Guild Ethics and Guidelines

Being afilliated with many clans and guilds over the years (both in leadership roles and as an "average member" with no roles) really has shown me the ins and outs on how an online group of people/friends best functions together to be able to work towards common goals and for the full enjoyment of their time spent together. Ethics and Basic Guidelines that we all agree to follow are critical and essential for a guild to work together Efficiently, Effectively, Ethically, and most importantly, Enjoyably.

Efficiently means that between organizing fun guild events to being in the heat of an epic battle/raid, we have established known leaders to make sure we are organized and also that there are people with specific roles that they know they have to fill, and have an overall atmosphere of people creating or doing things to benefit others in the guild as much as possible (without hurting their own game first).

Effectively has more to do with how we operate as a guild or the overall chemistry of a team creating all around success during those battles, raids, or random fun events. This is important because we all want the same thing at the end of the day, epic loot, and to yell GTFO n00b at other people when we dominate the playing field... but if we are not working together effectively as a team, we can never achieve success as a whole and will lose or have a diminished experience.

Always acting Ethically is vital as this guides how well we treat each other, which will determine if the above two options can even happen. Without a clear set vision or description of basic clan ethics, there is no way we can operate efficiently or accomplish objectives and have victory effectively as a team.

Lastly, once you have the other three parts of our framework in place, you can then ALWAYS have FUN as a cornerstone because that is the sole reason on why we spend so much time playing games. If it was not fun, we would simply not play. A guild who follows specific ethics as best as they can, is optimally running as efficient as possible, is effective in achieving results and success, and is HAVING FUN while doing it will create the best gaming and guild experience possible.

1. Respect eachother at all times: This is probably the most important rule because if it is violated, it will likely be the root cause of why other problems arise one way or another. Even if you disagree or someone makes a stupid unintended mistake, please don't degrade them or make a big deal about it. Just agree to disagree and LET THINGS GO. yes, LET THINGS GO, IT IS JUST A GAME!!!! Don't do degrade others or push agendas that are in the Real World into the game that people won't agree with. Some people like PvP, some like PVE, some like Crafting, some like Role Playing. Whatever your game is thats awesome, but don't interfere with others enjoyment. We might make jokes or say things that are "mean" all the time, but just know that if you cross the line with it or get excessive in your negativity, you will be told to stop or will be banned.

2. Respect the Guild Leaderhsip: We might have certain leaders for something because for the most part, they are chosen or accepted as those who LEAD best in those parts. Just because someone is good player, does not make them a leader, however, for the most part, we will likely call on best players to lead and if they are leading a raid or whatever, please follow what they say to the best of your ability. If you disagree, try to work things out, but don't split the guild on a matter or create a power grab of drama to get it your way. On the flip-side, if you are one of those leaders, please respect others and their opinions and NEVER think just because you are "leading" that it gives you more power or anything or the ability to degrade people and makes you actually special.

3. Loot or Item rules: At many points in the game, people will work together on quests, raids, crafting, or will try to get items. Fairness is the most important tenet in this arena. If at all possible, things should be split EVENLY. If that is not possible, then it should be based on NEED. Lastly, if that no one has need, then person A (randomly chosen or ROLL #) gets it this time, and person A WONT get any more drops until everyone else in the scenario gets a drop of some kind, in which case, person A can get something again. NEED is defined as, I CANNOT PLAY MY CLASS WITHOUT THIS OR THAT IT IS VITAL TO MAKING MY CHARACTER EXTREMELY BETTER THAN IT ALREADY IS. The concept has to do with more, if I were a poor ass mofo, I would NEED food, water, shelter, or even a new car to greatly improve my life... rather than the I am a rich person and I NEED my 10th Ferrari to minimally improve my life. Yes, as the rich person with your standards you might need it, but compared to the person that REALLY needs it, they get dibs. If any random scenario comes up and you need a guiding principle to decide who gets it, just base it off of fairness IN GENERAL, not on how YOU view fairness as that may differ (what is OK? with everyone).

4. Be Fair and Honest: Be fair in all your personal dealing with others in the guild in any aspect of the game. Be an honest guild member! Don't take advantage of or use others for your good. Don't mess with other people's items, characters, or accounts EVER. Play nice in the sandbox guys.

5. NO DRAMA: You know what this is and what contributes to it. So don't start none or contribute to it! Don't TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY... I cannot stress this anymore. If you can, just let things go and be the bigger person in the situation (not in the pants, but in your conscious).

6. HAVE FUN: I cannot stress this more than anything else. Every single thing we do together or individually involving this game should be based on this factor. Are we having fun? Am I having fun? More than likely if we follow all the rules and guidelines listed ABOVE and BELOW, we will likely have this all the time.

Violations will result in warnings at first then removal from the team if necessary plain and simple. So don't test boundaries, play nice in the sandbox and have fun.



Forum and Website rules:

1. No Flaming: nuff said. This is probably the most annoying thing of all! If you disagree with someone, that is fine and normal, but literally writing an essay about it or even a short little blip just to get a rise of emotion out of them or others in the community, then its flaming!

2. No Spamming: Duplicate posts will be deleted and any form of spamming posts or topics will make you lose your access.

3. Admin Abuse: This is one thing that can get out of control really quick and I have no tolerance with anyone who I have given administrator access to abuse the "powers" they have. Put simply, if anyone abuses their admin powers by muting people, kicking people, banning people, moving people around channels, creating channels or messes with any setting of the forums, I will simply take your admin away immediately. If you pay for this website, you can do whatever you want, but since I am paying for it, your play by my rules.

