Who Are You?

[Lair]

So we all know LRR uses a UK Naval System (Chief, Commander Docs, Lieutenant Jet, Sub-Lieutenant Bandit, Midshipmen Axle and Sparks), which doesn't make a whole lot of sense considering how there are only six high-ranking people.

My first question is, how do Naval rankings really work? Who controls who and who does what, etc?

But the real question: who are you? At first Chief calls you a cadet, and then you're controlling a whole team of Rock Raiders, and the five (six?) high-ranking RRs are helping who. Who the heck are you supposed to be, how the heck do you fit into the ranking system, it just doesn't make sense?

[Antillies]

My first question is, how do Naval rankings really work? Who controls who and who does what, etc?

I don't know if there's enough information in the canon to adequately speculate on this.

But the real question: who are you? At first Chief calls you a cadet, and then you're controlling a whole team of Rock Raiders, and the five (six?) high-ranking RRs are helping who. Who the heck are you supposed to be, how the heck do you fit into the ranking system, it just doesn't make sense?

It's evident from the cut scenes that the RRs have operations over quite a large area of Planet U. It would make sense that "teams" (like the one the player controls) are sent out to explore and collect resources. The small size of the teams, as opposed to being the main base of operations, would make the risk of letting a junior Rock Raider oversee them more justified. I think we could extrapolate that there are multiple excursions like the one the player controls going on across the interior of the planet, so multiple "cadets" are receiving experience in leading RR parties. It's also possible that there is a personnel shortage, making it necessary to deploy less-skilled officers even though it is not optimal.

[Lair]

Skype convo:

[4:25:02 PM] Ramius Antillies: Ranks usually correspond to unit size.

[4:25:40 PM] Ramius Antillies: To use the army example, a lieutenant leads a platoon, a captain leads a company, a major leads a battalion, a colonel leads a regiment, so on

[4:25:55 PM] Ramius Antillies: But they can also reflect seniority, position and skill.

[4:26:32 PM] Ramius Antillies: So doctors obviously do not lead troops but are given ranks based (largely) on seniority and their ability to perform their duties.

[4:27:02 PM] Lair of Rockwhales: so the people in the bridge of the LMS don't necessarily lead other Rock Raiders?

[4:27:26 PM] Ramius Antillies: It seems likely that they don't, yes. I think they form the bridge crew based on their expertise.

[4:27:32 PM] Lair of Rockwhales: ah

[4:27:36 PM] Lair of Rockwhales: Now that makes sense

[4:27:59 PM] Lair of Rockwhales: So the RRs don't REALLY use Naval ranks except for people who soley work on the ship

[4:28:01 PM] Lair of Rockwhales: I see now

[4:28:22 PM] Ramius Antillies: Well, like I said in the post, I don't know if we know enough to speculate on that.

[4:28:31 PM] Lair of Rockwhales: Exactly the problem

[4:28:54 PM] Ramius Antillies: Officers in general do have the authority to order subordinates to do things, regardless of their position.

[4:29:15 PM] Ramius Antillies: So any of them could tell a group of RRs to do things.

[4:29:37 PM] Ramius Antillies: But they're probably getting their assignments from the Chief so they probably wouldn't do anything outside of their orders.

[4:30:04 PM] Ramius Antillies: I almost think that they operate indepently while on the surface because we see them usually alone, or working in pairs.

[4:30:47 PM] Lair of Rockwhales: Oh yeah

[4:30:48 PM] Ramius Antillies: Whether they're doing stuff they were ordered to do or whether they're doing it out of curiuosity or to relieve boredom is unkown.

[4:31:11 PM] Lair of Rockwhales: Jet and Docs go flying around, Axle and Sparks go driving around, and Bandit just does whatever the heck he wants to do in his boat

[4:31:23 PM] Ramius Antillies: Precisely.

[4:32:04 PM | Edited 4:32:14 PM] Ramius Antillies: The most probable hypothesis is that they go around the planet exploring on their own and also assiting groups of RRs as need be.

[4:32:16 PM] Addictgamer: That's what I've always thought

[Phoenyx]

From what I can deduce, the player is an officer-in-training during the training missions, then a relatively high-ranked officer for the rest of the game. I have no clue beyond that, but I guess any and all information is helpful.

As for the named crew, they're probably colleagues with Chief being your superior. Of course, whether THEY follow his orders or are just millwrights is up for debate.

Of course, all that only applies if these rankings apply to raiders on the ground.

