๐๐๐๐โStaff Handbook
Confidentiality
Neither this document nor any information inside of this document is confidential.
Why?
- This is a DevForum document; it is publicly accessible by all users on the DevForum.
- DCRP allows a level of transparency and understanding between players and the guidelines that are imposed on the staff team.
- There is no information here that can be used to harm the staff team or the server as a whole.
What is considered โconfidentialโ?
Any document posted in the Discord server that is A, a Google Doc or an embed, and B, posted in a staff only channel is confidential.
That means that any distribution of private material is considered leaking and will have harsh consequences.
Thank you for reading this document. This document contains standard information that is both imperative for you as a staff member to read and helps understand the public how we handle staff members and moderation situations.
Chain of Command
When assistance is required, either with an in-game matter or a Discord matter, staff members are required to go from low to high in the staff hierarchy. Below is a chain of command that is to be followed at all times except emergencies.
Directorate Team
Leadership Team
Senior High Ranking Team
High Ranking Team
Internal Affairs Team
Game Staff
A chain of command is utilized to prevent higher ranking staff members from being notified or bothered from something that should be handled by a lower ranking staff member. Specific ranks do not matter in the chain of command (i.e You wonโt be punished for getting help from a Senior Internal Affairs member before an Internal Affairs Agent even though the Senior Internal Affairs rank is technically higher). However, itโs important to note that you should ask online or idle staff members before those offline or on do not disturb. Pinging a staff member that has specifically said they do not want to be pinged may result in consequences at their discretion.
Quota
There is not an official game quota as the server is still quite small. However, there is a reasonable expectation of activity. If you are doing little to nothing to benefit the server over the course of a week, you may be infracted for inactivity.
Inactivity infractions go as such:
Activity Strike
A staff strike as a result of inactivity over an activity cycle (Sunday - Sunday)
Activity Demotion
An activity demotion will move a staff member down 1 rank only, and is applied due to continued inactivity after an activity strike in the previous 30 days.
Activity Termination
An activity termination will strip the staff member of all staff roles, and is applied due to continued inactivity after an activity demotion in the previous 30 days.
Please keep in mind that rank is not considered for inactivity infractions with the exception being if you are a trial moderator. That means if you are an SHR, you would receive the same consequences for being inactive as a moderator would.
We understand situations may come up in life, and you will not be given inactivity infractions if you just got off of LOA, are on LOA, or were hired in that same week.
LOAs
Leaves of Absence, or LOAs, are breaks that grant you an exemption from any staff quotas. They may last from 3 to 30 days. LOAs longer than 30 days must be granted as per SHR discretion.
While on LOA, there are some guidelines you are prohibited from going in-game. If you join the game while on LOA, you will receive a strike and your LOA may be void. If you are found to be lying about your LOA or the duration needed as part of your LOA, you may lose LOA privileges, be terminated, or be blacklisted from the staff team as a whole. You are allowed to use LOAs to take breaks, but it is important to be honest about the circumstances related to your LOA.
Essential Staff Rules
These are the essential staff rules that are to be followed as a staff member.
Professionalism
You are expected to have the utmost professionalism while on duty as a staff member. You are also expected to have some degree of professionalism off duty and in the Discord as well, but it is more lenient.
SPaG
You are expected to utilize correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar while on duty as a staff member. This includes not using any slang, texting acronyms, or abbreviations. SPaG is not required in the Discord server unless speaking officially.
Command Usage
You should only use commands if you must, and when you do they must have 4+ letters of the playerโs username, no matter the command. If the command is high risk (i.e :kick, :ban, etc), it must have a majority of the username (>50%). This lowers the risk of accidentally using commands against the wrong person.
Commands should only be used on duty, unless you are a 50/50 staff member or are an HR+. The only exception to this rule is pming an on-duty staff member about necessary topics, or unwanting or unjailing yourself when you join as a result of consequences in a public ER:LC server. All other off duty commands is considered abuse of admin.
