Ravenloft: Prisoners of the Mist
Public (OOC) => Announcements, Updates and Status => Topic started by: Soren / Zarathustra217 on May 21, 2007, 12:16:00 PM
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This topic will document any changes to the rule we make so it's easy to stay updated.
/Changelog:
21/8/2007: Updated to make better overview and clearify certain rules.
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Changelog: 10/8/07 added the following to "DM Interaction"
- If you have a complaint or issue you want to resolve, do not complain to or argue with DMs or other players via tells in-game. It is simply too disruptive and takes up too much time for DMs who could otherwise be running events for other players. If you have a complaint or issue you need resolved, then send a Personal Message (or "PM") on the forums to either the Head DM or one of the Assistant Head DMs.
Anything that disrupts the current roleplay environment or personal roleplay enjoyment (such as grievers, getting stuck on an inaccessible tile, or bugged characters) will be dealt with immediately. If the issue is not urgent then it is to be left for a forum PM.
Those who continue to argue/complain via tells after being informed of this rule can expect the following punishments:
Rule Broken: Complaining to a DM via in game tells, despite being directed to forums PMs (Screen shots required)
Punishment: Verbal warning from Staff (first offense)
Written warning (Second offense)
2 Week Ban (Third offense)
2 Month Ban (Final offense)
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/Changelog
9/12/2007 - Reformulated the DM communication section a bit to make it clearer and removed the punishment part as we normally don't include that in our rulebook.
03/01/2008 - Removed Harper scout from the rulebook, as it is a non-existant organization in Ravenloft, thus characters unable to progress in it.
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28/01/2008 - Added section to the PvP rules:
- Valid overriding in-character reasons may encompass many things such as faction conflicts, open confrontation (words or actions by the victim), refusal to withdraw or surrender by the victim (to the extent where this is possible), retaliation. Don't engage random characters if they do all within their power to avoid conflict - but on the other hand, don't expect to be safe of PvP if your character is acting confrontational, intimidating, taunting or otherwise participating to build the conflict. In doubt, both parties should take screenshots of the situation and contact a DM about it.
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/13th October 2008 - Updated section 5, adding more clear definition of the relationship between OOC and IC, among other things.
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/27th october - Updated this section:
SHARING OF ITEMS AND INTERACTIONS BETWEEN OWN CHARACTERS
- Leaving items/gold for one of your other characters is not permitted, and using one character to acquire the corpse of another of your characters is not allowed either. If you have more than one character on the server, remember they are two different people. Don't let what occurs to and involves the one character transfer to the other. This also includes any way of passing on an item and knowingly acquire it later with another character.
- Tag-teaming with own characters is not allowed. Don't use one character to clear an entire dungeon or parts of an area to then log in with an alternative character to roam the same place. Don't have your character in any way react upon or use knowledge acquired by another of your characters.
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Updated Section 6: Player Versus Player adding:
- Hiding, delivering irrevocable wounds or burning corpses falls under the general rules of PvP and is considered as such.
- The corpse/remains items should generally be treated as following the game mechanics. The corpse/remains item cannot be supposed to not be present in game when it actually is - you should not by roleplay decide that the corpse/remains item is somewhere else, like the bottom of the sea, the Shadow Rift, or in a remote region of the Core that is not actually represented anywhere within the game. In the same sense, you cannot dissolve/decrepit it beyond what amounts to the remains item.
And changing the Pick Pocketing rules to encompass all stealing.
Updated Section 7: Adventuring etc. adding:
- "Perma" or "permadeath" are OOC terms, and as such, should never be a determined consequence of the IC roleplay. Character stories' can come to a "closure", but only by the decision of the player of the character. In exceptional situations, however, it may be extremely unlikely that a dead character should ever return to life, amounting for the same.
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Updated Section 2 adding:
- Don't give your character a nonsensical or silly name like "Apple" or "Shoe." The name must be reasonable and believable within the culture that your character is from.
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Updated Section 5 with the following:
Take notice of the ban of cybersex as we take this rule very seriously - any obvious and severe violations of this rule will lead to a permanent ban from the server. Essentially, cybersex encompass all scenes containing elements of erotic nature (both from the perspective of the players and the characters). This implies things such as roleplaying situations involving exposed genitalia or exposed female breasts, and also all activity that gives sexual satisfaction of any form to either participant part (innocent mouth to mouth kissing is acceptable). If the roleplay story entails such elements to naturally occur, simply let it surpass by a nondescript emote like [fades to black].
