Server Rules

Notice
The server rules on this page are subject to change. We continuously review and update the rules to improve gameplay, ensure fairness, and address new situations as they arise.

Server Rules

RMC is a roleplaying game with team deathmatch elements. This means players are expected, to an extent, to pretend their character is part of this world in their actions and words. This is the intended experience, and the experience the players of RMC enjoy, and is not always about winning.

Admin Decisions Are Final

• Rules are enforced as intended. Every example of a rule break cannot be written, thus enforcement is subject to admin interpretation of the rule's intention.
• Admins may handle rule breaks through in-character consequences at their discretion. This does not apply to zero tolerance rules, and rule breaks may not be requested to be handled this way.
• Do not argue with the staff. You may file an appeal if you feel the decision to be incorrect, not ignore it.

Important Notes

Heavily avoid using a VPN or any similar program to connect or while connected to RMC. You are putting your account at risk, which may result in your account being permanently banned.

If you have a legitimate reason to use a VPN, you must attempt at least once to connect to the server without a VPN before requesting an exemption for it.

General Information

Disconnecting from or ignoring/evading admin-helps will result in action being taken.

This is to prevent bad actors from avoiding issues. If you need to leave urgently, let us know and it will be considered in your appeal.

• These rules are not the same as other servers, should be read in their entirety.
• Ban Types and Duration
• This game has friendly fire mechanics. Avoid shooting your team.

Zero Tolerance Rules

You are liable to be banned without warning, questioning, or message for breaking these rules. Read here for more information.

Core Game Rules

These are the general rules of RMC14. Click expand for more information.

1. This is a English server, please only use English.

This is a English server, please only use English.

This is an English community.

• Speak only English in character and out of character.
• We cannot moderate other languages, nor do we want people to be left out of conversations.

Why?

• We are not currently recruiting staff fluent in other languages to moderate them. Translation tools can be unreliable and are not integrated well into the game.

Non-English Options

• There are many servers that allow or focus on other languages. You are highly encouraged to play on servers that allow languages you are fluent in for the best experience.

Do not use multiple accounts, or alt accounts, and do not share accounts.

2. Do not use multiple accounts, or alt accounts, and do not share accounts.

Don't use multiple SS14 accounts to play.

• Players knowingly using multiple SS14 accounts will have all of their accounts banned. Appeal with the account you intend to use.
• This is to prevent players from exploiting game systems and will be treated as such.
• Players should avoid sharing accounts. Any actions taken on a shared account will be noted for the use of the account, and not per player using it.

Follow the rules of escalation against non-hostiles.

3. Follow the rules of escalation against non-hostiles.

Follow the rules of escalation.

Follow escalation rules against non-hostiles and don't instantly murder someone for annoying you, use common sense.

• Always give verbal warnings before resorting to violence.
• Only use as much force to disable the other person.
• Make an effort to heal them or bring them to medical personnel.
• You can defend yourself to the extent of protecting your own life, if the attacker is not a hostile force.
• Military Police should use less-lethal force to effect arrests of criminals.
• Adminhelp the situation if you think someone is over-escalating.

Don't use information gained from outside your character's knowledge.

4. Don't use information gained from outside your character's knowledge.

Avoid using out of character info.

Don't use information gained from outside your character's knowledge to gain an advantage ("Metagaming").

• Using information you gain from outside your own character's view and hearing to your advantage is strictly forbidden. You remember all events up until you fall unconscious. If you take a ghost role, unless otherwise stated, you do not remember anything from your past life.
• Characters are not unconscious during being infected alone, just blinded and muted, shown by the game mechanics.

Don't antagonize your team, don't harass players.

5. Don't antagonize your team, don't harass players.

Don't antagonize others.

You are playing a multiplayer game with other people who also want to enjoy the game.

• Do not intentionally make other players' lives hell for your own amusement.
• Intentionally making yourself a major problem/annoyance/disruption for other players while not a hostile force is forbidden.
• Give disconnected players at least 5-10 minutes (or until their character falls asleep) to return before considering taking their equipment or sending them to hypersleep. Returning to all your equipment being stolen or being removed from the round by your own team is not a good experience.
• For the same reason, do not take equipment from revivable dead players.
• Avoid berating new players. They cannot be expected to have full knowledge of the game, and should be taught rather than insulted.
• The goal of MPis to make the server a more immersive and enjoyable place for everyone. Do your best to uphold that goal, by mediating conflicts and assisting the crew and marines with their needs with the minimal force required.
• If your behavior in the Military Police role does not meet community standards, you may be subject to a roleban. This may not be an indication of a bad player, but it is an indication that a player doesn't have the understanding required to play MP.

