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Pet Battle PVP Championships

Join our casting team on June the 29th on Twitch for the EU pet battle PVP championships. Brought to you by: - WarcraftPets.com - Paws Your Game - Starship🌈 - Valor Gaming - Icy Veins - Raider.IO - wow-petguide.com Catch the NA championships and Grand World finals on the Valor Gaming Twitch on July 5th. With the best pet battlers across the world completing for epic prizes, Live giveaways and more you don’t want to miss this!

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WE’RE HIRING!

Social Media Manager

Remote | Volunteer 

Starship🌈 is on the hunt for a creative, community-loving Social Media Manager to join our team!

Love WoW? Got ideas for Youtube, memes, and highlight reels? Know how to grow and engage an online community?

Then we want YOU!

What you’ll do:

Run our socials (Insta, YouTube, FB)

Create & schedule awesome content

Engage with our amazing community

Help us celebrate guild events, wins, and stories

This is your chance to shape the voice of a growing, inclusive, non-judgemental WoW community 🌈 Check out this our volunteer page for more info!

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New Raid Guide: Liberation of Undermine! 🛠️💥

Starship🌈 is proud to present our Liberation of Undermine raid guide – created by the community, for the community! 🎉

This no-frills guide gives you exactly what you need to clear the raid without wading through walls of text. Conveniently split into Bite sized sections.

✔️ Quick references for healers

✔️ Heroic-only mechanics at a glance

✔️ Simplified strategies for every boss

Got thoughts on the raid? Share your experiences in our Discord or in the comments below! 🗨️

💡 New to raiding or want to refine your skills? Join us every Sunday for Raid School – everyone is welcome! JOIN OUR DISCORD for info.

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Discord's New "Ignore" Feature: Managing your Interactions

Discord has recently introduced a new feature called "Ignore," designed to give users more control over their interactions. This feature allows you to hide messages and notifications from specific users without them being aware, a key difference to the traditional block function.

What Is the Ignore Feature?

The Ignore feature enables you to:

Hide new messages from the ignored user in DMs where the messages will appear darkened with an icon next them.

Hide messages in group chats, and servers where they will appear as “ignored message” and you must click show to read them.

Receive a warning before viewing an ignored users profile or joining a voice or video call that includes someone you have ignored. 

Unlike blocking, ignoring a user does not remove them from your friends list, and they can still see your profile and send you messages, which remain hidden unless you choose to view them. The ignored user is not notified of this action, allowing for a discreet way to manage your interactions.

How to Ignore a User on Discord

You can ignore a user through various methods:

From the User's Profile:

Desktop: Right-click the user's avatar, select "Ignore," and confirm.

Mobile: Tap the user's avatar, tap the three dots in the upper-right corner, select "Ignore," and confirm.

In a Direct Message:

Desktop: Right-click the user's name in your DM list, select "Ignore," and confirm.

Mobile: Tap the user's name in your DMs, tap the three dots, select "Ignore," and confirm.

After Reporting a Message:

Desktop: Right-click the offending message, select "Report," and after submitting, choose "Ignore" from the menu.

Mobile: Long-press the message, tap "Report," and then select "Ignore" after submitting.

Additionally, if Discord detects a potentially unsafe message, teen users will see a Safety Alert and can choose to ignore the sender directly from the alert.

Managing Ignored Users

To view and manage your ignored users:

Desktop/Browser: Go to User Settings > Content & Social > Accounts you've blocked & ignored.

Mobile: Tap your avatar in the bottom-right corner, go to Settings > Content & Social, and find the Ignored Accounts list.

From these menus, you can unignore users if you decide to resume viewing their messages and notifications.

Why Use the Ignore Feature?

The Ignore feature provides a new way to manage your social interactions on Discord. It’s particularly useful when you want to take a break from someone's messages without the finality of blocking them. This can help maintain harmony in shared servers and group chats, as the ignored user remains unaware of your action, reducing potential conflicts or awkwardness.

