Server Rules

Guidelines for a fair and enjoyable Wayfarer 14 experience

Contents

Wayfarer Rules

All rules are expected to be read, not understanding the rules is not a defence against being in breach of them.

Initial Clarifications

  • The rules will not be perfect. They are intended to communicate what is allowed and not allowed, to provide an environment of fair play for everyone.
  • Admin decisions are appealable via our Discord either publicly or privately, the aHelp is not the place to argue with an admin about a decision.
  • Rules are enforced as they are written, if there is an issue with how they are written that allows for negative behaviour they will be amended. It is expected that everyone on the server is interacting with the community and rules in good faith.
  • Admins can disregard and override any and all of these rules if they deem it in the best interest of the current round, server, and/or community at large.
  • Administrators will be held fully accountable for their actions if they exercise this privilege. Please report any instance of such.
  • LTAP (leaving to avoid punishment) by disconnecting, ignoring aHelps or otherwise will result in an appeal-only ban.

General Rules

Game Rules

Command, CGP, Outlaw Rules

Safe Zones and PvP Zones

Mental Health Statement

Keep the game at arm's length! Ensure that you maintain a healthy distance from the game. Rounds go on for multiple days, do not interfere with your physical or mental health by committing to the game so heavily. Be passionate about changes made on the server and community activity, but do not let that passion push people away.

We would always suggest talking in LOOC/SOOC with another player to let them know if you’re unhappy with something, or uncomfortable in a situation. It is expected for all players to be mature enough to stop an ongoing scene, and alter it so that those who are involved are happier. These situations can be awkward, but once resolved help build stronger communities.

It's easy to get immersed in what’s happening, invested in your characters' story and their successes. Which can lead to negative reactions on a loss, or moment of failure. We’re playing characters in a narrative, and loss, struggle and setbacks are a part of any good story.

A0: Storytelling First

As a community, we have allowances to tell a story, sometimes a story will include elements that go against the rules. In these instances, if all players are consenting to the scene, there will be no need for admin intervention.

  • You must have the OOC permission of everyone in the scene before conducting the rulebreak listed below;
  • B1.3 where your killer grants permission to remember them, B1.4, B2’s roleplaying requirements, B3, C1, C2.
  • An example of A0 in action is you and your friend are playing characters that despise each other. Have agreed beforehand that you are ‘on sight’ OOC. Spot one another and immediately start shooting each other. Although a breach of Rule B1.4, there is no need for admin intervention.
  • Another example of A0 would be you have been given OOC permission to join a round and join your friends ship whilst they are SSD. Whilst a breach of rule B3, this is permitted.
  • Without permission and agreements of all players involved, A0 is not applicable and players would be punished appropriately.

Rule A1: Sexual Content/Themes/Consent

Our server allows sexual content, and erotic matters. This comes with the caveat of being careful of the consent of those around you.

  • Keep intense scenes / shock content to subtle and whispers, and their own private scene. Do not bring the content of them outside the scene or attempt to involve the wider community in any fashion, this would be a consent breach if done.
  • Erotic Roleplay, erotic content and 18+ content are allowed, provided it is done without breaching the consent settings of other players. If in doubt ask in LOOC/SOOC before initiating anything.
  • If roleplay ever reaches a point where it has become uncomfortable, please let the other players know, and then aHelp if you need to.
  • Anyone who is found to be below the age of 18 will be immediately removed, as will those who knew they were younger than 18 without reporting it.
  • Breaches of another player's consent knowingly, or continuing a scene after being requested to stop are both rulebreaks. If you are asked to stop, do so without question. If someone continues after you’ve asked to stop, please aHelp.

Rule A2: Use English and be respectful

Wayfarer is an English-language using community;

  • Use English as your primary method of communication, you can talk in other languages briefly but avoid talking for extended periods in other languages.
  • Do not spam or advertise other servers, products, services or otherwise for ‘out of Roleplay’ content. You are permitted to advertise your roleplay shop, services and so forth in character.
  • Using any OOC channel (OOC/LOOC/SOOC/Ghost chat) to denigrate another players’ ingame conduct in any way is forbidden.
  • We have a Zero Tolerance policy for any intentional slurs, hate speech, bigotry, racism, sexism or ableism. Any terms that use real or implied mental or physical disabilities to mock or denigrate players or their characters are prohibited. Unintentional incidents will be handled with more care. Repeated incidents will be looked upon worse.
  • If you witness someone performing any of the above, please aHelp immediately and ask that they stop. If you do not receive a response from an admin, and they continue, you may engage the person lethally to kill them until an admin responds.

