Part Two: Out Of Character Rules

The staff of Requiem and Darkened Realm Studios has adopted a set of core values and guidelines that players and members of the Requiem community are expected to adhere to when interacting with the player base and the staff. Be it through forum, chat or in-game mediums, we the staff of Requiem expect our players to read and understand the following “code of conduct” and general community guidelines when becoming a part of Requiem.

1. Have Fun

Above all things, Requiem was established to promote fun and role-playing enjoyment. The founding members and leaders of this community realized that above all other things, the reason people wanted to be here was to have fun. In all things Requiem does, having fun is and should be the root result of all our efforts. If you’re not having fun, then Requiem shouldn’t be your choice of shard!

2. Maturity

Being fun does not equate to being immature or disrespectful. This is not a child’s playground, but a game-player’s community dedicated to having fun and enjoying the community in which all people can have a good time. To ensure people are having fun requires a certain level of maturity from its both players and staff alike.

Maturity is a wide-encompassing aspect of the OOC guidelines to Requiem. The world of Eden and the game world of Requiem were made with the adult gamer in mind; hence, players are expected to behave with the respect and demeanor of an adult. mIRC comments, forum posts, and even OOC comments in the game world all rely upon maturity. Being mature implies a willingness to work with those that a person may disagree with or view things differently than, and either work towards a solution or agree to disagree and peaceably move forward over time.

3. Respect

Respect for both fellow players and the staff is essential in order for this community to thrive. It is an all too frequently forgotten fact that the staff of any player-ran shard assumes their roles without pay, compensation or even that much praise. Our talented staff works hard to assure that Requiem is a fun and entertaining experience, and while we work hard to take player suggestions into consideration, we ourselves have ideas and visions for the game world that we seek to realize and achieve. Do not demand or expect that the staff of Requiem is here to cater to your every desire or suggestion; we are volunteers whom do this out of a love for storytelling. Do not attribute to ruining our desire to be a part of this community.

Likewise, your fellow player also has dreams and aspirations for their characters. Respect for your fellow player and how they handle their character in the game world is essential, and reflecting such respect through OOC means such as the mIRC room and forums leads to a strong and thriving community.

4. Responsibility

Responsibility is a wide encompassing virtue which many people fail to perceive fully. Most understand and recognize that responsibility means doing the things you are supposed to (or those that you say you are going to do). Where most people overlook responsibility is in ensuring they don’t do the things they are not supposed to do. Be responsible for your actions and communications within the community and to those you interact. As a member of Requiem Shard, you are no longer representing just yourself, but the community at large. Know that what you post or type on the forums or the mIRC room reveals a lot to prospective players as to how our community is and how it operates. If you enjoy playing on our shard, then show it by conducting yourself in a responsible manner.

5. Contacting the Staff

As we've come to find out over the development of Requiem, we as staff can't be on at all times to see what everyone is doing every second of the day. Yet, this being a heavily involved RP shard it is necessary for us to know most if not all of what is going on with the shard and current individual plots to help see them through to completion if necessary. To accomplish this, we created email accounts to facilitate communication with the GM team.

The primary method of staff communication is via email.

If you need to let the entire GM team know about a plot idea you have, or would like to remind us of a plot thread that may have been left hanging by accident and doesn't necessarily relate to a single GM, or relates to one you haven't seen or heard from in a while, please email us at the following:

Requests (at) darkenedrealmstudios (dot) com

If you need to let a specific GM know about any of the above, or remind them that you still need assistance with an ongoing plot please email that GM at their email address, they are as follows:

Brass: Admin_Brass (at) darkenedrealmstudios (dot) com
Arathel: HeadGM_Arathel (at) darkenedrealmstudios (dot) com
Daggoth: Daggoth (at) darkenedrealmstudios (dot) com
Hale: GM_Hale (at) darkenedrealmstudios (dot) com
Intercessor: GM_Intercessor (at) darkenedrealmstudios (dot) com
Lerdio: GM_Lerdio (at) darkenedrealmstudios (dot) com
Marl: GM_Marl (at) darkenedrealmstudios (dot) com
Satsuna: GM_Satsuna (at) darkenedrealmstudios (dot) com
Taft: GM_Taft (at) darkenedrealmstudios (dot) com
Zoria: GM_Zoria (at) darkenedrealmstudios (dot) com

The second way to contact us if your question or concern does not require privacy is making use of the Community Interaction board, located on the Requiem Forums. This board is used for everything from Questions and Answers, to quest submissions and more.

