Who wants to work on the code of conduct?

[Griphus]

Now is, I think, a decent time to start talking about 'who we want to be' for Hellgate, and maybe even Warhammer (it's further out still). Below is the CoC from WoW, and obviously some of the examples will need to be removed, but big-picture-wise, what sort of stuff do you guys think we should be about?

The one clause that I am definitely going to add is what I called "Americanism." Which I define as the idea that because we want something we should get it. It drives me nuts when people expect to be handed or accomodated something without working for it.

What else do you guys think we should put in & take out?

All Warriors of Death are expected to follow this code. If you choose not to you choose demotion, being banned from raiding, and being removed from the guild.

Above all, be respectful. We have had very little drama in our years on Bloodscalp and five years as a guild overall. I attribute this to a baseline of common courtesy and respect that I absolutely demand my membership upholds. I have zero tolerance for personal attacks, clique politics, and backstabbing. I also draw a line between criticizing someone's actions, ("Pulling the entire Cathedral was stupid.") and criticizing a person. ("You are stupid.") I, and we, make mistakes and have accidents from time to time. I tolerate mistakes, but I don't tolerate stupidity.

Be responsible, be accountable. There are two parts to this. First, if you say you will do something, or be somewhere, or help someone, please do it. Many of us enjoy being a part of this community enough so that we move real life plans in order to accommodate in-game instances, etc. To do that or to fly all the way around the in-game world only to come into an unorganized mess is unpleasant. Second, if you screw up, accept responsibility for it, say something so we know what went wrong, and then learn from it. If a 63 elite comes and stands on your head because you crit on an aimed shot for 2000, or crit on a greater heal for 4500, take responsibility for it. There is no faster way to earn my (and our) respect. If you don't, and I have to talk to 38 people to figure out what's going on, I will single you out and it is not fun for you or for me.

Business before pleasure. Be competitive. Raiding is serious, but not solemn. Bring a sense of urgency and intensity when you raid. We all come to this game hoping to get a wide variety of things from it. I ask you to keep in mind that, while staring at the release spirit button may be fun for you, it is not fun for me and a good portion of the rest of us. I work a full-time job, and go out one or two nights a week. When I log on at night, you'll see me joke around a bit with the guildies, ask how they are, etc. However, when I go into an instance or a battleground, it's time to get things done. When things are going well, you will hear me promoting joking around and having a good time there as well. When they are not, you will not. It is my goal to be the best player as I can be, and I continually work towards that. I ask that you do the same. I feel it is a safe common denominator that, no matter how casual or serious a player you are, other things dieing and you living is more fun than you dieing and other things living.

Be Active. You are here to be a part of a community, so please do so. Obviously in order to apply you have registered on the forum, that means you know they are here, and you know how to work them. You absolutely must know what is going on within the forums, and I strongly encourage you to add your own contributions to them. Most of my officers are under instructions to point you here for answers, rather than answer them for you. I very strongly believe in initiative and self-motivation. The more dead weight we have as a guild, the less energy and momentum we keep. You are expected to ADD energy to the community, not take energy away. As far as logging in-game: if you are gone for more than ten days, and do not tell us, you will be removed for inactivity. If you are going on vacation, or hard on money, just tell us and we will do our best to mark your public note. Sometimes we screw up and don't get it marked; if this happens just whisper one of us when you return and we'll be happy to offer you a re-invite to the guild.

Bring up your issues in private with officers.
If you start a scuffle in guild chat, I will not be happy. If you create little anti-them clubs, I will not be happy. No matter what, there will come a time when I as GM will tick you off, hurt your feelings, or screw up and push you too hard. Going to other guild members, other officers, your mom, dad, cat, or plant is not the answer. When we are not in the middle of something, send me a tell, or a PM on the forums, and we will discuss it. You will find that my most valued members in this community are the ones that aren't afraid to tell me what they think, but do so respectfully and at the right time.

Don't constantly talk about your gear, your crits, how leet you are, or what you want.
If an officer wants to know your dps, skill, or gear goals they will ask you about it. Otherwise, there's a good chance no one wants to hear you talk about how great you are. If you want to impress us, do so through your actions, not your words. We keep raid stats all the time, and we will notice.

Get involved! Be a person! There's not much explanation here. If you truly want to join the Warriors of Death, go all the way. Share your sense of humor, share your fun times, and come prepared to laugh your ass off, share your stories, and create new stories together. When you log in, say hello, ask people how they are doing. Make friends, build relationships. Say goodnight. Answer questions, do nice things.

Wear your guild tabard - especially to raids. This is pretty obvious too. Which one of these guys stands out?

If you apply to another guild while in WoD, you will be removed instantly and without question. Period.

Try to check the forums daily. These forums are our lifeblood. They are what hold us together outside of just playing together. They are what make us a community, instead of just a clan or a guild. They are also a resource for you to use to find strategies, help from a guild member, instance times, signups, guild events, etc. They are updated often, and things happen fast, so please try to browse through at least once a day, and add your own two cents from time to time. They make for great morning reading as you wake up, and also to relax a little bit after you get home from work.

