Site and Forum Rules: thebreakaway.net (TBN) and NHL Depot

Welcome to the site, and our forums. While these sites (NHL Depot and TBN) have different forum content, much of the community is overlapping (that is, same staff on both sites, tons of users on both sites), and therefore, we are using one set of rules (after all, we're all hockey folk, right?). If you want to be a part of this community, you are to abide by these rules. Having an account on either site means being a part of this community. If you have an account and do not abide by site and forum rules, you will be subject to punishment. These two sites (TBN and NHL Depot) have been around since the beginning of the century in some form or another, and so has the community.

Since we know you look forward to them, here they are:

General Rules:

• Debate and discussion are not only fine, but encouraged. Rudeness, flaming, insults, and [to an extremely limited extent] trolling are tolerated. If you aren't sure, don't post it. Familiarity with the community and board you are posting on will help you determine whether or not the message you are sending is appropriate.
• Different forums have different rules. In NHL Depot, and add-on discussion, harshness and insults should typically be kept at a minimum. In TBN's "Unalaska" these kinds of posts can run rampant. Understand where you are posting and if the nature of your post fits with the nature of the forum.
• Just don't bother posting one-word replies and meaningless threads ("post padding"). Your forum contribution should serve some purpose, and if it's not funny, informative, novel, helpful, or remotely interesting... why would you post it? This goes for threads and replies.
• If an argument or flame-war is going on, depending on location, staff may allow it (or direct it somewhere where it will be allowable). The "spilling over" of this conflict into other areas and threads is prohibited.
• Don't spam. Don't advertise. For the most part, don't troll. This goes for use of private messaging and email features of the forums, as well as using other member contacts in fellow users' profiles.
• Links in posts can contain no illegal content. They can also not directly take a user to porn, viruses, spyware, or any other kind of "ware" that anyone would find annoying on their PC.
• Discussion of (and posting links to) illegal activities is a no-no. Software piracy, warez, cracks, other illegal programs and keygens. To a lesser extent, we include music, film, and television in this rule.
• Do not post pornographic or disgusting images. Both are subject to interpretation, but if it includes genitalia or nipple, it's going to cause you trouble. If it makes you feel unpleasent, nautious, or altogether bad, why would you post it?
• Admins and moderators have the right to remove or edit overly offensive material without notice. We don't like doing it, and to get us to do it you're going to have to have stepped far over a line. Don't do it.
• These forums are English, and moderated by English speakers. The only place non-English can be "gotten away" with is in TBN's "Unalaska."
• We will ban or punish anyone who is it is deemed is a problem.
• One account for one user. Period.
• The "unexpected" rule. If something's not covered in these rules, and a situation occurs, the staff of the site will deal with it in the best way possible.

Punishment:

• When you screw up, especially in excess, expect punishment in the form of a ban. On TBN, you may be either "boxed" or banned, and on Depot you can be banned. Boxing is severly limited posting (you are locked in a single forum, like a jail. If you are punished on one site, it is very likely you will be punished on the other. If you want to be a part of either site, don't risk anything.
• Every user punishment is reviewed and discussed by the staff, and the punishment is agreed upon and finalized. If you are "sorry" it will not lift your ban, though the staff may reconsider length. Think about the consequences of your actions; your sorrow or regret of the past does not change the need for punishment. If you do not understand what you did wrong, feel free to ask the staff. You should find your questions answered.
• DO NOT EVADE BANS. Do not make another account. Do not have multiple accounts. Evading a ban will hurt you, and could result in permanent banning.
• If we feel it necessary, we reserve the right to take further action than banning if possible or necessary.
• Everyone has the same rules to abide by. Some will be prone to different punishment based on where they did something, what they did, and who they are. Keep in mind our punishment guidelines are as fair to everyone as we care to be. If you feel something is unfair, feel free to contact a staff member and they should be able to at least explain to you.

Specific Rules:

• Add-Ons:
  • Add-Ons for NHL games are available in large scale at NHL Depot and smaller scale at TBN. Members are free to download and enjoy these files to enhance their gaming experience. You must never claim another's work as your own. Modifying someone's work without their permission is stealing. Even worse is releasing it as an original work without crediting them for the original file. Taking any piece of anyone else's work and including it in your own without credit is considered stealing. Outright theft and lack of credit are considered forms of add-on theft and will be dealt with harshly.
    
  • Templates are easy-to-manipulate add-ons that allow you to make your own add-ons with ease. If you release work done with, based on, or used from a template in any way, without crediting the template maker, this is also add-on theft.
  
  
• TBN Trader:
  • TBN has a "trader" forum, with a "trader" feature implemented in the forum itself (iTrader). Any trading issues will not only effect your feedback and comments in iTrader, but can also effect your standing and punishment on the site. Be wary of any poor or unfair decisions you make when trading.
  
  
• Signatures:
  • Signatures are to contain no more than 25000 bytes in total image filesize (this goes for TBN and Depot). People who have "sponsored" on TBN can have 100000 bytes in signature filesize, but only on TBN.
    
  • Please keep text to a minimum. There is no definite "allowable" specific number of lines of text, because of factors of size and length. If a staff member finds a problem with your signature, you will be informed. Please be courteous and fix the problem, and if you feel the need to argue your case, do so after fixing the problem (we will be more willing to listen).
    
  • Links in signatures can contain no illegal content. They can also not directly take a user to porn, viruses, spyware, or any other kind of "ware" that anyone would find annoying on their PC.
  
  
• Censorship:
  • There is limited censorship on NHL Depot, and none on TBN. We expect that this will not cause people to abuse the system. You will not ruin it for everyone, you will only get yourself punished.
    
  • Certain words may be considered extremely demeaning. Their context and use, and the likely intent of the poster will all influence the staff's conclusions as to whether action needs to be taken. We don't want to need to add more censorship to the world, so avoid these words if possible.

Thanks for your time!
-- Management