» Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:20 am I would like to thank Moderators and Admin past and present for writing/rewriting/editing these rules. We have all worked very hard to write them in a way as to be understood. If you have any questions concerning the rules of this forum, please feel free to contact an admin or moderator to ask, we will be happy to assist you.
A special thanks to Archie and Hannah for all their past help and contributions and content used in this re-vamp of the rules. Your work make this one much easier to do.
Introduction
Each forum has its own http://www.zenimax.com/legal_terms.htm. The one here is linked at the bottom of each page. We also come to the assumption that when you start posting on these forums that you have read and signed thehttp://www.zenimax.com/legal_privacy.htm honestly and accurately, and if we see anything that conflicts with the information that you agreed upon and signed when you entered the forums, it will result in an instant ban. This isn't to be mean, but it has to do with serious legalities of hosting a forum under US law.
The ESRB rating of all the forums here is 13+, irrespective of the rating of the individual games. It is expected that the content and tone of your posts conforms to this rating.
We have a "three strikes then you're out" policy. That is, if users break the rules they will receive a warning. Each user is allowed 3 fair warnings via the Personal Message system, and on 4th violation of the rules will receive a ban. Disabling the Personal Message function or not reading Personal Messages sent by moderators will not be seen as an excuse.
Some infractions will cause instant termination of your account, such as admitting you have pirated, will pirate, describing or linking to how to pirate any software/media, or causing a major disruption in the forums. Because proxies are frequent sources of commercial spam and other abuse of forum facilities, proxy addresses may be banned at any time and without notice.
Since this is an English forum and gamesas is located in the USA, we respectfully request that English is used here for consistencies sake. Nothing against any non-English language, but the forums would become very confusing otherwise. We also ask that user names are in a Latin based alphabet.
The use of leet speak is difficult to understand for many, and should not be used. In addition, please do not take it upon yourself to be a spelling and grammar cop. With the number of non-English speaking members here, it is to be expected errors will occur. It is fine to be helpful, just please don't be spiteful.
Thanks for joining our forums!
-The Elder Scrolls Forum Moderator and Administrator Team
1. Inappropriate Images/Links/Discussion are not allowed.
Other than avatars, image posting on this forum has been disabled in both content and signatures.
However, you may link to images as long as they are appropriate. If you link to images/sites with inappropriate content, such as swearing and nudity (including nvde mods) your post will be edited and you will receive a warning. Warez/piracy/illegal download and pormography sites will warrant an instant termination of your account here. This includes links to abandonware sites, cracks, and illegal MP3's.
It is generally acceptable to link to content about Bethesda Softworks published titles even if they have some profanity. (Links may still be removed at a moderator’s discretion if they feel the content is excessive or otherwise inappropriate.) If you are linking to game content that does contain some profanity please use a link re-direct. Here is an example with http://www.zenimax.com/external.php?locale=en-us&url=http://bethblog.com
[url=http://www.zenimax.com/external.php?locale=en-us&url=http://bethblog.com]bethblog.com[/url]
To clarify what can and can not be linked in regards to advlt mods.
A site may be linked to provide information about tools and guidelines in making mods. No direct link to a nvde or sixually suggestive screenshot is allowed.
So, make certain that the page you link to is free of such screenshots and or other material that is against this forums rules. We take no responsibility for those who go searching further for such material. In addition, we reserve the right to disallow links to some sites all together.
As for nudity allowed in screenshots here, bikini or more coverage should be fine. But again, it depends on the message being sent by the content. For example, there are images in guy magazines like Esquire that are virtually mild porm, even if there is a small amount of clothing hiding the personal bits. And those types of images wouldn't be acceptable. Moderators have full discretion to make these determinations, and warnings and bans will be given out when needed.
User made and modified in game characters depicting children must be fully clothed and not be posed in a way to be considered provocative. The moderators have full authority to determine this and issue warns/suspensions/bans if required.
Likewise any screenshots depicting child killing will also be dealt with accordingly.
