Contribution Deserves Recognition.
The Forge is built by the people who create, test, develop, support, and share its projects.
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Forge Recognition provides a way to acknowledge meaningful participation, creative contribution, demonstrated skills, and achievements across the Forge community.
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From a first playtest to becoming a certified contributor, your participation can become part of your Forge identity.
More Than a Badge
Forge Recognition is designed to distinguish between participation, contribution, and demonstrated competency.
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Roles
Show how you participate in the Forge. (Forge Discord Roles)
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Badges
Recognize what you’ve contributed or achieved.
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Certifications
Demonstrate verified knowledge or competency.
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Project Records
Document where and how you’ve contributed.
This distinction is important because it prevents the system from becoming a collection of meaningless digital decorations.
FORGE RECOGNITION
Founding & Community Badges
Forge Founder
Reserved for the original members who helped establish ASCEND Forge as a community.
This is a permanent founding recognition and will close once the founding group is established.
Founding Forger
Recognizes members who actively participate during the official founding period and help shape the Forge’s early community, culture, and projects.
Forge Veteran
Recognizes established members who demonstrate sustained participation and continued involvement in the Forge.
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Forge Supporter
Recognizes meaningful support of Forge projects and initiatives through participation, promotion, feedback, purchases, contributions, or other forms of support.
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Forge Ambassador
Recognizes members who consistently help others, welcome new members, contribute positively, and represent the Forge community in a constructive manner.
CONTRIBUTION BADGES
These badges recognize what a member has actually contributed.
Featured Creator
Awarded to a creator whose work has been formally featured by ASCEND Forge.
Community Contributor
Recognizes meaningful contributions to the Forge community.
Project Contributor
Recognizes documented contributions to a specific Forge project.
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Playtest Contributor
Recognizes meaningful participation in Forge playtesting.
Creative Contributor
Recognizes significant artistic, writing, design, worldbuilding, or other creative contributions.
Forge Playtester Pathway
Playtesting is one of the most important ways members can contribute to Forge development.
Members can progress from participating in individual tests to becoming recognized and certified playtesters.
Playtester Journey
Playtester Role
You identify yourself as someone interested in testing.
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Playtester Network
You apply and become an approved participant.
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Playtest Participation
You complete structured Forge playtests and submit feedback.
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Playtest Contributor
Your participation becomes part of your Forge project history.
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Certified Playtester
You complete the required training, assessments, documented tests, and evaluation.
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Advanced / Lead Playtester
Future recognition for experienced testers who demonstrate exceptional reliability, feedback quality, and leadership.
Forge Playtester Pathway
ASCEND Forge Certified Playtester
Awarded to members who demonstrate the ability to:
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Follow structured testing procedures
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Identify meaningful issues
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Evaluate mechanics and player experience
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Provide specific and constructive feedback
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Document observations clearly
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Communicate professionally
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Maintain appropriate confidentiality
A typical certification pathway will require approximately 12–20 hours of documented participation, depending on the projects and testing sessions involved.
Forge Certifications
Forge certifications are different from community roles and badges.
They represent demonstrated knowledge or competency.
Potential certifications include:
ASCEND Forge Certified Playtester
Demonstrated competency in structured playtesting and feedback.
Estelia Certified Game Master
Demonstrated knowledge and ability to run Estelia Universes according to the official system.
Future Certifications
Additional certifications may be developed for Forge projects, systems, and specialized contributor pathways.
Your Contributions Become Part of Your Forge Record
When you participate in a Forge project, your contribution can become part of your persistent Forge identity.
For example:
John
Discord Roles
Artist
Worldbuilder
Playtester
Badges
Founding Forger
Featured Creator
Playtest Contributor
Certifications
Forge Certified Playtester
Estelia Certified Game Master
Project History
Estelia Universes
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Playtester — Core Mechanics Test #001
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Playtester — Character System Test #002
Forge Project 002
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Creative Contributor
ASCEND Forge
Stories Forged. Creativity Preserved.
Creative Publishing Studio
A Division of ASCEND Pro Systems