Updated 5/31/2012 - Official City of Heroes Forum Rules and Guidelines

Message Forum Rules and Regulations

Welcome to the Official City of Heroes Freedom™ Forum! We hope you enjoy your time here discussing the game and getting to know your fellow gamers.

The primary function of this forum is to provide an area for constructive player interaction and also to submit feedback to the development and publishing teams behind City of Heroes.

Please keep in mind that this is a board solely dedicated to City of Heroes Freedom. We would like to keep this board City of Heroes Freedom specific, and therefore encourage you to visit other message boards available on the Internet should you wish to participate in non-game or other game related discussions.

We have created the following list of forum rules and regulations to keep this an enjoyable environment for us all. Violations of these rules may result in action taken on a user’s account.

The following are the Rules and Regulations of the Official City of Heroes Freedom Forum.

1. You must have a City of Heroes Freedom VIP game account to access full posting privileges on our forums.

Official City of Heroes Freedom Forum accounts are linked to a valid City of Heroes Freedom game account. Players whose game account(s) have been suspended or banned from the game will not be able to post on the forums. As such, users are responsible for following the forum Rules and Regulations, the City of Heroes User Agreement (North American and European), and the Rules of Conduct (North American and European) agreed upon when entering the game. Users who are suspended from the message boards may be subject to having their game account(s) reviewed and could face further action pending said review.

2. Abuse and disrespectful behavior are not tolerated.

In the due course of discussion, occasionally conflicts may arise. We ask that all users please be courteous when disagreeing with others. Debating an opinion is acceptable, however criticism and/or disrespectful commentary directed at an individual is inappropriate. Disrespect can be defined as flaming, trolling, harassing, profanity, abusive language (including abbreviations), personal attacks, racial, religious, ethnic, sexual slurs, or similar behavior/language.

The above applies to any interaction on the City of Heroes Freedom official forums including, but not limited to: any discussion threads, private messages, visitor messages on user profiles, reputation comments, user signatures, images, or digital media, and calendar notes.

• Flaming is defined as posts which are designed to personally berate or insult another user.
• Trolling is defined as deliberately posting derogatory or inflammatory comments/threads in order to provoke other users into negatively responding. Trolling or accusing someone of being a troll is also a form of trolling and is not permitted.
• Posts similar to “Moderator Notified” or “Needs thread lock” are discouraged, as these types of posts are a form of trolling. If a thread is in violation of the forum rules, use the notify moderator button or PM a moderator directly.

The above are examples of behavior that is not tolerated on the forums. Pursuing any of them will result in a warning. If the behavior persists, further consequences may be enacted against your account in our sole discretion. In extremely egregious cases, at the sole discretion of the moderation team, action may be enacted on your forum account without warning.

3. No posting of personal information

Respect the privacy of others and maintain your account’s security by not giving out information such as phone numbers, addresses, email addresses, age, or other personal information. We also strongly recommend that you do not share your in game global handle publicly.

4. Private communication between Customer Support, NC Interactive Inc., Paragon Studios, NCsoft Europe Ltd., (“NCsoft”) members, moderators and administrators of the forum and the forum users is not to be made public on these forums or by any other venue.

You are not permitted to publicize any private correspondence (including petitions, email or PM correspondence, in game chat logs, etc.) received from any of the aforementioned without direct permission. As such, warnings, your character name being changed, and bans are not to be discussed on the forum. Such matters shall remain private between NCsoft and/or Paragon Studios and the user. Questions or comments concerning warnings and bans will be conveyed through e-mail or private messaging. Likewise, discussions regarding moderator actions are not permitted on the forum. If you have questions regarding a post or thread that has been removed or subject to other moderation, feel free to contact a moderator to discuss them.

5. Non-Constructive posts are prohibited.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of examples of non-constructive posts.

