Template:Roleplay Rules

It is essential to remember that we are not our characters. Behavior that occurs in-game is expected to be handled in-game and vice versa; behavior out of game is expected to be handled out of game.

0.0 The Golden Rules: The Three L’s

Play to Lift

Strive to write in ways that give others hooks, spotlight, and chances to shine. Don't just serve yourself.

Play to Logic

Keep your character’s actions consistent with the setting, the character's knowledge, and cause-and-effect. Don't break plausibility.

Play to Lose

Accept setbacks, defeats, and mistakes. Let tension exist by accepting that you won’t always win or even choosing to lose.

Maintaining immersion and a high standard of quality in our roleplay is an important value that we hold within NWO. As such, we have several rules in place to help us maintain these values. The actions listed below are non-exhaustive examples of behaviors that we consider problematic and antithetical to what we would like to see from our player base on NWO.

Staff reserves the right to issue warnings or other punitive measures for behaviors that are not explicitly listed below but fit within the following definitions.

1.0 Powergaming

We define Powergaming as:

Engaging in roleplay or behaviors that negate the agency of other players.

Some examples of Powergaming include:

• Imposing injuries, conditions, reactions, or death onto other players with no reasonable opportunity for counterplay. (ex. “I put my gun to his head and shoot him, killing him instantly.” or “I grab your arm and twist it, making you scream and yield to me.")
• Describing your character as engaging in feats that are unlikely or even physically impossible for a human to attempt reasonably. (ex. A self-described petite librarian character lifts a washing machine on their own.)
• Failure to respond to RP when prompted in scenarios that would call for it, such as being directly addressed, held at gunpoint, or threatened
  • Even if this is “what your character would do,” this is both Powergaming and FailRP due to reasons listed below

2.0 Metagaming

We define Metagaming as:

Utilizing information obtained out of character (OOC) to one’s advantage in character (IC).

Some examples of Metagaming include:

• PMing a friend or messaging a group OOCly for assistance during a situation they would not reasonably be aware of or have a reason to enter in-character
• Using pictures or videos that another player has posted to locate their base or assess their loot for raid potential
• Learning of an incoming raid OOCly and building defenses or relocating when you did not already have plans to do so
• Sharing information OOCly to the server during actively ongoing situations, including in our #media channels
  • Screenshots are cool! For this scenario, however, we ask that players wait until conflicts or events are “resolved” before talking about them or sharing screenies

3.0 RPQM/FailRP

We take our Roleplay Quality Management (RPQM) very seriously. As such, individuals may be cited as violating RPQM or engaging in what is called FailRP.

We define FailRP as:

Intentionally engaging in roleplay that is not realistic or grounded and is disruptive to the immersion of others.

Some examples of this include:

• Failure to respond to RP when prompted in scenarios that would call for it, such as being directly addressed, held at gunpoint, or threatened
• Improperly or neglecting to emote certain mechanical actions, such as looting and combat
• Referring to events, memes, or other cultural phenomena that would not have occurred in canon (ex., referring to the K-pop group BTS in the 1990s, describing someone as your “oomfie” in 2001)
• Using slang, abbreviations, or other writing quirks that would take someone out of immersion. Some examples of this include:
  • Emoticons such as “:3”
  • Abbreviations such as “LOL” or “LMAO”, “because” to “bc”, or “what do you mean” to “wym”
  • Improper grammar, such as shortening “though” to “tho” or various grammatical mistakes (you’re vs your, there vs their), for non-stylistic reasons
  • Slang such as “hoes” to “huzz”
• Using OOC chat for IC interactions or IC chat for OOC interactions
• Trope-y, stereotypical, or overly insensitive portrayal of a character’s race, ethnicity, sexuality, or other characteristics

We acknowledge that many of these may occur in one-off instances for even the best roleplayers. Genuine mistakes happen. That’s okay! Repeated RPQM violations can become concerning and warrant ticketing.

4.0 Bugs & Bad Faith

Project Zomboid is a flawless game without any bugs, issues, or cheese.

…Says nobody ever.

If you have spent any amount of time with Project Zomboid, be it 1 hour or 1000 hours, it does not take long to be reminded that this game is very much a work-in-progress at the best of times and downright broken at the worst. We are completely empathetic and understanding of the fact that bugs, destructive and beneficial, not only can but will happen.

