Discovery RP Rules

This page can be edited only by rules author (Igiss). Any unauthorized modifications will be reverted.

1. General Terms & Conditions

1.1 Discovery Freelancer 24/7 RP (Discovery RP) is a roleplaying server running Discovery modification.

Server administrators are:

• Igiss (mod creator)
• Majkp (server owner)
• Korrd (server admin)
• Caylith (server admin)
• Kane (server admin)
• Fellow Hoodlum (server admin)
• AC_Merc (server admin)
• Xoria (server admin)
• Virus (server admin)
• Del (server admin)
• Vero (server admin)
• Kuraine (server admin)
• Laowai (server admin)

All players of Discovery RP server must follow the Rules listed below. Not knowing the rules does not relieve any player from responsibility.

All players should register at Discovery forums; it is recommended that players visit this board regularly to know the latest news and updates.

1.2 Server administrators will impose sanctions on players for violating server rules and for any actions that harm server gameplay.

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

1.3 Administrators are obliged:

• To ensure 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 violations that are reported.

1.4 Administrators have a right (in addition to stated in 1.2):

• To close server for maintainance with or without prior warning;
• To interfere in server events and wars in cases of server rules violations;
• 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.

1.5 Possible sanctions are:

• Removal of certain equipment from player ship (equipment fine);
• Removal of credits from character, % or fixed sum (credit fine);
• Placing inside a prison system;
• Deleting character;
• Banning account on forums and/or in-game.
• Banning IPs.

1.6 Player who is violating a server rule can be warned in the game or on forums. If the player does not ignore the warning, does not repeat the violation, and tries to reduce the negative consequences of what he/she did, this player would not be sanctioned.

Warning is optional. In case of a violation, especially a serious one, sanction can be applied straightaway.

2. Cheating & Hacking

2.1 Following actions are considered cheating on server:

- Using non-Discovery mods, speed-related and loot-related mods especially, as well as using modifications that improve stats of items and ships; - 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 equipment that exceeds ship specs; - Cloning, e.g. creating new characters to collect starting money.

Keep in mind that maximum allowed cruise speed in Discovery is 350, with higher speed possible only when catching up with a group.

2.2 Sanction for cheating may range from 60-day, to eternal ban.

Punishment for using speed mod (first time) will be no less than a ban for 60 days. Players who have been spotted cheating twice or more, will be banned forever.

2.3 Attempts to hack server, both successful and unsuccessful, will result in banning server account forever, as well as blocking access to server and to forums.

Hacking is: gaining unauthorized access to PC where server is running, modifying server resources, violating normal operations of server software and hardware in any other way.

2.4 Threats of hacking will be punished with immediate and eternal ban from server and forums.

3. Rules of conduct

3.1 Using coarse language, posting abusive, hateful, racist content in chat, public or private, is prohibited under any circumstances.

Sanction: no less than 7-day ban.

3.2 Flaming, threats and insulting (in any form) other members, factions, server administrators in chat, public or private, is prohibited on server and on forums. RP-related threats are allowed on the server.

Sanction: no less than 14-day ban.

3.3 All messages in chat must be in understandable English, unless the chat is private and both members know the language being used.

3.4 Out-of-character (OOC) chat should not be used for system chat. Using out-of character in roleplaying chat should be marked with "OOC".

3.5 Attempts to pose as admins, threatening players with sanctions, attempts to interpret rules are not allowed. Applying to admin's name without prior consent of the admin is not allowed.

3.6 Character name on server should not consist of random symbols or contain any abusive content. Remember that Discovery is a role-playing server; choose your name accordingly. Sanction: changing the name if character owner specifies the new name, or character deletion with no refund.

3.7 Using long character names (25+ symbols) is not allowed. Sanction: character deletion with no refund.

3.8 Sanctions for violating conduct rules range a credit/equipment fine to placing inside the prison system, unless specified otherwise in the appropriate rule. Sanctions for violating rules of conduct (other than 3.1 and 3.2) can be used only after the player was warned about the violation, but ignored the warning.

4. Faction Rules

4.1 The same character is not allowed to join more than 1 faction. Characters from one account can join different factions freely, unless faction policy specifies another rule for this, but no more than 2 system-owning factions at one time.

4.2 All rules and regulations concerning faction creation procedure and home system claiming are listed in this thread: Faction Creation Rules.

4.3 Factions are free to restrict or not restrict access to their home systems and tax players who enter home system. Access to systems that surround home system must not be restricted unless there's a war with another faction.

4.4 If a faction has only 1-4 active members, its status is changed to suspended. Suspended faction has 4 weeks to regain lost numbers, otherwise its existence comes to an end.

