Discussion of Ongoing Mafia Games is Not Allowed

[zoraster]

Discussion of Ongoing Mafia Games is Not Allowed

Recently we have had a spate of people discussing ongoing games. Though this has led to a record number of ongoing game bans, there may be a perception that there is some wiggle room when it comes to discussing ongoing games. This post is to tell you that there is not.

It does not matter if you are dead.
It does not matter if you don't think it will affect a game.
It does not matter if you aren't in the game.
It does not matter if you are posting about a game taking place on another forum or posting about an MS game on another forum.
It does not matter if you are moderating the game in question.

Discussing ongoing games by quoting or otherwise referring to an ongoing game is forbidden. There is no clever way around this rule. Don't try.

If you are unsure whether something violates the rule against discussing ongoing games, please don't hesitate to contact a listmod.

THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES FOR YOU

Discussing ongoing games may result in a full game ban. This will mean that you are force replaced out of all your games, and you will not be allowed to replace back into them at the end of your ban. Further bans will be far harsher, including and up to a permanent ban from the site.

Game Moderators: Take IMMEDIATE action.

Game moderators are expected to step in and take immediate action when players discuss ongoing games in the game thread -- at least a public warning in the thread not to discuss ongoing games. This is not optional for the game moderator. You may not, as a game moderator, allow people to discuss ongoing games in your thread unless the other game allows for it explicitly in the rules.

Exceptions

There are three primary exceptions.

Communications with authorities

You may PM, IM or otherwise contact the game mod(s), listmods who aren't involved in the game, and admins who aren't in the game. Likewise, listmods and admins will sometimes discuss ongoing games for administrative purposes.

The Game Allows Outside Communication

Where a game allows communication, it may be allowed. This must be EXPLICITLY stated in the rules (and as a listmod, we'd appreciate it if game mods would give us a heads up when this is the case).

Please note that a game mod may allow communications about his or her OWN game to be discussed elsewhere, but he or she may

NOT

allow discussion of other ongoing games in their thread.

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This isn't a hard rule to stay on the right side of the line on. The listmods would like to never have to take action again. Please don't try and toe the line on ongoing games.

[T-Bone]

Discussion of Ongoing Games is (still) Not Allowed

Recently there has been an uptick of reports of players discussing ongoing games. This announcement is being made to remind you that discussion of ongoing games is against the rules. Please refer to the first post of this topic.

We would like to remind everyone why this rule is in place. This rule is to protect the integrity of our game. Discussing ongoing games risks compromising one or more games with extra information that could not be obtained under normal circumstances.

The discussion of ongoing games has led to very real consequences. Here are a few examples of this. Player A mentions that he knows Player B's scum game because of another game they are in. This comment inadvertently reveals these two players are mafia together in another game, ruining that game. Player C mentions that he plays his power roles a certain way and says he has the same role in another game. The players now know what role his, and the Game Mod is forced to Modkill him. Player D and Player E are in two games together. In the first game, Player D is dead and Player E is still alive. In the second game, both players are alive, and Player D mentions that he has seen a cool new role in a mafia game he has just died in and gives details about it that Player E could not know while he was alive. The Game Mod of the first game is forced to replace Player E because he now knows something he shouldn't.

In all of these cases, not only would the offending player be punished in the game they compromised, they would, at the minimum, be pulled from the game they made the ongoing game comments in. We never want to have to take any of these actions regarding ongoing games. They are disruptive to our games and harmful to our players. Please remember that the rule about ongoing games is to protect the integrity of our games.

Following this announcement, willful violations of this rule in a mafia game will result in disciplinary action taken against you. Please take care not to break this vital rule.

Thank you.