[b][b][u]Panda Network Staff Handbook[/u][/b] Welcome to the Panda Network Staff Team Handbook! This handbook is provided for anyone interested in joining the staff team, current members of the staff team, as well as all Panda Network Gaming community members. This handbook will discuss a variety of topics, including the expectations and powers of staff members, punishment guidelines for common infractions, and more. [b][u]Expectations of New and Experienced Staff Members:[/u][/b] [u]General Expectations:[/u] 1). Staff members represent the Panda Network Gaming Community at all time, whether you’re on or off duty. As such, staff members should be respectful to other players and staff members at all times. 2). Staff members should be active on the Panda Network Gaming Forums. This includes engaging with the community, responding to other staff applications, responding to appeals, or answering general questions if able. 3). Staff members are required to have [PN] in front of their Steam Name. 4). Staff members are expected to be reasonably active on the server. This is generally concerned once every three days at an absolute minimum. Those that are unable to meet this expectation should inform their Head of Staff to have their activity requirement modified, or file a temporary Leave of Absence. 5). Staff members are not allowed to hold staff positions with other communities. 6). Staff members must receive permission from the Manager+ to record while on duty.=14px[color=#e2e2e2]=15px[/color]7). Staff members should not make forum posts asking if they should leave their positions.. [u]General Expectations while on Duty:[/u] 1). No roleplaying. 2). Cloak yourself at all times. 3). Never argue with another staff team member in front of players. 4). Do not hover around other staff/players when they are roleplaying, nor fly through active roleplay situations.=14px[color=#e2e2e2]=[/color] 5). Failure to be on-duty when staff are needed may result in a staff strike. [u]General Expectations During Sits:[/u] 1). Treat all players with respect at all times. 2). Remain calm and professional while taking a sit at all times. 3). Try to avoid interrupting players in a sit when reasonable. 4). Get statements from all sides before rendering a decision. 5). Do not deal with sits involving yourself or your friends to avoid potential bias issue. In these instances you are required to have an uninvolved staff member take the sit, or file a player report. 6). Individuals that are not directly involved in an incident should not be brought into a sit unless they have pertinent evidence, such as video. [b][u]Staff Strike and Punishment System[/u][/b] When staff members fail to meet the expectations we have for them, they may be punished. Punishments can range from verbal warnings, to strikes, to complete removal from the staff team entirely. =14px[color=#e2e2e2]=15px[/color]Strikes are used to document misconduct or failure to meet specific expectations for a specific incident, and can be issued by a Head of Staff+, or a Head Admin+ under specific circumstances. [b]1st Strike[/b]: Documentation of Misconduct on Staff Database. May accompany other sanctions depending on the situation. [b]2nd Strike[/b]: Documentation of Misconduct and a demotion. May accompany other sanctions depending on the situation. [b]3rd Strike[/b]: Removal from staff team.  Staff Restrictions can be issued by Head Admin+, and results in an individual being prohibited from joining the Panda Network Gaming Staff Team for the designated amount of time. [b][u]Staff Administrative Powers and Responsibilities[/u][/b] Members of the Panda Network Gaming Staff Team are entrusted with the responsibility to deal with sits and issues with fairness, honesty, and common sense. They are empowered to use discretion in how they chose to administrate, and it is understood that a staff member may choose to handle a situation differently from another staff member. Additionally,  it is further understood that a variety of factors can influence how a staff member decides to handle a specific issue. This can include repeat offenders, the attitude of the offender, as well as other factors. Verbal Warning - A verbal warning can be given out in response to minor misconduct, and can be used in situations where someone may be new to the server and not fully aware of specific rules. Formal Warning - A formal warning can be given out in response to any misconduct, and are used to document the misconduct on the player’s record. Formal warnings must be given if additional actions, such as a jail or ban, are also given to document the misconduct necetating those measures. NOTE: Staff members are not allowed to issue formal warnings to individuals of higher staff rank from them without Super Admin+ permission. Jail - Jails can be given out in response to moderate or continuing misconduct. They are used to isolate players to prevent them from further negatively impacting other players’ experience, as well as provide them with a cooling off period. Leaving from the server prior to the jail time expiring constitutes LTAP. Kick - Kicks can be given out in response to moderate or continuing misconduct. They are used to temporarily remove players from the server that are having a negative impact on other players, but doesn’t prevent them from returning to the server shortly after. Ban - Bans can be given out in response to major or continuing misconduct. This is for players that are having a significantly negative effect on other players, as well as providing them with a longer cooling off period. When you decide to issue an individual a formal warning, you must inform the person that they are receiving a warning, as well as why a warning is being issued. When issuing the formal warning you should include all misconduct in a single warning, rather than issuing multiple warnings.  