0. Before everything

These rules here are set by the admins of the server, with a certain idea in mind. The goal is to have a fun environment for all, not just a few. Rules will be enforced by the admins and the moderators.
It's also the spirit of those rules that will be enforced, so please refrain from smart-assing about the letter of the rule.


1. Administrative stuff

a. Admins and moderators
Admins (@) and moderators (*) can be easily identified in the player list. The admin's job is to keep the server running and, well, administer it. His word is not just a law, he IS the server.
Moderators are there to help out players, be it with technical or rule problems. They are also entitled to enforce the server's laws, and you are expected to follow their orders.
Other SOs, Coders etc have sometimes been granted an ^ in front of their names. They have no authority on this server, but if they give you technical advice, you should listen.

b. Forums
The Forums are the primary means of communicating rules and updates regarding the server and campaign. As such, a valid forum account is required to play here. Your forum account name and campaign server name must match, if they do not, or you are found to not have created a forum account, your campaign account will be deleted.

c. Multiple accounts
Multiple accounts are NOT allowed. Violation of this rule will be swiftly punished.

d. IP Addresses and Multiple Players
Players who share the same IP address (Roommates, Siblings in the same house, etc.) MUST inform a mod or admin before accounts are made. Players must be in the SAME faction at all times.


2. Behaviour

a. Respect
The primary goal of this server is fun. That being said, certain things will not be tolerated here. Powergamers, Rules Lawyers, and other anti social persons will not find their stay here fun. All players will respect each other and the staff. This goes for all forms of communication, be it the chat channel or the forums.

b. Problem with the rules?
If you have a question, feel free to ask any member of the staff. Rule violations will be dealt with by the staff. If you have a problem with a Mod's ruling, go to an Admin. If an Admin is the problem, go to another Admin or Ladob. Ladob's jusdgement is final and irrevocable.

c. Piracy
Any person or persons found to be actively seeking pirated Classic Battletech (hereafter referred to as CBT) materials, or providing pirated CBT materials, or assisting in the search for/providing of CBT materials, using this server's chat functions or message boards, shall have their accounts terminated and be permanently banned from this server and its message boards.


3. Initiating games

a. Getting a game
You can just attack an opponent you find active while being active yourself ("blinding") or arrange games. If you arrange games, you can use the "Attack From Reserve Function" (AFR). Using "Event Mission - One on One" is not allowed for blinding other players because it allows for very uneven armies..
If you get active for an arrangend game and get blinded, your opponent may force you to play it. Or he´s nice enough to let you go. You may not be blinded though if you're setting up a game in Main Channel and it is thus clear to everyone you already got an opponent. You´ll see.
Important:
- Even though attacking your own faction by using AFR is possible sometimes, this is strictly forbidden.
- Even though the attack range of an operation may enable you to attack a planet behind the lines, you may not, and any such conquests will have the % returned to the original owner. Exception to this rule are all training operations and operations involving no % exchange, i.e.: Raid, Strike and Supply.

b. Going Active or "Farming"
Players are allowed to go active in order to farm for components and or renew their factories.
By doing so they also acknowledge they are looking for a game and willing to play if attacked there, read: "blinded".
On our server, arranged games are still the preferred mode for combat though, and if two playes agree to start a game and then go active, as long as they´ve informed in Main Channel about that, they may NOT be blinded by already active players. That is specially important when starting team battles.

c. Retasking/ remapping
Nobody has the right to retask, remap or change any MegaMek game option settings like vacuum or night battle without his opponent's consent.
Only exception: vacuum battle with more than 25% of your units being vees.



4. Playing games

a. Stalemates:
Occasionally, situations will come up where the two sides in a battle are unable to kill each other. This is a stalemate. It usually arises from both sides having strong defensive positions and being unable to move from them safely. It can be resolved in several ways, at the discretion of the players involved.
Both sides can make an agreement to *both* leave cover and fight in the open. One side can agree to surrender, or players can agree to resolve the battle by random roll, although that last is suggested to be reserved for when both sides kill each other or cripple each other so it is impossible to continue the battle for either side.
It is also acceptable, in cases of stalemate due to poor map positions, to simply reset the server and choose new maps and new starting points.
The final option is reserved for situations where neither side is willing to accept any of the above solutions, and combat is not able to proceed unless one side breaks cover. Since this is quite often suicidal, most players are reluctant to do it. The "rule of thumb" in this case is that after 10 rounds without firing, if both players refuse to advance or retreat, the battle is over. At that point, both sides lose, and the task must be cancelled. Neither side gains any EXP or money, or any benefits for the task. It is not necessary to play through 10 turns of this if it is clear to both players that a stalemate situation exists. Moderators can and do rule on these situations if one player wishes to cancel and the other does not.


b. Delay:
Intentionally delaying a game is cheating. This includes taking excessive
amounts of time between moves, moving in such a way as to constantly block all fire, ceasing all attempts to hurt your opponent while remaining on the board and dodging fire ('retreating' without actually leaving the board, to avoid incurring a loss), and any other actions that in the opinion of the moderators constitute deliberately prolonging the game without due cause. At the discretion of the moderators, you may be asked to report a loss in such a situation, if you and your opponent cannot come to an acceptable solution.
This kind of decision most often will result in an internal discussion by the moderators and may take a while.


c. '/seeall':
As an observer, you need both player's approval to actually set /seeall for you. You do not have a right to use this function, it can just be granted to you.
Admins and mods are always allowed to use /seeall without need for asking.



5. Finishing games

a. General Surrender Conditions
Players may offer or ask for surrenders at any time. Your opponent is under no obligation to accept surrender, and may set certain terms for this. This will not be considered bad manner. Especially in Line Battles, we excpect you to role-play a war of attrition.


b. Victory conditions
If coded, they end the game automatically.
For the scenarios, read the rules.


c. Accidental disconnections
Accidental disconnections due to technical issues should be handled by the auto resolve function - after one side is disconnected for 10 minutes, the other side will win as if the game was finished right where it was.


d. Intentional disconnections
Intentional disconnections should be brought to a staff member immediately. Stiff penalties will result from intentional disconnections.


e. Forfeiture of games
If you have to leave due to real life issues, you have lost and must surrender. Only exception: Your opponent might accept a save and continue later.


f. Long battles - Saving games
For long battles, like scenarios or battallion games, try to agree on a playing schedule.
In general, if you save a game to continue it later, you have to "Lock" and "Disable" your army (right click the army to get those options) involved in that fight, so it can not be changed (and not attacked either) in the meantime.

Update to 3a. about attacking behind the lines.