Staff, Requirements and Applications

Staff are tasked with various responsibilities as they relate to contributing and running The Domains of Dread as a game and roleplay platform. Below they are listed roughly from descending authority, however most decisions of shared interest will be left to simple majority votes of the entire team except where vetoed by the Server Owner and Operator.

Server Owner and Operator

The Server Owner and Operator ensures the game server is available, functioning, and paid for with any costs related to its upkeep. They disambiguate their overall vision for The Domains of Dread to the team and to its players.

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

Since 2024 to present, the Server Owner and Operator is August.

Team Leads

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

No requirements nor applications are sought for these roles. A Team Lead may be selected from any person who already participates as the role they may become Team Lead for by the Server Owner and Operator. Outgoing Team Leads may nominate their successors, but only the Server Owner and Operator confirms them.

Game Masters

A Game Master uses the live Neverwinter Nights client to manage story threads considered out of scope for the average player, such as acting as non-player characters, coordinating chaperoned events, creating spontaneous encounters and more, refereeing player characters accordingly.

Certain subgenres 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 supporting fiction attached to Dread Edition content.

Prospective Game Masters should already be a Developer, Moderate, Module Designer or Helper and have been in that role for at least 30 days prior to 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 vetoed from consideration. The application process for Game Master may be started from an appropriate ticket opened on the Discord.

Module Designers

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

Prospective Module Designers must provide a portfolio 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 consideration. The application process for Module Designer may be started from an appropriate 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 of 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 consideration. The application process for Developer may be started from an appropriate ticket opened on the Discord.

Moderators

A Moderator interfaces with the community around The Domains of Dread—arbitrating channels in the Discord, managing the scheduling of player events, reviewing reports, providing input on player applications, thread management on the Forums, and so on. 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 consideration. The application process for Moderator may be started from an appropriate 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, 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 consideration. The application process for Helper may be started from an appropriate ticket opened on the Discord.