Merit Badges

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The TarValon.Net Membership Manual contains additional information on this topic.


Description

One of the key items on the 2010 Admin Meeting was the topic of Merit Badges. A Merit Badge Focus Group was set up to discuss the number and requirements for badges.

Intended as rewards for continued and dedicated service to TarValon.Net the list of badges became available in February 2011. In January 2014 a second focus group was set up to review the badges and identify any areas that were currently unrecognized, or any that were too difficult to achieve. These changes were implemented in the Fall of 2016.

While a reward in itself, merit badges may also used to determine other rewards members could receive. See below for privileges.

Merit badges will be attainable by members of all ranks though some may only be attainable by members of certain ranks and none will be easily attainable. They will be designed to recognize the members who go above and beyond normal service, typically only the top 2-5% of people contributing in a given area will earn the badge.

Merits Awarded

Main article: Total Merits Awarded (by Member)
Main article: Total Merits Awarded (by Merit)

The first Merits were awarded at Anniversary Party 2011. Dralyn Montsier and her minions worked hard in the weeks running up to it compiling information and verifying emails sent. Later in the year, at Euro Party 2011 and Dragon*Con 2011 more merits were awarded to the members attending those events. Merits were then awarded in January 2012, January 2013, October 2014, May 2015 and every three months starting from January 2016.

Privileges Earned

  1. Badges – Each Merit has a badge that can be shown in the member's Who's Who profile page.
  2. Official Events Discount – Members who have the Events Attendance Gold Merit plus one other Gold Merit related to Official Events plus three other Gold Merits of any type (though only one Gold Merit from the Membership Category counts), will receive a 10% discount on tickets to our Anniversary Party, Euro Party, Fall Ball, and South Pacific events for the rest of their membership at TarValon.Net.
  3. Extra Bond – Members who have the Tower Sworn Gold Merit plus four other Gold Merits (not including the Membership Gold Merit), will have the ability to bond one person above their current limit. This means that Green Aes Sedai will be able to have four bondmates, Red Aes Sedai will be able to have two, and the rest of the Ajahs and all of the Gaidin will be able to have three bondmates.

For all members who have earned one or all of the privileges above, see this page: Privileges Earned from Merits.

List of Badges

Please click on the Merit name for more information.

Current Merit Badges
Category Name Silver Requirement Gold Requirement Platinum Requirement Notes Icon(s)
Membership Membership Merit 2.5 consecutive years as a member 5 consecutive years as a member 20 consecutive years as a member Can earn more than once, caps at Platinum
Membership Merit Silver 50.png Membership Merit Gold 50.png Membership Merit Platinum 300.png
Membership Tower Sworn Merit 2.5 cumulative years as a Tower Sworn 5 cumulative years as a Tower Sworn 20 cumulative years as a Tower Sworn Can earn more than once, caps at Platinum
Senior Membership Merit Silver 50.png Senior Membership Merit Gold 50.png Senior Membership Merit Platinum 300.png
Events Leadership Local Liaison Merit Be a Local Liaison 1 time Be a Local Liaison 3 times Can only earn once
Local Liaison Merit Silver 50.png Local Liaison Merit Gold 50.png
Events Leadership Committee Head Merit Serve as a Committee Head 2 times Serve as a Committee Head 3 times Can only earn once
Committee Head Merit Silver 50.png Committee Head Merit Gold 50.png
Events Leadership Camp Nurse Merit Serve as Camp Nurse 1 time Serve as Camp Nurse 3 times Can only earn once
Camp Nurse Merit Silver 50.png Camp Nurse Merit Gold 50.png
Events Leadership Local Events Merit Host 3 local events Host 10 local events Can only earn once
Local Events Merit Silver 50.png Local Events Merit Gold 50.png
Events Leadership Extraordinary Service Merit Perform an extraordinary service for someone or the Tower at an Official Event n/a n/a Can earn more than once
Extraordinary Service Merit 50.png
Events Participation Events Participation Merit Participate in the Amyrlin's Tournament 3 times