[Cyrem]

Naval rankings are wrong!... LMS is not a boat. LEGO stop stuffing up.

You(the player) don't get a rank... you aren't part of the crew.

[Antillies]

Naval rankings are wrong!... LMS is not a boat. LEGO stop stuffing up.

You(the player) don't get a rank... you aren't part of the crew.

LMS is a starship though. Naval ranks would transfer, or at least they do in the popular fictional canon. Although I agree speculating on what rank the player is is largely pointless, within the game it would seem fairly probable that you are "part of the crew," just as the player occupies a place within the fictional world within most every other RTS game, Starcraft notably among them.

[McJobless]

The player is God. Cheif cannot control the dimwits he calls a crew, so he needs God to come in and control everything for him.

Then again, going off some of the dialogue, it would seem you are an ordinary Rock Raider who, through some unbelievable feat, has been chosen by a frail Ship Captain to organise and lead his troops while he sits there on his loathsome, spotty behind squeezing blackheads, not caring a tinker's cuss for the struggling artist. That excrement! That whining, hypocritical toady, with his colour TV sets and his Tony Jacklin golf clubs and his bleeding Masonic secret handshakes! Why, he wouldn't let me join, would he, that blackballing b******! Well, I wouldn't become a freemason now if he went down on his lousy, stinking knees and begged me!

[TheDoctor]

So you're an officer... cadet? Chief is obviously training you in the tutorials, so I guess you're a new commander type person in charge of mining excursions. I would assume that because Docs, Jet, Bandit, Axle and Sparks are specialists in their respective field, they... oh I don't know. Lego isn't great with the whole continuity thing.

[Sonic322]

Weren't you originally going to be able to command select groups of characters that work under the specialists?

Isn't that why the only folder for minifigs is the pilot folder?

Wouldn't this mean you are a second in command to Chief while the specialists work under you?

[Lair]

Naval rankings are wrong!... the Explorer is not a boat. Lego stop stuffing up.

You(the player) don't get a rank... you aren't part of the crew.

I would like to see a law where it is illegal to create a ranking system based on naval ranks for a fictional star ship. How does it matter that the Explorer isn't a boat? It's big, like a navy boat. It needs some kind of hierarchy. So what's wrong with using ranks on BIG water ships for a BIG star ship?

And I am serious, I want proof that Lego "stuffed up" and that it's wrong to create fictional ranking systems that are similar to real-life ones.

Edit:

Naval ranks would transfer, or at least they do in the popular fictional canon.

If you actually want to continue this discussion, please split it into a separate topic. This topic was created with asking one objective, and that's all I want. If you want to go on about whatever you're going on about, fine, but this isn't the right topic for that.

And what the hell, of course you're part of the crew, why would they let someone who wasn't a Rock Raider command Rock Raiders?

[Sonic322]

And what the hell, of course you're part of the crew, why would they let someone who wasn't a Rock Raider command Rock Raiders?

You did see my post right? You planning to reply to those questions?

[Antillies]

You did see my post right? You planning to reply to those questions?

Whether it had been intended that you commanded a team of specialists, that was seemingly scrapped in the final version. And it would seem unlikely that you would be second-in-command as the Chief refers to you as "cadet."

[Sonic322]

You did see my post right? You planning to reply to those questions?

Whether it had been intended that you commanded a team of specialists, that was seemingly scrapped in the final version. And it would seem unlikely that you would be second-in-command as the Chief refers to you as "cadet."

Perhaps it's a nickname? Perhaps you did so well when you where a cadet that Chief calls you that because he knows you will always respond to him.

[Antillies]

Perhaps it's a nickname? Perhaps you did so well when you where a cadet that Chief calls you that because he knows you will always respond to him.

As "cadet" is both a title and rank (although we don't know which is in use here), it would be highly confusing and even disrespectful for the Chief to use the word as a nickname. Also, as the Chief continually addresses you formally and the mission briefings appear to be "on the record," he would comply with basic military address, preventing him from using anything but your proper title/rank.

[Cyrem]

I would like to see a law where it is illegal to create a ranking system based on naval ranks for a fictional star ship. How does it matter that the Explorer isn't a boat? It's big, like a navy boat. It needs some kind of hierarchy. So what's wrong with using ranks on BIG water ships for a BIG star ship?

And I am serious, I want proof that Lego "stuffed up" and that it's wrong to create fictional ranking systems that are similar to real-life ones.