• Spam - this is considered to be repetitive posting of the same topic or text or nonsensical posts that have no substance.
• Thread bumping (posts the sole purpose of which is to keep a thread at the top of a particular forum) is prohibited. To request increased visibility for a thread, please contact a forum moderator.
• Posts made in brevity that do not add to the conversation are not allowed, as they do not engender constructive discussion. Examples include, but are not limited to, "/signed," “this,” and “/jranger.” .
• Do not create threads/posts to “petition” for game features, additions, changes, or other issues. You may post suggestions and/or ideas to the boards, but you may not create a ‘petition’ for others to sign. This is bumping in disguise and will not be allowed.
• Do not engage in Lobbying on the Official Forums. Lobbying is continually bringing up the same topic repeatedly in numerous different threads or as an off-topic post in official threads to get developer attention. This form of posting is not permitted. We recognize you may be passionate about a specific subject, however this sort of posting is non-constructive and will not be tolerated.
• Pyramid quoting - this is a response to a forum thread which contains the quotes of four or more previous posters, sometimes with additional spaces added unnecessarily.
• Cross posting - As a courtesy to others before beginning a new thread, please look to see if an active thread on that topic has already been established using the Search feature. If so, place your comments there instead. Multiple threads on the same subject clutter up the forum needlessly and many good ideas may be lost. Use the Search link to keep discussions about one topic to one thread only.
• Contradictive feedback can be very useful, provided that it is presented in a civil, factual manner. Tell us what you don't like and why and how you feel it could be improved. Posts that are insulting and rude may be deleted, no matter how valid the ideas behind them may be.
• A rant is a post which is long-winded, redundant and filled with angry, non-constructive comments. A free exchange of ideas is essential to building a strong sense of community and helpful in the development of the game, but rants are disruptive and incite flaming and trolling. Please post your thoughts in a concise, clear manner and avoid going off on rambling tangents.
• Constructive feedback on in-game mechanics is encouraged; however, non-constructive, “NERF X!” threads are not permissible.
• We understand that, from time-to-time, players may decide leave the game for various reasons, and may wish to create a departure thread on the forum. Departure threads are permitted on the server forums only, provided that the departure thread is non-inflammatory. Departure threads used to vent are prohibited.
• ‘Thread necromancy,’ or ‘necro-posting’ is responding to a thread that has not been active (has had no posts) in at least 30 days. ‘Necro-posting’ is a form of thread ‘bumping’ and as such is prohibited. If you wish to discuss a considerably older topic, create a new post and link to the older discussion.
• If you ask a question on the board, be aware that questions on our boards are most commonly answered by the community. Demands for answers from NCsoft are not permitted, however we may often address some questions and concerns with an official topic. In the event of legitimate emergencies, or other unprecedented scenarios, we will endeavor to provide comments, even if it is only to state that there is no officially available information.

6. Do not post about exploits.

Exploits, phishing scams or game-related issues should be reported through the proper method by filing a report at the NCsoft Support page (North American and European). Issues discovered while playing on the Training Room test servers should be noted in the Training Room forums. Discussions about unverified problems in the game can cause unnecessary panic in the community. If you feel that something may be an exploit, please send a Personal Message on the Official City of Heroes Freedom Forum to a member of the Paragon Studios moderation team in addition to filing a report by the aforementioned method. When there is an issue the community needs to be aware of, we will make an official statement about it.

7. Inappropriate and Off-Topic Content

The City of Heroes Freedom forums are primarily for discussion of City of Heroes Freedom. However, we do allow a wider a variety of non-disruptive, off-topic discussion in the Comic and Hero/Villain Culture forum, and on server forums. In order to provide a safe and constructive environment for all of our forum members, certain topics of discussion are not allowed on the Official City of Heroes Freedom Forum. City of Heroes Freedom is rated T for Teen, and this rating extends to our forums. Some examples of topics which are prohibited to discuss on the Official City of Heroes Freedom Forum include, but are not limited to:

• Political discussion
• Religious discussion
• Inappropriate discussion of the aesthetics of the human form, subject to moderator discretion
• Real world topics including current world events and sensitive historical events
• Dedicated discussion of video games other than City of Heroes Freedom and/or limited discussion of other NCsoft products, including posts that compare and/or contrast City of Heroes Freedom with other games

8. You may not post advertisements.

Advertising on these forums is prohibited, including but not limited to posts that advertise a transaction for real money or any posts that discuss an action prohibited by the User Agreement (North American and European). Also forbidden are posts attempting to recruit others into online contests and/or ventures unless specifically allowed by NCsoft and Paragon Studios. For player-run online contests and/or ventures seeking support from Paragon Studios, please contact the Paragon Community Team.

9. Avoid using profanity.

Profanity in any form is prohibited. Using any means to bypass the profanity filter (for example: partial masking, such as asterisks or punctuation marks) is prohibited. This rule also includes any images displayed on the forums, or any pages directly linked to from the forums.

10. No proxy posting; no account hopping to evade suspension.

Posting on behalf of a suspended user is not allowed. Working around a suspension or ban through other people’s accounts, or secondary accounts to continue posting is also prohibited and may incur an extension of a current suspension, result in a user’s account being banned, or other action. Users are personally responsible for their conduct on the forums. If a user creates a new account to continue posting because another account was suspended or banned, any forum and/or game accounts involved will be banned. Forum and/or game suspensions and/or bans apply to a person, not specifically an account. Threads designed to announce, appeal or contest a forum or game suspension and/or banning decision on behalf of a third party will also be removed without notice.

11. No Legal Action threads.

Using the forums or PMs for encouraging, promoting, endorsing, or inciting any kind of legal action against anyone is strictly prohibited. Such content will be removed, and the author's posting privileges may be revoked as a result.

12. Official Threads

Official threads are threads started by a Paragon Studios/NCsoft representative for the discussion of a specific topic. These may have special instructions in the original post. Please review the original post and follow any instructions given. Furthermore, if there is an Official Thread about a topic, please do not post other threads about this topic. Instead, post your comments only in the official thread.

13. Posting Sensitive Information covered by a Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA) or Beta Testing Agreement.

Please do not post any information on the Official City of Heroes Freedom Forum that refers to or is information covered by an NDA or Beta Testing Agreement or is proprietary information of any party. Any information about a game or third party covered by an NDA or Beta Testing Agreement that is posted will be removed and the poster may be banned from the forum. Furthermore - if the post(s) relates to an NCsoft product still subject to NDA, the post(s) will be removed, the user’s account of the NCsoft product of which the NDA was violated may be closed, and any other available remedies may be pursued.

14. Posting Content Viewed from Modified Game Files

Posting or directly/indirectly linking content viewed from modified game files, or posting instructions on how to view content determined to be extracted from modified game files, including, but not limited to, screenshots, sounds, videos, and text, is a direct violation of the City of Heroes Freedom End User License Agreement. Any posted content determined to be extracted from modified game files will be removed, and the user’s forum account may be suspended or banned. In addition, action may be taken on a user’s City of Heroes Freedom game account as .pigg viewer programs and / or game file modifications are expressly prohibited by the End User License Agreement.

15. Player Generated Content

We do not host screenshots, signature images, or other images on this message board. Users are permitted to link to hosted images, as long as they are of an appropriate and non-offensive nature and do not otherwise infringe the intellectual property rights of any party, and fall within forum guidelines. Below is a list of examples including, but not limited to, what is not permitted:

• Images which are: sexually explicit; harmful; threatening; abusive; defamatory; obscene; hateful; racially, sexually, or ethnically offensive; contain vulgar language; images that illustrate/show illegal activity; images that do not conform to the appropriate ESRB, PEGI, USK ratings.
• Avatar icons are allowed as long as the images are below 20kb in size. Avatars that are overly annoying, disruptive or in the Paragon Studios moderation staff’s sole discretion found to be in poor taste will be removed.
• Links to images that are inappropriate will be removed, and the user’s posting privileges may be suspended or revoked.
• Words that would be censored by our profanity filter are not allowed in images.
• Images that are defamatory, obscene, hateful, racially or ethnically offensive, or offensive on the basis of sexual identity, gender, and/or sexual orientation
• Copyrighted, proprietary images, trademarks as well as images that do not belong to you (i.e. photographs or artwork which are used without permission of the creator) are also forbidden.
• Signature Images are limited to 600x120 pixels AND must be less than 150kb

