A Land Far Away

Self Nomination:

I am committed to faithfully following and enforcing ALFA's Pillars, Charter, and Rulebook.

I want ALFA to grow, rather than to decline, and believe that a philosophy of growth and development across all servers will keep veteran ALFAns active and can potentially bring retired ALFAns back.

With so much of the LA responsibility being public relations, we need to actually have content to showcase. We have a wealth of such content, but not all of it gets the credit or attention that it deserves; the Tech team is working constantly on great ACR improvements that benefit all ALFA servers, and I believe that the infrastructure we have here is extraordinary. The sheer amount of customization within ALFA is staggering, and that will lend itself well to ALFA publicity. Some servers have more active development and are more polished than others; I believe that I can use that to highlight ALFA in general and I believe that I can encourage the HDMs and DMA to take a proactive role in content development to further showcase ALFA.

I intend to contribute to regular updates to the main page of the website. I also intend to work with the current IA to implement changes to our website that will be more attractive and also increase our traffic when people search for "Neverwinter Nights 2 server" in google, bing, and the various search engines. There are ways to increase search results without violating google's ToS. There's also a chance that Facebook would help our exposure, as social media does tend to be a multiplicative animal. Reddit is a possibility as well, but I am hesitant to do anything with Twitter, unless we have a player-base that is highly connected to twitter and wants updates on rumor threads. It might work well.

I believe that the role of LA should require very little administrative action in terms of discipline or exercise of the LA veto, as I have full faith in the PA, DMA, and IA positions to handle administrative actions impartially and with tact. (TA and non-admin HDM are related as well.) I believe that the administrative powers of the LA position are something best used only when absolutely necessary, and with the utmost in objectivity and impartiality. My intent in running for the position is almost entirely focused on growing and retaining ALFA population through publicity and through diligent oversight of elections.

I believe that the LA does not exercise many of the LA powers often and that a good LA will be impartial and use moderation when exercising any of these powers. I will listen to input objectively and comes to a decision after careful consideration of all available facts. I will do my best to be diplomatic and respectful in all situations, but I recognize that there is always the possibility for a personality conflict between any two people. Should such a situation arise, where I am a part of the conflict, and should diplomacy fail, I would delegate a representative who understands my goals and opinions to act on my behalf. With a position of leadership where there is some inherent authority, there is also a great deal of responsibility.

I believe that as LA, I will have a duty to remain faithful to the pillars, charter, and rules that we have in place, even if that duty is at odds with my own personal desires.

How strange, I feel a sense of déjà vu. Have your answers to any of the below questions changed?

FoamBats4All wrote:Hypothetical situations:

1) The DMA and TA disagree on an what scripted content should remain or be put into ACR. How do you settle this dispute? Who is in charge?

2) The IA and TA disagree what content can be included in hak files. How do you settle this dispute? Who is in charge?

3) The DMA does not punish/moderate an inappropriately behaving DM (alternatively: PA does not do the same with a player). Do you intervene and oversee, or do you stand by the relevant admin's decision?

4) The PA implements X characters per player, and you believe that X is too big. How do you handle this? Feel free to substitute an issue you personally care about.

FoamBats4All wrote:How strange, I feel a sense of déjà vu. Have your answers to any of the below questions changed?

My answers are the same as before.

FoamBats4All wrote:Hypothetical situations:

1) The DMA and TA disagree on an what scripted content should remain or be put into ACR. How do you settle this dispute? Who is in charge?

The ALFA Charter 2.1.2 cross domain issue rule applies here. The TA has control over the ACR domain and is also usually the one who is actually doing the coding and scripting. The DMA has control over server compliance and specific policies. In this case, both do overlap on the domain of scripted content being brought into ACR and the LA absolutely does have a right and duty to step in and resolve domain conflict.

As an engineer, I deal with this sort of problem somewhat frequently. What the architect wants may look beautiful, but may be technically difficult or exceedingly costly. What the engineer wants may be efficient, but not as visually appealing.

I would approach this diplomatically on ALFA just as I do on the job. The DMA may not always realize what can and can not work with NWN2 scripting; what the DMA wants may not be possible within the limitations of the NWN2 framework. In this case, I would defer to the TA, and ask for an explanation on what is possible, within the ACR framework, and how best to address the DMAs desires in a manner that is both feasible and reasonable.

Conversely, the TA may wish to implement something that the DMA has determined to be inappropriate for the server. Handling the situation with tact and diplomacy is just as important, as everyone is volunteering their time here, but if the TA is implementing something that is inappropriate for Compliance, then I would defer to the DMA, and ensure that the TA's implementation is altered to comply with DMA guidelines.

In both cases, I view the role of the LA here as a moderator, someone who can ensure that a mutually satisfactory compromise between technical content details and overall server compliance can be agreed upon. I would give both the TA and DMA a deadline to come to a compromise on the issue, and be more than happy to moderate between the two in an objective and impartial manner, should the need arise.