Crimes in character

Crimes must have sufficient in character motivation behind them, obtained during the round.

• There is leeway for minor crimes that benefit your character with a provided roleplay reason, which have consequences for your character if caught.
• If you are caught, stay in character. Do not complain in any OOC channel, as it is not the fault of other players for playing their role - you are responsible for the actions you took.
• Disconnecting / making a mess of the brig when being caught can be used as evidence in lack of roleplaying behavior when doing crimes.
• Do not consistently commit crimes across rounds (admin discretion), as this is very annoying to other players, a cause of ooc grudges, and almost never in character.
• Players should not be charged more than once every 3 real days under normal gameplay, considering the server often exceeds 200 players with many of them being marines each round.

Examples of invalid reasons for crimes:

• "The MPs have nothing to do."
• "I'm giving the MPs things to do."
• Being bored.
• Planning to commit a crime out of character before even joining the round.

Other players have their own work and/or roleplay to do, or want to do, independent of everyone else at any given moment and do not need additional things to take care of, especially not from their own team.

Don't harass or target players across rounds for actions in prior rounds outside the game or in OOC.

• Annoying players for in character reasons, as a character in the current round is fine; doing it across rounds or as a ghost role after they have interacted with you is not.
• Do not annoy or target players out of character for actions they took in any round.
• Do not threaten or imply to players that you are calling the admins on them.
• Do not harass military police players between rounds or out of game for playing their role.

Don't quit a command level role without notice.

6. Don't quit a command level role without notice.

Command Roles, Disconnecting

Don't quit a command level role without notifying your supervisor and an admin.

• If you do not want to play a role, do not opt-in for it. Higher ranking roles are always selected first, regardless of role preferences, if nobody else selects them.
• Command roles help drive rounds. If you need to leave, use cryo and please admin-help your role and that you are leaving.
• There is no need to wait for a reply when admin-helping that you need to disconnect as a head role.

Mutinies, riots and similar activity require admin permission.

7. Mutinies, riots and similar activity require admin permission.

Mutinies and riots require admin permission.

A mutiny is only valid when you are assigned the mutineer role. This will give the character a unique skull-helmet icon visible to everyone, and a message in the chat. Anyone without this icon may not participate as a mutineer.

General

• All players, including hostile forces, must obtain admin permission before engaging in riots, mutinies or similar activity.
• Strikes, revolutions, riots, cults, prison riots (excluding hostile forces), and any other type of similar behaviour are strictly forbidden without permission.
• Staff reserve the right to grant or deny these, and to decide if the reason given is sufficient.

Mutinies

• Mutiny cannot occur during hijack, and any ongoing mutiny must be ended upon hijack.
• Only the Acting Commander can be mutinied against. They must be given a chance to stand down peacefully.
• During the mutiny, attacking any uninvolved, medical, or surrendered personnel is forbidden, as is perma-killing anyone involved.
• If you have surrendered during a mutiny, you must remain as such.
• You may not change sides unless you are surrendering.
• When failed, all sides must be given medical treatment. Commanding Officers or higher are able to deny treatment or battlefield execute mutineers.
• When succeeded, all sides must be given medical treatment. The next in the command chain should be put in charge.
• Mutinies must have 3 members minimum.

Examples of mutiny reasons:

• Commander incompetence, where the next in line would lead better.
• Commander takes no actions in leading.
• Commander refuses to allow evacuation.

Examples of invalid mutiny reasons:

• Not liking the commander.
• Wanting to kill the commander.
• Trying to take revenge against the commander or CIC.

Evacuation Mutinies

• These can be done at any point a shipside evacuation (like during hijack) is allowed, but the Commander is refusing evacuation requests.
• They may be done by any number of people without permission, with the intent to evacuate from the ship and save their own lives and the lives of others that wish to evacuate.
• The Commander must still be given a chance to allow the evacuation through negotiation.
• The most minimal amount of force should be used to start the evacuation.
• Any roles may join and aid this mutiny, even those normally prevented.

