Banning Policy
The Funky Station banning policy tries to encompass most things that players would do in the game. However, admins may invoke the Golden Rule of "All Admin Rulings Are Final" if there is a rule-break that does not fit neatly in this category.
There are special circumstances involving a de-whitelist. You can find more information within the de-whitelisting sections.
These rules are ultimately created to ensure the best possible player experience. Rules may change if the admin team finds that a certain rule or set of rules actively hinders the player experience.
Terms used in the tables below:
- GB : Game Ban; a ban from playing on all Funky servers for the allotted duration or appeal-only. The player is not allowed to join via other accounts or changing IP addresses, which will be punished with a heavier punishment.
- RB : Role Ban; a ban from playing a specific role on all Funky servers, usually spanning an entire Department. The player is allowed to play other roles.
- Indef GB : A Game Ban that cannot be appealed on the forum.
- Voucher GB : A Game Ban that can only be appealed on the forum after an acceptable voucher has been given by an acceptable voucher server: Harmony, RMC, and Impstation
- Appeal GB : A Game Ban that can be appealed on the forum.
Non-grouping offenses
These offenses are either very minor or cannot be sorted nicely into other groups.
| Grouping Category | Offense | First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense | Fourth Offense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-grouping | Harassing staff (e.g. doxxing) | Indef GB | |||
| Non-grouping | Slurs, excluding R-slur and variants | Indef GB | |||
| Non-grouping | R-slur and variants | W | Appeal GB | ||
| Non-grouping | Usage of "gay" as a pejorative | W | Appeal GB | ||
| Non-grouping | Bigotry/discrimination | Indef GB | |||
| Non-grouping | ERP | Indef GB | |||
| Non-grouping | Sexual content | W - 3d GB | 7d GB | Indef GB | |
| Non-grouping | Metacommunications | W - 7d GB (ask first, especially if new) | Indef GB | ||
| Non-grouping | Ban Evasion | Voucher Ban | If after an accepted voucher ban, permanent ban. Otherwise, extend voucher ban to 6 months from evasion attempt. | ||
| Non-grouping | NITRP (No Intent to Roleplay) | Warning | De-whitelist | ||
| Non-grouping | Multi-keying | Indef GB | |||
| Non-grouping | OOC Toxicity | W - 12h GB | 3d - 7d GB | Indef GB | |
| Non-grouping | Ahelp misuse / abuse | W - 12hr GB | W - 3d GB | 3d - 7.5d GB | |
| Non-grouping | Threats to ahelp | W - 12hr GB | 12hr - 3d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB | |
| Non-grouping | Under 16 | Indef GB | |||
| Non-grouping | Bad character name | W | 1d - 3d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB |
Language offenses
Offenses that involve speaking a different language other than English on Funky Station servers.
| Grouping Category | Offense | First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense | Fourth Offense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Non-english chat | W | W - 12hr GB | 3d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB |
| Language | Solely non-english chat | W | Indef GB |
Exploit offenses
Using cheat clients, or otherwise taking advantage of bugs that give you an unfair advantage.
| Grouping Category | Offense | First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense | Fourth Offense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exploits | Bugs/exploits | W - 7d GB | 12hr - 7d GB | 3d - 15d GB | 7d - 15d GB |
| Exploits | Use of macros | W | W - 12hr GB | 3d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB |
Metagaming offenses
Using information in a round that was obtained unfairly (for example, using info gathered as a ghost).
| Grouping Category | Offense | First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense | Fourth Offense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metagaming | IC in OOC / LOOC abuse | W | W - 12hr GB | 3d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB |
| Metagaming | Powergaming | W - 12hr GB | 12hr - 3d GB | 3d - 7.5d GB | |
| Metagaming | Using info from death | 12hr - 2d GB | 3d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB | |
| Metagaming | Using info from past life | 12hr - 2d GB | 3d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB | |
| Metagaming | Metagaming | W - 12hr GB | 12hr - 3d GB | 3d - 7d GB | |
| Metagaming | Metafriending | W | 12hr - 3d GB | 3d - 7d GB |
Familiar offenses
These are offenses that pertain to a player specifically playing a familiar role, like Remilia.
| Grouping Category | Offense | First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense | Fourth Offense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Familiars | Familiar griefing master | 12hr GB | 3d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB | |
| Familiars | Unreasonable failure to obey orders | W | 12hr GB | 3d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB |
AI Law offenses
Offenses that pertain to silicon players.
| Grouping Category | Offense | First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense | Fourth Offense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Laws | Major failure to follow silicon laws | W - 5d RB | 3d - 7.5d RB | Indef RB | |
| AI Laws | Minor failure to follow silicon laws | W | W - 5d RB | 3d - 7.5d RB | Indef RB |
Immersion offenses
Offenses that involve breaking the immersion of other players (for example, using emote chat to talk as a mime).
