[/li][li] Visually appealing applications are always useful to some extent, as they show dedication and willingness. However, ranks that do not utilize coding in their division's actual tasks are not penalized for lacking decorated layouts. Some ranks may benefit strongly from beautiful, complex coding to illustrate their skills, whereas other divisions may only necessitate minimal coding and could pass with a simple bullet-point list. Clear, concise organization is extremely important, regardless of physical intricacy.

[/li][li] To apply for any open slot, make a thread in the Staff sub-board, using the label corresponding to whichever rank(s) you are seeking. Applications are invisible to all users except for the thread creator and administration, thus guaranteeing total privacy. Not only is access to your thread restricted, its very existence is concealed, so it is not public knowledge that you even applied at all. You may audition for multiple roles at once, in the same thread or separate threads, depending on your preference. If you are not finished with your submission, then apply the label "Work in Progress" until you are satisfied with your form, at which time you may switch the label to "Finished." Once completed, post in Staff Summons to alert administration, or post in the private board Secrets if you do not want the public to know you applied. If you are already staff and wish to request a promotion, add or remove task divisions, or change divisions entirely, then post your interest following the same process.

[/li][li] Your application might sit idly for a long period of time. If administration has not posted to directly dismiss or accept your submission, then their silence means you are still being considered and will be dismissed or accepted at a later date. The position could open, close, open, close, and open again before you might be appointed; it depends entirely on the other candidates and the current needs of the site.

[/li][li] If your thread is present in the Staff sub-board, administration will assume you are still interested. If you wish to withdraw your form, you can delete your thread. If you wish to withdraw but also preserve your form in case you re-apply in the future, you can ask administration to move your thread to the private Testing board, or copy/paste it over yourself. Applications should never be publicly visible.


[/li][/ul]

• You must vigilantly patrol the Staff Summons board for tasks in your jurisdiction. A label is created for each staff member, matching their OOC names. To claim a task, apply your label to its Summons thread. Once marked, you are solely responsible for completing the job. If you are unable to finish, you must remove your label and post in Red Rope for someone else to take the task.
  
  
• People often judge sites on its staff members; their activity, attitude, and hospitality are the presumed norm of the entire memberbase, regardless of accuracy. Therefore, your conduct is representative of Metaphysical and must meet high standards for maturity and composure. If you are in a bad mood, it is better to stay silent than to express a negative tone. If you dislike a member, inform other staff members through Red Rope and leave that member's tasks for another to handle. Involve newcomers in your plots and roleplay with a variety of members. Use your behavior to foster a pleasant experience for members and a positive reputation for our forum.
  
  
• While there are restricted channels for staff members in our Discord group chat for private discussion, you should utilize the Red Rope board for most announcements. Messages are quickly buried in Discord and are difficult to later reference. Discord is appropriate for general chat, but not for critical information, such as requesting another employee to undertake a task you already claimed.
  
  
• Please endeavor to keep at least 1 character reasonably active and participate in at least 1 IC thread whenever possible. Hiatuses and lulls are normal, but engaging in the IC world is an important element of maintaining the site and our stature in the roleplaying community.
  
  
• We understand and respect that Metaphysical is not your life. It is a hobby meant for enjoyment and relaxation, as a haven on the sidestep of reality. You are not expected to claim every task or shoulder every burden, nor should your staff job prevent you from roleplaying. But while strict activity is not demanded, extreme inactivity cannot be accommodated, either. A staff member who never fulfills their duties will harm the site itself and their team, and they will be demoted accordingly if they are consistently absent. Demotions are not personal and can be reversed if circumstances change; they are to protect the site, not punish the person. To prevent misunderstandings, please post an away notice if you are taking a break, so you are not assumed inactive.
  
  

[/PTab={}]

[PTab=Tasked Ranks]



[PTabbedContent]


[PTab=Bankers]

• Overview.
  
• Responsible for the many money-making threads of Loot 'n' Booty, their role entails updating select threads, exchanging IC currency, and distributing items.

[li] Activity.
[/li]

• Activity expectations are high, as there are numerous Loot threads that require frequent action, and ensuring members promptly receive their money establishes a smooth experience and healthy economy. Some tasks are relatively easy and swift to complete, but others can be far more demanding.

