Staff Handbook

Texas State Roleplay · Staff Guide

Confidential: for Texas State Roleplay staff only. Do not share outside the staff team.

Welcome to the Staff Team

Welcome to the Texas State Roleplay staff team! This handbook is your guide to everything you need as a member of staff: how to punish fairly, how shifts work, what each role means, how to handle tickets, and how to use our staff bot, Texas Management.

As staff, you represent Texas every time you are on shift, in a ticket or in game. Players look to you to keep the server fair, fun and professional.

How to use this handbook

Pick a page from the menu on the left, or search for what you need. The most used pages are:

Staff Code of Conduct

Every member of staff is expected to follow these at all times, on and off shift.

• Be professional. Use SPaG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) when on shift or handling tickets.
• Be fair. Punish by the guide, not by who the player is. Treat friends the same as everyone else.
• Be respectful. No arguing with players or staff in public channels or in game. Take disagreements to your High Ranks.
• Never abuse your powers. Staff commands, tools and permissions are for moderating only.
• Keep staff information private. Anything in staff channels stays in staff channels.
• Get evidence. Screenshots or clips protect you and the player if a punishment is questioned.
• Stay active. Meet your weekly quota and be active when you are on shift.

Abuse of Powers

Your rank does not give you power outside your permissions. The following are never allowed:

• Punishing someone because of a personal argument.
• Threatening players with punishments for no reason.
• Using staff commands for fun or to get out of trouble.
• Going easy on friends, or harder on people you don't like.
• Removing or changing a punishment without permission.
• Faking evidence or editing logs.

Conflicts of Interest

If a report, ticket or moderation call involves a friend, a partner or someone you are arguing with, do not handle it. Pass it to another staff member. Stepping away is not an admission of anything; it keeps the decision fair.

Chain of Command

Our ranks, from highest to lowest. If you need help, go to the rank above you first.

1. OwnershipOwner, Ownership
2. DirectorsDirector, Deputy Director, Assistant Director
3. LeadershipLeadership
4. ManagementLead Manager, Senior Manager, Manager
5. Internal AffairsLead Internal Affairs, Senior Internal Affairs, Internal Affairs
6. SupervisorsLead Supervisor, Senior Supervisor, Supervisor
7. AdministratorsLead Administrator, Senior Administrator, Administrator
8. ModeratorsLead Moderator, Senior Moderator, Moderator
9. Trial ModeratorTrial Moderator

Following the chain

• Need help on shift? Ask the rank above you or any High Rank.
• Situation is above your rank? Save the evidence and pass it up. Don't try to handle it alone.
• Reporting a staff member? Open a ticket. You may skip the chain of command if the report is about your own superior.

Staff Roles Explained

High Rank

The High Rank role shows that the member of staff is a High Rank. They have access to HR channels and infraction permissions!

Senior High Rank

The Senior High Rank role shows that the member of staff is a Senior High Rank, with some of the highest permissions within the server!

Staff Of The Week

Staff Of The Week is a role a staff member can get for getting the most hours in 1 week, giving them limited access to 50/50 permissions and Off Duty Commands.

Staff Of The Month

Staff Of The Month is a role a staff member can get by standing out the most that month (most hours and general great performance), giving different permissions each month!

Glossary of Terms

Common terms you will see in this handbook and in game.

In-Game Punishment Guide

Please use common sense. Ask your High Ranks if you do not know what to do!

Handling a Moderation Call

Follow these steps every time you deal with a player.

1. Respond quickly. Let the player who called know you are on the way.
2. Get the facts. Speak to both sides and check what happened. Do not punish on one person's word alone.
3. Get evidence. Take screenshots or clips of the rule break if you can.
4. Check the Punishment Guide. Pick the punishment that matches. A first offence a player didn't know about can be a verbal warning.
5. Explain the punishment. Tell the player calmly what rule they broke and what the punishment is.
6. Log it. Record the punishment so other staff can see the player's history.
7. Ask if unsure. If a situation isn't covered by the guide, ask your High Ranks.

Evidence

Good evidence protects you and the player. Use:

• Clips or screenshots that show what happened before and after.
• Game logs (command, kill and mod call logs).
• Statements from other players, if there is no clip.

Do not punish based on rumours, one person's word, or cropped screenshots with no context.

When to go to a High Rank

• Hacking, exploiting or a raid.
• A player threatening or harassing someone.
• A report about a staff member.
• A ban you are not sure about.
• Anything the Punishment Guide doesn't cover.

In-Game Conduct

Staff tools are for moderating, never for playing. While in game you must not:

• Use staff commands to win a roleplay or a pursuit.
• Teleport, bring or spectate players without a moderation reason.
• Punish players to help your friends or your own roleplay.
• Tell friends what staff are doing or where staff are.

Commands are logged

Every in-game command is logged and checked.

