The Midnight Cartel's Golden Rule is that we are all here to have Fun! When it becomes “not fun” it becomes the responsibility of the Guild Leadership to step in with some rules to keep the game fair and fun. We realize these rules are long, but they are also complete, and presented after a lot of thought and debate by the guild founders.

With that in mind, I present these Guild Rules to provide a little structure to what can be a very emotional and stressful “game”. While lengthy, please understand we have made every effort to provide a safe, friendly, and fair environment in which you can enjoy your tour of Azeroth.

The leadership, will remove anyone from the guild at their discretion. I place great trust in my guild leaders, and support their decisions. All Guardians and Heros are expected to take whatever time is required to investigate any incidents before removing guild members. — Shaade

Respect each other: This is the most important of the guild rules, and the most broad. Basically it means that everyone is here to have fun, and anything that you may do to diminish other's fun time in this game here is not tolerated.

This concept is really important to Midnight Cartel. It's also the rule that the officers are expected to enforce without hesitation. Members of the Midnight Cartel will be expected to extend their respect towards the WoW community in general on forums and in the game. This rule extends not only to our Alliance Guilds but to all Guilds and persons on the server. This rule also extends to our private Ventrilo server. Some examples:

♦ NO harmful language will be tolerated in guild or party chat. Please keep your language appropriate so that the mother who has her nine year old in guild will not have to explain your foul references to him. This boundary has been pushed more than any other, so please see the special note below on "free" speech.

♦ There will be ZERO TOLERANCE for racism, sexism, prejudice or blatant flaming. Please remember that we have people of all races, creeds, physical disposition, and sexual preference. Please do not offend people who are (for example) gay by using 'gay' as a bad word. “That's so fucking gay” is a bootable offense. Also politics and religion, are generally not good topics for guild chat. Take it to party or whisper or a private channel. This game is a safe place for people to escape from that RL stuff.

♦ Respect for people's time: Please remember that everyone here pays their $15/month to be here just like you. If you ask for help, please have a game plan - research your quests, and know what you have to do before you invite a bunch of people on your adventures with you. This also means that if you sign up for a run, you must be on time. If you are going to be late, please find a friend in the game and trade phone numbers, or at least send a private message on the forums to an officer. Penalties for signing up and not showing are at the discretion of the Raid Leaders, and will be enforced by the Officers.

♦ Respect for Chat: We would like guild chat to be open and relaxed, but no one wants to see the window scroll by at 150 words per minute with things like: “OMFG HAXXOR FPWONED LSDKWUEIANVEER omg look at this: link link link link link... that lewt is phaaaat”. Personal conversations should be restricted to whispers, your parties, or private channels. Frankly, most people come to this game to escape gossip and drama.

A note on Language and "Free" Speech.

It has come to my attention recently that guild members have tried to push the boundaries of the Respect rule in terms of language, and they use their "rights to freedom of speech" as an excuse to mouth off. Let me emphasize here... This is a PRIVATE LOCATION and your rights to free speech extend only to where the owners of this private location wish it to. In this case, your rights STOP where the rights of others to play without harassment begin.

First off, do your research! Take a look over your Constitutional Amendments, then look at a well thought out essay on your rights. I would like you to read what our supreme court has said about shouting fire in a crowded theatre, and finally the most recent definition of the boundary of your rights to speak as you choose, known as the doctrine of imminent lawless action that can result from some "free" speech.

The bottom line here is that the guild leaders will take whatever action is deemed necessary to keep this a peaceful and friendly place to play. If that means we have to prevent you from "freely" speaking your mind sometimes, we will. Just remember that your constitutional rights are protected in PUBLIC areas, but your rights do not extend to PRIVATE areas of which Elune, and the Midnight Cartel certainly are.

When forming Raids/Parties the leader of the group should be chosen and all the rules for the run should be clearly stated.

In our experience the #1 problem that develops between players is something happens with loot or strategy, and it's because the rules were not laid down at the beginning. Never assume your party members know what you expect of them.

Related to this, Ninja Looting will never be tolerated. Within guild runs or without. If I am told of a member ninjaing any item in PUGs, I will investigate it and likely favor against you! It's that important to me that you represent our guild in a positive manner, and usually where there's smoke... there's fire.

*** Very Important: Note that when you begin to join raids, you will be required to run several 3rd party Mods to be an effective raider. Some other mods may be necessary as well, and will be determined by party leaders.

As a member of the Midnight Cartel, you are expected to help one fellow guild member once per week.

While we won't track you down and discipline on this one... it's basically our ‘other golden rule’. Remember... that one day that 'newbie' you help though the Stockades will be 60... and someday you'll sure be glad she's there when you need that last second heal, or need help killing that Dragon. I've lived my game by this rule, and many of you are here with me because I was there for you when you needed me, and now you are here for this wonderful guild of OURS. Helping not only feels good, but it's the cornerstone of MMORPGS... we are playing here TOGETHER. The relationships that come from this helping attitude are the ties that bind a guild together.

These forums are great places to ask for and to offer help. Don't forget though, those pleas in /g chat “Can anyone help me with xxx” or “would anyone like to go to xxx” should not be ignored. Even if you don't have the time, if someone is brave enough to ask for help in /g, at least give them the courtesy of a reply. “Sorry, I can't right now, but catch me later, ok?” Note that you should also not spam for help over and over in guild chat.

One of the founding ideals of Midnight Cartel is that this is a guild of inclusion, not of exclusion. We might label ourselves as “A family friendly, Casual Style End Game Raid Guild”.

This means that no “real life” family member or personal friend of any member will be excluded from membership.

