EDIT: Please be informed a review of the Shadow Priest system is underway. For the forseeable future, the rotational allocation of Shadow Priest status will no longer be in effect. Cheers.

As a member of the very first group selected for the Shadow Priest rank when it was first implemented, the position is special to me. I was selected at its inception and I'm the first Forum Director to pass through the job. But over time I've become unhappy with how it's been working. I don't believe it's reached it's full potential.

The Shadow Priest rank is a sub-mod rank with the sole power to rate posts with Dragon Points and Skull Points. But when originally implemented, Crow had envisioned a system that was essentially "mod in training" where Shadow Priests would spend time in the rank proving themselves fit for the Portal Guard position. It was never designed for finality. Users shouldn't become Shadow Priests and remain there indefinitely.

So, effective immediately, I'm instating a rolling participation. As of right now there will be five Shadow Priest positions, all on this rotation (though not necessarily at the same time).

New Shadow Priests will be picked at regular intervals (roughly every 2-3 months, subject to change) replacing the former ones. We're not talking "demotions" in the offensive sense here. Previous Shadow Priests dropped from the rank will always be kept in mind for regaining the position at a later rotation or could even be chosen for Portal Guard if a position opens up. Point is, "losing" the SP rank should not necessarily be taken as a sign you have performed poorly or that you are not mod material.

This accomplishes a few goals.

1) It gives more people an opportunity to prove their mettle. Good users can be "rewarded" with the SP rank for a few months.

2) It helps us evaluate more people for moderator positions.

3) It prevents people getting "stuck" in the job. A sub-mod rank doesn't serve much purpose if there isn't any upward mobility and it can easily become drudgery. Plus it isn't fair for other quality community members to be locked out of the job simply because the positions are filled for extended periods of time.

We want to encourage people to want the chance to prove themselves and be positive influences in the community, both while in the SP rank and while out of the rotation. Users who prove themselves valuable in the community will often be rewarded with the SP rank but remember that this is not the exclusive way to prove yourself mod material. Good mods are good users, first and foremost.