Don't disconnect if you do not get the role/kit you want, be considerate.

8. Don't disconnect if you do not get the role/kit you want, be considerate.

Follow the roleplay rules and standards of the server. (Outlined at the bottom of this page)

9. Follow the roleplay rules and standards of the server. (Outlined at the bottom of this page)

By opting for certain roles, you are opting into the possibility of supporting any given squad, regardless of personal preference. You are directly affecting the gameplay of others by quitting. Please do not opt into roles you do not feel comfortable playing, so they remain open and obtainable by other players at the start of the round.

Community Rules (All OOC channels)

• Per the hub rules of SS14, do not speak negatively of other SS14 servers, their community, or staff.

• Be civil. No harassment/bullying or offensive/abusive/hate speech content that would make the game a hostile space. Avoid political topics.

• Please do not start heated discussions, including balance issues or roleplay issues, as it is rarely productive with lack of context and information. Missing and new features/fixes and rules can be suggested in the features forum.

• Do not discuss, complain, or comment about anyone's admin/moderator bans/notes/actions including your own. If you've been banned or disagree with an action, the person involved must make an appeal in our appeals forum where a ruling can be made. It is otherwise assumed that the action is valid and there is no issue.

Command and Military Police

These rules also apply to any individual who is a MP/Command role (unless they are a member of a hostile force).

• Command level roles are defined as all department heads, cic staff, MP, and squad leaders.
• You may be rolebanned without warning.

Command and MP must follow Marine Law.

Command and MP are held to a higher standard of play.

1. Command and MP are held to a higher standards.

General Rules

• Be competent in your job and department. Failure to know the basics of your department is liable to result in a role ban.
• Do not willingly and openly cooperate with hostile forces.

Some leeway is given to making deals with hostile forces if the deal benefits the safety or situation of the ship as a whole and not just yourself.

• Do not abandon your position to do things unrelated to your role.
• You are expected to be able to communicate clearly and concisely when communicating on radio channels and announcements, and while in any professional setting.

Non-MP specific

• Command are at minimum expected to report criminal activity to MP.
• Executive Officers are expected to have a reasonable understanding of Marine Law and SOP, as they will be involved in it.
• Only a whitelisted CO or Provost may pardon a sentence, but appeals can be done. See Marine Law.
• Do not immediately abandon the ship during a raid. Protect the ship and it's crew, don't let hostile forces kill everyone on it without a fight, and ensure they evacuate safely if needed.

Non-MP During Mutiny

• These roles are exempt from following Marine Law in some cases, if they are correctly part of a valid mutiny.

MP Specific

The goal of MP is to make the server a more immersive and enjoyable place for everyone. Do your best to uphold that goal, by mediating conflicts and assisting the crew and marines with their needs with the minimal force required.

• MP should try to remain non-lethal except in specific special circumstances. MP will be expected to answer for use of lethal force.
• MP to the best of their ability should be investigating reports of crimes, and intervene into criminal activity where possible, unless it conflicts with Marine Law.
• The MP are not combat roles, and should avoid combat in the area of operations.
• If your behavior in the Military Police role does not meet community standards, you may be subject to a roleban. This may not be an indication of a bad player, but it is an indication that a player doesn't have the understanding required to play MP.

MP During Mutiny

• MP are not able to join a mutiny but may be neutral, in which case they may not help or arrest either side until the mutiny is concluded.

This applies to the individual player and not the MP as a whole.

Disconnecting

Don't quit without notifying your supervisor and an admin.

• If you do not want to play a role, do not opt in for it. Higher ranking roles are always selected first, regardless of role preferences, if nobody else selects them.
• Command roles help drive rounds. If you need to leave, use hypersleep and please admin-help your role and that you are leaving.
• There is no need to wait for a reply when admin-helping that you need to disconnect as a head role.

2. Command and MP must follow Marine Law.

3. The goal of MP is to make the server a more immersive and enjoyable place for everyone. Do your best to uphold that goal, by mediating conflicts and assisting the crew and marines with their needs with the minimal force required.

Roleplay Rules and Standards

General Roleplay Standards

1. General Roleplay Standards

Character memory

• Your personal character may remember events that occured in previous missions and discuss them, but may not mention their own death or the death of another present character.
• Marine specific knowledge can be found in marine roleplay standards.

