against the King's enemies. The CNO must have an expert understanding of the game, with particular regard to NvN mechanics, and be willing to pro-actively lead the Squadron's efforts.

Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP)
The CNP is responsible for the Human Resources side of the Squadron. This includes managing the Roster, ensuring all Captain's have adhered themselves to the Regulations as well as managing the medals and promotions systems. The CNP also acts as the last point-of-call regarding the validity of a Captain's username. The CNP must, therefore, be active on the forums, wiki and in-game.

Commissioner
The Commissioner is responsible for creating graphics for the Squadron. This include members flags and coats of arms.

Secretary, Recruitment
The Secretary of Recruitment is responsible for managing the recruitment and progression of new Captains into the Squadron.

Squadron Secretary
The Squadron Secretary works closely with the Society Secretary in maintaining the wiki and forums. The Squadron Secretary must have a good technical understanding of both the wiki and forums.

Minister of Trade
The Minister of Trade is responsible for all of the economic capabilities of the Squadron. This includes promoting locations for particular outposts and constructions within the Caribbean.

Duty Officer
A Duty Officer is a “General officer” within the Board. Duty officers are expected to be the board of flags eyes and ears in game; to submit an agenda they intend to pursue during their term (for example, working with a particular Board member as their Adjutant); and follow through on that agenda. A Duty Officer may hold the position for only one consecutive quarter at a time. A duty officer will only ever be elected should all other administrative roles hold at least one flag officer.

Forming the Board of Flag
The Board of Flag will be formed at the beginning of every quarter (3 months of a year). The board is made up of 12% of the Squadron membership, rounded to the nearest odd number, with a minimum number of 6 Board members. Each seat on the board must belong to one of the 6 departments.

The Procedure

 * 1) During each quarter Captains are invited to apply for a position on the Board by the CNP.
 * 2) Existing Board members must fill an application to confirm they wish to continue.
 * 3) 5 days prior to the end of the quarter a poll will be created that is set to last 5 days.
 * 4) This poll is to be created in the Naval Action Board of Flag voting forum with a separate option for each application primary and secondary choice.
 * 5) Each voter is given the number of choices as there are seats on the board. The outgoing Board members will then vote on the applications received.
 * 6) Any Captain requires a minimum of one-half (50%) of the votes cast by the outgoing Board in order to assume office. Captains with less than half of the votes will be considered as having not maintained the confidence of the Board, and accordingly, will not be awarded the role. No modifiers will affect the confidence requirement.
 * 7) The Captains with the most votes form the board (ties are resolved by seniority). The following modifiers will be awarded based on a Captain's rank:
 * 8) Baronet +1
 * 9) Baron +2
 * 10) Viscount +3
 * 11) Earl +4
 * 12) Most votes in that Office +20

Stepping Down
A Flag Officer may step down from the Board at any time. The Captain returns to the roster with full honours. The CNP must immediately call for applications to fill the vacancy, and the procedure noted above must be adhered to.

Removing a Flag Officer
Should any Flag Officer fail to adequately perform in their role, another Flag Officer may forward a motion of no-confidence vote using the Flag Vote procedure.

=Advisory Council= Squadron Captains of the rank of Knight and above are granted read and write access to the Board of Flag forums. These Captains will not have the right to a vote, but are able to give opinions and have a say in the vital decision making of the Squadron.

All information accessed by Squadron members via the Board of Flag forums is to be considered confidential, and may only be released with the express consent of the Board of Flag.

The Board of Flag reserves the right to redact critical information in the case of a critical situation.

=Character Names=

General Policy
The St George Squadron is a British, Royal Navy, role-playing based society and has until recently only accepted names that fit the period and nation. Names that should be avoided are out of context names, such as Darth Vader, Maggotboy, Milkman, or famous names such as Captain Horatio Nelson, Captain William Bligh and Captain Horatio Hornblower. As the squadron uses a full title system to reflect rank, character names should not include titles like Lord, Baron or Sir.

However, we appreciate that in the current Naval Action there is no free method of changing your name in-game. Therefore, Captains with names such as those listed above may be accepted upon review.

