Helper rules (Rules and Policies)

Overview

The purpose of Newbiehelpers on The Two Towers is to help introduce new players to the game, in the hopes of helping them to become productive and respectful long-term players of the MUD. It is the view of the Administration of The Two Towers that this is one of the most important roles that one can have. In recognition of this, the Administration sets forth these rules and guidelines to provide a framework under which our Helpers are expected to act.

General Newbiehelping Concepts/Vision

These are overarching concepts that apply to all Newbiehelpers. Specific topics may be covered in more depth below.

The primary goals of our Newbiehelpers should be:

1. To provide a positive influence for new players.
2. To act in the best interests of the MUD as a whole, not any particular group within it.
3. To help new players become acclimated with the MUD interface.
4. To help new players with basic navigation of Arda.
5. To aid in correcting certain rules-related issues that may arise with new players, including unacceptable names, improper use of the newbie comm, etc.

Specific Newbiehelping Rules and Guidelines

1. Focus - Newbiehelpers should be focused on the good of the MUD as a whole, and work towards its betterment in good faith.
2. Conduct - Newbiehelpers are expected to be polite and helpful when in the presence of new players, and to refrain from swearing, obscenities, trash-talking and the like.
3. Advertising - Pursuant to #1 above, no helper shall use their position to promote a specific guild or clan. Answering questions related to guilds or recommending points of contact based on a newbie's stated RP/play-style goals is acceptable, but is to be carried out in as limited and impartial a manner as possible.
4. Freebies - Giving away equipment to newbies should be done in an appropriate manner, and not to excess. The goal of the Newbiehelper is to help new players learn how to do things for themselves, not to make them reliant on equipment always being provided for them. Any directly provided equipment should be appropriate to player's level, stats, and stated RP desires.
5. Respect - Newbiehelpers are expected to act respectfully towards one another, and towards the game as a whole, when in the presence of new players, regardless of personality conflicts or other issues. Disagreements are to be expressed privately in tells or on the Newbiehelper comm.
6. Abuse - Any Newbiehelper found to be abusing his or her powers or privileges, whether for personal gain, harassment, or any other reason, violates the trust of the Administration and works against the good of the MUD as a whole. Abuses of this nature will be dealt with harshly.
7. General rule-breaking - Newbiehelpers are expected to be good role-models for our new players. Therefore, Newbiehelpers who choose to break the rules of the MUD are doubly guilty, and will be dealt with accordingly.
8. Roleplay - To encourage thematic development and distinguish this game from the many other themeless options, newbiehelpers are encouraged (but not required) to act "in character" when meeting new players face-to-face, with the understanding that some OOC topics are not able to be effectively discussed while IC.

Enforcement of Rules and Newbiehelper Review

The Administration reserves the right to review the performance of Newbiehelpers, either periodically or upon report of wrongdoing by their peers or other players. Any Newbiehelper found to have broken any of the rules above will be removed from the position, with possible further punishments enacted if justified. The Administration further reserves the right to enact bans on interaction with new players in extreme cases.