Server Rules - Lonestar Roleplay | Red Dead Redemption 2 RP

🚨 SERVER REQUIREMENTS

Before you apply, ensure you meet these requirements:

Age 18+ - Both you and your character must be 18 or older
Working Microphone - Clear, functional mic required; in-game VOIP is mandatory for all RP
English Language - All communication must be in English
RedM Installed - Must have Red Dead Redemption 2 and RedM properly installed

🎭 OUR PHILOSOPHY: ROLEPLAY FIRST, GUNPLAY LAST

This is a SERIOUS ROLEPLAY server set in 1895 Texas. We prioritize storytelling, character development, and immersive interactions over gunfights and violence.

Talk first, shoot last - Violence is a last resort
Create stories, not body counts - Build relationships, develop your character
Quality over quantity - One great RP scenario beats ten shootouts

❌ PERMANENT BAN OFFENSES (NO APPEAL)

The following result in IMMEDIATE PERMANENT BAN with NO APPEAL:

1. Racism, Hate Speech, or Discrimination

Any use of racist language, racial slurs, or discrimination
Homophobia, transphobia, sexism, or any discriminatory behavior
"Historical accuracy" is NOT an excuse for hate speech or slurs

2. EXPLOITING IS NOT ALLOWED

Any use of hacks, mods, or cheats
Exploiting game bugs or glitches for advantage
Duplication glitches or economy exploits

3. Erotic Roleplay (ERP)

Any sexual or erotic content whatsoever
Non-consensual ERP is especially severe
Romantic RP is allowed (flirting, dating) but must stay PG-13
If romance leads to intimacy: immediately fade-to-black

4. Doxxing or Real-World Threats

Sharing personal information of other players
Threatening real-world harm to players or staff

1. Random Deathmatch (RDM) - STRICTLY ENFORCED

RDM = Killing without proper RP buildup and justification.

Requirements BEFORE any violence:

Quality RP buildup - Focus on good roleplay, not a timer
Clear escalation (verbal → threats → violence as LAST resort)
Valid long-term RP reason (not "he looked at me funny")
Exhaust peaceful alternatives first

2. Metagaming

Metagaming = Using out-of-character information in-character.

NOT Allowed:

Using Discord/stream chat for IC information
Checking player lists to track someone down
Stream sniping or using streams to gain IC info
Using external voice chat (Discord calls) while in-game
Sharing info between your own characters

3. Powergaming / FailRP

Powergaming = Forcing RP on others or doing unrealistic actions.

Examples:

Using /me to force actions (/me forces him to give money)
Using /me for impossible things (/me dodges all bullets)
Ignoring injuries (shot multiple times, keeps fighting)
Unrealistic superhuman actions

4. New Life Rule (NLR) & Vehicle Deathmatch (VDM)

NLR - Memory & Respawn Rules:

If picked up by doctors/medics: You can remember up to your point of death
If picked up by a local: You lose 30 minutes of memory prior to death
If you respawn: You cannot remember anything for the last hour prior to death
No respawning during active scene: You must wait for the scene to conclude before respawning
Cannot return to location for 15 minutes or seek revenge

VDM: Cannot use horses/wagons as weapons to run people over randomly.

5. Permadeath (Character Death)

Permadeath is a permanent character death where you retire that character from the server.

📜 PERMADEATH RULES

Completely voluntary - You are NEVER required to permadeath your character unless you choose to
Your choice only - No one can force you to permadeath, not even staff
Meaningful storytelling - Used to create dramatic, impactful story conclusions
Final and permanent - Once you permadeath, that character cannot be brought back

When players choose permadeath:

As the conclusion of a long character arc or storyline
After a particularly dramatic or meaningful death scene
When they want to retire a character and start fresh
To create emotional impact and memorable RP moments

Example: A criminal character cornered by lawmen after months of evading capture chooses to go out in a dramatic final stand rather than be hanged, creating a memorable conclusion to their story.

After permadeath:

You may create a new character immediately
Your new character has NO knowledge of your old character's life, relationships, or events
Property and assets from the dead character are handled per server economy rules
Other players should respect the permadeath and treat it as final

6. Combat Logging

Cannot disconnect during:

Active shootouts or combat
Being arrested or detained
Any active RP scenario
Within 10 minutes after combat ends

Real emergencies: Contact staff immediately after reconnecting.

