RULES & GUIDELINES

Zero Tolerance Policy

1. Out-of-Character Conduct

This policy applies exclusively to Out-of-Character (OOC) interactions, including Discord, direct messages, voice communications, support channels, and other community-affiliated platforms. It does not apply to legitimate in-character roleplay occurring within River Valley Roleplay.

The following conduct is prohibited and may result in immediate suspension or permanent removal from the community:

• Harassment, stalking, intimidation, or targeted abuse directed toward another member.
• Hate speech or discriminatory remarks directed toward another player based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
• Encouraging, glorifying, or directing another person to commit self-harm or suicide.
• Persistent toxicity, personal attacks, or behavior intended to create hostility, disrupt the community, or drive members away.
• Predatory, manipulative, or malicious conduct occurring through community-affiliated platforms.

Community administration reserves the sole authority to determine whether conduct violates this policy. Administrative decisions regarding violations of this policy are final.

Twitch & Streaming

1. Streaming & Content Creation

River Valley Roleplay welcomes streamers and content creators. Members who choose to stream or create content are responsible for complying with the terms, policies, and guidelines of the platforms they use.

2. Stream Sniping

Stream Sniping, defined as viewing a stream or other live content to obtain information not available to your character in-game, is prohibited.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Using a stream to locate another player or group.
• Using information learned from a stream to influence in-character decisions.
• Monitoring another player's stream while actively participating in related roleplay.

Any information obtained through a stream, video, chat, or other external source that would not reasonably be known by your character is considered Metagaming and may result in disciplinary action.

Discord Rules

2. Rules Regarding Discord

While interacting within our community Discord, members must comply with the Discord Terms of Service and Community Guidelines:

• Discord Terms of Service
• Discord Community Guidelines

2. Community Conduct

• Always use the appropriate channels for chatting and posting content. Posts made in the wrong channel may be removed without notice.
• Direct Messaging (DMing) Staff is only permitted if the issue is severe in nature or if a staff member has explicitly invited you to do so.

ENFORCEMENT

3. Rule Enforcement

Educational intervention is first for minor violations. Major offenses result in immediate action.

• Minor Violations: Education → Warning → Mutes/Temp Bans.
• Stream Sniping: 7-30 day ban (first), permanent ban (repeat).
• Severe Violations: Immediate permanent removal (harassment, threats, TOS violations).

Metagaming

1. Prohibition of Out-of-Character Information Use

Metagaming - defined as the use of information obtained Out-of-Character (OOC) by a character who has no reasonable In-Character (IC) means of acquiring such knowledge - is strictly prohibited. This rule preserves the integrity of the roleplay environment and ensures fair immersion for all participants.

Examples of prohibited metagaming include:

• Hearing through a Discord call that your friend’s outlaw outfit is being raided, then logging into the server and intervening, despite your character having no IC knowledge of such raid.
• Discussing OOC matters on Discord (e.g., arrests, raids, hidden locations) and then roleplaying as though your character discovered these events IC without proper in-game roleplay discovery.
• Watching a live stream or recording that reveals hidden stashes, bases, or events, and then acting on that knowledge IC without discovery through legitimate RP.

Random Deathmatch (RDM)

2. Requirement of Roleplay Justification

Random Deathmatch (RDM) is defined as causing harm to another character without clear, reasonable, and roleplay-justified cause. Characters must always engage in logical, immersive roleplay prior to escalating to violence. This applies equally to on-foot and vehicular interactions.

Examples of prohibited conduct include:

• Witnessing an armed robbery between strangers and, without any IC buildup, immediately attacking the shooter in an attempt to “play hero.”
• Identifying a member of a rival outfit you dislike while on foot and attacking them without dialogue, threats, or roleplay initiation. (This constitutes RDM + failure of initiation.)

Powergaming

3. Prohibition of Forced Outcomes

Powergaming is defined as unreasonably forcing outcomes upon other players or exploiting mechanics to obstruct or dominate roleplay. Members are prohibited from removing the element of choice from other players or creating scenarios that cannot be reasonably contested within RP.