Posting false links as in deliberately misleading other members about what they are clicking on or linking to is forbidden. Examples of such is posting a screamer and telling them, "Isn't this cool.", links to a game such as "you have been bitten" or other such game that gains the posters points or recognition, posting such links will result in a warning. Deliberately posting or linking to malicious or misleading information will result in your account being suspended. Please note that this include such links in signatures as well as the text of a post.
2. Cursing/Swearing is not allowed.
We do not allow any bad language on these forums. Swearing, even with asterisks, intentionally misspelling, omitting letters, other characters replacing letters or any other form of avoidance is not permitted. Doing so will result in a warning for bypassing the autocensor. In addition, if your post contains close to nothing but [censored] tags, it too can be considered excessive swearing and be cause for a warning.
3. Advertising is not allowed.
Please do not use these forums to advertise your non-Elderscrolls, Fallout or Bethesda developed or produced related forum/website. We make exceptions however, as many people like to post links to websites in the Community Discussion forum such as showing off their work, or linking to something funny or a link to illustrate a point. We do not allow threads to be created for things such as classified advertising for business, or buying/selling, swapping, game codes, general items or to seek users/moderators for your personal forum.
There are pinned threads for fansites in the http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1168849-tes-fan-site-topic/ and http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1168934-falloutfnv-fan-site-listing-topic// the where you may post your TES or Fallout related site. Please ensure your site is appropriate for this forums members. You may also place a link in your signature to your site as long as it is appropriate.
4. Spamming/Cross-posting are not allowed.
Spam is the posting of advertisemants, abusive, or unneeded messages on Internet forums. Off topic comments, or posts that have little or no relevance to the subject being discussed, or a post that does not contribute to the thread and repetitive threads are all considered spam on this forum.
Bumping, or posting to bring your thread to the front is also considered spam here. If you have asked a question and it has not been answered, please be patient. If it falls to the third page or so, you may post to bring it forward once after several hours but doing so more than once will get your topic closed and a warning for spam.
Crossposting is asking the same question via starting a topic in more than one section of this forums. This is not allowed. Please note the different sections and try to post in the appropriate section.
Should you realize you have posted in the wrong section, please ask a moderator to move it by using the report button to ask. The moderators will be happy to assist you with getting it to the appropriate section.
Furthermore, please do not post in ALL CAPS as it's rude and spammish. This goes for posts and thread subjects; thread subjects also shouldn’t have gimmicks and what not intended to catch people’s attention, such as starting and ending it with a string of asterisks.
5. Trolling is not allowed here.
In Internet terminology, a troll is someone who intentionally posts derogatory or otherwise inflammatory messages about sensitive topics in an established online community such as this forum to bait users into responding. They may also plant images and data that others may find disturbing (usually indirectly relating to the individual in person) in order to cause confrontation.
6. Cross-Site Trolling is not allowed.
Destructive and personal criticisms of other sites are not welcome here. Disagreements occurring on other forums should stay at those forums and not be brought here. Flaming members or groups of members from other forums and websites (such as "everyone at Forum X is a moron" or "Webmaster Y is an idiot") may result in sanctions against your account. Inciting or organizing attacks against sites will result in the instant termination of your account.
7. Flaming is not allowed.
Insulting individuals or groups of members and name calling are flames. Any remark that is made to insult another member or group of members will be considered a flame and thus you may receive a warning for it.
Calling people a troll or an apologist for instance can both be considered a flame as can calling someone stupid or ADD. Attacking Xbox players, PS3 players or PC players is not allowed and calling them "console kiddies" or in anyway indicating someone is in some way a lesser person because of their choice is considered a flame here.
8. The only criticism that is allowed here is constructive criticism and that is welcome.
Constructive criticism criticizes a proposed idea. Criticism that is directed against one person, be it a modder, another member, an individual developer, a certain moderator or a group effort are all forbidden.