That being said, we will not tolerate any of the following behaviors, as they break immersion and offer unique and unfair mechanical, roleplay, or other advantages.

4.1 Exploiting

We define exploiting as:

Using bugs or game limitations to gain an advantage, be it mechanical, meta, or for any other purpose.

Examples include:

• Duplicating items
• Building into or breaking your way into areas that you are not supposed to access

Again—We acknowledge that Project Zomboid is a very special game with…interesting quirks. If these happen on one-off, accidental occasions, that’s fine! Please open a ticket so we can rectify things.

If you are found to be taking advantage of an exploit, or if you are repeatedly caught doing so, punitive measures, up to and including a ban, may be issued.

4.2 Griefing

We define griefing as:

Harming other players, their belongings, or the server experience without proper planning, reasoning, or justification.

Examples include:

• Duplicating items.
• Destroying bases or vehicles outside of raid tickets.
• Unauthorized raiding or other bad-faith actions.

Furthermore, to keep the server running smoothly and the world furnished, the following will also be considered griefing:

• Dismantling structures, containers, or furniture to level up skills
• Dismantling vehicles with engine quality above 20%
• Excessive litter (this includes leaving behind car parts, logs, pipes, etc.)

See In-Game Rules 2.3: Dismantling for more information.

5.0 Character Portrayal & Immersion

All characters must be 18 or older and portrayed in a realistic, immersive way appropriate to a post-apocalyptic setting. This includes:

• Clothing: Outfits should make sense for survival conditions, not mimic modern fashion trends or meme aesthetics. Staff won’t strictly police clothing, but anything excessively out of place may be addressed to preserve immersion.

• Names & References: Characters must have realistic names typical of the era they were born in. Avoid symbols, numbers, modern pop-culture references, or names directly taken from existing media franchises.

• Behavior & Speech: Characters should fit the tone and social norms of the setting. Avoid modern slang, unrealistic backstories, or behavior that breaks world immersion.

• Depth & Personality: A character’s personality shouldn’t center solely on a single trait or aspect of their identity.

• Intent & Development: Characters should be fully realized individuals; not self-inserts or personas created only for ERP, romance, or wish-fulfillment. Relationships can form naturally, but every character should have believable motivations, flaws, and goals beyond seeking intimacy or attention.

6.0 Sensitive & Explicit Roleplay Topics

NWO is strictly an 18+ server due to the mature and potentially distressing themes present in a post-apocalyptic setting. Players may encounter violence, trauma, death, and other dark themes. This section outlines sensitive topics and is required reading for all members.

While we aim for an immersive experience, the following roleplay may only occur in secluded & private settings with the permission of all involved:

• Torture
• Graphic or excessively gruesome depictions of injuries

Explicit sexual roleplay or erotic roleplay (ERP) is strictly forbidden in publicly accessible chats on our server under any conditions. Any use of a public chat to engage in this style of RP is subject to punitive action up to and including a ban from the server.

We largely hold no responsibility for interactions that occur in direct messages or on non-NWO-affiliated servers. Any engagement with players through means of communication outside of our officially moderated chats is a decision to be undertaken with the consent of each participant, and not subject to our typical moderation guidelines in most cases.

If an individual is attempting to coerce, pressure, threaten, or otherwise manipulate you into participating in ERP or any other roleplay-related activities, you should report this individual to Discord, block them, and open a concern ticket with us. They are in direct violation of Discord’s ToS and NWO Discord Rules 0.0 and 1.0, and can be banned or even face legal action.

The following topics are strictly prohibited in all forms, including active participation, explicit or detailed reference, or accusations within roleplay:

• Rape
• Pedophilia
• Beastiality
• Necrophilia

6.1 IC Prejudice and Bigotry

Characters may portray bigoted attitudes as part of their roleplay, but:

• The use of slurs in-character is strictly forbidden.
• Prejudice should be expressed through nuanced roleplay, not offensive language.
• Bigotry must be one aspect of a character, not their defining trait. Prejudice cannot be used to target or harass other characters beyond reasonable in-character conflict.

7.0 Broadcast Rules and Use

The radio system in NWO exists to support immersive storytelling, not to serve as an out-of-character chatroom or social media feed. Communication is a powerful tool, and needs to be used properly. All in-character radio communication must occur in-game or through approved RP beacon posts in the designated Discord channel.

We define improper radio use as:

• Using radio systems for purposes that break immersion, stretch plausibility, or replicate out-of-character communication platforms.

