Rules
ShadowGate is a Role Playing MUD. Traditionally these terms don't go together. We are making our best attempt to provide for those who want the functionality of a mud but RP as well. By logging into ShadowGate you agree to at all times attempt to abide by the general rules and the rules of Role Playing outlined below.
You also agree to abide by the following set of rules. All players are expected to play and have fun. If these are not happening for you, you should leave or mail authorities respectively. We also ask that minors (under 18 years of age) review these rules and the RP outline with your parents.
In general, common sense should be used with regards to legal and illegal actions. If you have a question about whether what you are doing is legal or not, ask a wiz. The consequences will be much less severe than if you are caught exploiting either a bug or a feature of the game.
The goal of everyone here (yes, even the immortals) is to make playing fun. If everyone keeps this in mind, then it will be a good experience.
1: Golden Rules
A. Immortals have created this game with a goal and vision in mind.
This vision is the goal of their actions. Their reward comes from
the successfull movement toward this goal. Ultimately this goal is
to make ShadowGate as successful a role playing environment and as
near to Table top situation as possible in a MUD environment. Their
actions are all geared toward the furtherance of this goal.
Therefore, immortals' words are final. They also can act outside of
the rules listed here when it is in the best interest of the MUD.
Immortals are also human. They can act rashly and improperly. You
can appeal decisions made by an immortal to LAW. This can be done by
MUD mailing law, or mailing garrett@firedragon.com. The word of law
is final.
B. Players have the right to play the mud and enjoy themselves within
the scheme of the MUD. That means within the role playing,
functional, intended and logistic limits of the game. If you don't
have fun playing DaD MUD, you do not have a right to make it fun for
yourself by making it a cyber MUD. If you don't like role playing
you do not have a right to simply not. If you want to RP and play a
DaD mud you have a right to play here and have fun.
C. In general, overt criticism of the MUD is unwanted and will result
in bad feeling. If you have suggestions as to improving the MUD or
the playing environment please feel free to share it. We understand
that we are not perfect and can always improve. However, like all
humans we do not appreciate simply being told we "suck".
2: Concerning OOC
A. OOC means out of character. OOG means out of game. OOC is as your
player not as your character. OOC should has its place on the MUD.
This is best used when speaking about the game in general, asking
functional questions, or making suggestions/comments. OOG has NO
place on the MUD. ShadowGate is not a meeting ground for long lost
friends. ShadowGate is not a cyber dating service. Email addresses,
ICQ, AIM, etc information should not be exchanged on the MUD. If you
are caught you will be at least jailed, at most removed completely.
Please refer to the help roleplaying for more information.
B. Using any out of game advantage, such as real life relationships,
is frowned upon. This means information as well as roleplaying
situations. Just because two people are friends in real life,
that does not mean their characters are not bitter enemies. This
means that the paladin and antipaladin who are sitting next to
each other at the computers should not be partying all over the
place.
C. Quitting or disconnecting out of battle is an unfair advantage.
Think about it, how would you like it if the dragon you were
fighting suddenly decided to quit and come back in a few hours?
If you are caught doing this, you will receive the penalty of
the death you were trying to escape.
D. Use of offerall as an RP tool is forbidden. Offerall is a tool
provided so that a player can get rid of unwanted equipment.
Offerall is not to be used in an attempt to hinder other players.
Offerall is considered an OOC device and falls under OOC advantages.
E. Trying to exact an IC action against an inactive person is illegal.
This includes attacking, animating, attacking horses, and all other
IC actions. This includes waiting for the moment they go active and
stabbing them. Conversely, inactive is an OOC action. Using it to
avoid combat etc is the same as quitting out. Inactive includes
edits as well in both cases.
F> Mail is an OOC tool. Using it to communicate around languages
or distances is illegal. The only IC action through mail is
the legal bounty voting.
3: Concerning multi characters
A. We allow a single player to have multiple characters. We believe
that at times you may want to play something different, get away
from a current character. We frown upon having armies of other
characters. We feel that the MUD's greatest experience is the
continued dedication and connectedness with a single character.
It may take a while to find the character that has the personality
and situation that best fits for you. We ask that you use the
ability to make multiple characters with respect to the goal
of making ShadowGate a community of meaningful characters.
B. Having two characters logged on at the same time is illegal.
If you are seen doing this, both characters will be rid.
C. Giving away characters is illegal. If you don't want to play
a character anymore, suicide , ask to be rid, or just stop playing
(inactive characters are rid after 2 months).
D. Switching between characters is bad roleplaying, and if you
are seen doing it enough, then your characters will be linked.
This means when you get into a situation with your thief and
you suddenly decide that your cleric could kill this monster
(or player) or get that item easier and do the appropriate
player switching. Wanting to stop playing one character and
start playing another under normal circumstances is reasonable.
If you are switching between characters, quit and don't just
disconnect. If you are disconnecting and reconnecting, we will
probably assume you are doing something illegal.
