Staff Guidelines
As a member of staff on the Ransera website, moderators will be expected to conduct themselves with a level of professionalism and courtesy befitting a leader in this community. To help the staff understand expectations, these guidelines should be kept in mind when interacting with the writers and staffers across the community.
Courtesy
People join a writerRPG website with the intent to engage with the setting in a manner that will allow them to both fulfill and live out a written fantasy through the telling of collaborative stories. To that end, it is our responsibility as the leaders of this community to treat those who make the choice to join it, with a level of courtesy and professionalism when it comes to managing their requests. When interacting with the community at large, moderators should make an effort to remain courteous and foster an environment of respect and consideration. The website can only be as successful and inclusive as we ourselves make it. Every member of staff is empowered to ensure that members of this community are being treated with dignity. At the end of the day, writing on a collaborative storytelling website is a deeply personal experience wherein many people utilize it as an escape to realize either an idealized version of themselves, a fantasy they wish to fulfill or experience, or to build lasting relationships built upon notions of common interest in the role-playing community at large. This can be a frightening and emotional experience for many people, it is our responsibility to ensure that respect is given where respect is shown.
Commitment
Joining staff is voluntary but it comes with a responsibility to help with ensuring the success of the website. That is a large task to take on. With that being said, because joining staff is voluntary it means that as an individual, we have each chosen to step up to be a leader in this community. Staff members are encouraged to take on the responsibilities they know they are comfortable with, that comes with the understanding that once given those responsibilities they will be seen to with due diligence. That means that if, as a volunteer staffer, an individual comes to the realization that they cannot see to the responsibilities entrusted to them in what can be considered a reasonable timeframe, they need to communicate that. An active moderation staff is necessary to ensure the administrative, creative and collaborative processes put in place on Ransera function accordingly. Individuals who accept the privilege of being on staff, accept the burden of that privilege with the understanding that it must be relinquished if the commitments of their position are not being executed appropriately.
Community
We are a team. It is as simple as that. Nothing we do on Ransera as staff can be accomplished completely on our own. Each member of the moderation staff is expected to abide by the established hierarchy (see below) with the understanding that promotion in that hierarchy is based on merit. Responsibility is both a duty and a privilege. That means that individuals entrusted with higher positions of authority on the website are expected to uphold the responsibilities of that office for as long as they hold it. Part of that is working to encourage teamwork and the active participation in moderation across the website. Rank is a privilege, not a right and every day we must strive toward proving that we have earned that privilege. Our community and our team are assets not obstacles.
Staff Positions
Moderators on Ransera are referred to as Authors. To be appointed to the position of an Author is a privilege and should be treated as such. It is our responsibility to both participate in and encourage the growth and engagement of both our teams and players across the website.
Chief Author (CA)
The Chief Author is the creator of Ransera. He has final authority on all matters that occur on the website and its affiliated platforms (i.e. Discord server). The Chief Author is primarily responsible for overseeing the development of the metalore that serves as the foundation of Ransera as a setting to include overarching world history, the deific powers, magic, races etc. He has the authority to intervene in all matters where circumstances deem such intervention necessary to preserve both the integrity of the website and the community.
- The Chief Author must approve all recommendations to join Staff.
- All recommendations for promotion to a higher position of authority must be approved by the Chief Author.
- Dismissal from staff is the sole purview of the Chief Author but all members of both staff and the community are encouraged to voice their input.
- Disputes between staff members can be elevated to the attention of the Chief Author at any time, at which point in time the Chief Author will work to settle the dispute in a manner that shows respect to all involved parties.
- Grievances within the community can be elevated to the attention of the Chief Author at any time, at which point in time the matter will be investigated.
- All additions to lore and all occurrences on the Ransera website and its affiliated platforms are subject to the review of the Chief Author at any time.
Regional Authors are entrusted with the responsible oversight and direction of one of the established regions of Ransera’s in-game geography. They are vested with the authority to oversee all cities, kingdoms, tribes, clans, etc. as well as the associated staff assigned to those areas in their respective regions. Regional Authors are primarily responsible for helping to shape the global narrative of Ransera and its plots.
- Regional Authors are empowered to utilize deific powers of any Tier as noted on the Religion page of the wiki.
- Regional Authors should work to coordinate the efforts of the staff assigned to their regions. They are empowered to develop the overarching narrative of the regions they oversee according to their respective plot interests.
- Regional Authors are allowed to make proposals and changes to the world metalore with the advice and consent of the Chief Author.
- Regional Authors can and often will be empowered to act in place of the Chief Author where he is unavailable.
- It should be stressed that Regional Authors should refrain from micromanaging their subordinate staff and instead should encourage an atmosphere of collaboration. While the overarching plots of both Ransera as a world and their respective regions are shaped by the Regional Authors, subordinate staff should be allowed to exercise autonomy in shaping the direction of plots and environments localized to their assigned domain.
