That's what this is. It's an award system dedicated to TechNet Wiki. Many people will question why TechNet Wiki would even receive value in its own reward system. After all, TechNet Wiki is combined into the Profile Rewards systems... Recognition Points and Achievement Medals. And it is taken into account with some community-influence awards, such as the MVP award. But why should it have its own rewards system? Well, this system focuses squarely on rewarding only one thing... Contributing on TechNet Wiki. We have a few later ranks that can only be achieved by authoring popular content, but most of these awards will reward you for making a lot of TechNet Wiki contributions. We think it will have better results (on the Wiki) as a reward for three reasons:
First, it's targeted to the Wiki contributors... The rewards and prizes are very specific to what we do on TechNet Wiki, including theming it to our Wiki Ninjas efforts.
Second, it goes much deeper for rewarding TechNet Wiki content than any other rewards system can... With 25 awards (and each with their own rewards), it gives more facets and exposure to the various accomplishments on TechNet Wiki. People are motivated when you reward them. And we have a magnificent variety of rewards in this system (including helping you build your reputation).
Third, it's fun. People like to do things that are fun, and the Wiki Ninja theme is a fun way to rack up your contributions on TechNet Wiki.
There are 7 classes of ninjas: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Sensei, Master, Internationalization, and Legendary. Each class is a group of three or four belts/ranks.
We track your Belt Rank here: Wiki Ninja Belt Status: Who Has What Belt Ranking. Note that this award is currently stalled while we automate the system.
On Saturdays, we post the Top Weekly Contributors with different category awards. If you get mentioned as the #1 winner of a category, then you are "placed in the Top Weekly Contributors". This is for doing things like having the most edits that week, the most new articles that month, the most updated article, the longest article, the most revised article, etc. If you place in multiple categories in the same blog post, it still only counts as one time (meaning one week). See the Top Contributors of the Week blog posts.
There will be tweaks made to the rewards. The rewards could become "lamer" at any time, even after some people received the better reward. The requirements can also be tweaked at any time. The requirement changes will affect you if you haven't received that belt rank yet. However, if you did receive the belt already, then the change will not affect you (you cannot lose a belt rank that you received).
This class is still a work in progress, and thus, we will not calculate anybody in this class yet. We currently have our international Community Council members focusing on refining and launching this class.
You will find in this blog post an interactive image: you just have to move your mouse over a belt to see its requirements. Once you have determined what your rank is, click on the belt to launch the associated URL: you will access the section where you have to add your name.
The displayed data associated to each belt comes from the content of this article (see below for more information).
Here is the image (the popups and links are not working):
Sensei Says: "A white belt is like a finger pointing to the moon… Don’t concentrate on the finger or you miss all the heavenly glory. Don’t focus on the achievements too much for now, they will come. Just enjoy working together in the TechNet Wiki community."
About: This is only the start of a journey. The white belt can be achieved with 1 week of putting in extra effort.
Ninjas: To see who currently holds this belt, see this belt's section in the Belt Status article.
Requirements:
Rewards:
Sensei Says: "A yellow belt means practice, practice, practice... And when you're done? Practice some more."
About: Your journey continues as you prove you're a consistent editor. The tweety bird sings your song.
Sensei Says: "Someone always knows more. Don't let that faze you, you're well on your way."
About: After writing your first 10 articles and seeing your name on the Wiki Ninjas blog a few times, it's time to feature you as a Wiki Ninja on the blog.
Sensei Says: "Remember, once, I was where you are now. It's just that I didn't stay there for long."
About: Welcome to the Intermediate Wiki Ninjas! You've passed the initial hilltop, and you're ready to expand your journey.
Sensei Says: When somebody asks you how you did it, reply: "Don't know, first time"!
About: It's time for an interview. Tell the world about your journey.
Sensei Says: "I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine. But having said that, you're doing a great job!"
About: Despite what Sensei says, you still have quite a list of requirements to achieve!
Sensei Says: "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."
About: And as the Sensei says, we should all fear the Wiki Ninja who has written 50 articles with lots of views. It's time we made you a Wiki profile page.
Sensei Says: "A black belt is just for holding up your trousers. Don't let your achievements get to your head!"
About: Well you shouldn't let your accomplishments get to head, but you did make it to the Master Wiki Ninja class. Congratulations! There are 10 Dans. It's going to get very difficult as you work your way through them.
