Server rules (Starlight)
Server rules
The following are rule for the Starlight Space Station 14 servers. Violating these rules may result in a warning, a temporary ban, or a permanent ban. You may also be banned from specific roles/jobs/departments. Bans can be appealed in the official Starlight discord server.
If you are ever in doubt as to whether or not something is breaking the rules, feel free to contact the admins via Admin Help or ask on the discord server.
Remember, the rules and examples given here are NOT exhaustive. (See Rule 1)
Rule 0 - Don't be a dick.
Rules can't cover every possible situation. Admins should be able to address situations that are missed in the rules.
Rule 1 - Admins have final say.
The rules can’t cover every possible situation, so admins have final say if what you did is allowed or not (even if it’s not in the rules). But admins are people too, so be nice.
| "There isn't a rule saying I can't!" |
| "None of the other players had a problem with it!" |
| "No one had a problem with it last time!" |
Rule 2 - Griefing.
Intentionally ruining the gameplay of other players is forbidden. Issuing a singularity is cause for a permanent ban. In case you are an antagonist, act strictly within the limits of your tasks.
Rule 3 - DM/RDM.
Unjustified actions aimed at causing serious harm to health or killing another person are forbidden. Remember, there must be a very good RP reason for killing. If in doubt, ask in Ahelp. You have the right to self-defense, but it must not escalate to murder. In other words, you have the right to retaliate against your attacker, but when he is already down, you should not kill him. Much less gib.
Rule 4 - Breach of logic.
You are not your character! Deviating from the role of your character, violating the overall game atmosphere and setting. Remember that this is an MRP server.
Also do not forget that your character can fear and feel. You should not run like a hulk smashing everything.
Subparagraphs to this rule:
- 4.1 - Powergame
- 4.2 - Metagame
- 4.3 - IC in OOC
- 4.4 - Self killing
- 4.5 - Illiteracy
- 4.6 - End of round/EORG
- 4.7 - Foul play
- 4.8 - Loss of memory
Rule 5 - Open play.
Playing the antagonist in the 'open', meaning in crowded places where there are many witnesses that literally breaks the antagonist's logic. For an antagonist, it is usually not worth resorting to open play. Unless that antagonist is explicitly targeting it. Such as: Dragon, Nukeops, Abductor. If you can avoid open play, it's best to avoid it. Otherwise, the administration may resort to punishment.
Exceptions to the rules:
- Unavailable target - if your target is unavailable without open play, such as killing a warden. You may play openly.
- Forced open play - if your play requires open play, such as abductor abductor cases. You can play openly, but it is worth asking permission from the administration.
| As a head revolutionary, simply walking up to people around the bar and flashing them with no attempt at concealing your actions or isolating the individuals. |
Rule 6 - Responsible play for the antagonist.
The goal of the antagonist is to make the round interesting, exciting, and dangerous, but within reasonable limits. Antagonists are not allowed to wait for players who have just appeared, release plasma, singularity, or generally engage in actions that can be categorized as vulture. As an antag, you are only allowed to do what is necessary for your objectives. For example, an abductor is not allowed to steal things from the station or people. A thief should not be killing people in any way. The “die a glorious death” objective negates this rule. Remember that “minor” antagonists are stealthy and inconspicuous. There are other, “major” antagonists for open confrontations and high-profile operations. (Rule - 4)
Rule 7 - Character Logic.
Your character is an employee of the space station, loyal to the ideals of the Corporation and his superiors. Names and surnames must be appropriate to the context and standards of the RP. Names and surnames of celebrities, actors, characters from movies, TV series, anime, games, etc., as well as similar names and surnames are prohibited. SOPs and CLs are in-game rules, but violating them maliciously from round to round may be punishable. Also don't forget that your boss, whether captain or CentCom, can fire you, which negatively affects the character's life. Try to listen to your boss and uniquely avoid moments leading to your dismissal.
| Talking about real life current events as if they are happening now. |
| Naming yourself "JC Denton", "George Washington", "Spongebob Squarepants", or "Billie Eilish". |
| Neglecting your job to get drunk at the bar after repeated, urgent requests from your superiors. |
| As security, handing out free, loaded guns to everyone unprompted. |
Rule 8 - Self-Antagonism.
Actions inherent in antagonists are forbidden without a proper role. Calling someone out of the brig for no reason, interfering with a security, etc. is a violation of this rule. Claiming that your character is “unstable”, “crazy”, etc. does not invalidate any of the rules and is not an excuse.
Note: this rule does not restrict non-antagonists from actions that break Space Law. Non-antagonists are simply expected to not "antagonize" others. Your character is a willing member of the station, with an inherent interest in the station's overall well-being, and is expected to act as such.
That being said, sometimes your character may be pushed by environmental or social factors to break the law or commit otherwise unreasonable actions. The actions are still in violation of space law, but (ideally) within the bounds of believability for your character at the given time.
| While facing a serious station-threatening antagonist, ordering and breaking open locked weapons crates in order to arm yourself and others for self-defense. |
| Starting a fist-fight, with no intention of killing, after a heated (in-character) argument. |
| Hacking open a door you don't have access to after half the station and its crew are destroyed. |
| Trespassing in somewhere you need to access to in order to do your job after waiting a long time for access to be granted to you. |
Rule 9 - Validhunt.
