Rules

The following rules apply to all Minerealm servers, including the Survival Server, the Creative Server, and the Party Server. Some of the rules may apply to the Minecraft Forums as well.

Official Rules

These are the official rules as proclaimed by Intelli.

Rules

1. Do not disturb other peoples stuff
2. Please place a sign on your property, to claim the area.
3. Do not build on land that has been claimed, or that you don't have permission to build on.
4. Griefing, Hacking, Exploits, Glitching, or Cheating is bannable.
5. Please respect admins, mods, and all other players.
6. Do NOT ask for spawned items. As this is a legit server, there are no spawned items.
7. Swearing, racist remarks, or any comments intended to enrage other players are allowed, deal with it.
8. If you have any questions, please ask a mod.
9. Have fun!

Consequences

Severe breakage or continuation to break any of the official rules may result in a ban from all Minerealm servers.

Unofficial Rules

These rules have been established by MineRealm administrators but not confirmed by the head admin, Intelli.
As posted by Panthers17nfl on the MineRealm Forums on April 22, 2011, the unofficial rules are as follows.

Player Vs. Player (Survival)

Proximity of Spawn

Spawn camping is the act of remaining within the proximity of /spawn and blocking / standing guard by an area directly outside of spawn and killing anyone that comes near. As of April 30th, this action is not a rule infraction.

Wilderness

Player versus player combat is totally allowed in the wilderness. There are absolutely zero consequences that could come from PvP in the wilderness. If a player is lured out by another player (perhaps taunting him or offering diamonds), it is that player's fault, and is not a rule infraction.

Realms

Player versus player combat within a realm is allowed at all times and thus has zero rule implications.

Stalking

The repeated killing and following of a player can be considered harassment only in a few scenarios. If a moderator or admin tells the player to stop killing that player, then afterwards it is considered harassment and bannable. If the stalking persists for over an hour, it is also considered over-the-top stalking and bannable.

Indirect PvP

It is quite possible to cause the death of a player without actually attacking them. Pushing players so that they end up in harms way at spawn (into a lava pit, manhole to bedrock, hungry spider, etc), it is a rule infraction. Should the event occur within spawn, it is a rule infraction, as PvP is not enabled in spawn, and Indirect PvP is still PvP. Items must be returned to the slain player. Obviously, proof is required for any action to occur.

Stealing (Survival)

Chests

Stealing of goods in chests is always a rule infraction. The old way of saying it was "Stealing is illegal only if you get caught", but that is the way it is with everything then, isn't it? Anyways, stealing from chests is always against the rules.

Dropped Items

Should a player meet his death and another player loots his items, this is not a rule infraction. Should a player accidentally drop items and another player loots those, this is also not a rule infraction. As you can see, mistakes on the player's parts do not result in rule infractions. MineRealm will not baby you and protect your belongings for you.

Interruption of Trade

Should a player interrupt two other players trading by stealing the items, this is in fact a rule infraction. The reason the response differs here than in the previous rule is because this is classified as true stealing

Breaking In

Breaking blocks in order to reach a chest is itself classified as Griefing as well as attempted Stealing, and so very easily bannable.

Trading (Survival)

At Spawn

Trading at spawn is not a protected action and your items are not guaranteed safe exchange. However, an intentional interruption of trade appears very poorly on that player's "record".

In-Game Chat

Swearing & Inappropriateness

Swearing in-game will usually result in warning from moderators. Continuing to swear, swearing excessively, and/or using vulgarities will very quickly result in a ban. We do not tolerate any foul language on this server, even if it isn't directed at players. The reason for this is that we appreciate a wide range of player ages and wish to respect the eyes of said players. It is a mature environment we try to create here.

All-Caps

Speaking in all-caps is both annoying and bannable. You will likely be warned before a ban arrives, but continuing to speak in all caps will quickly lead to it.

Spamming

Spamming, by this definition, does not mean: Sending a ton of messages. It means: sending a ton of incoherent or stupid messages. This will get you banned in an instant.

Asking Questions

Should a player ask for help, perhaps a chat command he cannot find, or for what time of day it is, they will obviously receive a polite answer. What is obnoxious is players asking in-game for some sort of mod or plugin, continually asking for the attention of a mod or admin, etc. This can be bannable after you are told to quiet.

Forum Behavior

Swearing & Inappropriateness

This follows the same protocol as the first rule of the In-Game Chat section.

Spamming

Spamming on the forums can refer to either what is mentioned in the third rule of the In-Game Chat section OR simply sending far too many messages before receiving a reply. Stay patient, players will reply. Our forums don't flow like the King's River, there is no need to bump threads.

Ideas & Suggestions

Read this and this.

Ban Complaints & Appeals

Read this.

Server Discussion

This is one of the forums we try to steer clear from over-moderating (free speech and all). Obviously, topics that are composed of pure idiocy will be locked or deleted. Continuing to post such obviously inappropriate / foolish threads can lead to a forum ban.

In-Game Behavior

Griefing

Griefing can be identified as: Destroying blocks that do not belong to that player, removing / adding torches that do not belong to that player, destroying crops, or placing blocks on property that isn't theirs. This is always bannable.

