Colonial Marines is a medium roleplay server with higher/more roleplay being greatly encouraged. "Medium" is loosely defined as being strict but not too strict. In other words, you should consider your character to be a separate entity from you as a player. Your character's actions and feelings in-game should be based solely on your character's experiences and not your own as the player. However, specifics such as Flavor Text, while also very encouraged, are not required. It is also encouraged (but not required as it is on other servers) to use roleplay dialogue before making split decisions such as using lethal force against another character.
General rules (Xenos & Humans):
Rule 0. Admins (not Mods) retain the authority to ignore the following rules at their discretion when they feel it's in the best interest of the current round/server/playerbase at large. However, they will be fully accountable for their actions should they choose to exercise this privilege. If an admin says something is a rule, and you disagree, FOLLOW WHAT THEY SAY AND MAKE A COMPLAINT ON THE FORUM. Don't argue with them.
- Don't be a Dick. - "Dickish" and "Asshole" behavior will not be tolerated.
- We are an ENGLISH ONLY server. Speaking other languages in OOC, LOOC, or DSAY is strictly FORBIDDEN. Our staff also speak English, so you are required to speak it over staff PMs. IC there is a little bit of leeway if you throw in an occasional word or well-know phrase from another language, but entire conversations in other languages is a No-Go.
- No griefing
Griefing - Defined as the perceived intent of one player wanting to cause grief to other players or to the server without any roleplay or reason. The emphasis is on "intent". If an admin determines that the player's intent is to break roleplay, the player should expect swift retribution. Any damage to the station or players caused by griefing can be repaired at an Admin's discretion.
Examples of Griefing:- A marine grabs a gun and immediately starts shooting other marines for no reason.
- A player attempts to break the ship or release the singularity for no reason.
- Harming other players (of the same species) at the end of the round. Marine vs Xeno is fine. End of Round Grief is an IMMEDIATE 3 hour ban with no warnings.
- Two marines get into a fight over something and start throwing punches at each other.
- Two consenting marines want to roleplay a situation that ends with them attacking or killing each other.
- A Mutiny, that began with RP elements (Not just a murderbone rampage)
- A distraught Survivor shoots at an approaching marine and runs away.
- No ERP - Erotic Roleplay is defined as roleplay that has a strong erotic element intended to elicit a sexual response from the receiver(s). It may involve two or more people or be done in front of spectators. This includes reading stories about ERP but not participating directly (WGW). Both consensual and nonconsensual ERP will be met with a PERMABAN. This is not to be confused with distasteful but acceptable male/marine bravado such as "/me scratches his crotch", "/me teabags the alien" or "/me pinches [player]'s nipple." However, these actions can be handled in-character as Neglect of Duty or Sexual Assault per Marine Law should players wish it. Bottom line: If you're not sure if it's ERP or not, or you don't want to be permabanned, just don't do it.
- Ban Evading - Defined as attempting to log into the server with a different account after one account was banned or using any evasion scripts. This results in your current punishment being upgraded to a PERMABAN (NO EXCEPTIONS). Admitting to having/using scripts or the ability to ban evade, will also result in an upgraded ban.
- No Powergaming - Performing actions outside your assigned job (your skills or background DO NOT MATTER prior to the round) or abusing bugs.
Examples:- A Standard Marine knowing surgery.
- A doctor knowing how to hack an airlock.
- A Xeno larva unequipping/pulling around an unconscious Marine.
- A standard marine (or anyone who isn't a Doctor/Medic/Researcher) using a cloner. This may result in an explosion or your death.
- Using "table combat" against other marines/humans.
- No Metagaming:- Acting upon knowledge your character does not have.
Examples of metagaming:- Welding vents before seeing the Xenos use them.
- Equipping hardsuit helmets and other face protection before knowing about facehuggers.
- Setting up defenses on the Sulaco before the Queen sends/receives drop pods/shuttles for the first time. (Note: there will be a big alarm when the queen uses the shuttle consoles.)
- Chasing down Xenos immediately after first contact.
- Doctors performing surgery without first determining what's really wrong with an infected patient.
- Suicide before having a good reason to do it, such as seeing a fellow marine's chest bursting.
- As a Xeno: damaging the Sulaco engine to prevent setup.
- Xenos slashing APCs or cameras.
- A marine grabbing tougher face protection after seeing a comrade get facehugged.
- No IC in OOC or LOOC - Keep IC in IC and (L)OOC in (L)OOC.If you mention an in-game secret in (L)OOC, such as the location of the Queen, expect a ban.
- No OOC in IC - If you talk OOC in-game, like using the ((OOC message)) method, you will be given a warning, then a ban. It's not rocket science to not talk OOC in character.
- Play your assigned role - If you have a role you don't like, petition it with the LOs/Commander or Ahelp to get changed. If you instead suicide or ghost near round-start, you will receive a job-ban.
- Respect the Staff - If you have an issue with them, follow what they say, and then file a complaint. If you argue with the staff, expect to be muted or have your punishment increased.
