Our new Indie Games subforum is now open for business in G&T. Go and check it out, you might land a code for a free game. If you're developing an indie game and want to post about it, follow these directions. If you don't, he'll break your legs! Hahaha! Seriously though.
Our rules have been updated and given their own forum. Go and look at them! They are nice, and there may be new ones that you didn't know about! Hooray for rules! Hooray for The System! Hooray for Conforming!
Critical Failures Rules (Updated 10/13/09)
Whipstitch Zombie
Super Moderator, Moderator mod
Super Moderator, Moderator mod
Things That Will Get You Banned
Posting pornographic images, fetish pictures, or disturbing medical photos
This is a 13+ forum, and there are lots and lots of people to whom it is illegal to show that stuff. That means that you will be punished if you post something with the above content. This includes links posted in signatures.
If something is borderline, LINK to it with a warning as to the content, or PM a mod before posting. If you're about to post something that could cause trouble for users browsing while at school or work, add a "NSFW" (Not Safe For Work) tag to the subject line. Particularly forbidden pictures include: goatse, lensman, tubgirl, lemon party, loopback, and harlequin baby. PMing these to another user without having been asked to or without warning about the content will result in removal of PM privileges.
There will be no more Ranger threads. Stop pestering mods and/or trying to start one.
Trolling
This has a working definition of "attempting to be as annoying as possible while still technically obeying the rules," and it's not the way to go about getting attention. Attempting to derail threads, posting off-topic bullshit, or flame-baiting are all strictly verboten. There also tends to be a thin line between being abusive and immature and being argumentative. Crossing it persistently will lead to a ban.
Talking about the fine points of ROMs, warez, or other bits of piracy, including downloading copyrighted books
This is not an arguable point; this rule comes from those who make the forums possible. It will be enforced, and it is not a point on which we have the luxury of being flexible. Keep in mind that this is not a ban on discussing the ethics of piracy or the economic forces at play.
Participating in "forum raids"
A "forum raid" is an invasion of a forum on another site.
This will earn you, at the very least, a temporary ban. It will more likely be a permanent ban. This sort of thing reflects badly on the main site, and we take it very seriously.
Consistently or egregiously doing Things That Will Get You In Trouble
If you are constantly finding yourself jailed, take a moment and wonder why. If you are constantly disrupting things here, you'll be banned on either a temporary or permanent basis, depending on severity and frequency.
===========================================================
Things That Will Get You in Trouble
Making a "Hi, I'm New!" thread
This forum sees a large number of new users every day, and there would be no actual discussions going on if each and every one of them made an introductory thread. Lurk for a while, get a feel for the place, find an active thread that interests you, and join the conversation. It would be a good idea to avoid hitting the new topic button for a few days. If you're making five new topics in your first hour YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. It is also inadvisable to make your first post a new topic.
Beginning redundant threads
We are not a news service, but many of us check them frequently. Before you make a topic specifically to bring us a link or story, do a quick forum search for the URL and related keywords. If the only thing you're posting is the link, you might want to consider posting it in Linksville.
Failing to pay a modicum of attention to grammar and spelling
Nobody here demands epic poetry from other users. That having been said, it is difficult to have a worthwhile debate with someone who cannot make their points clearly or coherently. In addition to asking you to make sense, we ask that you try to remain within the rules of good debate and avoid common mistakes detailed in the second post in this thread.
Plugging your personal website or project
This comes off rather badly if you do it too soon after joining. It is known as "site-whoring," and you will be flamed. If you want to plug your (or anyone else's) site, put a link in your sig. Exceptions to this are if something specific on the site is directly relevent to an existing conversation (and you clearly present it as being on your site) or if you have permission from a mod. If this rule is violated, you will be jailed and the link will be removed.
Starting a new thread asking why another thread was locked
PM a moderator if you don't understand why a thread was locked or would like to make a case for it being unlocked. Do not make a thread identical or nearly identical to a thread that has been locked. Also, do not make a thread solely for the purpose of referring to a thread that has been locked.
Making alternate accounts, otherwise known as "alts"
The mods do keep tabs on these things. Do not make a second account. If you are having trouble with your first account or would like to change your username, PM an admin.
Engaging in thread assassination
The most obvious things to avoid are posting "in before the lock" or any variant thereof. It's not clever, and no one appreciates it. If you feel that a thread truly needs to be locked, PM a mod.
Quoting the rules if you do not know them
Loudly and disruptively proclaiming a thread or post to be against the rules without being able to back up your accusation will come to no good.
Having a gigantic sig
Sigs should be no taller than 80 pixels (approximately four lines of text), no wider than 500 pixels and no bigger than 20 kb. This includes everything below the white line. If your sig is significantly bigger, it will be taken away.
Failing to use spoiler tags or spoiler warnings
This should be self-explanatory. If you're making a spoiler thread, include "SPOILERS" in the title. If you're posting a spoiler within an unlabeled thread, user the
Posting pornographic images, fetish pictures, or disturbing medical photos
This is a 13+ forum, and there are lots and lots of people to whom it is illegal to show that stuff. That means that you will be punished if you post something with the above content. This includes links posted in signatures.
If something is borderline, LINK to it with a warning as to the content, or PM a mod before posting. If you're about to post something that could cause trouble for users browsing while at school or work, add a "NSFW" (Not Safe For Work) tag to the subject line. Particularly forbidden pictures include: goatse, lensman, tubgirl, lemon party, loopback, and harlequin baby. PMing these to another user without having been asked to or without warning about the content will result in removal of PM privileges.
There will be no more Ranger threads. Stop pestering mods and/or trying to start one.
