首先, 如果没有足够的志愿者每天免费的工作在这个服务器上,这个服务器不会得以维持下去, 但是还是很少部分人会知道服务器的维护其实有部分玩家一直在捐款来以次支付服务器运行下去。

不幸的是， 从过去的几个月看，运行像Northdale
这样大的服务器的费用是巨大的。从前面几个月的捐款记录看， 这个很难达到每月的费用目标，过去3个星期我们缺少了$650.00 。

为了让服务器更好的维护开始下去， 我们不得不采取一些措施了。我们决定在网站上彰显这些对服务器维护下去作出捐款的支持者，详情可以参看http://lighthope.org/donations看详细的捐款信息和服务器费用支出记录。

再者说，这个捐款不会得到特殊的福利，我们不会在游戏内出售任何物品装备， 也不会有任何特权和我们的管理人员。

如果这些捐款者想要特殊颜色名字显示的话， 每$1.00将会有3天的特殊名字显示，这是我们的新系统，其实这个在我们开服务器初期就有了，只是没有实施。 特殊颜色名字显示主要用在discord 和 Reddit。

还有另外一个级别的颜色显示，任何捐款者捐助超过或达到$250.00将会得到“捐助者”称号，这是一个唯一的特殊显示的代表，下面有个列子可以看http://istaria.theorycraft.org/bf.png

在官方网站你可能看到，　有个地方让输入邮件地址，　discord ID 这个就是会让我们知道你就是捐款者，我们会及时更新你的颜色显示。　

因为玩家要高质量的游戏体验，　所以服务器费用是一个问题。　


原文：

First things first. This server would not be possible without the large amount of volunteer work that is being put in by the staff every day. However, there's a less talked about group of individuals that also deserves proper thanks for making Light's Hope possible: the people who actually pay the bills and keep the lights on. Unfortunately, running a large server like Northdale is very expensive and over the past months, the donations under the current system have had trouble meeting their monthly targets. All the bills for the next month, for instance, have a shortfall of ~$650 and are due in three weeks. In order to keep providing this service in the future we had to take an action that we feel is the least intrusive. We've decided to create a system to highlight donors as a way to thank them for their contribution to the server costs. You can take a look at our full donation history and expenses at https://lightshope.org/donations

This marks a somewhat large change in our previous policy of no incentives for donations. Let me emphasize that the only benefits for being a donor are purely cosmetic and outside of the game (in Discord and Reddit). This policy change will never extend further than that. We will never sell any services in-game - including cosmetics - for money. Having donated money to the project will not get you any preferential treatment when dealing with the staff.

For those who are interested in displaying their donor status, there are two tiers for donors available. Tying your account to your donation is completely optional, and you can still donate and stay anonymous if you so wish. Each dollar donated will grant you 3 days of "Donor" status, which will distinguish you from everyone else on our Discord by giving you a unique color. You will also get a flair on our subreddit.

There's also a second tier for those who have really stepped up and kept us going: the Benefactor. Anyone donating over $250 (in total) will get the Benefactor status for as long as this system is in use. Benefactors have a different color from Donors and on top of that they will be listed under the staff on Discord and featured on this subreddit. Here's an example of what being one looks like: http://istaria.theorycraft.org/bf.png

Those with a keen eye may already have noticed that there is a section for donations in the account portal on our website. If you want to participate, all you need to do is to fill in your PayPal email, Discord tag and/or Reddit username. Anyone who has donated money to us before will gain these benefits retroactively. Please note that our service will automatically and periodically update your status, so the effect won't be immediate.