This is a cross-domain issue, and if it becomes a frequent problem, then a proposed change to the Charter may be needed to more clearly define the domains.

FoamBats4All wrote:2) The IA and TA disagree what content can be included in hak files. How do you settle this dispute? Who is in charge?

ALFA Charter 2.1.1 applies here and is clear. The IA has no authority over hak files.

If something in the haks is questionable or undesirable for view on the website in the form of a screenshot, for example, then the IA can certainly enforce a rule stating that screenshots of such hak content are not appropriate on the website (or in IRC, the FTP, or the vaults), but the IA can not influence what goes into the haks themselves.

This is not a cross-domain issue.

FoamBats4All wrote:3) The DMA does not punish/moderate an inappropriately behaving DM (alternatively: PA does not do the same with a player). Do you intervene and oversee, or do you stand by the relevant admin's decision?

This question relates to ALFA Charter 4.1.4 and the right to appeal a grievance. If there is no appeal, then the LA can not step in. If there is an appeal, then each case would have to be weighed on its own merits. I will do my best to answer in an hypothetical manner.

The DMA (PA) was elected for a reason, and the DMA (PA) has the trust of the electorate. I believe that the LA must respect the office of the DMA (PA) and allow the DMA (PA) as much sovereignty over the DMA (PA) domain as possible. In the absence of an appeal, the DMA (PA) decision would stand, most of the time.

However, if the case were one where the DMA (PA) could not justify the leniency and the offense by the DM (player) listed in the grievance was particularly egregious, or there was a clear case of a conflict of interests or direct involvement of the DMA (PA) in the issue, or some other form of ethical or moral conflict, of a particularly significant nature, then the LA can, and should act, even absent an appeal by the aggrieved party.

That action taken by the LA at that point is covered in the ALFA Charter 3.4, recall. If a DMA (PA) were clearly corrupt or derelict in their duties, even absent an appeal on a decision, the LA can, and should, file a motion to recall said DMA (PA). Clearly, such an action is a last resort, and to be used only in a clear and obvious case of serious conflict, and not to be taken lightly.

I wish that I could give you more specifics than these broad hypothetical answers, but I am a firm believer supporting the chain of command and backing all administrators within their domain.

FoamBats4All wrote:4) The PA implements X characters per player, and you believe that X is too big. How do you handle this? Feel free to substitute an issue you personally care about.

This falls under chapter 2 of the ALFA Rulebook, and Chapter 2 of the ALFA Rulebook may be changed by the PA.

I happen to feel that two characters per player is working well for us, and overall, has improved the morale of ALFA players. I am not aware of any instances of censure or discipline regarding rule violations that could become an issue with two characters per player. (Although I am not privy to such either.) That being said, most of these violations would be easy enough to verify and discipline for, and so I believe that the two characters per player idea has worked very well for ALFA.

The question came up in IRC the other day, why not three or four? My answer to that was that it could work, but that two was chosen because the limit was one, and changing that to two was an easier and less controversial change than jumping directly to three. I happen to like two myself, but I would not be adamantly opposed to three characters per player, if it could be shown to benefit ALFA as a population. As this falls under the PA domain, my only option would be a LA veto, which I would not exercise in this case, even though I prefer a limit of two rather than three characters per player.

However, because of the number of servers we have, I would be opposed to four characters per player, and so that is where I would exercise a LA veto under ALFA Charter 3.6. And with that veto, three Admin members (one likely the PA), as well as 2/3 of voting HDMs could override my veto, if they felt that it was for the good of ALFA.

That said, if the discussion from all admin indicated a strong favor for a four (or more) characters per player allowance, I would not waste my (or their) time posturing with a veto that is likely to be overturned.

Let me be clear that I am not eager to exercise veto authority. All administrative rights come responsibilities, and I believe that the LA should have a commitment to all of ALFA to operate impartially in a manner that is conducive to the growth and morale of ALFA as a community. Even if I disagree with an issue, if there is overwhelming support from the players and/or admin, then my opinion should not be forced on ALFA.

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Thank you for the thought-provoking questions, Foam; they helped to clarify my own platform as well as make me aware of issues that past LAs have faced.

How is your working relationship with current sitting admin?

Rumple C wrote:How is your working relationship with current sitting admin?

I get along fine with the current IA, DMA, TA, and PA. If I don't, it's news to me!

Have you ever held any leadership positions in other NWN/online communities?

However, if the case were one where the DMA (PA) could not justify the leniency and the offense by the DM (player) listed in the grievance was particularly egregious, or there was a clear case of a conflict of interests or direct involvement of the DMA (PA) in the issue, or some other form of ethical or moral conflict, of a particularly significant nature, then the LA can, and should act, even absent an appeal by the aggrieved party.

What is sufficiently egregious and/or too lenient to merit your attempting to intervene absent an appeal? Will you intervene where I choose not to punish a DM for some action(obv. they would not be appealing) and instead reach an informal resolution? Would you discipline a player if the PA decided not to under this rationale you propose? Under what section of the charter is such interference in an admin's work permitted?