| Grouping Category | Offense | First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense | Fourth Offense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immersion | Text speak | W | W | W - 12hr GB | W - 12hr GB |
| Immersion | OOC terms IC (not including teaching, however encourage LOOC use) | W | W - 12hr GB | 12hr - 3d GB | 3d - 7.5d GB |
| Immersion | Bypassing chat restrictions | W | W - 12hr GB | 12hr - 3d GB | 3d - 7.5d GB |
| Immersion | Irresponsible antag play | W - 12hr GB | 1d - 3d GB | 3d - 7d GB | |
| Immersion | Abusing /suicide | W - 12hr GB | 12hr - 3d GB | 3d - 7d GB |
Griefing offenses
Offenses that pertain to a player playing with no intent to roleplay or to explicitly troll other people.
| Grouping Category | Offense | First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense | Fourth Offense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Griefing | End-Of-Round Grief (EORG) | W-1d GB | 3d GB | 7d GB | |
| Griefing | Damage/disruption to arrivals/arrivals shuttle | 12hr - 3d GB | 3d - 7d GB | 7d - 15d GB | |
| Griefing | Round stalling | W - 12hr GB | 12hr - 3d GB | 3d - 7d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB |
| Griefing | Antagonist team sabotage | 12hr - 3d GB | 3d - Indef GB | 7d - Indef GB | |
| Griefing | Early massive station sabotage (as antagonist) | W - 12hr GB | 12hr - 3d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB | |
| Griefing | Unreasonable failure to follow an order from a team leader | W - 5d RB | 3d - 7d RB | Indef RB | |
| Griefing | Harassing a player/role/department with no IC conflict | W - 12hr GB | 12hr - 3d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB | |
| Griefing | Abandoning a Command role | W - 7d RB | 3d - 7d RB | Indef RB | |
| Griefing | Antag rolling | 12hr - 3d GB | 3d - 7d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB |
This sub-category is explicitly NOT a punitive ban. Bans in this category will be resolved with a conversation with the admins, as we believe this is behavior that requires some more explanation, and not to be served with a ban that goes through the regular appeals process. The ban message will ask that you create a ticket in our Discord so we can speak with you directly, and in-private. Action in these categories is what is recommended, but whatever specific action the admin team does will be listed clearly on your message or ban message.
| No intent to engage with other players is distinct from no intent to roleplay, because this describes a behavior in which a person is perfectly willing to roleplay, but either chooses exclusive solo gimmicks, not play a round after a short period of time has passed, or otherwise create scenarios not conducive to roleplay. |
| A good example of this would be spending 2 hours off station mining, with zero interaction with the station. While completely allowed by your role, repeated behavior will flag admins and we will ask to have a conversation with the player in question. |
| Grouping Category | Behavior | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Grass | No intent to engage with other players | Opening a ticket to establish dialogue with admins |
| Grass | Playing an excessive amount during a single day | Game ban with an explicit request to speak with admins |
Out of Character offenses
Offenses that involve a character performing or advocating for actions that would not make sense in the context of the game or their characters' motivations. Characters with outrageous backstories are not an exception.
| Grouping Category | Offense | First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense | Fourth Offense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out of Character | Over-escalation | W - 12hr GB | 12hr - 3d GB | 7d - 7.5d GB | |
| Out of Character | Over-escalation in the form of station sabotage | 3d GB | 7d GB | 14d - 15d GB |
Competence offenses
Offenses that pertain to a certain role not knowing what to do in a situation or doing/authorizing things that someone in that position in real life wouldn't do. Classic example would be a Research Director authorizing the activation of a Stationwide Destruction artifact.
| We specify OOC in both the unreasonable incompetence in role offense and abuse of a position of authority because there are scenarios where a command member or other member of a fairly important department could abuse their authority to gain an advantage that is not properly based in-character. |
| For example, a Quartermaster accepting a 1 speso bribe is considered OOC abuse and OOC unreasonable incompetence. Accepting a bribe for favors with the syndicate or for 20,000 spesos is explicitly allowed however, and encouraged to keep shifts dynamic and interesting. |
| Grouping Category | Offense | First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense | Fourth Offense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competence | OOC unreasonable incompetence in role | W - 7d RB | 7d - 15d RB | Indef RB | |
| Competence | OOC abuse of a position of authority | 3d - 7d RB | 7d - 15d RB | Indef RB | |
| Competence | Taking actions a reasonable person would view as to be to the detriment of the station as security/command | 3d - 7d RB | 7d - 15d RB | Indef RB | |
| Competence | Unreasonable failure of security/command to follow space law¹ | 3d - 7d RB | 7d - 15d RB | Indef RB |
Additional Clarification
¹Space Law is to be used as a guideline similar to this policy, however if something is egregious enough (like a 20 minute timer for trespassing) it is justification for OOC admin intervention.
