Community Rules - New Dawns Roleplay

New Dawns RP Community Ruleset

Last Updated: 01/04/2025

1. General Community Rules

1.1 Eligibility and Communication

• 18+ Community: New Dawns is an 18+ server and community. You must be at least 18 years of age to play.

• Headset Requirement: Players must have a working headset with clear audio (no feedback from speakers or microphones).

• Respectful Environment: Treat all players and staff with respect. Discrimination, hate speech, or harassment of any kind will result in immediate termination of membership.

1.2 Platform and TOS Compliance

• Follow all Terms of Service (TOS) and Community Guidelines for the platforms on which we operate.

• Make your best effort to stay up-to-date with server rules, guidelines, and changes.

1.3 Reporting and Appeals

• Report Violations: If you encounter rule violations, report them to staff via the /report function in-game (requires player ID) or through our support hub on Discord.

• Punishments: Staff actions are final, though punishments can be appealed through the Discord support hub. Management will review appeals on a case-by-case basis.

2. In-Game (IC) Rules

2.1 Roleplay Integrity

• Always Remain In-Character (IC): Except when instructed by an admin or in specific OOC circumstances, you must always stay in-character while in the city.

• No Out-of-Character Interference: Do not disrupt ongoing roleplay to report someone or tell others they’re breaking the rules. Admins will handle these situations.

• Do Not Force Others to Break RP: Do not attempt to interrupt or coerce other players into breaking character or engaging in non-realistic actions.

2.2 Out-of-Character (OOC) Communication

• OOC Chat Use: Use the /OOC chat for non-roleplay communications such as game crashes or technical issues. Do not use OOC chat to avoid roleplay or make jokes.

• Out-of-Game Communication (Meta-gaming): Do not use information from outside of the game (e.g., from streams, Discord, etc.) to influence your roleplay. Meta-gaming is a severe offense and may result in a permanent ban.

2.3 Fail Roleplay (FRP) & Powergaming

• Powergaming: Never force actions or unrealistic outcomes. For example, don’t force another player to engage in a roleplay action or make actions that break immersion (e.g., dragging players instead of using the proper mechanics).

• Fail Roleplay (FRP): Avoid actions that break the flow of realistic roleplay, like talking on the radio while injured or performing actions without proper RP setup.

3. Gameplay Integrity

3.1 Exploiting and Hacking

• No Exploiting or Hacking: Any form of exploiting or using cheats/hacks will result in an immediate permanent ban.

3.2 Server Restart (The Storm)

• Storm Grace Period: The server restarts once or twice per day (known as the "Storm"). During the 15-minute grace period before and after the restart, you must avoid engaging in any high-stakes RP such as robberies or pursuits. Ongoing RP scenarios from before the storm should be resumed once all players return.

3.3 Looting and Robberies

• Looting without RP: Do not kill for the sole purpose of looting. Always establish roleplay first and allow a fair opportunity for the victim to comply or resist before escalating to violence.

4. Combat and Death Rules

4.1 Random Deathmatch (RDM) & Vehicle Deathmatch (VDM)

• RDM: Do not attack other players without valid roleplay reasons. Every encounter must have proper story progression.

• VDM: You may not use vehicles to kill players without a legitimate roleplay scenario. Ramming or reckless driving for no reason is also considered VDM.

4.2 New Life Rule (NLR)

• When Downed (DBNO): If you are in the DBNO stage, you are still conscious and can remember everything around you. If fully incapacitated (second downed stage), you lose all memory of the incident.

• Resurrection: Do not immediately respawn after being downed. You must first attempt to contact emergency services and continue your roleplay from there.

5. Roleplay Quality and Character Development

5.1 No Value for Life (NVL)

• Valuing Life: Always respect the value of life for both your character and others. Shooting at LEOs or hospitals without cause or inserting yourself into dangerous situations without justification is considered NVL.

5.2 Multiple Characters

• Character Integrity: You are allowed up to 5 characters, but they must have separate stories and should not cross paths in a way that benefits you unfairly. Using one character to benefit another (e.g., sending yourself money or using multiple characters in a criminal gang) is prohibited.

5.3 Corruption RP

• Zero Tolerance for Corruption: Corruption in whitelisted roles (e.g., law enforcement, government roles) without prior approval from staff is strictly prohibited. This includes abusing power to assist criminals or avoid legal repercussions.

5.4 Fair RP

• Equitable Roleplay: Both criminals and law enforcement must make an effort to keep roleplay fair and immersive. Criminals should not shoot at law enforcement without RP buildup, and law enforcement should not prematurely end encounters by shooting first without adequate communication.

6. Criminal Activities and Economy

6.1 Criminal Groups

• Criminal Group Limit: Criminal groups are limited to 5 members for any given activity (e.g., robberies, heists). Additional members may assist as lookouts or getaway drivers but count toward the group limit once involved.

• Corruption and Crime: Any criminal activity must be roleplayed carefully. Engaging in illegal activities like trafficking or organized crime should have an in-game justification and a well-thought-out narrative.

6.2 Economy & Money-Laundering

• No Quick Money Schemes: Players must earn money and assets through legitimate in-character roleplay (e.g., working jobs, running businesses). Exploiting or abusing game mechanics to make quick cash is prohibited.

• Money-Laundering: Money laundering and other illegal economic activities must be properly roleplayed and must not involve exploiting game mechanics for personal gain.

7. Punishments and Enforcement

7.1 Punishment Classifications

• Class A - Permanent Ban: For severe rule violations such as exploiting, hacking, meta-gaming, or intentional powergaming.

• Class B - 8+ Day Ban: For serious breaches like RDM, VDM, or fail roleplay.

• Class C - 4-7 Day Ban: For actions such as violating the New Life Rule, No Value for Life, or causing disruptive RP.

• Class D - 1-3 Day Ban: For minor infractions or repeated lower-tier offenses like looting without proper roleplay.

• Class E - Warning/Kick: For minor rule violations or first-time offenses.

Note: Punishments are subject to the discretion of staff and may vary based on the situation. All punishments can be appealed via the Discord support hub.

8. Miscellaneous Rules

8.1 Out-of-Game Communication

• No Meta-communication: Do not use any form of out-of-game communication (e.g., Discord, phone calls) to influence in-game decisions or relay information. Everything must be done within the context of the game.

8.2 ERP/Sexual Assault Roleplay

• Zero Tolerance: Suicide RP, excessive ERP, and sexual assault roleplay are strictly prohibited. Violators will receive an immediate permanent ban.

A Note from our Community Management in regards to our rules:

At New Dawns, we prioritize immersive and realistic roleplay over strict rule enforcement. While we maintain a clear set of rules to guide the community, our focus is on creating an enjoyable and authentic roleplaying experience. We believe in upholding the spirit of the rules rather than rigidly adhering to the letter of them. In other words, while we do enforce our rules, we take a more flexible approach, especially when it comes to situations that align with our roleplay and community goals. Our aim is to foster a fun, engaging environment where creativity and realism thrive.