Rule A3: Do not utilize exploits

Do not exploit the game, use cheats or macros, this includes but is not limited to;

  • Any third party applications/scripts/client modifications.
  • Any software being used to gain an advantage or avoid game mechanics.
  • Any attempts to harm the server infrastructure.
  • The abuse of any known or unknown glitches, exploits or bugs.

Please report any exploits so that they can be removed. If you find an exploit, report it and did not abuse it, there will be no punishment.

Rule B1: Play a Realistic Character

You must roleplay a character that is believable and acts as if they are in the setting they exist in. Your character's actions, feelings and knowledge should be solely those of your character, and not your own as a player.

  • Act in character throughout the round, and focus on collaborating with others to advance the story. Whether you do something should be based on whether it makes sense for your character to do such.
  • Do not play a ‘master of everything’ character. Interact with other players, ask for assistance and negotiate as needed. It makes the world feel larger when you work with others.
  • Actions that have no regard for your character's health and safety aren’t acceptable. Act to threats made as if they are legitimate threats, don’t jump into space for a few moments just because a medbed will fix you up, do not roleplay suicide in such a way it will alert Medical Responders. Roleplaying insanity or mental illness as an excuse to bypass this is not allowed.
  • Do not annoy other players without any roleplay or IC reason to be doing so.

Rule B1.1: Following naming conventions

  • In-character names must not make obvious references nor be a play on words, and must not be obscene.
  • Do not name yourself after another players character, do not attempt to impersonate anyone.
  • Ships follow the same naming conventions, although you have greater freedom with making references and plays on words.
  • If you want to have a name that you think may not be allowed, ask an admin for clarification, they can confirm if it’s fine!

Rule B1.2: Communicate in Character

  • Communicate as your character would, and use the emotes channels to describe your character’s physical movements. This allows using the emotes channels for talking in such manners as writing in books, typing into your PDA or otherwise.
  • Avoid use of Netspeak, such that it might break immersion.
  • Do not engage in meta-communications (via Discord, OOC or other third party software) if said communication is to gain an advantage.

Rule B1.3: New life rules

Sometimes people will die, these rules aid in Outlaws not being immediately unveiled if they are attempting to keep themselves a secret.

  • If you are revived within the round, your character will struggle to remember anything beyond vague elements. “They had a laser sword” or “A large person was shooting at me”. This includes not naming your killer directly.
  • You are unaware of all things that happened whilst you were crit/dead/ghosted, and must not act upon this metaknowledge.
  • When round removed, you may join the round again with the same character, there is flexibility with how you tell this story. They could have reformed, cloned, or be from a different dimension. We would request you keep rejoining the round as the same character to a minimum.

Rule B1.4: Escalate appropriately

Have an in character justification for your actions and attacking others, the priority of the server is to roleplay and tell a story, not to win. The level of escalation allowed proportionate to the level of roleplay invested. Although this will depend upon the situation, killing vermin on your ship needs no more justification than “it was vermin on my ship.”

  • Escalate a situation appropriate as your character would, keeping in mind that space is a dangerous place and killing anyone should be a last resort.
  • Do not attack another player without a legitimate, explainable roleplay reason that could be applied in a similar, real-life scenario.
  • If a fight results in someone being critically injured, support and aid medical ships in getting to them and having them revived. If they do die, destroying or hiding the body is a bannable offence.

Rule B2: Powergaming Guidelines

Powergaming is the act of prioritising winning other sensible roleplay. Our focus here is to tell a story, part of that is being vulnerable, accepting a loss and not being good at everything. Which allows you to advance the narrative.

