[ Terms and Conditions
| GENERAL |
ABUSIVE/DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR
|
CHARACTER NAMES | BUG
ABUSE | DELAYS/SLOWDOWNS |
TRANSFERRING CHARACTERS
|
CHARACTER PURGES |
SCORE LISTS | GAMEMASTERS |
REPAIR/ REPLACEMENT | UNIQUE
ITEMS |
GAME MECHANICS | QUESTS
AND SPECIAL EVENTS | PRIVACY |
VIOLATIONS OF POLICY | MISCELLANEOUS
]
Terms and Conditions This file contains the policies under which users may
participate in Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes.
The goal of these policies is to provide an enjoyable
experience for the majority of the users. Because
Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes is a multiplayer
game, there can sometimes be a conflict between an
individual user's idea of entertainment and that of the
majority of the players as a whole. In such situations,
the majority will be given the greatest weight. Please
read these policies carefully so you understand the
rules under which you can play Hercules and Xena:
Alliance of Heroes and interact with the other players.
Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes is presented on an
AS-IS basis. Usage of the Hercules and Xena: Alliance of
Heroes product indicates acceptance of this, and any risk
that may imply.Simutronics is not obligated to credit a user (with experience,
fame, dinars, inventory, or otherwise), if his/her usage is
interrupted by a software failure or other service interrupt.
Simutronics' sole obligation is to make a reasonable effort to
fix a software problem or to return service as quickly as
possible (except in cases where the service interrupt is not
related to the Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes product
itself).
Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes is designed for the
enjoyment of everyone, and as a general rule, any behavior
which is specifically targeted to lessen that enjoyment for
another player, may be in violation of Hercules and Xena:
Alliance of Heroes policy. This section explains the types of
situations which are considered to be abusive behavior.Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes is known as a
"Roleplaying Game" which means that it is assumed that the
player will present their character in a manner that is
consistent with the medieval fantasy environment. This type
of play is termed "in character" (IC) and means that the
player is acting out the part in a believable manner. The term
"out of character" means that the player is behaving in a
manner which would be inconsistent with his or her
character's situation in the game. For example, if a centaur
alchemist, while being attacked by hordes of skeletons,
began spouting off about sound card interfaces in his
computer, this would be termed "out of character."Generally, it is up to the player to decide how much he or she
wants to remain in character while playing Hercules and
Xena: Alliance of Heroes. However, there can exist situations
where being blatantly out of character can be considered
abusive behavior: for example, an individual who insists on
remaining out-of-character, even when associating with a
group of other players which is trying to remain in-character.
When one individual is reducing the enjoyment of other
players by out-of-character behavior (be it by speech, actions,
ESP messages, or any other method of communication
within Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes), this may be
considered as disruptive behavior. Judgment of what is and is
not disruptive is entirely at the discretion of Simutronics.It is understood that there are elements of combat in
Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes, which will promote a
competitive environment. Hercules and Xena: Alliance of
Heroes has been designed to promote competition as player
vs. creature, or player vs. puzzle, and not generally player vs.
player. Some events (such as the Gladiatorial Games),
encourage player vs. player combat in a structured setting.
Also, some players will choose to roleplay a competitive
situation between themselves, and will combat each other,
which is acceptable. What is not acceptable is to initiate
combat against unsuspecting victims. Anyone exhibiting
such behavior, especially one who chooses to prey upon
weaker players for his or her own enjoyment, may be in
violation of Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes policy.There are many "gray areas" in terms of defining what is
acceptable competition, and what is abusive behavior. In
general, Simutronics will not get involved in any player vs.
player conflict which is confined to a small group of players.
However, if such conflict overlaps to other players, or causes
a generally disruptive influence on Hercules and Xena:
Alliance of Heroes in general, the participants will be warned.
Simutronics reserves the right to determine which behavior is
considered abusive.Casual discussion is a part of the game. Hercules and Xena:
Alliance of Heroes must not be used, however, as a venue for
promotion of competing products or services. Individuals who
actively promote other competing products or services within
Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes, may be locked out.
CHARACTER
NAMESPlease remember that Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes
is a product designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages,
and harsh language is clearly inappropriate. This also applies
to the names chosen for your character. Obscene names will
not be tolerated. Please endeavor to keep names within the
genre of Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes (medieval
fantasy). Names such as "Chainsaw Laserman" or "Klingon
Fuzzbuster" are inappropriate.