Posting that picture I did was meant to show it was just a stab at the old topic about this... you weren't meant to take it seriously

If you are part of the LRR crew, what is your name HMMMM? what is your position HMMM? Even though the chief calls you 'cadet' that is hardly accurate to what your position actually is. You have more power then Chief, yet you are supposed to take orders from Mr.AI.

[Antillies]

You have more power then Chief, yet you are supposed to take orders from Mr.AI.

In what sense? RR operations range over a large portion of Planet U's interior (think of that base by the waterfall in that one cutscene). The player only controls a small team of RRs and a group of vehicles at one time at one location. It would make sense that Chief is both coordinating efforts on the surface and overseeing the operation of the Explorer in space. You ultimately take orders from him so I don't see how the player has more power than the Chief.

[Cyrem]

You have more power then Chief, yet you are supposed to take orders from Mr.AI.

In what sense? RR operations range over a large portion of Planet U's interior (think of that base by the waterfall in that one cutscene). The player only controls a small team of RRs and a group of vehicles at one time at one location. It would make sense that Chief is both coordinating efforts on the surface and overseeing the operation of the Explorer in space. You ultimately take orders from him so I don't see how the player has more power than the Chief.

I can see your point, so I'll retract my statement. In the mission briefings, does he ever talk down to you or simply state what needs to be done. If he talks down, then that indicates you are less of importance compared to him. If he simply states what needs to happen, that can indicate you are on his level or higher.

[Antillies]

I can see your point, so I'll retract my statement. In the mission briefings, does he ever talk down to you or simply state what needs to be done. If he talks down, then that indicates you are less of importance compared to him. If he simply states what needs to happen, that can indicate you are on his level or higher.

Hmm, interesting point. Although I don't know if the wording in and of itself is enough to justify an equal or greater power status to the player, it would still be interesting to do an analysis of all the briefings and see.

[Sonic322]

I believe a few of the mission briefings start with or contain "You must" or other words in a similar phrasing in them. Which would put you lower than him.

You know what is could be is you are the second in command (or a rank of similar level) who he has trusted in leading the exploration of Planet U to while he handles the problems on the ship and supervises you.

If he is briefing you on what you need to do and there is a chance that if you fail you will all die then I don't think there would be a problem in calling you by a nickname as long as he correctly fills out the paper work to his superiors when they get back to Earth.

[Antillies]

You know what is could be is you are the second in command (or a rank of similar level) who he has trusted in leading the exploration of Planet U to while he handles the problems on the ship and supervises you.

As Docs is the only RR with the rank of commander, it seems that he is second-in-command. Again, the "cadet" thing.

If he is briefing you on what you need to do and there is a chance that if you fail you will all die then I don't think there would be a problem in calling you by a nickname as long as he correctly fills out the paper work to his superiors when they get back to Earth.

Perhaps if the mission was suicide in nature then yeah military etiquette could be waved but there doesn't appear to be any immediate danger to the Explorer and any fear of dying on the ground is alleviated because all units/buildings/vehicles about to be destroyed are teleported back up to the ship.

[lol username]

I find this argument somewhat nerdy. And coming from me that's really saying something.

[Lair]

If you are part of the LRR crew, what is your name?

Depends; what IS your name Cyrem? In other words, it's whatever you want it to be, hence why you are left nameless.

In the mission briefings, does he ever talk down to you or simply state what needs to be done. If he talks down, then that indicates you are less of importance compared to him. If he simply states what needs to happen, that can indicate you are on his level or higher.

If he simply states what needs to happen, that can indicate the game is made for children and they don't want Chief to be bossy, or Chief is just a nice fellow, and both are true here.

what is your position?

...

...

That's, well, the whole reason why I made this topic

EDIT:

No typo, 'HMS' has been used before. LEGO just doesn't know how to name things correctly.

It IS a typo, seeing that everything else calls it LMS. I would like to see how it's Lego that can't name things correctly when the only TWO places that call it HMS are things that aren't 100% Lego-controlled (a magazine that isn't the main one, and a book written by someone else). Seriously, I want to know your logic.

There is no reason to have a pun on a childrens product.

My wad, this is a horrible excuse. There's no reason to have a pun on ANYTHING, yet they exist. I haven't seen you complaining about the names of any of the Rock Raiders, which are mostly puns. And I suppose the level names were incorrect too since they're all puns?

Cyrem, just stay out of in-depth Rock Raiders discussions please.