  • Roleplay and engage with players if they’re attempting to roleplay a combat/antagonist/hostile scene. If they’re emoting aiming a gun, or handling a hostage situation. Do not immediately attack them mechanically whilst they’re mid roleplay.
  • Leeway is given if the scene is near to a close, but all players are expected to engage with it in good faith; even if this puts you at a disadvantage.
  • Do not attempt to create an “Omniship”, keep your ship to the Departments it comes with, if it lacks something, collaborate with other ships. Talk with them to get assistance with what you need. You are permitted to get a few things within reason such as a medbed, but not create a full medbay. (This rule is intended in spirit, but is currently not fully enforced as we’re still converting to new Ship Standards)
  • Do not build ship thrusters inside of your ship. They are expected to be external to space.
  • In Zekke Sector most people are expected to be survivalists, so your character should naturally fear death.

Rule B3: SSD Characters

Characters where the player has disconnected are considered to be SSD, and there should be a culture of respect around taking care of SSD characters and not stealing from them.

  • Do not strip, steal from or take from SSD players, leave them alone and only take things off them as necessary to heal them if you have to. Then return said items.
  • Do not take anything from their ship, for any reason what-so-ever. This includes Contraband / Bounties that you may see that they have. You can remember they have it, but you do not touch or take it.
  • Exceptions to this rule are when you are acting in a way that is to preserve the life of an SSD character. Either moving them somewhere safe, restoring power to their ship, providing them with air.
  • You may move their ship if it is currently docked to a station.
  • Do not perform ANY activity with an SSD character that can in any way be perceived as erotic or sexual.

Rule B4: Rules of Escalation

following guidelines apply to both Outlaws, Wayfarers and CGP. Players should attempt their best to follow escalation within these guidelines, these rules are not intended to be followed as a step-by-step guide, but rather that you as a player should do your best to WARN then DO. We understand not all combat can perfectly follow this, but make an effort as a player to ensure both sides get a fair fight. While you have to give the other side a reasonable time to reply, if they ignore you, stonewall you or run away, you are allowed to escalate in return. Likewise, if the opposing side escalates to a certain level, you are allowed to respond in turn or at a step higher.

There are 3 important steps to escalation.

Hail/Radio/Greet the opposing side /// Example: "IFFless ship in the UIV, identify yourself" Inform verbally/brandish your intent to use either lethal or non-lethal force // Example: Someone broke into your ship, you show them your weapon and tell them to get out Use that force // Example: After warning them, the CGP didn't stop chasing you, load those cannonballs.

DO:

  • Give your opponent a chance to respond or opt out of the fight.
  • Give an actionable demand. (Eg. "Drop your wallet.", "Get out of my ship.")
  • Give some visual indicator if possible. (Eg. wielding the weapon, a "courtesy wiggle", rapid movement while in harm mode facing your opponent)
  • understand not everyone carries less than lethal weapons, and therefore cannot always start with less than lethals.
  • Make sure the force you use is proportional to the threat. Don't shoot someone just because they wronged you.

DO NOT:

  • Attack your opponent while they are typing."
  • Don't attempt to use your opponent's talking attempts to get a jump on them.

Special considerations

  • LOOC communications Sometimes you are having a hard day, or you are about to go to sleep and can't exactly fight right now. Players are within their right to lighten an engagement by communicating with the opposing party in LOOC. The usage of this will be scrutinized, using it in bad faith will be dealt with, don't expect to shoot at a CGP ship and then ask in LOOC to be let go.
  • Typing players Under no circumstance you should be initiating combat while the other side is typing, make sure your opponent is ready for the fight before you begin it.
  • Cache/Vault The cache and vault zone are a PVP allowed zone. Lethal force is autorized for all parties to use within the NFZ, this does not mean you get to wordlessly shoot people, but a simple "leave or we shoot" is more than enough. By entering the NFZ you consent to the fact you, your ship and whatever you acquired this round will be damaged or lost. Being inside the vault/cache counts as being an active combatant, expect CGP to lethal you.``
  • Combat separation and de-escalation Just because someone shot you a day ago, doesn't mean you can immediately shoot them the moment you see them. Escalation naturally cools down as the 2 affected parties separate and go their own ways. During the first 15 minutes after separating, parties may re engage at the same level of escalation as before. This means if someone shot a cannonball at you and you found them 10 minutes after, you are allowed to respond in kind

Rule C1: CGP/Command Rules

Command, CGP roles are held to a higher standard of roleplay and expectations with Escalation and Powergaming. This is due to the greater impact they will have upon a round and other players' experiences.

