ShamrockRP

Server Rules

General RP

Immersive & Realistic Roleplay

  • 1.All roleplay should be grounded in a believable and realistic setting. The current year is 1899 and RP should reflect this.
  • 2.Our economy is centered around a realistic 1899 setting, including inflation, wages, and prices.
  • 3.Shamrock RP takes place in the United States of America with each territory (New Hanover, Lemoyne) representing states. Shamrock County does not exist.
  • 4.The use of supernatural elements is prohibited unless granted special staff approval.
  • 5.All weapons in the game are lethal, and roleplay involving weapons must reflect the consequences they carry.
  • 6.Theatrical or practice fighting is allowed but may result in in-character consequences with law.

Combat & Conflict

  • 1.Random Deathmatch (RDM): Combat should not occur without appropriate roleplay preceding it. Engaging in combat for no reason is prohibited.
  • 2.Any shootout or duel should be preceded by an in-character build-up to the situation. Unprovoked shootouts without prior roleplay are not allowed.
  • 3.Perma-death duels are allowed but will require staff involvement. This is a permanent decision & there can be no character/item recovery. Once this request is submitted, you should have all affairs in order.
  • 4.Players must respect the choices of others regarding the fate of their character in the event of injury. Permadeath is a decision that must be made by the player involved.
  • 5.A maximum of 4 players & 2 parties may participate in a combat scenario at one time without prior approval from staff.
  • 6.Once those 4 players are decided, no new players are able to substitute in once someone is killed (this includes LEO as well).

Impact of Injuries on Memory

  • 1.Minor Wound: The character remembers everything that happened before and after the injury. They simply need medical attention.
  • 2.Mid-Tier Wound (e.g., gunshot wound to the body): Memory becomes hazy. They forget a few key details (hair color, number of people involved, etc.) from the 10 minutes preceding the injury.
  • 3.Headshot or Severe Injury (e.g., head is removed): Unable to remember anything from the 30 minutes prior to the incident. The character may be disoriented or confused.

New Life Rule (NLR)

  • 1.Upon death, your character is considered to have suffered severe trauma and memory loss regarding the events leading up to their death.
  • 2.You may not return to the location of your death for 30 minutes unless brought there naturally through roleplay by another party or approved by staff.
  • 3.You may not seek revenge, continue hostilities, recover stolen property, or rejoin the same conflict after respawning.
  • 4.Your character does not remember who killed them, why they were killed, or any conversations, threats, or events directly tied to the situation that resulted in their death.
  • 5.Any ongoing feud, gunfight, robbery, or hostile scenario is considered over for your character once you die.
  • 6.Returning with a "new outfit," "mask," or alternate persona to continue the situation is considered an NLR violation.
  • 7.Friends, gang members, or posse members may not use information gained from your death unless they witnessed it firsthand in character.

Not Valuing Life (NVL)

  • 1.NVL refers to roleplaying in a way that disregards the realistic consequences of life-threatening situations. This breaks immersion and goes against Fear RP principles.
  • 2.Acting fearless in deadly situations (e.g., refusing to comply when held at gunpoint by multiple armed robbers with no realistic way to escape) is prohibited.
  • 3.Rushing into danger unrealistically (charging into a shootout or fighting against overwhelming odds instead of prioritizing survival) is prohibited.
  • 4.Ignoring injuries (getting shot multiple times and continuing to fight or run as if nothing happened) is prohibited.
  • 5.Jumping off cliffs, running into gunfire, or provoking law enforcement with no regard for your character's well-being is prohibited.

Meta-gaming & Power-gaming

  • 1.Meta-gaming: Using out-of-character knowledge to gain an advantage in the game is not allowed.
  • 2.Ignoring roleplay limitations (using knowledge or abilities your character wouldn't realistically have) is prohibited.
  • 3.All communications while in the server should take place through in-game voice chat. No outside comms are permitted while engaged in RP.
  • 4.Power-gaming: Creating unfair advantages for yourself or others in roleplay scenarios is prohibited.
  • 5.Forcing actions on others (e.g., 'I knock you out and drag you away' without allowing the other player to react) is prohibited.
  • 6.Maximizing mechanics over roleplay (exploiting game mechanics for an unfair advantage instead of playing realistically) is prohibited.
  • 7.Using commands to alert law or medical to bait them into a fight is prohibited.
  • 8.Calling law enforcement must make sense within the context of the situation. The RP reasoning is that a nearby local is the one calling for help, not the player.
  • 9.When a player is lassoed, they may not break free unless they are left unattended.