[li] Work Style & Duties.
[/li]

• While their tasks are plentiful, banking does not generally demand extensive writing or social interaction, instead parroting predetermined responses to simply confirm posts have been processed. If an issue or abnormality arises that requires more social interaction than the Banker is comfortable handling, they can pass the situation to a global staff member. Their work can be intensive, involving math, numbers, data entry, and sifting through complex coding. Repeatedly updating a thread and multiple accounts for each task can be monotonous and surprisingly time-consuming. To avoid accidentally breaking a table or erasing essential information, Bankers must be highly meticulous, exercising slow and careful precision when editing. They must also maintain clear communication amongst all other staff members who share their jurisdiction, as multiple members accidentally modifying the same post at the same time can have disastrous results. A private Discord channel is provided for this purpose.

[li] Variations.
[/li]

• Administration may restrict which exact threads individual Bankers are allowed to moderate, or Bankers may voluntarily choose based on their interests. Some Bankers may receive extra permissions to create their own Loot threads and contests, which would necessitate strong coding knowledge, designing skills, organization, creativity, and professional writing ability. Such authority is rarely granted, reserved for those who have proven elite skills and trustworthiness.

[/ul][/PTab={}]



[PTab=Gatekeepers]

• Overview.
  
• Charged with character creation in Genesis, adjusting the character tally located in the homepage's top header table, birthing in Breath of Life, and retiring characters in Necropolis, Gatekeepers are the life and death of Metaphysical.

[li] Activity.
[/li]

• Although their activity must be reasonable, there is less pressure than other divisions because the frequency of their tasks can be relatively slow. However, one of the biggest reasons new members quit sites is due to waiting too long for their first biography to be accepted. Gatekeepers should arrange their general schedule to overlap each other's gaps whenever possible, so having unusual timezones can be very beneficial, and they should check Genesis throughout the day on their phone to patrol for untended biographies. Births and deaths do not require such a prompt response. Where other divisions may have piles of tasks a day, Gatekeepers may pass several days without a single task--but when one does occur, it must be attended to quickly. Therefore, Gatekeepers do not need to be online for hours every day, but should regularly scan the site on their computer or phone so they can respond swiftly when needed.

[li] Work Style & Duties.
[/li]

• Births and deaths are fairly straightforward, following set procedures to process member requests and update logs. Biographies are more complicated and subjective. First, Gatekeepers cannot skim, and must enjoy comprehensively reading potentially lengthy biographies, which can range wildly in writing style and quality. Second, they must remember what is and is not allowed on Metaphysical, to notice any mistakes that might require the author to make modifications. Third, social skills are needed to gently explain why biographies are being marked pending, and to offer sincere, unique compliments when accepting characters. Overall, the rank does not involve complex coding, writing and social interaction do play a minor role, and there is considerable reading.

[li] Variations.
[/li]

• If preferred, Gatekeepers can review biographies exclusively, instead of overseeing births and deaths. Their duties must include biographies and cannot consist solely of births and deaths.

[/ul][/PTab={}]



[PTab=Judges]

• Overview.
  
• Entrusted to govern character battles, these few wield logic and neutrality to declare the winner. Members might also request their services determining the verdict of various IC or OOC situations, such as competitions.

[li] Activity.
[/li]

• Judging does not require any particular level of activity, as battles are uncommon and can span several weeks when they do occur. Once the fight does finally conclude, Judges have to thoroughly review the thread and contemplate their ruling, which justifies even more time for their task. This division has the lowest activity expectations.

[li] Work Style & Duties.
[/li]

• The most significant facet of judging is reading. Battles may rage on for multiple pages and Judges may not be fond of every roleplayer's writing that they must analyze. Beyond scholarly duties, a Judge must be unbiased, logical, meticulous, and demonstrate excellent social graces. They must be unwavering in their ability to remain impartial in the face of strong friendships and even stronger rivalries. If they personally dislike a combatant's writing style based on their own preferences, but understand it is objectively good, then they must score it as good. If they are fond of one opponent and greatly dislike the other, they cannot give influence to either feeling. As battles grow in size and importance, more Judges will be brought to form a panel, and global staff will eventually join the committee at a certain scale, such as wars. Roleplayers may request a different Judge oversee their battle for any reason, but they cannot pick their specific Judge. For example, if they are uncomfortable with Judge A, then they can ask for a new staff member, but they could not specifically name Judge B as the replacement and might receive Judge C. Lastly, members may petition Judges to manage other dilemmas, such as choosing between multiple applicants for the same position, declaring the winner of contests like races, or settling disputes; the Judge is not obligated to accept these side-requests and can decline.
  

