Hello again,

     Many of you do not know this, but the linkshell leadership manually bans several (15-20) forum spam accounts per week. Honestly, it really is about 2-3 per day. This doesn't include the dozens of spam accounts that are now handled on an automated basis. Most of these accounts contain links to offensive material as a part of their signature - or have their signature set up to perform unauthorized forum functions when it is clicked. Sometimes the links will send members to www site that could compromise their computer.

    To combat this, we typically will start out by banning the originating IP of the spam. If larger patterns emerge, we ban larger subnets, or ISPs, or, - to be honest - we've banned entire countries. We're doing this to keep you guys safe. Honestly, you should probably never click the www link of anyone you don't know really well, but that's up to you individually. 

However, it's not inconceivable that legitimate people trying to become members are encountering ban messages. For this, we apologize. If you (anyone really: new applicants, current members, old members) encounter a ban message, please contact me (Kiine) in game and we will see what we can work out. Thank you for your time.

-Kiine

P.S.
Don't forget! We're recruiting.

Sparkle and Fade is actively seeking new members who can make a dedicated commitment to attacking Dynamis zones.

At this time, we have no restrictions on the primary jobs of applicants, but we are in particular looking for additional RDMs, WHMs, and BLMs. While we expect a certain level of skill, previous Dynamis experience is not a prerequisite to membership with this shell. We do, however, require a certain level of courtesy and maturity within LS chat and egregious transgressions will not be tolerated.

Our runs are Wednesdays 9pm Eastern and Sundays at 12pm (noon) Eastern. We have no restrictions on the nationality of our membership, however English is the primary language of linkshell operations.

You may register for an account on our forums and ask questions about membership on the "New Applications" message board, or you may send a private message to Kiine, Tyrian, Saren, Icedout, or Reiokyu. If you must contact us in game, you may do so, but understand our availability may be limited.

As an incentive to current members, we are offering a recruitment bonus program. In short, if a current member recruits a new member(s) that becomes part of a shell, the recruiting member will receive bonus points after both they and their recruit complete a certain number of runs with Sparkle and Fade.

Details of this program (for Registered Members) may be seen here:Comrade in Arms Program

Thank you,
-The Leadership of Sparkle and Fade

We did it! Thank you for everything, guys!

Members who are logged in may see all the details here:
http://sparkleandfade.net/index.php?topic=1618.msg5639#msg5639

Details on Sparkle & Fade's second Relic Weapon have been posted in the Members Only section.

You may click this link to see the post if you are a member and are signed in:
News update:

I know its a short notice but if you would like to gather together at horalis peak @ 3:30 pm pst we will be doing the final trade in for relic great katana then.

This will be kept simple as I am certain Reiokyu is more than overwhelmed already. Due to his demeanor, dedication to the rather tough and unrewarding duty of primary caller, and also his tenure with the linkshell, the linkshell leadership has debated (over the course of about two weeks) and finally decided to offer sack status to Reiokyu.

At this time, we are not immediately able to actually promote his shell to a sack, but in all respects he is in fact a pearlsack holder. He has been given access to the linkshell leadership boards, and we will (though his mentoring period) be bringing him up to speed on linkshell leader practices. Therefore, effective immediately, please consider him a sackholder. He's already had his benefits and salary package* explained to him, so please welcome him aboard.

We are still at a slight numerical deficiency for sack holders, and we're debating an addition to the leadership, however, it is not as clear-cut a case as Reiokyu.
 
Thank you again
The Leadership of Sparkle and Fade




*: This amounts to an increase of 273% base linkshell member salary to grand total of 0gil per run. Dental co-pay is reduced to $10

    There has been some confusion about declaring jobs and when it is appropriate to make those declarations. Unfortunately, there has not been universal understanding of the rules as they exist, and there have been a few minor problems. Since the sacks really do not want to actually impose punitive measures, we have decided to adjust the rules to eliminate any potential for misunderstanding. These new rules will make it clear-cut as to what is expected in terms of Job Declarations and hopefully avoid headaches for all involved.

New Job Declaration Rule: In order to declare a job, you must now be level 75 in that job. This applies to all jobs. The exception to this is for accessory pieces, for which you must be at least level 70. This new rule goes into effect March 2, 2009.

Explanation

Here is the rule as it currently stands:

As you know, it has become practice to allow people to declare most jobs (barring TAU & WotG) at level 70, and allowing people to self-monitor their ability to lot AF. However, this has not always worked out well. There is also no way to continuously monitor and upgrade member job levels so that ineligible members are excluded from lotting lists. For example, a level 73 character should not be able to lot AF in either Beaucedine or Xarcabard. 

Therefore, in order to make this equally fair to all members, we've decided to change this rule around. We discarded a very few other ideas that would either require extensive monitoring of characters or those that would specify deliberately harsh penalties for people who knowingly or maliciously lotted AF before they could equip that specific armor piece.

We know this is a sudden change, and some people may have been looking forward to declaring a new job in the upcoming weeks. Therefore, the old system (declare at 70 & honor system for lotting what you can equip) will be in effect for all Job Declarations made until March 1, 2009 10:00am (EST).

People who are granted this exception and are found to lot pieces they cannot equip will be assessed an immediate penalty of 1.5 attendance points and will be placed on probation for the next run.

We hope that this clarification will avoid any potential "lotting drama", for it is our intent to keep this LS operating in a fair, professional, and fun manner. This rule will also help people who have achieved level 75 and made a valid job declaration but may actually attend Dynamis as a level 74 character... but no one ever de-levels right? 

As always, we thank you for all you do and hope to reward you with bountiful AF.

-The Leadership of Sparkle & Fade.


P.S. In the next week, we hope to expand the leadership by 1-2 sackholders.