Participate in trivia 3 times

Participate in the costume contest 3 times

Participate in committees 3 times

n/a n/a Can earn only one per sub-category
Participation Tournament Merit Silver 50.png Participation Trivia Merit Silver 50.png
Participation Costume Merit Silver 50.png Participation Committee Merit Silver 50.png
Events Participation Virtual Events Merit Coffee Talk - Host 5 online chats or virtual meetings

Movie Buff - Host 5 online movie watch events

Achievement Unlocked - Host 5 online quizzes or trivia

Online Social Butterfly - Attend 20 or more virtual events

Lonely Hearts Club - Host 20 or more events that do not have the required minimum attendance

Epic Event - Plan an epic event

Coffee Talk - Host 20 or more online chats or virtual meetings

Movie Buff - Host 20 or more online movie watch events

Achievement Unlocked - Host 20 or more online quizzes or trivia

Can earn only one per sub-category, Epic Event can be earned more than once
Virtual Events Coffee Merit Gold 300.png Virtual Events Movie Merit Gold 300.png Virtual Events Achievement Merit Gold 300.png
Virtual Events Coffee Merit Silver 50.png Virtual Events Movie Merit Silver 50.png Virtual Events Achievement Merit Silver 50.png
Virtual Events Participation Merit Silver 50.png Virtual Events Epic Merit Silver 50.png
Events Participation Tournament Winners Merit Win 2 events in the Amyrlin's tournament Win 5 events in the Amyrlin's tournament Can only earn once
ATParticipationSilver50.png ATParticipationGold50.png
Events Participation Attendance Merit Attend 10 Official Events/Conferences Attend 20 Official Events/Conferences
Events Attendance Merit Silver 50.png Events Attendance Merit Gold 50.png
Events Participation Amyrlin's Champion Merit n/a Win the Amyrlin's Tournament Can earn more than once
Amyrlins Champion Merit Gold 50.png
Online Spirit Gleeman's Merit Run 2 Mafia or Assassins games Run 4 Mafia or Assassins games, including at least one mafia Can only earn once
Gleeman Merit Silver 50.png Gleeman Merit Gold 50.png
Online Spirit Logo Design Merit Win the competition for the logo for an official event n/a n/a Can earn more than once
Logo Design Merit 50.png
Online Spirit Spirit Merit Receive 2 “Spirit of _____” awards, given out for each of our official freeweeks n/a n/a Can earn more than once
Spirit Festival Merit 50.png
Online Spirit Epic Prank Merit Perform an epic prank n/a n/a Can earn more than once

By nomination only

Epic Prank Merit 50.png
Online Spirit Members' Choice Award Merit Earn a Members' Choice Award n/a n/a Can earn more than once
Members Choice Award 50.png
Wild Card Alchemist Merit n/a Earn enough silvers that do not convert to Golds Can only earn once
Alchemist Merit 50.png
Wild Card Amyrlin's Award Merit n/a Earn an Amyrlin's Award Can earn more than once
Amyrlins Award Merit 50.png
Wild Card Officer's Award Merit n/a Earn any Officer Award apart from Initiative of the Year Can earn more than once
Keepers Award Merit 50.png
Wild Card Officer's Award Merit Earn an Initiative of the Year Officer Award n/a Can earn more than once
Officer Award Initiative Merit 300.png
Wild Card Group Pride Merit n/a Serve one full term each as the Head/Company Commander and Heart/Honor Guard and Sitter/Warder Councillor for your Ajah/Company
Group Pride Merit Original 50.png
Wild Card Climbing the Ladder Merit n/a Serve in a staff position, as an Administrator, and as an Executive for at least three months at each level.
Climbing The Ladder Merit 50.png
Wild Card Globetrotter Merit n/a Attend at least three Official Events on at least two different continents
Globetrotter Merit 50.png
Wild Card Rock Star Merit n/a If you do something really, really off the charts epic to help someone By nomination only
Rock Star Merit 50.png
Administrative Service Staff Merit Serve in Staff Positions for 2.5 years Serve in Staff Positions for 5 years Serve in Staff Positions for 20 years Can earn more than once, caps at Platinum

Does not include positions eligible for the Pro Bono Merit or Reporter Merit.

