Forum Rules: READ THESE BEFORE POSTING!

THE TEAM

Administrators: Kane
Community Writers: ahamling27, confuzzledyma
Moderators: aavri, CrazyCoco, Crisis, Doctor G33k, kirabook, Mistress Rarity, Valanthril

The moderation team is responsible for keeping TO running smoothly. The team reserves the right to handle situations in whatever appropriate manner is required for a situation, but should always use fair judgment. If you have a problem with the way something is handled, please don't hesitate to bring it up with an admin in private.

THE RULES

• Post respectfully.Keep in mind that there are people on the other side. Just because they may disagree with you does not mean they should be condescended to, insulted or otherwise. Discussion should stay as civil as possible, and your opinions stated in an intelligent manner.
  • Don't flame, bait, or troll. Attacking someone is unacceptable.
  • Any problems you have can be solved with calm and polite conversation. The staff (and most of the users!) aren't out to get you, or insult you at every opportunity. Just talk to us like we're people!
  • While we do not have a rule against swearing (just do not swear excessively), do not launch these insults at other members in this form. Swearing in light conversation, and swearing AT someone are two very different things. In general, a well-spoken person has no need of such words.
• Post intelligently.
  • Use search whenever possible. Duplicate threads will be deleted, merged, and possibly infracted depending on the situation. If you're about to post a thread asking a question, please consider whether the answer is easily found through Google, the Wiki, or any other source to save both yourself and other TO posters time.
  • Double posts will be merged and also possibly infracted (again depending on the situation). If you run a thread with maps, art, or some other content-based topic, you may post updates in the form of a double post if a reasonable amount of time has passed since your last one. Loosely veiled bumping will simply be merged, and possibly infracted.
  • Single-word posts are discouraged as a general rule. There are places where this is appropriate - Clan threads, forum game threads, hype-y development news, etc. Use good judgment, however. Pointless posting in most areas of the forums will likely receive a small infraction. Pointless includes but is not limited to things such as:
    • TL;DR
    • +/-1
    • Yes/no
    • Image macros (image posts when appropriate are fine, but we're not 4chan)
    • bumping
• Never post:
  • Hacks, third party clients, or a way to pirate Terraria/any other game
  • Work that is not yours without express permission from the author plus credit where it is due
  • Ban Lists, including forum names or IP addresses. This can lead to innocent bans.
  • Pornography, offensive images
  • Hate speech: Including slurs, derogatory statements, hate support, posting to offend ANY social group; including age, race, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality or sexuality.
• This should go without saying, but the following is also not allowed:
  • Ban Evasion
  • Moderator Impersonation
  • Advertising

SIGNATURES

• Sigs MUST be 150px high or less, including text.
  
• No offensive content - refer to the above rules.
• No 'calling out' in sigs - if a member has offended you, bring it up with staff or ignore it, but please do not include the drama in your signature.
• Please no adoptable 'clickies' and fake infraction sigs.
• Be aware that if your signature does not meet the above guidelines, you may receive a warning or infraction.

NAME CHANGES

• Names currently cannot be changed due to a problem with scripting.

• This allowance is mainly meant for people who have accidentally made their IRL name their forum name upon signing up, however I will do cosmetic name changes under one condition: You must be sure you want that name, since I will only do it once.
• Only ONE name change will be permitted.

REPORTING

• If you see any post which is contrary to the above rules, use the report feature located below each post. Even if you're not 100% sure it's breaking a rule, still feel free to report it, as there are no consequences for trying.
• Please do not alert the offender that you've reported them. It only makes threads worse and doesn't help us in any way. Enough of this may be infracted as a useless post, so please leave the modding to us!
• If there is a thread with multiple bad posts you want to report, just report one of them, and note in the comment that the entire thread needs moderation. This way only one moderator ends up dealing with each thread and our report queue isn't spammed.
• Don't respond to flaming and trolls, especially to flame them back. Just report them, and move on.
• Please do not report server owners for banning you. This is not something the TO moderation team is able to help with - servers are privately run.

