1.0 Roleplaying

1.1 We are, first and foremost, a roleplaying guild on a roleplaying server. As such, all members of the Netherbane will honor the Blizzard Roleplaying Policy. This is nothing new, and has been an important rule within the guild since its inception. It is important to help maintain the world experience for other players, even if they are not maintaining it for you.

1.2 We treat all chat channels except for /raid and custom channels as in-character (IC). This does mean that you're free to use out-of-character (OOC) chat indicators like (( )) to designate your OOC speech. However, we would personally request that you keep such things out of /say. If you must speak to someone in an OOC fashion, a whisper is as easy as anything else. It helps maintain the world experience.

1.3 You are asked to remain in-character publically. This means that you try to avoid overt OOC actions or mannerisms when in a public place on the server (in the population center of a faction city, for example). Examples of "overt OOC actions" include, but are not limited to:

• 1.3.1 Purposefully spamming emotes, either built-in or custom.
• 1.3.2 Excessive jumping with no discernable purpose.
• 1.3.3 Running into or around other characters in patterns just because you're bored.

If you're in an instance or secluded away from mass public view, these things are not as frowned upon. But please always remember that you are a representation of the guild tag that you wear, and it is in the best interest of all of us to improve and maintain the reputation of the guild. You will get more RP interaction this way.

1.4 Full Immersion Roleplaying (or even anything close) is not required by, nor expected of, the members of the Netherbane. This means you ARE allowed to go OOC. When you are instancing with friends and allies, talking in OOC channels, or even chatting it up using OOC markers in an IC channel, you are free to just be yourself: the player. Remember that we are looking to help maintain the world experience. We are not looking to completely transition ourselves into this imaginary world. Always remember that this is a game more than a virtual world.

1.5 Respect the privacy of other players. While you are free to go OOC in private channels and venues, you are not free to demand the same from others. If a person is uncomfortable with the direction of the OOC chatter, please be mindful and respectful of that.

1.6 The Netherbane does not, nor will not, honor any "RP Blacklist" floating around the World of Warcraft roleplaying community. The idea is offensive and tantamount to griefing, and we will not tolerate our members creating or perpetuating the idea within the roleplaying community. See Policy 2.3 below for more information.

2.0 Griefing

2.1 Any Netherbane member reported to be griefing another player will be investigated. We define griefing in the following ways:

• 2.1.1 Roleplay Griefing includes, but is not limited to: disrupting an IC RP scene with OOC commentary or actions, verbally harrassing fellow RPers in an OOC fasion, disrupting an IC RP scene with non-sensical "in-character" actions for the purpose of being disruptive, creating characters for the sole purpose of mocking fellow RPers' stories, characters, or friends.
• 2.1.2 PvP Griefing includes, but is not limited to: corpse camping for the sole purpose of repeatedly killing another player and causing frustration, intentionally blue-walling fellow PvPers, using terrain exploits to gain an unfair advantage in PvP, and AFKing in a battleground.
• 2.1.3 It should also be noted that Blizzard has its own rules and regulations regarding griefing and player harrassment. These come first.

Any Netherbane member found to truly be griefing another player will be dealt with accordingly.

2.2 Put simply: don't be a jerk, guys and gals. It's not difficult to be civilized and well-mannered.

2.3 Legitimizing a "community-wide" RP Blacklist is no different than griefing in the eyes of the Netherbane. We strive to create an environment that can help foster and educate all sorts of roleplayers. If you have a problem roleplaying with someone, that is fine. However, form these opinions naturally, from YOUR OWN experiences. Do not allow some list to make the decisions for you. And do not try to force others to cease roleplaying with people because of your own bruised pride or ego.

Understand that it's FINE to avoid roleplaying with someone if you've had bad experiences in the past. However, we highly encourage you to actually EXPERIENCE such things first before ostracizing some random person because "Player X said they sucked." If everyone avoided RP with people their either didn't know, or people they've heard bad things about... no one would RP with anyone else at all. Roleplay, even the type that includes the worst god-modes and lore incongruencies you have ever seen, cannot permanently change your character if you do not wish it to do so. Therefore the "threat" of bad RP is minimal. There is little true reason for an RP Blacklist to exist. All such things do is force RP to become closed, isolated, and cliquish.

3.0 Leveling and Questing

3.1 The Netherbane is a roleplaying guild, first and foremost, but this does not mean we don't enjoy actually PLAYING the game itself. As such, you will find us questing, instancing, leveling, and PvPing in addition to roleplaying. We try to enjoy all aspects that the game has to offer. However, since we are small, we cannot offer guaranteed support when you are leveling or questing on your own. Providing assistance to other members is left to the discretion of each member. However, we strongly ENCOURAGE our members to help each other out. It just makes it a better place.

