Forum Rules: READ THESE BEFORE POSTING!

THE TEAM

Administrators: Kane, ahamling27
Moderators: Doctor G33k, kirabook, Mistress Rarity, Crisis, Twi, blumchen, Sokina, Kelp, Loki ISP
Inactive or Semi-Active Moderators: aavri, CrazyCoco, Valanthril, Aeynia

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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERAL RULES
SIGNATURE POLICY
NAME CHANGES & MULTIPLE ACCOUNT POLICY
PROFILE RULES
MEMBER SYSTEM & LIKE SYSTEM POLICY
FORUM ABUSE
REPORT POLICY, INFRACTION SYSTEM, BAN TIER SYSTEM, & INFRACTION REMOVAL/APPEAL
MODERATOR CREED

OTHER HELPFUL THREADS

• Frequently Asked Questions
• The Complete Guide to Terraria Online Signatures
• Terraria Online Community Feedback Portal
• Spoilers - How to Make, Fix the Double Ones and Other Stuff
• Forum Rank Information

SECTION RULES

• Bug Report Forum Rules
• Suggestion Forum Rules
• Guide Section Rules
• Trading Section Rules
• Role Play Section Rules
• Introduction Section Rules
• Server Section Rules
• Clan Section Rules
• Stories Section Rules
• Video Section Rules
• Let's Play Section Rules
• Player Creations and Screenshots Rules
• Art Section Rules
• Map Section Rules
• Modding Section Rules
• Books, Movies, and Television Section Rules
• Other Games Section Rules
• Off Topic Section Rules
• Forum Games Rules

GENERAL 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.
• Do not use slurs in public threads.If you do, you risk offending others - even those you weren't directly addressing. The public use of slurs on Terraria Online is not acceptable in any circumstances.
  • The purpose of this rule/policy change is to raise the level of mature, mutually respectful conversation on TO by strongly discouraging the use of well-known racial/sexual slurs. This is not intended to remove all occurrences of anyone taking offense to anything nor to affect the long-standing policy of allowing cursing in any way.
  • If a slur is reported, it will be reviewed by the staff for context and impact using a "reasonable person" standard (would a reasonable person react or be expected to react to the statement in this way?)
  • If a post is deemed in violation, it will receive a "Racism/Homophobia" infraction (5 points) on top of any other necessary actions (Personal Attack, trolling, etc). Staff are, as always, allowed the discretion to warn on less serious offenses.
  • Edits of offending posts will either be requested or done by staff. Reverting those edits will draw further penalties.
• 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). You can only update your thread every 24 hours ONLY in content threads (suggestions, art, mods). The update MUST have a significant amount of content. 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)
    • video clips
    • 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.

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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. 'Clickies' are only permitted in a spoiler tag in your signature. For more information on spoilers, please click HERE
• Be aware that if your signature does not meet the above guidelines, you may receive a warning or infraction.

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NAME CHANGES

• The Admin is currently not accepting name change requests.

Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler

• 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.

MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS

• Having more than one account on Terraria Online is perfectly acceptable.
• What is not acceptable:
  • Creating an account just to troll another member. If you create a troll account, then your IP will also be banned along with the troll account.
  • Creating an account to impersonate another member, a staff member, or a developer. The account will be banned.
  • Creating an account to ban evade.
  • Creating an account with the purpose of abusing the like system. If the account has been boosted by your account or other accounts, the account will be banned. If the account was created only to boost the likes of your main account, it will be banned. In either situation, you will receive a spamming infraction.

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PROFILE RULES

• ALL forum rules apply to profiles except for Double Posts, Single Word Posts, and Spamming.
• Spamming your own profile is acceptable, but that does not excuse posting pirated material, porn, hate speech, and any other inappropriate material that are specified in the main rules.
• You are not allowed to constantly post or spam another members' profile with the intent to annoy or harass.
• The poster takes responsibility for his or her posts....not the reader. There is a fine line to be drawn on what is acceptable to post on a friends profile and what is not. Before you engage in post spamming activities on the profile of a friend, please ensure that they are perfectly clear with your actions. Also consider that - if a profile is public - others outside of your intended target may read and react to those posts.

