Server Rules: Need some things to be explained

[trogers2]

Hey guys, After speaking with a DM about a few things I misunderstood about the rules; I decided to write up this short article summarizing things I am not 100% sure on. Also (from reading some of these rules) you guys seem very brutal for those breaking them (good way to enforce it!) I remember reading something about 'ignorance is no excuse' however; not all the rules are in one place (some are in different threads or links) - as such I myself have found myself breaking a few of these rules without knowing - which would (according to the rules) have cost me a few levels, as such; I am going to try and compile everything into one neat thread so players know what-is-what.

With that said, if anyone can clear up a few questions I have (see below) I would be greatful - also I am sorry about any spelling errors its been a long day.

– "Play Your Sheet"
– You are required to play what is on your Character Sheet. For example, no role-playing of another Race if it does not appear on your Character Sheet. In-character (IC) lying and misinformation about your Character's skills, profession and morality is fair and acceptable, but Role-play which does not reflect the Abilities, Feats and Skills that exist on your Character Sheet, is not acceptable.

I do not fully understand the bit in bold, are you saying (for example) a character can't 'act' like he/she thinks i.e. telling someone the spell cast was.... which may be influrenced by (for example) another mage who said what spell was - thus they would assume the same; if this was correct however it would count as 'metagaming?'

Using the name over someones head as a name tag, until you meet that person in character, you do not know their name.

Can this rule be excluded if another PC has given details on said person, in such a case can the name be used then?

"God Modding" is when someone’s Character (PC) has the ability to do practically anything without limits or boundaries. And example is when a PC simply cannot be harmed by any means

I do not fully understand this part; does that mean a level 30, with high AC/wards has to cripple themselfs in such a way to make themselfs killable? Or not to run when injured? Or does this mean not to take advantage of glitches, or a mix of all?

Players are not to control or speak for or direct actions of other NPCs, especially such NPCs that do not exist in this NWN2 game. Minor instances of NPC interactions may be used, such as and for example: "The merchant said they would spread the rumor I was seeking a special item."

Does a level 1 'player' count as an NPC? i.e. if two brothers were (for example) played on the same account one level 3 and one level 8, and they both held information needed by PC(s) would it be agaist the rules for said PC to visit both 'player(s) / NPCs' or would this count as 'controlling, speaking and directing actions for NPCs' if such, does this mean 'alt' PCs are not allowed to either convay Info between themselfs (if known), or would that also count as metagaming? Furthermore can players 'recreate' said player on a new account to interact with players in the event of: Playing on a new desktop (away from home, on hoilday etc...) or is this not allowed until the player returns to their home PC (where character is stored) Finally can players be used to create basic player interaction based events? Or would this over-rule them as been an NPC; if such can you please expand upon what NPC means; i.e. does a 'player' become an NPC if taking part in a player driven event? Does a 'player' become an NPC if they switch between toons? Does a 'player' become a NPC if switching between 'sibblings' i.e. brother/sister; and is this allowed? Can information be shared; or is this metagaming?

Hostile acts against NPCs will be treated in the same manner as PVP against PCs in front of NPCs - namely, permastrikes may well be handed out.

I am assuming this rule is not valid if: misclick took place or via a fault (i.e. casting wrong spell) If not does a permastrike still take place? How would a DM handle an accidental hostile action?

The barrier between the Surface and UD is the Netherese Ruins. Those caught grinding on the opposite side of the Ruins from where they belong will be penalized from 1+ levels to being banned from the server.

By 'grinding' do you mean killing in that area (in general) if such; does this not allow players to defend themselfs if (for example) they were being attacked by 5 monsters; or would this count as grinding? Furthermore are players allowed to 'stay' in that area without fighting (i.e. hiding) or is this also breaking the rule?