Attempts to gain an unfair advantage which circumnavigates
the letter and/or spirit of the rules presented in the
documentation and the version notes, as judged solely by
Simutronics, are a violation of policy. Types of abuse range
from sending special characters or signals to the software to
obtain an unusual result, to using normal game mechanics in
ways they are clearly not intended.Examples of serious bug abuse: Disconnecting from the
merchant manager to avoid paying the purchase price of an
item; finding a "feedback loop" with spells or mana points,
which allows spells to be cast multiple times with little or no
cost; repeatedly injuring yourself (or another character) in
order to generate experience for an empath or cleric; finding a
special circumstance in which to use a potion whereby its
quantity is not decremented when it is used; abusing game
mechanics to cause duplication of items or silver.Abusing bugs disrupts the balance of Hercules and Xena:
Alliance of Heroes and reduces its effectiveness to remain an
entertaining product. Sometimes there will be a great
temptation to abuse a bug for personal gain because the
negative effect is not readily apparent. However it should be
understood that the consequences of allowing bugs and
loopholes to be exploited is so detrimental to the product,
that Simutronics will exercise no tolerance whatsoever for
anyone participating in this type of activity.Bugs should always be reported. If you observe someone
else abusing a serious bug, or discussing a plan to abuse
one, and fail to report it, you are subject to the same
penalties as they are. Serious bugs should be reported
through Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes Feedback.Rewards obtained from bug abuse may be confiscated, at
Simutronics' sole discretion. Failure to cooperate with
Simutronics as to the extent or nature of a bug, or failure to
be honest about the rewards obtained from bug abuse, is
grounds for immediate lock-out from Hercules and Xena:
Alliance of Heroes.
DELAYS/
SLOWDOWNS
Some delay between commands is a normal consequence of
playing a game on a network. Delays are typically only a few
seconds, but may occasionally be longer. Additionally, some
delays may affect only one player, because he or she is
having problems with a local network node. If, however, a
character is harmed because of a delay (or "slowdown")
which was caused by a system-wide delay which affected all
users, repair or replacement of the damage may be
authorized if:1.the damage was related directly to the slowdown
2.the slowdown was at least 10 seconds in duration
3.the slowdown is verifiable.See the section on repair/replacement for more information.
Simutronics reserves the right of final judgment as to the
verification of any slowdown-related claims.
Characters generally cannot be transferred from one account
to another, except in certain specific situations. For example,
if a user moves, he or she may require a new account, which
would require the transferring of the player's character from
the old account to the new one. To request the transfer of
your character from one account to another, use the Hercules
and Xena: Alliance of Heroes Feedback option.
Certain characters which have been inactive are in danger of
being purged from the database, to make room for active
characters. The rules are as follows:If someone just logs into the game once or twice for a
few minutes, and then never returns, their character
will probably be purged from the database within a
couple weeks. The criteria are as follows:If a character's TOTAL playing time in the game is
under an hour, and they have not visited the game for
at least 15 days, they will be purged.Also, ANY character, even a high-level one, that has not
visited the game for 90 days or more will be purged from the
database.If this happens, your only option is to start a new character,
as nothing from the old one (stats, silver, fame, inventory,
etc.) will be replaced or re-created.
Simutronics is the sole judge of the accuracy of any high
score lists and other event score listings. An announcement
by Simutronics as to the winners of an event, is final.
GAMEMASTERS
GameMasters are frequently on-duty to answer any calls for
assistance which may arise. All players are encouraged to
type ASSIST (or click on the "Assistance" button) if they are
having a problem with game mechanics, which will notify any
on-duty GameMasters that you have a question.
GameMasters are not permitted, however, to give solutions to
puzzles, supply inventory to the player, or divulge certain
details which the player is supposed to discover for himself or
herself. For example, a GameMaster could examine a locked
chest to see if it was constructed properly, but would not
typically be allowed to tell you its exact difficulty level, or
what number you would have to roll in order to be able to
open it.GameMasters are not permitted to make personalized items
for players, unless a special merchant event is in progress.
GameMasters are forbidden to show any type of favoritism
towards one player or another. VERY IMPORTANT: Keep in
mind that although GameMasters serve as Customer Service
representatives, their main responsibility is to preserve the
integrity of the game's rules and balance, and in situations
where customer service may conflict with preserving the
integrity of the game, the GameMaster is required to put the
rules first.