On Attitude. Loud and obnoxious persons are a vexation to their team mates and guild members. Stereotypically, skilled gamers can have issues with inflated egos. My officers and myself have no tolerance for this, and will deflate any inflated egos we come across. If cockiness or attitude becomes a recurring problem you will be removed at the discretion of myself and/or your class leader.

-Timothy

[Zalasta]

I'll take another stab at it.

On cliqueish attitudes: if we're going to say it, it needs to be enforced. We had a LOT of trouble with that particular beastie over numerous periods within WoD, with really nobody here being an exception. If I were to try and pick out any particular aspects that were the catalyst for the most grief in our history, it would be a combination of a building of a clique mentality, coupled with many people taking their problems to the their respective cliques rather than the officership. To me, that seemed to be the major catalyst for many of the schisms we came across, and I think should be a major focus of our attention as we get bigger in subsequent games we end up playing.

Some of it is unavoidable; there's going to be a very large one in the next games we play, simply because all of the old hands will be much closer than the new people we pick up within the game as we move into it. We should all be friends within the guild, not just friends within the clique within the guild. I'd rather not have to deal with that particular set of events again.

[Griphus]

I hate all people equally.



I agree with you, but cliques are a pretty hard thing to 'enforce' simply because they are so fuzzy. I don't feel like we can tell someone they can't be better friends with one person than with another one. Different people are going to get along better with some than with others, and it stands to reason that closer friends are going to want to spend their time together during their 'in-game free time.'

I think that the two things that are important is that whatever individual/small group politics occur, that they not affect the function of the community e.g. a raid, and that new community members not feel isolated and ostricized because existing groups don't open up to them.

[Zalasta]

Better put than me.

Ok, I'll work on this over the weekend.

[Grimholtt]

Griphus wrote:
I hate all people equally.


Bahahahaha!!!

[Zalasta]

This is quick and dirty, and I cherry picked a lot from the original CoC.



--------------------------------------------------------------

All members of Tribe on all games are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct in as much as it applies to each individual game. Since we are a multi-game guild, some areas simply do not apply based on mechanics, but the spirit and intent are to be adhered to at all times. If you don't, expect to be demoted, restricted on large guild events (raids, city sieges, etc.), and potentially be removed from the guild.

Show Respect.
This is probably the most important thing, and will be a recurring theme through out both the Code of Conduct, and your time here with us in Tribe. There has been surprisingly little drama in this guild in the past 6 or so years. This can be attributed to the respect we show each other in guild, and is non-negotiable. There has been, and will continue to be, no tolerance for conniving behind people's back, personal attacks on other members of the guild, or setting up opposing camps within guild (cliquing). That is not to say that you won't spend more time with your friends, but setting up groups within the guild based on personal animosities will not be tolerated.

Criticize the Action, Not the Player.
Every member of Tribe is capable of mistakes, from the GM down. That being said, don't make the same mistakes over and over again. Mistakes are a part of learning, but not learning from your mistakes is stupidity, and is not tolerated.

Be Respectful of Other People on the Same Side.
Tribe, in it's various incarnations, has had very little drama outside of the guild as a whole in the games it has been in. That is because we realize there is no need to make enemies on both sides. Being a jerk to somebody on the same side as you doesn't accomplish anything useful, and could potentially make life harder for all of us in the long run. It only takes one bad person to taint the reputation of the whole; don't let that person be you. This means no kill stealing, no mob training, no loot ninja'ing, and no rude remarks publicly. Save the douche bag attitude for the enemy, where it be used most effectively. That being said...

Take Care of the Guild First.
If a guildie needs help, be the first to offer it. Group with guildies as a first preference; we have usually ended up being superior players anyway, and will therefore accomplish goals faster. You are a part of this guild, and are expected to give into it as much as you get out of it.

Be Accountable and Responsible.
If you say you're going to help somebody, or be somewhere, or do something, don't flake out. People will be relying on you to follow up on what you say you will do, and not being responsible enough to follow through will let them down. Many of the members here enjoy this environment and the community to reschedule real life activities to help out our friends and guildmates here, and it is disrespectful to them to no appreciate that and to waste their time and energy in such a manner. The second part is simple. In PvE, if you pull aggro and end up getting killed, and cause a wipe, take responsibility. If one of the officers has to ask each and every person what happened and why just to get to the bottom of it, you will end up being singled out, which is no fun for anybody. The same goes for PvP; if you screwed up because you weren't where you were supposed to be, or let somebody slip by on accident, fess up and take it like a man (or woman, if you are a woman). Personal accountability is one of the quickest ways to gain respect here.

Keep Your Head in the Game.
Many of us here are professionals, and work long hours on top of having other real life obligations. Many of us come to the game to enjoy time with friends, and to have fun. Winning is fun. Losing is not. Large PvE encounters, tough instances, and fighting against the opposing faction all require a certain amount of concentration, intensity, and determination. Have fun doing it, but be serious about it, and if things are going well, we can all joke around and have fun while smearing other things into paste, rather than the other way around.