Act like an actual character in this setting.

• Do not use text speak or emoticons in character, and do not refer to out of character things like admins or rounds in-game.
• Do not reference memes in character, on any faction, including substituting letters on a meme as a Xenonid.
• Do not use emotes or local out of character to bypass speech filters or muteness.
• You are not required to write a backstory; however, you are expected to at least make an effort to act like your role.
• Some actions have no delay to make gameplay like reloading smoother. Do not abuse this to spam any kind of sounds.
• Use acceptable character names.

Suicides

• You must have a valid roleplay reason to commit suicide.
• Starting and then cancelling a suicide will be treated the same as an actual suicide, and also requires a valid reason.
• Suiciding at round-end without a valid roleplay reason will be considered end-of-round grief and result in the same ban.

If you are not sure if you have a valid reason, AHelp (F1) to ask.

Valid suicide examples:

• Suiciding as a survivor in a last stand scenario, when it is clear that you will be captured by xenonids and there is no hope of fighting back.
• Suiciding to avoid being captured by a hostile force.
• Suiciding if you fail to evac in a post-hijack evacuation of the Almayer.

Not valid suicide examples:

• Suiciding at round end without a valid roleplay reason. Going out after a victory is not a valid reason.
• Suiciding in briefing.
• Suiciding to spite someone or because you want to stop playing the round.
• Suiciding after receiving bad orders.
• Suiciding at round-start because you didn't get the role you wanted.
• Suiciding at memorial in remembrance of fallen marines.
• Suiciding because you are wounded.

Metagaming/Powergaming

Some parts of the game cannot be covered by mechanics to ensure proper roleplay and balance.

• Surrounding an objective structure such as towers or APCs entirely with reinforced walls to prevent Xenonids attacking it without T3s is not allowed. This is usually only relevant in the early game.

Walls can be used to cover most of the object, however there must remain access for other xenos IE barricades.

This rule is no longer applied as soon as a T3 Xenonid has been witnessed.

• Xenonids also cannot surround an objective structure or APC entirely with walls, but can make an accessible room of it with a resin door. A room at minimum should have a tile of walkable space around the structure, with the spirit of the rule being that you are building a base that includes the structure, not encasing it in resin solely for out of character gameplay purposes.
• Exploitation of any current game bugs. You can ask in ahelp if something is a bug to avoid this.
• Xenonids may not build with the intent to hide revivable player corpses.

Below is a list of common questions.

• Using an external program to calculate coordinate locations is permitted.

Character Names

2. Character Names

Character Names

Admin rulings on IC names are final and disputes should be done through the forums, not by refusing to comply with an admin.

Use realistic names, avoid names of real people and characters

Non-human characters have leeway with their own naming formats, listed in character naming formats.

• The goal of your character name should not be to be "funny".
• Pick a realistic name that could appear on a birth certificate with at least a first and last name.
• No names or references of people or characters from the real world.
• No titles/honorifics. Titles and honorifics include but are not limited to; Dr/Doctor, Jr/Junior, Major.
• Names must follow all other rules (no slurs/sexual names/etc)
• Usernames, objects, random characters, very "low effort" names, "meta" names, or otherwise implausible names cannot be used as names.
• Up to two characters of Roman numerals may be used.

Nicknames

Any character may use the human name format.

• Nicknames may only be applied to human name format.
• They may be used in the format of, in single quotes, Firstname 'Nickname' Lastname.
• Nicknames can be at most two words.

Character Naming Formats

Any character may use the human name format. Characters sharing naming formats with another species otherwise should have an in-character lore reasoning. For species not requiring a last name, the first name should be exotic to warrant such.

