Vacaint Staff Positions

Greetings Players, Beta-Testers, and Retired Staff Members;

As many of you know Firedancer and myself have been working hard over the past while to finish up the major scripts the shard requires to go public.

Our in game staff have come and gone, we have lost one of our best staff members Lydia due to personal obligations, but have also taken on another very dedicated and wonderful staff member by the name of Ferial.

Greetings Players, Beta-Testers, and Retired Staff Members;

As many of you know Firedancer and myself have been working hard over the past while to finish up the major scripts the shard requires to go public.

Our in game staff have come and gone, we have lost one of our best staff members Lydia due to personal obligations, but have also taken on another very dedicated and wonderful staff member by the name of Ferial. Who although can not replace a staff member like Lydia, still brings the level of quality and even exceeds the quality of our expectations from our staff.


But alas, the launch date for Etheria does grow near. Although I am not obliged, to yet state the exact date. It is getting closer and rather fast, and with that growing pressure on some of our staff members we have begun to look over our to-do list in all aspects of Etheria, from In-Game Operations, Scripting Development, Development plus improvements to our website and web-based applications.

Which as Lead Administrator has given me the task to now begin searching for candidates for different roles in Etheria. In-Game Staff, Web Developers, Script Developers, Image Designers, and several writers for various pieces of information that will be found on the website, and published in books in the game itself.


------------------Development Operations ------------------

I will first bring us to the part that is most important at this stage. Meaning the department that we are seeking staff members the most in. Which is Web Page Development, and all aspects of the Script/Image Development.
Thus I will now begin to list the positions we are looking to fill.

Developer: Scripter/Coder
We currently have two open developer positions:
- We're looking for a developer experienced with POL to take over coding and improving new packages. As Etheria has a very high standard, this is a job for experienced POL Devs only.
Please note: Etheria is completely different from all other shards, we got our own combat engine, own skill system, own structure, own interface system... so standard distro compatible packages will not work for Etheria. A lengthy introduction will be held though, so you can learn to utilize Etheria's structure and integrate your scripts with it.
If you're looking for a challenge and if you desire to work in a professional team - apply here and you sure won't regret it. If you're interested, please contact firedancer@Etheria.org for further details.


- We're looking for an additional developer helping out with updating and improving existing code (e.g. for a pol096 migration, or e.g. to update existing gumps with mapping features). As mostly existing routines need to be modified and as our code is well documented, the skill requirement here is not as high. We're also willing to train newbie’s if you've got generic programming skills and are willing to also work independently on your own. This may be the chance for you as a programmer to get started into E-Script and POL.
If you're interested, please contact firedancer@Etheria.org for further details.

Developer: Graphic & Animation Designer
Etheria uses both customized interfaces, as well as lots of custom drawn items (which in UO are basically simple bmp's only). We're looking for an additional graphic designer to help provide these graphics for our development, so we can use them in game. Some Skill with PS would be preferable.
Challenges would be e.g. to add paintings, semi-done products and new tools to UO.
If you're interested, please contact firedancer@Etheria.org for further details.

Developer: Client Management
As we've always trouble utilizing new OSI technologies since we're missing the time to fool around with them, we're looking for someone help us test new client releases, and providing instructions both to players and staff as to how to use them. (Ideal this would be a part-time job for a scripter)
If you're interested, please contact firedancer@Etheria.org for further details.

Web Admin - PHP Developer(s) - Web-Site Development
Our website is maintained by a professional admin, but it's widely known that our forums could use some improvement.
If you happen to have php skills, we'd desire additional help here, in order to add some more features to our forums such as sticky topics, moving newest up and other features one knows from modern day forums.
If you're interested, please contact firedancer@Etheria.org for further details.

Edit: oh... and last but not least, I could also use the help of a mathematician to solve maths issues. You won't believe, how much maths we gotta mess with... from calculating tax issues to skill & chance calculations, from spawn rules over weather patterns to planetary orbits... there's a lot of stuff that needs maths. We need exponential and logarythmic equations, optimization of existing formulas to be more cpu friendly.... it's possibly not that much to do for someone real good in maths, but we do face challenges quite regulary and my own skills have become quite rusty... school is quite a while back after all, so someone good with maths would be some real help to us.

--------------------In-Game Operations--------------------

Next off is what many players consider the most important role in the game itself. Mainly because these roles help the players directly. Unlike the roles above the role listed below will be trained and monitored strictly for the duration of the training period. It is also the most important in my eyes as these people are the faces of Etheria, and represent the shard itself to all players and guests to the shard and website.

Game Master(s)
Game Masters, otherwise known as a GM. Comes in various stages of training. However the players will know a Game Master as just a Game Master. Regardless of there rank within the staff itself. (Accept For Administrators Who Have Final Say)
A Game Master has a wide verity of duties and can not be summed up in one word. At times a Game Master will help fix a problem or argument between a player, or players. But then the second the Game Master hides from view he or she could be doing something totally different, he or she could be building a new structure, or fixing player structures that have faults in them. Or they could have the task of going around and forging homes and other locations for the Administrators to put into the map.