This means that when you voice your concerns, please do so in a way that offers a vehicle for improvement. If you see something going wrong, feel free to say so, but also say something about how to set it right.
It also means that posts that run down other members or factions among the membership who may not agree with you are still out under the rules against flaming and flamebaiting.
9. Posting about moderator or administrator action or inaction is also against the rules of this forum.
Please feel free however to contact the moderator involved, another moderator you feel comfortable with, our community manager Gstaff or another admin if you disagree with a moderator action. Our moderators do not mind taking a second look or discussing an action with the other moderators and admin to assure they have acted fairly. So if you think you've been treated wrongly or that unfairly, be sure to send a PM. Sometimes moderators make mistakes.
10. P2P Content/Bittorrents/Cracks/Criminal discussion is not permitted within the forums.
Discussing or linking to P2P content within this forum is prohibited. Given the nature of these resources and their use with piracy, under no circumstances can they be linked to within our forums. Violations of these rules will result in a warning or account suspension.
Bittorrent links and discussion are prohibited within our forums, with exception to use of bittorrent links relating to modded content (from clean torrents). Violations relating to bittorrent content will result in a warning/suspension. Similarly, we do not allow discussion methods of circumventing the Steam check or of Cracks that violate the terms of a game's EULA. Open admission to pirating copyrighted materials will result in an account ban.
Discussion of emulators/ emulation is also prohibited on this forum.
Similarly, posts admitting to drug use, violence, or other illegal activities are not tolerated within the forums. This includes indicating knowledge of or being witness to unreported illegal activities. Such knowledge should be reported to the authorities not posted on a forum.
11: Proxy IP Addresses
Proxies are frequent sources of commercial spam and other abuse of forum facilities, proxy addresses may be banned at any time and without notice, and members using a banned proxy address will have no recourse but to find a different way to access the forums. Any member persistently using a proxy IP will have their account closed.
Restricted Topics
Religion and Politics
Petitions
Rating Threads
Multiplayer/Official Threads
Rating Threads/What are you listening to/Who Would Beat Who threads/Forum games
Threads regarding another user's account
Hello/Goodbye/How Old are you/What forum skin do you use threads
I got a star/I'm now a [insert rank here] Threads
Discussion of controversial current events may be closed without notice if it appears the discussion has, or will, become disorderly. Likewise, discussion of killing children is not permitted as it is classed as http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/914506-matureadvlt-content/, neither is it a feature of Bethesda Softworks games.
Due to past problems there are some topics we no longer allow on the forums. If you have any questions about this feel free to message one of the moderators. Also, if you have a topic that you are relatively sure is appropriate for the forums, but may fall into one of these restricted categories, please don't hesitate to ask us.
Religion and Politics
Topics or posts that deal with religious or political matters, beliefs, people, or events are not allowed on the forums. This includes issues that are religiously or politically charged such as Biological Evolution, even though they are not inherently religious. Similarly, discussions of "Global warming", "man-made climate change" are also politically charged topics and are not up for debate on this forum - although the issues and ideas surrounding global climate change are not inherently political, people are unable to discuss it without quickly bringing in personal political opinion.
Discussion of in-game religion and politics as it relates to Bethesda Softworks games and game lore are fine.
Petitions
We do not allow the creation of petitions on the forum. This includes creating a thread for the purpose of discussing a petition elsewhere.
Rating Threads/What are you listening to/Who Would Beat Who threads/Forum Games
Avatar and most other rating threads are considered spam on this forum and thus not allowed. Same with "What are you listening to, threads for "who would win, Batman or Spider-man", and forum games.
These threads will be locked and when someone repeatedly posts them they will be warned for spam.
Multiplayer/Official Threads
We restrict the discussion of multiplayer in regards to The Elder Scrolls and Fallout 3 to one topic in their respective "General" section. All other topics re: multiplayer will be locked and you will be redirected to use the "Official Thread".
