Staff, Requirements and Applications

Staff are individuals who are tasked with the various responsibilities of contributing to and running The Domains of Dread as a game and roleplay platform. They are ordered below roughly in authority, however most decisions of universal intrigue to staff will be left to simple majority votes of the entire staff team except where vetoed by the Server Owner and Operator.

Server Owner and Operator

The Server Owner and Operator ensures that the game server is available, functioning, paying any costs associated with upkeep, providing hosting and disambiguating their overall vision for The Domains of Dread.

No requirement nor application is sought for this role. The Server Owner and Operator alone nominates their successor—for such a case that they cannot nominate one, an interim Server Owner and Operator will be chosen by a simple majority of Team Leads.

Since the beginning and to present, the Server Owner and Operator is August.

Team Leads

A Team Lead manages another role on the team as their mentor and manager—for example, Lead Game Master or Lead Developer. They may be assumed to have a deep knowledge of their niche and have the capability to make high level decisions within that niche.

No requirement nor application is sought for this role. A Team Lead may be selected from anyone who already participates as the role they may become Team Lead of by the Server Owner and Operator. Outgoing Team Leads may nominate their successors, but only the Server Owner and Operator will confirm them.

Game Masters

A Game Master uses the live Neverwinter Nights client to manage tasks that are concerned with story and out of scope for the average player, such as acting as non-player characters, coordinating events, creating encounters and more, allowing them to referee player ideas and needs accordingly.

Certain “sub types” of Game Master include Trainee Game Master and Loremaster, the former to indicate new Game Masters who are in the process of being trained and the latter to indicate Game Masters whose primary focus is building out the lore and supporting fiction attached to Dread Edition content.

Prospective Game Masters should already be a Developer, Moderator, Module Designer or Helper and have been in that position for at least 30 days before applying for Game Master. Applications are reviewed by the Lead Game Master and the Server Owner and Operator, though the latter’s approval is not required to confirm a new Game Master unless to be vetoed from the opportunity. The application process for Game Master may be started from a ticket opened on the Discord.

Module Designers

A Module Designer contributes to the module of The Domains of Dread, leveraging the Aurora Toolset and other external programs without necessarily working on the technical backend. They may be Area or Game Designers, Art Contributors, and other such sub-types under the umbrella of Module Designer.

Prospective Module Designers must provide a portfolio of work relevant to the work they intend to create for The Domains of Dread, either in the form of concepts or already submitted pull requests. There is no playtime minimum sought for this role. Applications are reviewed by the Lead Module Designer and the Server Owner and Operator, though the latter’s approval is not required to confirm a new Module Designer unless to be vetoed from the opportunity. The application process for Module Designer may be started from a ticket opened on the Discord.

Developers

A Developer maintains the technical backend for The Domains of Dread. They may be Scripters, Programmers, and any others who interface with Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition directly or externally.

Prospective Developers must have at least 10 accepted pull requests which have technical significance—eg, not icons, translations, areas, typo corrections, items or assets—into the testing GitHub repository before applying. There is no playtime minimum sought for this role. Applications are reviewed by the Lead Developer and the Server Owner and Operator, though the latter’s approval is not required to confirm a new Developer unless to be vetoed from the opportunity. The application process for Developer may be started from a ticket opened on the Discord.

Moderators

A Moderator interfaces with the community that surrounds The Domains of Dread—arbitrating channels in the Discord, managing scheduling of player events, reviewing reports, and providing input on player applications. They do not use the live Neverwinter Nights client as such.

Prospective Moderators are expected to have a track record in taking instruction and keeping a level head. They must have played on The Domains of Dread for at least 60 days before applying. Applications are reviewed by the Lead Moderator and the Server Owner and Operator, though the latter’s approval is not required to confirm a new Moderator unless to be vetoed from the opportunity. The application process for Moderator may be started from a ticket opened on the Discord.

Helpers

A Helper is a trusted player granted the power to perform tasks inconsequential enough that they do not require privileged information or knowledge about procedure. They may provide input on player applications, apply remakes, teleport stuck players to safety, advise new players or bring player concerns to the rest of staff.

Prospective Helpers must have played on The Domains of Dread for at least 30 days before applying. Any member of staff beyond other Helpers may, at their discretion, also nominate players into this role contingent on the player’s reciprocated interest. Applications are reviewed and confirmed by Game Masters, though Team Leads and the Server Owner and Operator may veto prospective Helpers from the opportunity. The application process for Helper may be started from a ticket opened on the Discord.