Write the Unwritten Rules

[seluna]

I hear about these things called rules of engagement and bad guild war behavior, as well as GM_Steam's rules. But what's acceptable to some are completely not to some others, so I wonder if there's a standard set of guidelines to things not to do during a guild war. Or even if there will never be one, what are your personal Dos and Don'ts regarding the following things or some others that you would like to talk about:

- Spawn Killing
- Mushroom/Vendor/AFK Killing
- Killing outside of Towns
- Multiple Characters vs One
- Multiple Guilds vs One
- Outside Healing
- Running Away (seriously, somebody once told me he attacked because I ran, ***?)
- High Level Guild vs Low Level Guild
- Verbal Abuse
- Sudden Declaration of War

I'll add my opinions later, I would rather read other people's opinions first.

[lordalden]

Personally, Here's My List.

Do's:
Fight fairly. It does not take 5 people 4x to kill or fight one person who's in his 20's.

Be respectful of those who do not wish to fight. They may be in a warring guild, but that doesn't mean they made the choice.

If an opposing guild member is vendoring, let them continue to do so. This is a rude thing to interrupt.

Don't:
Use trains to kill people outside of maps. This is illegal.

Bully other guilds into taking their spot for levelling. This is illegal.

Do not harass any other guild member for any reason. This is illegal.

[ZombieMouse]

I would say take a look at how my last war went and tell me about the do's and don'ts. LOL.

http://www.outspark.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35900

[Semaj]

according to Steam is not illegal to war out of town (my guild has done so because of lag issues, but we chose a map where we would not draw agro from monsters thus have no chance of dying from one).

while it can be pathetic to gang up on a player (specially if he's a lower level), its allowed according to steam. besides it helps the killing go faster (seriously, a 1 vs 1 fight can last as long as stones/pots and where's the fun in that?). and if the player/guild is a higher level you almost *have* to gang up to kill them.

spawn killing *is* allowed according to Steam (but its rude and childish, so why do it?)
killing AFK/vending is sad, dont do it.

random decleration of wars, can be good (killed bots with this) and it can be usefull if the guild master isnt listed on the forum and your getting picked on (trained, ks, ect.) from a player in the guild. war to defend yourself like that is fine, just make sure that you TELL one of the members of the other guild why you warred them. if its because of one person and you *only* go after him then usually the other guild will do something about their misbehaving member.

outside healing is wrong so dont do it. ok, ill say *unless* your healing a player thats 10 levels or so below the other. my fighter was being healed by an outside person once, but the guild he was in was low 20's and facing a lv40 guild that WARRED US. pathetic i know, and i think we killed one once. we were slaugtered anyways, but thats about the only reason for outside healing.

multiple guilds vs. 1, only if the one is a lower lv guild or if your outnumbered by more than a few. 10 people vs 2 is hardly fair. even if the 2 is 10 lvs above the 10 (then its just unfair for the 10)

running away, well, if you run after youve involved yourself in the war, then dont complain. die then warp away if you dont want to fight anymore. but archers and mage's both run away (kite) so you *have* to chase them down to kill them.

verbal abuse is ILLEGAL and will cause you to be banned from the game.

[Asheer]

We need back to regulations for wars BUT i am afraid that we will face a large "camp" people who want war without any rules (what prove couple of post on my thread).

But there is still hope :) (we win "war" against dance nr 5 so we will win in this dificult case too).

[AngellicDiety]

- Multiple Characters vs One


Totally fair tactic in all out wars. I believe this does not need addressing.


- Running Away (seriously, somebody once told me he attacked because I ran, ***?)


Totally fair tactic too, keep your DPS moving and alive. Spreads their numbers, so you can gang on them individually.

Plus if you know your enemy loves to gang on DPS, they can be the perfect bait for a chain stun trap.


Levels are not always the decisive factor of a war. Its the tactics that count. If you dont stun the cleric thats healing the DPS, then you wont ever be able to kill them. If you dont all figure a way to gang up on a fighter or cleric, there is no way you can take them down (unless their some 10 levels below you.)

[-Leona-]

YUP TOTALLY agree and u r one of those master tacticians :D angel.

CHAINSTUNING ROCKS :p

[lordalden]

YUP TOTALLY agree and u r one of those master tacticians :D angel.

CHAINSTUNING ROCKS :p

I would question the idea of "Master" tactician, but such a thing I've not yet seen on her part, so I can only speculate and plan ahead for now. Ufufufu.

