Expectations and advice regarding Player Behaviour
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Forums
It is time to cut back the chatter that is happening in even the most serious threads. Before you post, think if something about lumberjacks really does contribute to a discussion about playing effective evil.
It has become a pain to read some threads because so much garbage is thrown onto the pearls that it is impossible to find them.
Cut your banter or restrict it to the Off Topic forum. Irrelevant posts will be deleted without comment.Edit: I will also enforce decent avatars. As has been said several times, animated or overly large avatars are to be avoided.
@Spam:
We tend to be tolerant with people posting humorous comments in threads even if they take the discussion off topic. Nothing wrong with the odd comment here and there that doesn't add much to a discussion. But we've noticed an increasing tendency in some posters to post inane comments for the sake of it, apparently with the only goal of increasing their post count. This will stop now.
Otherwise, we will be forced to remove access to the forums to those that use them as an e-penis enlargement tool.
@Signatures:
It seems people are once again starting the flood this board with all sorts of cool/pretty/etc images in their signatures.
Do not post images in your signature, and to further that keep your signature fairly small.
The reason people come here is to read posts or post posts, the problem with all the big signatures is that the signal to noise ratio gets skewed quite hard to the noise ratio. We're trying to read your posts, not look at some image or 30line piece of poetrie that we have to scroll past 50 times per thread. If you want some cool image dump it in your avatar, that's what it's for.
So in short, no images in your signature and keep the signature small, you'll do everyone a favour.
PS. Yes, that includes house shields/emblems/etc, you can post those in the IC board if you want but not automatically at the end of every post.
It's the DMs job to moderate the forums, and make judgement calls on them.
Posting antagonistic OOC messages, even in response to other antagonistic messages, may result in a forum ban for the poster.
thank you for your time.
@Leaving:
This is silly. Stop doing it. If you leave letters in a public place, don't expect them to make it to their intended recipient. This is gross metagaming, and abusing the forum. If you want to do it, contact a dm IG and drop off a scribed note directing people to a forum post. Otherwise, the Harpers, the Zhentarim, Lhal, the Obarskyrs, and a tarrasque will all get copies of your letter, and they'll be able to see through whatever thin poetic sheen you put over it to get at the real meaning.
Forums are not a place where you can commit crimes without risk. Slandering nobles, making illegal postings, disturbing the peace, etc will have appropriate consequences. We understand sometimes it seems like a good idea in order to get a plot going, but do it in game when it costs you something, and there's risk in getting caught.
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Scripted Quests
In general, there is a rule that some players need reminding of that scripted quests are by no means whatsoever roleplay free zones. While there is some slippage of memories necessary due to the fact that they can be repeated, your characters are essentially accountable for their actions during scripted quests exactly as they would be during DM quests or any other time.
A few things in particular are liable to draw the attention of DMs. Questing with people your character would not normally associate amicably with, repeatedly taking quests that do not fit your character or choosing options that within quests that do not fit your character, particularly when these things are resulting in obtaining the maximum rewards available. There are plenty of quests out there to choose from, and there are plenty of people out there to interact with.
If your character stood by while someone on the quest summoned demons and undead, your character stood by while someone summoned demons and undead. If your character bullied a feeble old man for extra gold on a scripted quest, your character bullied a feeble old man for extra gold. If a DM sees this actions may be taken same as they would if you had done it anywhere.
Non-hostile bosses
These are put in by DMs occasionally to give players other options than the straight hack and slash, but they should generally be treated as hostile in every respect except the NWN mechanics, especially the ones where you just slew a whole bunch of their minions in their plain view. I keep see people doing ridiculous things like standing around buffing, applying healing kits and cracking wise about how they’re going to gut the boss while they chill for a bit and heal, sitting around shooting the breeze for a quarter of an hour as if they’re in a placid forest without a care in the world, even laying traps around the feet of the bosses so that as soon as they turn hostile they trigger them. It has to stop or bad roleplaying tokens are going to start getting handed out. If you would not do it to a DM possessed NPC, do not do it to a non-hostile boss on a scripted quest.
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Everyone who uses IRC needs to read the IRC guidelines again. Lately I've been seeing very questionable behavior in #coa and it is unacceptable. If you break those rules laid down do not be surprised if a ban is tossed your way. It may be temporary but there is every chance that it's a permanent one. Also, simply because certain behavior may have gone unchecked before does not mean it's permissible now.
