I.        Mission statement: Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn is an interactive, improvisational theater group, functioning under the Vampire-oriented live-action roleplaying rules published by White Wolf and also under the organizational rules and auspices of the One World by Night gaming network. We seek to create an ongoing, collaborative work of art, using the framework of a game that lends itself well to the ancient art of storytelling.

II.     Chronicle Philosophy: Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn entertains its players via live-action storytelling that features mature and adult themes of horror. We seek to provide high-quality roleplaying to our members by using improvisational acting techniques that allow our players to combine their own original stories into a cohesive whole. We strive for a fair and equitable gaming environment for all our players, and we also strive to give the act of aesthetic creation precedence over the game-related ideas of  “winning” or “losing.”

a.       Membership rights and responsibilities

i.                        All chronicle members are entitled to a safe and comfortable playing environment provided by Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn.

ii.                        All chronicle members are entitled to fair and equitable treatment by the administrative staff of Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn.

iii.                        All chronicle members are expected to conduct themselves with good sportsmanship and in a manner which will maintain the good public standing of Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn. This includes respecting the laws of the City of Berkeley, the rules of the spaces in which we play and the rights of all other game players.

iv.                        Chronicle members are responsible for making the administrative staff aware of any problems with the game environment, conduct of administrators, or any other obstacle to a positive game experience.

1.      Members are encouraged to discuss problems directly with any member of the game’s administrative staff.

2. If a member has a complaint related to a member of the administrative staff, or mediation between players is needed, members are encouraged to discuss their suggestions and complaints with the Wasting the Dawn Player Representative.

III.   Chronicle staff – The administrative staff of  Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn shall consist of one Head Storyteller, any number of Assistant Storytellers, one Council Representative who will also be the Player Representative and as many Game Narrators as required for the operation of the chronicle. All administrative positions are unpaid, and confer no monetary benefits of any sort to the persons volunteering for these positions.

a.      Head Storyteller

i.                        Position description – The Head Storyteller of  Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn acts as the primary leader for all members of the game’s administrative staff, and must exercise his or her rights in the interest of narrative and a smoothly running game. The Head Storyteller retains final control over all characters based in the Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn game, whether at game events or between games. The Head Storyteller retains final control over all visiting characters for the duration of any game event at which those characters are played, including the downtime between multiple nights of a single event. The Head Storyteller may also overturn any ruling made by Assistant Storytellers or Game Narrators.

ii.                        Rights and responsibilities – the Head Storyteller has the right to and is responsible for:

1.      Assigning tasks to all members of the administrative team, based on need.

2.      Following up with administrators to ensure that tasks are completed in a timely way.

3.      Serving as final arbiter of any disputes regarding in-character plots, actions, rules calls, etc.

4.      Creating plotlines, creating and portraying Non-Player Characters (NPCs), arbitrating in-character player actions, cooperating with other OWBN chronicles for the creation of networked plotlines, and other duties necessary for the development of the improvisational story told by Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn and its players.

5.      Communicating with other chronicle staff, OWBN administrators and players as needed. The Head Storyteller is required to participate on the OWBN Storyteller e-mail list..

6.      Managing the game’s assets and resources, including monetary funds, game books, props, electronic passwords, yahoogroup sites, etc. and maintaining a logbook of the status of all resources. This responsibility may be delegated to another member of the game’s administrative staff, but if so, this delegation must be announced, in writing, to the game membership.

7.      Keeping records of all agreements and contracts made in the chronicle’s name, including, but not limited to site rental contracts, written agreements with OWBN coordinators, signed safety waivers and permission slips, etc.

8.      Serving as liaison between the chronicle and any vendor representatives - such as landlords who provide rental space for games, event planning staff at hotels, etc. – who provide services to the Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn chronicle. This responsibility may be delegated to another member of the chronicle, but if so, this delegation must be announced, in writing, to the game membership.

9.      Overseeing the advancement of characters, whether through experience expenditure or otherwise. This responsibility may be delegated to any other Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn.

10.  Completing and/or delegating any other miscellaneous duties necessary for the management of the chronicle.

11.  Managing administrative staff.

a.       The Head Storyteller can appoint and fire all Assistant Storytellers and  Narrator.

b.      The Head Storyteller cannot automatically remove the Council and Player representatives from position; however, the Head Storyteller may open a vote of the game’s membership to either elect new or remove existing representatives if need arises.

