Traders
The role of traders on PernMUSH has always been something of an
anomaly. They operate mostly outside the combined IC and OOC
authority structure that characterizes the rest of the mush. We as
wizards do realize, however, that this is a legitimate role some would
like to play, and do attempt to support it, via a knot for those who
wish to be independent or in small families. We also allow more
established families to apply for and obtain their own knots.
In the past, the TDR knot has been available to anyone who asks and
does not already have a knot with another group. As the trader
population on the mush has grown, however, this policy has proved not
to work well. Therefore we have established some policies aimed at
encouraging people to learn more about Pern and the mush before
choosing life as a trader.
In the past, we have asked traders to specify a base Hold their family
operated out of, and requested that they get permission from the
Holder. This is no longer a requirement, and the knot will not
include a basehold field. Traders may wish to establish a
relationship with one or more Holds if they choose to do so.
The basic knot policies are as follows:
- Characters must have existed on the mush for at least 2 weeks before a knot will be issued. They must show some indication of activity during those two weeks (for example connections other than the day the character was created and the day the trader application was written).
- Characters may specify any non-existent family name they wish or, with permission from the family head, an existing family. They will be assigned a position of Trader.
- Characters with other knots will not be given a TDR knot except by special permission from the wizards. Characters who are put on other knots while on the TDR knot will be removed unless they ask for and receive permission to remain on the knot. Permission to keep the TDR knot will be based on the character's ongoing status as an actively RPing trader.
- Characters may, after they have had a TDR knot for 1 month, request that their position be changed to Head. At this point they may grant permission for others to join their family. No other character will be permitted to join with that family name until this has been done. The position of Second may be assigned to one or more members of the family.
- A family Head may apply for their own trader knot no earlier than 1 month after they have received the position of Head and begun accepting other members into the family. They must have at least 6 family members who are not alts of other members. The knot must be approved by the wizards. Criteria for granting the knot include overall activity of the family members and how well the family fits into the canon of Pern and PernMUSH.
- Trader families are mostly expected to make any wagons or other living arrangements out of their own quota. A builder character may be granted to families with their own knots, but only in unusual circumstances and a minimum of 1 month after their knot was granted.