• Humans, Felinids, Vulpkanin: The standard naming format. Firstname Lastname "John Smith"
• Dwarves: Similar to the human name format, with a viking theme. Try using the randomiser. Firstname Lastname "Erik Lightningclaw"
• Reptilians/Lizards: Exotic names, try using the randomiser. A last name is optional. Name1-Name2 "Beewos-Azala"
• Reptilians/Lizards: (Second common) usually related to the character's interests. Verb-article-noun "Fights-The-Wars"
• Diona: Nature themed. Noun of Noun "The Flower of Union"
• Moth use latin or light themed names. A last name is optional. Firstname Lastname "Lucy Emperor"
• Arachnids use latin themed names. A last name is optional. Firstname Lastname "Spiroctenus Triangularis"
• Avali use exotic single names and can include a last name with a dash. Try the randomiser. Firstname-Lastname "Ralomi" "Ralomi-Jasyo"
• Rodentia use simple names that consist of an adjective, and a single name. The adjective is optional. Adjective Firstname "Shifty Fin"
• Slime-People use the standard naming format. A last name is optional. Firstname Lastname "John Smith"

Artificial Womb Soldiers

These soldiers do not have any biological parents who have passed along their last name to them. Instead these soldiers have been assigned a regular first name, the AW initials as a middle name and a weapon as their surname.

• May only be applied to human name format. Any character may use the human name format.
• As an AW Soldier you MUST have a weapon as your last name.
• This weapon needs to have been used/developed before or during 1975 or earlier. (Vulcan, Sword, etc.)
• For example; James AW Sword

Marines

3. Marines

Marine roleplay standards

Rules regarding crimes in character can be found in here.

• Marines are to assist survivors by saving them from the planet. Do not antagonize them.
• Do not disrupt the start of the round (first drop). If you're engaging in unrelated or disruptive activities (including but not limited to; fights, minor crime, tackling others), keep it to the lower deck gym, where the boxing ring is located.
• All personnel employed by the Marines are mentally stable and fit for duty.
• Don't openly try to cooperate with obvious or known hostile forces as a member of the opposite faction.
• The Marines have knowledge of all possible threats.
• The Marines are not yet aware there are xenonids on the planet at the start of the operation.
• The marines are not aware nor believe in the capability of the xenonids to interact with dropships, and may only act in response to the actual hijack announcement.
• Important marines such as specialists and smart gun operators and corpsmen should be following their role objectives.
• All combat roles should deploy when possible.
• Correspondents focus on reporting on combat and disengage when attacked.
• Medical roles (excluding corpsmen) are not combat roles.
• Do not use setpose for anything but setting an examinable character pose - such as leaning on a wall.

Character Restrictions

• Characters that are not synthetics by role must be entirely biological, and genuinely sentient; capable of independent thought, emotions, and free will. Artificial intelligence, programmed personalities, or synthetic minds are not permitted outside of this role/

Ship modifications

• Deconstruction of the ship for materials should not be occuring before first drop. The marines would not immediately resort to taking their warship to pieces for a random unconfirmed distress call.
• Includes salvaging of things like chairs in briefing, however does not include the barrels and crates in maintenance.
• Includes the removal of supplies from the ship where not explicitly necessary. You would not drag half the contents of the medical bay to the field immediately.
• Modifications to the ship should not be made with meta-purposes, do not build a maze or bunker on the ship intended to secure the ship for hijack before you even know hijack is a thing.

4. Command

Command Roleplay Standards

Briefing

• A briefing must be conducted at the start of every operation before deployment.
• The briefing must inform the squads of their orders, with the minimum personnel being the squad leaders.
• Scouts Specialists and Intel officers are able to deploy before the operation begins if they have a personal briefing.

General

• Command must attempt to direct marines to build defenses to protect the primary landing zone.
• When assigning a new warship commander, follow the Commander Succession whenever possible.
• Do not draw unrelated pictures or write unrelated things on the tacmap.
• Do not give medals to marines sarcastically or as a joke. These are permanent awards on a player's account for doing well as a character and should have effort put into them.

Xenonids

5. Xenonids

Xenonid roleplay standards

General

• The Queen may banish and/or devolve xenonids who do not follow these rules.
• Xenonids enact the will of the Queen and must follow her orders.

The Queen may not force a xeno to a specific caste.

• They are not, and may never be friendly to lifeforms that are potential hosts, or threaten the hive.
• The exception to this are synthetics, which xenonids do not care for and can be ignored if safe to do so.
• Banished xenonids are exempt from hive protection and may be killed. It should be announced for clarity.

Avoid seeking out survivors at the start of the round as a larva. Evolve before searching for them and bring allies, because you will no longer be protected by the early round timer should you die because you have left the protection of the hive.