7. Respect & Conduct

Be respectful OOC - No harassment, bullying, or toxic behavior
No drama - Handle disputes privately or through staff tickets
Keep conflicts in-character - Don't let IC issues become OOC problems
Follow staff instructions - Staff have final say
No advertising or player solicitation - Promoting other servers, communities, or attempting to recruit our members for external communities is strictly prohibited. This includes unsolicited direct messages, in-game chat, or Discord channels. Focus your energy on building our community, not competing with it

What is Exploiting?

Exploiting is the act of abusing game bugs, glitches, or unintended mechanics for personal gain or advantage.

This includes but is not limited to:

❌ Money Exploits

Using bugs to duplicate money or items
Exploiting job systems to earn money faster than intended
Abusing economy glitches or shop pricing errors
Any method to gain money that bypasses intended game mechanics

❌ Mechanic Exploits

Abusing vehicle spawning to avoid paying costs
Exploiting respawn mechanics to avoid death consequences
Using bugs to clip through walls, doors, or barriers
Abusing combat mechanics (God mode, invincibility glitches)
Exploiting mechanics to make guns shoot faster than intended
Exploiting to avoid being hogtied or restrained
Exploiting inventory systems to carry unlimited items

❌ Other Exploits

Using third-party software, mods, or cheats
Abusing animation cancels to gain combat advantages
Exploiting NPC AI or pathfinding issues
Any unintended mechanic that gives you an unfair advantage

✓ What To Do If You Find an Exploit

STOP using it immediately
Report it to staff via Discord ticket
Do NOT share the exploit with other players
Do NOT attempt to test or reproduce the exploit
Players who report exploits may receive a reward

Character Creation

Realistic names - No meme names, celebrities, or famous historical figures
Age 18+ - Your character must be 18 or older
Period-appropriate backstory - Must fit 1895 Wild West setting
No overpowered characters - No super soldiers or unlimited wealth

Value Your Life (Fear RP)

Your character wants to live. Act like it.

Comply when outnumbered or at gunpoint
Show appropriate fear in dangerous situations
Don't charge at someone pointing a gun at you
Roleplay injuries realistically

Stay In Character

Always IC in-game - Use /ooc for out-of-character talk (keep it minimal)
No modern references - No talking about internet, phones, modern movies
In-game VOIP required - Must use in-game voice chat for all roleplay
Proper /me usage - Use for observable actions only, NOT thoughts

✓ Good: /me tips his hat / /me winces in pain
✗ Bad: /me thinks about leaving (nobody can see thoughts!)

Voice Identification & Disguises

Cannot identify someone by voice alone if they are wearing a mask or disguise.

Masks/disguises hide identity - If someone is wearing a mask, bandana, or other face covering, you cannot identify them by voice alone
Need visual confirmation - Must see their face, clothing, unique features, or other identifying characteristics
Context matters - You may recognize someone if they're wearing their usual clothing, riding their known horse, or have other obvious tells
No OOC knowledge - Cannot use player name tags or out-of-character information to identify masked individuals

✗ Bad: "That's John Smith, I recognize his voice even though he's wearing a mask!"
✓ Good: "That masked man sounds familiar, but I can't place who it is without seeing his face."

For Criminals: Wearing a mask protects your identity, but you must still change other identifying features (clothing, horse, location) to avoid being tracked. If you commit a crime in your signature outfit on your known horse, expect to be identified even with a mask.

Criminal RP Philosophy

Being a criminal doesn't mean being a murderer.

Create memorable stories, not massacres - Talk to victims, create tension
Quality RP is mandatory - Robberies require conversations and theater
Don't kill unless absolutely necessary - Victims who comply should survive
Gang limit: Maximum 12 members in a gang
No second characters: Gang members cannot have a second character (alt character)
Major robberies (banks, trains) require minimum 3 lawmen online

Crime Restrictions & Cooldowns

No crime is allowed during the following situations:

Server restarts - No criminal activity during or immediately before server restarts
Major community events - No crime during official server-wide events

Crime Cooldowns:

ALL crimes have a 1 hour cooldown - Must wait 1 hour between any criminal activities (except grave robberies)
No fast travel after crime - Cannot use fast travel for 30 minutes after committing any crime
No changing clothes after robbery - Cannot change clothing for 30 minutes after committing a robbery
No chain robbing - Must wait 1 hour - Cannot repeatedly rob the same person or group. Must wait 1 hour between robberies of the same person/group. This includes forts, banks, and all robbery locations
Grave robberies - Must wait 30 mins - Grave robberies have a 30-minute cooldown between robberies (max 2 people in group)

