Rules

The rules here are valid for the discord server and the minecraft server.

## Why having rules?

*Feel free to skip this if you just want to read the rules.*

Rules are the thing that allows us to be free together, writes Bernard De Koven, a game designer and fun theorist. I've read this and thought: "This is probably the most beautiful thing I'll ever read regarding games." At the beginning sounds counterintuitive; rules limit your actions, either by not allowing you phisically to do something, like bursting into flames every time you get angry (or if it's the case, I'd suggest you taking some anger-management course), and by punishing you if a rule is broken. At the same time, playing together needs rules in order to enjoy what you're doing, so you have some sort of safe space where you know you don't have to be worried about some certain things (like you don't need to worry if you're angry, because you're not going to die by spontaneous self-combustion).

I don't really want to over-explain the concept he proposed, some sentences are amazing because they can be grasped without any explanation.

### Why these rules?

Well, there are several reasons: general common sense, the need of some guidance through a game that allows you to do many things, sometimes those things are not features I want to keep, like killing people after they tp. This is to allow people to play together, by exploring the same area, looking at a structure, or just taking some break from the competitive aspects. You have the opportunity, granted not by custom, but by law, to enjoy the game in a different way for some time, able to interact in a friendly manner with people you wouldn't be sure you could without this rule.

Of course, not all instances of a certain rule being broken should be punished: if I tp a friend to duel (and we both want to), if I kill him the rule won't be applied, because that would be moronic.

But what about rules regarding the way you think or write?

Well, being my server, with my rules, I could decide that I don't want some ideologies being spread through me(or my money), without me endorsing them. I could decide I want only certain ideas to grow, but in that case I wouldn't create a minecraft server, more like a propaganda platform. I want to leave the "real world" and dive in an experience that is not plagued by the issues we can face each day (at least the unfunny things). This is why politics is not allowed here.

### So, what about things that some ideologies see as part of politic?

Well, self-respect and respecting other human beings is not a part of politics, but human decency. I do not care if you're right or left, your ethnicity, gender, ideology, ~~you're equally worthless to me, I hate you all~~ nothing should matter because you're becoming a voice, a minecraft avatar, a nick on a screen. You're going to be a wizard, elf, man, orc or a talking tree and if you have half of a braincell, you can understand how you can play without having to take shit out of your asses and throwing at others (aka, talking about politics).

Acting respectfully is the key, which is different from giving respect to a person: I can think as awful as I want of someone, but if you don't respect them for in-game actions, remember this is just a game, nobody should hate people based on a game, and if you don't respect them for something unrelated to the game, well, leave it out of the door. This means that I can be an elf fighting orcs while in game and being buddy with the players that are in mordor, or being a loyal subject of the king of gondor, but not endorsing his real life choices. Because, ultimately, this is a game, keep it in mind.

### Cheating

Cheating is fun. I love doing that. In single player games, though, or co-op, because it's always a lot of fun wondering what would have happened if the Roman Empire was resurrected at some point in history. Exploring the game as you wish is right, but not at the harm of others, that's why I'm incline not to allow people cheat.

Cheating, by definition, is to allow some person (or group) to have an advantage that breaks the rules or is not fairly distributed among people, like donating to orcs or elves a specific overpowered thing. A player that breaks the rules or gives himself an unfair advantage (without the consent of the higher members of the staff supervising the game, aka **ME**), usually leads to a side being harmed and the game being less fun. Let's think about an admin taking note about player's houses, tping there, looking at the defences and then raiding the place. Is that fun? Well, maybe, not for everybody, but certainly it will become not funny in the long run, since all the enemies of that staff member will inevitably build impossible-to-break-in bases or straight up leave. In the long run, giving that advantage moves the server into the "not fun zone".

### What about cheating "fairly", is that Even possible?

Cheating, by definition, is not fair. But it can equalize the game in order to be more enjoyable. If you have a little sibling playing with you a game that involves strenght, speed, or knowledge, if you want to make the game more equal for both of you (and more enjoyable), you break the rules and allow the disadvantaged player to get some sort of bonus. What's the point in winning a game in a so much resounding manner that the opponent can't even partecipate? It's almost like playing alone.

