Basic In-Game Rules

These rules apply to all players, regardless of their character’s race, contribution to any faction or special status on the server (administration, management etc.). Violation of any of the rules can result in a warning, out-of-character jail time, kick or ban from the server. Violators if caught can also be stripped off any special race or ranks they have acquired. All admins have been authorized to use the mentioned means to maintain a healthy environment on the server.

1. Role-Playing At All Times
   
   Players are expected to stay in character at all times. Use of public out-of-character chat should be kept to minimum in-game. In case a situation arises where further role-play is not possible because of a disagreement, players should contact an admin as soon as possible and keep their out-of-character argument away from other players who are not involved. If no admin is available, screenshots should be taken and uploaded on our forums under the complaints section so an admin can resolve the issue later.
   
   Players are encouraged to complete in-character situations before exiting the game. In case a player abandons a situation, it can be seen as a punishable offense. If a player needs to leave due to a real life situation, they should inform an administrator.
   
   
   
2. Meta-Gaming
   
   Meta-gaming refers to exchanging in-character information without any role-play or using means which are out-of-character and then continuing to role-play with the exchanged information. To expand on this rule, players are also not allowed to transfer information between their own characters unless admin approval is granted. However player characters are allowed to role-play public knowledge which they have not witnessed in-game but has been posted on the in-character section on the forums. In such situations, the player is allowed to assume that their character looked up or saw the news while they were offline. The same applies to faction information. Players in a faction are allowed to role-play about knowing certain events that occurred in their absence as long as it seems possible and a certain time has passed.
   
   Common meta-gaming examples include:
   
   
   
   • Reading the name tag of a player in-game and assuming their character knows the others character’s name while no introduction was role-played or no back story has been agreed upon.
     
   • Using voice over internet protocol (VoIP), such as Discord voice chat, to dictate events as they happen to another player who is not present in the scene.
     
   • Transfer of information via personal messaging feature in-game or on another other platform. Information can include location of a player, details of a scene and so on.
     
   • Scouting in-game for someone and providing them information via out-of-character means to inform them of any upcoming danger.
     
   • Abusing the system or script to obtain information that has not been acquired via proper role-play.
     
   
   
   The best way to avoid violation of this rule is to put yourself in your character’s shoes and assess the situation to see which channels of gaining information are possible. An example would be:
   
   
   You see a character’s name over their head. You have never met this person before and have also not heard about him from someone else.
   Ask yourself: “If I met this person in real life, would I be able to know his name by reading floating name tag above his head?”
   The answer in this case is no, hence assuming the character’s name in this scenario would be meta-gaming.
   
   
   
   
3. Power-Gaming
   
   Power-gaming is the act of performing actions in-character that are not realistic or forcing certain actions upon other players without letting the other person react. Having a heavy play-to-win attitude can also lead to power-gaming and should be avoided.
   
   Common examples of power-gaming include:
   
   
   
   • Not letting the other player react during a situation or disregarding their reactions during the role-play scene.
     
   • Not role-playing fear in situations where required. E.g. A casual character trying to fight two armed robbers on gun-point.
     
   • Role-playing abnormal strength or reflexes as a human.
     
   • Constantly trying to win in a situation no matter how impossible or unrealistic it gets.
     
   • Not role-playing injury after an accident or falling off a high building. Abnormally quick recovery for human characters would also be considered as power-gaming.
     
   
   While our server is not 100% realistic, in exceptional cases where human players will need to interact with supernatural characters, they must be aware of the boundaries set by the management. Supernatural characters are only allowed to role-play strengths and weaknesses from the lore which have been approved by server management. Human players should read briefly about these restrictions to avoid becoming a victim of power-game by a supernatural character.
   
   
   
4. Death-Matching
   
   Killing a player without an authentic reason is considered death match. Taunting or provoking players to start a fight is also forbidden unless you have a good enough reason to do so.
   
   Common examples include:
   
   
   
   • Shooting  to kill another character without any role-play.
     
   • Ramming characters with your vehicle randomly.
     
   • Constantly provoking another character to start a script fight.
     
   • Killing characters of a certain race/gender because you are role-playing a character who holds certain prejudice against a certain race/gender.
     
   
   While we do encourage unique role-play and love assisting players in creating characters that stand out, a common question asked is if it is possible to create a serial killer. For creating such characters whose actions may result in violating a certain rule, the player needs to inform the management beforehand and get their approval. Not seeking management’s approval beforehand will result in severe punishment.
   
   
   
5. In-Character Brawls and Shootouts
   
   Player characters are allowed to script fight each other as long as the following conditions are fulfilled:
   
   
   
   • There must be a solid reason to fight. Players need to make sure they do not violate the death-match rule when fighting.
     
