BuPers:MarksmanshipManual:Calculating

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Calculating Credits

Credit calculation is simple. The number of hours played is the base credit value of any game. This number is modified by the number of TRMN members participating in a game. The result is the credit value of the game session.

The minimum credits possible for a game session is 0.25 credits, or 15 minutes. If a game lasts less than 15 minutes, multiple plays might be necessary to make the minimum time.

Credit Multiplier

Number of Players	Multiplier
One or Two	1
Three	2
Four	3
Five or More	4

As an example, if four TRMN members play Axis & Allies for four hours, the credit hours are multiplied by 3 (because there are four players) for a total of 12 hours. Likewise, if three members had played for 5 hours, the total credit hours would be 10. No matter how many players are involved in the game, no credit multiplier is ever more than 4.

Special Cases

• Tournaments — Though individual bouts in a tournament may be one-on-one, for records purposes the entire tournament can be counted as a game session, including the credit multiplier. This works out favorably for the players and encourages tournament play.
  

• Asynchronous Games — Many computer or mobile games are asynchronous; that is, players play their turns at different times from one another. A good example of this is Words with Friends, a Scrabble-like mobile game. One player may play their turn at midnight, while the next does not get around to playing their turn until noon the next day. All asynchronous games are credited at 0.25 credits per day of play. This credit only occurs on days when turns are actually played, not days between turns. This can be modified if the game allows clans or teams up to 1 credit per day for five or more TRMN members playing.
  

• Arcade/Console Video Games — These can be combined into “sessions,” such as with tournaments. If a group of TRMN members spend an hour in an arcade playing together, then an hour of credit is earned, give or take the credit multiplier.
  

• Digital Implementations of Games — Many games now have digital versions, meaning their rules and mechanics have been adapted for use on computers or video game consoles. This shift to digital does not alter the fundamental nature of the game itself. For instance, chess remains chess, regardless of whether it's played on a physical board in person with a friend, on a platform like Tabletop Simulator, or through a web browser. The essence of the game stays the same, as players still strategize and compete against each other. This digital transformation simply provides more options for how and where people can enjoy the game, making it accessible to a wider audience while maintaining the core principles that define it. As such, how the game is played does not alter the credits earned.
  

An example of a game that does qualify as separate from the ‘base’ version is Hairbrained Scheme’s Battletech. While the most basic mechanics are the same, it is functionally a different game based on the same source. Another example would be 5D Chess With Multiverse Time Travel. While it is, at its core, still Chess, significant changes have been made and it would be categorized as a separate game from Chess and its electronic nature would factor in its categorization.

Issuing a Certificate

The issuing authority for each division of TRMN is the echelon at which certificates are issued to members. The units under each such authority are responsible for reporting to their issuing authority when a member has reached a marksmanship level. This can be done as soon as the level is reached, or at some predetermined interval—monthly, with reports perhaps. Or quarterly, to align with award cycles.

Each issuing authority will have its own guidance on reporting. For example, each numbered fleet is an issuing authority. That fleet commander or their designated range officer can issue guidance to the ships in that fleet on reporting when a member has earned a marksmanship level. Some issuing authorities will want copies of or access to the records of their subordinate units, others may be satisfied with an email from a ship or installation CO certifying that the requirements have been met. In any case, the records should be kept in case later verification is desired. Blank certificates are available through BuComm for the appropriate issuing authorities.

Wearing Marksmanship Awards

Every member of TRMN can qualify in all the categories of the marksmanship program, but some divisions do not have a separate device for each of the categories. In these cases, the awards are grouped together under the devices the service does include.

For example, a Royal Marine, Grayson spacer, and Army Soldier are all qualified as marksmen in Pistol, experts in Flechette Gun, and high experts in Rifle. The army soldier would wear each device, since the army has devices for each weapon / category. The marine would wear the Rifle High Expert ribbon, along with the Expert Pistol ribbon since Flechette Gun is included under Pistol for RMMC personnel. The Grayson spacer would wear the Expert Marksman device, since the Grayson awards recognize only the highest marksmanship level, regardless of category/weapon.

As a member changes branches, they change the way they display their award. The underlying points and certificates do not change, only the method of displaying the award.

Each division is specified below:

• Royal Manticoran Army: The army recognizes all categories of awards
• Royal Manticoran Navy: The RMN combines the categories into Naval Rifle or Naval Pistol for display purposes.
• Royal Manticoran Marine Corps: The RMMC follows, and uses, the same awards as the RMN for display purposes.
• Royal Manticoran Astro Control Service: The RMACS uses the RMN awards for display purposes.
• Grayson Space Navy: the GSN uses the Naval Pistol/Rifle Groupings but only displays the highest of the two as Weapons Qualification Medal/ Distinguished Weapon Qualification Medal/ Champion Shots Medal.
• Republic of Haven Navy: The RHN uses the Naval Pistol/Rifle Groupings but only displays the higher of the two for the <insert award name>
• Imperial Andermani Navy: The IAN uses the Naval Pistol/Rifle Groupings but displays the higher of the two with the Marksmanship Badge in Bronze/Silver/Gold.
• Sphinx Forestry Commission: The SFC uses the Naval Pistol/Rifle Groupings but displays the RMA award for that level.
• Royal Manticoran Merchant Marine:The RMMM uses the Naval Pistol/Rifle Groupings but displays the RMA award for that level.
• Diplomatic Corps: The DC uses the Naval Pistol/Rifle Groupings but displays the RMA award for that level.
• Special Intelligence Service: The SIS uses the Naval Pistol/Rifle Groupings but displays the RMA award for that level.

Markmanship Program Conversion Table

RMA	RMN / MC / CIV
Pistol	Pistol
Grenade	Pistol
Flechette Gun	Pistol
Plasma Carbine	Pistol
Rifle	Rifle
Disruptor	Rifle
Tribarrel	Rifle
Grenade Launcher	Rifle
Plasma Rifle	Rifle