Work to Get Better.
This one is pretty simple. Ask for advice on areas you are weak in, and work to be a better player. There's no shame in asking for help if it's needed, and nobody expects you to be perfect out of the box. But, if you lack in an area, you are expected to work on it.

Be Active.
You're a part of a team now. Act like it. Don't expect somebody to tell you what you need to be doing all the time. Take the initiative. Ask if there's anything that needs to be done, or if anybody needs help. If you see something that needs to be done, do it yourself. Don't be dead weight. The guild runs on a certain momentum that is carried by the actions of the whole, and the more people that just sit around and do nothing, the less momentum we keep moving forward, until we stop. Everybody is expected to give to the whole, not just take away. Being active also has a more immediate meaning: if you do not log in for a period longer than 10 days without telling somebody, you will be removed. We have had many active duty military members that have been called out on deployments, and none of them have had any difficulty in letting an officer know, so that they will still be in the guild when they come back. If you are in a tight spot on money, and can't afford the game for a period of time, or are going on vacation, or have a family emergency, just drop a quick note on the forums when you get the chance, so we can take the proper actions, and not boot you.

Read The Forums.
If you are a member of the guild, you have obviously been to the website and have applied to the guild. This means you know where they are, and how to use them. Most of the important goings on are posted on the forums, so you absolutely MUST be on them to know what raids are being planned, which activities are being scheduled, who needs help with what, and many other things as well. It's also the most active forum of social interaction we have, and you are encouraged to take an active part in it as well. Traditionally, the officers have been under orders to direct people to the forums for answers to questions, and that is not going to be changing any time soon. Read the forums. Participate on the forums.

Bring Your In-Game Issues to the Officers.
that's one of the many reasons they are there. Don't go to your friends in guild. Don't go to your family, or your pet, or your co-workers. Go to the officers, and they will work to mediate the issue. Definitely don't bring it up in a public channel, and don't let it simmer. Finally, don't bring the issue up to be mediated when we are in the middle of something large and important in-game (read: city raids, scheduled activity, PvE raids, whatever).
A special note from the GM:
No matter what, there will come a time when I as GM will tick you off, hurt your feelings, or screw up and push you too hard. When we are not in the middle of something, send me a tell, or a PM on the forums, and we will discuss it. You will find that my most valued members in this community are the ones that aren't afraid to tell me what they think, but do so respectfully and at the right time.

Don't Apply to Other Guilds.
If you do, we will come to the conclusion that you do not want to be here, and will kick you out of the guild. Pretty simple.

If a tabard/seal/insignia/etc. is available in-game, you will be expected to wear it.

Share Who You Are.
Talk! Share your jokes and your personality! Share your stories! Make new friends! One of the most important aspects of this guild is the bonds of community we make, and that becomes very difficult to do with a person if they never talk. We really do want to get to know you, so share with the guild.

And lastly,

Don't Be Obnoxious.
Seriously. Nobody really wants to hear about your leet gear, your mad skillz, or deal with an overinflated ego. Typically, very accomplished gamers have a problem with this. The officers don't look well on this, since it usually ends up pissing people off in guild, and will go out of their way to deflate those big egos. This goes along with the respectful attitude.
------------------------------------------------------------

[Intervention]

Worship australians would be another good rule.

:P

[Grimholtt]

All hail the Aussies! Home of Fosters... erm.. nevermind.

[Valetta]

I think it sounds great! Good job Eli.

If I'd change anything it would be to make the "don't be obnoxious section" bigger, just to give it more emphasis.

Noel

[Cooney]

Woah woah woah.

Don't be obnoxious? Am I not allowed in?

[Zalasta]

There's a certain amount of obnoxiousness that's allowed, so long as it can be easily identified as parody, like yours Cooney.

I was thinking more along the lines of Loic obnoxious. Man, was that kid obnoxious. Bad too.

[Cooney]

WAIT, YOU JUST PULLED AN AGGRO SENSITIVE BOSS?

LOLZ ARCANE POWER

[Zalasta]

LOOK AT ALL MY WARLORD GEAR, I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING

[Intervention]

Have I ever mentioned I miss pissing you lot off?

[klic]

$_$

[Cooney]

Oh Jesus.

[Earthsoul]

You called?

[Intervention]

I need to learn to keep my PENIS in my pants.

[Intervention]

Goddam Moderators- screw with my posts!!!

[Griphus]

Prove it.

[Cooney]

You encourage admin abuse, but I'm still just a registered user...

[klic]

It's a trap don't fall for it admins

[Griphus]

First, I don't condone admin abuse, I condone Bretton abuse.

Second, I have too much going on in my life now to have officers just for the sake of having officers. Come up with a job for yourself and then we'll talk.

'Keeping it real' is not a job. ;)

[klic]

It is in Coolville™

[Intervention]

Why is abusing me condonable? its more like blasphemy!

[Grimholtt]

I thought it was S.O.P.