Velusion's Games (Server Upates, Rules and FAQs)

[Velusion]

I'm going to use this thread to post notices about my game server and rules to follow in my hosted games.

Current games affected:
http://www.ArsNotoria.net/dominions3/stats.php

Rules
There are only a few rules to follow when playing in games I host. They are simple "Well Duh!" rules that should be easy to follow. Breaking these rules could get removed from all the games of mine you are in and banned from future games I host.

Thou Shalt Not:

� Excessively remind people to do their turn or hurry up.
� Exploit known bugs on Edi�s bug list (see main forum sticky) or obvious bugs that aren't on Edi's list.
� Threaten or harass players with consequences outside of Dom3 games.
� Hack the game files or my server in any way.
� Access or Play more than one nation in the same game - this includes even when the other controlling player gives you permission.
� Abandon your nation without letting anyone know or without putting yourself to computer controlled (AI).

Exploits:
Exploits not in Edi's list are a gray area - but basically we don't allow them. This includes the following:

� Using the copy/paste orders + Bogus to target commanders with non-Bogus leaders.
� Spamming items to another player with the intent of filling up their lab so that their forgings will fail.
� Casting a battlefield wide spell continuous spell with a mage and then immediately running away - causing the spell to last forever. This is on Edi's list but is difficult to avoid. The comprise: All mages that cast a battlefield wide enchantment need to stay on the battlefield for 5 complete turns. The very last order can be to retreat.

Subs/Replacements:
Substitutes and replacements can be used for missing/departing players.

� If you are going to be gone for an extended period of time and your nation is doing decent/well it is usually expected that you will look for a substitute or replacement player in the AAR/MP forums. If you fail to find a substitute or replacement player then it is considered kosher to place your nation on AI. It is your responsibility to look for one. If your nation is doing poorly putting it on AI is considered acceptable.
� If players do not locate a sub after the second stale the nation will be placed on AI.
� I reserve the right to turn an abandoned nation to AI immediately if I deem the position to very poor/hopeless.
� I might or I might not advertise for a sub to be found if the missing/departing player does not. If I do I will always take first come, first serve. If the departing player does not want me to find a player it's his responsibility to tell me so.
� Players still in the game may NOT sub for another nation, under ANY conditions.
� Due to the frequent scarcity of subs previous players from within the game that were eliminated are allowed to sub unless specified otherwise by the departing player. Because of this it is recommended that players play a friendly game.

Winning Conditions:
� Unless specified otherwise all games can only have one winner.
� Though I will not disallow players from calling a game with an "alliance win" I will simply consider this an abandonment of the game.

New Player Etiquette & FAQ:
This is just a compiled list of aspects of MP Dom3 that new players often misunderstood or have questions about.

� NAPs (Non-Aggression Pact). An x turn NAP *usually* means that each player must give the other x turns of notice before attacking the other player. The NAP will exist forever unless notice is put in by one of the parties or it is broken. Always clarify that the other player has the same definition (whatever it is) when making a NAP.

� People often have different ideas of what is allowed in a NAP. Having anything other than a scout in another NAP player's territory *could* be considered "aggression" by many players.

� If you feel a winner is inevitable it is considered acceptable to resign. If all the other players feel the same way, the winning nation is crowned and the game is over. If not everyone agrees you may still put your nation on AI after you have solicited for a replacement player (unless you are doing very poorly - then go strait to AI).

� Games (at least those I host) rarely go until the very end. In order to be crowned the winner all other players must surrender or you must have met the victory conditions. This means that if one players still disputes your victory you must force him to surrender or outright win.

� Rehosting (restoring from backup and processing the turn again) will usually only happen if the host screws up or the entire game has corruption problem. Rehosting usually is a hassle for all the players and will be avoided. This means that it is possible for a nation to be selectively screwed by nation specific corruption/bugs. While I feel for you - the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Unless it is a small game, please don't expect the game to be rehosted because of player-specific problems.

� The early turn schedule will almost never be changed. In the late game turns can be extended to 72 hours or longer depending on the amount of time it takes players to do their turns. The hosting schedule is never up for a vote and is completely controlled by me to prevent a minority of players from getting screwed by the majority.

� Please do not ask for pauses in the first 20 turns as they will not be granted. Stale turns are a part of the game, you'll have to deal with it. In smaller games with less than 10 players I will allow pauses, usually of less than a day provided I have access to the server.