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Updated section 7: Bugs & Game Limitations
- If you experience a bug, please report it on our Bug Reports forum in the Feedback section.
- If you experience a exploit, please report it via forum PM to one of our developers. (http://www.nwnravenloft.com/forum/index.php?topic=1184.msg9060#msg9060).
Basically, please don't post exploits on the public forums, contact a developer via forum PM's instead.
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We have decided to implement a new rule concerning faction membership. This isn't related to any specific events, but is a rule that has been long underway while we tried to arrive at the best terms and formulations.
Since we realise it may be obstructing the roleplay of some, it is also a rule that we for now will only have cover new faction members. In other words, current faction memberships will not be affected.
This is the new set of rules:
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Multiple Characters and Faction Memberships.
- To preserve the suspense and better allow designing plots, membership of certain factions bars your other characters from active membership of factions having conflicting interests with the first. Your one character might still have multiple faction memberships however.
- Factions currently covered by this rule encompass: Ba'al Verzi, Gundarakite Rebels, The Nerull Cult, Red Vardo Traders and the Vallaki Guards. Other factions (including unofficial factions, i.e. player-run) may be added to this list per DM decision.
- If you have characters that have faction memberships conflicting this rule, you may decide to make the one character inactive, temporarily removing faction forum access. While having a character being inactive in this way, you should also avoid playing the character.
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Background and reasoning
The main idea is to reduce metagaming (and equally important: speculation hereof) as well as increasing the sense of suspense in faction conflicts by disallowing a player to have characters on both sides of an inter-faction conflict. Even if most of you are very mature and responsible enough to not metagame and let information pass from one character to their alternate characters, it is still our impression that generally not knowing what's going on in the opposing factions can be a motivating factor for trying to outsmart, scheme against, foil plans etc. through IC means. Additionally, not knowing is in itself a major part of building the excitement and ultimately enjoyment of inter-faction dynamics.
If you have comments regarding this rule, please feel free to discuss it here: http://www.nwnravenloft.com/forum/index.php?topic=35211.0
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Updated Section : Player versus Player
-In terms as having IC cause for engaging PvP, MPCs do not need their victim to have engaged themselves in the conflict or consented to it. Equally, IC identifying someone to be a MPC can be sufficient cause for engaging in PvP with them. The PvP should still be done in accordance with all the other aspects of the general PvP rules - roleplay the hostilities before resorting to basic combat.
As such, when engaging in PvP with MPCs, you must ensure there is roleplay before the hostilities and respect the general PvP rules; the condition of requiring sufficient cause for engaging in PvP is lifted since they are monstrous characters. In return, MPCs can freely engage players in combat even if the person has not consented or engaged themselves in the conflict; however, they too must follow general roleplay rules.
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Updated section: Character Creation
We've updated the deity rule to simplify it and clear out some misunderstandings. It now reads:
- All clerics should worship a deity and have cleric domains that are in accordance with this deity as per the setting of origin's official rules and lore (if present). If required by the setting of origin, paladins, rangers, and druids should also possess a deity. A list of common deities can be found here (http://www.nwnravenloft.com/forum/index.php?topic=18979.0). If you are uncertain about a particular setting, please ask here on the forums.
The most important thing to notice is that we do support clerics from unlisted settings.
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Updated sections: Character Creation/Character Progression
-Reworded the rule on applications for subraces to remove references to specific subraces since it was outdated
-Reworded the rule on character remakes to link to the application form and remove the short form template
-Removed the rules on fallen paladins; we now have a system in place where DMs can strip a character from the relevant class abilities (clerics, druids, paladins, bards, monks) if they fall/no longer respect the alignment as per DnD rules. As such, a remake is no longer necessary for a paladin who falls.
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Updated section: Character Progression
-Updated the paladin’s multiclassing rule to allow paladins to multiclass but at the cost of all their paladin abilities and spellcasting. This should allow fallen paladins to multiclass.
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Updated section: Character Progression
-Updated the prestige class rules to clarify that Hallowed Witches can only be taken by native characters:
- All prestige classes are available, with the exception of Harper Scout and Purple Dragon Knights; Dragon Disciples can only be taken by outlander (e.g. non-native) characters and Hallowed Witches by native characters.
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Updated Section 6: Player Versus Player
-Updated the stealing rule to clarify that it doesn't apply when the owner is not present or living:
- Stealing is treated as an attack under the general rules of PvP, except if no living (i.e. not in spirit form) PC owner is present.