Surfacers in the Underdark and Underdark-based characters on the Surface are consenting to certain criteria and vulnerabilities:
- You cannot grind monsters for experience
- You cannot search for loot (exploring dungeons for treasure, picking at gold piles, etc)
- You may not run quests
- If slain in PvP, you may be issued a permastrike. Your character can afford three permastrikes (Permastrike rules: http://www.bgtscc.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=25355)

Again, does 'grinding' define: Not attacking or does it allow player to defend themself from general monsters/attacks; furthermore (for example RP) can players team up with players from 'other side' if so; does this not allow them to follow said player into cave/dungeon furthermore if player traded 'drow' (for example) gold from a chest; does this count as breaking this rule?

The intent of this is to allow opportunity for ROLEPLAY and this is why we define RP reasons widely. It is not an opportunity to exploit different areas for their resources. The server is designed to allow both sides their share of quests, monsters and dungeons. Taking advantage of both sides is against the intent of our area builders and server design.

Can you expand upon this? Is taking advantage limited to: not 'grinding', 'questing' and 'chest hunting' (as said above) or does this also include 'muling' items from one account to another i.e. surface player giving items to non-surface player via different computer units.

– AFK grinding is illegal. As discussed in this post here:
Doing so will result in either de-leveling of your PC, or more severe penalties. There is no rule against speed leveling. We ask Players to be considerate to others and NOT "grind" or "camp" an area for several hours, and by doing so, not giving others a chance to adventure in this area as well.

During 'lag' spikes, I have noticed players still online during lag 'freezes' some of my friends have gone AFK in some areas as they were waiting for something/someone - with monsters around; does this also count as 'AFK grinding'? How is it enforced; and do players get a chance to explain (i.e. via email) or is the player deleveld 'on the spot' if so - is warning/notice given? Is this rule done on a 'seen and saw' basis or does the player get a chance to explain?

[sweetlikesplenda]

I'm not a DM, so I can only give my opinion on rules. But, to answer a lot of your questions, it seems to come down to intent.

You had a question about grinding in an area and if a surface/underdark PC finds them self fighting against regularly spawning creatures in the area is considering grinding. I suppose the best answer, a player can give, is "Were you there with the intent to grind the area for XP? Or were you passing through an area intended to get to another map (or another part of the map you are in) for RP purposes?" If you were there to grind for XP, then you are likely breaking the surface/underdark rule.

Misclick on a NPC? Ive seen it done on accident in DM events 100s of times. Someone uses prayer right next to a NPC and the NPC goes bat crazy on the PC and murders them. This usually is resolved by the DM having to rez the PC and then de-spawn said NPC. Was the PC's intent, when casting the prayer spell to harm the NPC? No, it's a mechanic of the game. So, the DMs never considered it didn't break the rule. Did you misclick a fireball on a NPC? Well, if you can explain it away, then I'd say it isn't. Sometimes you just have to give people a mulligan and pretend some things didn't happen and move on with the RP.

God-modding is more along the lines of setting up stories where your guy can do impossible feats during RP. For example: Your guy has a DEX of 26. You roll you ability and get, say, a 15 in your dice roll, giving you a 41. 41 is a high roll, but it still does not give you the ability to fall 1000 feet from a mountain and land softly on your feet unscathed.

Speaking for NPCs is something to control people from going crazy with RP. You cannot go in to the Palace and make declarations -for- the Dukes. This requires a DM. If a goodly person captures a bad, evil, nasty villain, they cannot then go to the Fist and give them over to the Fist and RP out that they Fist then go about hanging the bad, evil, nasty.

Most of the rules (Which really, it's kind of sad that we have to have so many, since they should be common-sense), really come down to your intent, not trying to limit other people's fun and RP, and common-sense.

This doesn't really answer most of your questions, and really, as a player, I don't feel I can answer them completely. This may be a thread for the DM are, rather than the General topics area.

[thebeasttt]

Play your sheet: means you cannot RP your character like a genius when you have a 6 INT, not that you can't mislead others or lie.

Name tag: means you can't walk up to someone you've never met and say "Hello Bob" just because Bob is their nameplate.

