Moderation Policy

In the interest of transparency and fairness, the official moderation policies and rules are shown here. Unlike the Rules, these are not required for a player to familiarize themselves with, but they provide helpful guidance on why moderation action may be taken against a player.

Player Quality

Most moderation actions come from adjustments to player quality points. Player quality points, or PQ, dictate what roles can and cannot be selected by a player during character setup. One can receive positive player quality from being commended at round-end by another player, or having it manually adjusted by a moderator. Conversely, negative PQ can be achieved by breaking the rules. Very negative player quality can result in a player not being able to write custom emotes and being unable to use the mechanical functions of erotic roleplay. Reaching -100 player quality will result in a ban from the server.

The overall purpose of player quality point adjustments is to:

A. Improve player quality by pointing out bad behavior and correcting it.

B. To ban and remove players who refuse to follow the rules and roleplay respectfully in the community.

C. To reward players and have them take pride in their contribution to the overall quality of the server.

Reiterating the Rules

These rules apply whenever connecting to and playing on the game server.

1. Be cool.
   1. Don't be an asshole.
2. Communicate in English only.
3. Adhere to the setting and in-game scenarios. Do not break immersion in-game at any time. Play a realistic character.
4. ERP is allowed so long as it adheres to the atmosphere of the game.
   1. Pedophilia, rape, bestiality and other distressing content is strictly prohibited.
5. Do not abuse exploits (such as duping or multikeying). Report exploits privately via the /report command or DMing a staff member.

Core Moderation Rules

Consider these element before committing to a PQ reduction/addition.

1. Did the player in question break the rules?
2. How much damage/benefit did the player do to the immersion?
3. Did the player ruin/improve the immersion for themselves and others, and how many were affected?
4. Ultimately, was the round as a whole affected by their actions?
5. Do you think the player will commit the same actions again, even after being reduced/rewarded and given a warning/praise?

Violations of Rule 1

Be cool, don't be an asshole.

Bug Exploiting

Definition: Knowingly abusing game mechanics for any reason.

Recommended Punishments:

• Take in consideration if the player is informed rather the action was an exploit and not an intended feature.
• A significant punishment for repeated offenders.

Hate Speech

Definition: The use of real life slurs and hate speech either IC or lobby chat.

Lore acceptable bigotry is permitted as long as such slurs are not based on RL ones.

Recommended Punishments:

• Significantly harsh punishments for players trying to insult a player OOC (Via lobby chat or metagrudge.)
• VW or light punishments for first offenders.

Metagaming/Meta-Communication

Definition: The use of any information that has not been naturally shared via In-Character means.

The act of sharing IC information via OOC means.

Recommended Punishments:

• VW (For first offenses) on common slips up such as casually discussing current rounds in Discord. Inform them of the #lastweek channel and to wait till the rounds credits are posted before discussing the past round.
• Significant PQ nukes or bans for repeated offenders and for the use of OOC communications to influence the round.

Metagrudge

Definition: Acting out of character and/or malice towards someone(s) for reasons outside of the roleplay of the round.

This especially relates to players respawning with intention to get revenge on their killers, as well as players abusing their character’s role in a round to disadvantage another player based on OOC motivations instead of IC motivations.

Recommended Punishments:

• A decent PQ adjustment even for first offenses.
• Ban on second offense.

RDMing/Fragging

Definition: The attacking/killing of another character without expressed motivations that are reasonable for the attacking character.

Non-antags should take extra effort to showcase their reasoning and escalation to lethal force when applicable.

Antags must have a motive/reason for their attacks.

Notes: On low pop rounds (Below 20 players) players should be encouraged to avoid lethal action without extended reasonable escalation. As the focus should be on RP rather than objective winning or non-mutual PvP.

This extends to all players including antags and event characters.

Recommended Punishments:

• Minor PQ adjustments as warnings for players of good intentions but fail to fully showcase their motivations. (Mild for repeat offenders)
• Major PQ adjustments / Bans for players who are overly aggressive without effort to RP or be respectful to the RP experience of others.

Spawn Camping

Definition: The act of deliberately positioning oneself in either a character spawn point or map waypoint in order to ambush another character.

Recommended Punishments:

• VW or light PQ adjustment for first time offense.
• Moderate PQ adjustment to ban for repeated offenses.