     
   • For concealable weapons:
     Players are allowed to scroll concealable weapons. These include weapons that can be comfortably tucked in your waistline such as knives, daggers, pistols, revolvers. If the weapon is visible because of the shirt not covering the waist or so, players are encouraged to mention their character’s holstered firearm in /do or /me. While the initiating party is not required to perform a /me which shows their character reaching for their weapon, it is encouraged that you perform a /me which shows possibility of the upcoming action. E.g. Before scrolling their gun, the player can do “/me drops his cigarette” to show that their hands are now free. Once the fight has started, other involved parties can scroll their concealable weapons without any /me.
     
     
   • For non-concealable weapons:
     All players are required to do a /me stating their character has equipped the non-concealable weapon. Even during a fight, a /me is required by all parties involved, showing their character withdrawing the weapon from an authentic source. An authentic source could be a large bag or the trunk of a car. Players are NOT allowed to scroll non-concealable weapons without proper role-play in any case. Moreover players are also not allowed to hide a non-concealable weapon on their character unless properly role-played such as mentioning that the character carries a sports bag or so. Non-concealable weapons include anything that can’t be hidden easily without a container. These include assault riffles, shotguns, baseball bats or other large melee weapons.
     
     
   • Post fight all parties are required to role-play injuries based on the damage taken during the fight.
     
   
   
   
6. Bug Exploitation & Third-Party Programs
   
   Any third party program which gives a player advantage over other players or manipulates the system is strictly forbidden. Mods that enhance the visuals of your games are allowed as long as they do not get in the way of other players. Any modification which allows you to spawn vehicles, weapons or modify with your in-game statistics (cash, health etc.) are strictly forbidden.
   
   If a player finds an exploit in the system that can provide them with any sort of benefit over other players, they are expected to report it under the "Bug Reports" section immediately. Once a player comes across any bug or exploit, it is their responsibility to report it as soon as possible and they will be held responsible if any breach or exploitation is detected later on.
   
   
   
7. Adult Themes & Role-Play
   
   Grand Theft Auto V and most World of Darkness lore based games are age rated for mature audience. Hence all players must be aware that they can be exposed to adult themes during their time on the server. These themes may include:
   
   
   
   • Intense violence
     
   • Blood and gore
     
   • Sexual content
     
   • Strong language
     
   
   If a player finds something unsuitable in-game because of their age, it is their responsibility to ignore/avoid it. Minor players are allowed to step out of role-playing situations that are not suitable for their age as long as they declare it in local out-of-character chat and inform an administrator. However this rule should not be used as an excuse to pull out of situations where your character is at a disadvantage. If this is used to escape from unfavourable situations, an appropriate punishment will be issued.
   
   The server portrays the themes and lore of World of Darkness, which is infamous for showing the undesirable and dark side of the world by adding offensive themes present in the real world. While mature players are allowed to role-play these themes, some rules and regulations still apply for each category to protect players that do not want to participate in such scenarios. The rules and regulations for the themes are as following:
   
   
   
   • Blood and Gore:
     While we encourage players to role-play injuries, highly graphic explanations are not recommended as it may be unsettling for some players present on the scene. In case the need arises to explain or portray a highly graphic scene (such as in supernatural role-play), the initiating party needs to inform others in the local out-of-character chat and gain their approval. Basic description of wounds, injuries and blood is permissible.
     
     
   • Strong Language:
     Strong language is allowed during role-play in the local in-character chat. However, players should not use the in-character chat to indirectly pass racial or offensive comments to someone in real life. If a player feels that they are being indirectly targeted, they should contact an administrator or post a complaint against the offending player.
     
     
   • Sexual Themes & Content:
     Sexual themes that includes erotic role-play with other characters, promoting sexuality or adult activities such as strip clubs or prostitution are allowed. However before initiating such scenes, all parties involved need to have full consent. If the situation becomes disturbing, players are allowed to inform an admin and pull themselves out. However, similar to the minor’s rule, using this facility to get yourselves out of situations with undesirable outcomes for your characters is a punishable offense.
     
     While the server allows sexual violence, there are very strict rules for it. Scenes such as sexual assault or rape are permissible as long as they are not performed in a public place and both parties consent to it before the scene begins. Any party is allowed to pull out similar to the minor’s rule.
     
     Paedophilia or associating minors in any sexual activity or theme is strictly prohibited. The same applies for necrophilia and bestiality.
     
