Forum Etiquette

When creating an Account, the display name must conform to the Law of names within the Empire. Please reference the Guild Laws. Furthermore, when taking multiple family names, please keep in mind the length when making it your display name. Though there is no restriction on how many names one can take, the forum administrators retain the right to shorten one's display name to preserve the viewing integrity of the forums.

Since we now use a system of registered users on the forum board, everybody may add a signature which is displayed below posted messages. In here, it is useful to explain who one is or what one does. A probable signature would be "Emperor of Draconia" or "Lord of Dragonspire Keep," for example. It is also possible to add other ranks, titles or deeds below such. Also, a quote looks nice and proper, if you have one available that you like. This is also a good place for putting full family names.

Lastly, beneath a person's display name is an optional custom rank field that will be gladly entered by the forum administrators. This should be kept up-to-date whenever possible. It can read: Guardians Captain, Duke of North, Baron(ness), Knight, and other titles. To have this updated, you must post a message in the Suggestion Box thread entitled "Custom Ranks."

Of old, there was a strict and formal method for announcing opening posts. However, this method has been relaxed somewhat over the past few years. The purpose of this lesson is to educate the aspiring noble in how to compose a post in the High Style. When used, this style of composing can deliver the most powerful of messages.

When posting, the first thing one should examine is the subject of the message. Great leeway can be given in the subject of a composition, depending on the current customs and situations in the Empire. Post the messages within the appropriate forum, such as roleplaying posts that go into the roleplaying forums, and trading posts that go into the trading forum.

In the body of your message, please use complete sentences, and make sure proper spelling and punctuation is observed. This is the most important part of ones image; who you are on the forum is reflected by your mode of speech. You may have the best of intentions, but your thoughts can only be effectively translated into action if people are able to decipher the meaning of your words.

There are some guidelines that should be considered in choosing which forum to post one's topic within. First, the High Council Chambers are for High Council members only. Members of the High Council include all Dukes and Duchesses, the Three, and the Guardian Captain. All other members need to request permission first and are asked to include in their post that they have received permission. Title usage is mandatory in the High Council Chambers. Second, we have an Ambassadors and Guests forum for posts from those from other guilds, as well as for all out-of-character posts. This forum is free of restrictions in title usage, and friendly mingling is encouraged. Finally, the Forum of Imperial Draconia is intended for in-character posts and discussion of guild business by members of the Draconian Empire. This doesn't mean that we'll cut off your fingers for posting there, but we do ask that you respect that forum as being our main place of guild business for citizens of Draconia. Polls are not allowed in this forum without the permission of one of the Three. Usage of titles is encouraged in the discussions within this forum.

Before responding to a post, read it and wait for a few minutes. It will clear your thoughts, and weed out unnecessary emotion. Only when you can think objectively, free of rage or bitterness, should you post on the forum.

Never, ever, fight or bicker on the forum. If you find something wrong with a statement of one of your countrymen, use ICQ to question him politely. Respond to statements in a positive manner, if at all. If you disagree with a statement, and feel argumentative, compose a reply stating that you would wish to speak with the author on ICQ as soon as is convenient. If the author has obviously overstepped his sphere of influence, a small, friendly rebuke may be permitted, but that is all. You should never be insulting to your guildmates, even if you don't like some of them. We are all brothers and sisters in Draconia, and the community that we love can only be maintained if order is kept. The greatest part of the maintainence of order is politeness.

When answering questions, or arguing honourably in official debates, you may publicly argue a point opposite your fellow members, but remember to always be in an emotionless state when doing so, and be careful not to offend any in the Empire, or without.

Administrators reserve the right to modify the contents of any message that "breaks" the width of the forum tables. Breaking the width of the forum tables can be accomplished in a number of ways. First, by posting extremely long hypertext links. When posting a link to another site, please take advantage of UBBCode to embed links. For a more in-depth explanation of linking with UBBCode, ask any user familiar with these forums.

Breaking the width also happens whenever an image (including signatures) has a width exceeding 650 pixels. The administration reserves the right to remove a message with a picture in excess of this limit or more commonly, to modify the post such that the image itself is removed but a link to it remains. If a signature exceeds 650 px it WILL be removed from a person's account profile. If an image is known to be in excess of 650 px, please link to it rather than posting it outright unless there is good reason. Signatures can have a MAXIMUM 225 px HEIGHT and 650 px WIDTH. If multiple signatures are used, they still must meet the height and width limitations and not exceed 225x650 pixels when displayed together. Extra signatures that do not meet the total limitations may be removed at the discretion of an administrator.

To introduce the topic - there are three kinds of administrators. The first kind has the general forum in its hands, the maintenance of the boards and the overall workplace. These people are listed as Sentinel under their name. Currently, the administrators are Caithris Horn and Pyros Haldir.

The second kind is a Global Moderator who is able to change, modify or delete inappropriate postings in any of the forums located here. Whereas the Administrators ensure the technical quality of the forum operations, the Global Moderators are available to ensure the community quality of the forums, especially with respect to the notes above on posting and replying. They are the primary enforcers of the Forum Etiquette on the global level.

The third kind is a board-specific Moderator, able to change, modify or delete inappropriate postings in their respective boards. Board-specific moderators are limited to boards such as: The Draconian Academy (mod. Guardian Captain), the Hall of Whispers (mod. ranking Draconian druid), or the various gaming forums (mod. by a Questmaster or the Questmaster Captain). Moderators should defer questions of breach of Forum Etiquette to Global Moderators. The reason for appointing board-specific moderators is to allow people of specific authority to sticky/unsticky threads pertinent to their board alone, lock threads to guide a roleplaying epic or to conclude questions that have been answered.

Restrictions: No administrators may modify sentence structure, grammar, and/or spelling in a post made by someone other than themselves. Posts will only be modified if the message contains foul language or for violating the width requirements established above. Posts which violate the Terms of Service for this forum are subject to removal in their entirety. Further, posts that are contrary to the spirit of the board posted on may be deleted without notice.

Any members that feel their posts were edited or removed without reason MUST speak with either their Duke/Duchess or the Praetor of the Empire. Complaints posted on any forum in regards to message editing/deletion WILL be promptly removed.

Any member that violates the Terms of Service for this board or violates the laws of the Empire is subject to having his or her posting privileges removed temporarily/permanently and may have their membership status subsequently questioned.

If you believe you are the victim of slander or libel, refrain from replying to the offendor and immediately contact your Duke/Duchess or preferably the Praetor. The issue will be promptly dealt with.

Note: This document is subject to change at the discretion of the forum Administrators.