Examples of prohibited conduct include:

• Forcing lasting injury without player consent. (e.g., using /me cuts off your hand and expecting compliance.)
• Creating an OOCly binding scene such as: “Door is locked, impossible to open or break”, thereby preventing fair roleplay interaction. Such absolute declarations are unenforceable.
• Applying the same restrictive declarations to props, surveillance cameras, or similar items in an attempt to block RP avenues.

No Value of Life (NVL)

4. Character Survival and Decision-Making

Many roleplay communities enforce No Value of Life (NVL) as a requirement to comply whenever another character has a clear advantage. River Valley Roleplay does not share this view.

Characters may choose to fight, flee, surrender, negotiate, or take risks, even when the odds are against them. The decision belongs to the player and should be guided by the character they are portraying.

While players are encouraged to roleplay fear, injury, danger, and consequence realistically, River Valley Roleplay will not enforce mandatory compliance or punish players solely for choosing to resist, escape, or fight back.

Likewise, players who choose to take significant risks are expected to accept the natural consequences of those decisions. Injury, death, capture, or other adverse outcomes resulting from a character's actions will not be overturned or enforced solely because the character chose not to comply.

In summary: your character's choices are your own. The frontier is dangerous, and dangerous decisions often carry dangerous consequences.

Initiation of Hostilities

5. Requirement of Roleplay Conflict Initiation

Before engaging in any hostile or violent action, players must initiate conflict through roleplay. Hostilities may only commence after an appropriate and reasonable RP buildup has occurred, granting the other party opportunity to respond.

Examples of valid initiation include:

• Party 1: "Don’t move or I’ll shoot!" → Party 2: raises hands, "Don’t hurt me!"
• Party 2 (if leverage exists): "You just made your last mistake!" → pulls firearm → hostilities commence.

Any act of aggression absent of such initiation shall be considered a breach of community conduct and subject to sanction.

Combat Logging

6. Leaving During Active Roleplay

Combat Logging happens when a player leaves the server while an active situation is still in progress. This includes any scene involving conflict, police activity, injury, or other roleplay that would normally lead to an in-character result.

Players should always remain in-game until the entire situation has wrapped up, including any aftermath such as medical treatment, arrests, or recovery. Exiting early breaks immersion and cuts short the experience for others who are still participating.

• Quitting during or immediately after a police chase, shootout, or robbery.
• Leaving the game after being injured, restrained, or detained without allowing the scene to finish.
• Failing to return or follow up after a legitimate crash or timeout once the server is accessible again.

If a real issue or crash forces you offline, you’re expected to reconnect as soon as possible or message staff to let them know what happened. Repeated or suspicious disconnections will be handled as intentional combat logging.

If a situation makes you angry or uncomfortable, do not respond by logging out. Step away for a moment, manage your frustration, or reach out to staff if something feels unfair. Once the scene is over, you may submit a player report through the proper channels. Staying calm and finishing the scene ensures respect for everyone’s roleplay.

In short: never leave mid-scene to escape consequences or disagreement. Stay in character, handle it through roleplay, and address any problems afterward.

ENFORCEMENT

7. Rule Enforcement

Educational intervention is first for standard violations. Severe violations result in immediate action.

• Standard Violations: Education → Warning → Rule Review → Temp Bans (3-30 days based on severity).
• Severe Violations: Immediate permanent ban (mass RDM, deliberate powergaming, malicious metagaming).

Staff consider context, intent, and severity.

Organizational Representation and Hostilities

1. Representation and Conflict

Members who openly represent an organization through badges, uniforms, insignia, colors, or other identifying markers acknowledge that they may be recognized and treated as members of that organization.

During an active conflict, visible representation may serve as sufficient roleplay context for hostile action. Additional initiation is not required when the hostile relationship between the involved parties is already established and reasonably known.

This rule applies when:

• An active conflict exists between organizations or factions.
• Members are visibly representing their organization.
• Both parties are reasonably aware of the ongoing hostility.

