Giving Back
Some people who play Avlis for many months start to realize that this gameworld is the product not only of the excellent players who populate it with interesting characters but also the product of a dedicated staff who volunteer their time, expertise and creative energy. Those people become so invested in the Avlis community that they themselves start to wonder what they can do to make Avlis better. There are four simple ways one can give back to Avlis:
Donate
There is no monthly fee for players to play on Avlis. But it does cost money for Avlis to operate – machine costs, internet access, electricity, etc. If you have a paypal account, you can donate money directly to Avlis. You can also give back to Avlis by buying merchandise from Amazon.com via the link from the Avlis webpage. Avlis merchandise, from T-shirts to mousepads to coffee mugs, is available at Café Press. And you can sign up for Avlis' fan fiction website and support Avlis while gaining access to stories written by Avlis players and team members.
Spread the Word
Avlis is constantly expanding. As of this writing there are six servers, all in various stages of development. More scripted quests are being added to all of these servers, and more servers will be added in the future. As of this writing there are approximately a thousand active players, but Avlis has room for many more. If you know someone who you think might be interested in playing Avlis, tell them about it. Also, vote for Avlis in polls about persistent worlds (PWs) on websites like Neverwinter Vault.
Become a Subcontractor
Are you a good programmer? Do you know how to write scripts for NWN? Are you proficient with the NWN toolset? Can you build interesting and engaging areas in the toolset? If so, then you may want to apply to become an Avlis subcontractor.
What is a Subcontractor?
A subcontractor is someone who does work for the team but is not a permanent team member. They do not have to get access to any deep inside information. They can simply be a happy-go-lucky player, do a small project for the team, and then move on. Or they can choose to accept many different projects; it is up to the subcontractor.
How does one become a subcontractor? First you decide what you would like to do:
- Build Areas
- Help code quests
- Help with the website
- Help with scripted systems (crafting, merchants, death, etc.)
- Help with making general literature and information
Once you've decided how you would like to help, download the application and fill it out. As of now, the only way to get an application is to contact a team member.
When a team member wants help with a certain project, they will look in the appropriate directory to see if there are any people who have applied to help in that field. If they find your application and they want to use you, they will contact you, and you will then work on that project; when you have completed the project, you will give it to them and they will implement it in Avlis.
Become a Team Member
Do you like playing a variety of roles? Is one character just not enough for you? Or do you like creating adventures and quests and having players play them out? Do you have experience as a PnP DM? Then you may have what it takes to become an Avlis DM. Are you extremely proficient with the toolset, or are you an excellent programmer? Then perhaps you can become an Avlis area builder or quest designer. If you are interested in devoting a large portion of your time to Avlis is this way, then contact a team member for an application (email staff@avlis.org).