Arknights Promotion: A Ribbon or Something More
Every gacha game has a mechanic where the player can make their characters stronger and unlock skills. Fate Grand Order has Ascension. Arknights has Promotion. Now on the surface both mechanics are purely gameplay mechanics to extend playtime. However, Ascension in the Nasuverse is an actual thing. It’s described as the Servants Saint Graphs (bodies) becoming more attuned to their Master’s magical energy, and some Servants undergo Ascension in their interludes.
Now their is a world of difference between Servants and Operators. The former are Magic Ghosts that feed off their Master’s mana. It’s not that hard a sell to believe that they can be upgraded through that connection and magical reagents. However, Operators are a harder sell. They are flesh and blood people in a organization with ranks. It’s really easy to see Promotion as just that. They get a higher rank within Rhodes Island. And some Operators Promotion lines indicate a promotion is just a rank up. Here’s Ch’en’s first Promotion line.
“ Another promotion? I’m used to it by now.”
Simple enough right? Then I read Nearl and Skadi’s promotion lines
Nearl: Thank you, Doctor. These new powers shall bring relief to those who suffer. This I shall engrave upon my heart.
Skadi: So this is the promotion Rhodes Island folks are always going on about? Not bad. Feels like I’ve actually become stronger, maybe.
They make it sound like they’ve unlocked new abilities that will help them. And Skadi’s voice line confirms that Promotion is an actual thing in universe and it’s probably more than just a rank up within Rhodes Island if other operators constantly talk about it. Promotion can’t just be a simple rank up. Then there’s the case that Operators treat Promotion 2 like it’s something way more than just obtaining a higher position within Rhodes Island.
Exusiai: Leader… No, savior, I pledge to this gun in my hand to protect you until the very end of this world.
That isn’t Exusiai’s max trust line, that’s what she says when she undergoes her second Promotion. Therefore I posit that an Operator being promoted within Rhodes Island isn’t just a rank up within the organization. It’s a complete upgrade to the Operator’s equipment or a signifies that they’ve unlocked new abilities or in the case of some operators that they’re willing to use their full potential for Rhodes Island.
What does everybody else think? Am I reading too much into what’s a simple gameplay mecahnic? Or am I onto something? What are your thoughts on Promotion within Arknights