Organizing and hunting antagonists without being a Security Officer is forbidden. Stopping antagonists is the job of Security or ERT officers.
Rule 10 - Interacting with players who have disengaged from the game or have been granted SSD status.
SSD players are players who have disconnected from the game or become afk. This can be caused by connection problems or other technical issues. Being killed or robbed because of this is not something anyone would enjoy. The goal of killing antagonists by design should be difficult and interesting. Killing an SSD player is not interesting for either the killer or the victim. In case your target is an SSD, don't be afraid to ask for help from the admins in Ahelp. Here are the basic rules for behavior with players in SSD:
- It is forbidden to touch or interact with SSD players except in the following cases: taking them to a cryo-pod, providing medical assistance, or rescuing them from immediate danger (such as carrying them out of a fire).
- Likewise, if a player with SSD has a “Wanted” status, they may not be detained without the permission of an administrator.
- If the player went SSD during or immediately after the detention, it is allowed to continue the detention and arrest.
- Likewise, if you are an antagonist, and if your target has entered SSD immediately after you attacked them, you may continue.
- If you feel compelled by the situation to interact with a player in the SSD (for example, to retrieve an important piece of equipment from a captain), use Ahelp first.
- It is forbidden to steal a player's SSD items, except in the following cases: a mission to steal cloaks, medals, figurines and other items that are unique.
Rule 11 - ERP.
It’s not about the words, but about the suspected intention of them, so saying F me could count as a violation depending on the suspected intent. Content should not go beyond kissing, hugging, nor should your shift focus primarily on dating or romance.
| "Fuck you" - insult |
| "You're a motherfucker" - insult |
| "How about you eat me instead?" - Response to an unreasonable request |
Rule 12 - New Life.
New Life, was made so that you can continue your game on the server after the death of your character, but there are certain rules:
- You forget everything you knew as a past character or ghost.
- It is forbidden to abuse new life by spamming characters.
Rule 13 - Silicon.
The Silicon Rules override all roleplay rules if there is any conflict. Silicon Rules do not override server rules. Follow rules in order, from smallest to largest number.
Subparagraphs to this rule:
- 13.1 You cannot request or allow a law change.
- 13.2 You must remain consistent with your interpretation of laws.
- 13.3 Your HUD determines who is crew.
Sub rules
Rule 4.1 - Powergame
Performing actions that are beyond your character's physical and psychological capabilities. Your character is a normal human being who is inherently afraid and in pain, don't forget that. You should also not hide things “just in case” and bolt doors as the head of a department unless you have been hacked before in the same round. This rule does not apply to large antagonists.
| Acting as if your character already knows the threat to the station from the start of the round. |
| Just generally treating Space Station 14 as a game to be "won", and nothing more. |
| As Head of Personnel, giving all of Security all-access ASAP because you know as a player that they can't be antagonists, despite your character having no real reason to do so. |
Rule 4.2 - Metagame
Use and dissemination of game information through third party communications. COOP(cooperation) is prohibited. In case you train a friend, you are obliged to inform AH about it.
| Seeing things on a livestream in the same server as you, and acting as if you know that in-character. |
| Being in a chat with other players in the same server as you and giving each other information through said chat, and then using that information as if your character knows it. |
| As a ghost, giving away the position of characters and enemies to other people in the same server as you so they can respond, even though their character has no way of knowing that information. |
Rule 4.2.1 - MK, Metaknowledge
Using knowledge that is not specific to your character's job title. Using knowledge gained while being a ghost.
| "While I was dead, I flew around as a ghost and saw the botanist kill someone!" |
| Dying, ghosting, see an anomaly in the corner of the station. Then when you are revived, immediately radioing "There is an anomaly at X!" |
| Dying, ghosting, watching every member of command be killed, being revived, and then acting in-character as if you already know command is all murdered. |
Rule 4.3 - IC in OOC
Abuse of OOC and LOOC chats. Discussing or mentioning the events of the current round in the OOC channel is forbidden. Messages like “X killed me” or “clone me” are especially punishable.
Rule 4.4 - Self killing
Abusing the opportunity to commit suicide or committing suicide without good reason. Even if you are found out and caught.
Rule 4.5 - Illiterary
Cleanliness of speech and observance of grammatical norms of the English language.
Rule 4.6 - End of round/EORG
All rules work after the end of the round/manifesto/greentext (the information window at the end of the round). You can't harm anyone, steal anything, break anything, or build anything detrimental. All you can/should do is continue to roleplay as if nothing has changed. For example, you can’t Emag doors, as knowing that the round will end is metagaming. As an antag during the end of a round (EVAC and CentComm), no mass casualties or shuttle destructions may occur. Only targeted attacks that would align with your objectives.
Rule 4.7 - Foul play
No hacking, exploiting, glitches, 3rd party software, or anything related. If you find/use any of the aforementioned things, then Ahelp about it immediately. Ban evading, meta gaming, multiple or alternative accounts, or anything similar counts as exploiting.
Rule 4.8 - Loss of memory
If you go critical, die, hypnotic gaze, brain removal, or any loss of consciousness then you should not remember fine details, such as people’s names, 5 minutes leading up to the event. For example, a vampire puts you to sleep, then when you wake up you won’t know who did it.
| "While I was unconscious I was dragged away by a human named John Doe who had a syndicate weapon!" |
