1. Who This Applies To

For the purposes of this Code, the term “Staff” includes (but is not limited to):

• Helpers

• Moderators

• Admins

• Developers

• Anyone acting on behalf of the server

• Anyone who could reasonably be seen as an official representative of the server

If you are Staff, these rules apply to you at all times when acting in an official capacity, and often apply outside the server when your role is publicly known.

2. Core Staff Obligation

Staff’s number one responsibility is to foster a safe, welcoming, and fair environment, while enforcing all rules and conduct guidelines according to their role.

Staff members are expected to act as role models and uphold both the letter and spirit of the rules.

Staff must act:

• Fairly

• Impartially

• Professionally

• Consistently

• Without personal bias

3. Higher Standards for Staff

Staff are held to higher behavioral expectations than regular players.

This includes, but is not limited to:

3.1 No Abuse of Power

Staff must never use their position, permissions, or authority to:

• Intimidate players

• Punish unfairly

• Silence criticism

• Force outcomes in disputes

• Threaten bans/mutes for personal reasons

All moderation action must be tied to rules and evidence, not emotion or personal conflict.

3.2 No Favoritism

Staff must not give special treatment to:

• Friends

• Allies

• Nations/groups they belong to

• Players they personally like

Likewise, Staff must not unfairly target:

• Rivals

• Enemies

• Players they dislike

• Groups they disagree with politically or socially

Perceived bias can be just as damaging as actual bias, so Staff must actively avoid even the appearance of favoritism.

3.3 No Harassment or Discrimination

Staff must never harass, insult, degrade, or discriminate against players.

This includes:

• Hate speech

• Slurs

• Targeted hostility

• Bullying or repeated antagonism

• Sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior

Staff must maintain a standard of respect even when dealing with disruptive players.

4. General Conduct & Representation

4.1 Representing the Server

Staff implicitly represent the server in external spaces (Discords, social media, forums, etc.) and must act accordingly.

Staff should avoid:

• Public drama

• Flame wars

• Making server staff look corrupt or childish

• Aggressive or insulting behavior while identifiable as Staff

4.2 Professionalism

Staff should communicate clearly and respectfully, especially during:

• Rule enforcement

• Conflict resolution

• Player reports

• Public announcements

Staff are expected to remain calm even when players are angry, provocative, or unfair.

5. Honesty & False Information

Staff must never spread, publish, fabricate, exaggerate, or knowingly promote false information regarding:

• The server

• Players

• Staff members

• Evidence or investigations

• Logs, screenshots, or conversations

5.1 Evidence Integrity

All evidence must be genuine and unedited except for privacy redactions approved by policy.

Staff may not:

• Falsify logs

• Misquote private messages

• Create misleading screenshots

• Manufacture claims to justify punishment

Trust is essential to moderation. Dishonesty undermines the legitimacy of Staff entirely.

6. Personal Gain & Corruption

Staff are both volunteers and employees and must not receive compensation or out-of-game benefits in exchange for Staff action.

Staff must not:

• Accept bribes

• Trade moderation outcomes for items/money/favors

• Offer protection or “immunity”

• Use Staff powers to enrich themselves or their group

Permitted exceptions may exist only through regulated, transparent programs (such as bug bounties or approved server rewards).

7. Conflicts of Interest

A Conflict of Interest exists when a Staff member could benefit personally, or when their friends, nation, group, or allies could benefit, from a Staff decision.

Examples include:

• Investigating your own nation

• Handling a report involving your friend

• Deciding punishment for an enemy group

• Resolving disputes where you have personal involvement

7.1 Required Action

When a conflict exists, Staff must:

• Disclose it to other Staff when appropriate

• Abstain from decision-making when possible

• Pass the case to a neutral Staff member

If abstaining is not possible (due to lack of available Staff), the Staff member must:

• Seek oversight

• Document actions clearly

• Avoid punishments without review

8. Confidentiality & Private Information

Staff will often gain access to sensitive or private information through their duties. This information must be protected.

Confidential information includes:

• Private staff discussions

• Ticket reports

• Internal logs and tools

• Player reports and investigations

• Screenshots/videos obtained through moderation

• Player personal details or private messages

• Non-public server information

8.1 Prohibited Conduct

Staff may not:

• Leak internal staff chat content

• Reveal confidential discussions

• Share private player information publicly or privately

• Use confidential information to gain advantage in-game

• Share logs or investigation materials unless required by policy

8.2 Need-to-Know Principle

Confidential information should only be shared:

• With Staff who require it for moderation purposes

• Through official staff channels

Staff must treat all internal matters as strictly need-to-know.

9. Moderation Conduct Standards

Staff must enforce rules in a way that is fair, consistent, and respectful.

9.1 Neutrality

Staff should remain neutral during disputes and avoid taking sides based on:

• Politics

• Personal relationships

• Nation affiliation

• Social popularity

9.2 Respectful Handling of Players

Even when players are rude or uncooperative, Staff must:

• Avoid escalating

• Avoid insults or mockery

• Avoid retaliatory punishments

• Keep responses focused on behavior and rules

9.3 Proper Use of Tools and Powers

Staff tools must be used only for legitimate moderation purposes.

Staff must not:

• Spawn items, ranks, perks, or advantages unfairly

• Teleport, inspect inventories, or use admin tools for curiosity

• “Test” commands on players without consent

• Use tools to influence gameplay outcomes

9.4 Avoiding Public Arguments

Staff should not engage in long public debates over punishments or moderation decisions.

If a player disputes a decision, Staff should redirect them to:

• Proper appeal channels

• Tickets

• Admin review

Staff should not “fight” players in public chat.

10. Privacy & Transparency Balance

Staff must balance transparency with confidentiality.

10.1 What Staff Should Be Transparent About

When possible, Staff should be able to explain:

• What rule was broken

• What action was taken

• What general reasoning was used

10.2 What Staff Must Not Reveal

Staff should not publicly reveal:

• Detailed evidence logs

• Reporter identities

• Internal staff votes or arguments

• Private player messages

• Sensitive investigative methods

Transparency should never come at the cost of privacy or security.

11. Reporting, Documentation, and Escalation

11.1 Accurate Reporting

Staff must document rule violations honestly and clearly.

Reports should include:

• The rule broken

• Evidence

• Date/time context

• Staff action taken

• Relevant notes for future reference

Staff must never misrepresent incidents.

11.2 Chain of Command

Staff must follow the server’s escalation structure.

If a situation is beyond your authority, you must escalate it to the appropriate level rather than improvising punishments.

Examples include:

• Major bans

• High-profile disputes

• Allegations involving Staff

• Technical abuse or exploit incidents

11.3 Handling Staff Misconduct

If a Staff member is suspected of misconduct:

• It must be escalated to higher Staff or administrators

• It should not be handled through gossip or public accusations

• It must be documented professionally

Staff must not “cover” for other Staff or suppress legitimate complaints.

12. Expected Staff Attitude

Staff should strive to be:

• Calm under pressure

• Helpful to new players

• Mature in conflict

• Firm but fair in enforcement

• Transparent where possible

• Private where necessary

Staff should always remember that moderation is not about “winning,” but about maintaining a healthy server environment.

13. Enforcement

Violations of this will result in:

• Suspension of permissions

• Removal from Staff roles

• Server bans in many cases

Staff are not immune from punishment and are to be held to stricter consequences due to their responsibility and access.