Rights - Responsibilities - Rules - Contacting a mod/admin

Rights:

• Mods & admins take a relaxed approach to rule enforcement based on mutual respect for other players.
• Mods & admins keep an objective view when they have to enforce rules.
• Mods & admins give the benefit of the doubt to a reasonable degree.
• Mod & admin actions are logged, and can be checked over if requested.

Responsibilities:

• Use common sense and respect other players.
• Help the mods & admins keep our server fun.
• Don't abuse the software to gain an edge in online games that isn't possible in a real-life.
• Keep up to date with the rules and FAQ to make things easier for us.
• Protect your account with a strong password and a secure account e-mail address.

Rules:

1. No Multi-Accounting

You may only have one account, second accounts are not allowed under any circumstances, and will be banned. This may also lead to your first account also being banned.  If you forget your password, use the lost password finder here. If you are still unable to log in, contact the mods.

2. No Meta-gaming

You can't make alliances for reasons outside a game, such as because you are friends, relatives or in return for a favour in another game.  This is known as metagaming and is against the rules because it gives an unfair advantage to those involved.  If you are worried that you can't stab someone because you want to stay friends, then that's fair enough but you can't join a game with them.

3. Don't work around game messaging/press rules.

If you enter a game with limited press/messaging (such as global-only) then you can't use other methods such as email or PM to bypass this.

4. Do not use the software or moderators as a diplomacy tactic

Lying is fine in Diplomacy except when it gives mods/admins unnecessary work to do!

Falsely accusing someone of being a multi-accounter/meta-gaming to rally others against them in a game, or claiming that your orders didn't come out the way you entered them to cover up your motives, means mods/admins spend time looking for cheaters/bugs which were made up.

All accusations against other players must be made directly to the mod/admin team directly as specified below, in private, for this reason, and software bug claims must be genuine, even if only told to another player.

5. The Pause/Unpause feature is not a diplomatic tool

The pause is there to stop players missing their orders, but is not part of the game.  As such pausing or unpausing should not be used for diplomatic gain, such as refusing to unpause unless other players will draw the game.  If it is being abused staff may step in to sort it out.

6. You may not access another player's account without permission

In general, account sitting (getting someone you trust to log on as you and issue orders when you are unable to) is encouraged.  However, you must not get a sitter or sit for somebody you share games with. Also, anything done by the sitter whilst on your account is your responsibility, so make sure you're happy with that before you give them your password.
It is also your responsibility to change your password after allowing someone to use your account.

7. Do not spam the forum or private messaging system

You are welcome and indeed encouraged to join in with the community but be sensible.  Try to keep replies relevant to the conversation and don't start too many threads at once. Before posting a question relating to the software please read the FAQ.

8. You must answer communication from site staff

You must answer any warnings or other messages sent to you by the moderators, because if you don't reply it will be assumed you have something to hide, and your account may be closed.  As part of this, you must make sure that the email address provided is one you still check, because this normally how staff will communicate with you.

9. Follow common sense

The rules above are mainly ones which might not be obvious; just because a specific rule isn't given here doesn't mean moderators can't stop people ruining the server for others!

Contacting a mod/admin:

Why contact a mod/admin:

Mods can:

• Pause/Unpause/Draw games when a player is unavailable to vote.
• Access months of server logs and the software to detect/analyze possible multi-accounters based on a range of criteria.
• Ban/unban users, reset user/game passwords, give/take points, change game settings like phase length, etc.

For other issues such as bug reports, general questions, etc, you should go elsewhere (e.g. the built-in forum or the developer forum).

Where to send

• Use the game/user reporting tool, present at the bottom of game and user-profile pages, to lodge a report that mods will see. (Currently in beta.)
• Email the moderators at webdipmod@gmail.com, not their personal addresses.

What to send

Always try to have some clear reasons when contacting and do not mention it on the forum. In your report/email text you should include:

• If making a general request (e.g for an unpause):
• Ensure that you make the subject line useful (e.g. "Unpausing help" or "Phaselength change") so we know we can quickly deal with it in a spare moment - if you don't it might not be solved for some time.
• In cases such as drawing/pausing a game standard practice is to check the global chat of the game before acting, so please get other players to post their agreement.
  You don't necessarily need everyone to agree, and we will post back into the global chat when we change these settings letting you know.
• If reporting a multi-accounter:
  • Links to the accounts of the players who you suspect. (If reporting via email)
  • Link(s) to any specific game(s) that raised your suspicions.
  • Any relevant information that you have noticed.
  • You do not have to tell us who you are, but it can be helpful. (If reporting via email)
  • If reporting via email please make the subject line more useful than "multis?" Something like "Multis: Username1 and Username2?" is more helpful for the moderators!

We will try to reply to you quickly, but be patient: investigations can take quite some time. If a week or two after we still haven't got back to you then feel free to follow it up.

Thanks for reading,
- The mod/admin team