Requiem Community Code of Conduct

Requiem Shard is the proud of the success of many years of development and community support. To ensure continued success, the staff of Requiem is posting these guidelines so that all community members understand what is considered unacceptable behavior, and how we as staff can and will react to it.

• Show respect at all times. Help build Requiem community. The success of our game world depends upon the quality posts and mIRC communications of our participants. Those who choose to be disrespectful towards other players or staff in mIRC or on the forums will be banned from using those mediums.

• Be responsible. The staff of Requiem understands that what we play are just games and the shard is a break from everyday life, but we expect all of our members to be responsible none the less.

• Agree to disagree. Requiem is a global community, and we all share unique perspectives on various situations. Your perspective may not always be agreed upon, but do not let it deter you from having fun.

• Posting racist or discriminating remarks, threats to cause physical or mental harm, pornography or any material that breaks any law or otherwise totally unacceptable posts or links to pages that contain the aforementioned material will result in an immediate ban from the shard and the community.

• Demanding or abusing staff members through forum or chat room communications leads to staff frustration and burn out. If you have a question or concern about an in-game situation, use the email addresses provided above, or make use of the Community Interaction board on the forums.

• Trolling is prohibited. Trolling is whenever someone clearly and deliberately posts in a manner for the purpose of angering and/or insulting the other participants of the board. This specifically means any text/post that is blatantly attacking a person or persons on or off the forum, especially in a personal manner. This also includes flaming. Trolling and flaming will result in a ban from the medium the attack took place within.

• If you are aware of any misuse, inappropriate posts, flames or any misbehavior within the community that threatens an individual or the staff, please contact any Administrator or GM via Private Message. They will research the issue and bring it to the attention of necessary personnel. You can also click on the “Report Post” button, and all staff will be e-mailed instantly with and alert to check the boards.

Requiem Three Strikes Policy

The staff of Requiem have agreed that a new disciplinary structure is needed to keep the peace both in-game and on the forums. As a result, the staff reserves the right to mark any action frowned upon as a strike. A strike goes on the "Permanent Record" or “Character Tab” of every member of the shard; there is no way to remove strikes through argument or persuasion. Once a decision has been made, the strike says. Strikes are removed over time with good behavior on the offender's part, and an administrative review every so often.

Don't think that because you are given three strikes before formal action is taken that you are allowed to run wild. The staff will decide on a case-by-case basis if action needs to be taken on strike one. However, one rule remains universal - On strike three, you're out. All it takes is three strikes to make the Requiem blacklist permanently, without restitution. There is no limit to the range of actions that can be worthy of a strike.

Most of the time, a fair warning will be given before such strikes are issued, but the staff also reserves the right to issue strikes or perma-ban without warning, but with due cause. Continuously pestering administrators or staff members about removing strikes will only result in time being extended, or the issuing of further strikes.

We want to be a welcoming community and have everybody feel comfortable with their fellow players. The three strike policy is designed to help keep our community free of troublemakers and will be used to lay down a list of what is acceptable and unacceptable for those who are unfamiliar with the rules we've carefully set down.

Disciplinary Actions Associated with Strikes

The staff of Requiem reserves the right to take disciplinary action against any member who violates its policies through the Three Strike program. Below are some, but not all, actions that could occur if a strike is placed on your record:

• Removal of special in-game privileges or awards

• Short or long-term suspension of access to the mIRC room or forums

• Permanently banned from shard

Participants in the infraction discussion are allowed to present their sides of the stories. Once presented, the staff will render a decision on what disciplinary action – if any – will be taken.

Staff members shall have the right to terminate immediately any player’s use of the forums, mIRC room and the shard if it is determined that a member has violated the policies of the shard, or otherwise breached agreements, or has engaged in conduct that staff determines in its sole discretion to be unacceptable.