Zero-K:Code of Conduct - Revision history

Aquanim: /* 4. Maintain Fairness */

2026-01-02T04:02:41Z

4. Maintain Fairness

Aquanim at 03:51, 2 January 2026

2026-01-02T03:51:24Z

Aquanim: further to previous edit.

2025-05-03T06:29:03Z

further to previous edit.

Aquanim: Modifying Code of Conduct Section 7 as per #zkadmin (on this date)

2025-05-03T05:02:37Z

Modifying Code of Conduct Section 7 as per #zkadmin (on this date)

Aquanim: Updated kick guideline

2023-12-02T01:00:17Z

Updated kick guideline

Aquanim: /* 8. Multiple accounts */

2021-07-19T02:43:20Z

8. Multiple accounts

Aquanim: /* 8. Multiple accounts */

2021-07-19T02:42:20Z

8. Multiple accounts

Aquanim at 02:40, 19 July 2021

2021-07-19T02:40:19Z

Aquanim: /* 1. Respect Other People */

2021-02-10T04:40:32Z

1. Respect Other People

Aquanim: /* 4. Maintain Fairness */

2021-01-22T13:41:46Z

4. Maintain Fairness

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 * Do not cheat. Cheating includes using any method that would give you information that is usually obscured by the fog of war. Custom widgets that control specific units, sound warnings, place marks etc. are generally fine; widgets which perform tasks a human could not reasonably replicate, may cause performance issues for other players, or essentially play the entire game for you should be discussed with the developers first. Particularly useful widgets should be released publicly, both to reduce unfairness and because this is one of the ways Zero-K receives improvements.
-* Spectators with access to public chat should avoid giving away hidden information. Err on the side of caution - even apparently innocuous messages can give away information in subtle ways. It is especially important for resigned players to leave their former team to play out the remainder of the game without your input. Feel free to discuss the game in spectator chat (hotkey Alt + Enter). Any use of all-chat as a spectator is at your own risk and may result in moderator action without warning.
+* Spectators should respect the wishes of any player who wants to play without interruption. By default, spectators can talk to players in the more casual game modes, but should always avoid revealing hidden information, excessive commentary, and should never heckle. Feel free to discuss the game in spectator chat (hotkey Alt + Enter). Check for the a: or s: in front of your chat message. Any use of all-chat as a spectator is at your own risk and may result in moderator action without warning.
 === 5. Respect Moderator Actions ===

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 Subsequent changes:
 * Rule 7 updated in May 2025 to remove the #off-topic and Asylum carveouts for inflammatory topics.
 = The extremely TL;DR version =
@@ Line 15: / Line 16: @@
 * Kick and exit polls are powers on loan from moderators. Do not misuse them.
 * Don't be disruptive, rage or grief.
-* Don't reveal information while spectating, explicitly or implicitly.
+* Don't reveal information while spectating, explicitly or implicitly. Any use of all-chat as a spectator is at your own risk.
 * Don't cheat.
 * Don't evade moderator actions by creating new accounts, making rooms with abusive titles, etc.
@@ Line 56: / Line 57: @@
 * Do not cheat. Cheating includes using any method that would give you information that is usually obscured by the fog of war. Custom widgets that control specific units, sound warnings, place marks etc. are generally fine; widgets which perform tasks a human could not reasonably replicate, may cause performance issues for other players, or essentially play the entire game for you should be discussed with the developers first. Particularly useful widgets should be released publicly, both to reduce unfairness and because this is one of the ways Zero-K receives improvements.
-* Spectators with access to public chat should avoid giving away hidden information. Err on the side of caution - even apparently innocuous messages can give away information in subtle ways. It is especially important for resigned players to leave their former team to play out the remainder of the game without your input. Feel free to discuss the game in spectator chat (hotkey Alt + Enter).
+* Spectators with access to public chat should avoid giving away hidden information. Err on the side of caution - even apparently innocuous messages can give away information in subtle ways. It is especially important for resigned players to leave their former team to play out the remainder of the game without your input. Feel free to discuss the game in spectator chat (hotkey Alt + Enter). Any use of all-chat as a spectator is at your own risk and may result in moderator action without warning.
 === 5. Respect Moderator Actions ===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 Code of Conduct updated as of January 2021: previous version can be found [[Zero-K:Archived Code of Conduct|here]].
 = The extremely TL;DR version =
@@ Line 15: / Line 18: @@
 * Don't cheat.
 * Don't evade moderator actions by creating new accounts, making rooms with abusive titles, etc.
-* Only discuss provocative topics like politics or religion in #off-topic or the Asylum subforum.
+* Do not discuss provocative topics like politics or religion anywhere.
 * Don't post or link to pornographic content or sites anywhere.
 * Don't make multiple accounts without a good reason.

@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 === 7. Avoid inflammatory discussion topics ===
-* Due to their highly inflammatory nature, political and religious discussions are relegated to the semi-hidden "asylum" section of the forum and the "#off-topic" channel in lobby and Discord. Please avoid bringing them up elsewhere.
+* Highly inflammatory topics, such as political and religious discussions, are not permitted in any Discord channel, forum section or lobby chat.
-* Note that even in these subforums/channels the other parts of the Code of Conduct still apply. Furthermore, especially contentious or distasteful subjects may be restricted even in these channels on a case by case basis.
+* Remember that the Zero-K Discord, forum, and lobby are public places. Do not assume that in-jokes or other banter will be interpreted in the intended context by all onlookers.
 * Posts or links to pornographic content/sites or similarly unacceptable material are forbidden and will result in bans.
 === 8. Multiple accounts ===