For example, !warn Playername FailRP/RDM/RDA/LTAP When issuing a ban, you should inform the player that they are receiving a ban, why the ban is being given, and how long the ban will be in place. It is understood, however, that some instances will require immediate action and this specific section can’t always be followed. Super Admins are exempt from this rule. Repeat offenders are subject to harsher punishment. [b]Trial Moderators[/b] are prohibited from banning or handing out jail times in excess of 300 seconds. They are to call for a Moderator+ if there was a major rule infraction that requires a stronger punishment. [b][u]Punishment Guidelines for Common Offenses[/u][/b] The following guidelines are used to help staff members make decisions regarding common staff issues, but are not mandated. [u]Random Deathmatch & Random Arrest (Including Attempted RDM & RDA)[/u] 1x RDM/RDA - Warning (Verbal or Formal) =14px[color=#e2e2e2]x[/color]2x RDM/RDA - Formal Warning + Jail (300 Seconds) 3x RDM/RDA - Formal Warning + Jail (600 Seconds) 4+ RDM/RDA (Mass RDM/RDA) - Formal Warning + 1 Hour Ban  [u]Breaking New Life Rule[/u] 1x NLR - Warning (Verbal or Formal) 2x NLR - Formal Warning + Jail (300 Seconds) 3+ NLR - Formal Warning + Jail (600 Seconds) [u]Prop Abuse/Prop Block[/u] 1x Prop Abuse/Prop Block - Warning (Verbal or Formal) 2x Prop Abuse/Prop Block - Formal Warning + Jail (600 Seconds) 3+ Prop Abuse/Prop Block or Prop Block of Spawn - Formal Warning + Ban (15 Minutes) [u]Leaving to Avoid Punishment[/u] LTAP - Formal Warning + 1 hour ban [u]Disrespect (Towards both Staff and Player)[/u] 1x Disrespect - Warning (Verbal or Formal) 2x or More - Warning + Jail (200 Seconds) [u]Racism[/u] 1x Above Conduct - Warning + 15 Minute Ban 2x OR Mass Above Conduct - Warning + 1 Hour Ban [u]DDOS Threats, Advertisement of Other Servers, Attempting to Crash Server[/u] 1x Above Conduct - Permanent Ban [u]Warning Threshold Bans[/u] These bans should only be issued when the player receives their 10th, 20th ,30th or 40th warning on the server. 10 Warns -  30 Minute ban issued, By Moderator 20 Warns - 1 Hour ban issued, By Admin 30 Warns -  5 Hours ban issued, By Super Admin 40+ Warns - Permanent ban issued, By Head Admin  All punishments can be reduced, extended, or overruled at the discretion of The Owner. [b][u]Forum Permissions[/u][/b] This section covers the acceptance/denial of certain posts on the Panda Network Gaming forums. This list explains which ranks are able to handle various reports or appeals. Warning/Ban Appeals & Player Reports - Head Admin+ may process all Warning/Ban Appeals and Player reports. Other community members, including lower ranking staff members may provide +/- Support with valid reasons. Staff Applications / Complaints & Name Changes - Any staff applications or complaints, or name changes are to be handled by [b]Head Admin[/b]+.  All other ranks may provide +/- Support with valid reasons when applicable. Suggestion/Bug Reports - These are processed by Admins+, however permission may be given to Head Admin+ to resolve minor Bug Reports. [u][b]Staff Commands[/b][/u] !jail [/b][b](!jail beckett 100)[/b] [b]!jailtp[/b] [b]!warn[/b] [b]!kick[/b] [b]!ban [/b][b][b](time is in minutes)[/b] [b]!gag [/b][b](Mutes players voice in game)[/b] [b]!ungag[/b] [b]!mute[/b][b]  (Mutes players text in chat)[/b] [b]!unmute[/b] [b]!cloak !freeze[/b] [b]!unfreeze[/b] [b]!bring[/b] [b]!goto[/b] [b]!return[/b] [b]!noclip (recommended you bind this by using the command "bind v "ulx noclip"" in console)  !spectate[/b] [b]!god !blogs (opens up server logs) !menu (brings up staff menu, which covers the majority of these commands) [u][b]Chain of Command[/b][/u] It is an expectation that members of the staff team follow the chain of command at all times. In general, all questions should first be posed to the Normal Staff, before escalating to the Head Admin, and the Owner. When attempting to contact an individual with a non-urgent issue, please contact any member that is actively online through Discord, as that is generally how you’ll get the quickest response. If no one is online, please wait until someone is available. When attempting to contact an individual with an urgent issue, it is permissible to DM the relevant person through Discord or on the forums. This should be done sparingly, and again, only for urgent issues.=14px[color=#e2e2e2]=15px[/color]The Chain Of Command is as followed: Management Team (MT) Owner Head Admin [u][b]Staff Team Rank Overview[/b][/u] Owner[/b][/b] [list=1] [*][b][b]Owner of the community, Sargefan767 (https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198044649526/)[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Focuses mainly on making additions to each server[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Should only be contacted with donations issues or serious server issues[/b][/b] [/list] [b][b]Head Admin[/b][/b] [list=1] [*][b][b]Assists in leading the staff team[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Can deal with player reports and warning/ban appeals[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Assist in giving feedback on suggestions[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Head Admin has been a part of the community for an extended period of time and understands how to handle situations.[/b][/b] [/list] [b][b] Super Admin[/b][/b] [list] [*][b][b]Members of the Junior Management Team.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Tasked with resolving minor issues, or passing higher level issues to Head Admin or The Owner[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Super Admins have been a part of the community for an extended period of time and understand how to handle situations as the Head Admin.