16. Zero Tolerance Policy

Immediate suspension and/or bans from the forum can result from posting any of the following:

• pornography
• discriminatory remarks--remarks which are sexually explicit, harmful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, obscene, hateful, racially or ethnically offensive, or offensive on the basis of sexual identity, gender, or sexual orientation
• excessive obscene or vulgar language
• posts which discuss or illustrate illegal activity; providing links to sites that contain any of the aforementioned
• impersonating another forum user, moderator, volunteer, administrator, Paragon Studios employee or NCsoft employee
• false obituary threads. Knowingly posting false news of a player’s real-life death may result in a ban of both your forum account and your game account.

17. Proprietary forums

The Official City of Heroes Freedom forums are private message forums administered by NCsoft and Paragon Studios. All message board content is allowed at the discretion of NCsoft. NCsoft reserves the right to remove any message board content at will without notice for any reason at its sole discretion.


19. Suspension and Termination

NCsoft shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether there has been a breach of these Rules and Regulations. When a breach of these Rules and Regulations has occurred, NCsoft may take such action as it deems appropriate.

Failure to comply with these Rules and Regulations may result in NCsoft taking all or any of the following actions:

• Immediate, temporary suspension or permanent revocation of your NCsoft account and/or right to use the forum;
• Immediate, temporary or permanent removal of any posting or material uploaded by you to the forum;
• Modify any posting or material uploaded by you to the forum;
• Issue of a warning to you by NCsoft;
• Legal proceedings against you for reimbursement of all costs on an indemnity basis (including, but not limited to, reasonable administrative and legal costs) resulting from the breach;
• Further legal action against you;
• Disclosure of such information to law enforcement authorities as NCsoft reasonably feels is necessary.

NCsoft excludes its liability for: (a) any action taken in response to breaches of these Rules and Regulations. The responses described in these Rules and are not limited, and NCsoft may take any other action it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate; (b) any loss or damage arising from the use of the forum by you; (c) any content posted or uploaded by users of the forum which shall include, without limitation, any liability for offensive and/or defamatory posts.

20. Changes to these Rules and Regulations

NCsoft may revise these Rules and Regulations at any time by amending this page. You are expected to check this page from time to time to take notice of any changes NCsoft makes, as they are legally binding on you. Some of the provisions contained in these Rules and Regulations may also be superseded by provisions or notices published elsewhere on the NCsoft site.

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Andy Belford
Community Manager
Paragon Studios

These look the same as the old ones - can you highlight the changes?

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@Golden Girl

City of Heroes comics and artwork

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There are no words for what this community, and the friends I have made here mean to me. Please know that I care for all of you, yes, even you. If you Twitter, I'm MrThan. If you're Unleashed, I'm dumps. I'll try and get registered on the Titan Forums as well. Peace, and thanks for the best nine years anyone could ever ask for.

Oh, is it the pigg files? They should have always been in there.

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There are no words for what this community, and the friends I have made here mean to me. Please know that I care for all of you, yes, even you. If you Twitter, I'm MrThan. If you're Unleashed, I'm dumps. I'll try and get registered on the Titan Forums as well. Peace, and thanks for the best nine years anyone could ever ask for.

The wording of some things have changed to be a bit less inflexible, we added a section explicitly addressing .pigg diving or otherwise sharing content extracted from modification of game files, whether directly or indirectly, and a few other wording changes to address the new business model.

Pretty much sums it up. The rules aren't a huge departure from what they were before (no dedicated discussion around non NCsoft products, don't compare and contrast COH to other games) however mentioning the title of another game in passing isn't verbotten.