     
   • Offensive Role-Play:
     There are some categories which may offend some players but they play an important part in the World of Darkness lore. These themes includes cannibalism,  necromancy and so on.
     For such role-play, players need to get an administrator's approval beforehand and just before initiating the scene, the player needs to gain the out-of-character approval of all parties involved in the scene. Traditional slavery is unrealistic to role-play in a modern world setting and not allowed. Lastly if a player wants to role-play something but is afraid it may fall under the category of offensive role-play (considering it is not listed under server rules), they need to discuss their idea with an administrator.
     
     If the idea is thought to be beneficial for advancing the level of role-play of a scene, exemptions can be given considering permission has been sought from an administrator and all involved parties have given their consent. However forms of role-play that have been mentioned as strictly forbidden cannot be allowed under any circumstance.
     
   
   
   
8. Player Kill (PK) & Character Kill (CK)
   
   A Player Kill refers to death in a role-play scene, considering the character lying dead was not death-matched. After a PK, short for player kill, a character loses memory of the scene associated to their death and cannot role-play knowledge or participate in the event if it is still going on. E.g. During a shootout between two parties consisting of two characters each, if one character gets PK’ed, they may not re-join the fight again. Moreover they will also role-play being unaware of the event at all. In bigger scenarios such as a faction war, characters that get killed should no longer participate in the war or even role-play knowledge of it. Violating either will result in the player meta-gaming or revenge killing which are both punishable offenses. Other parties still involved in the event may consider the player “away” until a conclusion is reached. In such scenarios, the character who killed should also understand that their victim is now “removed” for the rest of the event. If they kill the other character again, it will count as death-match and they will be punished accordingly.
   
   Character Kill is similar to a Player Kill but once done, a player can no longer role-play with that character. Characters that have been CK’ed, short for character killed, will be locked by an infinite out-of-character jail time or ban by an administrator. Players then can have the option to either name change that character and keep its statistics (money, property etc.) on the new one, or simply register a second character and start from scratch. Some of the ways a character can be permanently removed from the world are as following:
   
   
   
   • A player chooses to kill their character via suicide. Note that committing suicide to get yourself out of a role-play situation will automatically CK your character.
     
   • A player from an official faction (A) tries to kill one of their own (B), CK’ing them. If investigated by role-play and killed by a member of the same faction, (A) will also be CK’ed upon death. Faction leaders should be informed by the initiating players and admins should be informed by the faction leaders beforehand. Otherwise faction leaders will be held responsible for the misuse of this rule.
     
   • A pre-war agreement between factions which may include CK’ing characters as they are killed on both sides. In this case administration’s approval is required.
     
   • A supernatural character exposing their race in public and getting killed afterwards.
     
   • Getting convicted of a major crime and being sentenced to prison for life or death row. While we understand some players would want to role-play a prison inmate serving a life sentence, we also want to encourage role-play in main areas of the server and populate them accordingly.
   
   These are only some of the reasons why a character can be CK’ed. However players should be mindful that extreme actions of any kind may have consequences and if their character dies as a result of those actions, administration or faction leaders (with an administrator's approval) may decide to CK that character depending on the damage done. Hence a good rule of thumb to avoid getting CK’ed is to make choices that have less risk of death for your character.
   
   
   
9. Revenge Killing
   
   Revenge killing is the action of committing an in-character murder on the character who previously PK’ed you. This is a punishable offense. Once dead by PK, players should be mindful of the fact that their characters have lost all memory associated to the event that led to their character’s death. However in some scenarios, the two characters may have to meet again and may end up fighting up, making it look like a revenge kill even though the attacking player didn’t intend it to be. To avoid this, characters who have been recently involved in a death scene should try to avoid each other for a certain time frame to let things “cool down”. In any case, players are always free to report to an administrator if they believe they have been revenge killed.
   
   
   
10. Realistic Role-Play
    
    Players are expected to role-play realistically at all times. The concept of realism is a bit abstract on this server due to the addition of supernatural lore. Hence realism on this server varies for humans and for supernatural races.
    
    
    
    • For human characters:
      Humans should continue to role-play as close to realism as possible. Only time they would need to adjust to the supernatural part of the server is if they get themselves involved in a supernatural situation E.g. a vampire discipline/spell being used on them. In this case, players who only role-play human characters should review the “Interacting with Supernaturals” guide to avoid being misused, manipulated and/or taken advantage of by supernatural characters. Otherwise, any kind of unrealistic role-play from a human character will result in punishment.
      
      
    • For supernatural characters:
      The server does not strictly follow the World of Darkness lore. While it uses most of the content from there, heavy revisions have been made and content has been adjusted to better fit the concept of the server and make things as feasible as possible for most players. Supernatural characters are free to role-play any of the allowed lore content to their will as long as their character build allows it. Performing actions that are not possible for their character due to its build or present in the World of Darkness lore but not accepted by this server will be deemed as unrealistic and will be a punishable offense.