Should it appear that your character is missing some points
or that something about your character or its inventory has
changed unexpectedly, you may inform us by typing ASSIST
and speaking to a GameMaster directly, or by leaving
Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes Feedback and giving
an explanation of the situation. Simutronics will attempt to
investigate the problem, and may, at its sole discretion,
authorize adjustments to your score or inventory.
GameMasters are empowered to make many on-the-spot
decisions about replacement, but some situations will require
approval from Simutronics management.Some missing items are caused by normal means, such as a
weapon which is broken in combat, silver lost to a
pickpocket, or a mis-typed line to a parser. For example, if
you were to type PUT SWORD IN SACK, this would normally
put the sword into your own sack, but if there were to be a
sack on the ground (perhaps left there by another player),
your sword would instead go into that sack, and when you
reached for it later, you might think it had just "disappeared."
In any case where an item is lost or damaged through this
type of normal game mechanics, repair or replacement
cannot be authorized.In many instances, Simutronics' only recourse in determining
the cause of a problem a user may experience, is to verify
that the programming involved is reliable. If specific game
mechanics function correctly, and repeated tests under
similar circumstances as the reported problem yield correct
results, then we must rule that what the user saw is
attributed to some type of communication problem or a
misunderstanding of the output. For example, if your sword
breaks in combat, and the die roll does not match the
expected result, then Simutronics will check the
programming involved carefully, and attempt to reproduce the
error. In this case, if the breakage system operates correctly
thousands of times a day, and attempts to re-create the
identical error fail, then the conclusion Simutronics must draw
is that the mistake was caused by human error or a
communication problem such as line noise, which mangled
the output.
There are various methods which the GameMasters use, to
introduce unique items into Hercules and Xena: Alliance of
Heroes. Some of these are planned well in advance, such as
auctions, or quest treasure, or have immediate GameMaster
involvement, such as during merchant events. Other methods,
however, such as the treasure queue or "feeder" system, are
done on a daily basis with only limited checking. The queue
system is a powerful method to get large numbers of unique
items into the hands of Hercules and Xena: Alliance of
Heroes's players, but because of the volume, Simutronics
cannot, and does not, maintain detailed records of the types
of items, and who claims them. Because of this, requests for
replacement of unique items lost due to system problems
cannot always be honored.In cases where Simutronics has a record of the item and its
owner, replacement in the case of a loss (such as from a
software crash) is usually authorized. In un-documented
cases, however, Simutronics accepts no responsibility to
replace the item. This policy allows GameMasters to create a
large number of unique items, without requiring the detailed
documentation and tracking which can stifle creativity.A few problems, however, emerge from this exciting method
of treasure distribution:Because of the large number of such items,
replacement in the case of loss may not be possible,
because there will be no records of the item's exact
structure or status.It is possible that there will be mistakes in item
creation from time to time. These mistakes may be
technical, invalid or unreasonable parameters, or
elements which are outside the guidelines and mythos
of the game environment.Items will vary widely in their scope, concept, and
usefulness. Some items of similar or exact
appearance may have different powers.Therefore, the following policy is imposed on these items:
Simutronics will not replace or repair unique items under any
circumstances other than bug fixes we initiate at our sole
discretion. Therefore, if you lose one of these items in a
crash, we may not be able to replace it because we will not
have any documentation on what it was, or how it really
worked.Simutronics can and will, at its sole discretion, make
adjustments or repairs to these items as needed. In most
cases, if an error represents a clear imbalance, you will not
lose the benefits you acquired while the item was working the
way it was. The exception to this is if it was a gross mistake
that has serious ramifications for the world balance.Simutronics is not required to make any notification that a
change has occurred. If you see that an item suddenly shifts
its operation, then the reason is either due to a repair, or that
the item was programmed to do what it does for some
reason. Items should never be trusted to ALWAYS behave in
a perfectly predictable manner.In very rare instances, an item may have to be confiscated if
it is seriously in error. GameMasters are authorized to
replace it with the next item in the unique item queue (though
this will probably not have any relationship to the
benefits/powers of the one removed). Again, this can take
place at Simutronics' sole discretion.
GAME
MECHANICS
Simutronics reserves the right to make modifications to any
and all game mechanics and rules at any time, without
notice. Players should be mindful of the fact that Simutronics
has a responsibility to preserve the balance of the game for
the majority of the players, and furthermore, to maintain a
level of challenge that is adequate for this type of product.
