Chain of Command
Chapter 18 — When to act on your own and when to escalate, with a clear escalation guide.
Knowing when to act and when to escalate is one of the most important judgement calls you'll make. Acting outside your authority — even with good intentions — can create bigger problems than the original issue.
Escalation Guide
| Situation | Handle Yourself? | Escalate To |
|---|---|---|
| Standard chat rule violation | Yes, any staff rank | — |
| In-game griefing/theft investigation | Yes, gather evidence | Admin if grief is widespread or in unclaimed land |
| Suspected cheating requiring screenshare | Moderator+ only | Admin if evidence is ambiguous |
| Dispute between two staff members | No | Admin or Owner |
| Permission/role structure changes | No | Admin or Owner |
| Content violating Discord ToS (e.g. minor safety) | Report immediately, then escalate | Admin/Owner and Discord directly |
| Server-wide announcement or rule change | No | Owner/Management |
Why This Matters
Chain of command isn't about limiting your ability to help — it's about making sure decisions with wide impact get more than one set of eyes, and that everyone on the team knows who is responsible for what. When in doubt, asking is always the right move, never a sign of weakness.
Quick Review — Q&A
Q: Who should handle a dispute between two staff members?
A: An Admin or Owner — not something staff resolve between themselves informally.
Q: What should you do if you're unsure whether something is within your authority to handle?
A: Ask — escalating a question is always better than acting outside your authority and causing bigger problems.
Q: Who is responsible for server-wide announcements or rule changes?
A: Owner/Management level, not individual staff members.