We also reserve the right to make an "Official Thread" about other subject matter that is a "hot topic" and thus multiple threads being made about a given "hot topic" may be closed at the moderators discretion in order to keep the flow of discussion meaningful and prevent other topics from falling off the first few pages due to excitement over just one issue.
Creating threads regarding another user's account
We do not allow discussion of users accounts in threads. If you have any questions regarding the account of a user who is for some reason unable to access these forums, please send a Personal Message (PM) to a moderator or administrator.
Creating a thread or bringing up a banned user's account is not allowed. If there is another reason that they can't access their account for one reason or another please ask us directly and we will look into it. Similarly, we do not allow public discussions concerning peoples warnings, warning level or banned status. This includes discussing your own warnings.
Creating threads about other threads, or locked threads
We do not allow threads to be created about other threads, this constitutes cross-posting or advertising. We also do not allow threads to be made about why something has been locked. If you want to know why a thread has been locked you should PM a moderator, it should not be discussed on the forums. If your thread is locked you should also not re-post it (unless you have moderator permission to do so).
Often a thread will be locked before a moderator types an explanation, so it is best to wait a few minutes before contacting a mod if no reason has been posted for the lock.
Hello/Goodbye/How Old are you/What forum skin do you use threads
We have an Introductory Thread pinned in the Community Discussion section of the forums for these, please use it and do not start a thread about them individually.
I got a star/I'm now a [insert rank here] Threads
Hi yes, we are happy that you've risen a rank and attained another star, but don't start a thread about it as it will be locked.
Additional rules agreed to when registering at this forum
These are the rules agreed to when registering at the forum. They are reprinted here for your reference.
Forum Terms & Rules
Please take a moment to review these rules detailed below. If you agree with them and wish to proceed with the registration, simply click the "Register" button below. To cancel this registration, simply hit the "back" button on your browser.
Please remember that we are not responsible for any messages posted. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message.
The messages express the views of the author of the message, not necessarily the views of this bulletin board. Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact us immediately by email. We have the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary.
You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this bulletin board to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sixually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise violative of any law.
You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by this bulletin board.
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Responsibility for your actions
Taken from the http://www.zenimax.com/legal_terms.htm
Responsibility for All of Your Activities and All of the Content You Post
You represent and warrant that any information you may post or provide to ZeniMax by means of the Sites, including but not limited to part of any registration or application to gain access to any Services, email distribution lists or job application submissions is truthful, accurate, not misleading and offered in good faith. Any information disclosed to you via the Services including but not limited to, any content in the personalized areas of the Sites, may be used only for its intended purpose. ZeniMax expects that you will exercise caution, good sense and proper judgment in using the Services. You agree NOT to use the Services for or in connection with any of the following activities:
(i) Spoofing or otherwise impersonating any person or entity, including but not limited to, any other users or any of ZeniMax's personnel, or falsely stating or otherwise misrepresenting your identity or affiliation in any way, or forging any TCP/IP packet header or any part of the header information in any e-mail or other posting;
(ii) Any fraudulent or illegal purpose, or any use which violates the accepted norms of the Internet community, whether or not expressly mentioned in this Agreement, as well as any activity that could damage ZeniMax's commercial reputation and good will or the commercial reputation and good will of its vendors and customers;
(iii) E-mailing, uploading, or otherwise transmitting or using the Services in furtherance of the use or distribution of any unlawful, harmful, harassing, defamatory, tortious, libelous, abusive, threatening, vulgar, sixually explicit, obscene, hateful, racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable material of any kind, or any material that is invasive of another's privacy or exploits children, or transmitting any sixually explicit materials, including images and other content; and
(iv) Transmitting material that contains viruses, Trojan horses, worms, time bombs, cancelbots or other computer programming routines or engines that are intended to damage, destroy, disrupt or otherwise impair a computer's functionality or the operation of ZeniMax's (or anyone else's) Services, detrimentally interfere with, surreptitiously intercept or expropriate any system, data or information, or transmit any materials that otherwise violate ZeniMax's rules or policies
