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DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 2:42 pm
by DM Hephaestus
Pinging The DM Channel

When going about to get the attention of a DM, be up front and polite. Tell us what you need as in a nice little one to two sentence request into the DM channel. Don't just send a; "Hey, is anyone around?" or a "Hi!". If you want a prompt response, or one at all, make sure it's clear what you need from us. This allows us to shift through the requests we get as quickly and efficiently as we can.

It can take us anywhere between five to thirty minutes to get back to you regarding a request, especially if you're on a different server. Please keep this in mind when pinging the channel with your questions and requests. If your request or question is important, you can ping the channel once every thirty minutes with your issue until a DM gets around to responding to you.

For matters less urgent, you can PM a DM on the forums or send an email at arelith.dm (at) gmail (dot) com.

Please don't fill the DM channel with something unnecessary. Praise and witty remarks can be left to PMs and the Kudo's thread; especially if the DM is still in the process of helping people or running an event.

However, if you have a legitimate concern or something you feel is important to be brought up, feel free to mention it in the channel or privately in tells to the relevant DM.

We are here to help you and we do this out of the kindness of our hearts, so please be patient and polite with us as we work to help you with your issues and requests.

What Should I Report?

You should report rule breaks; this is including
-Muling;
Actions in which a player knowingly transfers gold, items, and/or quarters to another character they own, or an OOC friend's character.
-PvP Violations
This includes No hostile RP Before PvP, non consented PvP encounters within 24 hours of last PvP interaction between involved characters,
-Griefing/Excessive Theft (also known as the Be Nice Rule)
Bashing more than one fixture a day, stealing more than one item a day, senselessly running around attacking others, harassment of a player OOCly
-Metagaming
In which a player uses OOC knowledge IG. This is including but not limited too; ignoring a disguise and using a character's floaty name, learning where your IC rivals are OOC and then rushing there ICly, without having found out about it IC, making plans based on OOC knowledge and not IC
-Characters being Out of Character/Special Snow Flakes
This is including OOC chat IC, but more importantly; Characters acting out of alignment, *character's role playing physical traits that they should not/are not allowed to be RPing (scales, fangs, Drizzt's, abnormal skin/hair, convoluted race)
-Exploits
This includes abusing in game mechanics, bugs, or glitches to get an unintended advantage or cheat. Examples being abusing the -makesafe command
-Things You Think Require our Attention
This includes but is not limited too; RP that exceeds the PG-13 limit, OOC bullying, harassment, actions IG or OOC that you would like the DM team to look into or investigate.


Please remember that we are all volunteers and players ourselves, so getting back to your reports may take time. We will try to be prompt and give you confirmation that we are looking into your matter, but we cannot tell you what actions we take in regards to your issue, only that we have resolved it.

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 7:57 pm
by High Primate
No hostile RP Before PvP
I wasn't aware that the rule specified that the RP be hostile.

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 8:06 pm
by IndifferentPerson
I'm pretty sure that's a typo.

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 8:19 pm
by The Rambling Midget
I don't think so, although hostile may not be a sufficient word to encompass the expectation.

As far as I've seen, the RP before PvP needs to lead up to and support the hostile action. It can't just be, "Hello, how are you, today?" *Hellball, Greater Ruin, IGMS*

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 8:24 pm
by IndifferentPerson
What of a clever assassination hit? A man befriends another, and when he's vulnerable(say, resting), he hostiles and kills him.

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 11:10 pm
by DeamonHeart
As Long as there is RP -Key word here PRIOR- PvP then I would Presume all is good But I may be mistaken.

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:00 am
by vaclavc
Rules section on Arelith wiki says there must be interactive RP prior to any PVP. However, it doesn't say the RP must be specifically "hostile".

-V-

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 8:07 am
by DM Watchtower
The Rambling Midget wrote:I don't think so, although hostile may not be a sufficient word to encompass the expectation.

As far as I've seen, the RP before PvP needs to lead up to and support the hostile action. It can't just be, "Hello, how are you, today?" *Hellball, Greater Ruin, IGMS*
This is correct.

Be reasonable and you'll be fine.

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 10:05 pm
by Sab1
When I played an assassin, I use to send the person a tell saying been hired to assassinate you, if I see you with your guard down is it ok to attack etc... Always got a good response back that yeah try it sort of thing. So when I did encounter them usually it was no surpise ooc that a fight breaks out.

One thing I alays wondered was if rp happens earlier, and it comes down to say when I see you again I will kill you type stuff. Then later player A and B meet up again, one side might attack and used the we rp'd earlier excuse. Is that cool, I always took it that was sort of walking a fine line .

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 6:37 pm
by Twily
Personally I'd say it's walking a fine line but is case by case.

