Rules of Engagement
These rules apply to any guilds we are warred to.  They do not apply to Feluccan murderers, thieves, and other brigands.

1)  Be sure you know your opponent, and talk to them before swinging away.
Obviously if you enter a scene where battle is already underway, you may offer help, but if the numbers are already against the opponent, please try to be fair and simply observe.  Also, when you encounter an enemy, try to have a conversation with them before you attack; anyone can just outright fight... and if that's what we were going to do, we'd be Order or Council of Mages or some other PvP-based guild.  Roleplay is a different beast.

2)  Runic and Magic Weapons may only be used in Felucca.
This will likely change after Age of Shadows is released, but for now, this is our compromise to the RP community on Great Lakes.  Some want runics banned entirely, but Felucca is not a friendly place.  In Trammel, please stick to GM weapons only until we modify this rule.

3)  No shit-talking, d3wd speak, or the like.
Face it, sometimes you're going to lose.  If you do, be a sport about it.  If you're looking to get into a fight, feel free to insult an enemy, but do it in the confines of the game.  If you're looking to bust the chops of a drow, make fun of his drow heritage.  If you're fighting a vampire, or an orc, similarly, stick to the character they're playing.

4)  Stay in-character as much as possible.
We're not roleplay nazis here, so it's understood that not every waking, breathing moment will be roleplayed.  However, if you are at an RP event, please stay in character.  See the side bar for some tips on roleplaying.

5)  No looting for any reason whatsoever.
If you are discovered looting (and it's easy... forensic ID and a screenshot later, and you're busted), you could face fines or removal from the guild.  This is important.  It doesn't matter if they loot you (don't fight with anything you're afraid to lose), shit-talk you, res-kill you, or anything.  Do not loot.

6)  If you die, resurrect, get your stuff, and leave the area.
Unless otherwise noted by a scenario or event, you may return to the area after 15 minutes are up (please watch the time, and if you're not sure, give it a couple of extra minutes... do not come back after 10 minutes, after 12 minutes... 15 minutes).  This is to give a sense of fairness to a battle.  And if everyone's defeated, don't just go back to "try again."  Face that you were defeated, and let the victor have the day.  While you are still in the area, remain in your deathrobe, and do not re-arm!

7)  If you have a trouble with a member of another guild, let the GMs handle it.
If something goes wrong, and a member of another guild does something that he shouldn't have done, feel free to take screenshots, but do not egg that person on.  Do not threaten them, do not continue to interact with them.  Bring your complaint to me, and I'll take it to their guildmaster.  This is simply to prevent bad situations from getting worse!

8)  No res-killing.
Do not target anyone wearing a death robe.  Accidents sometimes happen, and we're understanding of that, but do not go around killing people who are already dead.  If they attack you while in a deathrobe, then feel free to defend yourself, otherwise, the recently dead are off limits!

What exactly should I do to "stay in character?"

Some of us are going to be new to roleplaying, but it's a lot easier than it sounds.

The first step is to consider your character as an extension of your imagination.  You are in the world that your character is roaming through.  Thus, the easiest way to remain in character is to avoid referring to the outside world.  There are no telephones, no webpages, no ICQ, no football game (at least not yet... hehe).  If it's not in the game, avoid talking about it.

Webpages can be refered to as private libraries or archives, and ICQ numbers are typically referred to as the cage number for a trained bird, be it a pigeon, a hawk, an owl... whatever.  For anything you must give out of character, surround it with ((double parenthesis)).  Such as, "Visit our archives ((www.alterythem.com/cad))!"

Have fun... think about what your character would do, and react to it.  Maybe they've got a silly voice, or they hate something in particular.  Just have fun and go with it!