Principal Authors are assigned to specific areas of responsibility that are smaller in scope than a region with a focus on more localized community engagement and involvement. These areas are typically a specific city and its associated territories within one of the regions of Ransera’s geography. Principal Authors should work to develop their assigned area of responsibility to make it a dynamic and engaging environment for players in the community who fall within their purview.
- Principal Authors are empowered to utilize Tier 3-9+ deific powers, creatures etc. as noted on the Religion page of the wiki. They can be granted special permission to utilize a Tier 1 or 2 deific power in a plot from either an RA or the CA.
- Domains entrusted to a Principal Author are subject to their creative direction. They are empowered to develop and guide the tone, setting, mindset and atmosphere of their areas as they see fit.
- Principal Authors should work to support the creative direction of their Regional Author with respect to the individual needs and demands of their assigned localized domain.
Associate Authors are intended to provide assistance to either the CA, an RA or a PA to whom they are assigned. Generally speaking, most Associate Authors will be assigned to support one of the PA’s in helping to manage and empower their more localized communities. However, Associate Authors can be assigned to other areas where their assistance is deemed necessary.
- Associate Authors exist to provide support in those areas they are assigned in a generalized manner. This can include helping to develop specific city locations, NPC’s, factions, or even creatures at the direction of either their assigned PA, an RA or the CA.
- Associate Authors will always be assigned to either a PA, an RA or will work directly with the CA.
- All staff should remain cognizant that Associate Authors exist to support in their assigned areas and should make an effort not to pull them away from those areas without consulting with relevant team members.
- Applicants must have been a member of the community for at least (1) full season of play (90 days).
- Please provide an explanation of why you desire to join staff and what you believe your contributions to the community could be.
- It is recommended (but not required) that applicants have spent time supporting the community in some capacity either as a Peer Reviewer, having assisted with development or Guest Moderated for other players.
- Those interested in submitting an application can create a Support Forum ticket or approach a moderator privately.
Junior Authors are members of the community who have entered into Staff in a limited capacity. They are specialized staff that cater to a specific area of the website in a focused capacity. This can be working as a moderator who specifically develops flora or fauna, specifically reviews Character Sheets, or handles tickets placed in the Community Development forums. They exist to support in their specific area where and when needed.
- Those interested in applying for Junior Author status with the intent to join staff in full must receive a recommendation from an already sitting member of staff.
- Applicants must have been a member of the community for at least (1) full season of play (90 days).
- Please provide an explanation of why you desire to join staff and what you believe your contributions to the community could be.
- It is recommended (but not required) that applicants have spent time supporting the community in some capacity either as a Peer Reviewer, having assisted with development or Guest Moderated for other players.
- Those interested in submitting an application can create a Support Forum ticket or approach a moderator privately.
Staff Responsibilities
Ransera as a website will only succeed if we work together to make it a fun and interactive environment. To that end, staff moderators are expected to perform a number of routine actions to ensure their areas of responsibility are managed appropriately.
Development
Development is a revolving process not a singular event. By that we mean that moderators should continually assess the needs and interests of their player base in order to accommodate them. This should be done to the best of a moderator’s ability with regard to their overall creative vision for their assigned area of responsibility. Do our best to meet the needs of our players but never forget that Ransera should be just as much fun for the staff as it is for the player who comprise our community. Development includes assessing the adequacy of domain lore (i.e. historical notes, city locations, NPC’s, local factions etc.), domain specific events (i.e. holidays, peculiar events such as Miststorms, political intrigue), and even community driven plots that can be used as a platform to create a broader umbrella of inclusivity.
Player Centered Care
Our role as moderators is to be facilitators of player driven stories, not barriers to them. This should be done with respect to the creative vision of each relevant area. It is our responsibility to provide a platform for our players to tell their stories. When approached with a request to help facilitate the pursuit of a particular plot point, a moderator’s first response should always be to consider HOW it is possible not IF it is possible. Sometimes that means it requires guiding players toward a more lengthy plot arc than was initially considered. Other times it means that the area where they seek to manifest this particular plot point might not be a suitable one. In that particular instance, it is incumbent upon us to guide them to where they will be most successful. We must do our due diligence as leaders of this community to explore all possible avenues of potential success before refusing a request.
It is always better to say “Here’s how this is feasible…” than to say “That is not possible”.
If you are not comfortable with or unsure about allowing the pursuit of a particular plot point, moderators are always empowered to elevate the request to a higher authority.
Consequence vs. Preemption
Rules should be put in place to serve as a means of ensuring administrative processes and community etiquette is observed. They should not be used as a barrier for pursuit of player plot points unless absolutely necessary. In that instance, rules should be structured to explain the process of how a particular pursuit can be achieved as opposed to barring that pursuit altogether. It is incumbent upon us as the moderation staff to emphasize that actions have consequence both positive and negative. It is our responsibility to set the tone of Ransera as a website. While it is unreasonable to assume that a moderator can read every thread posted to their areas of responsibility, staff should make an effort to observe the activities of their players and engage with player driven stories. Strive to create a dynamic environment where players are rewarded for putting thought, time, attention and care into their endeavors with consequences appropriate for the circumstance. If a player wishes to pursue becoming an assassin style character, balance that request with its feasibility in the given environment versus the individual character in question. Encourage the cliche. Encourage the unique. Work toward blending the two together WITH staff guidance and judicious oversight.