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I'm bumping the part about spreading rumors about DM's player accounts. DMs on player accounts aren't DMs. They're players, we treat them like any player as much as we can. When you spread information about a DMs account, you ruin that PC for the DM. They can't play them anymore. Several DMs have quit characters in the past because of jerks like this ruining our fun on the server when we log in as players. Worse, people spread these rumors about people who aren't DMs, and then they want to quit playing their characters–only because they're actually players they can't ban you.
However, the DM team can and will ban people spreading rumors about DM accounts. So knock it off. If you've been doing this, come clean because we'll track the rumor to the source, and if we find you first, we'll ban you.
I'm serious, I was really upset when Caek had to give up Sandman because players found out he was on a player account. Now I've got players who aren't even DMs wanting to quit because jerks are spreading rumors that they are DMs.
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It's almost time to start removing rude people from this community.
@Whitelight:@OOC:
…If you can't remain civil OOC, you don't belong in CoA...
...Once again, if you are found to have been abusive, no matter how grievous your disagreement with the player, you will be banned...
...Insulting or harassing other players OOC for ANY reason is a bannable offense, and we will ban you before we deal with the original alleged offender.
…And to make this crystal clear: It does not matter how or where you harass another player.
@Player:
Every player is entitled to his or her own opinion on every aspect of this server. NO player is entitled to verbally abuse another player in any way, shape, or form whether it be about their style of play, lifestyle, age, or anything else you can think of.
Compliments are fine, and are encouraged. Those who do believe they have the right to verbally harrass another player over their playing style, character build, or any other criteria will find they also have the right to be banned from the forums, irc, and server.
In regards to character builds or playing style, if you feel the need to give constructive criticism, take it to PMs and only continue at the player's discretion. If the player does not want to listen to your criticism that is their right, and you should back off immediately if they've made their displeasure known to you. If you believe their behavior or whatever factor you were offering criticism on lies directly against a rule of the server, then notify a DM and allow us to handle the matter.
Remember, verbal harrassment of ANY kind can and will result in bans. Everyone is here to have fun, no matter which way they decide to pursue it.
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I'm not at all sure why it is necessary to remind players, but scenes of a Sexually Violent nature are never acceptable on CoA and will result in a Ban. It's not just against the rules, it's way off the reservation. Anyone who has any social sense at all should know that this kind of roleplay is unacceptable.
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@Cyber:
This is just a friendly reminder, but we do not desire to catch people engaging in cyber sex.
Further, while this server deals with some mature issues and violence is a part of the game. Do recall that certain graphic acts of violence, specifically rape should not be roleplayed here under any circumstances.
This is a game, I do not log in to deal with a crime that has victimized every single woman I know in real life, which many still awake from in the middle of the night screaming with nightmares. This is not something "fun" to bring into this game world. Keep it out.
I'm posting a reminder of this.
Rape specifically should not be alluded to, nor is it something to joke about. It is not something to roleplay. It is not something to play with at all.
This is a graphic act of violence, one inflicted upon nearly one half of all women in the world during their lives, nearly 10% of men will be raped during their lives. These women include my sisters and daughters and mother as well as numerous friends.
While we portray plenty of violence in CoA, this is one of those things that is simply too psychologically traumatic to bring into a game we play to escape the real world.
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If you are in an situation you are not comfortable with, explain to the player in tells and ask them to stop. If this is ignored, leave and contact a DM.
Cyber sex should NOT be joked about, keep it out of CoA, IG, on IRC and the Forums. Also, this server deals with some mature issues and violence is a part of the game. Do recall that certain graphic acts of violence, specifically rape or extreme torture should not be roleplayed here under any circumstances. Rape specifically should not be alluded to, nor is it something to joke about. It is not something to roleplay. It is not something to play with at all. It does not belong here.
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@IC:
#CoA is for chatting about the server, but not for dropping IG secrets that most people won't know about. If you want to talk about something everyone knows already, such as "Orc attacked the city last week" or "All the guards have blue helmets now", that's fine, but telling the entire channel that XX secretly killed YY in the sewers and XX is actually a follower of Bale is out of order. It's unfair for the players involved, and spoils the mystery for everyone else.
