T.E.C.TIQUETTE
- or - You're a newbie and everybody hates you. How to make nice.  
Ten things that the old-timers wish that newbies knew.
 
# 1 - Don't "approach" other players.
It may seem the natural thing to do when addressing someone one-on-one but remember, approach is the first step in attacking. And veterans are paranoid. When you've been around as long as some of us have and have had your pouch full of gems lifted by a thief or attacked by some jerk, while worn and bleeding from a round of dump hunting, and left for dead you'll be paranoid too. Veterans have spent a lot of time and effort in getting their characters where they are and won't take chances on losing them. Some may even attack you just for approacing them.
# 2 - Don't shout in think.
Shouting in think is typing in all capitol letters. If your thinks are being ignored or not noticed just keep trying. I don't care if you are bleeding to death in the sewers there is no more certain way to guarantee that you will piss everyone off than if you shout in think. And is such a case there is a good chance that no one will want to help such a rude character anyway.
# 3 - Watch yer language.
Even though you may have decided that your character is a rude, crude sort of fellow, even in you are playing him to the hilt and being quite IC in doing so, you will find that TEC tends to attract a more mature customer. And most players frown upon unnecessary crudity. Keep your remarks appropriate in public and in think unless you are with a group of characters you know won't mind. Now, I am talking about "four-letter words" and the public display of bodily functions here. Being crude in ways that are not sharply offensive in order to keep your play IC is just fine and dandy. Vino often gets "drunk" in public (that's part of the character) and can be prone to fall oll over people, stagger around and even insult others in a drunken rage. But you'll never catch him using language any more offensive that "Yah? Well, yer mother wears hobnailed boots! So thar!"
# 4 - OOC / IC.
OOC means out-of-character, IC means in-character. Remember this is a role-playing game. Emphasis on role-playing. TEC is based on an ancient-roman-type world. Conduct your character as if you were actually that person. References to game mechanics, high school gym class and who won the world series are definitely OOC.
Bear in mind also that OOC statements in think run the risk of being "muted". Muting is when a GM or Auxilii hear your OOC think and ban you from think for a week or so for your excessive abuse. Most GMs and Auxilii, however, will give you a warning. If they do then you should take it seriously. Just imagine operating in the game for a week without the ability to "think".
# 5 - Dumb names.
When you name your character give it a little thought. A dumb name, and especially an OOC name, will surely make it difficult to earn the respect of other players. And if you run into Vino, he has a nasty habit of thumpin' dumb-names (fair warning).
Examples of dumb names: MCHammer, Knuckleberry, Darkavenger, Christ, Biglover.
Examples of IC names: Idicus, Timitus, Antonusa, Atua, Seraph.
# 6 - Don't abuse the emote command.
For those of you who don't know there is a useful command called emote. The emote command describes an action by your character that is not covered by such commands as jump, raise, headshake, etc. To use the command just type the emote command followed by a description of what you want others to see you do. Emote places your name immediately before the text and then shows it to all players in your area.
Example: The command string: emote coughs loudly. will cause the other players in the area to see - "Vino coughs loudly."
Example: The command string: emote squashs a cockroach under his boot. will cause the other players in the area to see - "Vino squashes a cockroach under his boot."
As such the emote command is easy to abuse and can be used to project the most ridiculous actions as if you had actually performed them. Nothing irritates players more than this.
# 7 - Help other newbies.
When you reach the point where you are familiar with the game and can consider yourself a veteran, don't forget where you came from. Help newbies to the game just as others helped you. Remember, it's the new blood that keeps the game growing.
# 8 - Don't attack shopkeepers.
They don't have anything of value and they will broadcast your name all across the think-net (and most players tend to take assaults on shopkeepers rather seriously). You can count on a charge of assault by the constables and a jail term of at least a couple of hours, not to mention earning the animosity of most of the population of Iridine. It's Just Not Worth It.
# 9 - Don't steal another guy's kill.
When in a hunting ground (sewers, dumps, etc.) and you enter an area where a player is fighting, even if against overwhelming odds, DO NOT jump into the fight. If you feel you must intervene do not do so without permission and certainly do not do so without even asking. Remember that each successful hit on a target (be it rat, osecar, thug, etc.) grants the hunter a certain number of skill points. Many players hunt for the experience rather than hides or gems. Jumpin' another guy's kill is just like stealing skill points. Expect to be pounded if the guy is a veteran player.