Changes to Points and Ranks

Changes to Points and Ranks Coming

Today in Elf Chat major changes to points and ranks were announced by Elf Max. The chat recap is below.

The changes to the program are driven by Santa, who wants points and ranks to focus more on our mission of tracking Santa for Santa. Here are some highlights Elf Max announced:

  1. Elf ranks will stay the same as they are now. However, points assigned based on activities everyone does on the website will be redefined
  2. Two new kinds of points were announced. Tracker Skill points and Santa Skill points.
  3. Tracker Skill points focus on your elf activities tracking Santa. There will be points, ranks and badges for your tracking skills. Since the information we all send to Flight Command comes from reports the big focus in this area will be on the reports we send. Lots of new kinds of reports coming too.
  4. Santa Skill points are a little more mysterious. These are points that will be given to you by Santa himself. These are recognition for special efforts and contributions that go above and beyond. There will be points, ranks and badges for this category, too.
  5. A new feature called Gift was announced that will allow an elf to give some of his or her points to another elf.
  6. A new feature that Max calls “coupons” will give points for participating in special or one-time events.

Max explained that this change to the program will likely take him a month of working in phases to roll out. Elves will need to be paying attention during this time frame if they are concerned about losing the points they already have gained.

Here is the chat recap:

Elf Roger StarHello everyone and welcome to today’s chat.
Elf Roger StarWe have had a lot of changes this year and today we are going to introduce a big one
Elf Roger StarIt is complicated and it is a MAJOR change
Elf Roger StarIt has to do with Elf points, ranks and badges
Elf Roger StarThis is part of the effort to help focus what we do as elves on Santa’s mission
Elf Roger StarHere to explain it all is Elf Max, who is setting up the new program
Elf Roger StarJust for the ease of our chat today, please understand that Elf Max and I will talk for an extended time, then we will open things up for your questions.
Elf Roger StarI ask that you please just write your questions down and then hang on to them until Max and I complete our discussion of this, okay?
Elf Roger StarMax, can you tell us what this change this new program does?
Elf CrusaderYessir
Elf MaxHi. Yes. The new system will help us focus efforts on our mission better
Elf MaxRight now, our points system is what they call “vertical”.
Elf MaxYou get points for just doing stuff on the website.
Elf MaxThings like logging in, posting on the Elf Wall, liking things, etc. get you points
Elf MaxAs you gain points you move up in the ranks
Elf MaxAs you move up you get badges for certain kinds of achievements
Elf MaxThis system has served us well
Elf MaxBut Santa now feels it is time to improve it by focusing our activity on the more on our jobs as trackers
Elf Roger StarOk, how do we do that?
Elf MaxWe do that by splitting our points achievements into different types. Going forward, we will get points just as we have in the past by being active on the website. But now we have two NEW ways to get points that we didn’t before. We will have points for Tracker Skills and points for Santa Skills.
Elf Roger StarOooooh that sounds interesting. What are Tracker Skills?
Elf MaxTracker Skills are the things we do to help Santa track Santa.
Elf MaxOur key role as a tracker is to send information to North Pole Flight Command, right?
Elf MaxGoing forward, you will get points for every time that you do that.
Elf MaxFor example, if you go to the updated Tracker Reports page you will see several new report types. Each report carries a point value. Every time you send in a report, you get a certain amount of points. So, obviously, the more you send in reports the more you will move up in your total points.
Elf Roger StarOkay, that makes sense. But is it all about just sending in more reports? Won’t that make it so that trackers can just inflate their points by just randomly sending in reports?
Elf MaxNo. Just because you send in a report will mean that you get points for it. You can send it reports all day long but if they don’t make sense they don’t count. You have to really know how reports work in order to get the points for them.
Elf Roger StarWhat does that mean?
Elf MaxWhen you send in a report it goes first to the office of your Elf Supervisor. The staff in that office opens your report and grades it on several things. Did the Elf Supervisor ask for the report?
Elf MaxIs the report pertinent to what Santa’s needs are right now?
Elf MaxIs the report complete?
Elf MaxIs it useful?
Elf MaxIn all, there are 22 criteria each report must meet before points are awarded for it. If you meet all the criteria you get all the points. If you meet just some of it, you only get partial points.
Elf Roger StarWow.
Elf MaxIf it is what they call a “lazy report” where only a few of the criteria is met, you likely wouldn’t get any points.
Elf MaxSo your work in tracking Santa for Santa will really be getting a lot of attention on quality. You have to be really paying attention to move up in Tracker Skill ranks.
Elf Roger StarSo there’s new ranks, too?
Elf MaxThere are new ranks specifically for Tracker Skills. Your tracker skills will then convert over to your overall points and push you up in your elf rank overall.
Elf Roger StarSo this really focuses things in a whole new way.