12.  Arbitrating disciplinary procedures.

The Head Storyteller is responsible for overseeing the chronicle's disciplinary procedures.

iii.                        Appointment

1.      The Head Storyteller is elected by a vote of the game’s membership, per the voting procedures outlined below in Section IV.

2.      When a Head Storyteller wishes to resign, he or she must submit a written statement declaring their intent to the Council Representative.

a.       If a transition period is possible, the Head Storyteller will remain in their position for an interim period of two to four weeks, allowing a new Head Storyteller to be elected by the player base and trained by the previous Head Storyteller.

3.      If a transition period is not possible, one of the Assistant storytellers will serve in the position of Head Storyteller temporarily, until a new one can be elected and trained.

b.      Assistant Storytellers

i.                        Position description – Assistant storytellers are appointed by the Head Story and serve as the primary management for game plots and administrative tasks, as assigned by the Head Storyteller.

ii.                        Rights and Responsibilities – The Assistant Storytellers have the right to and are responsible for:

1.      Creating plotlines, creating and portraying Non-Player Characters (NPCs), arbitrating in-character player actions, cooperating with other OWBN chronicles for the creation of networked plotlines, and other duties necessary for the development of the improvisational story told by Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn and its players.

2.      Delegating tasks to Game Narrators, as needed.

3.      Following up with Game Narrators to ensure that tasks are completed in a timely way.

4.      Communicating with other chronicle staff, OWBN administrators and players as needed. The Assistant Storytellers may participate on the OWBN Storyteller e-mail list.

5.      Completing and/or delegating any other miscellaneous duties necessary for the management of the chronicle.

6.      Assisting the Head Storyteller in overseeing the game’s disciplinary procedures as necessary.

c.       Storytellers – all

i.                        Storytellers may not base their own personal characters in the Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn game. If elected to this position, a Storyteller must “shelve” their character until a transfer can be arranged to a neighboring chronicle.

ii.                        While Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn can recommend Storytellers for service-based experience point awards, any such rewards are to be determined by the chronicle in which the Storytellers’ characters are based.

d.      Council Representative  --- NOTE: The Council Reprsentative and Player Representative are the SAME position in Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn.

i.                        Position Description – As a member chronicle of OWBN, Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn is entitled to and responsible for participation in OWBN’s ruling Council. The Council Representative maintains the chronicles’ relationship with OWBN and serves as the point of contact between OWBN administration and game administration.

ii.                        Rights and Responsibilities – the Council Representative has the right to and is responsible for:

1.      Participating in discussion on the OWBN-Council e-mail listserve, representing the opinion of the Berkeley chronicle in administrative matters, answering any administrative questions posed to the Berkeley game, and collecting information from the discussion on that list for consideration by the membership of the Berkeley chronicle.

a.       Once per month, the Council Representative shall compile a recap of pertinent OWBN council discussion topics and submit that report to the Berkeley game’s Head Storyteller.

b.      Once per month, the Council Representative shall compile a recap of pertinent OWBN council discussion topics that are appropriate for general knowledge (i.e. that do not contain sensitive plot or character information) and submit it to the entirety of the game’s membership.

2.      The Council Representative will represent Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn's best interests at all times on council and abide by the collective wishes of the of the players and storytelling staff constituency.
NOTE: THE COUNCIL/PLAYER REP IS NOT PART OF THE ST BOARD OR STAFF OF THE GAME.

 

 

e.       Player Representative

i.                        Rights and Responsibilities – The Player Representatives have the right to and responsibility for

1.      Maintaining a pulse of the player base’s opinions regarding the management of the Berkeley chronicle.

2.      Providing a confidential and respectful ear to those players wishing to voice complaints regarding any other member of the game.

3.      Making storytelling staff aware of any complaints.

4.      Recommending disciplinary action be taken, if warranted.

5.      Calling for and overseeing for a vote of confidence on any elected member of the administrative team, if warranted.

6.      Overseeing the voting process for election of  The Head Storyteller, as outlined below.

ii.                        Appointment

1.      The Player/Council Representatives are elected by a vote of the game’s membership, per the voting procedures outlined in Section IV. No members of the administrative team may veto the election of a player representative.

