Rules and Guidelines !!!Read before posting!!!

[Doctorfuzion]

Rules and Guidelines

Welcome to the Temple of Lore!
The website staff for the Temple would like to welcome you to our forum community on behalf of the owners of this fine site. In order to ensure everything runs smoothly, we have instituted a series of rules and guidelines for everyone to post by. Please read them carefully, and follow them! It’ll be much easier for everyone if you do.

If you're a newcomer, please read them carefully. If you've been here a while, please read them carefully - some old rules have changed and some new ones have been added.


About Online Forums
An online forum is a private community of people getting together and discussing various things. Since it is a private forum, "Freedom of Speech" is not a valid argument here. Administrators and Moderators decide what is acceptable and not acceptable as a topic or post. If you want to exercise your "Freedom of Speech", take it to a public location.

Also, privacy is not observed here. Administrators have access to each and everything on this site. Whether it be a hidden forum or Private Messages. They can act in ways they deem necessary by based on information they have. If you want privacy, go to another site or don't go on the internet at all.



Basic Forum Etiquette
While you are free to express your opinion, remember that since you are speaking over the use of digital means, and not face to face, expressions are not easily expressed and certain sentences can be taken in such a way that could offend where there was no offense intended. If you are exaggerating or making a joke, please make sure to make use of the emoticons (or smiles) as they are the only way to get certain expressions across accurately.

When posting, please use proper punctuation and spelling as often as possible. We all make mistakes but if you leave out a period or question mark, your sentences can become jumbled and confuse the reader. Punctuation can also help express your views better by making certain points stronger than others. And spacing is very important as if you write multiple paragraphs into one, it can be very hard to read and can just be overlooked by the readers.

Reread before you post. Make sure that you have correct punctuation, adequate spacing, and just double check that your post may not offend anyone. Since people from all over the world and different walks of life come to the Temple, a single comment could accidentally offend where it wasn't meant to. Just double check before posting so the moderators don't have to edit it after you post. You can also use the built in SpellCheck feature to help you.



Moderators
We have selected a number of Moderators to help keep the forums in line; the Moderators were selected by the ownership and are acting on their authority, so what they say goes. If you really feel you have been treated unfairly by a moderator, you may contact us or another Administrator (Administrators covered below) – but make sure you have a good reason to, because if you don’t have a valid complaint, it might just make it worse for you. However, a Mod outside of their normal forum territory is still a Mod, so you still have to go by what they say.

If you have a question or concern, feel free to send a Mod a Private Message – just be aware it may take them a while to get back to you. They’re all volunteers, and have a lot to do on the forum and in real life. Be patient, they’ll get back to you.

When a Mod is acting in their capacity as a moderator, they will post in red text. As a result of this, using red text is reserved for them alone. Any use of it by other posters will result in a mod editing the color to something else, and a warning issued to the offending user. They will also usually preface their posts with a Mod name in bold; this is a sort of alter ego for them. When they post in this manner, pay close attention to what they have to say.

You can see who is a moderator by going to the forum directory. Under the forums is a list of what groups are moderators in what forums. Click on the group and it will take you to a list of moderators for that forum.

Administrators
Administrators are considered moderators in every forum and have an extra amount of power. They have the ability to ban users. Banning is covered in subsequent sections. Their word is Law on these forums.

Administrators can be identified by the words "Temple Administrator" under their username.

Current Administrators are:
Chris Schoenthal (AragornRoR)
Mike Leader (Doctorfuzion)
Steve Collier (LordJallemar)
Tim Powell (BoyHostage)

Mod Actions
Moderators handle a number of specific tasks. The obvious, of course, is looking for violations to the rules and dealing with them as necessary. But they do other things as well. Here’s a rundown of those actions, including warnings.

Friendly Warning/Please Don’t Do That
A Mod might post in red text asking you not to do something, without any reference to official warnings. This is a friendly warning to move you away from doing something that might get you in trouble, so take it to heart, and follow their directions. Failure to do so will likely result in a warning.

Official Warnings
These are the big ones. An official warning will always include the words “Official Warning” in it. Most of these are issued via Private Message, but they may be issued in a post in a thread as well. No matter where they are issued, these official warnings are tracked. If you earn three, you will be banned once you receive the third one. The rules below and the specific rules of each forum list warning offenses.