E. Giving items and/or money between your own characters is illegal.
If you are caught doing this in ANY way, the items/money will be
taken away. If you keep doing it, your characters will be linked
or jailed or rid.
F. Talking about "your other chars" or refering to your other chars
in a manner that tells people you are they is considered bad RP
and illegal use of OOC information. If caught you will be jailed.
This also applies to talking about other people's characters in an
OOC sense.
G. The implication of these rules is that your characters can not know
of each other. They can never have met, never have had any
interaction. This means that your characters can not have any
relation. They can not be brother and sister, husband and wife, etc.
H. All characters must have a valid email address set. If your email
address changes you should change this address. This is for three
reasons. We track characters by email. If you ever have problems
with a password, or registration and you need to email the
administration, if the email you use and your email set don't match
we will ignore the message. We on occassion have had to send mass
emails to people concerning the mud or its server.
4: Quests
A. Quests exist in many forms. We commonly term them as quests, mini
quests, random quests and avatar quests. They are all made to add
more structure to the adventuring lives of the characters. Many
people have had lots of fun figuring out quests. This is what we
are striving for in the quests.
B. Giving out quest information is illegal. This means telling
someone how to do a quest as well as walking them through it
when you already know how to do the quest. People partying to
to do a quest for the first time is fine. There are also areas
that are considered "quest-like" - this basically means there
is some trick to getting out. Telling someone how to get through
one of these areas will be treated the same as a true quest.
If you are caught giving out quest information, you will be
warned once and then rid.
C. You may not lead people through quest areas. If you are providing
(hired mercenary) to people adventuring through quest areas you may
not provide any information about the quest or specials. You will
have to absorb the effects of the other character's decisions. This
protection must remain at a reasonable level. If the character has
no chance of surviving on his/her own and is staying alive solely by
your presence this would also be considered breaking the quest rules.
5: Inter player relations/inter character relations
A. As an environment of people from across the global coming together
to play as other beings in another world. There are obviously
some interaction problems that arise. As already stated, there
should be no OOG interactions here. However, RL personalities
may clash over IG (In game) issues. Typically we should all act as
adults and treat the others as such until they prove to be
otherwise.
B As characters, interactions should be based solely upon role playing
reasons. OOG problems should not drive the actions of your
character, nor should OOG concerns or relations. The paladin should
not allow his RL girlfriend the antipaladin to slay small children
without recourse, just because they are in a relationship.
C. Multikilling is illegal. If you kill someone who has recently
died (and has not had a chance to re-equip) without provocation,
that is multikilling. If the recently deceased comes back and
attacks you and you kill him or her, that is not multikilling.
If you are caught multikilling, you will be jailed or rid.
Please note that if a person is reequiped or appears to be
reequipped but not in sufficient situation to be considered
"back in game" then that person is still off limits. The accepted
time limit is 20 to 30 minutes after gaining back some measure of
equipment. That time limit, however, is not a point at which you
may simply kill them again. Just use some sense and think about
how you are after you've died.
D. When you are under multi-killing protection you should simply
attempt to re-equip and make yourself ready to re-enter the game.
This is considered an OOC time. You should not RP during this time.
RPing during this time would be considered back in game. Multi-kill
protection is also not a shield through which you can loot, swear,
insult. If you do any of this, then your multi-kill protection is
lifted.
E. Swearing at or directly abusing someone over a public line is
illegal. Excessive references to real life over public lines
is bad roleplaying. Your lines will be removed at the discretion
of any wiz online. They may or may not be returned, also at the
discretion of a wiz. If you have a problem with lines, mail
law and they will make a decision.
F. Harrassing someone in any situation is illegal. What we
consider harrassment is the unwanted inclusion of real life in
the mud or the mud in real life. If you are 'bothered' in
character, then respond in character. If you feel that it is
beyond the game, then please contact a wiz.
G. Female characters are not entitled to help any more than male
characters. A player should neither seek nor be given help simply
because she is female.
H. Much of the fun of the game is adventuring and discovering the MUD.
Part of this fun is ruined when people are given things and secrets.
Proliferation of equipment to those that cannot get it, is frowned
upon highly, and if you do it often, you will be punished,
especially equipment given to newbies and low mids. Any equipment
sold should be at a steep price. Penalties include the standards of
jail and rid for multiple offenders, and desting of equipment given,
and what could be seen as intended to give.
6: General Conduct
A. There are some common sense things that apply to any game. When
playing a game of Monopoly, there is not a rule stating "Don't rob
the bank" yet clearly that is not allowed. The game has a spirit about
it and if you work against that spirit regardless of a direct
reference to that action in the rules you are in fact breaking the
rules.
B. You may have noticed, there was no lawyer class available. Reciting
rules to the immortals and especially to LAW, will create far more
ill will then anything else. I would highly advise NOT trying to play
a lawyer.