2.      When a Player/Council Representative wishes to resign, he or she must submit a written statement declaring their intent to the Head Storyteller.

a.       If a transition period is possible, the Player Representative will remain in their position for an interim period of one to two weeks, allowing a new Player Representative to be elected by the playerbase and trained by the previous Player Representative.

b.      If a transition period is not possible, one of the Assistant Storytellers will serve as a temporary Player Representative until a replacement can be elected. It is the Head Storyteller's responsibility to ensure that new Player Representatives are elected in a timely fashion.

f.        Non-Storyteller game administrators - all

i.                        Non-Storyteller administrators may play characters based within the Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn chronicle.

ii.                        It is recommended to the storytelling staff that the non-storyteller game administrators receive bonus experience points each month for service to the game as follows:

1.      The Council/Player Representative is recommended for 2 bonus experience points each month.

2.      The Game Narrators are recommended for 1 bonus experience point each month.

g.       Changes to Charter

i.                        Any section of the Berkeley chronicle charter may be amended or altered by a 2/3 majority vote (rounded up) of the chronicle membership.

ii.                        Should members wish to suggest a change to the charter, they may do so to the Player Representative. If the Player Representative deems the change is worthy of consideration, they will conduct a member vote per the procedures for general votes, outlined above.

iii.                        If five or more players support a suggested change to the charter, the Council Representative cannot turn down the request for such a vote.

If a suggested change to charter is voted on and the vote fails, six months must pass before that same suggested change is eligible for a re-vote.

 

 

IV.     Voting

 

a. General Elections:

           i. The HST position will be voted on in an election overseen by the Player Representative on the Second Game in February. If for some reason the second game in February is canceled, elections will take place at the next game. On the first game in February during opening announcements, the Player Rep will ask for anyone who wishes to run. For the next two weeks, any person who is currently a member of any chronicle in OWBN may choose to run for the HST position. On the Second game in February, The Player Rep will hand out ballots during opening announcements. All players who currently house a PC in Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn will be allowed a vote. A majority vote will determine who will be the next HeadStoryeller of Wasting the Dawn. If for some reason a player playing a PC housed in WtD cannot make opening announcements for that game an absentee vote may be sent in electronically to wtdprep@gmail.com.  

ii. The Council/Player Representative will be voted on in an election overseen by the Head Storyteller on the Second Game in March. If for some reason the second game in March is canceled elections will take place at the next game. On the first game in March during opening announcements, The Head Storyteller will ask for anyone who wishes to run. For the next two weeks, any person who currently has a PC housed in Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn, who is NOT the Head Storyteller, an Assistant Storyteller or a Narrator in Wasting the Dawn may choose to run for the Player Representative position. On the first game in April, The Storytelling Staff will hand out ballots during opening announcements. All players who currently house a PC in Berkeley: Wasting the Dawn will be allowed a vote. A majority vote will determine who will be the next Council/Player representative in Wasting the Dawn. If for some reason a player playing a PC housed in WtD cannot make opening announcements for that game an absentee vote may be sent in electronically to wtdsts@gmail.com. 

 

b. Votes of No Confidence

i. At any point, the Council/Player rep can call a vote of no confidence on an Head Storyteller, Assistant Storyteller, Narrator or any and all combination of the above. The Council/Player rep shall officially do so at opening announcements of a game and at the following game will oversee a paper vote. If 2/3 of the game votes “yes” to the vote of no confidence, the AST or HST ((depending on who the vote is for)) will be dismissed from game and be unable to be appointed to or run for any position in Wasting the Dawn until the next General Election. If the vote of no confidence fails ((again, depending on who the vote is for)) then another vote of no confidence cannot be called on that person till after the next General Election. If a Head Storyteller is removed by this vote then the Council/Player Rep will immediately hold an Emergency Election following the exact guidelines for a General Election  laid out in Section IV. Paragraph a.

ii.       At any point, Five players with PC's housed in Wasting the Dawn may approach the Head Storyteller with a signed petition calling for a vote of no confidence in the Council/Player Representative. If such a petition is presented to the Head Storyteller, The Head Storyteller will officially call a vote of no confidence for the Council/Player Representative at the following opening announcements at game and oversee a paper vote. If 2/3 of the game votes “yes” to the vote of no confidence, the Council/Player Rep will be dismissed from his/her position and be unable to be appointed to or run for any position in Wasting the Dawn until the next General Election. If the vote of no confidence fails then another vote of no confidence cannot be called on that person till after the next General Election. If the Council/Player Rep is removed by this vote then the Head Storyteller will immediately hold an Emergency Election following the exact guidelines for a General Election  laid out in Section IV. Paragraph a.