Hacking

Hacking of any kind is always bannable. A hack can be classified as any modification that alters movement speed or direction, the ability to ignore in-game physics, block-breaking speed, ability to spawn items, duping items, and X-Ray (transparent) texture packs.

Trespassing

Trespassing would refer to walking on someone else's property once they have asked you to leave. This has only one implication, that being that you are deemed to be conducting suspicious activity and will be asked to leave by a moderator or admin. Refusal to do so can lead to a kick, ban, or teleport back to spawn.

Vulgar Signs

Signs that entail profanities or words that would otherwise be a rule infraction are themselves rule infractions and very easily bannable offenses. There is absolutely no defense to a moderator or admin claim of you posting a sign. That is a statement of fact, not an intimidation tactic. Signs that make very obvious that one has caused griefing or broke other rules will also lead to a swift ban. Examples are: "Make your realm private next time lololol", "I made it better (totally destroyed)", etc.

Offensive Skins

There are many skins that can be considered an infraction of the rules. You will be warned and asked to change your skin. Failure to do so will lead to kicks and/ or a ban. Examples of skins that are rule infractions: Hitler, completely naked, anything Nazi related, etc. Offensive skins are jiudged by Moderator discretion.

Texture Packs

Standard texture packs (ones that alter the art files of models and/or blocks to anything besides transparent) are allowed. Should a player have a texture pack that causes any in-game art file that would otherwise be visible be invisible (aka: dirt blocks, leaves, etc.), it is a bannable offense.

Mods

Modifications to the in-game experience that are not classified as hacks in the Hacking section are most often allowed. Examples include mods that do not provide direct advantages to the gaming experience, such as minimaps, texture packs, and compasses.

Invisibility

Should a player be found to be invisible in-game, it is required that he log out and log back in (relog). Continuing to remain invisible can lead to a ban. Killing players whilst invisible is also a bannable offense, although a heavy amount of proof is usually required to reinforce this case. Players under the Invisibility infraction also uphold a sort of informal "First Warning", wherein their first kill while invisible can be voided if it were accidental, but they must relog immediately.

Ban Special Conditions

Reasonable Cause

There are certain instances where there may be little to no proof to support a ban case, but Reasonable Cause is provided. An example would be that a player left a sign saying "I'm so pro" and next to the sign is a tunnel straight down in to a mob spawner. This will lead to a ban, as the chances of finding a dungeon by digging straight down on the first attempt is very slim. An appeal to this ban will be difficult.

Guilt By Assocation

This special condition acknowledges that should players be at the scene of an incident that resulted in a ban, they are presumed to be suspects. In an example that occured awhile ago: Spawn is spammed with furnaces. A player is not doing anything harmful at the moment, but is seen with two stacks of furnaces at spawn. This can lead to a swift ban, as the two stacks of furnaces compliment the spammed furnaces.

In another example: A player is griefing spawn by removing torches. Another player is not doing anything but is following him and filming him performing the action. This can be considered Guilt By Assocation, as it is likely that the follower is recording the griefing for their own pleasure. However, do not let this discourage you from filming griefing as means of obtaining proof. If the video provides the proof, it will lead to the filmed player's ban.

Guilt By Majority Verdict

This is a very iffy special condition. Guilt By Majority Verdict operates on the rule that "If enough players say it, it is probably true." This applies exclusively to events where a large number of players state that another player is griefing spawn, spamming chat, etc. What solidifies this case is when a credible member of MineRealm joins in on the verdict. This may in a few circumstances suffice as evidence to ban a player.It is important to recognize that Guilt By Majority Verdict does not mean "If enough players say it, it is time to drop a ban." The majority simply acts to solidify the case against the player, which is very important in a ban case.*

Banning for Idiocy / Intellectual Incompetence

This special condition highlights instances wherein players talk in a way that demonstrates a severe lack of logic, politeness, yield to moderator warnings, or a severe case of denial. Examples of this include players ignoring arguments presented to them by moderators (such as when investigating a ban case), players denying an instance that obviously happened from ever occuring, repeatedly asking for administrators to spawn them items, name-calling or chat that doesn't otherwise provide a healthy advance to conversation, etc.

Administrator Discretion

Players may be banned or unbanned at the discretion of an Admin, whether rules outlined in this thread have been breached or not. This is to counteract any loopholes found in the Book.

Harassment

Literal Harassment

Harassment can be identified as the repeated verbal assault of another player, be it in game or on the forums. This is different from trolling in that it is personal and often malicious. Harassment, based on the severity of it, can lead to a ban. Players will be warned to stop, but don't be surprised when they receive a ban.

Trolling

Trolling can be identified as speaking in a way that attempts to lure out a response, usually of hostility or disgust. Trolling can be performed simply by calling other players dumb, placing signs that laugh at players, etc. Alternatively, trolling can imply joking in a way that attempts to lure out a response of surprise, such as when one player shouts "OMG, SANDBEAST!" Sand Beasts are not active on the server, and so this would be trolling.

Trolling is usually not bannable, as it takes a less serious tone, or one that isn't personal. Even if it is directed at one player, trolling is mostly composed of harmless statements that are simply attempting to get the player mad.