Virtue Community Charter

Our Mission Statement
We strive to maintain a mature, helpful, generous and kind group of players. We encourage the inviting of close family and friends of all ages to our community and we have separate forums and Ventrilo channels to provide age appropriate discussions environments. The overall goal of Virtue is to have fun; after all this is a game. What constitutes fun in a game is different for each person so we will actively support all playing styles. A legion is a group you join for support as well as the social aspects, so we have a government structure in place to assure both the health of the community and the development of our members.

Virtue Community Structure

The Virtue Community structure is broken up into three (3) levels of Officers, Council Members, and High Council Members.
Officers
The Officers are responisible for any activity that occurs within the game for which they are an officer. Exact duties for each Officer may vary and are determined by the Council Member responsible for that particular game. Officers report directly to the Council Member for their game. Officer appointments last for four (4) months. At the end of a tour of duty the community members present in the game for which the Officers are being selected will vote for the next set of Officers. An Office may serve a maximum of two (2) consecutive tours of duty.
Council
The Council is comprised of one (1) representative from each game that Virtue Community is actively participating in. The Council Members are responsible for the well-being of the community as a whole and are responsible for the community-wide decisions. Council Members are also responsible for supervising the Officers in the game for which they are a Council Member. This includes, but is not limited to, ruling on Officer's decisions as a whole Council and making sure community members feel supported and involved. Council Member appointments are for a period of four (4) months. At the end of the tour of duty the Officers for the game which there is a Council vacancy will vote to select from among the current Officers who will be the next Council Member for that game. Council Members may serve a maximum of two (2) consecutive tours of duty.
High Council
The High Council is comprised of Administrators for the community and serves mainly as an appellete court for the Council's decisions (for more detailed information, see the "Conflict Resolution" section). The High Council is responsible for maintaing the community's resources which include, but are not limited to, the website and the Ventrillo server. The High Council also advises the Council on their decisions should the Council ask for support.

Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct has been established and is enforced to make this a better community. Since we all come from different backgrounds with different mannerisms, these rules help us find common ground. They also serve as a reminder of what is expected from everyone in our community. These rules are not meant to detract from game play. They are set in place to enhance your experience inside the game and within our gaming community.

Communications:
The Virtue Community offers many forms of communication. These include but are not limited to: guild chat, in-game whispers, Ventrilo and forums. No matter the method used to communicate, you are expected to behave in a mature and respectful manner. Rude behavior will result in a warning. We all have bad days, and we understand that. However, inconsiderate behavior that detracts from the guild can result in the conduct process being perused against you. At no time will we allow racists, sexists or prejudice behavior in any form of communication. We have established both forums and Ventrilo channels that are meant for 18+ age groups, so please keep that content to those areas as we might have families with young children in the other areas. Language will be tolerated to an extent in the appropriate forums or channels, but if you become abusive or disturb the other members in the forum or channel, you may face the conduct process. When in game and using the in game chat, please act respectfully towards others. You are a representative of the Virtue community and we ask that you act accordingly. If you demonstrate inconsiderate behavior in game chat, you may face the conduct process. We are a mature community and ask that you act accordingly at all times.

Ventrilo:
Using a microphone is not required in the Virtue Community Ventrilo, but using Ventrilo to communicate can be a very effective way to accomplish something. All of the rules regarding our communication network stated above apply to Ventrilo.

Forums:
We ask that you visit the forums often even if you do not post anything. Most of the questions or information you require can be found on the forums or in the archive section of the website, so it is usually a good place to start if you have a question. If you decide to post please try to ensure you post in the appropriate forum and please try to stay on topic. All of the rules regarding our communication network stated above apply to the Virtue Community forums.

Grouping:
We ask that if you decide to join a group please make sure you have enough time to accomplish the goal(s) of the group. We understand when real life emergencies arise, but this can put the group in a tough situation and we would like to try and limit that. We do not expect you to drop a group you are in for the community. If you have committed to a group, it is only courteous to stay with them until you have finished. We ask that you try to fill groups with community members first. We understand that you have online friends you play and group with, but we expect you to attempt to assist community members whenever possible. Please do not abuse help from the guild. No one likes a leech.

Whenever possible, try to plan ahead for groups by posting for help in the appropriate forum on the Virtue Community forums. Scheduling a group is the best way to accomplish something. It allows other guild members to schedule for it, allows the correct class balance to be achieved, and allows for others with similar goals to receive help as well. If you sign up for a group or event, we ask that you make your best effort to be there or notify the group if something comes up that will prevent you from attending so the group can find a replacement. Real life does come before a game, so we will understand if something happens and you can’t make it. However, forgetting or deciding to not go and do something else puts the group an unfair disadvantage and will not be tolerated.