Who determines if there is a conflict of interest? Our community is tiny, there is almost always some level of conflict of interest, whether it be friends, people who play in the same faction etc. What part of the charter will you use to intervene? Why not leave it for a recall motion/not reelecting the bad admin?

What happens if one or more admin think you have a conflict of interest in a situation, will you always recuse yourself, even if you disagree there is a conflict?

Castano wrote:

However, if the case were one where the DMA (PA) could not justify the leniency and the offense by the DM (player) listed in the grievance was particularly egregious, or there was a clear case of a conflict of interests or direct involvement of the DMA (PA) in the issue, or some other form of ethical or moral conflict, of a particularly significant nature, then the LA can, and should act, even absent an appeal by the aggrieved party.

What is sufficiently egregious and/or too lenient to merit your attempting to intervene absent an appeal? Will you intervene where I choose not to punish a DM for some action(obv. they would not be appealing) and instead reach an informal resolution? Would you discipline a player if the PA decided not to under this rationale you propose? Under what section of the charter is such interference in an admin's work permitted?

Who determines if there is a conflict of interest? Our community is tiny, there is almost always some level of conflict of interest, whether it be friends, people who play in the same faction etc. What part of the charter will you use to intervene? Why not leave it for a recall motion/not reelecting the bad admin?

What happens if one or more admin think you have a conflict of interest in a situation, will you always recuse yourself, even if you disagree there is a conflict?

Lead Administrator (LA) — Oversight of Administration, Veto & Referral Authority, Election Oversight, and Public Relations. Also responsible for resolving disputes over domain classification of any particular issue.

Recall
A motion to recall an Administrator can be made by any HDM or any of the other Administrators. The motion requires at least 10% of the sum total of HDMs and other Administrators, with a minimum of three persons, including the proposer, to be carried. Vote-eligible Administrator Staff and DMs are not able to propose, or move to carry, a recall motion. Once a motion for recall has been successfully proposed and carried, a vote, lasting one week, is taken among the voting constituencies eligible to cast ballots in the election of that Administrator. The recall motion is considered to have passed if affirmed by more than 60% of the votes cast.
An Administrator who is recalled must immediately vacate the position. Any Administrator in breach of the provisions of this Charter immediately and automatically invokes a recall vote against them.

Lead Veto
The Lead Administrator can veto any decision by any other administrator within thirty days of the decision. To override the Lead’s veto, three other members of the Administration must agree to propose a vote for an override to the HDMs. At least 2/3 (two thirds) of voting HDMs must support the override for it to be effective. Vote-eligible Administrator Staff and DMs are not able to participate in the veto override procedure.

Those are the three relevant charter sections that I am referring to, as well as the charter procedure to follow when taking action, in the latter two quotes.

Regarding your DMA giving an informal resolution to a DM, no, I would not intervene unless you were involved in cheating, or allowing cheating to occur, for example. You are not, and so I can't imagine a situation where anyone would need to exercise these rules with you. In other words, unless you warrant a recall motion, no.

Regarding the PA, again, only if the PA is complicit in cheating, violating the charter, etc. no, I'd not intervene unless PA actions warrant a recall.

Same goes for TA or IA.

If one admin thinks that there is a conflict of interest, but I do not, I'd simply confer with the other admin, and probably allow an informal consensus of the other admin to determine if I were in a position to rule on an issue or needed to recuse myself.

We should be a team.

Rumple C wrote:Have you ever held any leadership positions in other NWN/online communities?

I originally misread this as "other than nwn/online" and gave real world positions.

Yes, I was a guild officer in a successful EverQuest guild back in the late 1990s, a guild officer in a successful Dark Age of Camelot guild, a guild leader, and later nation leader (of a highly successful guild and nation (8 guilds), in Shadowbane.

none of those are NWN communities, unless the US Navy has changed priorities recently

Castano wrote:none of those are NWN communities, unless the US Navy has changed priorities recently

lol

I misread that as "other than nwn/online". Will edit previous post, as real world leadership was not the question.

Have you ever been banned from an online community? If so, why?

Rumple C wrote:Have you ever been banned from an online community? If so, why?

Sure have. Two of them even in September, 2011:

Rigilia - I called the server owner a psychopath after he ranted profanely to my yahoo messenger ID for eight hours straight while I was AFK. The ban came after I refused to apologize for calling him nuts.

Haven - Accused of uploading a year-old outdated copy of the Rigilia module online. How the two are related are beyond me, but that's social servers for you. I didn't do it, but that doesn't really matter either.

I won't discuss either issue further, as none of it is even remotely relevant to ALFA. Drama from elsewhere does not belong here.

Drama and Alfa seem to go hand in hand. What is your favorite rp memory from Alfa/other online server?

A question more on the platform-- it sounds like the PR efforts are based on showcasing content, though I'm not clear on how we get people looking at the things we're posting to begin with. Will you be doing anything to increase our visibility (or, if not, is there something you're counting on doing that for us?)