Examples include, but are not limited to, lawmen wearing badges or uniforms, members of outlaw outfits displaying their colors or insignia, and other individuals openly representing a known organization.

In summary: openly representing an organization carries both the authority and risks associated with that organization's reputation and conflicts.

ENFORCEMENT

2. Rule Enforcement

Educational intervention is first for standard violations. Intentional abuse results in immediate action.

• Standard Violations: Education → Warning → Temp Bans (3-14 days).
• Leadership Violations: Removal from organizational leadership for non-compliance.
• Intentional Abuse: Immediate suspension/permanent ban for circumventing RDM rules.

Outfit and faction leadership are responsible for member compliance.

Character Rules

1. Character Creation

Characters should be original, believable, and appropriate for an 1899 frontier setting. Every character should contribute to the shared roleplay environment and exist within the established reality of the world.

The following are prohibited:

• Creating a character intended to imitate or copy another player's established character.
• Using names intended to be disruptive, vulgar, or otherwise inappropriate.
• Creating characters under the age of eighteen (18).
• Portraying famous historical figures, fictional characters, or obvious imitations thereof.

2. Reality and Supernatural Roleplay

River Valley Roleplay is grounded in a realistic interpretation of the American frontier in 1899. While characters may hold unusual beliefs, superstitions, or delusions, the world itself remains rooted in reality.

Characters may believe they are cursed, blessed, haunted, possessed, immortal, a vampire, or any number of other things. However, these beliefs do not make them true. Supernatural abilities, magical powers, monsters, and other fantastical elements do not exist within the server's reality.

Voice Changers

3. Regulation of Voice Modification

Voice changers and modifications are permitted only if they do not break immersion or disrupt the roleplay environment. Use of VOIP is mandatory; text-only or mute roleplay is not permitted without explicit permission from staff.

Specific restrictions include:

• If a voice modification produces artificial, robotic, or otherwise immersion-breaking effects, staff may require it to be removed.
• Text-based or mute roleplay is expressly prohibited, unless the character becomes deaf or mute through roleplay. This server is a Voice RP environment. If you are unable to use VOIP, you may not participate.

ENFORCEMENT

4. Rule Enforcement

Educational intervention is first for all character violations.

• Character Standards: Education → Mandatory modification/recreation → Warning → Temp Ban (3-7 days).
• Voice Changer Issues: Staff request removal, server removal for non-compliance.
• Repeated Violations: Permanent ban for unwillingness to comply.

Prohibited Roleplay Topics

1. Strictly Forbidden Content

The following subjects are prohibited from roleplay within River Valley Roleplay:

• Sexual assault, rape, or other forms of non-consensual sexual violence.

All other roleplay topics will be evaluated within the context of the setting, the story being told, and the distinction between character actions and player beliefs.

Staying In-Character (IC)

2. Obligation to Maintain Character

Players are expected to remain In-Character (IC) while participating in the roleplay environment. Occasional mistakes happen, but repeated or deliberate disruptions to immersion are discouraged.

Guidelines include:

• Remain in character whenever reasonably possible. If another player breaks character, continue roleplay to the best of your ability and address concerns after the scene has concluded.
• Avoid unnecessary references to game mechanics, systems, or other Out-of-Character information during roleplay.
• Administrative matters, reports, and staff actions exist outside of roleplay and should not be incorporated into character interactions.
• Active roleplay scenes are not to be paused, voided, restarted, or otherwise interrupted by Out-of-Character disputes. If a player believes a rule violation has occurred, the roleplay should continue to its natural conclusion and the matter may be reported afterward.
• Staff members will not pause, void, restart, or otherwise alter active roleplay scenes except in extraordinary circumstances involving technical failures, exploits, or issues that make continuation impossible.

In summary: roleplay should play out naturally. Disputes can be addressed afterward, but the story comes first.

Injury, Incapacitation, and Recovery

3. Character Memory

River Valley Roleplay does not enforce mandatory memory loss following injury, incapacitation, or recovery.