- Don't ask for special treatment - Things like asking to be a spider, or placed inside a dog or other random things. Also, feel free to send a SINGLE ahelp to the staff if you think there are AFK aliens, but it is not a requirement for staff to place you into an AFK Xeno. If the staff member believes it's necessary, they will ask in Deadchat. Don't spam them.
- No Intentional Breaching Walls Until further notice, any intentional breaching is dis-allowed. So that means, no firing rockets on the sulaco, no firing rockets at the prison, and no intentionally breaching to space through walls or windows.
Marine-specific rules:
- Lethal Force - Simply, the in-character or roleplay equivalent of griefing, but not treated the same. Defined as one marine purposefully using a lethal weapon (gun, sharp object, explosive, etc) or beating into critical/death another marine for a roleplay or in-character reason. A marine using lethal force against another marine is forfeiting any and all Staff assistance for that incident.
Staff assistance - Defined as any action taken by an Staff to heal or aid in a player's negative state.
The bottom line: If you use lethal force, you're on your own, even if you're defending yourself.
Examples:- If you attack a marine using lethal force, you immediately forfeit admin assistance.
- If you use lethal force against a marine in self-defense, you immediately forfeit admin assistance.
- Player: "Help! This guy is shooting me!" Admin: "You used lethal force on them. Good luck."
- Character Names - Your character must have a normal first and last name. One-word nicknames are allowed. Ranks, titles, honorifics, offensive, famous and/or pop-culture names are not allowed (e.g. Dr John Smith, Barack Obama, Lt John Doe, Adolf Hitler). Also, avoid lore-based names like Weyland, Yutani, Bishop, Ripley, etc - these are restricted to admin characters for RP only.
- Incompetent Marines - The Colonial Marines wouldn't hire people with missing limbs (unless you had robotic replacements) or mental issues that cause them to harm themselves or fellow marines due to insanity.
Exception: Late in the round after seeing squadmates die from getting their chests ripped open, suicide is a viable RP option, along with self-sacrifice to aid their comrades. - Get in Uniform - Marines running around with M41s, grenades, mines, ammo bags, but wearing pajamas. Or, an LO that just changed their job to Marine still wearing their blue LO uniform. These break roleplay and immersion and are not acceptable. Get into the uniform you should be in and stay in it.
- Mutiny - Mutiny is not allowed unless an Adminhelp is made giving the reason before you start. Also, you must follow these rules:
- The situation MUST be role-played.
- The commander MUST be given a chance to stand-down peacefully
- You MUST have the support of SEVERAL other marines (at least 5, no single man mutinies)
- You must not kill ANY innocent marines (Any marine is "innocent" if they are not the target of the mutiny (commander and whoever helped him do whatever angered everyone))
- Uninvolved marines should be given the chance to remain uninvolved. They *might* shoot if they see you firing on the commander without a reason. Try to subdue them, WITHOUT lethal force or explain the situation.
- Minimize Losses (use either non-lethal force ONLY, or give all marines who oppose you a chance to stand-down)
- Do not start firing until you have been fired upon
- No firebombs/Napalm - Firebombs/napalm cause TREMENDOUS complications with atmospherics. Don't make them. We are in the process of removing the ability to make them from the code. Also, be careful what other super grenades you hand out, you may be held responsible if people grief with them or destroy large sections of the Sulaco.
- Building Defenses on the Sulaco - Marines may not build defenses on the Sulaco before the Queen sends/receives drop pods/shuttles for the first time. Doing so is to be treated as metagaming and may be punished with a ban.
- ID theft is ILLEGAL - Because of how IDs work on our server (everything from stopping a turret from killing you, to tracking your squad and armor) and ID "theft" is considered an OOC problem and may be handled by staff instead of MPs. Exceptions: Taking an ID from a corpse to get into an area in order to save your life. ID MUST be returned if the player is revived (if possible).
- Job-specific Rules: (Note: These rules apply to anyone performing the tasks associated with the jobs as well).
Commander/Executive Officer- Either the Commander or Executive Officer must be on the Sulaco AT ALL TIMES. If one goes to the surface, the other must remain on the ship.
- If the commander is out of contact for more than 20 minutes, the Executive Officer may take complete command.
- Only the commander may authorize executions of prisoners. You must make a ship-wide announcement and the reason for the execution known to the crew (and who is carrying out the sentence if it's not you). If you just shoot a prisoner for no reason, it's murder.
- Do not equip armor unless you are leaving the ship or it has been boarded.
- Do NOT give all-access or place all-access cards in the ID computers and leave them. This is a BANNABLE offense.
- Do not leave the Sulaco unless it is being evacuated.
- Do not equip weapons larger than a pistol unless the Sulaco is under attack.
- Do not equip armor, unless the Sulaco has been boarded
- You're not an MP. You will not enforce Marine Law.
- Do NOT give all-access or place all-access cards in the ID computers and leave them. This is a BANNABLE offense.
- Do not leave the Sulaco unless it is being evacuated. You may escort the shuttle down to the planet, but you will be expected to return to the Sulaco. Your job is to enforce the law and defend the Sulaco.
