EQ2Emulator is in an ALPHA stage of development. This means our "Server Rules" are not as strict as an official Release server would be. However, aspects of "cheating" or "harassment" remain very strict, as it is our goal to run a fun, friendly server with as little exploits or cheating as possible. With this, the (current) rules:
EQ2TC SERVER RULES
Bugs, Exploits, and Scripting:
1. You will not exploit ANY bug or weakness in EQ2TC and you will not communicate the existence of any such exploitable bug (bugs that grant the user unnatural or unintended benefits in game), either directly or through public posting, to any other user of EQ2TC. You will promptly report any such bug via PM to John Adams on the EQ2Emulator.net forums. The developers of the EQ2Emulator Project retain the right to classify bugs as they see fit.
- 1a. Exemption: For testing purposes, when a potential bug exploit is found, it is acceptable to attempt to repeat the bug once so that you may provide as much information about it before reporting it. Once reported, use of said exploit is prohibited. Also, using a bug exploit with no intention of reporting it is also prohibited.
3. Creation of any macros, programs, scripts, etc to automate any aspect of the game is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to combat situations, tradeskills, quests, and buffing/healing/rezzing/etc.
- 3a. Exemption 1: The one main exemption to this rule is a pre-arranged agreement between a Developer, Game Master, and a player who wishes to aid the development and testing of this ALPHA code by running scripting/macros solely for the purpose of debugging or testing features - and not gaining an advantage over other "normal" players on EQ2TC.
3b. Exemption 2: You may use a macro to aid you in multi boxing, provided you are at the keyboard and are in control of all of your characters. However, repeative game aspects such as tradeskills and quests MUST be done without the aid of automatic systems. In NO situations can a macro completely play for you.
3c. Exemption 3:User created and submitted macros that are approved on the EQ2Emulator forums are exempt to this rule, provided they are used EXACTLY as they appear on the forum, with NO code or usage alterations.
Game Client/Alterations:
5. The EQ2Emulator Project requires a legitimate, unmodified Everquest 2 Client purchased from Sony Online Entertainment (see our list of Supported Clients in KB Articles). No files should be altered to "customize" your client in any way, shape or form. This includes, but is not limited to, model graphics, in-game commands (slash commands), and any data streams between your client software and our EQ2Emulator Servers, or the data the client uses and stores in system memory, cache, or on your hard drive.
- 5a. Exemption 1: It is permitted (and required) to change your local eq2_default.ini file in order to direct your client to connect to our Login Servers.
5b. Exemption 2: You also may use custom UIs in-game, provided the client's functionality is not changed, and the UI adheres to the rules of this server.
Play Nice Policy:
6. You may not disrupt the normal playability of a zone or area.
Zone/Area Disruption is defined as any activity designed to harm or inconvenience a number of groups rather than a specific player or group of players. This includes, but is not limited to:
- - Making excessive or inappropriate use of public channels of communications (/shout, /ooc, etc.).
- Intentionally or accidentally causing excessive zone latency or server bandwidth usage (using third party programs, abusing spell effects, etc.)
- Purposely causing or attempting to cause world or a zone to crash (unless helping a developer debug a fatal system crash).
- Causing or attempting to cause intentional experience, loot, or progress loss to other players (deliberately impeding fleeing players by blocking their escape route, etc.) The exception to this, of course is consensual PVP play.
- Causing or attempting to cause scripts, events, or security measures to fail and/or have a result different than the one expected and/or written.
- - Consensual PVP play is partially exempt to this, however deliberate or extreme cases of harassment is still prohibited. It is up to the GM's judgment whether the situation is deliberate or extreme.
9. Vile, profane, rude, offensive, or racist language, including common swear words, anatomical references, racial slurs, terrorism references, and homonyms (sound-alike) of such words are not allowed in any public communication channel. These channels are reserved for public viewing and should not contain messages that can insult or otherwise bother another player.
- - The above also applies to character names. Any offending toon will have its name changed at a GM's discretion, or will be deleted.
- - Abuse is defined but not limited to lying about being multiple people in order to gain a limit increase, or boxing more than unlimited characters from a connection that is different from the one you obtained the limit increase for.
12. "Role-playing", misinterpretation, or ignorance does not grant license to violate any of these rules.
General System Conduct:
13. Intentionally sabotaging the World Economy is frowned upon, and disciplinary action taken against any player, group or guild who attempts to do so.
- Exemption: During ALPHA testing, it may be necessary for players to report bugs/exploits in the game economy (crafting, broker, merchants, general trading of goods between players) in order to ensure a more stable code base.
CONCLUSION
Server Rules are a necessary evil. We do not want to hinder anyone's fun or progress on our server(s), but we do need to put into place safe guards to protect the majority of players from those who only wish to disrupt and cause harm to the game. Realizing our emulator is still ALPHA, if there are any questions or concerns about the feasibility of these Rules, please be sure to bring them up in a public forum, and we can discuss them.