Vampires! A Dark Alleyway FAQ

(These rules were written by one of the moderators, Devil Miyu.)

RavenBlack Bloodchat is a place where the players of the "Vampires! A Dark Alleyway" game get together to discuss and share game-related ideas, meet friends and make friends, hang out, socialise and perhaps even roleplay for a bit. It is also a place where one can seek out help and assistance in regards to the game. Basically it's a fun place to chat and socialise.

Who are the people who often visit Bloodchat?

There are different types of people who come to chat. Most of them are what people call "n00bs" or "newbies". These are people who are new to the game, doesn't know much about the game and who are mostly in chat just to goof off and talk to other people. These are the type of people who generally take up to almost half of the chatroom population.

The other type of people are what we refer to as "lurkers". These people log on to chat but they seldom say anything to anyone. These people are generally shy and often times want to be left alone. They just like to log on to chat to simply watch what's going on in there.

Then we have the "regulars" and the occassional game-veteran visitors.

The game-veterans or sometimes referred to as "Elders" are people who've been in the game for more than 2 years, they know their way around things and most of them are clan leaders or elders. These people drop in once in a while to chat.

The "regulars" are people you see almost everyday in chat. These people hang out and talk and have fun. Generally they stick to a specific room. These people are for the most part friendly. And are pretty much well-versed with the chat rules. They are also among the first ones to remind those in the chatroom about certain rules that are in violation. So if you're misbehaving, you can pretty count on these people to tell you to cut it out and stop whatever it is you are doing.

There are several chat "regulars" who frequent the place and assist the chat moderators in keeping an eye on chat and make sure everyone gets along fairly well. These people inform the moderators as to who's causing problems, by either taking a screen shot of the incident or copying and then pasting it, then emailing it to the moderators or even sending it and alerting the mods via PM. (private message)

What happens next?

The moderators then either kick the person out of the chatroom or ban them from that specific room, depending on the offense committed by the person. Moderators can and will permanently ban a person from the entire chat if a person is found to be in severe violation of chat rules. Repeat offenders will also be permanently banned from chat.


Bloodchat Moderators:
Another type of people found in chat are what we call chat "mods" or "mod". These are the people who monitor the chatrooms, enforce and uphold the rules. They are there to help those who are in need of assistance or have questions regarding the game. These moderators "donate" or "volunteer" their time to assist others, and make sure that the chatrooms are pretty much "friendly".

How can I become a moderator?
You can't. If you ask for it, you definitely can't. Moderators are made if exemplary behaviour is noticed, and for no other reason. Hassling people with requests to be made a moderator is not exemplary behaviour. Asking moderators what exemplary behaviour entails is also not. If you can't figure out good behaviour for yourself, you're not moderator material.
--RavenBlack

Who are the moderators?

The list of names of chatroom moderators have been removed. This was done to stay true to what's posted by RavenBlack which is this:

"There are several moderators with the power to do this, and they are not highlighted in any way. All chat is logged, so complaints can be examined later."


Something to keep in mind:
Moderators are not paid to monitor the chatrooms. They do not get any compensation such as coins in the game or special privileges in the game. They volunteer their time to make sure that everything runs smoothly in the chats. They don't ask much in return save for that you simply follow the rules, do what you're told and treat them with respect. They are there to help should anyone require assistance in the game or have questions about the game.


Bloodchat Rooms:
There are 11 (eleven) main chatrooms for bloodchat. You may also create your own private room by typing " /room [name of room here] ". Please keep in mind that the entire chat is logged. Main rooms as well as private rooms and PMs (private messages) are logged and recorded.

As per RavenBlack...

- The General rooms are intended to be for out-of-character general socialising.

- The City rooms are intended for game discussion, and may or may not be in-character.

- The Roleplay rooms are intended to be entirely in character.

- The existence of a PG-Rated room should not be taken to imply that other rooms are X-Rated.


The following are the 11 main chatrooms of Bloodchat...

1. Beginners (no role-playing allowed in this room)
2. City1
3. City2
4. General1 (no role-playing allowed in this room)
5. General2 (no role-playing allowed in this room)
6. PG-Rated
7. Real-Magyck
8. Roleplay1
9. Roleplay2
10. X-Rated
11. X-Rated-RP

The Bloodchat moderators have pieced together a set of rules on top of RavenBlack's general chatrules. These rules were already dicussed among the moderators and are pretty much things that are not allowed in chat because it is not only annoying, it also bothers the other people in chat. So in order to maintain order in chat and keep a safe and friendly environment, we have rules.

