Code of Conduct

1. Solid Roleplay and Removal from the Community

Ponte Carlo thrives on solid roleplay. Keeping this concept in mind, there are a few guidelines for “good RP” that we require in PONTE CARLO RP.

Unnecessary escalation of force. Your weapon should be the last option to escape from a scenario. Choosing gunplay over roleplay will not be tolerated. Use your voice and find creative ways to RP out of situations before resorting to violence.

Players found to be habitually resorting to violence (Robbing, Killing, Shooting) with little to no roleplay between scenes will face disciplinary action. Ponte Carlo is a serious roleplay server where interactions should be driven by a narrative and should not be seen as another version of Grand Theft Auto: Online. By spending the majority of your time performing violent acts, you are demonstrating that you are not here to roleplay, and will be removed.

Character age must be a minimum of 18. This is enforced for several reasons and should be followed when roleplaying. In the case of a player being under the age of 18, they are not to engage in any intimate relationship whatsoever.

Stupidity and minor FailRP offences may be overlooked, but shouldn’t happen in the first place. Actions such as dancing on non-existent stripper poles, jumping on Police Cars in full view of officers, etc., aren’t providing Solid Roleplay. Realistically, you aren’t going to jump on a Police Officer’s vehicle in life.

Using the same sort of behaviour in certain roleplay situations can be punishable. I.e.: Immediately shooting at a convenience store at every robbery, continuously cop baiting, kidnapping and griefing a certain group.

We ask that our players use their maps and adventure all over the city, meet new people and create good stories! Make stories people want to be involved in.

Please keep in mind that PONTE CARLO RP is provided as a free service. We can deny access to that service at any time, for any reason. We are not obligated to allow you in our community and reserve the right to ban you at any time, should we feel you are not helping us move forward.

2. Random Deathmatch (RDM)

RDM is not allowed. RDM is defined as killing a player with little to no interaction.

Initiation is required to engage in combat with another player. When initiating, you must make the player aware of your intent. To initiate you must be AT LEAST within shout voice range, and you must allow the other person to respond to your roleplay with words or actions. A player may not be engaged in a menu or animation for proper initiation to occur.

If you forcefully engage with someone while driving, the audio initiation rule becomes invalid, meaning they can fire on you if they fear for their life. Take this into consideration before forcing someone off the road the next time you want to rob them.

3. Vehicle Deathmatch (VDM)

VDM is the act of harming someone using a vehicle. Driving over someone with the intent to do violence against another player is strictly prohibited.

There are two exceptions to this rule:

If you are fleeing a dangerous scene, and one of your attackers steps in front of your vehicle and you have no other choice but to run over the person attacking you.

If an accident does occur, roleplaying out the scene properly will negate the rule break.

4. Combat Logging

Combat logging is exiting your game in any fashion to avoid RP. Combat logging comes in many forms, but examples are listed below:

• Exiting the server to avoid legal charges. 

• Exiting the server before your five minute timer is up.

• Exiting the server to avoid losing weapons via respawn/robbery.

• Exiting the server after your respawn timer is up, but BEFORE respawning.

• Exiting the server or respawning during an active scene.

NOTE: You should report any crashes/disconnects in the OOC chat by opening your chat window, and typing “/OOC message”

5. Going Out of Character

You should remain in character in voice at all times. Referencing OOC information in voice, no matter how vague the wording is, is considered going OOC. This includes “RP Checking”.

Never go out of character in the game unless you’re told to by a moderator or admin.

Do not use Out of Character Chat (OOC Chat) to attack people who have broken rules in situations. These issues should be filed in reports for admins to handle.

Do not use terms such as “City Official” and “Architect” in the city at any time, this is considered going OOC and you can be punished for it. Informing people of Rules by Going OOC is also against the rules.

Remember that OOC chat should be used for technical or game support only. Do not use OOC chat to taunt, question, or gloat to another player. This would include using any form of in-character chat (/ic or /r) for OOC means.

6. Restricted Roleplay

Slurs

There will be no racism tolerated on the server whatsoever. This includes slang words that can be considered offensive to some.

Homophobic, racial, or gender offensive slurs of any kind can and likely will, result in a ban. These will not be tolerated here. Slurs against nationality are also not tolerated.

Sexual RP

Any kind of sexual RP is not allowed. Doesn’t matter if it’s consensual or away from others. Don’t do it. This will result in a permanent ban. Rape RP is not allowed and definitely will not be tolerated.