4. No Drama: This statement is broad, but you all know what I mean. This ranges from two people fighting about anything (who gets loot, making a costly mistake, or power struggle on a decision, random bs) to an individual having a negative agenda to bring everyone or a specific person to fight over just about anything. Here is the deal, if you are angry at someone or are in a pissy mood, JUST LEAVE THE FORUMS. It's that easy. Don't bring down everyone else's experience because you "had a bad day in RL or a bad incident in the game and want to take it out on someone". If there is a drama happening in the forums, please try to amicably solve it before you get heated or if that cannot happen, someone will step in take necessary action (which if they do take action, don't continue the drama against them or others, just cool off)

5. No Recruiting From Other Guilds/Clans: We are happy to have other teams post here for scrims or other clan bridging building events, but what is not allowed is any post regarding recruitment whether it be a website or message.

6. N0 Posting of these subjects: Hate material, including, without limitation, defamatory, abusive, racially or ethnically offensive imagery, content or language, Pornography or obscene or indecent material, Political Propaganda. The site cannot have an obvious political agenda, or one that has blatant messaging of slogans and attacks on religions, ethnic groups, or personalities, or that would otherwise tarnish LICENSOR's reputation.

7. No advertising: Advertising or other commercial messages or materials is not allowed. Any copyrighted materials of a third party is also not allowed (without prior permission from the owner of such material).

8. No Violating LICENSOR Trademark Rules: I (SgtSavage) and all affiliates shall not: Ask for a player's personal password or username; Ask for a player's credit card information; Pretend you are a paid employee of LICENSOR or otherwise directly affiliated with the Game; Privately ask to meet players in person with the exception of clearly posted public gatherings; Make any material available for download or distribution that you know (or should know) violates any of the copyright, trademark or other rights of LICENSOR or any other third party, including, but not limited to, the Fan Site Materials or any other intellectual property of LICENSOR; or Make any material available for download or distribution that you know (or should know) contains any computer virus of any kind, including, but not limited to, spyware.



Ventrilo Rules:

1. Admin Abuse: This is one thing that can get out of control really quick and I have no tolerance with anyone who I have given administrator access to abuse the "powers" they have. Put simply, if anyone abuses their admin powers by muting people, kicking people, banning people, moving people around channels, creating channels or messes with any setting of VENT, I will simply take your admin away immediately. If you pay for this vent, you can do whatever you want, but since I am paying for it, your play by my rules.

2. No Drama: This statement is broad, but you all know what I mean. This ranges from two people fighting about anything (who gets loot, making a costly mistake, or power struggle on a decision, random bs) to an individual having a negative agenda to bring everyone or a specific person to fight over just about anything. Here is the deal, if you are angry at someone or are in a pissy mood, JUST LEAVE VENT. It's that easy. Don't bring down everyone else's experience because you "had a bad day in RL or a bad incident in the game and want to take it out on someone". If there is a drama happening on vent, please try to amicably solve it before you get heated or if that cannot happen, someone will step in take necessary action (which if they do take action, don't continue the drama against them or others, just cool off)

3. No Spamming Mic/Chat/Noise/Binds/Changing Channel/Paging: This is simply annoying. Don't do it or you will be muted.

4. Specific Channels: I have made specific channels for a reason, so if you are playing a certain part of the game, try to go in those channels so people can join you in that aspect of the game OR on the flipside, if someone is in say, the PvE leveling channel, please don't go in there if you are say, going to do PvP or Crafting... go to your channel unless its ok with the people in that channel. This is not a big deal, but the point of the channels are to give people freedom and organization when it comes to working with other people without the interference of others doing other parts of the game.

5. Locked Channels: These channels are locked specifically so a group can undertake a part of the game without the interference of others (whether they may be by themselves or in a already chosen group) so please do not disturb these channels at all costs. If you need to contact someone, you will just have to wait for the most part. If you need me or an admin to create a locked channel for you or a group, please let us know and we will do so.

6. Avoid these subjects at all times: Hate material, including, without limitation, defamatory, abusive, racially, ethnically, or sexually offensive imagery, content or language. Obscene or indecent material, and especially Political Propaganda. We cannot have an obvious political agenda, or one that has blatant messaging of slogans and attacks on religions, ethnic groups, or personalities, or that would otherwise tarnish our Guild as a whole. I know, for the most part we may say mean things all the time or make racial jokes every now and then, but if it 1: becomes overly used or 2: is used in a "real" derogatory way that offends someone, then it has to stop.

(As per legal aspects of swtor.com, BioWare, and Lucas Arts I will notify everyone of the following and will enforce these rules: This is not allowed on this site and you should be aware of this and notify and admin immediately if there is an infraction of rules below:

Posting: Hate material, including, without limitation, defamatory, abusive, racially or ethnically offensive imagery, content or language, Pornography or obscene or indecent material, Political Propaganda. The site cannot have an obvious political agenda, or one that has blatant messaging of slogans and attacks on religions, ethnic groups, or personalities, or that would otherwise tarnish LICENSOR's reputation. Advertising or other commercial messages or materials. Any copyrighted materials of a third party (without prior permission from the owner of such material).You will post on your site a notice of these restrictions and police these policies to ensure compliance. I (SgtSavage) and all affiliates shall not: Ask for a player's personal password or username; Ask for a player's credit card information; Pretend you are a paid employee of LICENSOR or otherwise directly affiliated with the Game; Privately ask to meet players in person with the exception of clearly posted public gatherings; Make any material available for download or distribution that you know (or should know) violates any of the copyright, trademark or other rights of LICENSOR or any other third party, including, but not limited to, the Fan Site Materials or any other intellectual property of LICENSOR; or Make any material available for download or distribution that you know (or should know) contains any computer virus of any kind, including, but not limited to, spyware.)