This means IC information stays IC. Do not bring up information that could be metagamed ICly on the IRC channel. And especially DO NOT bring up IC information on the IRC channel to taunt other players for any reason or in any way.
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Bumping this along with the reminder about comments involving rape especially. That's a "trigger" that many people will not be expecting, prepared for, or want to deal with at all when logging into a fantasy game. I realize there is "violence" roleplayed all the time here, but when I log in to play a game about killing dragons in dungeons, I expect violence. So no excuses or wiggle room or negotiating here, this is a firm rule we ask everyone to abide by to keep the community healthy in real life.
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Extreme torture should not be roleplayed here under any circumstances, if you are asked to stop then do so without argument. This goes to all creatures IG
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Just two friendly reminders folks.
1). If someone is not comfortable roleplaying something (particularly scenes of violence), then do not try to make them, cajole them, or force them. Walk away, leave them alone. We're a PvP server; but that doesn't mean we're going to force it on people either when they go out of their way to avoid it.
2). If you dislike the way someone roleplays, but they're not breaking any rules. You don't really know the person on the other side of the screen, just their game persona. So judge not, speak no ill. Just avoid them and be nice.
Game world is big, we like to cater to all types of players and want everyone welcome. Best advise, play, have fun, if you're not having fun say so or log off or ask a DM to intervene. If you have a problem with someone, relax, avoid them and ask them to avoid you.
DMs are here to help arbitrate disputes and problems, grab us if they're happening and we'll help so everyone can still play on CoA and enjoy themselves.
In the future, there are two simple rules to remember:
NO SPITTING.
DO NOT CROSS MISTER MOLOCH.
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@mr-moloch said in Expectations and advice regarding Player Behaviour:
Just two friendly reminders folks.
1). If someone is not comfortable roleplaying something (particularly scenes of violence), then do not try to make them, cajole them, or force them. Walk away, leave them alone. We're a PvP server; but that doesn't mean we're going to force it on people either when they go out of their way to avoid it.
2). If you dislike the way someone roleplays, but they're not breaking any rules. You don't really know the person on the other side of the screen, just their game persona. So judge not, speak no ill. Just avoid them and be nice.
Game world is big, we like to cater to all types of players and want everyone welcome. Best advise, play, have fun, if you're not having fun say so or log off or ask a DM to intervene. If you have a problem with someone, relax, avoid them and ask them to avoid you.
DMs are here to help arbitrate disputes and problems, grab us if they're happening and we'll help so everyone can still play on CoA and enjoy themselves.
Giving this a bump.
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The City of Arabel welcomes everyone, but for the health and future of our community we have rules in place to ensure that we remain a welcoming place for everyone. When these rules are broken, we wish to give the offender a second chance. We are humans and we all make mistakes, both players and DMs. Over the years, the DM team have given various people quite a few chances, but in the end there comes a time when the DM team cannot trust the person to be given any more chances.
Sometimes the person returns years later, and is once again given another chance. For the DM team believe people learn from their mistakes and will mature over time. However, those whom do not learn and burn their chances at the cost of our community cannot be given another chance. When no other options remain, we ban the person whom has violated our rules. No matter whom they are, a friend, an old DM or someone new, we take this action and this is always a team decision. This is one of the most important and difficult responsibility as a DM team which ensures the safety and wellbeing of our community, including the DMs themselves.
We do not take these actions lightly, nor do we like to ban anyone. However, at times it is for the best of everyone, including the offender. Often there are questions which follow from this, but the DM team do not wish to burn anyone by hanging them out. After all, it makes it much harder to return and start anew.
If there are concerns of unfair treatment, the DM team is happy to help, but we do wish to stress that how these questions are delivered is also very important to consider. Hounding down DMs for answers, making public protests over a private manner and rude behaviour is very draining for a DM to handle. We are currently in a very rough period as we prepare for the transition to EE, which many of ours are spending hundreds of hours on to ensure it goes through.Should anyone have concerns, they are welcome to approach a member in regards of it, but please have patience and understand we handle this as a team and thus our answers may be slow. Similarly, we will not explain everything which occurs behind the scene, for we wish to give everyone a fair chance to return without any stigma or public disgrace.
Thank you all for your understanding and support.
Lots of Love,
The CoA DM Team