Reducing Confrontation and Supporting Neurodivergent Users

For many users, social interactions—especially online—can sometimes be overwhelming. The Ignore feature offers an effective way to create boundaries without engaging in direct confrontation. This is particularly beneficial in situations where outright blocking someone might escalate tensions or cause unnecessary drama in shared communities.

For neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism, ADHD, or anxiety disorders, managing social interactions can be challenging. The ability to quietly ignore messages without cutting off communication entirely can provide a greater sense of control over their Discord experience. By minimizing overwhelming interactions, reducing unwanted distractions, and avoiding potential stressors, this feature can help create a more comfortable and manageable online space.

A Step Towards Safer, More Comfortable Interactions

The introduction of the Ignore feature is a significant step forward in Discord’s ongoing commitment to user safety and well-being. Whether you’re looking to reduce digital noise, avoid confrontation, or simply take control of your communication experience, this tool ensures that you can navigate online spaces in a way that best suits your needs.

For more detailed information, check out Discord’s official support article on how to ignore users: Support Article

By utilizing the Ignore feature, you can tailor your Discord experience to better suit your personal preferences and comfort levels, ensuring a more enjoyable and controlled environment for communication.

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Starship Wrapped 2024: The Results Are In!

As another epic year draws to a close, it's time to celebrate the moments, players, and memories that made 2024 unforgettable in Starship🌈.

You voted, and the results are finally here.

From every raid night to every meme shared in Discord, 2024 has been a year to remember. Thank you to everyone who voted, participated, and brought their best selves to Starship🌈.

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Starship🌈 Wrapped / 2024 VOTE NOW!

It’s time to take our annual fun trip down memory lane as we wrap up an epic year in Azeroth and beyond! 🧠Which new Warcraft content blew your mind this year? 👑Who claimed the crown as Starship's biggest memer? 👀Which streamer or YouTuber was always on that second monitor and kept you going through all those raid wipes? Results drop on Monday, 30th December!

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Starship x Legacy 30 Dungeon Dash: The Carnage Begins Tonight!

The wait is finally over. Tonight, December 1st, at 20:00 Realm Time, the Starship x Legacy 30 Dungeon Dash kicks off, promising an electrifying night of speed, strategy, and skill. Prepare to watch level-locked heroes race through the dungeons of Azeroth's rich history in a high-stakes PvE showdown.

What Is the Dungeon Dash?

The Dungeon Dash is a turbo-charged competition where trios of adventurers, capped at level 30, embark on a thrilling speedrun challenge. Facing off against formidable foes and navigating iconic dungeons, teams will need flawless strategy, seamless teamwork, and swift execution to emerge victorious.

Spectators can look forward to an exciting display of gaming prowess, as participants battle not only monsters but also the clock.

6 Teams, 2 Regions, 1 Epic Showdown

Six teams of three adventurers each, representing both EU and US regions, will compete in this ultimate PvE challenge. These teams have spent weeks preparing for this moment, perfecting their strategies, farming gear and mastering the dungeons they'll face.

The blend of regional talent ensures a diverse competition, as players from across the globe unite to showcase their abilities and vie for glory.

When and Where?

🗓 Date: Friday, December 1st, 2024 🕗 Time: 20:00 Realm Time

📍 Where to Watch: Catch all the action live at twitch.tv/starship_eu or on the Raider.io front page.

This event, a collaboration between Starship🌈 and Legacy 30, brings together players from both the EU and US regions to celebrate World of Warcraft's vibrant community with an exciting PvE twist.

The Dungeons Await

Tonight's contestants will navigate the twists and turns of four iconic dungeons:

Algeth'ar Academy: A serene sanctuary of dragonkind knowledge turned battleground.

Blackrock Caverns: A fiery forge of twisted Twilight's Hammer experiments.

Eye of Azshara: A storm-laden coastal stronghold steeped in Queen Azshara's lingering magic.

Zul'Farrak: The ancient desert city of the Sandfury trolls, filled with dark mysticism.

Each dungeon presents unique challenges, demanding quick thinking and adaptability from every team.