As per RavenBlack...
1. Excessive profanity is frowned upon, though mild swearing in appropriate contexts will be ignored.

2. Outright insults and fighting are liable to get you banned from the chatrooms.

There are several moderators with the power to do this, and they are not highlighted in any way. All chat is logged, so complaints can be examined later.

3. If someone claims to be a moderator and is making threats for no reason, they are not a moderator - all moderators have been selected as reasonable people.

4. Claiming to be a moderator when you are not is a bannable offense.

5. Don't flood the rooms with rapidly repeated messages. This, too, will get you banned.


The following is an extensive list of rules that have been discussed by the moderators as well as explainations as to why such was made as a rule in chat.

Anyone found in direct violation of these rules and the rules set by RavenBlack will end up being kicked or banned from chat.

Anyone found to be in severe violation of the chat rules or who repeatedly and blatantly break any of these rules, will be permanently banned from Bloodchat.

Generally, you will be warned of your actions if they are in violation to the rules. First time offenses will be overlooked. You will only be warned once. If you have been warned about an offense in the past, that counts as your warning. Keep in mind that blatantly breaking rules will not elicit any warning; an immediate kick and ban will follow.

Chat rules...

No caps.
Typing in all CAPITAL LETTERS will result in a kick. Repeat offenses will result in a ban.

Why is this not allowed?
It is considered rude and is viewed as yelling in the chatroom. How does one convey yelling without the use of caps? Well... there is this nifty invention called the exclamation point. If you're not aware of what it is, this is what it looks like --> !

If that doesn't work for you, you can try typing " /me yells [insert whatever here]"

Although an occassional slip up of certain abbreviations such as "LOL" or "LMAO" can and will be overlooked depending on who is moderating the room you are in. One word in caps will also be overlooked.


Excessive profanity, even in the x-rated chat rooms, will be moderated. Mild swearing in appropriate context will be ignored.

Why is this behaviour moderated?
Well, for some, it is considered offensive. But do keep in mind that just because this is something that is generally overlooked if used in appropriate contexts, that doesn't give a person a reason to use obsceneties as every other word in their sentences. Nobody likes a potty-mouth. You can be kicked or even banned from the rooms for this one.


Creating several "alts" or "clones", in order to gain entrance to chatrooms you've been banned from, is an immediate banning, without warning.

First of all, what are "alts" or "clones"?
These are other characters created and controlled by the same person. Now RavenBlack clearly states that you can have alternate characters in game provided that there are no interaction between those players. However... if you were banned from chat and you create another character so that you can come back to chat is considered against the chat rules.

Why is that not allowed?
Well, when a moderator bans you from chat, it is simply to keep the chat free of inappropriate behaviour. It kind of defeats the purpose if you are able to immediately log back on to Bloodchat under another name. We don't want people thinking, "Oh well you ban this one name, I'll just make another and another." That is not allowed and could also result in getting you deleted from the game itself.


Flooding, Spamming and Scrolling is a kickable offense. Excessiveness of these will result in a permanent ban from chat.

What is Flooding?
Well flooding is when someone rapidly types messages on to the screen to fill it up or "flood" it. It is mainly for attention and annoyance purposes. It will look something like this:

< example+user > lol!!
< example+user > asgaj;ljh'pha;h
< example+user >
< example+user >
< other_user > omg stop it!
< no-name-vamp > cut it out plz!
< example+user > NO!! U PPL SUCK!
< example+user > asdfjkl wwtou[oaga;lma'ojg
< example+user >
< example+user > s
< example+user > h
< example+user > u
< example+user > t
< example+user >
< example+user > u
< example+user > p
Devil Miyu kicks example+user
example+user has left

Posting ascii images (images created using text) is not allowed as well because it is also considered as a form of flooding.

Posting song lyrics will be moderated. Although one or two lines are acceptable. Posting the entire lyrics or majority of the lyrics of a song will result in a kick.