***In order to have a "fair" cheating" it should be done from a position of understanding the game and its direction, by the intervention of the maker of the game rules (so players using cheats won't be tolerated, only the rule-bending made by people who created such rules - aka the owner)***

A "fair" way to cheat could be making the fall less harsh and punishing, after a defeat, keeping the fun in the game for everybody. Let's think at the former example: an admin giving himself an unfair advantage in order to enhance the chances of winning in that case ultimately leads to a situation that is less funny for everyone, but what happens if a faction has hit rock bottom and just loses without even putting up a fight? That is not fun, it's tedious for the winning side and frustrating for the losing side. Nobody is going to war or battles thinking: "Yay, another pointless hour wasted, while I'm grinding my army into dust." What if I'd came and said: "Look, you guys are doing shit, let me help." Would that be ok? Eeh.

I'd definetely screw up for someone, that's safe to say, but I could just improve the losing side and give them some chance of hope, the twist that they needed to at least going back to enjoy the game. The system I've designed takes into account the utter failure of a side, leading to the destruction of a faction, with the rebels fighting for freedom. If the rebels have 0 chance, then the winners would be bored. If the rebels were a menace, definetely it would spice up things even for the stronger side.

Giving and taking advantages it's not easy to do. Even if the purpouse is keeping the fun in the server, I don't think that everybody has the same concept of fun. But I can promise you this: your actions won't last. It will be a month, a year or more, everything will need a new start at some point. Memory is what you will keep. Becoming a menace so big that the owner has to come down from his place and fight against you would be like the Valar coming for Morgoth. Had the elves, men and dwarves been more competent they wouldn't have needed the valar, but here they are, if they weren't there Middle Earth's story would be over. But Morgoth and his leutenants were remembered. Gondolin was destroyed by the balrogs, but it took all the tricks in the book of Melkor to bring it down. Be that player, the one that forces the server to remember your actions, live your journey, making friends or foes during the way and in the end, thinking at the past, smile, knowing that you had fun.

## **Rules about rules**

1. Retroactive rules are the ones about glitches, cheats and hacks. For example, if a player, due to a loophole in the rules, had the possibility of exploiting a glitch, he will be punished for his action if the glitch gets discovered. Non retroactive rules are the ones about gameplay dynamics. For example, if a player had built a settlement in a place where it becomes unallowed, the settlement won't be lost.
2. All rules are enforced by the Staff, and their decisions are not questionable. Since the Staff members selection and cursus honorum goes through an objective trial, the Admins are chosen according to certain criteria and are unquestionable on their field of experience. If a player has a doubt on a Staff member's actions, he can do it by notifying to the Admin in charge of the subject or to the Owner, as explained later in the staff section of the rules.
3. If it's clear that your actions are a test of yours on the Staff's patience and on the rules' limits, the Staff member in charge of punishing you can decide to highen your punishment.
4. The punishment varies according with the lenght of the behaviour, how many time the same rule was broken or how many rules the player broke. Note that in extreme cases, if all the higher staff members agree, a player can be tried and expelled from the server if s/he's considered to be here only to annoy people and doesn't contribute to the overall community in a positive way.
5. On this server other grudges are left behind. Don't post other servers IPs, or recruit for other servers. Trying to rally people away from this server will be punished, ~~since this is a dictatorship and the free will of people is not included in the package, tbh tbh~~.

## **Staff Rules**

1. Becoming a member of the staff is a process that needs the following criteria: a)Former knowledge of the player from reliable sources (either the player spent time on the server or is known by other staff members); b) an application for the role in the right channel ( #staff-application ) with the right application form; c) a period of time to judge the player on server or a higher staff member interceding.
2. Every staff member needs to be: **Reliable** [Needs to do his work in a reasonable amount of time and doesn't have to go missing without explanations], **Professional** [Needs to be able to hold up to the standard of the rules and has to be an example for the community and doesn't make favoritism], **Competent** [Has to know well enough the things s/he's is doing],
3. With being staff comes great power, from great power comes great responsabilities. Any action that shows that you're not worthy of your position will drag you to the Staff Jury's eyes, that will decide your fate.
4. Always remember that the fact that you're staff doesn't exclude you from being watched as any other player. Also, you'll be even more watched, since the head of the Staff has to be sure that you're not abusing your role and powers.
5. To quote other great movies: "*Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.*" To avoid fellow staff members to fall into the dark side of the staff, please avoid idiotic behaviours that poison the experience of a staff member and that obstacle your mates. Being in the staff should be a fun experience, motivated by will to help the server being better, directly - helping players, building - or indirectly - thinking about rules, game mechanics, etc. -, and if you fear that someone is not qualified for the role, and you know he made a mistake, don't be afraid to notify the members of the Staff Jury, so they can decide if the staff member is guilty or not and what should be the punishment.
6. The actions of the staff can't be contested. Though, if you have the idea that a staff member used improperly his power, feel free to notify a member of the Staff Jury.
7. Both for staff members and players, if the staff finds that you were trying to have someone removed from staff by accusing him of abusing or trying to have someone punished only because of personal reasons, you will lose your position as staff and will receive a punishment accordingly to your accusations.
8. A player can ask to overrun the decision of a staff member but, if it's evident that they're making fuss over a clearly explained matter, their punishment will be highened for having tried to circumvent staff. You can make such a question in #reports channel (**For example:** your claim is right, go for it, but if you're tring to make us lose time, you'll regret it)
9. If a staff member have to punish a player, the staffer is invited to look at the previous punishments on that matter and judge also according to them. Everything, though, has to be in accordance with the written rules.

