Rules of SPACECRAFT PORTAL (The SPA Commandment): (when playing games at my site you always agree to these rules - don't be worry! A host without rules is not a good host... ;))) ) Host's job(s) The host master updates his own host and game software when updates are downloadable and tested for a short time. The host master send the players of this site an info message when they have to update their own software to prevent problems or incompatabilities. It is a clear rule that the host master should never change a running system (hehe...). Also it is clear that the host version shouldn't change during a running game version. The only reason for changing is: bug-fixing, cheat-preventing! PHCc supports different executable host 3.x versions. The host master is able to run games with different host versions as desired. PHCc doesn't support different host 4 versions (at the moment). Also as long as Tim Wisseman let the Planets 4 software released as beta test the host master has to update the host versions because the updates are importent (bug-fixing, cheat-preventing, new and/or changed rules for standard and 3rd party races). It is nonsense when a player would say that a running game of version 4 should never update the used host version... (oh, no!...) In general your game limit at this site is 2 (default). With every game you will win the limit increases by 1. If you missed too much turns the limit decreases by 1 for every WARNING message. This site will send turn file receipts. If you want to know if your TRN file would be in here check the web site once per day. I'm updating the data one- or twotimes a day. The last result is shown half an hour before hosting. If your file isn't in hurry up! Every mail with the RST files shows you when the next host is due (also the web site shows the current standings and other information). This is also known as host dead-line. So when the dead-line is reached AND your TRN file isn't in don't count that the host waits for every of your TRN files. If there are enough TRN files in to run a successful host then PHCc will execute an automated host run!!! If my host is missing turns you'll get a message. Please be aware that the computer-player plays for you if you have missed up to 3 TRN to send. If you have missed up to 2x 3 TRN to send then you will lost your access for any game here! Better send me an eMail if you have problems with sending turns or when you go on holidays etc. During the host run there is no mail down- or upload sequence. So when your TRN file came in when the host runs you have no chance of a successful turn for yourself. Send in your TRN file earlier! This will help not suffering from slow ISP mail transfer when spammers block the net etc. ... The host run plus manually log checks etc. takes sometimes half of an hour up to one hour (when problems occurs I'll inform the players of the game with the problem(s). I tell you that because we had a bad player at this site in the past. He wants without mercy that the host should run up to ONE minute and then he should have the RST file (a version 4 RST file can be bigger than a few KB - up to 3 MB and so on...) ready at his computer via his super-duper DSL-line... (totally lame thought!) As a SERVICE (and not an evil warning - as the same bad player told us all in the past about his 'feeling'...) of my site I will send you a message up to ONE day before the host is due when I'm missing your TRN file. It is possible that a player can forget to send back his TRN file. So this message will help him to get things coordinated (it is a real help as the player's feedback showed me). Version 3.x games starts when we have 8 or more players signed in. It makes no fun to host a game for just only 5 player from beginning a game. Version 4 games starts when we have more than 70%-75% race slots full. Since version 4 games can have more than 11 players this is a good rule - the game makes more fun! If the goal of a game is reached a game ends automatically. Sometimes we have games here with a so- called 'open end' rule. A game with this rule ends via voting (clearing) by the players of this game. The host master may play in some games. It is a clear rule that the host master plays fair and steady. He doesn't cheat. There is no real reason for it! Should the host master blacklist himself??? ... Player's job(s) The player is responsible for his own mail transfer, software and security. Also the player has to update his own game software (at the moment only the VGAP software) to the newest version to prevent problems or incompatabilities. The player can get much info at my web site. So he can find out information about the game type, the game status, used and open races, which players are signed in for a game, more detailed data about a player (but this depends on the given data of a player). These all are things a player can know without asking the host master or someone special. I told you this because you clear up unknown things really fast when using the right information pages at my site. This is also important for checking possible cheatings of some players (accounts, races, game versions etc.)... Player files (like *.DAT, *.NM) are supported via the web site. Go to the TAVERN and then click at the link DOWNLOAD CORNER. Then you can download the files you need. Also you can download special stuff for a very special game via the links from the game links (only sometimes supported). But the most needed player files comes with the mail of the first turn (so you don't must look a long time for needed files ;) ). If you change your eMail address you better inform me about it before changing. When my host can't reach you for a given time you will be banned as a "dead" contact. I don't hold dead contacts at my player list for a longer time... If you're an Ensign or above then you can change your own player data. Where can you do it? Go to the "Game-Deck" of Spacecraft Portal and enter "Change Player-data", choose your account, and then have a look on your data. Fill in the data and your web password. Keep in mind that you will get your web password when you pass the test game successfully. Also take care with your password - note it on a paper at home or copy it to a personal file. Don't give it to other peobles! Take care! If you have problems to deliver me your current TRN file before the host is due then I accept a short info message from you. I can delay the host manually to a given time (up to 4 hours but no longer!). Just keep in mind that the other players with valid TRN files ready at my site have the right of a host run when the dead-line is reached. Sometimes a player drops a game for private reasons. This is okay when I've gotten a mail from the player. But also sometimes a player don't tell me anything while dropping out of a game. This is not so good because I've to look for a replacement player. When the same player do this in every game he shouldn't count on that he can join any game at my site in the future (without having problems...). I don't tolerate unfriendly dropping a