All Captains, regardless of in-game name, should use a period name that you have chosen for forum usage. A name has to be historically sound, and in keeping with an officer of the British Royal Navy. This has been the tradition in the Squadron since its creation, and gives us a historical look and feel. Suggested names can be found on the 18th century names page.

Acceptable names under the SGS Policy

 * English, Scottish, Irish or Welsh (preference for the first two).
 * Foreign surnames with a British first name E.g. William Bach.
 * Anglicized versions of foreign names E.g. Frederic Redstone.
 * German Names are acceptable based on ties to the House of Hanover.

Offensive Name Policy
Should you have an offensive name and still wish to join the Squadron, the following procedure will apply.

All Captains who apply to the squadron with an unacceptable name will be allowed to go up for a patronage vote, and have the results announced on the stipulations that:
 * 1) The Captain agrees to have his/her name changed into a name which complies with regulations no more than one week (seven days) after the conclusion of the vote.
 * 2) That, should the Captain default on the above agreement, s/he will willing leave the squadron within 24 (twenty-four) hours of their seven day grace period. Should the captain fail to remove him/herself from the squadron within the allocated time, the Captain will be forcefully removed.
 * 3) The Captain must inform the Board of the name s/he will be changing his/her name to.
 * 4) The Captain is informed of these terms, and agrees to them prior to the beginning of the poll. Should the captain decline these terms, s/he will have it held as a defaulted patronage.
 * 5) Should the Captain be forced to leave the squadron due to a breach of this agreement, they will not be allowed to reapply until s/he has corrected their name to one that meets the Squadron's regulations.

Captains who agree to the above terms, should they pass their vote, will have their results announced with the rest of the patronage class, with the name they have chosen to change to placed in parenthesis beside their current name.

In all cases the decision of the Chief of Naval Personnel is final.

=Ranks=

The squadron has eight ranks based on historical British society that are different then the in-game military ranks (see this page for further information). New Captains that are on probation (the patronage period) have the rank of Gentleman. After they have successfully completed their probation time they are promoted to Esquire and full member. A Gentleman or Gentlewoman that retires from the Squadron is struck from the lists and they must reapply if returning later.

Earl / Countess 

Viscount / Viscountess

Baron/Baroness

Baronet/Baronetess

Knight / Dame

Esquire

Gentleman / Gentlewoman

=Promotions= Ranks are awarded based purely on a captain's leadership skills with the exception of a Captain's promotion to Esquire, which is awarded after a successful Patronage period.

For further information about each rank, please see the ranks page.

Selecting Officers for Promotion
At any time a Captain may recommend a peer for promotion. On the 20th of each month the CNP will convene the Flag Officers into a promotion board to discuss the recommendations and add any of their own using the following process:
 * 1) The CNP will create a forum poll in the Naval Action Board of Flag voting forum, with a yes and no option for each of the recommendations. The thread in which the poll is located may be used for discussion.
 * 2) The CNP will set this poll to last for 5 days.
 * 3) Flag Officers should be permitted to change their vote.
 * 4) On the last day of the month the successful candidates will formally receive their new ranks.

Promotion Criteria
Candidates are assessed based on their leadership skills through in combat and non-combat operations as well as out of game conduct. The Board may look for:


 * Success in the chosen field
 * Leadership Strengths
 * Awareness of Leadership weaknesses
 * Initiative
 * Communication skills

The Board must not consider the amount of time served when assessing leadership potential.

Each rank demands certain requirements of a candidate which are listed below. Captains are required to comply with the regulations for all ranks up to and including the rank he or she currently holds.

Gentleman and Esquire

Patronage Officers remain in rank and not eligible for Patronage Vote until the following is completed:
 * 1) Name Approval.


 * 1) Matching Forum Name.

Special Note - Captains are eligible for voting if they will have 15 days in the squadron as of the announcement date, so 10 from the start of voting.
 * 1) Signature.