Nudges
If a Mod finds a thread going off-topic, they’ll post a friendly message trying to nudge it back on-topic – how hard a nudge depends on how far off the rails the thread has gone.

Asking Users not to Post to a Specific Thread
If a moderator comes to the conclusion that a particular poster or group of posters is consistently causing problems in a specific thread and that otherwise the thread does not violate forum rules, the moderator may ask those posters not to make any further posts to that thread. This will almost always occur when the user has already been warned once for their behavior in a thread, and will most likely be accompanied by an official warning.

Moving Threads
Sometimes threads get started in the wrong place; this is understandable. If we find one, though, we’ll shunt it off to the right forum. As a favor to the Mods, please do your best to make sure you’re putting your thread in the right place.

Locking Threads
Some threads reach a point where they need to be locked (which makes it so no one can post to them). This may be because the thread has reached a point where it is so off topic or violating so many rules that it can’t be recovered by other mod actions, or because it’s a copy of another active thread. Remember that re-starting a locked thread without permission is against the rules.

”Please don’t do it” Offenses
These are offenses that will not result in an official warning or banning upon the first offense, but repeated violations will eventually result in an official warning. In some cases a mod may edit a post or post an in thread message saying “Please don’t do that,” or some other friendly warning to be a bit more careful.

Topic Titles
New threads should have a title that is relevant to the topic and indicative of the content in the thread. Please do not use titles such as "---->Read Now<-----" or "OMG this is awesome" as some users don't have time to look through every thread and only want to read posts that pertain to their liking. On a similar note, topics which are all capital letters are distracting and against guidelines. Also try not to post threads with titles that are extremely similar to another title. If two threads have almost identical titles but different information, it could easily confuse users as to which thread it was. There is also a system of naming threads that we want to instill:

[Politics] = Political discussion or related news
[Rel] = Religious discussion or related news
[News] = Self explanatory
[Odd] = Odd or funny news
[Video] = Funny or interesting links to videos
[Q] = Random questions
[Movie] = Movie review or discussion

Now, if you post a thread that doesn't fit into any of these categories, please try to make something up which would apply to your thread. This will just help people decide what they want to read or skip.

Typing Incoherently
This is a written medium and people have to read what you write. Chat speak, l33t speak and anything that has to be “translated” falls into this area. You may have something incredible to say, but it won’t be read if they use “m8” and “pwn3d” as every other word in a post. The occasional typo or confusion regarding spelling is understood and expected, but at least take a moment to read over a message before you post it.

Disobeying Rules for Section You Are Posting In
Some sections of the boards have a set of rules just for that section. General Discussion and Anything both have specific rules for those forums, and those rules are explained in great detail in that forum. In some cases, violating specific forum rules will result in an Official Warning; please read each forum’s specific rules carefully.

Discussing Post Counts
No one may use their post count in a discriminatory fashion. Using one's post count to belittle, tease, bash, or otherwise discriminate against other posters should be prohibited. Likewise, those with low post counts should be treated with the same measure of respect as any other member of this community. Celebration of post milestone are permitted provided they include some form of significant contribution that would stand on its own in a separate thread. Milestone celebrations posted without such content are considered to be not only discriminatory and egotistical, but a general waste of space. Such threads will be locked, and subject to deletion.

Double Posting
Posting twice in a row is generally frowned upon. Posting the same information twice can sometimes happen as a computer error. You can remove any accidental double posts with the edit button however that ability is lost after another person posts after you. When you edit the post, select the "Delete this post" option below the post text and hit submit. Posting in response to one person and then a subsequent post in response to another person is also frowned upon. There is an edit button in the upper right hand corner of each post, please use that to add any extra information that you wanted to add but forgot to.

One Topic, One Thread
There should be, in most cases, one thread for a specific topic. Please check and see if there is already an active thread (one that has been posted on in the last six weeks and is no further back than page 3) discussing a topic before posting a new one.

This is not a platform to contact AEG or Phoenix Interactive
As this topic states, this is not a place to contact either AEG or Phoenix interactive. Please do not post threads to try and get their attention. If you need to contact them, their contact information is readily available on their websites. If you feel the need to vent/complain/defend them, there is a specific thread inside of General to do so.


Warning Offenses
These are offenses that will garner you an official warning from a Mod and most likely a modification of the offending post. Three Official Warnings will result in a poster being Banned upon the issuing of the third warning. Exceptional or Special cases may result in instant banning – see the Banning Offenses section. Repeated offenses along the same line may also result in immediate banning.