Character Guidelines

  • 1.All characters must be at least 18 years old, and storylines should focus on adult characters.
  • 2.Character names, backstories, behavior, and clothing must be time-accurate. This includes the use of period-specific slang, vocabulary, and cultural references.
  • 3.Players who have access to customization mechanics such as horse coats or guns must choose realistic and time-appropriate options.
  • 4.Pregnancy roleplay is allowed, but must not take place during active gameplay. Children may be referenced in backstory, but should not be a primary focus.
  • 5.Characters should not have explicitly abusive backstories, especially those involving children.
  • 6.A character removed through permadeath may not be recreated.
  • 7.By default, each player is limited to one character. Additional slots are granted only when the eligibility and application requirements under Additional Character Slots are satisfied.
  • 8.Players are only allowed to have one job per character. If you are a horse trainer, you cannot also be a doctor, law enforcement, gunsmith, etc. Choose wisely.

Additional Character Slots

  • 1.Shamrock RP is structured so players can invest their strongest roleplay in one character's story at a time. That remains our default expectation.
  • 2.Players who believe a second character slot is warranted must meet the following: (1) At least 48 hours of active server playtime, verified through TXAdmin and Discord. (2) A completed application for the additional character submitted through this website. Applications must be thoughtful and specific about the new character and how they fit the server; vague or minimal justification (for example, boredom alone) will result in denial.
  • 3.Third character slots are uncommon. They are reserved for players who have demonstrated consistent, high-quality roleplay over time and who maintain a strong standing with staff and the community. Approval is discretionary and not guaranteed.

Expectations for Mute Characters

  • 1.Playing a mute character can add meaningful depth to roleplay when done realistically and respectfully. These guidelines are intended to preserve immersion while still allowing players creative freedom.
  • 2.Primary communication must be nonverbal: Mute characters should rely mainly on simple, believable physical communication such as nodding, shaking your head, pointing, basic hand motions, facial expressions, and simple improvised gestures. Example: Hazel taps her chest, then points toward the stable before mimicking riding a horse. Using overly advanced or unrealistic gestures that instantly convey full conversations without explanation is not acceptable.
  • 3.Use a notebook for detailed communication: If your character needs to communicate full sentences, important information, or lengthy explanations, they should use an in-character notebook, journal, or written paper. Example: Hazel scribbles into her worn notebook before handing it over. "I saw two men fleeing south near the river." Written communication should be treated as physically reading a note, not instant speech.
  • 4.Writing must remain period appropriate: All written communication should fit the setting, time period, and character background. Allowed examples: "I thank you kindly for your assistance." "Danger rides east of town." Not allowed: "brb," "lol," "that's sus." Example: Hazel writes carefully, "I cannot speak, but I understand your offer."
  • 5.Communication limitations should be roleplayed realistically: Being mute should not function as a way to bypass realistic social challenges. Others may misunderstand gestures, writing takes time, and urgent situations may create communication barriers. Example: During a robbery, writing a full explanation may not be practical, and simple gestures may be all that is possible.
  • 6.No exploiting mute status: Players may not use mute roleplay to avoid consequences, evade questioning, or create unfair advantages. Not acceptable: refusing all attempts at communication during lawful questioning; using unrealistic convenience only when it benefits the player. Example: If arrested, your character may use gestures or writing, but cannot simply ignore all interaction.
  • 7.Encourage creative and immersive adaptation: Players are encouraged to make their mute character feel unique through realistic tools and habits such as carrying a notebook, using chalkboards, developing recognizable personal gestures, or building trust with recurring characters who better understand them. Example: Hazel keeps folded note cards in her satchel for common phrases such as "Help," "Thank you," or "Danger."
  • 8.Respectful representation matters: Mute roleplay should be approached thoughtfully and not treated as a gimmick. The goal is to create immersive, character-driven storytelling rather than comedic or unrealistic behavior.
  • 9.Rule of thumb: If your communication feels believable for the time period, realistic for the condition, and fair to other players, you are likely within expectations. Mute characters should enhance roleplay, not restrict it or create loopholes. Creativity is encouraged, but realism should always come first.