I will not try to lie or put on a false face. A Game Master is a wonderful job in my eyes. It has its own personal rewards. We as the staff are working for the betterment and enjoyment of the players and not ourselves. However any person who has staffed will be able to tell you that it is not always a joyful ride. It can be overwhelming and it can be stressful. Sometimes you are not always doing something fun, and sometimes you may have to do that thing over again.
As our lovely staff member Ferial knows, because while she has been working vigorously on putting Trees all over the world, there have been several instances were a error in a script, or a error in myself has caused a large amount of work to be redone. Although that is something we try to correct, it is a fact of being a staff member.

I can not count the amount of times I have had to re-do the Starting City before I could publish it because of little mistakes or errors. [I once tiled the world in marble because I lagged and click the wrong spot on the screen. Try deleting 50 billion tiles.]
With that said, and you are now aware that it is not always fun. I will tell you about the pride and joy I take in what I do. Being a Game Master is one of the best things in my life. It is a way for me during a bad day to get things done and work on something that I know, many people will enjoy. The feeling that comes over me when I have helped someone who is extremely frustrated is wonderful. Because I think we all know how it feels to have to wait a billion years to get help and have that help say they can not do that. *Snickers at the OSI Days for those who played it*



---------------------Application Section---------------------

There are two parts to this application. Depending on what you are applying for. If you are applying for a job with In-Game Operations. Then fill out the applications titled "Application - In-Game Operations." However if you are wanting to help out in the Website, Scripting, and Image Design, or any other part of the shard that is not in game. Then read the section titled "Application - Development Operations"


-------------Application - In-Game Operations---------------

Send Application To:
Marshalt - canadianfrodo@hotmail.com
Lead Administrator, In-Game Operations

All Information below is REQUIRED! The more detail entered the better your chances. However this does not mean you need to write a book. If you write to the point and get what you mean across then it will not effect your application. However saying "I live in Canada, 14 years old and love UO so I want to staff it" will be briskly looked at and likely not responded to.

Cut and paste the following into a email and fill out the information. Respond to ALL questions in FULL sentences.

Your Real Name::
Date of Birth::
Country and Time zone::
Instant Messenger: (MSN/ICQ):
(NOTE: MSN Messenger IS required for ALL In-Game Staff)
Your E-mail Address::

I) How much time/month would you be willing to dedicate to the shard minimum? (Don't promise too much - we could nail you to it.)


1a) How long have you played Ultima Online. Player Shards, or otherwise?:


1b) How long have you Role-Played in Ultima Online, or otherwise?:


1c) What does Role-Play mean to you? How as a staff member can you effectively evaluate the Role-Play of Players?:


2a) Why do you want to be a Staff Member here at Etheria?:


2b) In your opinion, what attributes should a Staff Member have? Do you think you have those, and why?:


2c) What do you have to offer as a Staff Member? Describe your knowledge and abilities, as well as how you wish to help Etheria in its Development and Management.:


2d) What duties, or jobs interests you the most as a Staff Member and why? (Building, Player Support, Decoration, Etc):


NOTE: Questions 3a-3c are only required if you have had staffing experience before. Although experience is a GREAT asset. It is not required as full training will be provided.

3a) How many years of Staffing experience do you have (Assumed on Ultima Online shards, if other define below with details)?:


3b) The best and worst experience you had with another Staff Member?::


3c) The best and worst experience you had BEING a Staff Member:




-----------Application - Development Operations-------------

Send Application To:
Firedancer - firedancer@Etheria.org
Manager Development & Game Design

All Information below is REQUIRED! The more detail entered the better your chances. However this does not mean you need to write a book. If you write to the point and get what you mean across then it will not effect your application. However saying "I live in Canada and I'm a great programmer" will be briskly looked at and likely not responded to.

Cut and paste the following into a email and fill out the information. Respond to ALL questions in FULL sentences.

Your Real Name::
Date of Birth::
Country and Timezone::
Instant Messenger: (MSN/ICQ):
(NOTE: ICQ is preferred for developers)
Your E-mail Address::

(Programming Experience?)

1a) What is your experience with scripting/programming in general?:

1b) How much experience do you have with scripting for POL (which releases?):

1c) Ranging from 0(newbie) to 10(perfect), where would you range your pol-scripting skill-level?

1c) What's the most complex script-task you've accomplished with pol so far? (add a short description):

1d) In case it applies, what's the most complex programming task you've accomplished in overall? (not pol specific?):

1e) are you familiar with CVS?

(Why Etheria?)

2a) What shards have you worked for previously?:

2b) How did you come to hear of Etheria?:

2c) Have you played or worked on Etheria before?:

2d) Why do you want to be part of Etheria?:

2e) Is there something you would like to change on Etheria and if yes, what?:

2f) How much time/month would you be willing to dedicate to the shard minimum? (Don't promise too much - we could nail you to it.)

(Your person?)

3a) where are you from? (Please add your time zone)

3b) what age are you?

3c) what's your real life profession? Is your real life job related to computers and/or programming?:

3d) Would you rather create new packages or fix and improve existing code?

3e) what would you expect of other developers you work with?:

3f) do you prefer to work on your own, or as a team with others?:

3h) What kind of training, introduction and support would you wish for, if you were joining Etheria's development team?:



----------------

I and all of Etheria's Administrators look forward to reading over the applications! We look forward to working with all of you as players, and we also look forward to training our new staff members in the coming weeks!

Sincerely
Administrator Marshalt - Manager Game Operations - canadianfrodo@hotmail.com

Administrator Firedancer - Manager Development & Game Design - firedancer@etheria.org

Administrator Omega - Website Manager - Omega@etheria.org