[li] Variations.
[/li]

• There are no overall variations for Judges. They can decline individual battles at their discretion, assuming another Judge can and will accept the task.

[/ul][/PTab={}]



[PTab=Oracles]

• Overview.
  
• This mystical yet simple rank determines the result of prayers in the Celestial Citadel. Once they have finished rolling the dice, they are also responsible for distributing any blessings or curses.

[li] Activity.
[/li]

• Many characters pray every time their cooldown expires, which generally leads to a steady influx of tasks for Oracles. Consequently, the rank calls for high activity. Although members will not usually quit the site based purely on impatience for their prayer's outcome, they can feel agitated and it harms both their experience and their impression of Metaphysical. Smooth and timely responses provide a content atmosphere and also avoid gridlock from numerous prayers building up at once, which can be very daunting.

[li] Work Style & Duties.
[/li]

• When a new prayer is posted, Oracles perform a series of digital "dice" rolls that reveal if the character will receive nothing, a blessing, or a curse. Their job is predominantly posting the code that generates a random number within a designated number range, utilizing a predetermined response to announce the result, and delivering any perks or ramifications, if applicable. The job does not typically concern social interaction, as their posts are standardized messages, nor is there pressure to make decisions. It can be uncomfortable to administer a curse, but the lack of personalized replies prevents an opening for direct confrontation between the Oracle and the roleplayer who prayed. The most important characteristic for an Oracle is trustworthiness, as the position wields considerable power and prayer results must never be altered. If there is doubt in an Oracle's integrity, the entire system is compromised.

[li] Variations.
[/li]

• There are no overall variations for Oracles.

[/ul][/PTab={}]



[PTab=Scholars]

• Overview.
  
• Scholars have a hand in every IC affair, learning the fine threads woven between characters, the political dynamics boiling within colonies, and the new faces entering the masses. Scholars select which boards they wish to watch, and then read all IC threads within their chosen district. As IC events unfold, they periodically write reports to briefly summarize any new developments, such as romances, rivalries, promotions, demotions, or other known relationships, plots, or changes. They also peruse various OOC boards that affect IC life, such as Plot It Out (emerging plots), Recruitment (the latest incentives or deals), Necropolis (recent deaths), Breath Of Life (successful births), Genesis (finished characters), and The Agora (high-value items being purchased). If any rules are found broken, they will immediately alert global employees, but are not responsible for addressing the issue themselves unless given administrative approval.

[li] Activity.
[/li]

• Scholars follow their own schedule. They may be as active or inactive as they feel is sufficient to stay updated on all threads in their selected boards. For some, this may entail reading each new post daily. For others, they may catch up on the new posts weekly, sorting through the backlog in one sitting. Reports do not follow a strict pattern but are ideally submitted at least once every 2 weeks, and large changes should be reported as they occur, such as a horse ascending their herd's ranks or newfound tensions between Monarchs.

[li] Work Style & Duties.
[/li]

• Evidently, Scholars must enjoy reading a wide variety of post lengths and writing styles. If the Scholar feels compelled by valid reasons, they can request another Scholar cover a particular thread in their board; for example, a staff member may feel uncomfortable reading the thread of a roleplayer they have a negative relationship with. They must have either the ability to memorize or the willingness to re-read rules in order to notice when any regulations have been breached. Reports are posted in Red Rope, the private staff board. Some reports may contain clandestine information and be deemed inappropriate for lower-level staff members; if so, there is an exclusive sub-board dedicated to such classified intelligence. Should the report necessitate even stricter access, it can be sent as a direct PM to those with proper permissions. Scholars can add, remove, or switch their board sections, but should endeavor to cover areas that are currently unclaimed by other employees. They can also make arrangements with other staff to canvas the same boards, but on alternating weeks, or otherwise assist each other. Their social interaction is limited to reports and answering any staff questions that may arise, and their only need for coding is to ensure clarity and basic organization, such as headers and bullet-point lists. Reports do not have to be written perfectly and should not cause undue anxiety or pressure, and they should be as succinct as possible while delivering the important details.

