I felt like it was time for a review of this and a update with some things that have happened lately. This is a combination of the old post with new information
Lately there has been an increase of players taking the liberties of storyline clans, departments, legacys and other organizations, and using them as their own. I wanted to just clear up our official position on this, and a bit about how we will enforce it.
For a very long time we have given you a great amount of freedom to use (and sometimes abuse) the names of main storyline organizations and individuals. In the past this has been taken a bit too far with players claiming they were acting on behalf of the Sentinels or speaking in the name of the ICC Peacekeepers or an Omni-Tek Director. Unless they were given direct orders from Simon Silverstone or from a ICC Commander, this would never be the case (and seeing as we are responsible for playing those roles, I think we would remember if we had given such orders =) )
This is not to say you can not play a Sentinel or a Omni-Pol officer if that is how you want to role play your character. We are more than happy to see players getting involved in the storyline. But remember you can not speak for the Sentinels or for Omni-Pol as a whole.
As well in your role play you can not post false conversations or orders from Storyline leaders or clans. You do not speak for them, and can not put words in their mouths. Please remember that.
We have recently in the past couple years taken this one step further in your involvement through the Council of Truth and the Omni Affiliate Meetings, where clan members and omni's can align themselves with a clan or department of their choice. Again, this does not mean you can speak on behalf of the department or clan you have aligned with, but you are most welcome to role playing being affiliated with them.
There are a few exceptions to our endorsement of storyline groups affiliation. As an example: The Dust Brigade. Though I can fully understand why it would be tempting to roleplay a Dust Brigade member, they are not a group we recognize alignment with. The Dust Brigade have not declared themselves clan, nor neutral, nor Omni, therefore it makes it hard to allow any liberties with players to align with them. There is an essence of mystery with them that is intended by the storyline team.
If you as a player have a role playing org that is called Dust Brigade, you should also be aware that the real dust brigade would be just as inclined to choose you as a target, as they would choose anyone else. They would not endorse a copy cat group
Here is a list for reference
We will endorse the following as groups you can affiliate yourself and your org with as a member, not a leader of.
Clan
Sentinels
Knights of Avalon
Vanguards
New Dawn
Unionists
Terra Firma
Eco Warriors
Omni
Omni-Pol
Omni-AF
Omni-Trans
Omni-Reform
Omni-InternOps
Omni-Med
Omni-Engineering
Omni-R&D
Omni-Com
Neutral
ICC
Newland City Council
(Borealis City Council - due to the Omni take over there is no public council)
(Last Ditch City Council - as there have naver been any elections like in nlc, this council is currently not supported by us)
Newland Militia
The following are groups we do not endorse affiliation with (at this time. Subject to change)
The Dust Brigade
Sol Banking
Truspace Networks
JAME
Unicorns
Red Freedom
Borealis Freedom Fighters - the goal is just and everyone should endorse it, the actual BF2 are a bit more secretely
Remember: If your clan or org is named after a main storyline clan or org, it DOES NOT automatically imply you ARE or ARE IN CONTROL OF the main storyline clan or org.
Also I would like to have two points defined. As they are being rather abused (seriously) at the moment.
Meta-gaming:
The use of out-of-character knowledge in an in-character situation. A character played by someone metagaming, does not act in a way that reflects the character’s in-game experience and backstory. They may be acting on information known by the PLAYER not the CHARACTER.
Powergaming:
A player can be described as a powergamer if (s)he presumes or declares that his or her character’s action against another player character is successful without giving the other player character the freedom to act on his own prerogative. They may also be a player who tries to force others to participate in role-playing they don't want to engage in. For instance, a player who unilaterally describes his character as doing something with (or to) another character that would usually require the other to play along — such as having a fight — is considered to be powergaming.
cheers
The ARK Events Team