Knight

Upon promotion to the rank of Knight, by merit of service, the proclamation of promotion will be held until such time as the following is completed:
 * 1) Coat of Arms.
 * 2) Captains Back Story Completed on the Captain's Bio Page.
 * 3) Post Captain

As a Knight, a Captain may choose allegiance to either: The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath; or, The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle

Baronet

Upon promotion to the rank of Baronet, by merit of service, the proclamation of promotion will be held until such time as the following is completed:
 * 1) Served as a Flag Officer for one (1) board.

Baron

Upon promotion to the rank of Baron, by merit of service, the proclamation of promotion will be held until such time as the following is completed:
 * 1) At least one (1) Award

Viscount

Upon promotion to the rank of Viscount, by merit of service, the proclamation of promotion will be held until such time as the following is completed:
 * 1) Serving at least two (2) quarters as a Flag Officer of Saint George Squadron.
 * 2) At least two (2) medals awarded.

Earl

Upon promotion to the rank of Earl, by merit of service, the proclamation of promotion will be held until such time as the following is completed:
 * 1) Complete List of Ship Commissions under sail by the Captain, listed on the Captain’s Bio Page.
 * 2) At least three (3) medals awarded.
 * 3) Serving at least four (4) quarters as a Flag Officer of Saint George Squadron.

=Medals=

The Squadron issues awards based on PvP, PvE and out-of-game actions. These include:

PvP

 * 1) Military Cross
 * 2) Distinguished Service Cross
 * 3) Distinguished Service Order
 * 4) George Cross

PvE

 * 1) St. George Citation for Conspicuous Bravery
 * 2) Navy Gold Medal
 * 3) King's Gallantry Medal
 * 4) George Meda;

OOG

 * 1) Admiral's Commendation
 * 2) Governor's Commendation
 * 3) Parliamentary Commendation
 * 4) King's Commendation

For further information, please see the awards page.

=Conduct in War= As a captain in the Saint George Squadron, you are expected to ruthlessly pursue the defeat of your enemy. However, a Captain must always do this with a nigh-impenetrable civil and gentlemanly behaviour before, during and after combat. Win the engagement at all costs, but be prepared to dine with the enemy captain in the great cabin afterwards, no matter who won.


 * You should demand the enemy's surrender at the earliest convenience after starting an engagement (though this is entirely optional).
 * You do not have to communicate with the enemy, but if you do it must be in a civil and gentlemanly tone.
 * Avoid the equivalent of "corpse camping" or similar griefing in the game if you believe this to be happening1.
 * You do not have to explain these rules to your opponents.

1This Article may be suspended when operating as a part of a group in the Nation's war efforts.

Captains in Breach of the Articles of War
If you see an SGS captain who does not follow the rules of war detailed above, you should report that captain to the Board of Flag, you should take particular care to prepare any evidence including screenshots of the offence(s). In such situations, the Board may convene a court-martial to determine the validity of the accusations; a Flag Vote may be used to determine a Captain's guilt. For more serious offences, Captains may be referred to the Society Council for judgement. In the case of a proven breach of regulations, compensation may be offered by the squadron to the enemy captain.

=Inactivity=

Each Captain will be required to log in to the game at least once every month. Failure to do so will result in the Captain being honourably retired and removed from the Naval Action roster.

Half Pay
For Captain's who feel they may be unable to meet the log-in regulation, they may opt to go onto Half-Pay. Half-Pay allows a Captain to instead log in to the game at least once every six months. Failure to comply will result in the Captain being honourably retired.

Any Captain that wishes to go onto Half-Pay must send a formal notice to the Chief of Naval Personnel via the forums.

=Reinstatement= If you have been honourably retired and wish to rejoin the Squadron, contact an officer on the forums or in-game, and you will be reinstated to the roster without the loss of rank nor awards.

=Trading= All trading between Captains (including trades with non-SGS officers) will be on a 'cash on delivery' basis. Officers will not demand advance payment or defer payment for goods received, nor will they run a donation or banking system either privately or on behalf of the squadron. This will not preclude receiving or giving gifts to other players.

You may:
 * Pay cash on delivery
 * Give goods away for free
 * Trade goods for another type of goods

Failure to comply with these trading regulations is done at your own risk.

=Incorporation= These regulations were incorporated on 22 August 1819