Rules and Expectations 
The Pirates of the Burning Sea website, forums and IRC chat channels are provided at no extra cost to your monthly subscription, and are intended to be a place where players can interact in a friendly environment. Flying Lab Software truly values our friends in the Pirates of the Burning Sea community, and we believe that they are entitled to the most pleasant experience possible.
In order for that to work, we expect our community members to follow certain behavioral expectations and rules. If you do not feel that you can follow them, then we ask that you do not use these resources.
Role PlayReporting Posts
Expectations
Forum/website Rules
IRC Channel Rules
Penalties
Role Play
Players are encouraged to participate and contribute to the conflicts between nations as it occurs in the context of Pirates of the Burning Sea game play.
Posts that are made to deride, cajole or taunt enemy nations can be acceptable, so long as it is made clear that the tirade in question is a role-play device, and (this is the important part) is posted in the appropriate forum location, which is the Salty Sea Dog Inn forum. Any role-play posts elsewhere run the risk of being relocated or removed all together.
Important Note: Abusive and bigoted posts cast in the light of ‘role-play’ may still result in immediate removal and may be followed by punitive action against the poster, if a moderator feels that the post in question crosses the line.
In the end, a dose of common sense and fair amount of human decency will help you dictate where that line is. As always, Flying Lab Software staff and their representatives reserve the right to have final say in these matters. All we ask is that you take some time and personal responsibility for the kinds of posts you make on our forums.
Reporting Posts
If community members should come across a post that violates any of the following rules and expectations, they are asked to use the Report Post feature of our forums, including a brief but thorough explanation of the reason for reporting the post in question. Repeatedly spamming reported posts as a method of revenge or harassment will not be tolerated.
Expectations
These are general expectations for behavior on the Pirates of the Burning Sea community resources.
1. Be respectful of all other users. We know that you wont always agree with your fellow players, or us. Were happy for you to post your point of view as long as it is respectful and constructive.
2. Let peoples forum threads serve the purpose they were created for. Sometimes you may decide that a change of subject is needed. If that happens, create a new thread. Dont hijack someone elses.
3. Keep your feedback constructive. Sometimes you might feel angry about something weve done. We understand, but before you post, why not take a break, have a nice hot drink, maybe go for a walk? Angry kneejerk posts with no constructive feedback are likely to be removed.
4. Dont get personal. You might have an issue with something a fellow player has done in-game or on the forums, or maybe you think weve made a silly decision. Thats fair enough, but please dont turn that into a personal attack. If you do, we will simply remove your post, and your point, however valid, will never be heard.
5. Post in the right place. We have various sections on our forum, so please familiarize yourself with them to ensure that you are posting your thread in the right area. This will make our forums a lot easier to manage and read. If you find that your thread has vanished, and you dont think you broke any rules, the chances are that a moderator moved it to the correct forum section.
Website Rules
This is a list of things that are specifically forbidden on our forums and website.
- No Flaming – While debate and discussion are encouraged, we will not tolerate rude or insulting posts, personal attacks or inflammatory posts of any kind.
- No Trolling – Creating or posting in a thread for the sole purpose of harassing a user, stirring up hostilities, or derailing/hijacking a thread topic is not allowed.
- No Spamming – Posting multiple threads or posts with the same or similar content is not allowed. This rule also applies to the use of our forum private message system to spam other members.
- No Impersonation – Impersonation of other forum members, members of the development team, the forum moderators or any other official representative is not allowed.
- Do not abuse staff members – We respect your opinions about our game, but we will not tolerate personal attacks against any member of staff. Please file a support ticket if you have an issue with any staff member.
- No Foul Language – This includes the use of invectives like fag or gay (or any variation), sexually explicit language, racially or culturally insensitive comments, or the use of any words understood as offensive to others. We also ask that you do not attempt to get around the forum word censor.
- No Offensive Images – This includes forum icons, User Content, and message attachments (including screenshots) deemed pornographic, defamatory, offensive or otherwise inappropriate.
- No Defamation – Bashing of other gaming companies, individuals or game titles is not allowed on the Pirates of the Burning Sea forums.
- Do not pick on new users – Please remember that new users will not always know where to find information that may be common knowledge to the seasoned forum user.
- Do not discuss Exploits, Hacks or Cheats – Suspected Exploits, Hacks and Cheats in Pirates of the Burning Sea should be reported via the Support Website not the forums. This includes accusations of individuals, nations, and societies. We also ask that you do not post any messages that we send you via the support system (see below).
- Do not infringe Copyright – Attachments and User Content must not include any content which is the intellectual property of any organization or individual other than Flying Lab Software or yourself.
- Do Not Post Official Correspondence – Without express, written permission, the posting of any private correspondence between official representatives of Flying Lab Software and forum members are forbidden. This includes any private messages, conversations or support ticket responses involving GMs, Developers and Forum Moderators.
- No Advertising for Commercial Purposes – The advertising of in-game services or society recruitment is acceptable, provided it is posted in the correct forum sections. Other advertising is forbidden, unless with the express, written permission of Flying Lab Software.
- No Discussion of Illegal Activities – This includes software and music piracy and discussions involving illegal drug use.
IRC Channel Rules
First, the rules of the Coldfront IRC network apply.
- No Harrassment
- No channels with profanity/sexually related content in the name
- No public channels with profanity/sexually related content in the title
- No public or private channels that trade in warez or sexually related content
- No nicks that can be taken as profanity, sexual, or warez related
- No channels that advertise other IRC Networks or redirect users
- No racist channels and/or nicks or any other discriminating type of behavior
#burningsea is considered to be Teen rated, like the official forums. The channel has a profanity filter in place, which will automatically censor obscenities..
Do:
- Read the channel /topic and latest !news
- Be constructive
- Help others
- Be polite
Don’t:
- Spam
- Troll
- Inflame
- Defame
- Insult
- Harass
- Discriminate
- Private message FLS staff without permission
- Pester FLS or channel staff
- Discuss the big three—Sex, Religion, Politics
Penalties
If you do not follow the rules and expectations, then we reserve the right to issue warnings and take action against your account.
On the website / forums:1. You will be given a warning via the forum PM system or email.
2. If we have to warn you more than 4 times, a 7 day ban will be placed on your forum account. In severe cases, this ban may be applied immediately.
3. If you continue to violate the rules you will then be eligible for a 2 week ban.
4. If we have to ban you a third time, it will be for 1 month.
5. Any further rule violation will result in a permanent ban from the Pirates of the Burning Sea forums.
We reserve the right to accelerate this process in severe cases, at our discretion. Our forum moderation staff will be the sole arbiters of this process, however you may file an appeal to any warning or ban using our support website.
In our official IRC chat channel(s):1. You will be given a warning via private message.
2. If we have to warn you more than twice, you will be banned from the channel for 24 hours.
3. If we have to ban you again, it will be for a week.
4. If you repeatedly break the rules, you will be permanently banned from the channel.