4.5 Administrators reserve the right to limit recruiting for certain factions for a certain period of time to keep server factions balanced.

4.6 Remember that Discovery is a roleplaying server. Factions and faction members (just like all other players) are obliged to act in the way their reputation and status require. Factions are expected to set an example in role-play.

4.7 Sanctions for violating faction rules by one player range from a warning to a credit/equipment fine and placing inside the prison system. Sanctions for out-of-RP behaviour in-game depends on amount of other server rules violated, including OOC chat rules, PvP engagement rules, ID rules, and others. Sanctions for out-of-RP behaviour include a credit/equipment fine and placing inside the prison system, as well as ban if accompanied by more serious violations.

4.8 Sanctions for violating faction rules, including out-of-RP behaviour, may be applied to the whole faction as well as a certain player. This may happen if a large part of the faction is violating the rules specified, and if the leader(s) of the faction endorse the violations committed by players, ignore the warnings and do not attempt to improve the situation, or violate rules themselves. Sanctions for a faction include credit/equipment fine and placing inside the prison system for all characters or part of characters belonging to a faction.

5. General PvP Rules

5.1 PvP in Connecticut is freely allowed. No PvP or RP engagement rules apply, unless there is an event or a duel. In this system, players are not obliged to roleplay.

5.2 If a player is attacked*, he has a right to defend himself regardless of who is attacking. There are no restrictions for self-defense.

5.3 Attacking characters of level 29 and below is prohibited. Characters under level 30 cannot be attacked by players of any level, except if they have non-Civilian ID onboard, and except cases of self-defense.

5.4 Intentional ramming of capital ships (gunboat-class or larger) by fighters and other capital ships is not allowed in PvP combat, as well as in any other situations.

5.5 Dock-killing when player is undocking/launching from a planet/base is not allowed.

5.6 If a player engages cruise engine or docks during a PvP fight, this player is considered fleeing. The fleeing player must leave and may not re-enter the system where the fight took place with any of the characters on his/her account(s) while the enemy (player or players involved in the fight) remains in the system, but no more than 4 hours.

However, the fleeing player can re-engage at will if chased.

5.7 A player who was killed in a PvP fight must not enter the system where the fight took place with any of the characters on his/her account(s) while the enemy (player or players involved in the fight) remains in the system, but no more than 4 hours.

If the player respawns in the same system, he/she must leave the system without engaging. Other players are not allowed to attack one who is leaving.

5.8 A player who was killed in a PvP fight must not re-engage the enemy (player or players involved in the death) with any of the characters on his/her account(s) for 4 hours.

5.9 After a death in a PvP fight, players should switch to other characters (preferably with different role-playing status) for no less than 4 hours.

5.10 Self-killing during a PvP fight is counted as a normal PvP death.

5.11 Using F1 in a PvP fight, as well as in any other situations that involve player interactions, is not allowed.

5.12 Sanctions for violationg PvP rules include a credit/equipment fine (no less than 50 million credits), placing character inside the prison system, banning up to 7 days.

• For purposes of these Rules, an attack is draining shields to 50% or lower, or hull damage, or when a Cruise Disruptor is fired. Intentional ramming of any large ship is also considered an attack.

6. ID and role-playing engagement rules

6.1 Every player must have an ID equipped on his or her ship. Players under level 40 might use Civilian IDs (basic IDs sold on every station), characters who reach level 40 must choose an NPC faction to ally and get the ID of this faction, or get a generic ID.

6.2 Out of Roleplay (OORP): In-game tag seen before the name must match the ID as closely as possible. It is not allowed to have the tag not match ID category. For example, it is prohibited to have 'Police' tag and 'Pirate' ID.

Equipment used must match tag and ID as closely as possible. For example, it is not allowed for Corsairs to use Outcast ships and guns.

6.3 Carrying any unmounted IDs in player ship is prohibited. Transferring or trading IDs is also prohibited. This rule applies to everyone, including faction leaders and server administrators.

6.4 To join any server faction, player must get ID of this faction. Players that have the Civilian ID cannot become full members of any server faction.

6.5 Buying an ID does not automatically mean that player becomes part of appropriate player faction.

6.6 PvP combat is allowed only on roleplay basis. The pilot who is attacking must scan for an ID prior to the attack. Relying on general reputation status (red/neutral/green) without scanning for the ID is not allowed.

Non-RP attacks are considered PvP abuse and are sanctioned accordingly.