Flaming
Any poster that openly attacks, insults, belittles, or abuses another poster will have their offending post modified and a warning issued to them. You can be critical of another poster's viewpoint in a debate, even going as far as to explain why you believe them to be mistaken and backing your points up with rules quotes as appropriate, but the moment your criticism extends to the person who posted that viewpoint, it has crossed the line.

Specific things you cannot do on this message board that might be allowed elsewhere:

* Tell a poster to shut up or to stop posting on the current thread.
* Use passive-aggressive insults, such as "Anyone who believes that is an idiot," or "I'd call you an idiot, but it's against the rules." Yeah, we know that technically, you didn't call him or her an idiot, but guess what? It's still not allowed.
* Harassment of other posters, such as repeatedly following them from thread to thread to dispute them, personally.
* Tell a poster that they clearly didn't read what you wrote. Alternately, any statement that implies that the only way someone could disagree with you is because they don't understand you/can't read properly is likewise not allowed.
* Responding in kind to a poster who has flamed you. Please inform a moderator via PM and wait for the offending post to be scrubbed or deleted. Remember, the more they flame, the deeper a hole they dig for themselves, but don’t spur them on.
* Putting down or insulting ANY play preference.
* Belittling or putting down anyone or their opinions based on post count, member rank, or how long they have been a member.
* Posting insults or slurs based on anyone's race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation


We run a much tighter ship when it comes to flaming than many other places you might post. We have tried to create a place where people can have discussions about Warlord and other topics without the rampant personal attacks prevalent at other boards. If you find you are incapable of participating in a debate without resorting to attacking your opponent instead of his position, our suggestion is that you find another board to post at.

"Mea culpa" Offenses
Attempting to ward off a warning by admitting your behavior warrants a warning is not tolerated. This will, instead, result in a second warning. Acknkowledging the fact that your activity is breaking the rules is not a defense. If anything, it's flaunting breaking the rules, which is very insulting to both the staff and all the posters who take the time to try to follow the rules. If you know, or even think, that what you are about to do is worthy of warning, then just don't do it. Find another way of saying what you wish to say, or hold your peace altogether. Here are some examples of a "mea culpa" offense:

* "I know this is probably flaming, but you're a jerk." This would be worthy of two warnings: calling someone a jerk is flaming, and acknowledging that you are flaming earns you a mea culpa penalty.
* "I'd really love to tell you what I think of you, but it'd be against the rules." This would also be worthy of two warnings. Passive-aggressive flaming is still flaming, and, once again, it earns a mea culpa penalty.


Trolling
Any post that, in the judgment of the moderators, was made solely to incite angry responses and/or flames, or attempts to disrupt a thread so that it becomes a flame war, will be edited to remove the offending content and the poster issued a warning. If a thread is judged to have been started for this reason, it will be locked, and the poster issued a warning.

Posting on Inappropriate Topics
Any post that includes anything in the Inappropriate Topics (see below) will have that text deleted and the author will be issued a warning. If another poster ventures into Off-Topic subject matter, it does not give you a free pass to respond to his post with more Off-Topic discussion; there is no "He started it!" defense. Do not take it upon yourself to publicly reprimand the poster, either; you're not a moderator. Simply PM your friendly neighborhood moderator and alert them to the inappropriate post, which will have its inappropriate portions deleted.

External Baggage
Each thread should exist in a vacuum, free from outside influences—especially those outside of these boards. What this means is that you can't carry over anger from a debate in another thread into a new discussion, and you can't harass anyone over anything they did in another thread, on another website's board, or in real life. If you can't check your baggage at the door, you'll end up earning a warning.

Re-starting a previously locked thread without permission
Certain threads will be locked by Mods for a variety of reasons, including excessive flaming, inappropriate subject matter, or simple redundancy. If a poster decides to start a new thread on the exact same discussion topic without first gaining permission from the Mods, the thread will be deleted or locked and they will be issued a warning—even if the new thread does not, in and of itself, violate any other rule! Which means that if a mod decides to lock a heated debate over a subject, starting a new thread with a calmer, more well-reasoned point of view is STILL breaking the rules. Unless you ask a moderator first, then it's cool.