- You must disregard a Commander's order if it is against these rules. However, if the order is against Marine Law, the choice is yours (see: Mutiny).
- You may NOT have ANY lethal weapons, unless the Sulaco has been boarded. Having lethal weapons as an MP is a BANNABLE offense.
- You are bound by space-law. Violating space-law, (or the procedures) WILL result in a job-ban.
- The CMO is in charge of all the Doctors and Researchers.
- The CMO may not leave the Sulaco unless it is being evacuated.
- Doctors may stay in the Sulaco or go to a secured FOB on the planet with the CMO's permission.
- Only the CMO and Doctors are allowed to perform surgery. Squad Medics should be stabilizing their patient in order to send them back to the Sulaco for major surgery.
- You are a DOCTOR not a marine. You are NOT authorized weapons, and using lethal force against marines (no matter the situation) results in a job-ban.
- Do not leave the Sulaco unless it is being evacuated.
- Do NOT make genetic superpowers. The scanner is for Clean SEs only.
- You are only authorized pistols, chemsprayers, and grenades - no other weapons or marine gear unless for destructive analyzing.
- The Chief Engineer is not allowed to leave the Sulaco unless it is being evacuated.
- The primary job of the Chief Engineer is the engine. If it explodes, you are held legally responsible and may be detained by the MPs for not doing your duty.
- At most, one Maintenance Tech is allowed on the planet at a time to assist the FOB once it is secured and constructed, but is only allowed a pistol and no other weapons.
- The Janitorial equipment is for the Sulaco. Do not bring it to the planet.
- You are not allowed to leave the Sulaco.
- The only people who can over-ride you on equipment disbursement are the XO and Commander.
- Your mech is for loading and unloading the shuttle, not driving around like a sports car.
- Squad Medics should not be performing any surgery. They should be stabilizing their patient in order to send them back to the Sulaco.
- You are NOT part of command staff
- You may *attempt* to bribe marines to work for you, however you do not outrank them (you are a civilian).
- You are authorized a pistol (at all times)
- You *may* be given special consideration and occasional exception to the standard rules ONLY if noted by Weyland over the fax machine (I.E. You may be ordered to kill someone specific), but do NOT self antag and this is ONLY if you receive permission over the Fax.
- Causing harm to the marines or damage to the Sulaco without first contacting W-Y through your fax WILL result in a job-ban.
- You are NOT Allowed to use your cards to grant access or custom titles to anyone. Doing so will result in a job-ban.
Xeno-specific rules:
- You are a Xenomorph
- Act like one. Your are not a pet or best friends with the marines (except as part of a deception).
- Talk like one. It is fine to use words like "medbay" and "shuttle". You can also replace "shuttle" with "metal bird" if you wish. Hivemind is the English translation of a Xeno's thoughts. However, keep it formal and realistic. No talking like a gangster.
- You have no free will. Your will is that of the Queen. OBEY HER ORDERS. If the queen contacts admins about you disobeying her, you WILL be punished.
- Grow the hive. Your goal is to expand the hive at ALL costs.
- Do not Kill infected hosts (once they have the icon) if they are defenseless or nested. It's counter-productive to your cause of spreading. If a marine escapes the nest and uses a weapon to resist, THEN you may kill them, but you should try to tackle and nest them. Remember: The most hosts you get, the more aliens you get. EXCEPTION: The queen MAY kill any marine she wants at any time, provided she had an RP justification (if asked by the admins). This power does NOT extend to aliens following the queens orders.
- Obey the orders of superior castes, with the Queen overriding all other orders:
- Tier 1 (lowest): Larva
- Tier 2: Runner, Drones, Sentinels
- Tier 3: Warrior, Carrier, Spitter
- Tier 4: Ravager, Praetorian, Hivelord
- Tier 5 (highest): Queen
- [REDACTED]: Empress???
- No pulling/pushing objects for cover - Do NOT pull or push objects to use them as bullet cover while moving. You can, however, pull objects into a position and leave them.
- No Hugger Stacking - Hugger stacking is defined by the following, and results in ALL huggers being deleted (all of them, everywhere):
- > 2 facehuggers on a tile
- > 3 facehuggers in a locker
- No collecting marine gear with lockers - Even if it's "to melt the gear in a group" or just to "store it". It's a no-no, it causes lagspikes and isn't very "alien" to use human technology like that. Melt the stuff individually.
- Do not eat dead bodies outside the main hive or to prevent cloning - This prevents retrieval/cloning, which you don't know about. Main Hive is defined as where the queen is laying eggs and the hosts are being secured. If your a lone Xeno running around the Sulaco or the Fob, do NOT eat bodies of people you kill. You'll get a ban for Meta/Powergaming.
- Aliens are NOT allowed to follow orders from the queen that break any of the pre-ceeding rules. - Breaking these rules WILL result in: a demotion to a lower level of Xeno, Death, or job-ban from Xeno (at staff discretion).