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Updated Section 5: Interacting and Roleplaying
-Added rules to govern the use of Disguise:
- Players may not use the Disguise skill to assume the identity of another player or an NPC without DM supervision.
- Disguises should follow the same rules as all player names and descriptions.
- Piercing a disguise does not confer knowledge of the player's actual name, merely recognition if the player already knows the character and knowledge of the fact that the character is attempting to disguise themself.
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Updated Section 2: Character Creation
-Added a rule covering voodan worship of loa under the Deity subsection:
- All voodan should worship a loa and have domains and a school of magic that are in accordance with their loa. Gothic Earth voodan may worship one of the loa from Gothic Earth, all other voodan should worship one of the Ravenloft loa, regardless of their setting of origin. You can find the list of supported loa on the forums (https://www.nwnravenloft.com/forum/index.php?topic=50127.msg613941#msg613941) or in the OOC Lounge in-game.
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Updated Section 3: Character Story
- Clarified that characters must be 18 year old at creation, or the racial equivalent, and cannot be portrayed as appearing like minors.
- Merged the rules concerning researching character background and names for Ravenloft natives.
- Added a rule specifying that characters from homebrew or non-official supported settings must be of the generic standard races (no unsupported subraces, special appearances or traits).
Updated Section 5: Interacting and Roleplaying
- Shortened the rule regarding not handing out gold/items for OOC reasons and clarified it applies to closures as well.
- Removed the Nerull Cult from the list of factions that cannot cross-play since they are no longer supported, added the Dementlieuse Gendarmerie and plot factions to the list.
Updated Section 6: Player versus Player
- Reorganized the rules, shortened them to make them clearer.
- Added clarifications on corpsehiding.
- Expanded many rules to cover conflict not just PvP.
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Merged Section 2: Character Creation with Section 3: Character Story:
- Shortened and clarified the background and character creation rules.
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Updated Section 1: Character Story & Creation
- Added the following rule: - Generally, paladins may not follow evil deities. However if the setting of origin explicitly supports such a concept, an application for an exception may be submitted to the DM Team for review.
This change is not retroactive, so existing characters do not need to submit an application. However, it applies to new characters as of now.
Updated Section 2: Character Progression
- Shortened and streamlined the character creation rules.
- Updated the prestige class and multiclassing rules to account for the recent changes. Please note the following changes:
- Monks can only multiclass with the following classes: Assassin, Blackguard, Divine Champion, Dwarven Defender, Shadowdancer, and Weapon Master.
- Paladins who multiclass can no longer progress as paladins and lose all paladin abilities, except when multiclassing with the following classes: Divine Champion, Dwarven Defender, and People's Champion.
- All prestige classes are available, except Harper Scout and Purple Dragon Knight. Dragon Disciple can only be taken by outlander characters (e.g. non-native) from settings that support it, whereas Hallowed Witch is only available to native characters.
- The following prestige classes require an application: Assassin, Blackguard, Dragon Disciple, Hallowed Witch, Pale Master, People’s Champion, Shadowdancer, and Shifter. The application form can be found on the forums.
The list of available prestige classes paladins and monks can multiclass freely and without penalty into was made based on balance, thematic and mechanical considerations. This does not affect paladins falling and becoming blackguards since they already lost their abilities by virtue of no longer being lawful good.
The mechanical changes supporting this rules revision will be implemented in-game shortly.
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Updated Section 1: Character Story & Creation
Made minor edits to the cleric deity rule and added a rule for favored souls:
- Clerics should worship a deity (or equivalent) from their setting and have cleric domains given by that deity, as listed on the forums.
- Favored souls should worship a deity from their setting and have a favored weapon supported by that deity, as listed on the forums.
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Updated Section 1: Character Story & Creation
- The mists of Ravenloft can reach into any world. Your character may come from any supported D&D 3.5 (or prior) setting, other game setting or homebrew world, so long as that world is compatible with D&D 3.5's brand of fantasy and is no later than 1650 C.E. in terms of culture and technology. Homebrew worlds cannot be alternate versions of established settings (eg. Earth instead of Gothic Earth). Be true to their original setting in terms of names, appearance, and religious beliefs (i.e. domains and practices matching their deity).
If your character is affected by this change, reach out to the DM team.