Mental Health Roleplay

Any kind of roleplay mimicking mental health illness issues will not be tolerated. This includes self-harm, suicide, and other mental health issues such as abuse/trauma. Resources for dealing with these issues can be found here:

7. Metagaming, Powergaming, and Stream Sniping

Powergaming is forcing role play on another player without giving him or her the option to dictate their own fate. In RP, both parties must be able to decide how their characters will respond to something. This can include the removal of communication devices, theft of non-monetary items on someone’s person, or even kidnapping.

If you have someone handcuffed or zip/cable-tied, you do not need to /me taking their comms as they are at your mercy.

MetaGaming is retrieving or/and mixing OOC information with IC information to put you or others at an advantage. Even if it does not put you at an advantage, mixing OOC with IC is considered Meta-Gaming. Only use information you received In-Character. Also, using the city registrar to get information about another player, outside of their ID for reporting.

Stream sniping (using someone’s live stream to find their location to interact in any way) is considered metagaming and is punishable as such. Any live-streaming source outside of the game world is covered by this, so don’t do it.

Transferring items between your own characters is also metagaming. This includes using middlemen to achieve the same task.

Lastly, selling in-game items/money/properties for real-life cash is strictly forbidden. While technically a metagaming offence, you can be permanently banned for that.

8. Blacklisted Vehicles, Locations, and Clothing Items

This refers to vehicles, clothing, items, and locations that have been restricted due to various reasons.

Law enforcement, Department of Corrections (this includes all tactical gear associated with Police), LAFD Clothing or Doctor Clothing and Vehicles, lifeguard trucks (i.e.: cop cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and any clothing marked with LEO/LAFD logos.)

Any Clothing Store options that will make any part of a character invisible

Civilian/News choppers

Military Base (Zancudo)

Mission Row Police Department back gate, you cannot enter by jumping from the bridge.

Bolingbroke Prison is off-limits unless you are incarcerated. No “smuggling” weapons inside to your buddies or visiting unless it’s through the visiting centre. Glitching through the doors or gates will be considered FailRP.

Military clothing is permitted, as long as it is within RP. Meaning, be prepared to be questioned, ridiculed, and arrested for stolen valour should you not have a good backstory as to why you are wearing said clothing.

Stealing AI Helicopters, landed/unlocked helis, planes, blimps etc. is against the server rules. You may only fly helicopters or aeroplanes if you are part of one of the whitelisted factions to do so, and only if you have the appropriate clearance. If you are caught in these vehicles, it will result in disciplinary action.

9. Griefing and Revenge Reporting

Griefing a player to the point where they are uncomfortable or ruining their game experience is not allowed. Griefing can refer to constant stalking of a player without an in-character reason, constantly killing an individual over and over within a decent time frame, texting or tweeting at them, harassing a player through OOC chat, or forcing yourself into their RP scenarios. Camping job sites strictly to rob or otherwise charge people for their use is also considered griefing. Griefing can also include reporting or revenge reporting.

Revenge reporting includes reporting a person strictly due to the knowledge they have reported you or another person as well as repeatedly forcing interactions and recording to report another individual in hopes of getting them banned. This also includes holding onto clips of valid rule breaks and turning them in due to an issue you may have with another player. For this reason, clips will not be accepted if presented after 48 hours.

10. Abuse of Third-Party Communications Programs

All in-character communication must be done in-game using the provided means of communication; Voice, Phones, or Radios. Using 3rd Party Communication Software to communicate any in-character information is strictly prohibited.

NOTE: While usage of 3rd Party Communication Software is allowed, all out-of-character information stays out of the game, and all in-character information stays in the game.

11. Fail RP

FailRP can be anything regarding an extremely unrealistic situation that is used in the game to gain an advantage. This rule is meant to be used with common sense. Would your character do this in real life? Does it match with your character’s storyline?

Examples of FailRP would be:

• Illegal activities in or around any police station

• Roleplaying your injuries incorrectly. I.e.: You were shot by a shotgun, but claim that you tripped over a bench.

• Tweeting to police about crime, or selling weapons/illegal contraband over Twitter.

• Injecting: Disrupting a scene that is already ongoing without being involved by a scene participant, especially in a manner that interferes with the outcome or progression of the RP.

• Blowing up cars because “you are bored”.

• The usage of teleporters to gain an advantage during a scene. Using your garage when you are being pursued, Jumping in and out of a house during a shootout, Using a building teleporter to evade

• Being part of a scene but refusing to roleplay with the players involved in the scene. Not reacting to a group with guns pointing at you, acting in an unrealistic way based on the scene that is currently ongoing, driving up to a crime scene to aid someone but not reacting to the police telling you to leave.

