Game Rules

The complete and authoritative list of rules can be found on the official Discord server:
Click here to view the official Game Rules on Discord

This wiki page provides only a condensed summary of the rules.

In case of any conflicting information, the Discord version always prevails.

The rules are very simple:

• Keep real life out of the game
  • No real-life drama, threats, harassment, or doxxing. Follow the golden rule.
  • Game-related/in-character banter is fine; personal attacks targeting the individual behind the screen are not, and neither is invading others' privacy.
  • Out-of-character anti-social/illegal conduct will simply get you banned.

• Don't make staff's job harder
  • Behaving unreasonably has absolutely zero chance of helping your case.
  • Don't waste game staff's time with trolling, abusive language, false reports, or frivolous +requesthelp use. Another player may genuinely need time-sensitive help and not receive it because you're wasting limited staff resources.
  • Use English in global chat (/g). If asked to switch, comply.

• Play fair
  • Dual-logging and fast relogging are prohibited in any and all PvP situations, no exceptions.
  • Absolutely no third-party tools (bots, macros) that automate any task, or provide any sort of advantage over other players, are allowed.
  • Report any bugs or exploits you find immediately. Do not test or share them.
  • Illegally obtained items (smuggled out of GM events, etc.) are illegal to possess and must be turned in immediately.

• Don't disrupt GM events
  • AFKing will result in an automatic 24-hour ban after 7 automated warnings.
  • Delaying events, refusing to follow GM instructions, stealing event items, intentionally feeding, blocking event NPCs, etc. will get you banned.
  • No team-killing, looting, or fighting before the official start.
  • Do not use ~recall before the timer starts.
  • Joining late repeatedly may result in a punishment if it's clear you're doing it on purpose.
  • No teaming up with other teams during New Reno Wars or similar team-based events.

• Don't be that guy
  • Do not kill Caravan Masters.
  • Do not spam in chat.
  • Do not build barricades (sandbags, barrels, etc.) in guarded cities.
  • Do not base-raid lore factions.
  • Do not install fingerlocks on other players' property.

• Protect the integrity of the game
  • No impersonating players or staff.
  • No selling or trading in-game content for real money or for content from other games.
  • Character sharing is at your own risk. If your mom clears out your base and changes your password, you're out of luck.
  • Account hacking or stealing is forbidden and will result in a permanent ban.
  • Creating additional accounts solely to claim beginner rewards is forbidden. One person may only claim the rewards package once.

• Know your limits
  • If you have more than 35,000 items in your base (a single stack counts as one item), you will be issued a warning, and you'd better act on it fast before your base gets deleted.
  • Companion naming (Patreon feature) may not be used to impersonate players, yourself included.
  • Robobrain (Patreon feature) may not be used in any situation where it could give you a PvP advantage over another player.
  • Item renaming (Patreon feature) may not be used to create items with misleading names, such as fake "+1" weapons.
  • Island locations are off-limits to players. Trespassers will be punished.

Enforcement insights

Based on ban records spanning close to seven years, here are some common pitfalls to avoid and points to consider:

• Other than the automated 24-hour ban for AFKing during a War Event, the most common ban reason is dual-logging/fast relog.
  • The 3-minute cooldown is strictly enforced, quite literally to the second, with some bans having been issued for cutting it just a few seconds short.
  • Many players have been banned over the years for trying to leave an area that became a PvP zone with their second character instead of logging it off.
  • A good number of players received a ban for fast relogging to a faction settlement, which is explicitly forbidden even if there's no ongoing PvP.
• Cooperation matters: players who acknowledged their mistakes, explained the exploits, or helped identify bugs often received reduced penalties. Lying, hiding information, or otherwise being uncooperative led to harsher punishments in a significant number of cases. This isn't real life; remaining silent is not the play when the other side actually has access to detailed logs of everything that happened, especially now with AI tools at their disposal to easily process said logs.
• Disrespecting the staff was a component (the "final straw" if you will) in a majority of permanent bans issued to date. Is going out with a bang really worth it?
• Botting is a zero-tolerance offense. All confirmed cases resulted in a permanent ban, often with an accompanying IP ban. This includes, but is not limited to, auto-looters, barter bots, and PvP macros. Don't risk it.
• When in doubt, ask. One adventurous player claimed a deserted island as their own by building a base on it, and got rewarded for their gumption with a 2-week vacation on the prison island. Your mileage may vary, but every road eventually leads somewhere.