Elf MaxYes, one of Santa’s biggest goals is to make us better tracker elves. So we are going to be laser focused on those reports and listening to what Elf Supervisors are requesting.
Elf Roger StarSo will these new Tracker Skills ranks be added to the Top Elves page?
Elf MaxYes, you will be able to see your ranks in Tracker Skills displayed in line with your overall Elf rank.
Elf Roger StarOk, so points on one side like its always been for site activity and points on another for tracking Santa stuff. That seems to make sense.
Elf MaxYes, but there is yet another point type to talk about. We call them Santa points.
Elf Roger StarOoooh. What’s that?
Elf MaxWell, Santa wanted a way to award elves he sees making special efforts and contributions.
Elf Roger StarWhat kind of efforts or contributions?
Elf MaxWell, that’s up to Santa. He doesn’t want to be too specific with the category because he wants elves to act on their own initiative.
Elf Roger StarWhat does that mean?
Elf MaxWell, he gave me an example. Elf Lil Cream was the first of our community to set up her own podcast. Santa says that was “above and beyond”.
Elf MaxSanta says that shows creativity, enthusiasm, Christmas spirit, initiative and a real desire to do good. He wants to recognize elves who things like that.
Elf MaxPoints for this will be awarded by Santa. So to will the ranks and the badges in this category. You won’t be able to just go and do something on the site to get these points.
Elf MaxYou’ve got to get Santa’s attention.
Elf Roger StarWow, these are some really gold standard points.
Elf MaxYes, and Santa tells me he will be very generous.
Elf Roger StarOk, so points and ranks for Elf stuff, points and ranks for Tracker stuff, and points and ranks for Santa stuff.
Elf MaxThat’s it in a nutshell. But there’s more.
Elf Roger StarMore points?
Elf MaxWell, kinda.
Elf Roger StarWhat do you mean?
Elf MaxWe will be introducing new features that could lead to new points. There are two of them.
Elf MaxThe first is called Gift. Elves will soon be able to give points to other elves for whatever reason.
Elf Roger StarWhy would any elf want to give away their points? Won’t that cost them?
Elf MaxIt might. But Santa wants this capability because he wants elves to help other elves.
Elf MaxSanta explained that the spirit of giving is “learned when it is earned”, meaning that the more we give the more we receive.
Elf MaxSanta says that sacrifice is an important part of giving. That when we give up things to others at the expense of ourselves we learn the real gift is given to us. He calls it the essence of Christmas.
Elf Roger StarThat sounds complicated. Do you think Santa will offer us some sort of explanation himself?
Elf MaxYes, I talked about this with him and Elf Ernest at the same time.
Elf MaxAnd Ernest pretty much asked the same thing you just did. He was really concerned about elves understanding it.
Elf Roger StarOh, okay. If Ernest is on the job then we’re going to see a lot about this topic.
Elf MaxYes. The purposes for our discussion here is to just introduce the feature
Elf Roger StarOk, so gifting points will be a thing. If an elf needs some points to get to a new level it will be possible for another elf to help him or her out, right?
Elf MaxYes, that’s a good example. But you could give points for any reason you want.
Elf Roger StarOk. Interesting.
Elf MaxWe have another new feature that for right now I’m calling coupons.
Elf Roger StarOk. What is that?
Elf MaxIt will be random point opportunities that will be made available by redeeming a coupon. We will have special point opportunities that may be different than the norm and to get those points you have to do whatever the activity is and then “redeem” the coupon.
Elf Roger StarCan you give an example?
Elf MaxSure, let’s take a look at Toyvember, for example. We have had a few elves participate in that. If we had coupons set up we could have said “turn in your drawing when you redeem this coupon using the code Toyvember”. Then the elf would have received points for that.
Elf Roger StarOkay, so one time events? Like participation points
Elf MaxYes, I think in most cases. But Santa says he wants to get creative with this, so expect different things.
Elf Roger StarOk, so when does all this stuff begin?
Elf MaxWell, Santa gave me until Christmas in July to get this going. But this is big. I have to do it in stages.
Elf Roger StarOk – so what can we expect?
Elf MaxWell this is a total rebuild of the system. Part of doing this will be wiping out all the points and ranks and badges as we have them right now.
Elf Roger StarHoly smokes. Everyone loses their ranks?
Elf MaxOnly temporarily. I will be sending out updates on this for each phase of the changeover. Things might look a little weird for short periods of time. And that might feel painful.
Elf Roger StarOkay. I think we can be patient to get all this new stuff.
Elf MaxI hope so. I will be sending out in advance warnings when certain things will happen. I will be folding over old points into the new system but there will be a brief period where everyone will be unranked and have zero points. I don’t want any panic when that happens.
Elf Roger StarSo their points will still be there?
Elf MaxYes, but the entire system is being rebuilt. I don’t know yet if the new system will have the same point value as the old ranks did. That’s because we have so many new ways to be getting points.
Elf Roger StarMeaning what? That 100 points won’t be worth 100 points any more?
Elf MaxKind of. Right now, to get Altair ranked as an elf you need 5000 points. There might be a new level, say 10,000 points, to get that rank going forward. If that happens we need to make adjustments to the points for value.