Sponsored Prizes and Support

Dungeon Dash is proudly sponsored by Blizzard Entertainment and Raider.io, with prizes provided by Legacy 30 and Blizzard. Contestants are competing for exciting rewards.

The Official Addon: A Speedrunner's Best Friend

For those inspired by the event and eager to test their mettle, the official Starship Dungeon Addon is now available on CurseForge!

This powerful tool tracks your speedrun times, mob kill percentages, and ensures compliance with gear restrictions—all in a plug-and-play package. Download it now and take your speedrunning to the next level: 👉 Starship Addon on CurseForge

Who Will Emerge Victorious?

The stage is set, the dungeons are waiting, and the adventurers are ready. Will your favorite team claim glory, or will an underdog rise to victory? Tune in tonight to find out!

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Runway Rivals - 2024 CONTESTANTS

We are super exited to announce the contestants for this year's Runway Rivals! Will these fabulous fashionistas have what it takes to impress our judges? Tune in to our Twitch channel on the 24th of November to see them strut their stuff!

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Runway Rivals 2024: Registration Closed – Contestant Announcement Coming Soon!

We’re excited to share that registration for Runway Rivals 2024 has officially closed! A massive thank you to everyone who signed up – the anticipation is high, and we can't wait to see what our contestants bring to the stage. Get ready for a night filled with stunning transmogs, imaginative themes, and a celebration of creativity like no other in WoW!

What’s Next?

We’re currently finalizing the details, and the official contestant pool will be announced on Monday 11th November . This year’s lineup includes some of the most talented transmogrification enthusiasts across the EU region. Each one will be showcasing their best at the Temple of Ahn'Qiraj on Sunday, November 24th, at 19:00 (Realm Time) / 13:00 (ET), bringing unmatched style, creativity, and personality to the catwalk!

Stay Updated

Curious to see if you or your friends made the cut? Follow us on our socials to be the first to know:

X (Twitter)

Instagram

Facebook

Discord

And don’t miss out on our live event broadcast on Twitch! You can catch every moment, from incredible costumes to thrilling reveals, at Twitch.tv/Starship_eu.

Prizes Up for Grabs

Let’s not forget what’s at stake! This year’s contestants are competing for an amazing prize pool, including:

A WoW TWW Collectors Edition

Horde and Alliance key caps

The https://www.wowhead.com/spell=457485 mount

An unreleased Xal'atath mouse pad and more!

Stay tuned for Monday’s big reveal, and make sure to follow us on Twitch so you don’t miss a single moment. See you on the runway!

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Wait for it... #shorts #fyp #worldofwarcraft

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Runway Rivals 2024

Registration is now open for our annual transmog contest, Runway Rivals!

This is your moment to let your creativity shine! Participants will be judged by a panel of guest judges from the wider WoW community, with fantastic prizes up for grabs. Do you have what it takes to own the runway?

Date: 24th November 2024

Time: 19:00 CEST

Location: The Temple of Ahn'qiraj, Tanaris or LIVE at Twitch.tv/starship_eu

Event Details: This transmog contest is your chance to shine and stand out with your most creative, stylish, and bold armor sets. There will be two rounds on the event night:

Round 1: The circle round. Judged on originality, color use, and theme.

Round 2: The catwalk round, where players can show off their flair using mounts, toys, and animations, judged on runway style.

Prizes There are prizes for First, Second and Third place! All our prizes have been generously supplied by our wonderful partners at Blizzard.

Prizes include: The War Within 20th anniversary Collector's Edition,Limited edition Horde and Alliance key caps, Grizzly Hills Packmaster mounts, Xalatath mouse pads & more!

How to Join: Register via the official form but make sure to secure your spot before the deadline—spaces are limited!

Rules: Open to all WoW players in the EU region. No restrictions on class or faction. Transmogs will be judged based on originality, colour use, theme & style. Bring your best look to impress the judges!

