The Azuma Zaibatsu is exactly what its name implies: Azuma means East, so we are themed according to features of the Far Eastern islands of Japan, and we are a Zaibatsu, a conglomeration of families. The following will explain how the clan is organized.

Overview

The Azuma Zaibatsu is, in and of itself, a modern, hybrid military organization (within the context of a game). It is a united community of soldiers from different warrior classes of Japan. Since we are not specifically ninja (although this one has traditionally been our focus), or specifically samurai, or otherwise, we use a custom setup of neutral standard military ranks. That rank structure dictates the chain of command regardless of one’s warrior class.

Azuma Zaibatsu has always been broken up into small groups. In AZ version 1 (see History), we used the guilds from Naruto. In AZ version 2, we were divided into a samurai and a ninja sect. In version 3, we were divided into families. In AZ version 4, we at first returned to the Naruto-style guilds to make returning members more comfortable, but we have once again gone back to the original idea of using families as the primary divisionary unit.

Beyond families and ranks, we have careers. Some careers are bound to certain ranks and families (see below); others are just random things you can do to help out the clan. The full list of careers is available only to AZ members.

Ranks

The clan is composed of ten ranks. The first rank, Rikuruto, is a partial membership rank where an individual is given limited access to the private aspects of the clan so that, after a recruitment period, they can be further evaluated. While being evaluated, they also use this rank to prepare for their membership in the rest of the clan by searching out the family they want to join and the class they want to be. The top four ranks are each occupied by single individuals (usually), so are not really regular ranks but more like specific positions.

The ranking system is a custom setup based on Japanese army ranks. Instead of using all of them, we opted for a specific set of them and bended the translations a little to fit our needs in terms of applying tags to our names. The ranks go as follows in ascending order:

• Rikuruto – R – Recruit
• Jotohei – J – Private
• Heicho – H – Corporal
• Gunso – G – Sergeant
• Chui – C – Lieutenant – Role: Kenzoku* (junior member)
• Taii – T – Captain – Role: Kenzoku* (senior member)
• Shosho – §s – Major General – Role: Junsa Daiichi
• Chujo – Çj – Lieutenant General – Role: Sensei Daiichi
• Taisho – Tø – General – Role: Shirei* (Commander)
• Daigensui – Ð – Generalissimo

* indicates a permanent leadership position

The first four ranks — the standard ranks that most members will spend their time in — use the period to separate one’s name from one’s rank on the server (e.g. «AZ»Name.R). The rest of the ranks (starting at Chui and above) use the apostrophe to signify elite status (e.g. «AZ»Name’T), since at those ranks you are either part of clan leadership or administration.

Advancement is by appointment, but has prerequisites. The prerequisites for advancing through the standard ranks are: waiting the required period for advancement to the next rank, fulfilling the achievements necessary to accumulate the prerequisite number of points, meeting with the Kenzoku, and concluding with a customized exam designed according to one’s rank, class, and individual goals and accomplishments. Advancement to the elite rank of Chui has similar prerequisites, but most importantly the Shidou must accept you as a new member of the Kenzoku. Advancing beyond the rank of Taii is impossible unless one of those individuals retires.

The Shidou

The Shidou is the group of people comprising AZ’s leadership. The Kenzoku, which is the group of active members from the ranks of Chui and Taii, is responsible for clan administration and justice. The Shirei, which is the active individual at the rank of Taisho, is responsible for executive leadership. These two, the Kenzoku (family council) and the Shirei (commander), make up the Shidou.

The highest ranked individual in the clan is the Daigensui and is not the clan leader, but rather the owner of the website, the forums, and the servers. He is a retired Shirei and also serves in an advisory role to the Shidou.

Two ranks, the Shosho and the Chujo, are sandwiched between the Shidou, but are not a part of it, because their roles (see above) are related to administrating only a specific aspect of the clan rather than the clan as a whole. They are not public leaders and only administrate two groups of people, the police and the teachers.