Ignoring or Disrespecting a Mod posting under their Mod Name
Any poster that deliberately ignores or disrespects a post made by a Moderator using their Mod Name will be issued a warning. In the situation of a very short window of time existing between the Mod Post and the offending post, a 10 minute window will exist in which the offending poster may modify his post without incident.

Ignoring or Disrespecting a Moderator's Private Message sent under their Mod Name
Any poster that deliberately ignores or disrespects a Private Message sent by a Moderator using their Mod Name will be issued a warning. Please check your PMs regularly – “I didn’t see the PM before I posted” is not an acceptable excuse. As with Ignoring Mod Posts, in the situation of a very short window of time existing between the Mod PM and the offending post, a 10 minute window will exist in which the offending poster may modify his post without incident.

Editing of Mod Edits
If you modify a red-text edit to one of your posts by a moderator in any way, you will be issued a warning.

Vigilante Modding
If you’re not a moderator, don’t act like one. The Admin staff has selected a few trusted people to keep an eye on conversations here. Please refrain from chastising other posters over breaking the rules, especially concerning minor things. The proper response when you see someone breaking these rules is a PM to the local moderator. Do not tell other posters what to do, what rules they have broken, that they are "spamming", etc. Posters who do so excessively will be issued a warning for their actions. There is a REPORT system for posts and threads that break the rules. Please utilize it if you see an issue, by clicking the icon and filing a report.

Circumventing the Board filters
If a poster attempts to circumvent the board's language filter in order to post profane or obscene content, their post will be modified and they will be issued a warning. This includes masking (using non-letter characters in place of letters). Yes, we're aware that the boards filters are horrendous, but if you are adult enough to use such language, then you're adult enough to NOT use such language. The filters are primarily for the protection of young children, because this is not a strictly adult website. Please note that you may turn the censors off in your profile. If you choose to do so, the Temple of Lore is not responsible for you or anyone else using your computer seeing offensive language.



Banning Offenses
Violating any of the following rules will result in an immediate ban from the Temple of Lore forums.

Three Strikes Policy
As mentioned in the Warning Offenses section, earning three official warnings results in a ban for a certain amount of time upon the issuing of the third warning. To be clear, it is the third violation that results in a ban, not "three warnings and the next violation is a ban." Be aware that official warnings do not "expire" after any period of time. Subsequent warnings will result in further bannings, perhaps even permanent if the offenses are sufficiently severe. It should also be noted that the three strike policy is not writ in stone - flagrant violations of warning offenses may result in a ban even if they do not result in a third official warning. Repeated violations of the same warning offense, especially over a short period of time, will also likely result in an immediate ban.

Violating any of the following rules will result in an immediate ban, regardless of the number of official warnings a poster has:

Committing a Warning Offense Against Temple of Lore Administrators
The administrators of this website are also the owners and operators of this website and forum. Committing any warning offense against them will result in a ban. They own this ball, and will kick you out of the game if you do not play their game.

Hate Speech
Particularly flagrant examples of insults or slurs based on anyone's race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation, and especially any post advocating violence towards those of a certain race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation will result in an immediate ban.

Criminal Activity
Posts containing illegal content - including but not limited to discussion of how to commit illegal activities, discussion of the use or acquisition of illegal substances, or posts that violate a law in and of themselves - will result in an immediate ban for the poster.

Spam
Chain letters, get-rich-quick schemes, and overseas investment opportunities are considered spam, as are a variety of other pointless topics. Generally, you know when you're posting spam, so don't. Posting spam to the boards is a banning offense, especially when it violates the "one topic, one thread" guideline. Any account created solely for the purpose of posting spam will be deleted immediately, and the spam removed.

Previously Banned Users
Any user found to have been banned while using a different account will have his or her new account banned as well. If it is found that another user is allowing a previously banned user to post using his or her account, the account of that user will also be banned.

Inappropriate Topics
The following topics are always off-limits on these forums, no matter what (hence, Inappropriate Topics). Any posts including these topics will be edited, and any threads started to discuss these topics will be locked. In the Anything forum, you are allowed to post things such as news articles relating to such topics however anything condoning, supporting, or displaying such things is forbidden.

* Graphic violence
* Illegal drugs
* Criminal activity
* Explicit sexuality



So those are the rules, in all of their wordy glory. We ask that you try your best to follow them to keep the spirit of community these boards have built up over the past years, because in the end, all we have are each other. These boards are only as good as we all make them, after all. Thanks, and happy posting!