For example, let's say you're in a dungeon and someone else comes along and your character and after some rp, decides the other is annoying and can't join the group. So they tell them to go and that if they see them again they'll be killed(and dislike at this point) I'd personally assume it's fine to attack them without any talking while both still remain in that dungeon, but after they're out they'd need more rp again.

On the other hand, if after some rp someone tells another "the next time I see you you're dead" and then kills them without any talking a few real days later, that probably wouldn't be fine.. but it may still be grounds for more direct to the point rp still. For example when they meet again a few days later the guy says "do you remember what I said the last time we met?". After they rely with yes(or being reminded if they say no) saying something like "I'll give you a five second head start then.", and disliking a getting ready to attack at that point would probably be fine, because the victim knows what's coming before it comes, and has a chance to chug down an attuenment potion or use a portal lens to escape in one piece.

tl dr
You can be a jerk to their character, but not to the player. If the player feels unfairly treated, you should probably reconsider your approach.

Obviously this is no official answer though, because I'm no dm

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 1:42 pm
by R0GUE
Is there a way to tell if a DM is online besides pinging the channel?

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 2:24 pm
by Cortex
A DM revealing themselves, otherwise, no.

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 2:33 pm
by R0GUE
Cortex wrote:
Tue Apr 17, 2018 2:24 pm
A DM revealing themselves, otherwise, no.
Ok, I feel a little bad constantly pinging the channel over and over, but the guide does say it's ok to do so every 30 minutes for an urgent request...

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 2:45 pm
by Cortex
You can try the Arelith discord, sometimes DMs are online there but not necessarily in game.

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 2:54 pm
by R0GUE
Cortex wrote:
Tue Apr 17, 2018 2:45 pm
You can try the Arelith discord, sometimes DMs are online there but not necessarily in game.
Ok good tip!

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 6:07 pm
by Indis
How does one go about contacting a DM?

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 7:00 pm
by Xerah
Indis wrote:
Fri Apr 27, 2018 6:07 pm
How does one go about contacting a DM?
Two primary methods:

In game. You can message the DM channel in game and hope that there is someone there to respond (just don't spam the channel). Also, on occasion, a DM will send a shout to everyone asking if anyone has any questions.

On the forums. A more reliable method is sending a private message to All DMs with your issue. See:

Image

A third, less formal method, is through discord.

Hope that helps!

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Mon May 07, 2018 4:02 pm
by Queen Titania
More Up To Date Guide with formal list of contact methods, in order of preference. This is more or less also on the Arelith wiki in a briefer word.

1: Forum PM: All PrC Requests, Reports, or Private Questions can be PMed to Active DMs, as well as Quest Requests, or other inquiries well outlined in the first post. The most recommended method of contact.

2: IG DM Channel Message: Great during shout outs when we take inquiries. Also good to use immediately after a rulebreak you are reporting, in case someone is available. Forum PM should be the back up method of contact if this fails. Please don't send PrC requests here, you'll be re-directed to Forum PM or E-mail. Also make sure you type your needs fully and with specifics, don't ask: "Is a DM Online", type: "NPC Laurick went off adventuring again in X area, can you please tell him to return to Wharftown, we need him there." Feel free to ping about every 15-30, though if you're unable to reach anyone after a while, go with Forum PM.

3: Arelith E-mail: arelith.dm@gmail.com. Reports can also be sent here. This is recommended for ban appeals who do not have forum access. Any other request you would send to Forum PM can also be sent here, but don't do both!

4: Discord: Not every DM has a public one. This is great for general questions and alerting us of important situations, but /all/ reports and bug posts still need to be sent to the forums, and you'll generally be re-directed if you don't. PrC requests won't be heard, nor quest requests. Even if we're online, note we can't always just jump IG at a whim.

For 1-3, if you don't get a response in 24 hours, please re-send a message with "Hey, just looking to see if there was an update on my report/request/etc.". We try to respond to everyone in at least a day's time, but sometimes we miss it, or we see it, discuss it, and take action, but forget to respond.

For reports you should at least get an acknowledgement that it was received and being investigated.

For PrC requests, you should get a confirmation, follow up questions if needed, and an affirmative or rejection, with tips on how to do better if it is rejected. Always send in a complete PrC request, not "I would like to apply for X Token" without any further details.

And finally, as a reminder, DMs don't generally deal with bugs, but sensitive bug reports can go through us so we can get them over to the team internally.

~DM Titania~

Re: DM Etiquette (A Short Guide on Pinging DMs)

Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2023 7:06 am
by Fume

Hi,

Should I resend a PM to active DMs regarding if i could please change 1 Domain?
I just read above if no response in 24hrs retry.
When somebody does look at my request, if its no, will I at least be informed so I dont have to keep monitoring and waiting.
Lastly, would it be a no no to do a DM badge and wait IG for such a request which is basically a fix.
Thankyou in advance don't want to sound pushy or anything just curious🙂

Also thankyou for all the work you guys do in the background. Arelith is awesome!