[li] Variations.
[/li]

• The very premise of Scholars revolves around variations, as each one will monitor a unique set of boards. Scholars should cover at least 2 boards, but may stretch across the entire site if they so prefer.

[/ul][/PTab={}]



[PTab=Shopkeepers]

• Overview.
  
• Items and IC currency are the stock and trade of Shopkeepers. They finalize all transactions in the Agora and Pocket Exchange. Likewise, they scrutinize the member-run shops within the Agora to search for broken rules and outdated information.

[li] Activity.
[/li]

• Shopkeepers must be vigilant and active. It stirs frustration if a broken rule is overlooked, causing a transaction to be negated days after it was conducted. Furthermore, members grow antsy waiting for their items to process, as they may be needed before the roleplayer can continue with a plot or with creating their character. Falling behind on updating the Wholesale Catalog can lead to substantial confusion, as vendors cannot tell which items are factually in stock or out of stock. This may cause vendors to accidentally attempt to purchase unavailable merchandise, leading to disappointment when they later learn the sale is invalid.

[li] Work Style & Duties.
[/li]

• This rank demands recurrent social interaction; most of their posts will follow a predetermined response when marking a transaction as complete, but customers may engage them in spontaneous discussion regarding questions or other relevant topics. It also mandates strong coding skills, as the Wholesale Catalog is a complex, convoluted monstrosity, proving difficult to navigate and nerve-wracking to modify. A single mistake can cause catastrophe, from breaking the intensive layout to erasing crucial content. Adjusting the stock amounts involves hunting single numbers buried in thousands of words, which grows easier as the catalog becomes more familiar, but has a steep learning curve until then. They must also maintain clear communication amongst all other staff members who share their jurisdiction, as multiple members accidentally editing the catalog at the same time can have disastrous results. A private Discord channel is provided for this purpose.

[li] Variations.
[/li]

• There are currently no overall variations for Shopkeepers. As the amount of stores increase over time, Shopkeepers will be able select which specific shops they will monitor, but this is not yet necessary.

[/ul][/PTab={}]



[PTab= ][/PTab={}]



[PTab=Socialites]

• Overview.
  
• Socialites carry the conversation in our Discord group chat and play the most public part of our tasked staff. They influence topics, ensure everyone is included, form relationships, answer questions or tag the staff member(s) who could better assist, navigate awkward situations with finesse, ban trolls, welcome guests, and initiate discussion when the chat falls silent.

[li] Activity.
[/li]

• Socialites are among the most active and should be present throughout the day, generally utilizing their phone to participate whenever possible. Uncomfortable or inappropriate issues can develop at any moment and must be handled immediately. Socialites should arrange their general schedule to overlap each other's gaps wherever possible, so having unusual timezones can be very beneficial. While they are active in the sense of frequent communication, there is also less pressure than other ranks because they can use their phone for the majority of their work, rather than needing hours at the computer or even the site itself.

[li] Work Style & Duties.
[/li]

• In a job where interaction is its sole purpose, having honed social skills is crucial. Socialites must be eloquent, observant, diplomatic, calm, unbiased, patient, and fun. They must show self-control when irritated and perceive others' undertones and implications. They should know how to be light-hearted, spreading a positive atmosphere. Not only must they note trouble quickly, they must also swiftly determine how to react, which can be difficult. Some incorrect actions by members that must be addressed include, but are not limited to: confrontations, answering questions they should leave to staff to avoid inaccurate information, moderating the chat without authority, advertising their sales in the wrong channel, pushing staff to complete a task or a roleplayer to respond to their IC thread, giving unwanted advice such as pointing out typos in a biography, or pressing a member too hard to partake in a plot, thread, or their herd. Problems are not always overt; of course trouble may manifest as a full fight, but it could also appear as subtle tension that may not be consciously perceptible by those with lesser awareness. For example, a handful of members might talk about a plot they have concocted, which is an innocent subject and sometimes permissible, but it could be excluding other members who are not associated with the plot. In fact, a large portion of a Socialite's job is carefully steering the subject and consistently drawing new members, guests, and otherwise quiet members into the loop. Although they can divert problems to administration, there may be times that a Socialite must chastise a member on their own, as a global staff member may not be available soon enough. Therefore, they should be capable of gently correcting a member, usually by sending them a direct message regarding the problem at hand. Rebuking a member is delicate and mandates the utmost tact, as members often quit the site when they feel embarrassed, attacked, or singled out by harsh criticism.

