MMO rules you live by.

Rule 1 - Play my role.

When I team, especially PuG... I try to play my character like I would expect/hope them to be played if I invited them. I play my tanks with aggro generating a priority, I play my defenders with keeping buffs and HP up on the team and debuffs on the enemies. If my controller lets that Sapper nuke anyones end or that Paragon Protector pop his ******* MoG because its not locked down... or if my Scrapper isnt obliterating anything and everything in arms reach... then I'm not helping the team and I'm not having fun.

Rule - 2 Never impose Rule 1 on anyone else.

Wanna Scrank? Like suicidal Blapping? Wanna six slot your PB with knockback and your Speed Boost with Run speed... or not take it at all? Go ahead! The point is to have fun aint it?

1. Don't be stupid.

2. Don't be an ***

Most of mine mirror what I have already seen here..

1. HAVE FUN .. sure no one likes to die and we all hate a failed trial or whatever but at the end of the day its a game. When it gets to a point where it has become life or death its time for a LONG break.

2. Be polite ... I always try to treat people well. Sort of the old rule If you can't say something nice..don't say anything at all. Now reverting back to rule 1 that doesn't mean I don't have fun joking and kidding with friends but I KNOW those players and know they will get the joke and not be offended.

3. No I don't have the profanity filter on but NO that doesn't mean I have to use ever four letter word ever created in every post. I turned off the filter a LONG time ago because frankly the Politically correct BS that led to the word G O D being lumped with, as they described it at the academy awards, the F-bomb is sheer insanity. Statesman drank from the Well of the Furies and was endowed with God like powers but I can't say GOD in a chat post without it coming out %$# ???

4. Pay Attention and follow instructions .. For me this is not an issue that began when the Incarnate trials brought into serious focus just how many players out there have NO clue how to be a good team mate .. I was doing it 6 years ago.

5. When all else fails.. refer to rule # 1 If you aren't having fun go watch TV

These are rules for myself, not rules I impose on others.

1. "And it harm no other, do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law."
2. Remember that a lot of MMO players ignore the first clause of Rule #1.
3. Assume all other players are more hardcore than me, because it's unlikely they can be less hardcore than me.
4. Warn leaders about #3 before accepting an invitation to anything taking more than 15 minutes.
5. No matter how unpleasant it may turn out to be, always see teams through to the end. Distasteful experiences can be learning experiences.
6. Perform unsolicited and random acts of kindness, complimenting bios, costumes, names, play performance, and so on. It makes the game world a better place.
7. Try something new each play session.

1. Find a target and then kick it in the head.
2. Repeat number 1 as rapidly as possible.
3. Make occasional jokes with the team about the joys of kicking things in the head.

I find this works for 99.9% of the game and generally makes everyone around me happy.

Play the game the way you want and don't tell or dictate how others play.

This thread has a lot of nicely said points and is a testament to the CoH community.

Besides the already mentioned Golden Rule* and Wheaton's Law, I have some personal maxims that I'm still in the process of codifying/ripping off:

1. You are responsible for your own fun. Find something you can enjoy in the game yourself, and should you get bored or frustrated with that, find something different.
2. Fun is a positive-sum game. If you're having fun, then the players around you are more likely to as well, and vice versa.
3. It takes all kinds to make an MMORPG (viz. the Bartle Test's).
4. Know your role. If you're unclear about this, or your fellow players are, speak up and speak clearly.
5. Think before you /tell.
6. Teh drama will lead only to tragedy.
7. What happens in game stays in game.
8. Never mind the buzzkills. If you're being griefed by a truly determined troll, just walk away/kick them/put them on ignore/quit the team/log off. Trolls have exactly as much power over you as you give them.
9. Never attribute to trollishiness what can be adequately explained by n00bery.
10. If all else fails, there's always real life.

These are the rules I live by:

* Every character should have a background story, although a short/vague one is okay at low levels
* Concept first
* Use appropriate costumes if available: Keyes? Radiation suite. Defeated? Trashed clothes, lividity. Pocket D? Party outfit. Crossing waters? Swimsuit. Cold weather? Winter clothing.
* Be prepared to change your tactics if you die or suspect that you are messing things up.
* Don't be rude to people who try to find teams.
* Respond to tells.
* Don't join task forces if you don't have the time to complete it.
* Never give out your real name, or force others to give out theirs.
* Unless otherwise specified, I am in-character while playing.
* If you are unsure how to lead stuff, say it and offer the leader role to another.

1. Ignore blind invites. Team, league, SG, whatever. If they're not interested in telling you what they're inviting you to or why, they probably won't take it personally when you ignore them.

2. Don't be afraid to join a PuG once in a while. Worst-case scenario, you'll end up with some funny stories.

3. Willingness to accept advice and a desire to seek out knowledge on your own are the best qualities a new player can have.

4. If you're leading, lead.

5. If you're not leading, don't lead.

6. If you want aggro, be the first one in the fight.

7. If you screw up, be mature about it.

8. If other people screw up, be mature about it.

9. If your fun comes at the expense of other people's fun, you're a dick.

10. If your fun comes from helping other people have fun, you're awesome.

11. Never engage a troll. All they want is attention.

12. If you're not having fun with the game, don't stick around. No one is holding a gun to your head.

13. Respect is a two way street.

14. Do what you enjoy.

• Never quit a team until a mission is over, unless (a) real life responsibilities require attention, or (b) everyone else quits.
• If a friend (note: friend, not team member) needs something, (salvage, recipe, inspire, etc.) and you have it, give it.
• If the team has a plan, follow it. Give suggestions, but a team working together is usually better than people doing things your way. Don't confuse things by following your own plan.
• If you are on a team, watch their backs.
• Don't die unless it keeps somebody else alive.
• If somebody does something cool is does a great job, recognize it and makes sure others do do.
• If you do something cool/well, you can have fun with it, but don't make it about you.
• If it bugs somebody, don't do it.
• If somebody else is bugging you, politely ask them to stop. If they won't stop, go elsewhere and do something else.
• Don't get in the middle of an argument. Both sides will turn on you.
• If it's not fun anymore, stop. Changing things up is better than feeling burnt out/bored.

Along with all the great ones above:

1) Never train or slot new enhancements while on a team or trial.

Asking the team to wait while you train or buy new enhancements is just plain rude. Their time is just as valuable as your time.