1. New Builders
2. Credits, Rewards and Imming Policy
3. Quality control
4. Copyright and Unique zones
5. Builder Levels
6. "Non-Builders’ and other reasons for getting fired

1. New Builders

- The applicant is required to leave his email address.
- The applicant has to prove their ability as a Builder by first fulfilling the requirements specified in the Builders’ Application Room, south of Recall. (A short synopsis of the planned zone plus examples of 10 room descriptions, 3 mob descs and 3 objects descs, each minimum 4 lines long are required).
- The applicant gets informed about the Building documents available on the website. Should the website temporarily be down the documents will be emailed to them.
- The applicant gets a level 53 Builder Char in the Building Port and gets assigned to a zone with 100 rooms. (The minimum size for any zone is 50 rooms).
- If necessary the applicant also gets some tutoring online to get them started (total newbie builders).
- The applicant also gets informed about the Mud's policies about Imming Builders.
- After finishing 50 rooms with mobs, objects and resets, the builder is promoted to level 54 in the Building Port and given the commands to make scripts (mob_progs).
Back to the top

2. Credits, Rewards and Imming Policy

- The Builder will receive credit for all zones that get added to the Game Port in 3 ways; 1. by a plaque with their name in the zone itself, 2. in the Builder’s Page on the WebPages, and 3. in the Zone lists in the game and on the Webpage. These lists will be updated whenever a new zone is added.
- There is also a "Builder of the Month" and a "4D Builder of the Year" award for exceptionally good building work.
- Normally a 100 room zone of BOTM quality will earn the Builder an Imm char in the Game port, but only if they have a clean record there. In these cases the reward will be given out in tokens instead (see below). If there is a past of cheating, quest blabbing, bug abuse, harassment, extensive bickering or other kinds of immature behavior, we cannot trust you with an Imm char in the Game Port, (unless you manage to convince us that you now are a totally reformed character).
- The imm level in the Game Port will be 52 to begin with, but there is room for advancement, if the Builder continues doing a good work in the Building port - or if he/she prefers to find other ways of being useful, instead of keeping on as a builder. Usually building a second zone is the best way to advance. Only senior imms get OLC access in the Game Port.
- The Builder can also choose to exchange the Imm char for a token reward. If they’ve already got an imm for an earlier zone, or aren’t eligible for an Imm because of previous behavior, the reward will be in tokens as well.
- A zone that won the BOTM reward is worth a Gold token, otherwise the reward will be 5 silver for a 100 room zone.
Back to the top

3. Quality control

- All zones have to be controlled and approved by the Building Managers before getting entered in the Game Port. When a zone is submitted for approval, it is taken out of the Build Port, and after that no changes or additions can be made to it.
- For a zone to be approved, spelling, grammar and punctuation must be correct, and all requirements in the Building Rules fulfilled. Any typos found during the control have to be corrected by the Builders themselves. If we find more than 5 typos in the first three random rooms that we check, we will assume that everything is of the same low quality, the zone will just be put back into the Buildport, and the Builder will have to go over all descs with a spellchecker before submitting it again.
- No "illegal" weapons or equip will be allowed in the game Port. (For a definition of "illegal" see the 4D Equipment Guidelines. In doubtful cases an Imp or any of the Building Managers should be consulted).
- After a zone has been checked for typos and balance, it will be put into the Game Port to be test-played by at least 2 experienced players. The zone will not be publicly opened, until the testing has shown that there are no bugs, abusable scripts or other issues.
Back to the top

4. Copyright and Unique zones

- Once a zone is entered in the Game Port, it becomes the property of 4D and will not be removed again, except in very rare cases. A Builder cannot demand that the zone be taken out again, for any reasons; these decisions are always done by the Admin. However, the Builder retains the copyright to their work, and will be sent a copy of the zone files on request.
- Since we want to keep 4 Dimensions unique, the zones entered in the Game Port should NOT be duplicated in other Muds, unless with special consent of the 4D Admin. If the Builder chooses to do so without consent, the zone might be taken out of the Game Port, unless it is of vital interest to the game.
- Unfinished zones belong to the Builders, and should they choose to resign for some reason, they are free to take the unfinished zone with them, if they so wish. A copy of the files of the unfinished zone will be provided on request.
- Unfinished zones abandoned in the Building Port will NOT be completed by other Builders, except under very special circumstances, and in that case only with the consent of the original Builder, provided he/she left an address where they can be contacted. If not, we will assume that they lost interest in their zone, and carry on as if consent were given. The original Builder will however always be given credit for the zone, in proportion to the work done.
Back to the top

5. Builder Levels and abilities

At present there are 4 levels for Builders in the Building Port. (Normally any Imm position in the Game Port will be 1-2 levels lower):
- 53 - New Builder. (The starting level for all new Builders).
Gives access to all building commands except for scripts, and also to other imm commands needed for effective building. Can only enter and edit their own zone.
- 54 - Experienced Builder. (One completed 50 room zone with mobs, objects and resets required).
Gives access to the script commands.
- 55 - Assistant Head Builder. (One 100 room zone of BOTM quality required).
Gives edit access to all zones. Can create new zones. Some extra disciplinary commands.
- 56 - Head Builder - Implementor.
Gives access to some special commands, like Artifacts and Innate spells

The Head Builders and AHB will be expected to help checking the finished zones of other Builders for typos, grammar mistakes, faulty linking and "cheat equip". They will also help tutoring new and inexperienced Builders, answer questions about building matters etc.

Both Head Builder and AHB are positions of high trust, especially in the Game Port, and will not be handed out lightly. Don't expect to be eligible for any of them, unless you have been with us as a Builder for a long time, have a firm grasp of the English language and have proven that you are completely trustworthy.
Back to the top

6. "Non-Builders’ and other reasons for getting fired

- In 4D you don’t generally get your Builder char deleted because of inactivity, and we also don’t require a specified quantum of work per week or month. But a prolonged absence is never good for your career, especially if you become actively engaged in another Mud, and you might lose your Builder character, if it lasts too long.
- The zone files will be kept, and should the builder return later, they can apply to be reinstated and finish their zone. We would however appreciate it, if Builders that leave for good, or for a time exceeding 6 months, would tell us in advance, instead of just "fading out".
- Builders who try to smuggle illegal equip past the control into the Game Port, gets a warning at the first offence. Should the offence be repeated they will be fired as a Builder, and their char will be deleted. (Also a submitted zone that contains heavily cheated equip will NOT qualify for Immhood in the Game Port, since it shows that the Builder cannot be trusted as Imm).
- Builders, who intentionally and continuously disrupt the work in the Building Port, by extensive chatting, abuse of Imm commands, spamming or harassment of other Builders or test players (on any channel!), will receive a warning. If the warning isn’t headed, the Builder will lose their Builder privileges and their char will be deleted.
- Builders who repeatedly refuse to follow the directions of the Imps or the Head Builders will also be kicked out of the Build Port.
Back to the top

1998-01-19
Molly O’Hara
Updated 2008-02-02