Disclaimer : This is an attempt by me to introduce & explain our Code of Behaviour, which has been widely used in the EU II - Multiplayer-Community to great success and will most probably be used in EU III as well.
This I do in view of the hopefully soon to be experienced massive influx of new players into our family of Plotters, Warmongers, Peaceniks, Tradenics etc.
First off, if you are a seasoned veteran of the EU MP scene - read no further. You will either by now have incorporated the minimum social requirements for playing this game in MP or you won't have survived in the community.
I shall now speak about the different aspects of successfully playing Europa Universalis online. I shall start with the prerequites I view most important and work myself onwards from thereon, according to my perceived importance of them. Please feel free to ask questions about any matters you have not understood or add own experiences of campaigns you participated in.
I. Reliabilty
Taking part in a campaign of EU is not a trifle matter. Normaly it's not a spontaneous, shortterm gathering of people who want to bash things out (like Warcraft etc.). Rather it's a longterm business set out in a timeframe of usualy several months. The game is played in sessions (normaly 4 hours once a week). If you decide to take part in a campaign bear in mind that you are supposed to take part in every session. If you cannot take part the standard procedure is to inform the Game Master of this at least several days before the session as well as to organize a substitute Player (Sub). This is the optimum, of course. Sometimes it is simply not possible or a compelling reason commanding your absence might arise shortly before sessionstart. Nobody will freak out if this happens - as long as it doesn't happen every session.
Just basicaly try to work towards fun for all participants, towards the good of the campaign. Be reliable, be there ontime, when the session starts. Be a dedicated player, take the campaign seriously. You need to be deeply involved in it. If you have difficulties keeping a routine or are not really that interested in this game, better inform the people you play with at the beginning.
II. Professionalism
Now, this game is obviously not only about peace & being nice. In the struggle for power blood is spilled a plenty. Wars are frequent (at least in good campaigns). But when nations clash and armies do battle the leaders of said nations are more often than not less than friendly inclined towards each other. Here the accepted rule is, to insult the ingame monarch of your enemy nation is allowed. To insult the Human Player of this country, however, is a big Nono. So, to put things bluntly, while you can roleplay you cannot be an ass. You can say the french King Louis XIV. is a syphilitic Scumbag but you cannot say the same about the Player of France.
Generaly try to detach yourself from the game somewhat. Try to keep things polite. Be professional. If you get backstabbed or gangbanged, don't whine about it. Keep a cool head and plan your revenge with the means the game provides. When you see the country of your enemy burning you will feel so much better than when you have been kicked out of the game for throwing a fit.
Last but not least : Be a nice person. Social Skills are rewarded everywhere.
By being friendly and easygoing you will soon aquire a network of players with whom you will be able to play EU with as much as you want.
III. Hierarchy
Basic fact : Campaigns need to be organised. In order to have order you need somebody to enforce said order. His name is Game Master (GM) and he is your absolute King and Ruler. He makes the rules - you follow them.
This doesn't mean that you have to stand on your head if he says so. You are entitled to discuss controversial issues if you view them as wrong in the apropriate manner. The apropriate manner is after the session in ICQ.
Most GMs are pretty decent in the way they organise things. Hence, campaignrules normaly make sense, even if you do not always see the merit of said rules. Just follow them and talk about them later.
Here is a link with what I would describe as the optimum ruleset for EU II, provided by most possibly it's best GM :
FAL's Ruleset
Okay. That's all for now. Probably there are countless issues still missing. I invite anybody who wishes to add something, to add something.
I look forward to playing with you in this most wonderfull of all wonderfull games, Europa Universalis III.
This I do in view of the hopefully soon to be experienced massive influx of new players into our family of Plotters, Warmongers, Peaceniks, Tradenics etc.
First off, if you are a seasoned veteran of the EU MP scene - read no further. You will either by now have incorporated the minimum social requirements for playing this game in MP or you won't have survived in the community.
I shall now speak about the different aspects of successfully playing Europa Universalis online. I shall start with the prerequites I view most important and work myself onwards from thereon, according to my perceived importance of them. Please feel free to ask questions about any matters you have not understood or add own experiences of campaigns you participated in.
I. Reliabilty
Taking part in a campaign of EU is not a trifle matter. Normaly it's not a spontaneous, shortterm gathering of people who want to bash things out (like Warcraft etc.). Rather it's a longterm business set out in a timeframe of usualy several months. The game is played in sessions (normaly 4 hours once a week). If you decide to take part in a campaign bear in mind that you are supposed to take part in every session. If you cannot take part the standard procedure is to inform the Game Master of this at least several days before the session as well as to organize a substitute Player (Sub). This is the optimum, of course. Sometimes it is simply not possible or a compelling reason commanding your absence might arise shortly before sessionstart. Nobody will freak out if this happens - as long as it doesn't happen every session.
Just basicaly try to work towards fun for all participants, towards the good of the campaign. Be reliable, be there ontime, when the session starts. Be a dedicated player, take the campaign seriously. You need to be deeply involved in it. If you have difficulties keeping a routine or are not really that interested in this game, better inform the people you play with at the beginning.
II. Professionalism
Now, this game is obviously not only about peace & being nice. In the struggle for power blood is spilled a plenty. Wars are frequent (at least in good campaigns). But when nations clash and armies do battle the leaders of said nations are more often than not less than friendly inclined towards each other. Here the accepted rule is, to insult the ingame monarch of your enemy nation is allowed. To insult the Human Player of this country, however, is a big Nono. So, to put things bluntly, while you can roleplay you cannot be an ass. You can say the french King Louis XIV. is a syphilitic Scumbag but you cannot say the same about the Player of France.
Generaly try to detach yourself from the game somewhat. Try to keep things polite. Be professional. If you get backstabbed or gangbanged, don't whine about it. Keep a cool head and plan your revenge with the means the game provides. When you see the country of your enemy burning you will feel so much better than when you have been kicked out of the game for throwing a fit.
Last but not least : Be a nice person. Social Skills are rewarded everywhere.
By being friendly and easygoing you will soon aquire a network of players with whom you will be able to play EU with as much as you want.
III. Hierarchy
Basic fact : Campaigns need to be organised. In order to have order you need somebody to enforce said order. His name is Game Master (GM) and he is your absolute King and Ruler. He makes the rules - you follow them.
This doesn't mean that you have to stand on your head if he says so. You are entitled to discuss controversial issues if you view them as wrong in the apropriate manner. The apropriate manner is after the session in ICQ.
Most GMs are pretty decent in the way they organise things. Hence, campaignrules normaly make sense, even if you do not always see the merit of said rules. Just follow them and talk about them later.
Here is a link with what I would describe as the optimum ruleset for EU II, provided by most possibly it's best GM :
FAL's Ruleset
Okay. That's all for now. Probably there are countless issues still missing. I invite anybody who wishes to add something, to add something.
I look forward to playing with you in this most wonderfull of all wonderfull games, Europa Universalis III.
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