Whether you're a seasoned fashion connoisseur or just love to play with your gear, this is your chance to shine on the Runway Rivals stage. Get ready to sashay and slay! See you there, and may the most glamorous transmog win!

For more info about this event please check out the dedicated web page. HERE

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The War Within: What’s trending among Starship’s players?

The highly anticipated The War Within expansion has finally arrived, and the Starship community has jumped right into Azeroth’s depths. With new zones, dungeons, the introduction of the Earthen race, and updated class features like Hero Talents, there’s so much to explore. To get a pulse on what’s trending, we reached out to some of our community members to gather their insights on class and race choices in the expansion. Here's what they had to say!

Class Picks: Mains and Specializations

When it comes to choosing mains, our community is showing some interesting trends with a mix of old favourites and strategic shifts for the team.

Take Baphomatty, who’s feeling the burn (in a good way) with the Devastation Evoker. It’s not the most obvious pick, but they’re all about that mobility and unique mechanics. On the flip side, Arcadie is sticking with their OG favorite Feral Druid having played it since the early days. For them, the class’s versatility and shapeshifting abilities make it the ultimate pick for both PvE and PvP.

Then there’s Ulerith, who’s fully committed to the Beast Mastery Hunter. They love the spec’s onthe-go damage dealing but switch to Marksmanship when things get more AoE-heavy. That kind of adaptability is a must when tackling different game modes. But let’s not forget about Blinkz, who started The War Within as a Frost Mage but made the jump to Augmentation Evoker to fill a needed role for their raid team, Helios. “The class’s mobility and support mechanics have made it super fun to play,” they shared, adding that helping teammates out of tight spots with the Rescue ability has been a game-changer.

It seems like versatility and mobility are top priorities for players this expansion, with several leaning into hybrid roles that can adapt to different challenges. And with the new Hero Talents, the gameplay experience is evolving even further. As Blinkz put it, “The Hero Talents are a nice addition—they give extra power without overwhelming you with more active abilities.”

Earthen Race: Waiting in the Wings

So, how is the community feeling about the new Earthen race? It’s a mixed bag. While some players are already diving into Azeroth with their gem-encrusted characters, others are holding off for now.

Ulerith is sticking with their Human characters but admitted that the customization options, like bearded female Earthen, are hilariously tempting. Baphomatty is intrigued by the Earthen and considering rolling one soon but hasn’t made the leap yet, as they’re focused on mastering their current class for raid content. Blinkz echoed this, explaining that while they’ve seen the Earthen around, their priority is gearing up and getting raid-ready for Helios before settling into a new race.

It seems that while the Earthen are catching the community’s eye, many are waiting until the intensity of progression settles before fully diving into the lore, racial abilities, and customization options that the Earthen offer.

How The War Within Stacks Up Against Past Expansions

For many, the levelling experience in The War Within has been a pleasant surprise. Blinkz, now playing as an Evoker for the first time, described the process as “well-constructed” and enjoyed how smoothly the game transitions players from zone to zone.

As for class and race dynamics, Arcadie feels like The War Within offers some of the most balanced class representation we’ve seen in recent expansions. They’re loving how the Feral Druid feels in this expansion compared to previous ones, saying the class still retains its charm while benefiting from the new Hero Talents.

Baphomatty entered the expansion with some hesitation but was quickly won over by the new zones and mechanics. Playing alongside friends and guildmates helped the transition, making the experience feel like classic WoW again. And even though Blinkz switched from Frost Mage to Augmentation Evoker, they’re finding the new role just as rewarding, especially since it’s filling a key gap in their raid team.

Overall, there’s a sense of excitement about the expansion’s class dynamics, with players curious about how things will shift as the expansion progresses.

Trending in Starship and Player Advice

When it comes to community trends, Baphomatty noticed an uptick in Rogues, Shamans, and Druids. With the flexibility that Hero Talents bring, some classes are really standing out in ways they haven’t before. On the other hand, Arcadie emphasized the importance of playing what you enjoy rather than chasing the meta. In Starship’s Sunday Raid School, all levels of players are welcome, and there’s a focus on having fun, learning, and progressing without the stress of needing to be the best.