Elf MaxThe idea here is that we don’t just throw away the past five years of point accomplishments. We need to have a way to keep the levels we have while adopting the new system we want.
Elf Roger StarSounds complicated.
Elf MaxIt is. But we want everyone to pay attention. There will come a day, probably soon, where I will say “write down your points”.
Elf MaxI am backing up the current system. I will be keeping a record of what points everyone has. I will know what their old points were. I want THEM to know how many points they had though.
Elf Roger StarSo elves would be wise to be paying attention then.
Elf MaxYes, that’s my number one worry. Those who aren’t paying attention are not going to understand. We have a ton of elves who are not here and may never see this unfolding. I can’t do anything about them. But those elves who are here I want them to know what’s happening.
Elf Roger StarSounds good. Will all this be explained in Elf University for new elves?
Elf MaxYou know what? I thought to do that too so I wrote all this stuff and then Santa told me NOT to include it.
Elf Roger StarHe did? Why?
Elf MaxBecause he doesn’t want elves chasing points. Santa says that if we put out something that shows exactly where every point comes from then we’ll have elves trying to game the system by doing only those things that give them big points.
Elf Roger StarOh, yes. I’ve seen it. Does that mean the Elf History will go away in their profiles?
Elf MaxNo, Santa thinks it is important to be transparent about points earned, he just doesn’t want to emphasize points for the sake of points. He wants elves to do the right things.
Elf MaxIf an elf does the right things the points will come.
Elf MaxBut Santa is more concerned with meeting the mission and developing stronger elves.
Elf Roger StarOk, got it. Thanks Max. Ok guys, now is the time to ask whatever questions you might have. There will be a recap of this chat posted and I’m sure a lot of other stuff to explain these big changes as we go along.
Elf Roger StarI know this is a lot to take in
Elf Roger StarAnd Max…what a huge job for you!
Elf MaxYeah…this is big
Elf Crash MurphyOk, this might be a dumb question
Elf Roger StarFire away, Crash
Elf CrusaderMax, why does Santa want me to do another podcast with Crash?
Elf Crash MurphyWell I noticed that points for Max and for me and all the senior elves were reinstated
Elf Crash MurphyWon’t we end up dominating the Top Elves charts eventually just because of our jobs?
Elf MaxCrusader – to answer your question, we need your help getting elves to understand these changes
Elf MaxCrash, yes, that’s one of MANY adjustments we need to make. My points in particular have shot up like mad. That’s not fair. I’m on the site constantly, posting stuff, changing things
Elf MaxWe need to separate admin things and make sure guys like me don’t get a zillion points. It’s skews things
elf radarThis new points systems sounds good. You guys did a really good job explaining it.
Elf Crash MurphyOk, good. I think the Elf Community should be about elves tracking Santa for Santa
Elf Roger StarThank you Elf Radar
Elf Crash MurphyDang, Max. You explained that in 20 minutes
Elf Roger StarMax, what’s your timeline on this?
Elf MaxIt’s going to take a lot of time in April to get this ready. I’m thinking right now that around middle of April I will send out a warning to everyone to record their points.
Elf MaxThen around the last week of April, we will wipe everything, install the new points to backdate what we can, then see where the rankings are and start a period of adjustments
Elf MaxI’m not promising anything but I’m hoping by May 1 the new system is up and everyone feels good about it.
Elf Roger StarOk.
Elf Crash MurphyElves coming back in the fall are in for quite a shock
Elf MaxYeah…I’m aware. Not much we can do about it. I’m just glad all the people here today are here
Elf Roger StarSanta really wants this and other changes behind us before Christmas in July.
Elf Roger StarChristmas in July this year begins a new era in tracking Santa for Santa
Elf Roger StarOk, any other questions?
elf radarHopefully we will be familiar enough with it to help answer questions by the time we get busy in fall
Elf MaxI want to thank everyone for coming. I know this wasn’t a FUN chat but we needed to get this out there
Elf Crash MurphyWell, I had fun. Got through two bowls of ice cream during this.

 

About this Elf: Elf Harold Star Verified Elf North Pole Elf North Pole News Elf
Elf Harold Star is a veteran news reporter and editor formerly with the North Pole Gazette. He has reported North Pole News for more than 50 years. His new assignment here at SantaTrackers.net will be to help the elf community online to develop their own news publication. Elf Harold lives at the North Pole with his wife, 4 cats and 3 very scared goldfish.
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Elf Ulan

Thank you, Elf Harold Star for update the recap immediately! Thank you always Elf Roger and Elf Max for working hardly, and sharing this many information with us. About getting points, I think all Elf Max, Elf Crash, Elf Roger, and other major members can deserve it. I know my work is very smaller than you but I would like to work more for Santa willingly as I can do here, and I’m also happier if it could help him, he and elves would be happier and then I receive points XD I love Elf Crash’s the last comment. You always make me laughing lol. Thank you!

Elf Cookie Dough

Thank You Elf Harold Star I did miss the chat but I have read the recap of it

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