Clarification of forum and game rules

[ArmageddonMUD]

Hello,

We've gone through the forum and game rules and cleaned up each list to clarify the rules we enforce and how we enforce them. This is part of a broader effort to maintain transparency with players and be completely clear about our expectations.

You can find the updated forum rules here:
http://gdb.armageddon.org/index.php/topic,51856.msg965498.html#new

And the updated game rules are here:
http://armageddon.org/help/view/Rules

[BadSkeelz]

5. Do not post sensitive game information, including information about your character, other characters, plots, or magick/psionic mechanics.

Code discussion of any non-magickal/psionic ("Mundane") sort does not seem to be explicitly prohibited under the new GDB rules. Is this true, or is mundane Code discussion (best training schedules, timers, speculations etc) thought of as "sensitive game information"?

[Nergal]

Discussion by players on hidden aspects of the code is, by definition, unproven speculation, and we're not interested in policing it, or the "my 50 day warrior can beat your 70 day ranger" type of talk. Just use your common sense - for example, posting a long essay on how to train backstab in a way that disregards roleplay would be seen more as disruptive of roleplay than posting sensitive game information (particularly if the information in the essay is false).

If a statement on game mechanics can be proven with empirical evidence then it's likely too sensitive to post, even if you don't include the evidence in your post.

Finally, staff may occasionally discuss the basics of mechanics in an effort to clarify something. We don't want to be caught up in our own rules in order to make something clear.

[gotdamnmiracle]

On threats of rape, I understand that this is zero tolerance, but considering this is a harsh gritty environment will we get something's along the lines of:

A staff member sends: Hey you are getting a little rapey with those threats. Tone it down.

And perform a spot fix if you guys see it or is it the kind of thing that is, no joke, zero tolerance. I ask, not because I want to play that out, but I, lika anyone, can get caught up in RP. Is that another use common sense subject? I understand spot checks shouldn't be expected and threats of a sexual nature should be avoided.

[Feco]

On threats of rape, I understand that this is zero tolerance, but considering this is a harsh gritty environment will we get something's along the lines of:

A staff member sends: Hey you are getting a little rapey with those threats. Tone it down.

And perform a spot fix if you guys see it or is it the kind of thing that is, no joke, zero tolerance. I ask, not because I want to play that out, but I, lika anyone, can get caught up in RP. Is that another use common sense subject? I understand spot checks shouldn't be expected and threats of a sexual nature should be avoided.

I can't really imagine a scenario where I'd be forced to ask myself "Is this rapey, or not?"

[BadSkeelz]

I once threatened my clan that I'd geld or stitch-up the next character who let sex get in the way of doing their job. Looking back it's probably not a threat I would make again. Safer and quicker to just kill PCs.

[gotdamnmiracle]

On threats of rape, I understand that this is zero tolerance, but considering this is a harsh gritty environment will we get something's along the lines of:

A staff member sends: Hey you are getting a little rapey with those threats. Tone it down.

And perform a spot fix if you guys see it or is it the kind of thing that is, no joke, zero tolerance. I ask, not because I want to play that out, but I, lika anyone, can get caught up in RP. Is that another use common sense subject? I understand spot checks shouldn't be expected and threats of a sexual nature should be avoided.

I can't really imagine a scenario where I'd be forced to ask myself "Is this rapey, or not?"

I get your point, but threatening to skullfuck someone is fairly common and breaks the rules. It also sounds like an appropriate threat coming out of the mouth of any Sergeant in nearly every clan IG. I don't doubt there are other things that push the boundaries.

[BadSkeelz]

Necrophilia is legal and to skullfuck someone you would probably kill them via removing the skull from the rest of them. So just say "I'm going to skullfuck you and the rest of your body ain't gonna be invited" or something.

[Feco]

Fair enough.  I guess I don't have a good imagination.

[SuchDragonWow]

So just say "I'm going to skullfuck you and the rest of your body ain't gonna be invited" or something.

[evilcabbage]

i will never play a merchant, burglar or pickpocket.

probably never an assassin again either.

so that's that.

[Jingo]

Necrophilia is legal and to skullfuck someone you would probably kill them via removing the skull from the rest of them. So just say "I'm going to skullfuck you and the rest of your body ain't gonna be invited" or something.

I wouldn't consider this acceptable personally. I'm not sure why we think rape role play is anathema but pk then rape roleplay isn't.

Seems like a moral blindspot to me.

In before it's okay because dead people arn't people. Or it's okay because the player on the other end can't see it.

[Nergal]

The standards on consent and the "no rape rule" have been established long ago. That isn't what this thread is about. Get back on topic.

[Yam]

Is there a standard for genuineness? E.g. Is it against the rules for a Byn sergeant to threaten to put his boot up someone's ass? Clearly a figurative threat and a phrase that is tame enough to be on family friendly TV, but it appears to be against the letter of the rules as they stand.

[Orin]

I feel like there must have been something that prompted a brand new round of rules clarification. 

Almost like someone broke the unwritten rules, but didn't know they were breaking the rules...

Just speculation, of course.  What exactly DID prompt this staff announcement?

[Nergal]

Staff have been working on clarifying the game and GDB rules since the summer. We felt that the old game rules list was too cluttered with things that were not actually rules, and that things that were rules were never mentioned in the list, but scattered around in helpfiles or the GDB as de facto things we still enforced. The GDB rules list suffered similarly. We decided that clarifying the rules list (as well as specifically describing the response to rulebreaking) was necessary for the sake of fairness to players.

[Jihelu]

"This rule extends to criticism"
So if I say "I don't like how Nergal did a thing" I can get in trouble for it?
Not that I don't like how Nergal did that thing, just for clarification.

[Nergal]

Put simply, if something should be in a staff complaint (i.e. targeted criticism of a staff member) or a GDB complaint or appeal, it should not be in a GDB post. General criticism of the game, the staff, etc. is fine on the GDB.

[Orin]

Hmm.  I'm confused.  This may or may not be because I'm drunk.

Are you saying it would be legit to create a "Vague criticisms about others" non-armageddon thread? Because that would be pretty sweet.

[Nergal]

That would be trolling.

[Yam]

Is there a standard for genuineness? E.g. Is it against the rules for a Byn sergeant to threaten to put his boot up someone's ass? Clearly a figurative threat and a phrase that is tame enough to be on family friendly TV, but it appears to be against the letter of the rules as they stand.

Genuinely curious about this. Not trying to be a smartass.

[Nergal]

Yes, we look at things in context.

[evilcabbage]

nergals duck avatar is offensive to me.

even though it's a chicken.



however, i would like to ask about being asked not to play guilds. let's say i've played every guild at least once previously, and i found i just -hate- burglars, or pickpockets, or assassins, or merchants, and i never want to play them. i want to play rangers and warriors exclusively. or burglars and warriors.

how many times do you see someone play a specific guild type before you go "no, please try something else"?

or maybe i want to only play elementalists with different guild combos.

when does staff go "stop doing this"?

[Nergal]

That rule is not really about people playing a mundane guild multiple times in succession. It's about two things: players abusing skills, and players playing high-karma roles repeatedly.

So, we would say "stop playing a burglar" when we've had to talk to a player about abusing pick, or demonstrating poor stealth RP, and then they go and abuse it again anyway.

[Barsook]

Deleted.

Also, I think the ArmageddonMUD General FAQ needs a small update about the karma since it's now it's own request type.