And for anyone considering Augmentation Evoker, Blinkz has some pro tips:

“It’s a really fun class, but you’ll need to work hard for the rewards. The amount of cooldown tracking you need to do for your raid is insane, but it’s worth it when you see the team progress. My advice? Get your UI sorted and don’t focus on the DPS meters. A clean UI and good raidframes make all the difference.” (Shoutout to the Cell addon for that, by the way!)

Conclusion

The War Within is off to a strong start, and the Starship community is already shaping the landscape with diverse class and race choices. Whether you’re experimenting with a new Earthen or sticking with your trusted Druid, Mage, or Hunter, this expansion has something for everyone. The key takeaway? Versatility, mobility, and a well-constructed UI seem to be the way forward.

As we delve deeper into Khaz Algar, our choices will continue to evolve, but one thing’s for sure: the Starship community will be there to share tips, offer support, and keep things fun along the way.

What about you? Have you made any big class or race shifts in The War Within? Let us know in the comments and join the conversation!

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Raid Bites 🍎

We're excited to launch Raid Bites, an incredible new feature in the Starship World of Warcraft community Discord!

With Raid Bites, you can access a simple tactics card for any current raid boss, all at your fingertips inside our Discord Server using easy commands in any channel. No more getting stuck on a boss—just use the new Raid Bites feature for free today!

The bosses have a super-convenient difficulty rating so you know what to expect. With some cute visuals of each boss so you know what they look like. We also gave it our best shot at simplifying the tactics as much as possible to save any confusion caused by “fluff” abilities.

We really hope you enjoy raid Bites and find the system useful. This plus many more features can be found inside our community. Everyone is welcome BTW! 😉

Boss Commands Available:

!ulgrax

!bloodboundhorror

!sikran

!rashanan

!broodtwister

!kyveza

!silkencourt

!queenansurek

Master Command:

!guide

Jump in, conquer those bosses and level up your raiding game!

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Starship🌈Partners with Legacy 30 – The #1 Twink Raiding Community!

We’re beyond excited to share the news: Starship is now officially partnered with Legacy 30, the leading level 30 twinking community and the #1 twink raiding community worldwide!

This partnership opens up fantastic new opportunities for collaborative events, exclusive activities, and much more for our members. We can’t wait to show you what’s in store!

To celebrate, we encourage everyone to join the Legacy 30 Discord community. Don’t miss out on all the amazing things we’re planning together!

👉 Join Legacy 30: CLICK HERE

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WIN a Grizzly Hills Packmaster with Starship🌈 (EU Only)

To celebrate the launch of the NEW Grizzly Hills Packmaster repair and transmog mount, we are giving one away to one lucky community member. About the Mount

Bearing a pack filled with gadgets and gizmos, the Grizzly Hills Packmaster lets you repair and transmogrify on the go to keep your armor shiny as new for your adventures in Azeroth.

The Grizzly Hills Packmaster will be applied to present and future World of Warcraft® characters on a single regional Battle.net account. The Grizzly Hills Packmaster is a single seat ground mount that automatically scales to the fastest riding skill known by each character.

How to Enter

All you have to do to enter is join our Discord through the link below and tap the emoji attached to the giveaway.

Unfortunately we are only able to award the prize in the EU region. The winner will be drawn automatically on the 31st October!

Good Luck, Have Fun

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Finding Refuge: The Healing Power of World of Warcraft Communities.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness week, running between the 13th to the 19th of May 2024, the Starship community and guild are proud to embrace a diverse array of personalities, cultures and life experiences from around the globe. Our members enter the World of Warcraft to find respite from the demands of everyday life and to safeguard their mental well being. 

Individuals from all walks of life come together with a common goal to seek solace and enjoyment in the virtual realm of Azeroth. Whether it's a student facing academic pressures, a professional navigating work schedules, or a caregiver shouldering immense responsibilities, each person finds refuge within the friendship and events offered by our community. 

