Community Conduct & Site RulesThese apply to your account, profile, and general behavior across the site.
One Account Per Person: Multiple accounts are not permitted. If you have trouble accessing your account, please contact an administrator rather than creating a new one.
Username & Profile Standards: Usernames, avatars, and signatures must not contain offensive imagery, slurs, or references to illegal activities.
Advertising & Spam: Do not use the forums to advertise other communities, commercial products, or referral links without prior approval from the staff.
Respect the Staff: Moderators and Admins are here to keep the peace. If you disagree with a decision, please move to Private Messages (PM) rather than arguing in public threads.
Harassment & Toxicity PolicyWe maintain a zero-tolerance policy for behavior that ruins the experience for others.
No Targeted Harassment: This includes "call-out" threads, stalking users across different topics, or coordinated "dog-piling" on a specific individual.
Zero Tolerance for Hate Speech: Any content that promotes discrimination or disparages others based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability will result in an immediate and permanent ban.
Doxing & Privacy: Never post a user’s real-life information (name, address, social media) or private communications (PMs/Emails) without explicit consent.
Flaming & Personal Attacks: Critique the game, the strategy, or the opinion—never the person. Calling other users names or insulting their intelligence is prohibited.
Posting & Gameplay RulesSpecific guidelines for keeping the forum organized and readable.
No Low-Effort Posts: Avoid one-word replies (e.g., "This," "First!"), excessive "leetspeak," or posting in all caps.
Spoilers: Use the [spoiler] tag when discussing plot points for recent games. Be mindful of others' experiences!
Search Before Posting: Check if a thread for your topic already exists. Duplicate threads may be merged or locked.
No Piracy or Cheating: Do not share links to ROMs, "cracked" software, or tools used to gain an unfair advantage in online multiplayer environments.
Stay On-Topic: Ensure you are posting in the correct sub-forum. Off-topic chatter should be kept to the "General Discussion" or "Lounge" areas.
Enforcement StrategyNote: We follow a Warning — Temporary Ban — Permanent Ban progression. However, severe infractions (like Doxing or Hate Speech) may bypass these steps at the discretion of the moderation team.
Moderator Code of ConductStaff members are the face of the community. Lead by example.
1. Neutrality: Treat all users equally, regardless of your personal history with them or their skill level in-game.
2. De-escalation: Your goal is to end the conflict, not win the argument. If a thread is heating up, use your tools (Lock, Move, or Split) rather than joining the fray.
3. Privacy: Never discuss internal staff deliberations or private user information in public sub-forums.
4. Activity: If you will be away from the forums for more than a week, notify the Admin team so coverage can be arranged.
The "Three-Strike" Enforcement ScaleUse this as a general guide. Use your best judgment for unique situations.
- Offense: 1.Minor (Spam/Off-topic), 2.Moderate (Flaming), 3.Severe (Harassment), 4.Critical (Doxing/Hate)
1st Occurrence: 1.Verbal Warning (PM), 2.Formal Warning (System) , 3.7-Day Temp Ban, 4.Permanent Ban
2nd Occurrence: 1.Formal Warning(SYSTEM), 2. 3-Day Temp Ban, 3. Permanent Ban, 4. N/A
3rd Occurrence: 1. 24-Hour Temp Ban, 2. 7-Day Temp Ban, 3. N/A, 3.N/A
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
1. Handling Harassment Reports
When a user is reported for harassment:
Check the History: Look at the user’s "Notes" in the MCP (Moderator Control Panel). Is this a pattern?
Context Matters: Look at the 5-10 posts leading up to the incident. Was it mutual "trash talk" or a one-sided attack?
Action: If it violates the Harassment Rule, issue the warning/ban and always leave a Moderator Note in the MCP explaining why.
2. Moving & Locking ThreadsMoving:
If a thread is in the wrong place (e.g., a "Technical Support" question in "General Gaming"), move it and leave a "shadow topic" for 24 hours so the user can find it.
Locking: Lock a thread if it has devolved into pure insults or if the original question has been answered and it is now being used for "post-count farming."
3. Using the phpBB Warning System
Always use the built-in phpBB warning system rather than just sending a PM. This ensures other moderators can see the user's history.
Standard Warning Text:
"You have received a warning for [Reason]. Please review our community rules. Continued violations may lead to a loss of posting privileges."
Escalation Path
When in doubt, leave it out. > If you aren't sure if a post breaks a rule, do not take action yet. Copy the link into the private Staff Forum and ask for a second opinion.
Immediate Admin Escalation is required for:
Legal threats against the site or staff.
Evidence of real-life threats or self-harm.
Security breaches or "bot attacks" (mass spam).Pro-Tip: The "Internal Notes" Feature