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MEMBER SYSTEM AND THE LIKE SYSTEM

• Part of the XenForo software includes an automatic member ranking system. Part of this system includes a "Like" function for members to indicate their agreement and/or appreciation for another member's comments.
• Thus, the "Like" button should also be used in the stead of single word posts such as "I agree".
• "Like Spamming" - where a user or group of users decide to bestow a number of likes upon another user - is not specifically prohibited. They are your "likes" after all, and we cannot assume your intent in using them. However, the following is not allowed:
  • Creating alt accounts or having others create alt accounts for the purpose of like spamming.
  • Like spamming in order to flood another member's alert box in order to undermine their TO experience.
  • Posts for the sole purpose of begging for likes will fall under "lack of content".

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FORUM ABUSE

• Terraria Online is not an image stock website. It is forbidden to create threads with the sole purpose of storing images.
• Please use these websites if you need somewhere to store your images.
  • Imgur
  • Photobucket
  • TinyPic

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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.
• If you wish to change the title of your thread, simply report your thread and state the new name exactly as you wish it along with your request. This won't have any effect on the content of your thread.
• Reporting with the intention of spamming the moderation team will result in a spamming infraction. This is to be used only in extreme and obvious cases such as reporting uninfractable posts from one user because you do not like them.

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

BAN TIER:

We have a ban tier system. After your first ban (15 points), 1 week bans will increase to longer periods of time and eventually a perma-ban. Instead of earning another 1 week ban after your first 15 points, your next 15 points will result in a 2 week ban and so on. If you continue the behavior that got you your first ban, we will not hesitate to use the ban system in place of the infraction system.

The process goes as follows:

1st Ban: 1 week

2nd Ban: 2 weeks

3rd Ban: 1 month

4th Ban: Perma Ban

INFRACTIONS

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)

INFRACTION REMOVAL AND REPEAL SYSTEM

Now that our community is over a year old, the staff and community felt that the idea of infractions being a "permanent mark" on a member's record for isolated incidents was heavy handed and not useful.

Understanding that rules violations on TO can range from serious issues like personal attacks, piracy, pornography, etc. to more minor/technical infractions like signature size, lack of content, double posting and the like: the staff of TO divided possible violations/infractions into two groupings - minor and major violations.

Violation Categories -Minor Violations and Major Violations.

Minor Violations

- Signature Size - provided the member has changed their signature to be in compliance.

- Double Posting.

- Lack of Content.

- Advertising.

Reporting Limit for Minor Infractions: Any rules violation in the minor violations category are subject to a four month limit on reporting. Any post more than four months old reported for one of these violations will be ignored.

On-Request Removal of Minor Infractions: In addition, upon member request, any infractions given in the categories below that is over four months old will be removed from a member's record by staff. The only limitation to this is where a member has more than three of any single type of minor infraction. In this case, the most recent violation will serve to start the four month clock.

The staff does ask for patience with these removals, depending on the number requested.

Major Violations Not Subject to Limitation

- Personal Attacks.

- Trolling.

- Use of Slurs.

- Piracy.

- Pornography.

- Ban Evasion.

- Impersonating Staff and/or Other Members.

- Any offense infracted at level II or higher.

Reporting Time Limit for Major Infractions: Major rules violations in the categories below have no time limit under which they must be reported, and may be infracted at any time.

On-Request Removal of Major Infractions: Major infractions can be removed from a member's record in one of three situations:

• Standard Appeal: At any time, a member may challenge the validity of an infraction based on its merits. This is done via PM to the infracting moderator. An appeal to an additional moderator is also allowed (for a second opinion). Finally, appeals may be made to the administrators of TO if the member is still unsatisfied.
• Six Month Review: After six months, a member may request that any major infraction that is at least six months old be removed from their record. Upon this request, staff will review.
• Nine Month On-Request Removal of Major Infractions: As with minor infractions, major infractions are also eligible for automatic removal - on request - by staff. For this to occur, the member in question must have a record clear of any further major infractions for a continuous period of nine months.

Exceptions: Members who have been banned from Terraria Online will not have any infractions removed from their profiles for any reason. It takes a lot to earn a ban, and leaving this record provides necessary context for future situations and for new members.

Also, if you have deleted the post containing the infraction in question, it is impossible for TO staff to remove it. Apologies.

The Infraction Removal thread can be found here

PROCESS

• All appeal and removal requests must be made via PM to a staff member.
• Six-Month major appeals process will be conducted via PM, with a transcript and review to be published to the public forum for peer review/information.
• The staff does ask for patience with these removals, depending on the number requested.

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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.

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