Trust Level

Trust Level (abbreviated TL) is the set of user permissions at the root of Discourse, which powers the NaNoWriMo forums. Trust levels make sure new Wrimos aren't overwhelmed with all of Discourse's features while Wrimos who are on the forums regularly can do more to fight spam and abuse. There are five Trust Levels, each coming with its own badge for achieving that level.
Despite the name, a low Trust Level does not mean NaNoWriMo does not trust you. Your Trust Level doesn't matter much after you've reached TL1 unless you love giving out likes. Reaching TL2 is nice, and many Wrimos who are active during NaNo events will reach TL2.
==Trust Level 0 (New)==
When you sign up for NaNoWriMo (or log in to the Discourse forums for the first time), you are at Trust Level 0, or TL0. This isn't because NaNo doesn't trust you; on the other hand, you and Discourse don't know much about each other yet, even if you've been participating in the NaNoWriMo forums for a long time.
Note that for the first 24 hours after creating your first post or reply, Discourse considers you to be a new user. This is the case even if you're a longtime Wrimo who is logging in for the first time. Being a new user comes with a few additional restrictions, even after reaching TL1. The main one Wrimos run into is the post limit. For the 2019 migration period, Wrimos can reply to up to 100 posts in the first 24 hours. This is an anti-spam feature and subject to change in the future.
==Trust Level 1 (Basic)==
Wrimos at Trust Level 1 (TL1) can perform all the basic functions of the NaNo forums without the new user restrictions (after the 24-hour new user period). They can also send private messages, upload images and attachments, edit wiki posts, flag posts, and mute other users. TL1 Wrimos can like 100 posts in a 24-hour period.
To reach TL1:
* Visit at least 5 forum topics
* Read at least 30 posts
* Spend a total of 10 minutes reading posts
Wrimos cannot lose TL1 status due to inactivity.
==Trust Level 2 (Member)==
Wrimos at Trust Level 2 (TL2) can perform all the basic functionalities of the NaNo forums, along with more likes: 150 in a 24-hour period.
TL2 Wrimos can create wiki posts; this is different from Discourse's default of TL3. TL2 Wrimos can also create group private messages and tags, edit their own posts, and ignore other users.
Most active Wrimos can reach TL2 in about two weeks. To reach TL2:
* Visit the forums for 15 days (not necessarily in a row)
* Read at least 100 posts
* View at least 20 topics
* Spend a total of 60 minutes reading posts
* Give at least 1 like
* Receive at least 1 like
* Reply to 3 different threads
Wrimos cannot lose TL2 status due to inactivity.
==Trust Level 3 (Regular)==
Wrimos at Trust Level 3 primarily represent the Wrimos who hang out on the forums all year long. For this reason, they have a few more powers to help curb spam and abuse early. If a TL3 Wrimo flags a TL0's post, that post is hidden. This helps fight spam and abuse. If enough TL3 users flag a TL0 user's post, that user is silenced, and all their posts are hidden.
TL3 Wrimos also have access to the VIP Lounge forum to chat with other regulars.
To reach TL3, all of the following must be true over the past 100 days:
* Visited the forums for at least 50% of the days
* Replied to at least 10 different topics
* Of posts created in the last 100 days, must have read 25% (capped at 10,000)
* Of topics created in the last 100 days, must have viewed 25% (capped at 500)
* 30 likes given
* 20 likes received
* Likes received over 7 different days
* Likes received from 5 different Wrimos
* Must not have been silenced, suspended, or received over 5 spam or offensive flags (from unique posts and from different Wrimos, confirmed by moderators)
TL3 Wrimos can like 200 posts in a 24-hour period. The "Regular" title associated with TL3 can also be used as a title displayed next to your username.
You can lose TL3 status due to inactivity. Some Wrimos who reached TL3 in October and November find themselves demoted in February or March because of the TL3 emphasis on visiting and reading regularly, including the NaNo off-season. To prevent constant promotion and demotion, you cannot lose TL3 status for two weeks after earning it.
==Trust Level 4 (Leader)==
Trust Level 4 (TL4) is the highest Discourse trust level. It is assigned manually by NaNoWriMo staff. NaNoWriMo assigns all current Municipal Liaisons to Trust Level 4.
Note that TL4 users cannot edit all posts, contrary to Discourse's default setting.
TL4 Wrimos can like 300 posts in a 24-hour period.
Since the vast majority (if not all) of TL4 Wrimos are Municipal Liaisons, it's likely that MLs who choose not to return for the following year will lose TL4 status.
==External Links==
* What are the requirements for TL3? forum thread
* Discourse blog post on trust level (Note that NaNoWriMo uses slightly different settings for trust levels.)
Category:NaNoWriMo forums