The World of Warcraft serves as a safe place for many, providing a temporary escape from the stressors and uncertainties that follow our real life obligations. Engaging and collaborating with fellow community members fosters a sense of purpose and accomplishment, offering a much needed reprieve from daily life. Our community recognises the profound impact of mental health and prioritises the well being of all members.

In our Starship community, we prioritise collaboration with other gaming brands to foster a supportive and inclusive environment for mental health. Our partnerships with industry leaders such as Blizzard, Raider.IO, and Zygor enables us to commit to breaking down barriers and stigmas surrounding mental health while also offering valuable support and guidance to our community. 

Did you know: 

1 in 4 people experience mental health issues

1 in 5 have or will have suicidal thoughts over the course of a lifetime

Only a third of people with a mental health issue seek and receive treatment

Mental health support within the gaming community is an important issue that needs to be addressed. With the rise of online gaming and the prevalence of social interaction within these virtual environments, it is crucial to provide resources and support for individuals who maybe struggling with mental health. Gaming communities can play a significant role in promoting mental well being by opening the conversation and embracing the subject of mental health.

We in Starship are proud to partner with our charity, Safe In Our World who aim to foster mental health awareness within the video game industry, eliminate stigma surrounding mental health and to make it a natural topic of discussion. 

We spoke to Rosie Taylor, Content and Community Manager from Safe in our World to find out more!

Can you share with us how Safe In Our World is contributing to mental health awareness within the gaming community?

Safe In Our World at its core is championing for mental health awareness, education, and wellbeing for both gamers and games industry professionals. We are creating opportunities for both through a variety of initiatives aimed at broadening mental health awareness as well as more tangible outputs through training and direct collaborations. Our website, SafeInOurWorld.org is a global hub of information, helplines, support, and stories connected to mental health and video games culture. We want gamers to be able to easily find information that is explained in a unique way, by using games as a vehicle to portray important messages and experiences.

In what ways do you believe the gaming industry can better prioritize mental health, both for players and creators?

One easy way for games industry companies to get more involved in wellbeing for their teams is to join our Level Up Mental Health programme. It’s free to join, and is a commitment to take mental health and wellbeing more seriously for their teams and player bases. By joining, Safe In Our World will work with you directly to bring you relevant resources, offer advice and support, consultation and training to create safer environments for employees and communities alike. We’re already working with over 160 companies worldwide, with more joining every week.

Another way that the industry can prioritize mental health is through the games themselves. We actively work with developers to create content warnings to better inform players on the potential triggers that could affect them in gameplay. We recommend that game developers actively pursue opportunities to collaborate with mental health charities, mental health professionals and folks with lived experience to truly tackle mental health representation and safety more seriously within video games. This extends to portrayal of mental ill health, language, stigma and resources for players during gameplay. 

There are so many practical things companies can do to take steps towards prioritising wellbeing, but one of the most important steps is a more passive one; listening. It can be so easy to assume you know what people need or want. By providing spaces for feedback, actively listening to it, and implementing feedback-informed change can be a huge step in instilling more trust within your community and employees, which has a knock on effect on wellbeing culture. 

How do you see the role of community managers evolving in addressing mental health concerns within gaming communities?

The role of the Community Manager is often endless. Constantly having to be on guard, listening and being the go-to person for a whole community of people is rewarding, but also exhausting. I’d love to see more support provided to Community Managers from leadership to provide them with opportunities to learn, take part in training and also switch off from their role. At Safe In Our World, we have a free Community Manager Toolkit to aid in this, but would highly recommend in employers investing in training to better equip their teams to deal with these sorts of things. We have a duty of care to players to signpost them to where they can get support, but we don’t have a duty to be personally responsible for those people’s mental health. Senior leadership has a duty to set these expectations and support Community Managers in setting boundaries in relation to this, so that Community Managers can handle these situations in a way that is safer for both parties. We have a guide on how to more empathetically signpost that should explain how we can do this in a responsible way. 

Could you elaborate on any specific initiatives or strategies that Safe in Our World has implemented to support mental well-being in the gaming space?