• Using commands while off shift sends an alert to Leadership (unless you are Manager or above).
• Using :admin, :mod or mass commands on all alerts Leadership and the Directors right away, and your permissions are removed automatically.
• Usernames in commands need at least 4 letters, so the right player is picked.

Ticket Guidelines

• You must use SPaG within all tickets.
• You cannot claim the ticket unless 10 messages have been sent within the ticket.
• PTS is required if you would like to speak within the ticket if it is claimed.
• In a report ticket, the person who is being reported is not allowed to speak within the ticket.
• If a user is being reported, they must open another ticket to defend themselves.
• Users must remain professional at all times, or they may be infracted.
• Please use common sense.

Ticket rules for staff

• Never handle a ticket about yourself or a friend. Pass it on.
• Only claim tickets you are going to handle.
• If a ticket needs more time, tell the user it is being looked into.
• Before closing, explain the outcome to the user.
• Never close a ticket to avoid a complaint.

Tips for great tickets

• Greet the user and ask how you can help.
• Ask for evidence (screenshots or clips) in report tickets.
• Keep replies short, clear and polite.
• If you can't solve it, pass it to a High Rank instead of guessing.

Shift Types & Regulations

Normal Shift (Default)

The normal shift is where you head over to the Texas Whitelisted team and patrol as staff, do Discord checks and take in-game moderation calls. You also wear the staff uniform and use the staff car! Once you complete 1 hour and 30 minutes of shift time for that weekly wave, you are able to access 50/50 shifts!

Normal Shift Regulations

• You must use SPaG at all times!
• Must be in a VC at all times!
• You must be actively doing something at all times!
• You are representing Texas! Please remain professional at all times.
• You must be using STG 1.
• You must follow traffic laws!

50/50 Shifts

A 50/50 shift is where you can be roleplaying on any team whilst you are on shift! You do not need to be wearing the staff uniform or liveries!

50/50 Shift Regulations

• You must use SPaG at all times!
• Must be in a VC at all times!
• You are representing Texas! Please remain professional at all times.
• Must follow our in-game rules!
• You can only use 50/50 if you are Staff Of The Week, Staff Of The Month, or you have done 1 hour and 30 minutes of normal shift time and have had it approved by your HR!

How to request a 50/50

Use /shift request in Discord with your hours and a screenshot as proof. A High Rank approves or denies it. An approved 50/50 lasts 7 days, then expires by itself and you get a DM.

Quota & Promotions

How promotions work

Promotions are given by High Rank and above using the staff bot. When you are promoted, your new rank is given automatically, the promotion is posted in the promotions channel, and you get a DM.

Being active, meeting quota, handling calls and tickets well, and staying professional all count toward being promoted.

Sessions

Texas runs on a session system. Sessions are hosted and managed by staff with session access (Management+). Please don't demand that a session be started.

How a session works

1. Prevote: a pre-session vote is posted with a few times. React to the time you can make.
2. Session Vote: 30 minutes before the earliest time, the winning time is picked and a Session Vote is posted. Everyone who voted for that time is DMed.
3. Startup: when the session starts, @Session Ping is pinged and voters are DMed.
4. Low / Boost: if more players are needed, a Session Boost is posted.
5. Full: when the server is full, a Full message is posted.
6. Shutdown: when the session ends, a Shutdown message is posted.

Press the Session Ping button on the session panel to get pinged for sessions. Press it again to remove the role.

Staff Infractions

Staff who break the rules or the Code of Conduct can receive an infraction. Infractions are requested by High Ranks and must be approved by Leadership before they count. Only approved infractions are posted publicly, and you are DMed when you receive one.

Reporting staff

Anyone can report a staff member by opening a ticket with evidence. Reports are handled by someone who is not involved.

• Never punish, threaten or treat someone differently for reporting you. This counts as abuse of powers.
• A report that can't be proven is not automatically a false report.

Confidentiality & Account Security

Keep it in staff

• Never share staff channels, logs, reports or evidence outside the staff team.
• Never screenshot or repost staff discussions in public.
• Only use player information for moderation.

Protect your account

• Never share your password or 2FA codes with anyone, including other staff.
• Turn on 2FA for your Discord and Roblox accounts.
• Don't open suspicious links or files.

Using Texas Management (Staff Bot)

Texas Management is our staff bot. All infractions and promotions must go through it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can use Off Duty Commands?

Off Duty Commands are for Directive+.

Who has session access?

Management+ can have session access.

How long do in-game commands need to be?

You need to use 4+ letter commands in game.

What is the quota?

Quota is 2 hours per week. You can check it with !quota.

When do I need to use SPaG?

Use SPaG if you're handling tickets or on shift, to remain professional.

How often are promotions?

Promotions are bi-weekly.

I have another question.

Please make a general support ticket.

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