Star Trek

Give me an example.

It all depends on how the game is 'designed'.  Most MMORPGs have designed their games with single-player RPGs too much in mind.  Every player is supposed to feel as if they could eventually rule the universe if only they were able to 1) kill enough 2) collect enough crap, and 3) recruit enough gang members.

Well that works well for hack-n-slash games, and settings where individual power (ability to destroy) is a virtue.  Star Trek is not that kind of setting, and the designers must be well warned that the game will be a disaster if they do not create a maze which leads the mice toward higher goals/ideals.  Instead of feeling you are able to be a master of the universe, you should feel that you are playing a crucial role inside of a structure that has a collective purpose, which depends on your faction.

Now, if you're a selfish, greedy, backstabbing, murderous, anti-social .. you get the picture .. of one variety or the other, you should be allowed to play a pirate/smuggler/spy etc., and be out for yourself alone.  You should be able to slip through borders undetected, harass the fleet of this or that faction, and be a general nusiance / target.    .. loved by none, hunted by all.

Getting back to a rank system.  If I am a member of a crew with a rank of Lieutenant, which everyone should be able to achieve in relatively short order,  I should then be focused on gaining all the necessary skills, and complete all the required mission prerequisites in order to progress beyond that rank.  This would be the same for similar ranks in the other empires of course.

A Lt. would be able to man any console on the bridge that they have the skills for.  Perhaps they would not be able undock/dock the ship at a starbase, for example, something which should require a member of the command staff, the Captain or his/her 1st or 2nd officer.

When the Lt. meets the skill/mission/time requirements, they will be able to spend available experience points on the next rank.  Now, as Lt.Commander they are able to fill the role of 2nd officer, 1st officer, or even as Captain, if again they meet specific requirements.

So, it is in fact a combination of rank and job title, which gives individual players access to specific ship capabilities which a person of lower rank without the specialization would not.

Now, it may not be hard coded that you have to listen to someone of greater rank, or who happens to be the head of your department or whatever .. but the fact is, you will have to, or the ship will not function.  You will become a disruptinve nuisance to the crew, and perhaps one of the Captain's "special powers" will be the ability to eject you from the ship .. placing you back at the last base the ship had undocked from.

I agree with ur saying but found something that would need to be dealt with.  Let's assume that the captain has the power to "remove" rebellious crew.  So at least that allows for ppl to work together etc.  But more importantly how do u remove a "higher officer" that is acting like a loser or giving others a unfun time?

... You transfer ships.

Seriously. If there's a guild leader in other RPGs that's being a real a**hat, the guild quits and starts their own. They leave him to think happy happy thoughts for the rest of his days.  

K.I.S.S.  Keep It Simple Stupid.  Its not that big of a concern when you get right down to it.  Perhapes, the Devs will develope a system, to where if a someone incompetent gets to Captain (god forbide) or is an a**hat, that their rank can be negatively affected by either their command proformance (if they get their ship shot to hell and back) or if their crew has greivances against them, they can be reported to CSRs.  If such a report is verifiable and improper in conduct, the CSRs could negatively affect the individuals promotion potential.  

Allowing for a system to keep a**hat players out of higher ranked positions.  Think about it somemore.  If you're a complete a** in the real military, unless you're just that damn good, you're not getting promoted.  If you screw up, your backside is grass!

Some will probably complain if such a system is ever put in place, because "dangit, I pay good money to be a starship Captain."  

To that I say, "tough luck.  You want to succede and get to Captain?  You have to behave and dig yourself out of the hole.  No favors!  No unaccountability!  You want to play a social game?  You need to be charasmatic inorder to get ahead.  Not a complete jerk off."