We recently co-created the Good Game Playbook in collaboration with Ubisoft, which has been a great initiative targeting players who are either being impacted by toxic behaviour in-game, or players who are being toxic in-game. This is just the first step in learning how we can create safer online spaces for gamers, informing us of the real issues that gamers face and leading to solutions of how developers can better protect players from toxic behaviours.

We’re also now offering game consultation and content warning support to developers who want to get mental health representation ‘right’ in their game. By offering clinical support and lived experience perspectives, we’re creating a more honest environment for developers to learn about how best to represent certain mental health diagnoses or related issues in a non-stigmatising way.

What advice would you offer to gaming communities striving to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals struggling with mental health issues?

I’d hugely recommend having a good signposting and peer support structure in place within community spaces. By being more open and non-stigmatising about mental health in general, people may feel more able to speak out about their feelings and wellbeing, as well as ask for support. Having these resources to hand as a community to equip individuals with the tools they need to access support is a huge step in the right direction. 

One thing I’d also say, is that often the games communities that we foster represent those within them. As community managers, it is imperative to foster the environment you want to see, rather than expect for it to just show up. Sometimes that can mean having difficult conversations with community members and enforcing boundaries by protecting your community from unwelcome behaviours or attitudes. 

Consider people’s feedback, especially if they’re from a group that is marginalised by society or underrepresented. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ when it comes to creating an inclusive space and it will be an ongoing task as you learn more and grow as a community.

From your perspective, what are some common misconceptions surrounding mental health within the gaming industry, and how can we combat them?

One of the more common misconceptions relating to mental health in gaming for me is that games are inherently good or bad for your mental health. I think it’s clear (at least to me) that games have the power to create powerful experiences for players, tell important stories, share unique perspectives and foster incredible communities. There are also negatives that games bring that stem from toxicity and inability to manage emotions during play. I’d love for players to focus more on how they feel before, during and after they play games, and make more conscious decisions on how they can switch up their gameplay habits to adapt to their mood. For some, that might mean playing more FPS when they’re frustrated, and for some that might mean sitting down with a cosy non-violent RPG and settling in for the night. Those decisions look totally different from player to player, and that’s kind of the point; gaming is a unique experience that will evoke different feelings for different people. By embracing your own relationship to the games you play, you can create much healthier habits and celebrate the positives that games can bring more easily.

In your experience, what are some effective ways to encourage open dialogue about mental health within gaming communities?

Sharing stories! One of the things that always gets the room open to conversation (in my experience) is nonjudgmentally listening to others tell their experiences and share stories. More often than not, you see other people who have experienced something very similar who feel closer to other community members in that solidarity alone.

Sharing is not always simple or easy for people, so by fostering a community where talking about mental health is normal, and not shameful, can be a great start in setting that tone for others. 

Looking ahead, what do you envision as the future of mental health advocacy within the gaming industry, and how can organizations like Starship continue to drive positive change?

Seeing more companies, individual communities and organisations really empower each other to do better, and have healthy competition in providing support to their teams and communities would be amazing. I want to see companies shouting about all the work that they do to support people, not have it as a one liner on a job description, or in the tiny text at the bottom of their website. Be bold about your work, listen to how you can improve, and make those changes transparently. 

Resources:

If you are in the UK and need to talk to someone you can call the samaritans anytime on 116 123.  If you find communicating that way difficult or prefer to type you can text shout on 85258 

If you are outside the UK you can try checking the lists below for a charity or support group in your area:-

Please note: Starship is not directly affiliated with any of the organisations mentioned below 

https://www.helpguide.org/find-help.htm

https://www.thecalmzone.net/international-mental-health-charities

To Donate to Safe in our World and support the awesome work they do. Head to our Twitch through the button below. You can donate directly through there!

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Announcing the newest addition to our partnered streamer program. TillieGG 🎉🎉🎉

Get ready for some crazy Battleground antics with Tillie and the Amani Warbears crew live on Twitch most weeks!