Of course the Golden Rule applies as always. (No, this does not refer to including at least one emoticon in each post)

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Andy Belford
Community Manager
Paragon Studios

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Miss Arc #147491: Rise of Bedlam
AKA Iron Smoke @Champion Server

Hey Zwill, I've been meaning to ask, and I guess there's no better thread than this one to do it.

May I ask why thread "necromancy" is discouraged?

Doesn't creating threads about the same topic make things more difficult to find when searching due to multiple threads about the same topic coming up in the results?

Heck, it's even on the guidelines just posted under section 5...

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@Alpha XBS ~ Victory
Thunder Light - Peacebringer * Displaced Calibre - Dual Pistols/Time Corruptor * Defendatron WS - Warshade
Madame Distress - Ill/Rad Controller * Madame Infernus - Fire/Thermal Corruptor

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@Dante EU - Union Roleplayer and Altisis Victim
The Militia: Union RP Supergroup - www.themilitia.org.uk

I shall have my lawyers read over this and get back to you shortly...

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If the game spit out 20 dollar bills people would complain that they weren't sequentially numbered. If they were sequentially numbered people would complain that they weren't random enough.

Black Pebble is my new hero.

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TJ put the thread necro question succinctly.

Basically, if a thread lays long dormant, there's the likelihood that the information contained therewithin is out of date. Also, if a year old conversation is worth reviving, there's usually some sort of a new development to go along with it that's worthy of a new thread for.

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Andy Belford
Community Manager
Paragon Studios

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

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If the game spit out 20 dollar bills people would complain that they weren't sequentially numbered. If they were sequentially numbered people would complain that they weren't random enough.

Black Pebble is my new hero.

I am just glad the rules are being applied to ALL and because of that fact things have settled down around here of late. If they just enforced the rules for ALL some time ago several of my good friends would not have left....

Just happy to see fairness and the rules being applied to ALL now.

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The development team and this community deserved better than this from NC Soft. Best wishes on your search.

[QUOTE=Zwillinger;4254582

Of course the Golden Rule applies as always. (No, this does not refer to including at least one emoticon in each post)[/QUOTE]

so basically Wheaton's Rule?

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On Justice
Global @Desi Nova Twitter: @desi_nova Steam: Desi_nova. I don't do Xbox or PS3

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18. Rule 18

The forums Rules and Regulations do not implement a Rule 18. This rule will be enforced without exception.

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[Guide to Defense] [Scrapper Secondaries Comparison] [Archetype Popularity Analysis]

In one little corner of the universe, there's nothing more irritating than a misfile...
(Please support the best webcomic about a cosmic universal realignment by impaired angelic interference resulting in identity crisis angst. Or I release the pigmy water thieves.)

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Speeding Through New DA Repeatables || Spreadsheet o' Enhancements || Zombie Skins: better skins for these forums || Guide to Guides

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Orc&Pie No.53230 There is an orc, and somehow, he got a pie. And you are hungry.
www.repeat-offenders.net

Negaduck: I see you found the crumb. I knew you'd never notice the huge flag.

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@Alpha XBS ~ Victory
Thunder Light - Peacebringer * Displaced Calibre - Dual Pistols/Time Corruptor * Defendatron WS - Warshade
Madame Distress - Ill/Rad Controller * Madame Infernus - Fire/Thermal Corruptor

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If the game spit out 20 dollar bills people would complain that they weren't sequentially numbered. If they were sequentially numbered people would complain that they weren't random enough.

Black Pebble is my new hero.

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Why Blasters? Empathy Sucks.
So, you want to be Mental?
What the hell? Let's buff defenders.
Tactics are for those who do not have a big enough hammer. Wisdom is knowing how big your hammer is.

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If the game spit out 20 dollar bills people would complain that they weren't sequentially numbered. If they were sequentially numbered people would complain that they weren't random enough.

Black Pebble is my new hero.