Manifesto PBW Ethics

[Hornet X1]

I agree with Gozra's assessment, that etiquette and unwritten rule guidelines could be helpful for new and even experienced PBW game players.

A few things I think should be included are as follows:

1) As a courtesy to fellow players and PBW Users, please stay in the game if your empire is near defeat and allow the PBW server to mark your empire as dead. That way it will not read the game as needing a replacement player for what is basically a dead empire.

If you cannot or do not wish to, please post in the game forum and allow the game owner to "finish" your empire before you withdraw and let the AI play your empires Last few turns or allow them to seek a replacement player.

2) As a game owner, clean up after yourself. When a game is done with delete it from the server.

If it never gets off the ground and into play remove it.

When looking for new games to join before the server move, I encountered several examples where the game owner had stopped paying attention to their game and never started. New players were still applying to join months later.

3) If you think another player is cheating do not start making accusations you may not be able to back up or emailing other players over it when you may well be wrong.

Ask an admin. to look into it for you quietly. After all chances are that you will not believe what the player you suspect of cheating has to say anyway, and this way no hurt feelings are left behind and no ones character has been wrongfully questioned.

If they actually are cheating they will be caught by the admins and things handled on the spot.

4) As a player, before joining a game, read the game info page carefully.

When methods for handling common issues are explained clearly in the description you have no business whining about it latter.

Sometimes, you might encounter a player whose desire to actually play the game leads them to join a game they may not be happy playing in the long run.

If you cannot find a game you like, start your own.

5) As an owner remember that the more details you provide on the game info page the more likely players are to be satisfied with the game experience and understand what they are getting into.

When an owner asks for your input on settings and other issues in the game forum - provide it. Otherwise you have no one but yourself to blame if things are not as you like.

Finally, I will note some disagreement with the idea that email diplomacy should be restricted as a matter of courtesy. I think that is something which should be handled with house rules in the game description.

Hornet X1

[PDF]

Well, my statements were somewhat harsh, but I really think that it's useless to go through detailed bureaucratic procedures in this sort of environment... It soon become endless quibbles about very minor points, and noone read them, and much less respect them

So OK for a *short* PBW etiquette document listing "proper behavior" though, as an help for newbies. More than that should be left to Game Masters if they want specific rules.
And frankly all relies on the individuals'goodwill, no amount of rules will change that as long as there are no retaliation other than just kicking out the players from a game.
If the "rules" just listed and informed players beforehand of what can lead to their banning from a game I think the goal will be attained.

[Prophet-PBW]

I agree with Hornet's list.

But it does come down to each player running a game setting the ground rules at the beginning. I think that is important. A pain in the butt... but important.

If you are going to join a game, follow a 'Buyer Beware' policy. In addition to Hornet's ideas, don't be afraid to just ask questions in the game forum. Perhaps the admin has his/her own Assumed Rules. Or they just forgot to address certain questions.

It is much better to flesh this stuff out as early as possible.

Prophet

[Prophet-PBW]

Oh, and there is one other rule to keep in mind:

Game Owner's word is final. In the end, it is their game.

I am not advocating a tyrant admin. I hate it when owners act like lord over all, proclaiming answers without discussion. A more democratic process, where debate and maybe voting are used by the owner, is much more enjoyable. But it's like driving: drivers are asked to be courteous, but not required by law.

Prophet