INFRACTION SYSTEM

We have a system to assign infraction points. Bans are automatically made when a point threshold is broken. PMs are still broken as of this time, and the infraction mod for XenForo is still not updated - but in general the mod does work and is used.

If you have questions about your infraction, do not hesitate to PM the mod who gave you your infraction, but please remember to be respectful - the mods are just doing their jobs! The 3o-pointers are only used in clear-cut "oh my god stop the porn and spam" cases.

PERMA BAN: 30 pts
1 WEEK BAN: 15 pts

The new tiered system is made to be a little more lenient, and a LOT more clear. When you receive a 0-point warning, it will SAY it's a 1-3 point infraction, however if you check your profile the points are not actually applied. The moderator will check the "Warning" option when assigning one of these, therefore applying no points.

Signature Infractions - All have a one-week expiration.

• 0 Points: Signature Warning - Too Big (usually first offenses)
• 1 Point: Signature Warning - Too Big (Clicky or other such thing)
• 1 Point: Signature Warning - Inappropriate Content (Clicky or other such thing)
• 3 Points - Signature Warning - Way too big (at this point an admin will change your signature if you haven't already. Reserved for the really obnoxious cases.)
• 3 Points - Signature Warning - Inappropriate Content (Second offense on something that doesn't belong in a sig, be it calling out or clicky/fake infractions)

Spamming- All have a two-week expiration (perma-bans don't go away, don't worry).

• 0 Points - Spam - Double Posts (A light warning for first offenders)
• 0 Points - Advertising (A light warning for first offenders)
• 3 Points - Spam - Double Posts (A heavier warning for repeat offenders)
• 3 Points - Advertising (A heavier warning for repeat offenders)
  
• 10 Points - Medium Spamming (A heavier warning for multiple bad threads)
• 30 Points - Spam - We Know You're A Bot (For the obvious bots)

Useless Posts- All have a 2-week expiration.

• 0 Points - Lack of Content (A light warning for first offenders)
• 0 Points - Duplicate Thread (A light warning for first offenders)
• 0 Points - General Warning (When something doesn't fit under another category)
• 1 Points - General Warning (When something doesn't fit under another category)
• 3 Points - Lack of Content II (Second offense)
• 3 Points - Duplicate Thread II (Second Offense)
• 5 Points - Lack of Content III (Third offense, this one to be used thereafter)
• 5 Points - Duplicate Thread III (Third offense, this one to be used thereafter)

Bad Stuff- All have a 4 week expiration.

• 5 Points - Personal Attacks (Swearing at someone, or attacking them directly in any non-civil way)
• 5 Points - Trolling I (Light trolling)
• 5 Points - Mild Racism/Sexism/Homophobia (Not that bad, but still offensive)
• 5 Points - Unapproved 3rd-party client
• 10 Points - Trolling II(Extremely obvious and extensive trolling)
• 10 Points - Offensive Content - Images (Try to keep images PG 13 please)
• 10 Points - Offensive Content - Blatant Racism/Sexism/Homophobia (Name calling or otherwise)
• 15 Points - Pirating (Links to pirated software)
• 30 Points - Pornography (Now 0-tolerance for blatant porn)
• 30 Points - Ban Evasion (For those who've come back to haunt)
• 30 Points - Nuke it from Orbit (The 'panic' button, if you will)

MODERATORS
This section is here so you guys can see our creed and moderation style. Not only can you see the kinds of tasks/attitude a moderator is to take on while working with TO, but you can also use it to determine if you're being treated fairly. Again, any issues can be appealed directly to an admin.