6.7 All PvP/RP rules listed below in section 6 are void in the following situations:

• Self-defense - level 30 limit is not active;
• Attacker and defender belong to two NPC factions that are at war (Kusari vs Bretonia, Outcasts vs Corsairs, House vs local pirates) - level 30 limit is active;
• Attacker and defender belong to two server factions that are at war (officially declared) - level 30 limit is active.
• In systems belonging to server factions and in Connecticut - level 30 limit is not active;

6.8 Civilian ID that is given to beginning players allows them to attack:

• For players below level 30: players of similar level below level 30, or any players above level 30.
• For players between level 30 and 39: any players of level 30 and above.
• For players of level 40 and higher: using Civilian ID is illegal, no PvP allowed.

6.9 Generic IDs (Military ID, Freelancer ID, Pirate ID, Trader ID, Smuggler ID) indicate characters that did not join an NPC faction, but still maintain appropriate reputation with those factions, and appropriate faction tag, if any tag is available.

All rules that apply to ID types apply to generic IDs as well. Trader and Smuggler IDs are considered Trader IDs. All generic ID owners are not allowed to use cruisers and battleships.

6.10 Neutral ID indicates peaceful characters that are not allowed to attack others (except when defending themselves), cannot use transports and capital ships, join or ally with any factions. Neutral ID owners must not be attacked by anyone, including the terrorists.

Neutral ID is granted to players only by server administrators. Neutral ID can be revoked by administrator decision.

6.11 Terrorist ID is is granted to players only by server administrators. Terrorist ID can be revoked by administrator decision.

6.12 Following types of IDs can be used for PvP combat after reaching level 40:

• Military/Police IDs
• Bounty Hunter/Mercenary/Freelancer IDs
• Trader IDs
• Pirate IDs
• Terrorist IDs

6.13 Owners of all IDs can attack:

• Terrorists

6.14 Owners of Military/Police IDs have a right to attack:

• Pirates
• Traders ships carrying smuggled goods and refusing to drop them

6.15 Owners of Bounty Hunter/Mercenary/Freelancer IDs have a right to attack:

• Pirates
• Traders ships carrying smuggled goods and refusing to drop them
• (not for FL ID) Lawful and unlawful players with a bounty on their heads

6.16 Owners of Trader IDs have a right to attack:

- Pirates

6.17 Owners of Pirate IDs have a right to attack:

• Military/Police
• Bounty Hunters
• Trader ships that do not pay for passage
• Unfriendly pirates

6.18 Owners of Terrorist IDs have a right to attack:

• Trader ships that do not pay for passage
• Everyone else

6.19 Pirates and terrorists have a right to deal as much damage as they see fit before or after demanding money from a trader ship, but killing trader ship before demanding money or cargo is not allowed. Attacking traders or demanding cargo is not allowed for cruisers and battleships, unless cruisers and battleship belong to Terrorist ID or Phantom ID owner.

6.20 For purposes of the server rules, the following ship classes are defined:

• all light fighters, heavy fighters, very heavy fighters, super heavy fighters, and bombers are considered fighters;
• trader ships with cargo hold less than 500 units are considered freighters;
• trader ships with cargo hold more than 500 units, including liners, are considered transports;
• gunboats, cruisers (including destroyers and battlecruisers), battleships (including dreadnoughts) are considered capital ships.

6.21 Every player who flies a battleship must have the Battleship License item mounted. The License replaces ship's scanner and can be purchased from every planet and base that sells battleships for 250 million credits.

The number of licenses (and battleships) is limited to one per all accounts belonging to any player.

6.22 Sanctions for violating ID rules and RP engagement rules are: credit/equipment fine, placing inside the prison system, ban for up to 30 days. Player may be warned for using inappropriate ID for a short period of time, and sanctions will not apply if the ID status will be fixed as soon as possible by the player him/herself.

6.23 Criminal ID is a special sanction used for ID usage violators. Criminal ID disables tractor beam; it is prohibited to unequip it or replace it with any other ID without server administrator permission.

7. Equipment & Cargo Rules

7.1 Each character is allowed to carry no more than 99 items in the cargo hold. Multiple stackable commodities and ammo count as one item. Violation will result in removing items from hold (all excess items or all items without exception).

7.2 Each character is allowed to carry no more than 20 same non-stackable items in the cargo hold. Violation will result in removing excess items from hold.

7.3 When ship stats are changed, players are obliged to unequip all items that don't suit new stats as soon as possible. Carrying items that outclass the ship is considered cheating and will be treated accordingly.

7.4 Money transfers and trade operations that result in getting 1,900,000,000 credits (total) or more are prohibited. Having more than 1,900,000,000 credits will lead to character file corruption and unavoidable character/account deletion without any compensation.

7.5 Sanctions for violating equipment and cargo rules is an equipment/credit fine. If the offense is repeated, and player significantly exceeds the limits, ban up to 30 days can be imposed.