Membership
So what does it take to gain membership in Here Be Dragons? We have a set of guidelines when considering members, but there isn't a path to follow that will guarantee membership.
In Salandra's Words: This organization is meant for those exiles who not only explore and create maps, but for those that truly embody the gathering and sharing of geographic knowledge for the betterment of the community.
For example: Tonoto created maps that generations of exiles used to help navigate and discover the world. To the best of my knowledge, he didn’t do this for acclaim or rewards – he just did it. His efforts have helped countless exiles and while he no longer walks the lands, he has been given an honorary membership for his effort and work to better the community.
I would ask that those who would like to be counted amongst our ranks think about what their real goals are. If being a member in this association is just something for you to “collect” — maybe this isn’t the right place for you.
Considerations For Prospective Members:
1. Your maps need to be public. We respect and acknowledge the hard work of anyone who creates maps, but very early on, it was decided that just gathering the knowledge wasn’t enough. Sharing the knowledge with the community is a core tenet of what we represent.
2. There is no hard count on the number of maps you need to have created. Some people will have created only a single map whose construction was so difficult or its influence so profound that they will be extended an invitation. Others may have created several maps and not receive an invitation. The significance of your maps is something that will be discussed on an individual basis by the senior members of Here Be Dragons and the prospective member.
3. There is no requirement for members to be "active" or to be producing new maps (though we always encourage more creativity from our members). The legacy of your work is enough — membership takes into account all mapping efforts from the time of the first exiles.
4. We believe maps are meant to be an aid, not a replacement for participating in the world. To this point, members of Here Be Dragons are expected to uphold a certain level of respect in regards to the release of spoilers on their maps. As a general rule, things like quest solutions and similar information should be given proper consideration before being added to maps. For example, the race and class combination for the trees on Kizmia's Island could be considered "quest solutions," but they're also exactly the reason why someone would make a map of the area. If a member of the association wants to release a step-by-step guide to an area, we're not going to step in to prevent that. We simply ask that you keep your maps respectful of spoilers; consider using a separate scroll to detail the in-depth information with your map as an aid or guide. Separating the spoilers from the map allows anyone to use your maps while those that wish for the more detailed information can still access it.
5. When a new area is discovered, new maps should remain “privately shared” for some time before they’re released publicly. Beyond allowing exiles a chance to explore a new area on their own without accidentally seeing the map or having everyone reference the map, waiting to release a map also gives a nod to the months or years that the builders put into creating the areas.
6. This is not a requirement, but members of Here Be Dragons are encouraged to add their maps directly to our scrolls for archive purposes. Some members may not have their own scrolls, which is not a problem, but other members have long-existing scrolls. For those people, each mapper’s individual scroll on Here Be Dragons will include any links you request to your own scrolls. In the event that your scrolls are lost, we want to preserve your mapping efforts. As part of our archiving efforts, non-members of the association may request that their maps be hosted on our scrolls.
7. With the exception of exiles who have permanently left the lands, membership in Here Be Dragons is on a strictly voluntary basis.
8. Here Be Dragons has no goals or motives other than have been stated earlier in this document. Members are only judged based on the above guidelines — no other affiliations, politics, or such matter.
Lastly, if you’re interested in joining Here Be Dragons, or have someone you’d like to suggest be made a member, please contact Kani with that information. New members are discussed within a small group of senior members, but Kani will always be a good contact.
