GTA 6 RP Admin Team: Structure and Escalation
RP admin structure follows the same basic format as the general admin team structure, with one specialisation. RP servers divide incidents into two categories: in-character and out-of-character. Blurring the line between the two is the most frequent admin mistake on RP servers.
IC vs OOC, for admins
- IC (in character) issues get dealt with IC: jail, court, police, EMS. Admins do not get involved.
- OOC (out of character) offences are real-world rule violations: cheating, harassment, meta-gaming, DDoS threats. Admins will deal with these.
- Lots of situations can be both. Someone yelling in voice chat because they got mad during a shootout is OOC. The shootout itself is IC.
The RP-specific role tiers
- Support staff. Manage Discord tickets, application questions and minor rule clarifications.
- Moderators (OOC). Deal with OOC offences in-game (meta-gaming, FRP, combat log, toxicity).
- IC leads. A separate track. Senior RP players who help resolve IC conflicts: DOJ, faction leads, city officials, etc. These are not considered traditional admins.
- Admins. Deal with escalations from OOC moderators and IC leads. Place bans.
- Leadership. Sets rules, precedent and server direction.
Escalation examples
- Player robs another player with zero roleplay (OOC: FRP rule break). Moderator deals with it.
- Two players have a mutual dislike and their characters hate each other. IC. Admins stay out of it.
- A player cheats. OOC. Moderator flags, admin bans.
- DOJ challenges the outcome of a trial. IC lead mediates. Admins only step in if there are OOC rule violations.
Common RP admin mistakes
- Getting involved in IC conflict. This teaches players that admins solve in-fiction problems.
- Not getting involved in OOC issues. This teaches players that OOC rules don't mean anything.
- Blending the two together. Players lose faith when they can't predict how staff will react.
- Making IC decisions with OOC power. Banning someone because they kept stealing from your friend is an abuse of OOC authority.
Coverage and burnout
RP staff burnout happens. Drama and applications are hard work that tires a person out after a year or so. Expect turnover. Promote internally. Switch tasks every now and then. Have a healthy bench of moderators ready to step up.
Related reading
For the overall structure, refer to our admin structure article. For application systems, read our whitelist guide. For the RP side of things overall, see our RP servers guide, which places this into perspective.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between IC and OOC admins?
IC problems (in character) are dealt with by the fiction itself: cops, DOJ, faction leadership. OOC problems (out of character) are real-world rule breaks, and are dealt with by normal admins. Mixing the two up is the most common RP admin mistake.
Should an RP admin intervene in in-character conflict?
No. Two people having a disagreement in character is content, not rule-breaking. Admins only get involved when OOC rules are broken, regardless of how heated things may get.
How do I train new RP admins?
Shadow shifts, scenario rubrics, and a standardised rubric for common incidents. The goal is consistency, not harshness or permissiveness. Players should be able to predict how staff will react to their actions.