[/b][/b] [/list] [b][b]Admins[/b][/b] [list] [*][b][b]Required to be on the Administration job to use any staffing powers or administrate a sit, with the exception of warning for obvious rule infractions that do not require a sit (Intentional LTAP/RDA, NLR).[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Tasked with mentoring new staff members and assisting as needed. [/b][/b] [*][b][b]Generally considered to be a trusted member of the staff team.[/b][/b] [/list] [b][b]Senior Moderator[/b][/b] [list] [*][b][b]Required to be on the Administration job to use any staffing powers, administrate a sit, and issuing warnings.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Considered a more trusted member of the staff team, though more senior staff should give guidance to them in order to better their administrative skills.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Required to know all the rules and what they all mean.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Encouraged to ask staff for help in sits that you are unsure about and help Moderators if needed.[/b][/b] [/list] [b][b]Moderator[/b][/b] [list] [*][b][b]Required to be on the Administration job to use any staffing powers, administrate a sit, and issuing warnings.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Considered beginners of the staff team and higher staff should mentor these new staff members to better their skills.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Required that you know all the rules and what they all mean[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Encouraged to ask staff for help in sits that you are unsure about[/b][/b] [/list] [b][b]Trial Mod[/b][/b] [list] [*][b][b]Required to be on the Administration job to use any staffing powers.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Considered beginners of the staff team and higher staff should mentor these new staff members to better their skills.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Required that you know all the rules and what they all mean[/b][/b] [*][b][b][u]HIGHLY[/u] encouraged to ask staff for help in sits that you are unsure about.[/b][/b] [/list] [b][b][u][b]Leave of Absence Procedure[/b][/u] It is understood that the Panda Network Gaming Staff Team is a volunteer force that gives their time to help make the server the best place possible for the community. There are times when real life situations or emergencies necessitate a reduction in activity, or being unable to come online at at. In these cases staff members should file a Leave of Absence follow the procedure laid out in their server’s Administrative section on the forums. The following general rules should be kept in mind:[/b][/b] [list] [*][b][b]Failure to post a LOA can lead to a demotion and possible removal from the staff team if you’re inactive for long periods of time (1 Week+).[/b][/b] [*][b][b]In the event of an emergency situation that prohibits you from filing a LOA, you are required to reach out to your Head Admin+ as soon as possible to inform them of the situation. A provisional LOA may be given at that time.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]LOAs longer than 2 weeks must be cleared with your the Head Admin or Owner. Those staff that fail to do so may be removed from staff.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]LOAs that are 1 month or longer may result in an automatic demotion.[/b][/b] [/list] [b][b][u][b]Staff Team Promotions[/b][/u][/b][/b] [list] [*][b][b]After having a rank for 30 consecutive days, you are eligible to be promoted.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Promotions can either be applied for on the forums, in a similar manner to applying for Trial Moderator, or be given out.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Ensure you follow the correct format and have the correct permission(s) before making a promotion application.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]Admin+ must be applied for on the forums under the correct section.[/b][/b] [*][b][b]If your promotion application is denied you must wait at least 1 week (or higher if designated) before applying again.[/b][/b] [/list] [b][b][u][b]Leaving the Staff Team[/b][/u] Staffing isn’t for everyone, and at some point you may decide that you would like to leave the staff team to focus more on your RP positions, or you may find that you just don’t like it. That’s completely fine, and we appreciate the time and effort that you’ve put forth making the server a more positive place! Staff members must provide a minimum of 48 hours notice via a forum post described below to leave in good standing. Failure to provide or comply with the 48 hour notice may result in a staff restriction. Additionally, staff that quit or resign from their positions are prohibited from applying for a staff position again for a minimum of two months unless provided an exemption by Head Admin+. To leave your staff position in good standing, please follow the procedures below: [u]Trial Moderator[/u][/b][/b] [list] [*][b][b]Leaving the staff team as a Trial Moderator will result in a 3 Month Staff Restriction. Please create a new post in your server’s Administrative forum area titled “NAME - Resignation Notice” using the provided format.[/b][/b] [/list] [b][b][u]Moderator - Super Admin[/u][/b][/b] [list] [*][b][b]Leaving the staff team as a Moderator - Super Admin is known as “quitting”. Please create a new post in your server’s Administrative forum area titled “NAME - Resignation Notice” using the provided format.[/b][/b] [/list] [b][b][u]Head Admin[/u][/b][/b] [list] [*][b][b]Leaving the staff team as a Head Admin is known as an official resignation. Please create a new post in your server’s Administrative forum area titled “NAME - Resignation Notice” using the provided format.[/b][/b] [/list] [list] [*]  [/list]