Midnight Cartel has achieved enormous success in our recruitment efforts. Until further notice, we are closed to new members except for the above RL F&F exclusion. As a member, we ask that you respect this closure. At this time, we do not limit "Alts" in the guild, but if we close in on the Blizzard limit of 500 members, we may have to. Please only offer the people you know in your real outside lives as potential new members, and not just folks you've partied with on the server..

It would be a simple thing for us to form an elitist guild like all the others of 60 dedicated, with mandatory attendance, uuberly equipped members who feel that raiding > work, family and life.

Recruitment: To achieve our goals, we will need you all to help level your comrades -- this is our first priority -- helping our current members. On rare occasions, the guild leadership may invite new members outside of the "RL F&F" exclusion. New member candidates must attend an officer-led raid, to see if they are a good fit here. If the candidate also agrees to these guild rules, and joins our forums, they may then be invited to join.

Note to new recruits: This guild is considered PG-13! No children under the age of 13 will be allowed to play in the guild without the supervision of their parents. In order to join the guild, you MUST FIRST REGISTER FOR OUR FORUMS. During the registration process you will be asked to confirm your age. No member of the guild will be held liable if you lie about your age in this process.

Remember that those that you invite to join us, reflect also upon you to a degree, and you should take time to guide them through the game within the guild. Don't just recruit 'em and forget em.

All Guardians and Heros are expected to display behavior that would cause our members to be proud to introduce you to their friends, potential recruits, and their Moms.

Some nice words to think about: Honesty, Fair Play, Integrity, Sacrifice, Generosity, Helpfulness, Enthusiasm, Knowledge, Responsibility. If you don't know the answer..... you should know where to send people to find them.

All leaders of the guild are expected to enforce these rules without exception until such a time as the membership decides to alter them. When ever you are in doubt, when you get that queasy feeling in your stomach... just ask another officer to group with you and whoever you are ‘enforcing’.

Also No GM, Guardian, or Hero shall ever require or restrict any member to play their game in any way but the way they want to play it! Midnight Cartel does not require you to “spec” your toon in anyway. You are, however expected to understand your party role, and to play well. If you find that you need help with your spec or with your gear choices, that is what your guild is for.. Ask!

♦ Guardians are expected to protect and defend the members and the good name of the guild in and out of gameplay. Please show the officers your respect as they work very hard to this end.

♦ Guardians will be assigned certain tasks and duties - "Specializations" by the Guild Master. Running a guild of this size and scope is hard work, and as an officer you will be expected to pitch in. Members who wish to add to the process may also take on tasks. In particular our Raid leaders (Hero rank) are expected to show leadership by running raids, and going above & beyond to help other members of the guild.

While this is a guild under the ultimate control of the Guild Master... I have placed my leadership of the guild in the hands of the membership. I am responsible to you, and I am to be held accountable to you.

While we have not completely decided on the exact processes of accountability, for now I have adopted the following policies:

1. The GM will be, in general, a tie-breaker on all Officer decisions. Sometimes the GM will need to make quick decisions without consulting the Officers, but the GM promises to be responsive and reasonable and willing to change his mind. At such as time as 2/3 of the Officers deem the GM to be unable/unwilling to lead the guild, they can vote to ask him to step down to the level of Officer. The officers will then elect one of their own to replace him.

2. From time to time, the guild may become large enough, or a specific need may arise to ask another member of the guild to serve as an officer. If the Officers determine that such an addition is needed, and open election thread of the guild will be started by the GM and elections will commence in a timely fashion.

3. At any time, a guild member may begin the process for Recalling an Officer. The member(s) at this time may petition using these forums any particular Officer to step aside for another of the guild to be elected. The member(s) calling for the recall will be able to confidentially request that the GM open a thread with a poll to recall the Officer. 5 Votes are enough to trigger an election. At this point an open election thread will be created by the GM and the first nomination will be the recalled Officer. All members at this time may nominate and/or voice support for any candidate. At the end of two weeks, the election will be held by poll in that same thread.

*** Note: No reprisals or ill-will will be tolerated during this process. No blatant flaming and baseless accusations. As an officer of Midnight Cartel, you have agreed to this democratic process, and will abide the will of the Membership. In fact, Midnight Cartel encourages its officers to feel that they can take breaks from time to time, and stepping down from officership is not a bad thing nor does it have any stigma attached to it. It just means you want to play your game a little more without the pressure of leadership. Your service to your guild is always loved and honored.

Democracy cannot work without participation. As a member of Midnight Cartel you are expected to sign up for the forums, and to participate in important elections and polls. Believe me.. this is a rare opportunity in WoW for you to shape YOUR GUILD.

You should also note that we are bound by the user licenses, agreements and codes of conduct of Blizzard Entertainment. You can find more information by following these links:

In game policies: http://www.blizzard.com/support/wowgm/?id=agm01712p

Conduct: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/policy/forum-coc.html

Midnight Cartel will uphold Blizzard's policies, and would like to point out the following important ideals:

♦ No buying of gold from ebay or any similar site will be tolerated. You will be immediately removed from guild if you participate in this type of commerce. This not only spoils the game economy, but is also harmful to the poor souls who work in digital sweatshops.

♦ There will be no ‘hacking’ of the game software. Cheating is not honorable, respectful, nor fun for others. You will be immediately removed from guild if caught hacking or cheating without exception.

See rule #1 about respect. Remember that this extends to the Blizzard forums, and to other players and guilds in the game.

From time to time the officers will create rules and policies to further enhance the effectiveness and fun of the guild.

We always remember that our first goal is FUN, but once in a while structure has to be placed in order to enhance the greater good of the guild.

As always, Midnight Cartel not only encourages, but relies on your input. The Officers retain the right to at any time alter and adjust these rules to better serve the guild. This process will normally take place here on these forums, but if need arises, the Officers and the GM may need to take immediate action. Please join the forums and lend your talents and insights into how we can make it the Best Guild on Elune!