@@ Line 66: / Line 66: @@
 * Several tools available to players (including kicking players and exiting a game) are ordinarily moderator powers but are available to users by means of a poll for cases when a moderator is not available. These tools should ''only'' be used in ways that a moderator would use them.
-* In particular do not kick players for failing to play or cooperate to your standards. Kicking players for griefing is acceptable, but in the heat of the moment it is often very difficult to distinguish between griefing and unintentional poor play. If you demonstrate poor judgement when using kick polls you may be prohibited from using them in future or banned outright.
+* In particular do not kick players for failing to play or cooperate to your standards. Kicking players for griefing is acceptable, but in the heat of the moment it is often very difficult to distinguish between griefing and unintentional poor play. It is best to assume that all poor play from new players is unintentional since learning ZK is hard. If you demonstrate poor judgement when using kick polls you may be prohibited from using them in future or banned outright.
 * Do not start polls excessively. A poll is unlikely to pass if it failed decisively a few minutes ago, barring large changes to the situation, so spamming polls is a form of disruptive chat. Do not use polls as a heightened means of expression, such as starting a kick poll to express your displeasure at a player rather than out of any belief that the poll will pass.

@@ Line 93: / Line 93: @@
 '''Generally permitted, but no promises:'''
-* After a long period of inactivity, rejoining the community on a new account. (Note that if you have just forgotten the password to your old account, the admins are able and willing to reset it for you.)
+* After a long period of inactivity, rejoining the community on a new account, and not playing on the old account. (Note that if you have just forgotten the password to your old account, the admins are able and willing to reset it for you.)
 If you have a purpose for an alternate account which is not covered by any of the above points, contact a moderator to discuss it.

@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
 '''Explicitly prohibited uses for an alternate account which will result in a ban:'''
-* Cheating the rating/balancing system to appear less skilled/lower ranked. Any account which is playing games in a rated game (no matter whether it is matchmaker or casual rating) will be treated as violating this rule.
+* Cheating the rating/balancing system to appear less skilled/lower ranked. Any alternate account which is playing rated games (no matter whether it is matchmaker or casual rating, and no matter what the comparative ratings of the two accounts are) will be treated as violating this rule.
 * Evading bans, mutes, etc. on your main account
 Repeated creation of alternate accounts for prohibited purposes are liable to result in escalating bans on your main account as well.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 Code of Conduct updated as of January 2021: previous version can be found [[Zero-K:Archived Code of Conduct|here]].
-= The TL;DR version =
+= The extremely TL;DR version =
 Treat other members of the community with respect. Don't be a dick.
 * Be polite.
@@ Line 77: / Line 79: @@
 === 8. Multiple accounts ===
-*Explicitly prohibited uses for an alternate account which will result in a ban:
+'''Explicitly prohibited uses for an alternate account which will result in a ban:'''
-** Cheating the rating/balancing system to appear less skilled/lower ranked. Any account which is playing games in a rated game (no matter whether it is matchmaker or casual rating) will be treated as violating this rule.
+* Cheating the rating/balancing system to appear less skilled/lower ranked. Any account which is playing games in a rated game (no matter whether it is matchmaker or casual rating) will be treated as violating this rule.
-** Evading bans, mutes, etc. on your main account
+* Evading bans, mutes, etc. on your main account
-* Repeated creation of alternate accounts for prohibited purposes are liable to result in escalating bans on your main account as well.
+Repeated creation of alternate accounts for prohibited purposes are liable to result in escalating bans on your main account as well.
-*Explicitly permitted uses for an alternate account:
+If you have a purpose for an alternate account which is not covered by any of the above points, contact a moderator to discuss it.
 = Exceptional Situations =

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:40, 10 February 2021
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	* If somebody has a user name or commander name in poor taste the moderators may require that this name be changed. We do try to be reasonably flexible. If your user name needs changing, or if you need an opinion on whether a name is in poor taste, contact a moderator. (Specific wording of this point, and guidance as to the definition of "poor taste", pending review by moderator team.)		* If somebody has a user name or commander name in poor taste the moderators may require that this name be changed. We do try to be reasonably flexible. If your user name needs changing, or if you need an opinion on whether a name is in poor taste, contact a moderator. (Specific wording of this point, and guidance as to the definition of "poor taste", pending review by moderator team.)
		+
		+	* Remember that on the forum you are voting about the post, NOT the person. For example, even if you disagree with something that somebody has said or done, do not downvote unrelated posts of theirs on the forum. Abuse of forum votes in this way may result in the deletion of some or all of your forum voting history.

	=== 2. Help New Players ===		=== 2. Help New Players ===

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 === 4. Maintain Fairness ===
-* Do not cheat. Cheating includes using any method that would give you information that is usually obscured by the fog of war. Custom widgets that control your units, sound warnings, place marks etc. are generally fine; widgets which perform tasks a human could not reasonably replicate, may cause performance issues for other players, or essentially play the entire game for you should be discussed with the developers first. Particularly useful widgets should be released publicly, both to reduce unfairness and because this is one of the ways Zero-K receives improvements.
+* Do not cheat. Cheating includes using any method that would give you information that is usually obscured by the fog of war. Custom widgets that control specific units, sound warnings, place marks etc. are generally fine; widgets which perform tasks a human could not reasonably replicate, may cause performance issues for other players, or essentially play the entire game for you should be discussed with the developers first. Particularly useful widgets should be released publicly, both to reduce unfairness and because this is one of the ways Zero-K receives improvements.
 * Spectators with access to public chat should avoid giving away hidden information. Err on the side of caution - even apparently innocuous messages can give away information in subtle ways. It is especially important for resigned players to leave their former team to play out the remainder of the game without your input. Feel free to discuss the game in spectator chat (hotkey Alt + Enter).