Staff reserves the right to remove or moderate radio content that does not align with immersion standards or that misuses RP beacon systems. Repeated misuse, including OOC discussions, excessive posting, or low-effort “spam signals,” may result in warnings or temporary restrictions from radio-related features.

The goal is not to limit creativity, but to ensure that radio remains a meaningful storytelling tool rather than background noise. The examples below are **non-exhaustive** and serve as general guidance for acceptable use of the in-game radios and out-of-game Discord channel.

7.1 Rules for In-Game Radio Use.

Mechanically owning a Walkie-Talkie or radio will give access to communicate with other survivors. In Project Zomboid, only two-way capable devices allow for player conversations (transmitting and receiving), while standard radios, such as car radios or a typical “home radio,” are receive-only. For player-to-player communication to work, all involved parties must have a two-way radio and be tuned to the same frequency. Each Walkie-Talkie or radio has a Broadcast Range shown in Kilometers. Mechanical use of these items in-game will already consider the Broadcast Range to see if communication is possible. In other words, when two players are too far from each other, they will not be able to communicate.

However, these cannot be used in certain ways:

• Characters will not be able to /whisper while communicating through the Radio. Attempts to do so will result in broken broadcasts and sentences, which will be nearly impossible to understand.
• Because of the obvious difference between Dice Combat and Gameplay, walkie-talkie use is limited once combat has been initiated. Using a walkie-talkie to send a message during a hostile situation but before combat can count as hostile intent and the beginning of initiative.
  • If a character wishes to, they can roleplay using the radio during combat, but the actual message must be sent or posted after the end of combat, regardless of its result.
• Characters must have their name or the name they’re commonly referred to by visible when using the radio. Avoid messaging on the radio with pseudonyms.

Please note that, at any time, players can agree to forgo these rules in the context of combat. Player agreement or Storyteller exception may supersede combat-related radio rules. If an agreement is not reached, default rules apply.

7.2 RP Beacons

RP Beacons are short, atmospheric “signal flares” players may post here to indicate ongoing RP opportunities or events. These are intended as hooks, not conversations; they should be interpreted as something your character can stumble across or be aware of in the world to incentivize RP engagements.

Please strike out your post when its expired. like so ~~you can read this??~~

Examples include:

• “The jukebox echoes through the canyon walls - The Salty Spitoon is open tonight.”
• “Gunshots echo far to the west of Penance-- perhaps someone is fighting a horde?”
• “Flyers litter the town, they speak of a gathering to occur on [Insert Date Here].”

These posts are meant to invite RP, not replace it. Avoid OOC commentary, meta-information, or prolonged back-and-forths.

7.3 Major Radio Broadcasts

Full radio transmissions are reserved for players who have established in-character access to broadcasting equipment, such as functional antennas or radio stations. These should be treated as major events, with a reasonable degree of effort, preparation, and risk involved.

Examples of acceptable major broadcasts include:

• Emergency alerts or public warnings.
• Organized news segments or community bulletins.
• Faction-wide announcements or story-driving transmissions.

Please always include where you are broadcasting from, ex; Penance City. And if the broadcast is only audible within a specific region (Such as if you're making a intercom broadcast.) Using radios as personal diaries, gossip boards, or “Social Media feeds” is not permitted. Radio should sound like radio: sparse, atmospheric, and believable.

7.4 About Voice Changers and Voice Recognition

Because of the technology level and resources available, in normal circumstances, characters will not be able to mask their own voice through artificial means. Other means might be used, but it's up to the listening characters to recognize the voice or not. Basic disguises or performances are acceptable, but they rely on skill and plausibility.

Examples of acceptable behavior:

• A character speaks through a weak or damaged radio, causing natural static or distortion that makes their voice harder to discern.
• A player shortens transmissions or uses vague phrasing to avoid directly revealing identity.

Examples of unacceptable behavior:

• A character uses a digital voice changer or pitch modulation software over the radio to sound like someone else.
• A player insists that nobody could ever recognize them because they’re “using a voice changer.”

Many examples of voice modulation that are unacceptable rub up against powergaming concerns. For more information on this, see Roleplay Rules: Powergaming. These rules exist to keep the setting grounded in realism. Radios are meant to add mystery and tension, not serve as tools for perfect anonymity, futuristic voice modification, memeing, or long-form storytelling.