The BatMUD Council rules (DRAFT)

*) The Council consists of two mortals, two wizards and one archwizard serving
as the chairman, all voted
by their peers, and will serve a term of 1 year.

*) The council may not change the council rules. The rules are revised by the
Bat RY board if necessary.

*) The purpose of the council is to debate and decide issues that have
far-reaching implications to the MUD, players or the way the game is played.

*) All decisions of the council are public and will be published. Debate on
the issues is by default private
and must not be divulged to the mortal population. Individual votes are not
public information.

*) A mortal or wizard member who releases private information to the mortal
population can be released
from his/her duties by the chairman and a supporter.

*) The purpose of the council is not to solve single disputes between mortals,
mortals and wizards,
or mortals, wizards and archwizards, except in extraordinary circumstances.

*) Any votes will be announced 1 week prior to the vote taking place. Missing
three consequtive votes is grounds
for release of duties by the chairman and a supporter.

*) If a member falls inactive for more than 30 calendar days, or so requests,
he/she can be granted leave from
his/her duties by the chairman. In this case, the person who received the most
votes in the previous election is
selected.

*) The Council will take an item under consideration if a) any approver or
archwizard proposes it, or b)
if any two members of the council propose it

*) The chairman has the right to move to decline a work item, provided any one
member of the council supports the motion.

*) The chairman can, after warning the council one day in advance, close
debate on an issue and force the procedure
to the vote. The regular 7 day forewarning about an impeding vote is observed.

*) A simple majority of the council can force a vote on an issue currently
being debated at any time.
The regular 7 day forewarning about an impeding vote is observed.

*) Any decision of the council is binding to all wizards and archwizards.

*) Any decision of the council can be overruled if three archwizards agree.
This only invalidates
the specific decision, and does not preclude the issue from being handled
again, not does it constitute
a reversal of the decision.

*) Any decision of the council can be overruled by Bat RY board. There are no
exceptions to this rule.

*) The council can at any time be permanently disbanded, put on hiatus or
dissolved by Bat RY board decision.
There are no exceptions to this rule.

*) Archwizards and wizards are required, on request, to give a high-level
summary on their plans for
long-term changes in the game, and to provide additional information to the
council so it can efficiently debate the issue.
The information need not be on the level of formulas and integers, nor are the
wizards required to divulge information
that clearly has no bearing on the issue.

*) Approvers and archwizards are required to seek the approval of the council
for changes that potentially have an effect
on the game lasting for more than 3 months. This does not include tunes and
changes that are clearly introduced
to restore game balance, such as minor changes to weapons, armour or minor
tunes to races, guilds, skills or spells. This does
not include new areas or content that's considered 'regular', except when it
contains changes that have wider
effects, nor does this include one-time events and special happenings that
have regular prizes (such as gold, task
points, equipment that can be considered 'regular' or simply 'novelle' without
extraordinary powers).


Thanks to Darol for help with these. Please be noted that the rules may yet be
modified.

Rgds, Ulath