Characters who regain consciousness after being incapacitated are expected to roleplay the physical and mental effects of their injuries in a believable manner. The extent to which a character remembers, forgets, or misremembers events surrounding their injury is left to the player's discretion and should be guided by the circumstances of the roleplay.

Players are not entitled to memory loss as a means of avoiding roleplay consequences, nor are they required to forget events simply because they were rendered unconscious or received medical treatment. The sole exception is when a player voluntarily elects to accept a Player Kill (PK), as outlined below.

In summary: roleplay the consequences of injury realistically. Character memory is generally a roleplay decision rather than a server-enforced mechanic.

4. Player Kills and Character Kills

When incapacitated, players may be presented with the option to accept a Player Kill (PK).

A Player Kill (PK) allows the character to recover at the nearest doctor's office and continue their story. Characters who elect to PK are considered to have no recollection of the events immediately surrounding the incident that led to their incapacitation.

Players who choose not to PK may remain on scene until they regain consciousness naturally. Characters who recover in this manner retain memory of the events that occurred prior to their incapacitation.

A Character Kill (CK) is the permanent end of a character's story. CKs are voluntary and require both player consent and final administrative approval before taking effect.

In summary: a PK allows a character to continue their story at the cost of their memory of the incident, while a CK permanently concludes that character's roleplay journey.

ENFORCEMENT

5. Rule Enforcement

Educational intervention is first for minor violations. Severely prohibited topics bypass education.

• Severe Prohibited Topics: Immediate permanent ban (ERP, sexual assault, hate-based RP).
• Other Prohibited Topics: 7-30 day ban (first offense), permanent ban (repeat).
• Minor Violations: Education → Warning → Temp Bans (1-7 days).

Staff maintain discretion based on context and impact.

Exploiting, Glitching, and Multi-Character Abuse

1. Prohibition of Exploits

Players are expected to report bugs, glitches, exploits, and unintended game mechanics upon discovery. The use of any exploit for personal gain, financial benefit, competitive advantage, or roleplay advantage is strictly prohibited.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Glitching through walls, doors, terrain, or other inaccessible areas.
• Duplicating items, currency, animals, wagons, or other assets.
• Repeatedly abusing unintended mechanics to generate money, items, or advantages.
• Retaining or benefiting from items, currency, or assets obtained through an exploit.
• Knowingly withholding information regarding a significant exploit.

2. Multi-Character Abuse

Characters are expected to exist independently of one another.

The following are prohibited:

• Transferring money, items, property, or assets between your own characters.
• Using one character to benefit another character you control.
• Sharing information between your own characters that would not reasonably be known to them.
• Circumventing roleplay consequences, cooldowns, restrictions, or character progression through the use of alternate characters.

3. Scheduled Restarts

Players may not intentionally use scheduled server restarts to avoid roleplay, evade consequences, preserve property, escape danger, or gain an unfair advantage.

External Communications

4. Use of Out-of-Game Platforms

Players are prohibited from using external communication platforms (e.g., Discord voice, TeamSpeak, etc.) to coordinate or influence active in-game roleplay. All roleplay interactions must occur within the server VOIP environment to preserve fairness and immersion.

Permitted uses of external communications include:

• Aligning schedules to coordinate when roleplay will occur.
• Pre-planning business or organizational roleplay structures (but not active scenarios).
• Sharing realistic IC files or documents. Businesses, outlaw outfits, and community groups may use external servers strictly for out-of-game community building or admin-approved planning.

ENFORCEMENT

5. Exploiting, Glitching, and Multi-Character Abuse

Any gains, assets, currency, or advantages obtained through exploits, glitches, or multi-character abuse may be removed by administration. Serious or repeated violations may result in suspension or permanent removal from the community.

6. External Communications

Educational intervention is first for minor external communication violations.

• External Communications: Education → Warning → Temp Bans (3-14 days), permanent ban (repeat).

All enforcement decisions are final and at staff discretion.