Families

The Azuma Zaibatsu’s primary dividing unit is the family. We have families so that each member has a small and tightly-knit support group within the clan that also serves a niche role in the clan’s fabric. Families are similar to what were called guilds in the original version of AZ, and the names of the families are taken from the original families of AZ. The following is a list of Azuma Zaibatsu’s current families and their roles in the clan.

• [Future unnamed family led by Danshaku] – Trains instructors in advanced combat training in swordfighting and strafe jumping. Those instructors are responsible for disseminating the teachings throughout the whole clan.
• Fuusha – Trains instructors in basic game mechanics training. Those instructors are responsible for training players who are new to the game and ensuring that all clan members are equally proficient.
• Kendamotsu – Responsible for foreign relations (diplomacy) and clan events.
• Kido – Responsible for preserving the clan’s legacy and for researching new game avenues.
• Dairokkan – A private dojo that researches and teaches cutting edge and unusual fighting styles.
• Zentaru – Responsible for in-house modding.

Family names that are in italics are private families.

Families are groups led by daifus (patriarchs, also used for matriarchs) and administrated by the Kenzoku, unless a family’s daifu is higher ranked than the Kenzoku. The highest ranked member of a family is the daifu. If an individual has a last name on the roster but it is not listed as a family here, then it is just a last name and not a family name.

How to make sense of it all

When you join the clan, you will be at the Rikuruto (recruit) rank. First look in the forums to find out how long you need to wait to advance to the next and what exam you need to complete when your waiting period is over. You will then want to start preparing for that exam by reading up on the clan structure, etiquette, history, roster, and philosophy, because it will test your knowledge of the clan.

At the same time, you should have been active on the server and keeping an eye on what families are in the clan. You have to join a family when you reach the Jotohei rank, so you should have already started thinking about which ones you want to join and talking to members of those families. When you pass your exam, you will need a daifu’s approval to join his/her family.

At any time during the course of being a member of a clan, you can take a look at the careers available on the forums. The career application threads will tell you the minimum requirements for being part of those careers.

So now at the Jotohei rank and with a family, and eventually with a career (if not now, then later), you should now begin serving and/or learning in the capacity your family requires you to. You will also want to keep an eye on the requirements for advancing to the next rank, which means spending the right amount of time at your current rank, fulfilling achievements described in detail on the forums, scheduling a meeting with the Kenzoku when you are finished your required achievements, and taking and passing the exam they give you, if they choose to give one to you. If you pass that exam, you will be eligible for appointment to the next rank. That does not mean you will automatically go to the next rank, but at least you are eligible and you will receive a message about a promotion ceremony if and when the Kenzoku deems it appropriate that you be promoted.

The exact same process is to be followed for advancing from Heicho to Gunso and from Gunso to Chui, though the Chui is a Kenzoku rank so it is much harder and much less likely for you to ever advance past Gunso. Even if you have serious leadership potential, the Kenzoku has a cap on its membership and will only allow newcomers in when newcomers are needed.

Kenzoku members are promoted from Chui to Taii when they have served actively in the Kenzoku for a long enough time to be considered senior members. As stated earlier, advancement past Taii is impossible unless one of the top four ranks steps down or retires from their position.

Retirement means that you keep your rank, but you no longer play the game enough to actively participate in the clan. However, to support the clan you still allow us to put your name on the list so people know that you’re with us. There is also a leave of absence status, which means that you have notified the Kenzoku of your inactivity and that you plan on returning to activity at a future point, and back to the same rank you were before. Individuals who fall inactive, however, without any notification may be demoted or even removed.

If you have an issue with someone in your family, talk to your daifu. If you have an issue with someone else, talk to the Kenzoku. If you believe a leader is acting irresponsibly, take it to someone ranked higher than them. If you are just having trouble understanding what to do next, follow the same route of daifu, Kenzoku, and then higher up if need be.