  • Your character must act in a manner that it is believable that they would have hired for the job.
  • Leeway is given to making deals with the opposing sides, or factions, if such deals make logical and sound sense, and are in the best interests of all involved.
  • You are required to have an understanding of GO-RP or to be in the process of learning it. If you violate or fail to follow these documents, it is appropriate so long as you are making an effort to roleplay the consequences of these actions and still acting in the ‘good interests’ of your department.
  • Your character is expected to uphold the law and maintain peace within the sector. Do not engage extensively in lawbreaking behaviour and instead do what you can to maintain peace and safety.
  • CGP are expected to intervene in criminal activity where possible and safe to do so.
  • Command / CGP are expected to stop/pause private scenes if they are required to fulfill their jobs role.

Rule C2: Outlaw Rules

Being an antagonist does not allow you to stop playing a character. Whilst engaging in this activity, you should seek to make shifts more engaging and fun, as you will be an initiator of ‘drama’ and ‘disequilibrium’ in a round. Success as an Outlaw is not measured in financial or combat, but in aiding in telling the most interesting story for everyone.

  • Outlaws are free of objectives, and can perform damage and activities to achieve their own goals they themselves set. Damage must be minimal and proportional, although through roleplay damage becomes more proportional. Example: Holding a gun to someone's face as a hostage to get everyone to pay you is acceptable, shooting everyone dead to go through their wallets is not acceptable.
  • Killing players without prior roleplay or justified reasons to is to be avoided. People who do not make an attempt at self-preservation or initiate upon you are exempt from this.
  • You should not be killing people in such a way that will result in round removal.
  • Whilst you are not expected to act antagonistic at all times, it is still encouraged to act as an antagonist throughout the round whilst roleplaying. If your intentions aren’t to play an antagonist, play non-Outlaw role.
  • Other outlaws are not necessarily your friends. There may be honour amongst thieves, but they are not defaulting to your allies. You can betray other Outlaws, but you cannot betray Perdition.
  • You are required to have a good understanding of CoH or to be in the process of learning it. If you violate or fail to follow these documents, it is appropriate so long as you are making an effort to roleplay the consequences of these actions and still acting in ‘good faith’ for storytelling purposes.
  • Do not excessively take from players that you are stealing from in the below manners;
  • Do not engage in interactions that include stealing from someone's bank accounts.
  • If a player surrenders, keep plundering to a reasonable level such as not to ruin the player's round.
  • If they fight back, and you succeed, you are free to loot as you wish, but do not loot the ship in such a manner as to remove its ability to sustain life or fly.
  • We understand that during combat systems / walls can get damaged, you do not need to repair this, but leave enough materials for ships repairs.
  • If you are concerned that anything you’re about to do is may not be allowed, please aHelp and ask for clarification.

Rule D1: Safe Zones

  • Dusk Station and 200 meters around Dusk, is a safe zone. You are not to be engaging in any PvP, griefing or other antagonistic activity within this space.
  • Medical Dispatch and Edison are lite-safe zones, and you are not to be engaging in PvP or griefing. Although you can conduct antagonistic activity in these locations.
  • The CGP Outpost is a safe zone, you cannot engage in PvP, griefing or outlaw activity, although outlaws can aHelp to request that this be lifted. This will be confirmed with CGP so that both sides can prepare.
  • Perdition is a safe zone, you cannot engage in PvP, griefing or CGP activity, although CGP can aHelp to request that this be lifted. This will be confirmed with Outlaws so that both sides can prepare.
  • Characters fleeing to a safe zone are to be disengaged, unless they are CGP fleeing to Quanteey or an Outlaw fleeing to Perdition. In which case you can pursue them and the safezone is briefly lifted for that scene.
  • Dangerous research on anomalies or artifacts are not to be done within Safe Zones or Lite-Safe Zones

Rule D2: PvP Zones

  • Vaults and Caches that spawn in with an automated No Fly Zone announcement are PvP Zones.
  • A PvP zone does not mean you can immediately initiate killing upon entering into the No Fly Zone, but that there are looser restrictions on Escalation and Roleplay requirements.
  • You are not required to get medical help for those that you fight within the PvP Zones, but you are not to block off or attack Medical coming to aid them.
  • If you are crit/killed in a PvP zone, upon recovery you are not to continue fighting and are considered defeated and should depart.

Rules sourced from the wayfarer-14 repository