[li] Variations.
[/li]

• There are 3 major facets: talking in chat, possibly reprimanding a member, and possibly answering questions. Socialites may choose which aspects they will perform. For example, answering questions relies on their ability to memorize site information, and they may prefer to defer all inquiries to another qualified staff member. They can use their private Discord channel to connect with other staff members to request assistance, discuss solutions, and provide advice to each other.

[/ul][/PTab={}]


[PTab= ][/PTab={}]

[/PTabbedContent={}]

[/PTab={}]


[PTab= ][/PTab={}]


[PTab=Global Ranks]



[PTabbedContent]

[PTab=Administrator]

• There is one, unchanging administrator--the founder of Metaphysical. He is the innovator, crafting and incorporating new ideas to keep the site fresh and exciting. Overseeing members, supervising staff, and serving in every task division, his job is dynamic and endless. He must answer the questions previously unasked, make decisions thus far undecided, and update content formerly considered complete. Every official word and concept on the site is exclusively attributed to the administrator. This rank cannot be assigned to any other member. It is permanently closed and exclusive to the original creator.

[/PTab={}]

[PTab=Managers]

• Overview.
  
• The highest rank achievable, management is subordinate solely to the administrator and aids in site innovation. They supervise all staff and participate in every task division, carrying weight evenly across the duties.

[li] Activity.
[/li]

• Managers must maintain excellent daily activity, with occasional exceptions for vacations and infrequent breaks needed for mental recuperation. As they dabble in all divisions, their activity must meet the standards of each.

[li] Work Style & Duties.
[/li]

• When the term "administration" is used in an official thread, it generally includes Managers. Overseeing corner to corner of Metaphysical, they assist in large-scale projects but also participate in menial work. However, they are not the primary caretakers; tasked staff are largely responsible for their sections, and management handles what is left behind. No one can audition for the Manager role directly, it is assigned by the administrator and requires extensive experience as a Metan Moderator. It is rare and prestigious, but the exchange for significant authority is considerable pressure.

[li] Variations.
[/li]

• There are no overall variations for Managers. If there is a particular division a Manager truly cannot moderate for valid reasons discussed with administration, they may be exempted from that specific division's obligations. For example, they may wish to avoid the job of a Scholar.

[/ul][/PTab={}]


[PTab=Moderator]

• Overview.
  
• Seated in a position of honor and power, Moderators undertake every task division and head more complex projects.

[li] Activity.
[/li]

• Moderators must exemplify high activity. Their presence is expected daily, both on the site and in the Discord group chat. Vacations, recuperation breaks, and slow or short days are of course permitted as needed, but Moderators should endeavor to log at least an hour a day on average. If they find the rank is too difficult or otherwise incompatible with their lifestyle, Moderators can voluntarily step down into specific divisions instead.

[li] Work Style & Duties.
[/li]

• Participating in all divisions, Moderators are the do-all polymaths, the cogs operating and fine-tuning the gears of Metaphysical. With their hands in all divisions, they are familiar with each fiber of our world, but their role surpasses the mere summary of the task branches. They are also responsible for advertisements, affiliates, accepting new OOC accounts, and handling unique enterprises delegated by their superiors. They serve as trusted advisors to those higher and supervisors to those below. While anyone can apply to become a Moderator, immediate selection is very rare. Most must prove themselves as tasked staff before they can be promoted. The required traits are plentiful: maturity, eloquence, intelligence, kindness, readiness, dedication, and patience. Their skills must be honed and ranged, from relatively complex coding to adaptive social graces. It is not a mantle for those without certainty; it is for the pillars prepared to support our site.

[li] Variations.
[/li]

• There are no overall variations for Moderators. If there is a particular division a Moderator truly cannot moderate for valid reasons discussed with administration, they may be exempted from that specific division's obligations. For example, they may wish to avoid the job of a Scholar.

[/ul][/PTab={}]

[/PTabbedContent={}]

[/PTab={}]



[/PTabbedContent={}][/div]