C. Scripts and triggers are illegal. If you are caught using them,
you will be warned once, then rid if you continue.
D. Using emotes to "talk" is illegal. If you wish to customize your
speech pattern use speech. You will have your emotes taken away
if you use emotes to talk. Emotes are for physical descriptios.
You look at bob in wonder.
You sigh quickly toward wilber.
E. Using the lines, or information heard on the lines, for IC actions
or interactions is not allowed. typically your lines will simply
be removed. If you continue to abuse the lines, we will interpret
this as a refusal to play the game as intended and simply remove
you.
F. Shouting has a warning when you use it, and you should read it
sometime if you do use it. It is not necessary to shout unless
it is an emergency. Wizes who are online usually listen to the
lines, try asking for help there first. If you get no response,
try typing who and tell a visible wiz if you need help rather
than shouting. Remember, when you ask for help and are invisible,
a wiz has no idea who you are.
G. Logging out at the 2 minute warning is expected of all characters
who are in a position to log out. This means people who are not in
combat and not in an area of risk of logging into combat. If you do
not follow the large yellow warning you risk potential punishment
and/or loss of equipment.
7: Bugs
A. Bugs and features are a common source of problems. Bugs fall into
two major catagories, things that are broken, (true bugs) or
features that interact with other features in an unrealized or
unforeseen manner. Some MUDs spend (literally) years testing and
retesting areas, functionality etc, trying to track down the bugs.
We on ShadowGate feel that we serve the MUD better by doing the
basic testing and play testing, and then allowing the populace
to play in the area. We improve the MUD at a greater rate and we
can let the player base help us shape things as we go more effectly.
This, however, can create situations where things are broken, both
for the benefit and detriment of the player. This will also
introduce functionality that may conflict with other functionality.
We expect players to always report these situations.
B. Exploiting bugs is illegal. If you think you are getting
something too easily, then you probably are and it is most
likely a bug. If you are not sure, ask a wiz. If you are
caught exploiting a bug, you will be jailed and whatever you
have gained illegally will be taken away. If you continue,
you will be rid.
ShadowGate's Interpretation of Role-playing.
Role Playing is the total assumption of a role separate from
that of your own. This implies that you become the person you are
playing. This entails when entering the virtual world of ShadowGate
you become totally the character you are playing, assuming that
characters attributes including intelligence, age, etc. You should
also completely leave the real world behind. Forget who you are IRL
and become Conan or Grimsaddle or Fletch. Conversely, when you log
out of the MUD you should leave it behind. Don't take the mud to RL
just as you don't take RL to the MUD. Two different worlds, two
different people.
When Rolling your character you are given ample opportunity to affect
attributes of the character. When a character is completed we assume
that you will take on all the attributes you have. For example, if Fletch
the archer rolled a 3 charisma, we expect that his description and
personality should reflect this (note we don't use comeliness so charisma
encompasses appearance). We have age, weight, height here. All these things
should be considered when RPing.
Alignment is an important part of your character. When you choose an
alignment on ShadowGate, you are declaring the way your character
thinks morally and politically. It declares the nature of your
thought and actions upto the point of your creation (note that you could
have had 8 to 500 years of life before entering the realms of adventure)
Alignments should guide your character's thoughts. It should guide
your character's actions. This isn't to say that a Evil person can't
do something good, but the reason for doing that good should be clear.
Interactions on SG are what make the RP. Your interactions should be
driven by your personality. Remember to leave RL in RL, assume the
other person will do the same. Interactions are real to THIS world.
That means that any type of interaction possible in the REAL world
could theoretically be done in THIS world. When interacting with
people, remember its your character and their character. There is
no connection to the real world and your person.
Interactions of any sort that are within the bounds of RP are legal.
However, some may make people feel uncomfortable and take the fun of
the game away. That person can at that point, through any means
necessary, make a statement along the lines of "OOC I am not comfortable
with this". The other person/people involved should at this point
STOP, immediately and forthwith. Any actions that are being taken
can then be assumed to have been completed and everyone can RP
from that point, or the line of RP can be dropped entirely. If you
do not STOP at this point, this is would be considered a violation
of the Role-playing standards. You would be subject to multiple forms
of punishment. If someone does not stop please send the complaint
with log to an administrator. Note, this is a situation that
quitting out is acceptable.
Please note that using OOC information or actions is also a violation
of the RP standards. For example, using an outside chat method to
communicate with a fellow mudder, using quit to escape from a legit
RP situation.
We truly feel that fun is achieved when you play a single character
to the maximum of the mud's capabilities. The more the mud becomes
a community the more the mud will feel real and the more fun it
will be. All your MUD experiences should shape your character.
This means playing through bad ones as well as good ones. If
you were to RP yourself into a bad situation and then give up
on the character, what have you accomplished? How will your
character grow?
Finally, we are always looking for ways to improve the role play
on the mud. Always feel free to main constructive suggestions to
the immortals
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