Killing

• Xenonids may kill anyone, anywhere, for any reason, provided it is not detrimental to the hive. (i.e killing someone who could easily be infected, or is infected.)
• Xenonids may only harm nested hosts if given explicit permission by the queen, or at their own risk of the above rule if the queen is unresponsive. (Reports of this from marines are less likely to be accurate.)

Language and Speech

• Xenonid language is an english translation of their thoughts. They can define locations such as marine bases and ships, but do not know the names of them.
• Do not spam the chat with noises.
• Xenonids, due to the hivemind, learn everything and understand human equipment at a basic level.
• They can understand a marine's role.
• Xenonids can sense the marine ships and are aware they may be attacked shortly.

Queen

• Do not draw unrelated pictures or write unrelated things on the map.
• Do not give jellies to xenonids sarcastically or as a joke. These are permanent awards on a player's account for doing well as a character and should have effort put into them.
• You are expected to have a level of professionalism in the role, similar to the Executive Officer of the marines.

If you are a xenonid attacking aboard a warship (Almayer), attacking newly spawned players in hypersleep areas before hijack is forbidden, let them have a chance to gear up before you attack them! Avoiding the hypersleep rooms unless the Marines are using them as cover will be enough.

Survivors

6. Survivors

Survivor Roleplay Standards

• Survivors have more leeway than marines with mental stability due to trauma experienced during the xenonid attack. They may be suffering PTSD, paranoia or similar conditions for roleplaying purposes.
• Despite this, all survivors should not become hostile or cause drastic issues for the marines in any way, such as stealing their secure equipment, starting fights, or preventing them from accessing any part of the AO.
• Survivors must accept requests/invitations to board the Almayer for the first time, but are not required to stay after they arrive.
• If there is an exception in hostility due to faction it will be clear to the player.
• Hostile Faction Survivors cannot attempt to harm other survivors.
• Do not hunt, move, or secure monkeys to deny Xenonid captures. These monkeys lessen the amount of xenos at the start of the round, and make your life easier.
• Survivors should not engage or seek any xenonids before the roundstart xenos have had a chance to evolve (5 minutes). If a xenonid enters your vision, but you were not seeking them, you are free to attack them as they have forfeited their early round protection.

Intel Objectives

• Survivors may not attempt to secure intel unless they are assisted or have been enlisted into the marines.
• Survivors may pull and gather corpses of dead humanoids and xenonid corpses provided they are acting and speaking in character and not acting and speaking as if to secure intel.

Hostile Factions

7. Hostile Factions

Hostile Faction Roleplay Standards

You do not have rules of engagement and may fire at and be hostile to Marine forces if:

• You have not surrendered.
• You have not accepted medical aid from the Marines, or been revived by them.

You may attempt to escape without combat and resume hostile activities when out of sight.

• You have not changed your faction uniform.
• You have remained hostile to Marine forces.

Pretending not be hostile will be counted as surrendering, unless it is for the sake of first contact negotiations which result in hostilities.

Exceptions

• If captured, you may attempt to start a prison riot when in the brig, to escape and resume hostile intentions. This does not require permission if you are a hostile faction member.

• If you are a hostile force attacking the Marines prior to hijack, attacking newly spawned players in hypersleep areas is forbidden, let them have a chance to gear up before you attack them! Avoiding the hypersleep rooms unless the Marines are using them as cover will be enough.

Commander Succession

8. Commander Succession

This page outlines the designated order of individuals who are eligible to assume the role of Commander in the event a replacement is required, as defined in the Commander Definitions section.

In the event that there are multiple individuals in the same position, experience and/or rank should be considered first, then by name alphabetically.

The new Commander of the operation does not assume a new rank, title or powers such as access changes, but other personnel must follow their orders that pertain to direct the operation.

Ensure when assigning a new Commander, that this is announced. Include the new Commander's name and the reason for them being assigned as the new Commander, to avoid confusion.

• Commanding Officer
• Executive Officer
• Auxiliary Support Officer
• Staff Officer
• Chief MP
• Chieft Medical Officer
• Chief Engineer
• Logistics Officer
• Pilots
• Intelligence officer
• Senior Enlisted Advisor
• Warden
• Military Police
• The most senior Squad Leader by rank, if equal in rank, then by squad seniority (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Intelligence, Echo, Foxtrot)
• The most senior squad personnel by rank, if equal in rank, then by squad seniority (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Intelligence, Echo, Foxtrot)