These rules are applied to all games except where modified for different game categories.
1.
Multiple accounts. The site runs a strict one member, one account policy. At no time may any member have more than one account on the games site, for ANY reason, including testing the site mechanics. The only exception to this is when accounts are created for Schools games only. (See:
Adaptations for different game categories.) Members agree to this when they register on the site. (See:
User Registration Agreement under SITE RULES.) Operating multiple accounts makes all accounts liable to suspension and possibly being disabled, whether these accounts are on the games site or the Forum.
2.
Multi-accounting.(i) No member may operate more than one account in the same game.
(ii) No member may control more than one power in the same game with the exception of short-handed variants and any variant where this is specifically part of the variant's rules (eg Versailles).
Multi-accounting will result in accounts being suspended and/or disabled.
3.
Accessing more than one account in the same game. No member may gain access to, or be given access to, another player's account in a game, whether this is to help a player by entering orders temporarily or otherwise. The member who accessed the other account will have her/his account suspended and possibly disabled; if appropriate, the other member's account may face the same sanction.
4.
Members are not allowed to act as a substitute in an active game they share.4(a).
If the substitution DOES NOT use the official site systems, ie the substitute is given the password to an account,
then members are additionally not allowed to act as a substitute if they share ANY active or pending game with the player they are substituting for.
Accounts will be liable to suspension and possibly being disabled.
5.
Team accounts.Accounts which are joint accounts of two or more players are not allowed. The account will be disabled.
(See:
Adaptations for different game categories.)
6.
Players must enter a game intending to achieve the best result possible. This intention may be modified by events or circumstances in a game but players are not allowed to enter a game intending to draw with another player or players or to lose the game. Accounts will be liable to being suspended and possibly being disabled. (See:
Adaptations for different game categories.)
7.
Re-entering a game. Re-entering a game from which an account has been removed, whether the account was disabled or not, is not allowed. Accounts will be liable to suspension and possibly being disabled.
(See:
Adaptations for different game categories.)
8.
Screenshots. Taking screenshots which depict any game information and passing the information on to other members is not allowed. Accounts will be liable to suspension and possibly being disabled.
9.
Encryption programmes. Using any off-site encryption programmes is not allowed. This is because Mods may occasionally need to check messages as part of a potential cheating investigation and need to be able to access messages. Accounts will be warned and removed from games, dependent upon other evidence collected. Repeated offences will lead to accounts being disabled.
[
Rules 10-23 are meta-gaming rules.]
10.
Pre-game alliances.(i) No alliance or agreement between players set-up
before the start of the game is allowed.
(ii) No member may invite a player to join a new game when the stated intention is to work in alliance in the new game.
11.
Arranged alliances when replacing another player in a game.(i) No member may pick up a surrendered position in a game with the intention of aiding another player or other players in the game when this is agreed prior to the new player taking over the position.
(ii) No member may invite another member to join a game as a replacement when the stated intention is to work in alliance with or help the player who issued the invitation.
(iii) No member may offer to coach or teach another member in a game. (See:
Adaptations for different game categories.)
12.
All players in a game should be treated equally. Treating another player or other players specially because of your relationship with them, or because they are friends off-site or from past games, is not allowed.
NB: We accept that in some situations human nature means that forming alliances with some players is more likely than with others; what we are looking at here is when there is explicit evidence that a player or players has been treated specially solely on this knowledge.13.
Persistent alliances. Entering several games with the same player(s) and regularly forming the same alliance is not allowed. The guidelines are that no more than 1 game in 5 should have similar alliances, similar outcomes or the same pattern of alliances.
NB: 1 game in 5 is ONLY a guideline. It refers to all games a player has played. If there is persuasive evidence of a persistent alliance then site management will take action regardless of whether the 1 in 5 guidelines have been breached or not.14.
Team play. Playing as a team (that is, consistently working together) across several games is not allowed. This includes playing as a team to eliminate opposition and then fighting it out.
15.
Cross-game alliances. Forming alliances in several games based on the fact that players are sharing these games and can co-operate in them (“We’re in three games together, let’s work together in all of them.”) is not allowed.
16.
Cross-game favours. Exchanging favours between games (“If you do this in game A, I will do this is game B.”) is not allowed.
17.
Cross-game information sharing.(i) Exchanging ANY information across active games is not allowed.
(ii) Sharing secret information (ie information contained in power-to-power messages or information that cannot be gained from stats or Public Press) on another player from a shared active or archived game (eg Player A warns Player B about Player C using a copied and pasted message from a game Players A and C shared) is not allowed.
18.
Game references. Referring players to any game using the game name or number is not allowed.
NB: General references to a player’s style of play are fine, which can be reviewed by using stats, is allowed.19.
Negotiations outside of the game.The negotiation of actions and alliances must be within the game. Members accept this rule when the register with the site. (See:
Adaptations for different game categories.)
NB: Whilst we cannot enforce this rule completely, if there is evidence of players acting in alliance, which seems to break one or more of rules 10-18, and there is no evidence of meaningful negotiations in the game records, as deemed by the investigating member of site management, this will be taken as corroborating evidence.20.
Cross-game grudges. Entering a game with the preset idea of attacking a specific player, based solely upon events in other finished or active games, or in response to events or knowledge outside the game, is not allowed.
21.
Cross-game threats.(i) Threatening actions, reprisals or retaliation in a game for events that have happened in other finished or active games, or in response to events or knowledge outside the game, is not allowed.
(ii) Threatening actions, reprisals or retaliation in future games for events that have happened in a current game or other active games is not allowed.
22.
Threatening to report cheating. Threatening to report cheating or suspected cheating if the player or players involved do not act in a beneficial way to your power in a game, whether the game involved is the game in which the suspected cheating is taking place or another game, including prospective future games, is not allowed. In other words, blackmailing players with reporting them for cheating unless such-a-thing happens in the game.
23.
Joining a game and taking malicious action.(i) Players joining a game and taking malicious action against another player, then leaving the game – when in response to events or knowledge outside of the game – is not allowed.
(ii) Players joining a game and sending malicious messages then leaving the game – when in response to events or knowledge outside of the game – is not allowed.
(iii) Players joining a game and posting malicious Public Press, then leaving the game, is not allowed.
The sanctions for rules 10-23 inclusive will be that the account(s) involved will be liable to suspensions and possibly being disabled.
(See:
Adaptations for different game categories.)
REPEATED DISREGARD FOR HOUSE RULES MAY LEAD TO THE SITE TAKING STEPS TO PERMANENTLY PREVENT MEMBERS FROM ACCESSING THE SITE.