Shifts
If you wish to go on a shift, join the game and get all tools set up before going on duty. As a staff member you are prohibited from having any lethal firearm in your inventory. You are permitted to have a taser or a beanbag shotgun, however it should be used sparingly and you should favor commands over using non-lethal weapons.
Equip an appropriate staff uniform and span an appropriate vehicle with a staff livery on it. It is considered impersonation to utilize gears that state you are of a staff rank you are actually not.
Respect
As a staff member, you should be a role model for community members of our server. This means showing respect to anyone, regardless of your liking for them.
Bias
When moderating, you are prohibited from showing bias to anyone. This includes treating a staff memberโs word as more valuable then someone elseโs.
Driving
As a staff member, you are required to follow all traffic laws while driving. When you pull over to answer a mod call, you must pull over completely off the road.
Shift Code of Conduct
As an on duty staff member, you are permitted to moderate in 2 different ways:
Option 1: Patrolling
You are permitted to drive around and look for rule breakers. You may only do this if there are more than 5 people in-game.
Option 2: Viewing
You are permitted to park your car in a parking lot and stand on top of or near your car, while going down the player list and viewing people to ensure they are not breaking the rules. While doing this, you must view at least 3 people every 60 seconds, otherwise it will be considered shift grinding.
When answering mod calls, you must pull over off the road if you are patrolling. Click on the mod call, and give a greeting. You are required to give a greeting when answering mod calls, failure to do so is considered unprofessional. It canโt just be something generic like โHow can I help?โ. Put some thought into it.
When moderating someone, you must have at least ONE of the following:
- Have video proof that a violation of the rules has taken place
- Have 3+ witnesses
- Have personally witnessed it yourself
Please bear in mind that video proof always takes precedence over any number of witnesses. If the person being accused states they have video proof, that must be favored over the witnesses of the scene. Even if you claim you witnessed something, if you do not have proof of it, it may be appealed. Itโs good to have something recording while you moderate for instances where there is no proof.
Staff Consequences
If there is sufficient proof that you have violated one of our rules, action will be taken against you. HR+ have the authority to give any of the following consequences to you upon breaking our rules, to their discretion:
Verbal Warning
A verbal warning is an unlogged warning acknowledging your violation of the rules, granted that you will not do it again. This has no effect on promotion chances.
Staff Warning
A staff warning is a logged warning acknowledging your violation of the rules, to be documented in case of further rule violations. This has no effect on promotions, but may effect future staff consequences if you continue to break our rules. You may have 1 staff warning at a time before it is replaced with more severe consequences.
Staff Strike
A staff strike is a logged notice of your violation of the rules. This will prevent you from receiving a promotion in that week. You may have a maximum of 2 strikes at a time. A 3rd one will be replaced with more severe consequences.
Suspension
A suspension is a temporary revocation of staff privileges lasting anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks. This will prevent you from receiving a promotion for 2 weeks after your suspension ends. Breaking staff rules while on suspension will result in a termination without a 2nd thought.
Staff Watch
A staff watch is a notice that you must tread carefully. Your command usage and moderation will be more closely monitored. Any potential consequences while on staff watch will be doubled. This can last anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks, and you may not receive a promotion while on staff watch.
Rank Lock
A rank lock can be both good or bad. It is an additional promotion restriction on top of any strike that may have been given. It can last anywhere from 1 week to a month. You may not receive a promotion while on rank lock.
Termination
A termination is a revocation of staff privileges and a strip of all staff ranks. After a termination, you may not apply for staff for another 4 weeks.
Blacklist
A blacklist is a permanent revocation of staff privileges and a strip of all ranks, without the possibility to re-apply for staff. Blacklists will never be temporary and will only be revoked upon a successful appeal.
If you agree with a consequence given by HR+ or feel it is too severe, you may open an IA ticket. However, as a staff member you agree that you may be infracted at any time for any reason, and your state of being a staff member may be revoked regardless of what you did.
This document is unfinished and may be updated at any time. You will be given notice upon its update, but all updates will take effect immediately after their publication. If you notice incorrect information, wish for more information, or wish for changes in this document, please contact me.
Signed,
ZlacticaStudios, Director of DCRP