3.2 It should be noted that we generally frown upon having much higher-leveled characters "run through" a lower-leveled instance with lower-leveled player. We do not forbid it by any means, but we deeply believe that it severely hinders your ability to play a class to its fullest if you have your hand held throughout the leveling process. Because of this, you will have trouble finding in-guild members willing to steamroll you through lower-leveled places. Exceptions exist for players who have already leveled more than one instance of a class, or players who seek a piece of gear from a lower-leveled instance for roleplay and costuming purposes.

4.0 Loot Rules

4.1 The player responsible for initating the raid or the party is also responsible for setting the loot rules of that particular run unless he or she otherwise defers to another player. If no loot rules are set, and the group consists of only Netherbane members and Netherbane allies, Netherbane Standard Loot Rules apply.

4.2 Netherbane Standard Loot Rules are as follows:

• 4.2.1 If the party is, on average, five levels above the target instance, the party / raid initator may lay claim at the beginning of a run to a piece of gear for RP purposes WITHIN REASON. In other words, if the run is to get a piece of gear for RP purposes, please honor the purpose of the run by allowing the party / raid initator to obtain the piece should it drop.
• 4.2.2 All group members are expected to Pass on all BIND-ON-PICKUP (BoP) rare, epic, and legendary gear ("blues", "purples", and "oranges"). Once everyone has passed, only those to whom the piece would be a viable upgrade should /roll 1-100 for it. You are free to forfeit your roll to allow the other players a better chance of obtaining the piece of loot. Unwanted items will be disenchanted (should an enchanter be present), and the shards collected for the guild bank. If an enchanter is not present, the item is opened to a Greed /roll 1-100. Winner is free to vendor trash the item.
• 4.2.3 Exceptions to 4.2.2 are made in the case of tanks and healers. On a Netherbane-sponsored run (a run both initiated by a Netherbane member AND made up by 60% Netherbane members, if a piece drops that is an upgrade to the Netherbane tank's gear AND the Netherbane tank is tanking, the Netherbane tank has the option of claiming said piece without rolling opposition (raids with multiple tanks will give priority to the Main Tank). This is ONLY if the piece is an upgrade to his or her tanking gear, however. This same rule applies to Netherbane healers and healing gear upgrades (raids with multiple healers will give priority to the Main Healer). This is to ensure that the backbone of the Netherbane runs (the tanks and healers) are suitably equipped. Without either role, these runs are not possible.
• 4.2.4 All group members are expected to Greed on all BIND-ON-EQUIP (BoE) uncommon and rare gear ("greens" and "blues"). If someone else obtains a piece of gear that you would REALLY like to have, make a note and approach that player either during a short break period or after the run itself. And always remember, it's "bind-on-equip," so it is capable of being traded until someone equips it.
• 4.2.5 Recipes, reputation items, and other drops of note outside of gear should be discussed either before the run starts, or at the time of first drop.

4.3 If the Netherbane is participating in a guild alliance party or raid (for example, SASU or Black Temple Or Bust), then Netherbane members are expected to defer to the loot rules of the guild alliance.

5.0 Attendance

5.1 There is no minimum level of activity required to maintain a position within the Netherbane. However, if you have not logged in for 3 months, are unavailable for contact, and the guild officers choose to "clean house," then you will likely be removed from the guild unless you have made prior arrangements.

5.2 If you expect to be unavailable for an extended period of time (anywhere from two weeks or more), please let Tharion know through either an in-game mail, a message forum PM, or a direct email. If none of those are viable options, then at least let someone who has contact with Tharion or another Netherbane guild member know about your period away. This is not required, but is much appreciated. It's also just courteous.

5.3 While message forum activity is not mandatory, it is highly suggested. The forums are where the creativity of various members is exchanged when outside of the game. Please feel free to contribute to the Netherbane mythos and lore with your fellow members! In addition, this is where Tharion will post should he become unavailable for an extended period of time.

5.4 Guild membership is NOT required to participate in our forums. If you roleplay a demon hunter from another server, if you are looking for roleplay advice or demon hunter lore, or if you just want to chat about various aspects of WoW, please feel free to create an account and do so (but if you spam us, we reserve the right to delete your post, your account, and anything else that you create on the forums. We may also ban your name, your IP, and your email address from further forum access. This isn't the place for spamming).

5.5 If you choose to leave the ranks of the Netherbane, you are free to do so. All we ask is that you let Tharion know that you are leaving (please don't just "drop and run"). We would be curious about the reason for leaving. Once again, this is not a mandatory requirement, but it IS greatly appreciated.