Server rules change

[Igiss]

I'm changing official server rules. Full version available here:
http://discoverygc.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=48

I'll just point out the things I'm changing.

1) PvP

I won't include SB/NB point into rules, when 79.4 is released you'll understand why.

Only thing I'm adding is

1.5 During a PvP combat player who was killed 3 times should leave the fight, unless sides specify another limit of deaths before the combat begins. Sides should specify goals of the fight and time when it begins (and ends).

1.6 Self-killing with a Nova-type weapon or any other weapon is counted as a normal PvP death.

2) Factions

Territory no longer exists, if someone missed the news. Accordingly,

2.5 Each faction that affiliated itself with an NPC faction has a right to own a home system. Any system that does not belong to another faction and contains at least one base of appropriate NPC faction can be declared home. Home system must be approved by server administrators.

2.6 Systems that surround home system are considered an influence zone. No borders or exact systems that belong to influence zone may be specified.

In case of war, borders of influence zone may be specified to determine systems where battles will take place. War rules will be specified later.

2.7 Taxation of players below level 40, as well as players from friendly factions, is prohibited. Taxation is allowed only in home system. Factions have no right to restrict access to their home system or surrounding systems, except cases of war.

This might seem doubtful, but I'll try to explain.

For some reason, territory feature caused much trouble. Freelancer is a free game, and systems cannot be private property with restriced access. Therefore, influence zone is now a zone, not list of systems. This zone might be in systems where appropriate NPC faction has bases, or has patrols, or simply in systems that are close to home.

Zone might have some impact on roleplaying, but there are no obligations. You cannot restrict access to anywhere unless there's a war, and you cannot tax anywhere except in home system of your faction.

Only case when zone might be important is a war between factions. For example - by conquering zone systems, one faction might get closer to other faction's home system and finally conquer home; then defeated faction will have a chance to claim a new home and regain previous home. If faction cannot regain previous home after certain time, it loses everything. That's just a suggestion, not included into rules.

3) Cheating. A whole new section.

3.1 Following actions are considered cheating on server:

- Using non-Discovery mods, Speed Mod for example;
- Changing account information and using any kinds of software that changes normal gameplay;
- Using any equipment not included for sale/looting in Discovery mod, cloaks for example;
- Using F1 in any PvP combat;
- Using equipment that exceeds ship specs.

3.2 Server administrators impose sanctions on cheaters depending on consequences.

Punishment for using speed mod (first time) will be no less than ban for 15 days. Punishment for using F1 (first time) will be no less than 80% credit fine or ban for 3 days. Players who have been spotted cheating for 3 and more times will be banned forever.

4) Admininstrators' rights and duties - also a new section.

4.1 Server administrators have a right to impose sanctions on players for violating of server rules and for any actions that harm server gameplay.

Proof of server rules violation include screenshots, evidence of players and administrators themselves. False evidence is prohibited and will be punished with at least 1 month ban.

4.2 Possible sanctions are:

- Warning on forums and in-game;
- Removal of certain equipment from player ship;
- Removal of credits from character;
- Deleting character;
- Banning account;
- Combination of two or more mentioned above.

4.3 Administrators have a right (in addition to stated in 4.1):

- To close server for maintainance without prior warning;
- To interfere in server events and wars in cases of server rules violation;
- To approve or disapprove system claims of factions;
- To make final decisions about terms of wars (taking into account opinions of all sides of conflict);
- To give out certain administrator privileges to other people.

4.4 Administrators are obliged:

- To ensure stable work of Discovery Freelancer server;
- To be fair and treat all players equally, independent of their level and faction alignment;
- Not to mix server roleplaying with server administration in any way;
- Not to ignore any cases of server rules violation that are reported;
- To make decisions about system claims and wars (as stated in 4.3) in reasonable time.

Waiting for your comments on all this. I'm ready to change most things if you can convince me it's needed.

[Fellow Hoodlum]

Igiss, I for one agree with the rules as stated. When it comes to the server someone
has to have the responsibility of setting them, or we would have anarchy.
Its your mod and server as such so I think we all have to play by your rules, or if we
don't like them, go elsewhere.
Rules are not only to keep us in line but also for our protection from less law abiding
people. So think carefully all, before arguing points that will favour just you.

Hoodlum :)

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Some say he is a proud member of: "The most paranoid group of people in the Community."

[Igiss]

I hope that no one here will be lobbying something for himself or for his/her own faction. However I'm still expecting that there will be some argument that will allow to improve what I've written.

Many members here suggested valuable rules-related ideas during the recent months, so I'm sure that there will be useful suggestions this time. Besides, I also make mistakes sometimes that need to be corrected.

[Fellow Hoodlum]

Sorry that was a bit harsh wasn't it... there are lots of people here with genuinely
good ideas. I look forward to reading them.

Hoodlum :$

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Some say he is a proud member of: "The most paranoid group of people in the Community."

[Nightfall]

OOOK!

I looked at the COMPLETE set of rules and IMO, we should have IGNORANCE IS NOT AN EXCUSE as the last one not that it's necesary as such... but just to be on the safe side. Actualy it should be in the Console greeting message along with the PvP rules and the "read the COMPLETE set of rules on www.discoverygc.com forum" message. I mean, people tend to play they don't know stuff (as when a cop stops you for speeding, 70% of the answers are "I wasn't aware of the speed limit").

Otherwise, It's basically the rules we agreed on earlier in the Rules of Engagement topic.

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If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God? - from 'Nightfall' by I. Asimov
The Outcasts consider Siniestre Nube a sacred place for several reasons. Early explorers discovered a jumphole within the depths of the cloud that leads to a strange world of ringed stars and strange craft. All ships in the burrial ground are placed facing that hole to honor the Alien Spirits. - An Outcast rumor

[Kane]

Just so we don't get arguments over this one point and for clarifacation...

Exactly what does "Using equipment that exceeds ship specs" mean?

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This is the real true story of rock and roll; it was not about anything more then, how to live your life, as a gangster, in sartorial splendor, and turning the world into a place where normality would never return again...- Malcolm McLaren

[Dab]

Well an example would be the slipstream I hadn't used since whenever. Since there had been updates to it my stuff was still exactly the same... Meaning I had a nova torpedo in my cruise disrupter slot. That would be using equipment that does not meet ship specs...


BTW I have bought a new fighter so I no longer have the strongest slipstream in the galaxy... Its been fixed :)

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[Nightfall]

Another idea I get is BATTLESHIP shields on a GUNBOAT or FREIGHTER

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If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God? - from 'Nightfall' by I. Asimov
The Outcasts consider Siniestre Nube a sacred place for several reasons. Early explorers discovered a jumphole within the depths of the cloud that leads to a strange world of ringed stars and strange craft. All ships in the burrial ground are placed facing that hole to honor the Alien Spirits. - An Outcast rumor

[Dab]

Yeah. BS shields should be restricted to battleships only. Cruiser shields should be only on cruisers.

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[Virus]

Decided to erm.... Remove this from general public.... No, I wasn't being bad. :P

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