Character Creation
Ransera has a lot of lore. No one is expected to be a master of all of it. As a team, we work together to help prospective players establish their characters and develop their concepts. It is the responsibility of all staff to review player character sheets that are submitted to the review request queue. To that end, communicate with each other. If a particular member of staff is passionate about a particular race, ask for their assistance and input in determining the feasibility of a character’s background. If a character is from a region that is staffed, ask for the guidance and input of the moderators overseeing that area to discuss the character, and so forth.
Once a character has been appropriately reviewed and received final approval, every character needs an associated Character Secrets Thread created in the Staff Section of the forums. Please send the link to that thread to the individual character once it has been created. It must be listed on both their Character Sheet and in the field provided through the User Profile link section.
Character Secrets
All administrative approvals that are not documented on the Character Sheet must be documented in the relevant Character Secrets Thread. This includes but is not limited to:
- Job Approvals and Wage Assignment
- Seasonal Wage Calculations
- Companion NPC XP Approval
- Support Forum Ticket Approvals
Quirks
Quirks are the result of a mage actively working toward developing a particular flare and style to their magic. While following a general “theme” for the overall structure of a player’s approach to designing their Quirks is often easiest, it is not required. Additionally, Quirks are not a requirement. They are “in addition to” and do not preclude a player from advancing in mastery over a given personal magic should they choose not to develop them. Players can always develop them at a later time.
In the absence of a moderator assigned to a player’s area of play, Support Forum Tickets can be submitted for approval.
All Quirk approvals must be entered into Character Secrets threads.
Earning A Living
Ransera has a built-in economy system that is ever evolving. To that end, players must be provided a means of earning a wage during play. Every player must be afforded the opportunity to pursue the profession of their choosing, provided it is an appropriate one for their chosen setting. Some professions are appropriate for some areas and are not appropriate for other areas. Moderators are advised to be judicious in their assignment of professions to players who request them. Living Expenses assume that a player has paid for the upkeep of their general nutritional needs, basic clothing and living accommodations suitable for chosen standard of living outside of specific instances of written transactions. If a player is actively buying food, clothing, accessories, lodgings in a thread, there must be a deduction for it on the Character Sheet Ledger. These costs should be assigned during the Thread Review Process. Exceptions to this assumption always include enchanted items, armor, weaponry and other high priced items listed on the price list.
- Companion NPC’s of adult age (18+) do not incur additional living expenses
- Companion NPC’s of minor age (<18) incur ½ the player’s chosen lifestyle expenses
- Exceptional items (i.e. magic items, extravagant purchases) gifted to Companion NPC’s must actually be purchased or crafted by the player themselves. This requires moderator approval.
- Business Owners must deduct the wages of their employees from their seasonal earnings in addition to all other expenses.
- Business Sheets must be submitted to the Support Forum for review and approval.
Thread Review Process
Ransera is designed to incorporate an system of experience point (XP) based skill progression on top of Lore threshold requirements to serve as a partial gatekeeper of pacing. It is the responsibility of every moderator to oversee the thread review process. Players can be awarded the privilege of being a Peer Reviewer through Support Forum applications but it is ultimately the responsibility of the moderation staff to ensure it is operating smoothly. XP request totals should fall in line with the guidelines provided in the Thread Review Submission topic. We have made the process relatively simple by placing much of the onus of it onto the players requesting their threads be reviewed.
- Skill Lores should be written in such a way as to actually be useful items of knowledge. An example of a relevant skill lore is “Cooking: How to bake sourdough bread” or “Semblance: Discerning confusion in an aura”. A useless skill lore would be “Perception: Observing a smile” this lore does nothing. It is filler and has no substance or actual purpose. Staff should discourage this kind of skill lore submission.
- Non-Skill Lores are typically social, political or event related markers. Players can request as many non-skill lores as they desire, so long as it is relevant to the thread being reviewed. This includes things like “John Dough: He is a Baker” and “Event: The War of Worlds”. Non-Skill Lores can be utilized as a means to commemorate life altering events in a character’s story. While some might treat them frivolously, they can be a useful tool in detailing the progression of character relationships, achievements and consequences to actions both positive and negative.
- The XP totals provided on the Thread Review Guidelines are exactly that. Moderators have the authority to award higher totals for stories that go above and beyond in terms of effort, thoughtfulness and attention to detail. Be judicious in exercising this authority. It is advised that not more than 1-3 XP higher than normal be awarded in any given instance.