God Modding: this is when you act in a manner, removing choice from the other party. For instance an emote like "Bob gives you a black eye" is considered God modding. "Bob TRIES to punch you in the eye" is not God Modding.

Controlling NPC's: this goes with God Modding and means you're not aloud to speak for NPC's that can't speak for themselves, that's the DM's job. You can't direct town guards without a DM present for instance.

Hostile Acts: misclicks would likely be handled by a DM on a case by case basis, aka whether they believe you or not.

Grinding in the UD: it means if you go to the UD or surface just to grind and loot chests you'll be docked a level. You must have an RP reason for being there. You can still kill anything in your way, within reason.

AFK grinding: usually enforced by repeat offense. If you keep "crashing" in perfect spots where you get decent xp without risk of death you will likely be penalized.

[trogers2]

Thanks for clearing this up for me guys! <3

The reason I brought this thread up is because I was speaking with a DM earlier today regarding a player driven event I hosted (about two weeks ago) long story short I can not play my main for 'RP' reasons. I set up a few 'NPCs' (I made) and placed them around the map to create an interaction based event (it was a lot of fun) I am now playing my mains sibbling (who is the same level / class) thus I decided to rename my 'Main' for convenience (both my characters) this request was branded as 'godmodding' so I checked and got a little confused - you guys are telling me godmodding is when someone acts on behalf of an NPC without their concent? (i.e. DM approval) ...So this expands to player characters to, right?

Does creating my own (PC NPCs) count as godmodding as well?

[Kinkurono]

As i understand, godmodding is basically...as the name implies, playing god, forcing acts on people, saying you killed someone just by looking at them, saying NPC X told you Y without a DM (Basically you RP'd the NPC). In regards to your player-made event, i'd suggest doing things that do not involve NPCs reactions or something like that.

[Rhifox]

I am now playing my mains sibbling (who is the same level / class) thus I decided to rename my 'Main' for convenience (both my characters) this request was branded as 'godmodding'

This is the issue. You can't rename your character and act like it's someone else. If you want to create another character, it has to be another character. So, creating alts to function as NPCs is fine, but renaming your current character and pretending it's a different character is not.

(note that this is just from the OOC meta standpoint. A character can ICly disguise themselves and pretend to be someone else, but you can't OOCly pretend the character is someone entirely different).

[DM Gogo]

As i understand, godmodding is basically...as the name implies, playing god, forcing acts on people, saying you killed someone just by looking at them, saying NPC X told you Y without a DM (Basically you RP'd the NPC).

This is all pretty much correct, but I'd like to add some insight that might help sharpen the line between godmodding and metagaming NPCs.

Godmodding NPCs: Godmodding NPCs is actually not RPing the NPCs. RPing the NPCs is really just "DMing for yourself," and doesn't really fit the metagaming or godmodding standard neatly. Godmodding NPCs is more simply put, ignoring the presence of NPCs in the game world around you. An example of this is starting a fight or murdering someone right in front of Flaming Fist NPCs, or really any NPCs at all, without a DM present to RP the NPC's reaction. It's "godmodding" because you're esentially RPing that you were able to walk right up and kill someone in front of another person, and then walk away without reprieve.

Metagaming with NPCs: You look on the scry and see that "Joe Billy Bob" is in Ulgoth's Beard. You later RP that your character went to Ulgoth's Beard and questioned the NPCs who informed you that "Joe Billy Bob" was indeed there at the specified time and day without clearing it with the DM team first. Another example of this is "Player A killed Player B at the campfire of the Friendly Arm Inn. Player C later RPs learning the identity of Player A from the guards on the bridge." This is an inappropriate manner to gain IC knowledge about a happening without approval from the DMs -- although, I think that extremely major happenings get some leeway here. I don't think there's anything wrong with RPing that you heard around the city that an undead army recently attacked it, for instance.

Hope this helps clarify it a bit.

[trogers2]

Thanks for clearing that up Gogo.