game! Dropping out of all active games cause me to ban this player from my site. It is a clear rule that a player has to look for a replacement player when he wants to left a game. It's not only a job for the host master because he can't help out as replacement in every game. I also allow players to start a voting when games have uncomfortable settings or other problems. To start a voting it is important that the player with the problem or special desire contact me. I do not blacklist a player for doing that (this was also a strange thought of a bad player at this site in the past). I'll contact all players of the game (also the players with hidden mail addresses - they are unreachable for other players!). Votings have a special rules (told in the mail of the voting) and a dead-line (votes after the dead-line doesn't count!). Votes normally send back to me because I can coordinate the voting. If you share your RST file with other players in a REAL game, be aware to send back the correct TRN file (in the past some of them send back the wrong TRN file). It is a clear rule at my site that if you have problems (not specified here) with the site or just me than you have to prove it. Rhetoric speeches proves nothing! It's just only an opinion. And peoble may have different opinions! It would be a sad world when all people have the same opinion! It is a clear rule that a player plays fair and steady. He doesn't cheat. There is no real reason for it! Site-related rules We have a non-standard ranking list. With the standard ranking list it is too much easy to become an Admiral. So this site depends on peoble playing VGAP over many years and not a short time. For more details over the non-standard ranking list see below (ranking and PHCc supports only the English language. The web site supports German, too (because I'm from Germany). But the main language spoken here is English! The host schedule is not to fast for international players. So they can coordinate their moves with allied players or just their team. For games in a local network or for players of the same country the host schedule may be different (faster - more host runs each week). The same procedure like last year - as every year! Daylight saving time... winter... summer... Due to this unholy switching between +1h in winter and +2h in summer I offer you the following hosting time as long as possible: => in winter 9:00 pm GMT (21:00 GMT) => in summer 8:00 pm GMT (20:00 GMT) The background is - I must run my host at the same time every hosting day. So please don't worry about switching this and switching that etc. Note it for reference. The membership at my site is free. I don't collect a membership fee for hosting and service of VGAP games. I run most things here at low costs (so I'm as good as a big site can be - but cheaper!). Since I'm having a life outside of VGAP I'm not (!) a 24h-service-man- for-all-these-stupid-services. I download mails when I've the time for it. Since I do this job (sorry - service... ;) ) mostly more than once per day you can be sure that your TRN files are in back on time. Mails about special desires and questions will be answered as soon as possible. When your TRN file is not in before the host is due it is possible that your ISP has problems (when I have all the other TRNs from different players it can't be my problem or just a problem of my ISP!!!). Votings started by a player or the host master have to follow some rules. I have to change and explain these because there were several problems with some players in the past. Here is the current list of these ones: to start a voting there must be an interest of all players of the same game a player can request a voting with a good reason and when another player seconds this the voting can start (just a rule to stop a lone advantage-seeking player from starting a voting for his own advantage...) the total majority (100%) of the players is needed for - ending a game -OR- - changing the goal of the game the 2/3 majority (66,67%) of the players is needed for - creating host/game settings -OR- - changing host/game settings the 1/2 majority (50%) of the players is needed for - changing the host runs per week -OR- - making a break to the current host schedule (many players on vacation etc.) This rules are written for the players when requesting a voting. As the host master I will follow these rules but under special circumstances I will also decide otherwise because I may have better knowledge of a given background to a voting. This is my right as a host. In a game with a special setting I will exclude the right for a voting because it will destroy the idea of a special game. This is also my right as a host. Cheating If a player is cheating in a game there will be no mercy - (s)he will banned from playing! There is no possible return allowed!!! Please notice: I don't punish a player if the TRN file is damaged due to transfer problems. A cheat is when I get a manipulated TRN file from a player or when a player tries to make me changes things for him (as an advantage for him!) or when a player plays at different mail accounts with the same client (REG no. will be checked out at my site!!!). The rule c) doesn't take place when a player is a replacement player for another one for a short or a given time (not the whole game!). Some special games would have the option that a player can play more than one race. A player can overtake control over more races when the rest of the players in this game knows this! AGAIN! This site doesn't accept cheating players nor if players disturb or kill a game. Neither for insulting other players or abusing the games for virus-relaying, nor attacking the web site itself. The attempt of that bad player is enough for me, yet! If the host master sets up a special scenario then this IS NOT a cheat or anything else meaning (this was a so-called friendly report of a very bad player at this site in the past). A special scenario has additional rules which aren't meet in standard games. Scenarios can be given starting conditions, a nice adventures game type or other special game setting. Warning Just a word to SPAMMER: It isn't allowed to you to send unwanted, unordered advertisements to me or to players contacts of the player list (from this site). You haven't my permission - and you don't will get it anyhow... SPAMMER will be banned from my site without mercy. We don't need them here!!! - Also I will check for a chance if I can force them to pay money to me... muuuaaahahaha, via justice... Promotion ranks Spaceman: 0-0 points Ensign: 1-49 points Lieutenant: 50-99 points Lieut.Cmdr: 100-199 points Commander: 200-399 points Captain: 400-649 points Rear Admiral: 650-999 points Vice Admiral: 1000-1299 points Admiral: 1300-9999 points Lord Admiral: Secret Rank Emperor: Top Secret Rank Decoration ranks Group: 1 game won Battle: 2 games won Fleet: 3 games won Planet: 4 games won Star: 5 games won System: 6 games won Cepheid: 7 games won Nebula: 8 games won Cluster: 9 games won Helix: 10 games won Galaxy: 11 games won Universe: 12 and more games won