This is viewed as flooding as well. Many people have complained of such behaviour in chat that we felt it necessary to make it a rule. This too can get you banned if you keep doing it.

"ASL" is not allowed in the main chat room

RavenBlack Bloodchat is not a dating service. If you feel you must ask someone the dreaded "asl" question, we ask that you do so via PM (private message) as it not only disrupts the chatroom, it also serves as an annoyance which often leads to fights in the main room.

We also ask that you refrain from posting your screen names for any of the instant messenger clients, email addresses, phone numbers and other personal stuff of that nature in the main chatroom. If you must give out your personal information, please do so via PM (private message) - and we recommend not even doing that. If you are under 18 you are specifically prohibited from giving out personal contact information.


Talk of boredom is not allowed.
An example of this...

< example+user > I'm sooooo bored!
< example+user> omg u ppl r so boring!
< other_user > its too quiet in this room
< example+user > gtg this room sux its 2boring in here l8ers peeps!
Devil Miyu kicks example+user
example+user has left

Why is this not allowed?
Frankly, no one is forcing you to log on to Bloodchat and stay there. It is not our job as moderators of the chatroom to entertain you nor is it the job of other people to be your source of entertainment. Find something to do if you're bored. Initiate conversations or simply just leave. Stating that you're bored only serves to aggravate and annoy a lot of people.

With the exception of the game links and things listed in the game's FAQ section, posting links and promoting other websites in chat is strictly forbidden as well as frown upon. Posting your biter link in chat will get you banned.

Why is this not allowed?
It is considered spamming. Do keep in mind that most of the people who come to chat are new to the game. Promoting your personal website in chat, your biter link or your clan's url or any other link is not allowed. The only links or websites allowed to be posted in the main room are anything of ravenblack.net, The FTA (Freedom Trade Alliance) and LiS (Lost In Shadows) as it is strictly an information only group which would be beneficial to the "newbies". It is also frowned upon to post links via PM (private message). If an individual complains about someone posting links in a PM, the poster will get kicked from the chat room and could possibly be banned.


Real life threats, OOC (out-of-character) threats made to a mod or an individual will result in an immediate permanent ban from chat.

That one is self explanatory. Such actions will not be allowed or even tolerated in the chatrooms.


- Challenging a moderator's authority...
- Insults directed towards a moderator...
- Any kind of harassment towards a moderator...
- Any form of disrespect towards a moderator...
- Extensively arguing and/or desputing a moderator's judgment...
...will result in you getting kicked and banned from chat.

A fine example of this is when a mod kicks a person from chat and the person returns to the chatroom and starts mouthing off the moderator and giving that moderator "attitude", rest assure you will not only get kicked again but possibly get banned from the chatroom.

- PMing the moderator and insulting the mod because of a kick or a ban will get you permanently banned from chat.

- Sending "friends" to harass or repeatedly ask mods to lift the ban will only make the matters worse and can result in getting them kicked or banned as well.

- Harassing other people either via AIM, YIM, msn messenger or email because of a moderator will cause you to be banned from chat. Or if you've already been banned from chat, it will only serve to make your ban a permanent one.


The unmentionables...

Bloodchat has several topics that are not allowed in the chatrooms, public or private and even via PM. Keep in mind that the entire chat is logged and recorded. If you speak of such topics or if someone files a complaint about you regarding these topics, you will immediately be banned from the entire chat!

The following are topics that are not allowed in chat:

- Rape
- Sex with minors
- Sex with animals
- Incest
- Self-mutilation (ie, cutting, burning, etc.)
- Abortion
- Drugs
- Gay/Lesbian marriages (politically - if you're having one you can say so)
- Homosexuality (again, discussion of its morality and such - a boy mentioning their boyfriend is fine)
- Religion
- Politics
- Suicide and Depression
- Computer hacking
- Racial comments and racial slurs
- Mutilation of animals
- Mutilating people especially children or babies

Please keep in mind that these rules aren't made to intimidate or dissuade anyone from logging on to chat but rather, to ensure that all the chatrooms in Bloodchat remain a friendly and non-alienating environment. Chat moderators will always strive to do their best to enforce and uphold these rules for everyone's own good. Please keep these things in mind whenever you log on to Bloodchat. Take care and thank you.

Sincerely,
~Devil Miyu