Staff Merit Silver 50.png Staff Merit Gold 50.png Staff Merit Platinum 300.png
Administrative Service Administrator Merit Serve as an administrator for 2 years Serve as an administrator for 4 years Serve as an administrator for 16 years Can earn more than once, caps at Platinum
Administrator Merit Silver 50.png Administrator Merit Gold 50.png Administrator Merit Platinum 300.png
Administrative Service Executive Merit Serve as an Executive for 1.5 years Serve as an Executive for 3 years Serve as an Executive for 12 years Can earn more than once, caps at Platinum
Executive Merit Silver 50.png Executive Merit Gold 50.png Executive Merit Platinum 300.png
Administrative Service Officer Merit Serve as an Officer for 1 year Serve as an Officer for 2 years Serve as an Officer for 8 years Can earn more than once, caps at Platinum
Officer Merit Silver 50.png Officer Merit Gold 50.png Officer Merit Platinum 300.png
Administrative Service Group Service Merit Be recognized by Community group leader as having provided service to the group in an unofficial capacity n/a n/a Can earn more than once

By nomination only

Group Service Merit 50.png
Pro Bono Pro Bono Merit Provide legal, graphical, IT, HR, or financial expertise to the Tower free of charge for 1.5 years in an unnamed position Provide legal, graphical, IT, HR, or financial expertise to the Tower free of charge for 3 years in an unnamed position Certain positions in the Departments of Marketing and Technology qualify, along with the Legal Research Team. Admin and Exec positions qualify for merits under the Administrative Service Category.
Pro Bono HR Silver 50.png Pro Bono Graphical Silver 50.png
Pro Bono Legal Silver 50.png Pro Bono IT Silver 50.png
Pro Bono HR Gold 50.png Pro Bono Graphical Gold 50.png
Pro Bono Legal Gold 50.png Pro Bono IT Gold 50.png
Publishers Editing Merit Spend 1.5 years consistently editing the Library Spend 3 years consistently editing the Library Spend 10 years or more consistently editing the Library Can only earn once
Editing Merit Silver 50.png Editing Merit Gold 50.png Editing Merit Platinum 300.png
Publishers Reporter Merit Write 20 articles for the TVT Write 50 articles for the TVT Can only earn once
Reporter Merit Silver 50.png Reporter Merit Gold 50.png
Publishers Writing Merit Write 20 articles for the Library Write 100 articles for the Library Write 500 articles for the Library Can only earn once
Writing Merit Silver 50.png Writing Merit Gold 50.png Writing-Merit-Platinum.png
Publishers Copywriting Merit n/a Put in an exceptional effort in copywriting for our website
Copywriting Merit Gold 50.png
Raising the Next Generation Mentoring Merit Mentor 5 members who rise at least 1 rank Mentor 10 members who rise at least 1 rank
Mentoring Merit Silver 50.png Mentoring Merit Gold 50.png
Raising the Next Generation Classroom Participation Merit Participate in and complete 6 classes or discussions n/a n/a
Classroom Participation Merit Silver 50.png
Raising the Next Generation Teaching Merit Teach/Lead 2 classes or discussions Teach/Lead 5 classes or discussions
Teaching Merit Silver 50.png Teaching Merit Gold 50.png
Raising the Next Generation Sponsorship Merit Sponsor 5 people for admittance to the Tower n/a n/a
SponsorSilver50.png


For different reasons, it was decided that some merits do not serve the purposes they were intended for, therefore it was decided to retire them. The people who have already earned those merits, will keep them, but they will not be earned by others in the future.

Retired Merit Badges
Category Name Silver Requirement Gold Requirement Notes Icon(s)
Events Leadership Committee Leadership Merit Be chosen 2 times as having demonstrated outstanding Committee Leadership Be chosen 5 times as having demonstrated outstanding Committee Leadership Can only earn once
Committee Leadership Merit Silver 50.png Committee Leadership Merit Gold 50.png
Events Participation Events Participation Merit Serve as Da'covale 3 times
Events Participation Dacovale Merit 50.png
Online Spirit Spirit Merit Be chosen as a great participant for the forums or chat n/a Can earn more than once
Spirit Chat Merit 50.png