Omega
Administrator
Published:
13.05.2005 09:02
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Etheria Staff Application
Etheria has become more then I could even imagine it becoming. We are growing at an incredible rate. The application process has become harder, the requirements have gotten steeper and still we grow with no visible end in sight. This is both wonderful and terrifying.
Terrifying because as the player base grows, so too must the staff grow. To date we’ve done an okay job of finding and recruiting staff, yet we must begin to do a great job recruiting and keeping good staff.
As I meet more and more players from other shards I’ve discovered we do some things differently here. Some are little things, some are big things, and yet I am proud and confident of the methods that we use. Now, I’m going to take it one set farther, I want to break all the rules as to who and how new staff are added to the team.
We have tried to recruit staff, some times this works, often it doesn’t. More often we find that players who might want to “help out” simply don’t have the time or inclination. They come with a sense of obligation and then feel disheartened when real life interferes or when they simply would rather play. So therefore, from this point on we will no longer be “asking” players to staff.
Instead we will be taking “open applications” for staff. This thread will explain what we are looking for in staff, what we expect from staff and an application form.
I don’t know if this will work, but hell everything else I’ve done thus far has been on a wing and a prayer, so why not this.
Who we are, Who we are not, Who are we looking for.
Etheria Staff are players, players just like you who have chosen to give up some of their playtime to help out the shard. All of the staff play Etheria, all of the staff started out as players on Etheria. Etheria Staff are not “gods” or “elite”. We are not some group of friends that have known each other for years and years and just happen to decide to run a shard. With the exception of maybe one or two staff members, most of the current staff I’ve only known since the shard went up.
However all of the staff has demonstrated one significant characteristic – the desire to make Etheria a better place and the time and commitment to put into it. We have become a team, a team that are friends, that trust and respect each other. Oh don’t get me wrong, we have our disagreements, but like all mature adults we talk them out and resolve them.
There is a new staff joke … the “one rule” we have on etheria – “Don’t sell the shard on Ebay”. *smiles* What this means is we trust each other to do the right thing, to know better then to cheat or chastise another player. Of course many ask how do we know a new staff member won’t cheat. We don’t … I follow the same rule with Staff that I follow with players …
“Trust freely given is as good away to start a relationship as trust earned”. I simply make the leap of faith that all of my players are honest, patient, and good-hearted players. I make this assumption from day one and treat each of you that way. I do the same with staff and expect they will intern do so with players.
The number one staff rule is “Be respectful of Player’s at all times. Treat them with courtesy and patience. Never assume a player has done something wrong no matter your personal opinions. Assume all situations are mis-understandings and seek to help all parties involved understand.”
This is a lot to ask of a potential staff member, especially those of you who came from a different way of doing things, where abuse and cheating and abdication of responsibility was the norm. Yet there are those of you out there who know this is not the world you want to be part of, and I hope you have found that world on Sanctuary.
And so if you think that you are a mature patient person, given to good sound judgment, generous, loyal and willing to make a commitment to this world, I then say to you … we need your help. We need more players willing to give up some of their game time and give back to the shard. Do not shy away because you feel you are too new, or because you “don’t know the right people”, or because your afraid we might say no.
However, if the talents we are looking for are not your talents, then accept that you many not be a good fit and continue to play with out guilt. Being on staff is not to be glorified, it is work and it takes time. It can be rewarding and yet frustrating, not everyone is cut out for it, and some may simply not gel with the existing team.
It is that core group of patient dedicated players that I appeal to … the ones that KNOW they are good staff members and yet are unsure if they are ready to “do it again”, if they should wait to be asked, of if, like me, they have never actually done this before and assume experience is required.
And to the player base, I give you the important role of saying YES, this is a person I want to help me. Yes, this is a person whom I can trust. We, the senior staff, reserve the right to veto a potential staff member if we don’t feel they will gel or if they are too impetuous for our laid back and easy going style.
Verifiable website is required if existing, otherwise a link to Google's cache (search for the shard's name and find the offline website, click on the cache link, paste the link below the line of the shard.). Please be aware that we might contact your previous shard to verify any claimed positions and your standing.
Example:
Shardname URL Year shardtype; Known name: Name(must be verifiable); Position: Position.
OSI www.uo.com 1997 PVP; Known name: Phoebus Athenian; Position: Player.
Matrixshard www.etheria.org 1998 RP; Known name: Phoebus Athenian; Position: Player.
Application to Staff/Seer
Any player that feels they have the characteristics identified above may apply to being on staff. The only restriction is age. Staff must be over 18 unless some exceptional skill and support can be demonstrated. To apply, fill out the above application.
Last and Most Important … Look in the mirror and ask yourself … “Am I a patient, mature player? Do others seem to value my insight and direction? Am I known for sound judgment and good communications? Do I look at the world with open-minded good faith?”
If the answer is yes … hit the submit button.
BTW, Failure to follow the instructions is a bad sign *grins*
What is expected of Staff
Right now as the shard is growing so fast, the primary task required of staff is bringing in new players. That means helping them get their specs set up, explaining how skills are gained and giving them enough information to go forth into the world.
In addition staff answer player pages which can cover just about any topic such as getting a vendor to work, changing class, rescuing stuck players, finding lost henchmen.. you name it. One type of page you dont get is whining or complaining. The players are all mature, patient and courteous. The very, very few exceptions to this rule have left the shard immediately.
If you like decorating, there is plenty to do setting up areas for quests. You can even build new houses to be put in the game.
All staff is "staff" which means we are both GM's and Seers and are expected to be able to do both jobs. Some people prefer one job over the other and spend most of their time doing that, but all staff knows how to do everything.
The hours are flexible, you do what you can when you can. The pay sucks but the reward is being able to help out others and make a contribution to the shard that really makes a difference.
"I personally find being a staff member fun. Yes its work, but I enjoy it. I like the feeling I get when I know someone really appreciates the help I've given them and frankly spawning stuff on unsuspecting players can be absolutely hilarious. *evil grin*" - Marshalt
I saw two applications for staff that mentioned being able to mediate player disputes as a skill. Its a very good skill to have but I thought I'd explain to the others thinking they might want to join the staff that its not one really necessary on Etheria. GM's from other shards who have come to join us here on staff are always amazed at the lack of conflict between players.
I can say honestly that in the 3 or more months that I've worked here I've never once had to mediate a player dispute. There simply aren't any. Either that or they handle it themselves like the mature adults they are. Yes there have been some players banned from here, but that is the very rare exception to the rule.
I just didn't want folks thinking being a staff member would be a nightmarish hell of constant dispute and conflict. Its really more about baking cookies.
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