[Vater_Araignee]

- Spawn Killing
You can always use a warp scroll to gtfg.
- Mushroom/Vendor/AFK Killing
Allowable that way people don't exploit it to keep from losing.
- Killing outside of Towns
War is war and happens any place in rl so should be the case here.
- Multiple Characters vs One
Logical tactic.
- Multiple Guilds vs One
They wouldn't be ailias then would they?
- Outside Healing
I'll heal a buddy if I have to, but I wont drop my guild to do it.
- Running Away (seriously, somebody once told me he attacked because I ran, ***?)
Another logical tactic.
- High Level Guild vs Low Level Guild
Hey if a group of lowbies make a kill then even if they lose they have bragging rights.
- Verbal Abuse
Antagonize your opponent and make the screw up. Can you say HEY BATTER BATTER BATTER SAWING BATTER!
- Sudden Declaration of War
If it isn't sudden then it isn't war it is sparing.

[EchoSound]

I personally have more problems with high levels fighting low levels, and spawn killing. First of all: its highly un-bloody-fair, and second: its a super cheap way to win. Considered being a bully, actually.

In fact I'm sure that I've made a personal enemy of at least one member of one guild due to both aforementioned topics.

Personally, I won't fight anyone lower than myself by five levels. I don't like teaming, and hate spawn killing. Maybe I just like fair fights or something, and wars aren't for me. *shrug* Who knows... but some battle ethics out there are just effed up.

[lordalden]

Vater, verbal abuse is illegal. It doesn't matter what the purpose of it is, it's unallowed.

[Bubblezio]

My opinion. Not that it matters. :X

Friendly war Don'ts:
- attack when the other has asked for stop
- gang up to make it impossible for the person to live (unless its an all out war)
- spawn killing
- shroom killing
- vendor killing
- smack talking
- high levels VS lower levels [unless they attack first, 10+ level difference]

Actual sudden war type don'ts
- attack when the other has asked for a stop
- spawn killing
- vendor killing
- smack talking

Also a don't for all who aren't in the war:
- outside healing, unless the people agree to this, which would make it a non-ending battle.
- don't ask for buffs while 47+ clerics are in war fighting. ~_~ It gets annoying. Even if we have the choice to buff you or not.

I'm also not up for 2+ guilds VS 1 guild, unless its 2~3 lower level guilds VS 1 higher level guild with enough people on [on friendly terms].

[Vater_Araignee]

Vater, verbal abuse is illegal. It doesn't matter what the purpose of it is, it's unallowed.

So what you are saying is I cant say "Come on U can hit harder then that! Whats wrong uber mage? Having some clerical problems? Bring it meat shield I'll endure you to death."
Personally I have seen zero language in a war that I would consider wrong. Now if somebody was using language that could get you prosecuted (at least in the u.s.a.) for a hate crime, that would be a different matter all together and not only should they be banned they should be flogged.

[lordalden]

So what you are saying is I cant say "Come on U can hit harder then that! Whats wrong uber mage? Having some clerical problems? Bring it meat shield I'll endure you to death."
Personally I have seen zero language in a war that I would consider wrong. Now if somebody was using language that could get you prosecuted (at least in the u.s.a.) for a hate crime, that would be a different matter all together and not only should they be banned they should be flogged.

Cursing, bypassing the curse filter to invoke a curse word are indeed inappropriate beyond those of common sense(such as your mention of racial or prejudist based reply) idea. What you gave for an example is not unless more is used or you go out of your way to belittle them, as that infringes on their play experience.

[Famineakatux]

Okie Dokey yall a friendly taunt is a friendly Taunt
I feel vater can do as he feels and continues to do so
coz thats his play style... and a little bit of playful
fun at an evenly lv'd opponent is a lot of fun and
encourages people to get more involved with the game.
I luv tellin lv 50 Dps fighters what time it is!

<------ noob (tuxboy v 47 teva)

[seluna]

I personally view spawn killing, vendor/afk killing as despicable acts. I really don't see anything fun or good in killing people who cannot react fully to the attacks, except maybe higher kill score.

I'm still not sure if getting killed by enemy guild members outside of town brings any exp loss or not, but if it does, I really frown upon it. Even if it's because the enemy ran.

As for ganging up, character-wise or guild-wise, I think it depends on the situation. If many high levels gang up on low levels, that's obviously bullying. But if it's the other way round, it is sorta evening the odds, but still not very fair. Personally I would try not to do it.

I'm not sure about outside healing though. On one hand, I would hate to have somebody healing my enemy but sometimes, if you see a situation where it's obvious many people is bullying one person, it's making the fight fairer for the ganged one.

I think taunting is fine, but not insulting. And I don't particularly like suddenly being declared war on, I would at least like to know if it's a war for fun or because somebody ticked somebody off and thus the war.