Raiding:
Raiding involves a great deal of time and effort. Because we are not solely a raiding guild, we do not expect all of our members to participate in raids. However, for those of you who do wish to raid, we ask that you be prepared. This means gearing yourself as best as you can, acquiring any critical skills for your class, bringing any items that will help you such as buff items or potions, being on time for the raid, having Ventrillo fully working, and preparing yourself by learning the strategy before the raid. Raid success does not come without work, so please do not expect to succeed on your first attempt. Raid leaders are leading because of what they know about the raid, so please do not argue with them during the raid as it is counterproductive and detracts from what the raid can accomplish.

Communication in raids is critical and therefore you must have Ventrilo. Please ensure your Ventrilo is working and come prepared to listen and offer constructive criticisms or ideas. No one is perfect so please do not yell at or chastise a raid member for making a mistake. This is neither productive nor constructive and may result in you being asked to leave the raid. If you have any ideas or observations for making the raid better, please bring them up at the appropriate time. which will most likely be at the end of the raid. Arguing about strategy during the raid will not help the raid succeed. Please be prepared to work for success and most of all have fun!

Community Participation and Help:
We understand that not everyone has as much time as others to dedicate to playing. However, our members are expected to participate in events, gaming sessions or participate in other ways whenever possible. Being apart of a community means there will be times you will be asked to make sacrifices for the betterment of the community. Also, understand that other community members will be asked to make similar sacrifices to ensure your growth and success as well. Please do not abuse the community help and do not be upset if you are unable to immediately find help.

There are many opportunities for you to assist the community. Farming mats to donate for community use, giving gold to the community vaults, signing up for community instance runs, signing up for raid nights, donating drops that can be used by other community members, giving helpful advice and answers on the forums, and helping answer questions in guild chat are all ways to help out your fellow community members. We do not want to see our members constantly selling rare items that could be used by other community members. While we understand that you need money, there are other ways to earn it. Helping by donating recipes or drops will improve the community over all, and that is why we are all here. We do not expect community members to power-level each other and actually frown upon the action. You are not able to learn anything about your character from power-leveling and you will be at a disadvantage later in the game.

Selling, Buying, Crafting and Trading:
Selling items to community members is never allowed. We expect you to give freely to other community members. We are not seeking nor tolerate greedy people. While community members should never be paid for crafting an item, the crafter is not expected to provide any mats. The person requesting the crafted gear is expected to acquire the needed materials. We have many items in the vaults and give them freely. Ask a crafting officer if you need materials from the vaults or want to know if a certain material is available. We do not want to see our members constantly selling rare items that could be used by other community members. While we understand that you need money, there are other ways to earn it. If you have a rare drop or recipe and do not need it, please give it to an officer to be stored in the community vaults or distributed to other community members.

Conflict Resolution:
Though we strive to limit all forms of drama, there will be times that community members do not agree or that a community member behaves in an inappropriate manner. You are expected to attempt to resolve matters on your own first through whispers or other private methods. Do not make disputes a public guild matter or neither party involved will like the outcome. If the conflict is unable to be solved privately, then contact an Officer. Officers are unable to help if they do not know what the problem is so please try and be concise when explaining the situation. We will never play favorites, so evidence such as screen shots will be required to resolve conflicts. Officers are the first line of response to a community conflict so please talk to them first. If an Officer cannot be reached, or if the problem is with an Officer, then contact any Council member. If the conflict is with a Council member, please contact another Council member. Only contact a High Council member if you wish to appeal a decision made by the Council. The High Council has the final decision on any matter but will only make decisions if the Council is undecided on a resolution to the conflict or a community member wants to appeal a decision.

The Conduct Process:
First offense will cause the offending community member to receive a warning. This warning will be placed on the community member’s record and remain on the record for a period of six (6) months. After six (6) months of good behavior, the record will be destroyed. If the community member commits another offense during the six (6) month period, the next step in the conduct process will be taken and the six (6) month timer will be reset.

Second offense will cause the offending community member to be fined a sum of in game money, or crafting materials amounting to the defined sum of money, decided by the Council.

Third offense will cause the guild member to be banned from the Virtue Community and all resources provided by the Virtue Community. All bans are final. If a community member is banned from the Virtue community they may not participate in any community events, alliances with the community, or groups with the community. Any Virtue Community member caught playing with a banned player will be subject to the conduct process.

Leave of Absence:
If you plan on being absent for more then fourteen (14) days, you are required to contact an Officer and state an estimated return. If you are quitting the game we ask that you still contact an Officer. You may return someday and we would be glad to have you back. Accounts inactive for 14 days will be removed from the community. If you return after thirty (30) days and did not notify an Officer, you will have to petition to the Council to be placed back into the community.

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