## **Chat Behaviour Rules**

1. Any insult regarding race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, political ideology and similar should be left out of the door. Anything besides that is allowed, since I personally appreciate creative insults. Insults regarding or against a religion (even Pastafarianism, may the Flying Spaghetti Monster have mercy on your poor soul), are not allowed for the same reason. Punishment ranges from *warn + post removed* to a *ban* if they become persistent.
2. Discord channels exist for a reason, else we'd have made only "#jungle" channel and everything went there. If you use a channel improperly, you'll get a punishment varying from a *warning* to a *mute*.
3. It'd be better if you don't talk about real life ideologies/religions/politics/history and such. If you have to, though, it'll be fine as long as you'll keep civil and polite the discussion. We're a minecraft LotR-modded server, not a square. The punishment ranges from *having the message removed*, to being *muted* if it's a repeated habit.
4. Constantly repeated memes about the same subjects, especially if regarding real life nations/ideas/religions and such, won't be considered funny. If the thing starts to be abused, they'll be removed and you'll get a punishment for improper use of channel.
5. Always keep a polite, civil behaviour. Flaming, bullying, flooding, spamming, even in dms to staff members, and every other banana-monkey-like behaviour will be punished. You'll get a punishment ranging from 5 minutes to 2 hours *mute* and aggravating factors can extend the punishment further.
6. It's highly forbidden to post other servers IPs. It will mean a straight *permanent ban*.

## **Gameplay**

> "Do not fucking abuse glitches and use cheats, this is the straightest way to a 1 day ban to a permanent one"
>
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###### -Sun Tzu, "The art of Minecraft"

1. Any form of tp-kill (player A causing directly or indirectly - through other players - the death of player B within 3 minutes from the tp) is punishable. It's considered tp-kill if the tp happens in any way different from the LotR Mod waypoint tp. The punishment will be in a range of *1 day ban - 3 weeks ban* according to the gravity of the situation, and the items will be given back. Obviously is not tp-kill if the death happens by accident, and it's up to the victim to report the fact.
2. Having an item not obtainable in a legal way will result in a punishment in range of *1 week ban - permanent ban* according to the gravity of the situation.
3. Any form of griefing is forbidden, expecially if it damages a player base. The exceptions will be said in War Rules. The punishment for griefing can be actually everything logical between a *warning* and a *permanent ban*, according to the gravity of the situation.
4. Players can have fly to build in their faction's territory and for that purpose only. Every effraction will be followed by a punishment in range of *fly removed - fly removed and permanent fly ban*.
5. Obviously, if you have a doubt on a rule, you can ask the staff in the proper channel #questions. You'll be provided a personal answer in dms, that will be also made public the day later.

## **Roleplay**

1. The word of Tolkien is sacred and his opinion respected. Every proposal about an unusual thing must be presented with some evidences.
2. There are staff members that are in charge of keeping the players' roleplay friendly with the canon. They are appointed after showing deep knowledge of lotr, the Silmarillion and some knowledge of the other works, and the willingness to use wikis and admit when they're wrong. A basic debating skill (presenting proofs of your arguements) is appreciated.
3. There is an internal history and timeline of the server, that is written to mirror the tone in the books and won't be influenced by personal opinions.