Sensei Says: "A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at."
About: But if you did reach it, then that's a bonus!
Sensei Says: "As you think, so shall you become."
About: There are only a few ways to become your own trading card, and this is a lot easier than making it in the Major Leagues!
Grand Master Says: "Knowledge will give you power, but character respect."
About: Congratulations! You are now a Sensei! You made it to the 4th Dan. As a Sensei, you'll need to have your own wise sayings! Now you're getting your wisdom from the Grand Master! To reach this goal, you have to earn the elusive "Wiki Ninja" Gold Achievement Medal. There aren't a lot of Wiki Ninjas who have made it this far!
Grand Master Says: "If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done."
About: You should listen to Grand Master. Sometimes you just have to get it done. Thank you for all your contributions in the TechNet Wiki community! This is your first entrance as a character in the Wiki Ninja RPG!
Grand Master Says: "Be happy, but never satisfied."
About: Well maybe a little satisfied! But keep on pushing it! You're almost a master!
Grand Master Says: "Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own."
About: That Grand Master is a very wise Wiki Ninja! It's time you earned your Master gold medal. You truly are now a Wiki Ninja Master. Congratulations!
Ninjas: To see who currently holds this rank, see this rank's section in the Belt Status article.
Grand Master Says: "Your focus needs more focus."
About: Well then let's focus that focus! Now you become a playable character in the Wiki Ninja RPG! You're famous!
The Nameless One Says: "You've done a lot of good stuff, and some bad stuff. Don't regret the bad stuff."
About: Wow! You've just become the Grand Master! Now you'll get your wisdom from the Nameless One! That means you need to give your Grand Master wisdom to all the other Wiki Ninjas out there!
The Nameless One Says: "Only a Ninja can stop a Ninja. So contemplate this: maybe you should stop. If you go on like this, you seriously run the risk of becoming a Legendary Ninja."
About: You never thought that Red Belt was so hard to earn! But you earned it! By the way, you don't want to become a Legendary Ninja, do you? Because that's the next class! You're almost there!
NOTE: This entire class is still a work in progress, and thus, we will not calculate anybody for this class yet (nobody can place in it). We currently have our international Community Council members focusing on refining and launching this class.
The Global One Says: "We should all try to get along. The first step is understanding each other."
About: Us international ninjas serve a different master... the Global One! As the Global One says, you're helping us understand each other! You started a nice mix of translating articles and writing articles in a non-English language!
The Global One Says: "A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer. Do keep translating, so I can learn more!”
About: Wow, you're quite the translator! It's time to become a playing card!
The Global One Says:
The doubters said,
"Man can not fly,"
The doers said,
"Maybe, but we'll try,"
And finally soared
In the morning glow
While non-believers
Watched from below
About: Well I've always believed in you! Now you're a character in the International Wiki Ninja RPG!
The Global One Says: "Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it."
About: That includes from all around the world! Congratulations! You made it! You're a well rounded International Wiki Ninja!
The Nameless One Says: "If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them."
About: You made it! You are now a Legendary Wiki Ninja! And you're an author for the Wiki Ninjas blog! Glad to have you on board!
The Nameless One Says: "Showing off is the fool's idea of glory."
About: Well you are awesome, but showing off isn't a good idea.
The Nameless One Says: "I hope you like challenges. There's still one more step to take."
About: You better like your challenges! You made it this far! And you just achieved three legendary Gold Achievement Medals, you are the Chosen One... the Wiki Ninja Supreme, Blog Party Starter, and the Blogs All Star!
The Nameless One Says:
"Once, I was drinking a cup of tea, and a young boy approached me, telling me he wanted to become the greatest sword fighter in the world. I looked him deep in the eyes and finally decided to take him on as my student. He grew up to be the finest and most powerful swordsman I ever saw, and there came a day when I called him to me and said: "Your education is over, there is nothing more I can teach you." He took my hand and held it for a long time, and I saw a tear trickle down his face. He said to me: "I'll go and better the world. But, Master, what will you do now?" I replied. "I think I'll finish that cup of tea now."
"In case you didn't get my wonderful narrative: there's nothing more to teach you, continue on the path you have followed, you'll be fine!"
About: The student has become the master! You are now enlightened, the master of the masters! It's time to finish that cup of tea!
These ideas require proposals to other tools teams. That means getting on their backlog and becoming a priority.
Resources to get descriptions from: