I just had a thought.  (Surprise!)

How about associates not able to rank until the sponsors rank them?  After min exp points and time of course.  Thoughts?  Suggestions?

OMG I agree I just dont think anyone eles will

Hey man. I like it. It would kind of make it more realistic because they would first have to talk to you and prove to you just like how it was in real life.

I like it, but what bout the members that have no sponsors? straight invite from the family? a family must use sponsors after they got 25 members.

I think every family member should be in an subcrew(Everyone below capo)

its rather complicated if we implement that. but I like the idea

Maybe as a compromise, the sponsor could elect associates for promotion. So you still get the effect of associate having to prove themselves to the sponsor, but the final decision is still lays with the CL.

Sounds better

How about for those not sponsored by designated member don't auto promote and it would be up to the CL.  That of course would mean no auto ranking at all in the game just like the real mafia.  Thoughts on this one?

As for electing associates for rank that's a good idea too, even more realistic.  How about a "vote" button that sends the vote to the CL's DL in a special section called "Recommendations" or something shorter?

that actually sounds good, and it's realistic, a person has potential seen in him, and the person who brought him in could tell the boss if said associate could/should be trusted/shunned/killed/promoted.

I was thinking of this the other day myself and it's adds that hint of realism where the sponsor has a bigger role in the Mafioso's life. This would make sense if he's looking after him, then shouldn't he have the right to push the button, after obviously discussing it with the CL. Hope the coders put this in! ;p 

I don't like this idea because anything up to wise guy should stay automatic because they are low ranks and waiting for your sponsor to come online is just annoying. Secondly anything above wise guy should always be up to the boss if not the godfather of a city (for the reason of reality as this is a role play game people). And finally, some families already use a referral system for ranking to made and is down to how a leader decides to run his/her family so there is no reason for this to be handled by game coding when a simple mail will do.

Made Man is a huge rank in terms of meaning, and the trust implied with it. Crewleader/Godfather will always get the final say in this, as every Made's actions reflect on the crewleader and the city itself.

If Crewleaders wish to ask the Sponsor's opinion that is their prerogative, just the same as if a Crewleader wishes to implement subcrews then they can do that themselves.

Having it hardcoded so that everyone *has* to follow a system just takes too much from the realism. Each and every leader has their individual style, and it seems unfair to force leaders all down the same path.

How about when they reach the 25 units and rank of wiseguy a button appears in the "sponsors" link that says "approve for button" or something.  Once click a space to type a message along with the approval so you can say why you approve.  Now this "approve for button" wont rank their associate to made man but will send a simble next to their name in the CL's "Crew" link?