A bridged network system (20). The bridged network system comprises a plurality of bridge nodes (N.sub.0-N.sub.7). Each bridge node in the plurality of bridge nodes is coupled to communicate with at least one other bridge node in the plurality of nodes. Further, bridge nodes in the plurality of bridge nodes are connected to one another to form a communications-possible line of bridge nodes (N.sub.0, N.sub.7, N.sub.6, N.sub.5, N.sub.1, N.sub.4, N.sub.3, N.sub.2). Each bridge node comprises circuitry for associating a bridge priority, selected from a plurality of bridge priorities, with the respective bridge node. The plurality of bridge priorities may be arranged in an ordered sequence, but the bridge priorities associated with successive bridge nodes along the communications-possible line of bridge nodes comprises at least two discontinuities (N.sub.0/N.sub.7; N.sub.1/N.sub.5; N.sub.1/N.sub.4) in the ordered sequence.