Therefore, Simutronics will routinely add new rules, modify
existing rules, and even go back and change new additions
which did not function as expected. These changes can
impact your character in a variety of ways. If you feel that the
change unfairly penalizes your character, or your character
type, given the requirements of balance, challenge, and the
general good of the game, then you may make your views
known to Simutronics via Hercules and Xena: Alliance of
Heroes Feedback. It should be understood, however, that
Simutronics maintains a longer range view which may be in
conflict with short-term and character-specific interests, but
Simutronics will always attempt to make the best decision for
the overall good of the game.
The running of events and quests takes an enormous amount
of effort for setup and execution, but can sometimes
accommodate only a few players at a time. Simutronics may
run the same quest more than once, to allow as many
players as possible to enjoy it. Because of this, if you
participate in a quest, please do not discuss the details of the
puzzles with other players, because this can decrease their
own enjoyment of it when their turn comes around. Also,
please do not broadcast puzzle solutions or other spoilers
over general means of communication, such as the ESP
network, or the public Message Board topics.Quest participants who are being disruptive, may be removed
from the quest. Examples of disruptive behavior are:Being extremely out-of-character; making disparaging
comments about the quest or the people involved; or actively
thwarting the progress of other participants. Disruptive
behavior can also be caused by players who have participated
in a quest before, and therefore already know the puzzle
solutions, or by players who have received the solutions from
other participants, and thereby lessen the enjoyment of other
players who wish to discover the solutions for themselves.
Determination of what is and is not disruptive behavior, and/or
removal of a quest participant, is entirely at the discretion of
the GameMaster running the event.Some quests have a limited capacity. Simutronics makes no
guarantee that everyone who shows up for a quest will be
able to participate. Most quests will be run again at a later
date, but Simutronics makes no guarantee of the frequency of
these quests, or that any particular player will be guaranteed
the right to participate in any of them.Simutronics is not required to give warning that a quest will
be run. Some quests are announced ahead of time, while
others are run spontaneously.Quests have inherent dangers in them, over and above the
normal dangers to your character while playing Hercules and
Xena: Alliance of Heroes. This could mean the death of your
character, the loss of inventory, the threat of kidnapping or
capture, and many other possibilities. You do have the option
of choosing not to participate in an ongoing quest, by typing
ASSIST and requesting that you be removed from the quest.
This must be done as soon as you are aware that there is a
quest in progress. Once you have become involved, however,
it is up to the GameMaster running the quest as to whether
your request to be removed should be honored.Awards are frequently given out at the end of quests and
other events. There is no guarantee, however, that a player's
participation in an event will guarantee an award. Even though
a player may have contributed to the solution of a puzzle, or
roleplayed well, his or her actions at those times may not be
monitored. Simutronics is not required to monitor the behavior
of all quest participants.
PRIVACY
We consider our GameMasters in Hercules and Xena:
Alliance of Heroes to be equivalent to a GM in a tabletop
game, which means that they have the authority to monitor
everything that goes on in the world, and to add and modify
with the intention of keeping interest high and promoting the
overall enjoyment of the product. It is not Simutronics policy,
however, to eavesdrop on private conversations unless there
is a reasonable concern that such conversations relate to bug
abuse, disruptive behavior, or ongoing events. In general,
GameMaster policy is to respect player privacy as much as
possible, however it must be made clear that all actions and
conversations within Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes
are subject to monitoring.
Anyone found to be in violation of the policies described in
this document, at the sole discretion of Simutronics, will be
subject to the following:1.First violation: The user will receive a warning
describing the breach of policy Simutronics believes
they have committed, either onscreen or via Email.
2.Second violation: The user will be locked out of
Hercules and Xena: Alliance of Heroes for a period of
up to one month, and will be notified via Email.
3.Third violation: The user will be locked out of Hercules
and Xena: Alliance of Heroes permanently.In certain circumstances, such as extremely abusive
behavior, a user may be locked out without warning or notice
of any kind. However, Simutronics will follow up with an Email
explaining why this step was taken.
Additional policies from time to time may become necessary,
such as unique policies for a quest.It is also Simutronics policy that if anyone is locked out of
one Simutronics product, for any reason, Simutronics may
choose to lock that user's accounts out of ALL Simutronics
products, on all services. This includes current and future
Simutronics products. If a user is discovered to be playing on
an account which is registered to a fraudulent or incorrect
name, address, or billing method, that may also be grounds
for immediate lockout.Simutronics reserves the right to make special-case
adjustments to its policies and the steps it takes concerning
violation of these policies.
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