Modifiers
Valid Rule Clarification No more than a warning should be given to a player that justifies the offense with a reasonably cited active rule clarification, even if it is not up to date with current rules.
Self report
Reduce to warning. Applies to any offense where the player reports themselves as long as the offense was unlikely to be identified otherwise.
New player
If there is no prior warning for the same issue, and if the minimum suggestion is not an indefinite ban, reduce to warning at admin discretion and instruct to read the rules.
Caught before round effects
If there are no earlier similar issues, any issue caught before it affects the round and other players can be reduced to a warning at admin discretion.
Admin intervention
Any reduction, including to nothing, may be applied for any offense which is plausibly the result of admin intervention.
Repeat game bans
A multiplier equal to 1 plus the number of game bans in the last 6 months which resulted from offenses from other grouping categories.
Metagrudging
2x multiplier if the offense is the result of metagrudging by the offender.
Prior indefinite ban
7d can be added to the total game ban length if the player has had any prior indefinite ban in the last 6 months. Excluding bans used only for contact and ones where they were found to be not at fault.
Round removal
2x multiplier for any offense which results in someone being permanently removed from a round, including an attempt to do so and actions likely to result in permanent round removal.
Lying in ahelp
24h + 3x multiplier if the offender maliciously lies in the ahelp. You should be certain that they have lied. The multiplier is applied after the 24h addition is made.
Offender is Command/Security
Apply a roleban that is twice the length of the ban.
Intentional rule breaking
Indefinite ban. Includes any rule breaking where the player intentionally breaks a rule knowing they are breaking a rule, knowing they will get banned, or claims to not care if they get banned. Any reasonably clear rule violation can be presumed to be intentional if the player was told to read the rules in the last 12 hours.
Role specific
Any issue that is likely to be prevented by a role ban should include a role ban if a game ban is applied. The role ban can be applied in addition to or as an alternative to the suggested game ban. Game ban suggestions can be converted to role ban suggestion times by doubling the time.
Ban request/demand
Any player who demands or requests a ban can be banned indefinitely.
EORG
End-of-Round Grief (EORG) is classified, generally, as being needlessly violent or acting out-of-character once the round has literally or functionally ended, to the detriment of other players' enjoyment or immersion. To list specifics, instances of EORG can include the following:
- Random deathmatch (usually abbreviated as RDM)
- Violence that was not mentioned in an ahelp prior to engaging in it. For instance, if you had an ongoing grudge with another character during the round, you should ahelp for permission before escalating it to End-of-Round violence, otherwise we will deem it as EORG.¹
- Destruction, deconstruction, or gross defacing of any CentComm assets, or of the Evacuation shuttle. This includes using an RCD or tools to tear down walls or spam the light fixtures, or using any kind of explosives at CentComm or on the shuttle.
- Any form of incredibly bothersome behavior, especially of which one could reasonably deem as uncharacteristic of how you have been roleplaying up until then. This means, for instance, you should not slip security as they're taking a prisoner to the CentComm brig, and you should not be stun-batoning people without reason.
Centcomm is a place for people to destress, roleplay, and talk about the shift. While you do not have to engage in this, it is expected that you allow others to.
Note that this rule does not apply to round-ending or rule-skirting antagonists such as: Zombies, Space Dragons and their carps, and ASCENDED Heretics.
¹Attacking someone at CentComm because they were your kill objective, or because you found out they killed your friend through the post-game results screen, will still be seen as EORG.
De-whitelist
When should de-whitelisting occur?
- During permabans.
- When a game ban offense would total more than 2 weeks, issue a 7-day game ban and de-whitelist as punishment instead of a 2-week game ban.
- Any 4x offenses without a guideline or 5x offenses should be treated as a permanent game ban along with a de-whitelist.
What if a player is already de-whitelisted and misbehaves on the new player weekend?
- Issue a voucher ban
What does de-whitelisting mean?
- Players cannot play Funky Station regularly except on new player weekends.
- Players will need to go through the whitelist application again via a different template on the forum.
If a permaban or offense is appealed and accepted, the whitelist will be reissued.
Leaving during an Ahelp
Indefinite appeal ban and open a ticket with the player to bring up the situation. Once the situation is handled, remove the ban and add the punishment ban, if any. If the player can be verifiably proven to have intentionally left an Ahelp in progress, becomes a permanent appeal ban.