You are an official representative of TO, and to the Terraria Community, the game itself. Moderators are expected to set an example for the membership of TO at all times – to represent the absolute “best” that the Terraria Community has to offer. To that end:

• When posting – outside of your duties as a Moderator – you must always remember your dual persona: you are free to be yourself, but you are also a representative of TO. As such, always consider that your words will carry a different weight and be viewed in a different light. Avoid “gray areas” if at all possible.
• Moderators should approach every member – regardless of the situation – under a banner of mutual respect, and treat them as peers. At times, members will act in ways that are not aligned with this. Moderators, being held to a higher standard, must take the “high road” at all times.
• Moderators should never be found in violation of the rules of this site. This includes having the patience to avoid flaming in public or anywhere else on the site (PMs, profiles). If a situation comes to this point, get another moderator involved to help out.
• Moderators are expected to know the rules of TO and Terraria in depth. Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse.
• Mods should also not be found breaking Terraria's TOS, or disrupting the peace of other players. If you choose to use the same IGN as you do on these forums, you are upheld to the same standards listed here in-game as well as the forums. If you feel you will hack, grief, whatever - you are required to use a different handle in-game than you do on the forums, and completely dissociate yourself from this other identity while on the forums.
• Moderators are trusted by the TO Community to exercise their powers objectively, without regard to personal agendas, including mentioning their status in casual conversation on the forums, or punishing a member for a fight you had with them, even though they did no wrong. Any Moderator who feels that they cannot do this in a specific situation should seek out another Moderator to help out.
• Infractions given by Moderation should always have a clear reason. This goes for thread locks as well; Moderators should be able to back up any action they take with a rule. Be as transparent as possible and give as much information in the description of the infraction and the last post of the thread lock as is appropriate. When infracting for PMs, be sure to screenshot the conversation and post in the appropriate sticky in Moderation forums.
  
• Use your best judgment to respond to reports and visible infractions as promptly as possible. If we've assigned you to a specific forum, you should patrol there as often as possible. The more watchful eyes we have enforcing the rules, the more smoothly the community runs.
• Take the time to find the root of any dispute you're settling; check post histories, read the entire argument, etc. Although you're meant to ensure that TO's rules are being followed, always take into account shades of grey. Context is important. You are a Moderator for a reason, trusted for your perceived ability to make good, appropriate decisions and are empowered to make them.
• Never discuss moderation decisions in public, or advocate that anyone do so. Disputes should ALWAYS be private, and promptly taken care of. Please do not use public humiliation tactics to punish users, either.
• Contact another mod if you're unsure of how to resolve a situation! That's what the report queue is there for. We can see you commenting on these reports, so if you have a question just ask there or in a PM to any of us. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.
• Finally, thank you for volunteering to take on what is often a frustrating task. Know that the Leadership of TO trusts your judgment and is behind you at all times. If you have concerns, never hesitate to raise them to an admin.
  

Updated with these points:

• Now reflects that sig infractions are in effect
• If there is a thread with multiple bad posts you want to report, just report one of them, and note in the comment that the entire thread needs moderation. This way only one moderator ends up dealing with each thread and our report queue isn't spammed.
• Be aware that infractions have multiple meanings with an 'or' qualifier assigned to them - if you were infracted for 10 points for 'Trolling, homophobia, racism, OR sexism", Please do not PM us about the injustice - read and understand the OR part of the statement, multiple reasons are grouped for ease of point assigning. The infraction reason should be elaborated by the infracting moderator in the last bit of the PM you are sent.
• Please do not report server owners for banning you. This is not something the TO moderation team is able to help with - servers are privately run.

Did a little rewording for clarity

Updated sig guidelines to include that 'fake infraction' sigs are no longer allowed :3

Signatures

• Sigs MUST be 150px high or less, including text.
  
• Dragon Cave images and other 'clickies' are no longer allowed. Keep those to a single thread in [Forum Games]. If you want to have a link to your clicky 'profile' without an image, feel free as that is much less obtrusive.
• No offensive content - refer to the above rules.
• No 'calling out' in sigs - if a member has offended you, bring it up with staff or ignore it, but please do not include the drama in your signature.
• No 'fake infraction' images.
• Be aware that if your signature does not meet the above guidelines, you may receive a 5 point infraction.

Updated - a trial run of a new rule and infraction system.

• Infractions are much more clear, and tiered for varying severity. They will go into effect as soon as I finish editing them in the admin panel, though it shouldn't effect much for you guys, mostly for the moderation team.
• Moderation creed included so you guys can get inside our heads, and make sure you're being treated within the rules of our staff
• I will likely make an edit a week from now to reflect any changes decided on in the forum reform thread, which can be found in my sig.