This policy applies to all staff members equally, including Admins and the Server Owner. No one is exempt. The integrity of the community depends on every member of Staff being held to the same standard.
A conflict of interest (COI) exists when a staff member's personal connections, relationships, or involvement could compromise, or appear to compromise, their ability to moderate impartially.
Perception matters. Even if favoritism isn't occurring, the appearance of bias is just as damaging to community trust as actual bias. If a significant portion of players believe there is favoritism, recusal is the appropriate response regardless of intent.
A staff member must recuse themselves from moderation actions involving a tribe or player when any of the following apply:
Recusal is not an admission of wrongdoing. It is a tool for protecting both the staff member and the community's trust in fair moderation.
When recused, a staff member must not:
When a recused staff member receives a report or ticket involving the tribe, they must immediately pass it to another uninvolved staff member without weighing in.
Staff members should disclose personal connections (tribemates, close friends, family, significant others playing on the server) to the staff team proactively, rather than waiting for complaints. This allows the team to route tickets appropriately from the start instead of reacting after drama surfaces.
Disclosures should be posted in the staff channel so the full team is aware.
Any significant moderation action involving a tribe connected to any staff member requires a second uninvolved staff member to review and approve before it is carried out. This includes but is not limited to:
This protects both the staff member and the player from claims of favoritism or retaliation.
When players publicly accuse staff of favoritism in chat, do not engage in a debate. Use a standard response along the lines of:
"We have a conflict of interest policy. Staff with personal connections to a tribe are recused from handling their cases. If you believe this policy isn't being followed, please open a ticket so we can address your concern properly."
This acknowledges the concern, points to a concrete policy, and moves the conversation out of public chat where it can spiral.
If a staff member leaves a tribe or a personal relationship changes, they should not immediately resume moderating cases involving that tribe. A cool-down period of at least 30 days is recommended before resuming involvement, allowing the community perception to adjust.
Players should be aware they can raise conflict of interest concerns through the ticket system. If a player believes a staff member has a conflict of interest in their case, they may request a different staff member handle it.
If you believe a staff member has a conflict of interest in your case, open a ticket and request that a different staff member handle it. These requests are taken seriously and will not result in any negative consequences.
Recusal does not have to be permanent. The admin team should periodically review active recusals (e.g., every few months) to determine whether the underlying concern has been resolved and whether it is appropriate to lift the recusal. Factors to consider:
The decision to lift a recusal should be made collectively by the admin team, not unilaterally by the recused staff member.