*drumroll*
Without further ado...
This is our current documentation that entails the behavior that our future Staff should follow:
Each staff member must sign and read this before taking on the mantle of a Staffer.
I. My Purpose
I am here to improve and enrich the game atmosphere, and maintain an exciting, immersive, and high-quality game with the responsibilities I've been entrusted with. Be that helping fellow Staff members, running scenes, clearing up disputes, and overseeing players. I will always remember that I am a servant to the community, and always place the well-being of the game first over my personal goals within the game. I also understand that this is a volunteer job, and real life -always- comes first. I will always post and inform Staff using the forums when I am gone, and for how long, and why. If I find that due to real-life circumstances that I can no longer be on Staff in an active capacity, I will step down.
II. My Behavior
I will always treat players with respect and courtesy, even if I loathe them, or they don't return the same respect. I will never, ever reveal, imply or confirm my identity or any of my peer's identities as a Staff member, even if players suspect me or ask me (which they eventually will) and I will never communicate to players on my Staff account. If I must, I will do it through @mail or PM on the web forums. This is to maintain a vital barrier between players and Staff for confidentiality.
I will never leak secrets, including, but not limited to secrets on plots, game mechanics, building, or secrets of PCs in any medium to non-Staff (IM, e-mail, page, etc.) This means NO sharing the latest tidbit that Darth Vader secretly killed Emperor Palpatine, and has put a clone in his place (as a more dramatic example), or someone's character background to my buddies or any players. What's said and done in Staff, STAYS in Staff.
I will show no favoritism; this includes, but is not limited to other Staff members, characters of your buddies, and potentially the +factions you run. If there is a direct conflict of interest, such as a Storyteller being asked to run a Rogue Squadron vs. Sith battle in which his Rogue Squadron character is involved, I will immediately ask another available Staff member to take over, or if it's not possible, I will refuse to participate as a Staff member and give an excuse.
I will conduct myself in a trustworthy, professional and respectful manner to both my peers and players, and be an excellent example of good conduct that upholds the spirit of our rules and sportsmanship. I will never call players idiots, or call them anything offensive in front of any other players. If I must vent, I will explain that I need to vent, and do so with other Staff members.
I will never act rashly; I will get my facts straight before offering any definitive answer to players. Examples include, but are not limited to, answering coding and building questions, running a scene using confidential plot info, investigating an OOC dispute. Even if this means that the player in question has to wait a few days.
III. My Responsibilities
I understand that I am responsible for what I see and are a witness to – inaction can be a mistake. Only Staff on probation are an exemption to this rule (they must ask for permission before doing anything). I will accomplish my duties to the utmost of my abilities, and I fully understand our player policies and rules, and will not only be held accountable to them on top of Staff expectations, but will be expected to be a good example.
When I am logged in on my Staff account, I will take an active part in the gameworld and enrich the atmosphere for the players' enjoyment. If I am to be gone for more than several minutes, I will log off. I will not log in to simply idle and sit around. I understand that being a Staff member is both a privilege and an onerous task; I will work as hard as I can to improve the game through my duties.
While enjoying myself and playing my own character is important, I understand that by signing this Oath, I am placing my duties as a Staff member and the betterment of the game first. This means that should the need arise that I must drop what I'm doing as my own character to attend to Staff matters, I will do it in a prompt, and polite manner; I will make up an excuse and politely explain to other players why my character can no longer participate.
IV. Final Addendum
I will always keep in mind why I am here on Staff, and my first duty as a Staff member to help improve the game. I also understand that real life is the highest priority here, and SWDH should never precede it.
By signing this Oath, I am full and well aware of all regulations and rules that are expected of me as a Staff member, and I agree to follow them to my best ability and wholeheartedly.
Signed,
Your name here.
