• We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
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coz1

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There is a long tradition over the years of the interactive AAR in AARland. They have almost always found success and can be some of the most active and interesting threads within the AAR forums. However, lately we've seen some problems dealing with major spam; rules posted and not enforced by the thread starter; and group action separate and against this forum. Due to this, our moderators have been called to spend increasing time in those threads at the expense of the various other threads within this forum and that is unfair to those writers working diligently every day but without the focus that these interactive AARs gain.

Accordingly, we have decided that going forward interactive AARs will be treated just as any other "forum project" and thus must be cleared by the moderators first per AAR forum rules. This does not mean they are disallowed. Far from it. We welcome any and all to attempt such if they so wish. What will be required however is this:


  • All interactive AARs will be passed by moderators first before posting the thread. When a member/group is ready to start such a thread, bring it to one of your moderators (Qorten, Stroph1, Mr. Capiatlist, Myth, Eber, or loki100) and we will in turn make sure the other moderators are aware. Once discussed, the mod contacted will inform the member if they may begin.

  • The thread starter is in charge of the project. While it may be a group effort, we will need one individual able to act as go between with the moderators. This individual will be held accountable should something go wrong in the posting habits of the thread and that person can go a long way towards smoothing any cause for warnings or infractions by bringing such issues to us rather than a moderator discovering it.

  • Pursuant to the above, the thread starter will need to develop a strong set of rules that fall within the existing Forum and AAR rules and considers the various "hardships" such threads may be prone to. Such rules should be posted clearly for all to read in the first post of the thread.

  • Once the rules are set down and the AAR started, any member ignoring or dismissing such rules will be dealt with harshly.

The list of interactive types of AARs is potentially long so I will define it thusly: any AAR in which multiple individuals are prompting the game player/AAR writer in their actions.

For now, we will NOT include MP games or other collaborative AARs in this rule unless they too begin to present the same type of ongoing trouble. We hope this allows for a fun experience for the AAR writer and those that wish to engage in such interactive game playing/AAR writing, while also maintaining the lively but polite posting habits for which this area of the forum is justly known. :)

Note that there are RPG forums set up to allow for a true interactive spirit, but as it regards AARs, you must be working with a Paradox produced game and there must be some action to prove such.

* * *​

There has also been some questioning regarding the new forum rules, one dealing with offsite links and the other spam/necromancy. For those unaware (you should make sure to read the forum rules linked in my signature) the new rules read as such:


"You will not flood or post on the forums redundant, empty, or nonsensical posts or advertisements as determined by Paradox staff (i.e. no "spamming"), or necromancy (posting in old threads)."


"You will not post a link to an external website or forum without prior approval of an Administrator."


Both apply to the full forum but may have some special need to reiterate here. Especially the rule on necromancy. ;) It's a hard question for us sometimes to know when necromancy is real or just someone trying to bump the author. We always want to see feedback here so we try to be pretty relaxed as far as that goes (please note - threads over a year silent are pretty much dead unless the author returns.) If comment is made, it must mean something...make sure you show you've read the work and not just add a "+1" and the like.

In fact, that goes for the other part of that rule..."+1", "first" and all other forms of quick comment without substance is considered spam in AARland. So is just posting :D or ;) or :wacko: or even :p (and especially :rolleyes:) and nothing else. Emoticons and screenshots by themselves with no other word are considered spam. Please make sure you offer some substance to your comment.

For the linking rule, please make sure you understand this applies to both signatures and posts. Pics and data files are fine (hosting sites), but links to offsite forums or any area where there might be dedicated discussion is one that requires admin approval. At present, YouTube is still allowed, and there is a dedicated thread in OT for funny or interesting links and videos. If you have question of what is allowed, make sure you contact your admins before posting or linking to it.

* * *​

These rules are not necessarily new, but they do help clarify forum conduct that is longstanding. With time and many new members, perhaps some have lost that forum lesson and/or memory or perhaps have not yet found it. We try to help maintain that sense of forum health - the act of writing should come with a sense of fun! Your assistance in the above helps greatly in that regard.

Above all else - as LD used to say when he was here - Write On! :)
 
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If the author promises a update to come soon, but a year passes without any updates, and a reader notices that the author is again on-line, would posting in the thread be necromancy or 'bumping the author'?
Where is the line?

'Cause I am really waiting for some updates on some AARs. :p
 
I find the rule against necromancy pretty reasonable, as long as the criteria you mentioned ( a comment must mean something and threads must be older than a year) is really applied.
In no way protesting against the second new rule (You will not post a link to an external website or forum without prior approval of an Administrator), I would still like to know what's the reasoning behind it. Just a matter of curiosity - It's the first time I see such a rule on any forum.
 
@ Enewald - No, that would still be necromancy as we define it today. Best let the author come back on his own or perhaps send a PM.

@ ColonelIronboot - The reasoning comes from the administrators as it is a forum wide rule. We've had issues in the past and of late from offsite forums either attempting to attack Pdox or use the Pdox forum numbers for their own purposes, among other things. Both, obviously, are verbotten here. The rule does allow for exemptions but you will need to clear links to other sites with the admin via PM as they will take it on a case by case basis.
 
Wanted to clarify a bit more on the necromancy issue - if you wanted to bump a long dormant AAR, the best way to do it is to prepare some comment of substance that would add to the thread's history. Sometimes a bump is helpful for a long dormant author, but the problem we find is that others jump on board for a cheap post. If a long dormant AAR is bumped, the post must engage the writer and ideally give new potential readers a reason to check out the AAR in question. That goes over a lot better than a simple "Update?!" ;)
 
As far as I know it is perfectly OK to post in your own thread, especially if you put up a new chapter or convey some useful information (such as 'Update coming tomorrow!'). We are mainly concerned with people who spam a lot of 'Update!' or :rofl: posts around; that clutters up the active threads, sparks false hope that some long-lost AAR will return, and generally gums up the works.

In the words of greater men than I, 'Write on, sir! Write on!'
 
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