Violations of Rule 2

Communicate in English only.

Definition: Players must be able to communicate in English effectively enough to roleplay a realistic character AND effectively communicate with moderation.

Non-English languages are not permitted to be used IC as it provides an unfair advantage in communications. However, minor non-English phrases used for accents can be permitted.

Recommended Punishments:

Players who are unable to communicate effectively enough to communicate should be removed from the server. Moderate punishment to players attempting to use another language to communicate with another player if already warned.

LOOC in IC

Definition: The use of parentheses to communicate out of character information on the server.

Recommend Punishments:

• Verbal warning to players using this technique to teach/learn the game mechanics. Should focus on teaching appropriate ways to communicate such as using the discord or staying IC to teach.
• Players using LOOC to metagame should be punished for metagaming instead. 

Violations of Rule 3

Adhere to the setting and in-game scenarios. Do not break immersion in-game at any time. Play a realistic character.

Low Roleplay

Definition: Failing to roleplay as a realistic character according to their role and the server’s expectations. Any action that negatively affects the round's immersion.

Recommended Punishments:

• Punishment should reflect the damage caused in the round due to their actions.
• First time rule breakers who show remorse and ambition to prove their RP deserve a VW. Significant punishments leading up to a ban for repeated offenders.

Notable Examples:

• Use of modern slang
• Short and flavorless messages

Inappropriate Naming

Definition: Any name that includes a reference to popular media or real life. Any name that is outright offensive (See Rule 1. Hate Speech).

Notes: All names must be realistic for the lore and nicknames should be applied as a title.

Example:

Bad Name: Rick Blood, Cum Demon

Good Name: Richard the Bloody

Recommended Punishments:

• Changing inappropriate names is an acceptable form of in-game moderation.
• VW or slight PQ adjustment for first offenders depending on the name.

Powergaming

Definition: The excessive use of game mechanics for advantages not justified by their roleplay in such a manner that it negatively impacts roleplay quality.

Notes: Common offenses of powergame occur in relation to antagonists, in which either antags or players “defending” against antags will make actions focusing more on the borderline exploitation of mechanics or the avoidance of roleplay and character interaction in order to “win” the gamemode.

Other common offenses are taking unrealistic precautions or common use of information or abilities uncommon for their role.

Recommended Punishments:

• VW or slight punishment to curb bad behavior from first time offenders.
• Moderate punishments to serial offenders.
• Punishments should serve to deter players from pursuing a “play to win mentality” over storybuilding.

Violations of Rule 4

Erotic roleplay (ERP) is allowed so long as it adheres to the atmosphere of the game. Pedophilia, rape, bestiality and other distressing content is strictly prohibited.

Non-Consensual Sexual Activity

Definition: Any sexual act that occurs without IC consent between both parties. This includes but not limited to sexual coercion, sexual assault and rape.

Notes: The discussion of rape as a concept that happens in-universe is permitted. However, false accusations of rape ARE a punishable offense.

Recommended Punishments:

• VW or low to moderate PQ adjustment for false accusations of rape.
• Ban with possibility to appeal for first time offenders.
• Perma-bans for repeated offenders.
• Moderate or PQ nuke for situations that are not outright sexual violence but still nonconsensual and sexual in nature.
• VW or Slight PQ adjustment for situations that were on the borderline of acceptability, such as insinuating the possibility of sexual violence occurring.

Underage Characters and Pedophilia

Details: Characters should not RP being under the age of 18.

Players must be 18+.

Any ERP involving pedophilia, child-play or anything of the sort is strictly prohibited.

Recommended Punishments:

• VW or low PQ adjustment for characters RPing as children in NONSEXUAL situations.
• Ban if ERP is involved.
• Any player suspected of being underage should be banned from the server and sent to #gallows in the discord until they proved their age by I.D. check to the Head Moderator.

Bestiality and Other Distressing Content

Definition: Any sexual act towards an animal or being that is unable to reasonably consent.

Notes: This rule serves to punish any other inappropriate or tasteless sexual content, such as ERPing with NPC monsters and corpses.

Recommended Punishments:

• PQ nuke or ban.
• Punishments involving “Other distressing content” can be discussed on a case per case basis among the moderators.