Trolling
This has a working definition of "attempting to be as annoying as possible while still technically obeying the rules," and it's not the way to go about getting attention. Attempting to derail threads, posting off-topic bullshit, or flame-baiting are all strictly verboten. There also tends to be a thin line between being abusive and immature and being argumentative. Crossing it persistently will lead to a ban.
Talking about the fine points of ROMs, warez, or other bits of piracy, including downloading copyrighted books
This is not an arguable point; this rule comes from those who make the forums possible. It will be enforced, and it is not a point on which we have the luxury of being flexible. Keep in mind that this is not a ban on discussing the ethics of piracy or the economic forces at play.
Participating in "forum raids"
A "forum raid" is an invasion of a forum on another site.
This will earn you, at the very least, a temporary ban. It will more likely be a permanent ban. This sort of thing reflects badly on the main site, and we take it very seriously.
Consistently or egregiously doing Things That Will Get You In Trouble
If you are constantly finding yourself jailed, take a moment and wonder why. If you are constantly disrupting things here, you'll be banned on either a temporary or permanent basis, depending on severity and frequency.
===========================================================
Things That Will Get You in Trouble
Making a "Hi, I'm New!" thread
This forum sees a large number of new users every day, and there would be no actual discussions going on if each and every one of them made an introductory thread. Lurk for a while, get a feel for the place, find an active thread that interests you, and join the conversation. It would be a good idea to avoid hitting the new topic button for a few days. If you're making five new topics in your first hour YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. It is also inadvisable to make your first post a new topic.
Beginning redundant threads
We are not a news service, but many of us check them frequently. Before you make a topic specifically to bring us a link or story, do a quick forum search for the URL and related keywords. If the only thing you're posting is the link, you might want to consider posting it in Linksville.
Failing to pay a modicum of attention to grammar and spelling
Nobody here demands epic poetry from other users. That having been said, it is difficult to have a worthwhile debate with someone who cannot make their points clearly or coherently. In addition to asking you to make sense, we ask that you try to remain within the rules of good debate and avoid common mistakes detailed in the second post in this thread.
Plugging your personal website or project
This comes off rather badly if you do it too soon after joining. It is known as "site-whoring," and you will be flamed. If you want to plug your (or anyone else's) site, put a link in your sig. Exceptions to this are if something specific on the site is directly relevent to an existing conversation (and you clearly present it as being on your site) or if you have permission from a mod. If this rule is violated, you will be jailed and the link will be removed.
Starting a new thread asking why another thread was locked
PM a moderator if you don't understand why a thread was locked or would like to make a case for it being unlocked. Do not make a thread identical or nearly identical to a thread that has been locked. Also, do not make a thread solely for the purpose of referring to a thread that has been locked.
Making alternate accounts, otherwise known as "alts"
The mods do keep tabs on these things. Do not make a second account. If you are having trouble with your first account or would like to change your username, PM an admin.
Engaging in thread assassination
The most obvious things to avoid are posting "in before the lock" or any variant thereof. It's not clever, and no one appreciates it. If you feel that a thread truly needs to be locked, PM a mod.
Quoting the rules if you do not know them
Loudly and disruptively proclaiming a thread or post to be against the rules without being able to back up your accusation will come to no good.
Having a gigantic sig
Sigs should be no taller than 80 pixels (approximately four lines of text), no wider than 500 pixels and no bigger than 20 kb. This includes everything below the white line. If your sig is significantly bigger, it will be taken away.
Failing to use spoiler tags or spoiler warnings
This should be self-explanatory. If you're making a spoiler thread, include "SPOILERS" in the title. If you're posting a spoiler within an unlabeled thread, user the
Spoiler:
Tube on
This discussion has been closed.
Posts
What we do: Of Dice and Men is here for the discussion, creation, and playing of tabletop games. For our purposes, "tabletop games" includes:
- traditional "pen and paper" Role-Playing Games (PnP RPGs), such as Dungeons & Dragons or Shadowrun;
- board games such as chess or Settlers of Catan;
- Live-Action Role-Playing games such as Mind's Eye Theatre;
- miniature games such as Warhammer or Battletech;
- strategy games such as the ones put out by Avalon Hill or Battlemasters;
- card games such as poker or bridge;
- collectible/trading card games (CCGs/TCGs) such as Magic: The Gathering or the Penny-Arcade CCG;
- other games that are generally played on a smooth surface, such as marbles, jacks, or pick-up sticks.
In summary, if it's a game, and it's not a sport, and it's not a video/PC game, this is probably where you talk about it, play it, or make rules for it.and
Each campaign, game, or tournament being run on the forums gets its own thread. Gamemasters are considered in control of those threads, and those not participating in the games shouldn't post in them without a damn good reason. Asshattery in the individual game threads will not be tolerated.
If you want to run a game, describe it well. This does not mean "who wants to play DnD?" Your description should include:
For now, your mods are Thanatos and Echo. Contact us if you have any questions or issues.
In light of this fact:
Images posted inline must be no larger than 800x600 in either width or height.
Any image larger than 800x600 is subject to mod removal.
Trust me when I say that this is a good thing. The last thing you want is to type a four paragraph post and have it ruined by somebody breaking the H-scroll on the same page.
You've been promoted!
Yay. Enjoy being a real forum, tabletoppers.
Play-By-Post games are all hereby authorized to utilize 2 threads, if the GM would like. Generally, one in-character, and one out-of-character, but the GM can feel free to arrange and separate the two threads in whatever way he or she would like.
If you're posting anything NSFW, do not use spoiler tags. Link it, with an "NSFW" tag.
Anyone doing any Rickrolling is getting temp banned. Temp banned and an infraction.
Spare Scrolls for trade