Third-Partying

  • 1.Third-partying is allowed, but only as an aid to an existing party which does not exceed the maximum player/2-party limit.
  • 2.If two parties are engaging in a fight, you are not allowed to combat both parties; you must choose a side and RP into the fight.
  • 3.Ask what's going on and if they need help. The active party will say yes if they have less than 4 members or note they have all the help they need.

Hostage Situations

  • 1.Hostage situations must be completely spontaneous and unplanned; do not preplan where to meet the hostage OOC.
  • 2.Only take hostages in situations that will result in quality RP. Abuse of the hostage feature will result in staff action.
  • 3.Law enforcement characters are allowed to be taken hostage during robberies such as bank heists, train robberies, or art heists. Captured LEOs are subject to the same hostage rules as other characters.
  • 4.There can be no voluntary hostages or disguised gang members involved in heists. A character may voluntarily offer themselves as a hostage if the RP supports it.
  • 5.There is a hard maximum 45 minute limit to hold a hostage. If exceeded, the hostage must be given the choice to leave, no questions asked.
  • 6.If a hostage is to be relocated from their current location, you are allowed only a single hostage. If your hostages are present at the crime scene, you are allowed as many hostages as do not exceed the power dynamic of your group.
  • 7.Have your RP planned beforehand to be respectful to the hostage's time. Preventing a hostage from leaving after 45 minutes or having a lack of quality RP will result in disciplinary action.
  • 8.After taking a hostage, you are prohibited from taking another until after server restart.

Special Locations

  • 1.Sisika Prison: This is a high-security prison and should be treated accordingly. NPC guards should not be harmed. Actions that undermine the seriousness of Sisika will lead to consequences.
  • 2.Non-prisoners are not allowed on Sisika without staff approval or a law enforcement escort. Traveling there without authorization will result in disciplinary action.
  • 3.Jailbreaks or escapes from Sisika are strictly prohibited without prior staff approval (via IC Support ticket).
  • 4.Guarma: Players cannot be forcibly sent to Guarma through kidnapping. Any travel to the island must be voluntary.
  • 5.Guarma is outside the jurisdiction of the local Sheriff. Crimes committed there are handled by the U.S. Marshals.
  • 6.Law enforcement may travel to Guarma to apprehend criminals only with approval from the U.S. Marshal Office.

Special Roles & Restrictions

  • 1.Government officials (sheriffs, lawmen) are prohibited from engaging in corruption without prior staff approval. Be transparent about the roleplay you intend for these roles, as they can be easily abused.
  • 2.Players may not form groups that compete with official in-game services (law enforcement, medical, ranger services) without staff approval.
  • 3.Provoking law enforcement with the intent to start a violent encounter is strictly prohibited. Combat with law enforcement should occur naturally through RP. Violations will result in severe consequences, including potential ban.
  • 4.Impersonating government officials or law enforcement is not permitted without staff approval. Falsifying official documents, IDs, or badges is never permitted.
  • 5.If an impersonator is asked for identification, they must cease impersonation, try to evade, or provide clear evidence that they are not a government official.
  • 6.Players who assume leadership roles in any in-game entity are held to higher expectations for communication, gameplay, and adherence to server rules.
  • 7.Characters designed to commit serial murders must seek staff approval before engaging in such activities. This applies to both player and NPC victims.
  • 8.Only players with the 'Train Conductor' role can operate a train. Criminals cannot remove or kill the train's engineer or conductor during a robbery, but the conductor must still value their life and may be forced to comply.

Property Ownership

  • 1.There is a simple system for property ownership on the server. Players should avoid claiming or marking locations as their property if owned by another.
  • 2.All players are expected to respect owned spaces and locations to promote fairness and collaborative roleplay.
  • 3.Players may RP usage of unowned properties, but should be prepared for any in-game consequences that may arise from their actions.

Rules are subject to change. Staff have final say in all situations.