Creation of Character Names

When creating a character, try to be creative.

You can’t use names of celebrities of any kind, this includes but is not limited to -

• Movie Celebrities

• Internet Celebrities

• Popular Cartoon characters

• Popular Comic characters

• Popular TV Show characters

• Other pop culture references that we can’t think of at the time of writing this rule.

Scamming of other players

Scamming another player or group of players of an amount of money or property valued at or above $50,000 is not allowed. This also includes holding raffles or lotteries that do not result in someone winning the promised item or amount of money. Failure to abide by this will result in a ban and removal of any amount above the scam cap from your character.

This only applies to money that has changed hands, not bets or verbal agreements. It is up to you to collect any money owed to you.

NVL

FailRP NVL or “Not Valuing Life” is the act of responding to a dangerous scene in a way that is completely unrealistic and or puts yourself in imminent harm.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of examples of this rule break.

• Blatantly not fearing for your life.

• Committing a violent act against a group that has you outnumbered and has already shown their intent to do harm.

• Using a communication device to call for help when you are already held against your will.

• Fleeing when surrounded by a group that has communicated that they will do harm, including law enforcement that have escalated to lethal force.

• Jumping from a fatal height to flee.

• Unrealistic Interactions with Law Enforcement

FailRP Unrealistic Interactions with Law Enforcement pertains to acting in a way towards law enforcement that is unrealistic and or is purposely putting yourself in a position to be arrested. We have balanced our times and fines for each charge in a way that, even if you are arrested you will not be put into jail for a realistic amount of time, therefore we require that our players will treat incarceration realistically and try to avoid it at all costs rather than inviting it.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of examples of this rule break.

• Disrupting a crime scene verbally/non-verbally.

• Driving erratically near a cop to get them to chase you; doing doughnuts or continually speeding up and down a road, circling cops to get their attention.

• Performing illegal acts in front of cops or in a highly populated area.

12. Exploiting of Game Systems or Third Party Programs

Exploiting is considered any method used to game something outside of what the “typical” result is meant to be. Anything that we feel is exploiting will be met with a no-appeal permanent ban.

Some of the more common examples of exploiting are:

• AFK Grinding or money-making

• Weapon / Item / Money Duplication

• Using Mods to gain an advantage (Spawning Guns, Bypassing server mechanics, Spawning Money, Spawning Items, etc)

Having knowledge of someone who is exploiting or even knowing of an exploit and not reporting it to developers or administrators is also a bannable offence. Withholding information regarding exploits will be met with the same punishment as those who exploited the system themselves.

13. Restricted Client Modifications

The installation of client modifications or 3rd party applications that provide an advantage over others. Usage of these types of modifications will result in a two-week ban, a second offence will be a perm ban.

Common examples of restricted modifications:

• Graphics Mods that change the blood spurt particle effect to something more readily distinguishable (ie Confetti, Money, Letters, etc)

• Using 3rd Party Software for a weapon reticle

• Graphics Mods that remove certain props from the world (Dumpsters, Signs, Planters, etc)

• Graphics Mods that make certain textures invisible/transparent (Transparent Vehicles, Removal of Wall Textures, etc)

• Macros or Auto-Clickers to gain monetary advantages

• Graphics Mods that alter Bullet Trails giving a tracer effect to all shots fired

14. Robbing Incapacitated Players

To rob an incapacitated player, you must have been involved in, or in the vicinity of the scene prior to the player becoming incapacitated and being involved in the RP. Should you come across an incapacitated individual in your travels, you may not rob them.

The robbing of a player’s inventory items is allowed but must be roleplayed correctly using /me’s and the victim must be given the option to decline the robbery.

15. Group Limitations

Criminal activity will be limited to no more than 6 in a group. A group is considered any number of people who are actively involved with the scene, including lookouts. You cannot call for backup beyond the participating 6 people.

The following exceptions are listed below:

During the scene of a Gang War, the group limit is increased

If a person(s) initiates an illegal act towards a group of players participating in a Legal Activity, then the whole targeted group can escalate to violence and defend themselves.

Robberies at Pacific Bank, where the limit is 6 during the robbery. This does not cover preparations for the robbery or pursuits after the robbery

LEO involvement will NOT be capped as it is realistic that LEOs would outnumber criminals on scenes. Efforts are being made to limit the number of cops responding to each scene, but keep in mind, using firearms will result in an immediate response from every law enforcement officer on duty.