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Updated the harassment, verbal abuse entry in Consistent Rulings and Punishments as follows:
Rule Broken: Harassment, threats, verbal abuse, willfully trying to get members of staff or CC to share confidential information
Punishment: Verbal warning (First offense)
1 Week Ban (Second offense)
1 Month Ban (Third offense)
Indefinite Ban (Final offense)
*Egregious cases may warrant accelerated progression on this disciplinary track. Trying to coax confidential information from CC/DMs/Developers will also disqualify the person from serving in the future as part of the Community Council, DM and Development teams.
As indicated, we reserve the right to skip steps in this track for egregious cases. Also, and this is not new, but we reserve the right to bar someone from joining one of the staff teams or the Community Council to community members who have tried to coax information out of staff teams, as it is seen as a serious breach of trust.
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Updated the following sections of the rules to add support for templates:
Section 1: Character Story & Creation
- Hair, skin and eye color must be natural for the character's race, origin and template.
- Characters must not have (or have had) any traits, powers or abilities upon creation that a regular character of the same class, level, race and template would not have.
- Characters must represent the setting of origin for their subrace and template and cannot have experiences beyond this setting with the exception of their arrival within Ravenloft.
- Characters from unsupported settings and homebrew worlds can only choose the standard supported D&D races and must adhere to the standard D&D appearance and traits for that race (eg. no gelflings, no witcher, no dark elves from WoW, no snow elves from The Elder Scrolls). They cannot start with a template.
Section 4: Interacting and Roleplaying
- No "Cheesing": "Cheesing" is the act of playing your character as if they have an ability or feat which the NWN engine would not otherwise allow them to have. "Cheesing" could also mean playing your character as being a race, template, class or otherwise that isn't applied to your character through the game. An example could be playing out a character as a vampire even if the character is not setup to be that.
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Added a new section to the rules, section 7, to cover live streaming on Prisoners of the Mist. Read the following announcement (https://www.nwnravenloft.com/forum/index.php?topic=66775.msg767569#msg767569) for further context.
- Players should have informed consent about being livestreamed at all times. If that is in doubt or not practical, streamers must stop broadcasting.
- When broadcasting, streamers should activate streamer mode using @streaming. Using @streaming list will show all players currently streaming.
- Streaming of public roleplay taking place in open areas such as the Western Outskirts, Keep of the Dyad - Arrival, open taverns, etc., is always allowed - consent is assumed in these places. If in doubt, consult a DM.
- Streaming of semi-private roleplay such as whispered conversations, dungeon runs, encounters with monstrous player characters, etc., should only be done with the consent of those present.
- Streaming of scheduled DM and player-run events can be done only with the consent of the event organizer, consent which must be announced publicly ahead of time.
- Streaming of private or secretive roleplay and high-stakes conflict is not allowed.
- Failure to follow the live streaming rules constitutes a rulebreak under General Neglect of the Rules.
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Updated Section 1: Character Story & Creation to add support to favored souls with no favored weapon following the hak update:
- Favored souls must worship a deity from their setting of origin. They are required to select the favored weapon of their chosen deity, as listed on the forums (https://www.nwnravenloft.com/forum/index.php?topic=18979.0). If the chosen deity has no favored weapon, they cannot have one and must select the Favored Weapon (None) feat.
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Updated Section 1: Character Story & Creation to reflect the recent Voodan Loa changes (https://www.nwnravenloft.com/forum/index.php?topic=68513.0):
- Voodan must worship a loa from their setting of origin and have domains and a school of magic given by that loa. Supported loa are listed on the forums (https://www.nwnravenloft.com/forum/index.php?topic=50127.msg613939#msg613939) or in the OOC Lounge.
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Updated Section 1: Character Story & Creation to add support for shamans:
- Shamans must pick one domain from this list: Air, Animal, Death, Earth, Fire, Healing, Plant, Repose, Sun, Undeath or Water, and another from the following list: Chaos, Darkness, Destruction, Dream, Evil, Good, Knowledge, Law, Luck, Magic, Protection, Strength, Time, Travel, Trickery or War. More information on patron spirits can be found on the forums (https://www.nwnravenloft.com/forum/index.php?topic=69249.0).
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Updated Section 1: Character Story & Creation to add support for healers:
- If required by the setting of origin, druids, healers, paladins and rangers must also possess a deity, or they will be unable to level up.
- Generally, paladins and healers may not follow evil deities. However if the setting of origin explicitly supports such a concept, an application for an exception may be submitted to the DM Team for review.