Robbery Rules

Minimum 30-second non-hostile interaction required - All robberies must begin with at least 30 seconds of non-hostile roleplay interaction. No hostile actions, weapon displays, or threats are permitted during this initial engagement period
Max 4 items OR 1 gun + 1 item - Cannot take more than permitted amount
Money counts as 1 item - You may take 1 gun and the money
No "pocket wiping" - Cannot take more than permitted or take a person's entire inventory
No stealing fans, music boxes, or unique collectibles - These items are off-limits
Group Size Limits: Bank robberies - Max 5 people. Fort robberies - Max 6 people
Outside shooters - Allowed for robberies except at forts. One outside shooter only
Chain crime - No chain kidnapping or chain robbing the same person/group repeatedly

Hostage & Kidnapping Rules

Maximum 30 minutes (unless both parties agree to continue)
Quality RP required - Don't just tie them up and ignore them
Reasonable demands - Don't ask for hours of immunity
Safe release - Don't leave them to die in wilderness

Law Enforcement Standards

Announce before shooting - Must give multiple clear verbal warnings before using lethal force. Examples: "Stop right there!", "Drop your weapon!", "This is your last warning!", "Stop or I'll shoot!" Give suspects time to comply (5-10 seconds) between warnings.
Escalation of force - Don't shoot for minor crimes. Use: verbal commands → physical restraint → lethal force as last resort
Period-appropriate equipment - Lawmen do NOT have tasers, batons, or radios. This is 1895 - use period-appropriate methods and communication
Value criminal RP - Arrests create more RP than killing. Prioritize taking suspects alive when possible
NO HIGH COMMAND - Law enforcement high command is not allowed. Play your role with integrity
Second character restrictions: Lawmen may have a second character, but it cannot be a gang member

Employment & Business Ownership Restrictions

To maintain realistic roleplay and prevent conflicts of interest, the following employment restrictions apply:

🏢 Business Owners Cannot Be Employed

If you own a business, you cannot have any other job - This includes whitelisted jobs (Lawmen, Medics) and regular employment
Running a business is a full-time commitment - Business owners must focus on their business operations
Choose one path: Either run your business OR work for someone else, not both

Whitelisted Job Restrictions (Lawmen, Medics):

Cannot own a business - Whitelisted jobs cannot have a business at the same time
Cannot hold multiple whitelisted jobs - You cannot be both a lawman and a medic simultaneously
Focus on your role - Whitelisted jobs are full-time positions that require dedication

Examples:
✗ Bad: Owning a general store while also working as a ranch hand
✗ Bad: Running a saloon while being a deputy sheriff
✓ Good: Owning a gunsmith shop and focusing solely on that business
✓ Good: Working as a doctor without any business ownership

Why this rule exists: Business ownership and employment both require significant time and dedication. Allowing characters to do both would create unrealistic scenarios and divide your attention. This rule ensures focused, quality roleplay and prevents conflicts of interest in the economy.

Business Compliance - Restricted Native Items

The following Native items are restricted and can ONLY be sold by Native-owned businesses:

Arrows (Fire/Poison) - Fire arrows and poison arrows
Improved Bow - Enhanced Native bows
Jawbone Knife - Traditional Native blade
Canoe - Native watercraft
Ancient Tomahawk / Normal Tomahawk - Both variants of tomahawks
Leather - Native-crafted leather goods

Important: All other business types are PROHIBITED from selling these items. Only businesses owned and operated by Native characters may stock and sell these restricted Native items. Violating this restriction may result in business penalties or loss of business license.

⚠️ Combat Should Be RARE

Shootouts should be special events, not daily occurrences. In 1895, most people went their entire lives without being in a gunfight.

If you're in a shootout every day, you're doing it wrong. Focus on storytelling instead.

When Combat is Acceptable

✓ Combat is acceptable for:

Self-defense against active threats
Major heists gone wrong (bank/train robberies)
Long-standing feuds (after weeks of RP buildup)
Lawful enforcement (criminals resisting violently)

❌ NOT acceptable for:

Someone insulted you or refused your demands
Minor disagreements or arguments
You're bored and want action
You want their items/money

Combat Initiation Requirements

Before ANY shooting:

Minimum 5-10 minutes of escalating RP
Multiple warnings and opportunities to back down
Clear verbal initiation
Give them 5-10 seconds to respond

Additional Combat Rules:

Third party rule: Cannot join ongoing shootouts unless involved from the start
Law enforcement exempt from third party rule for all situations except robberies
Downed players: Cannot push downed players and shoot them while getting up. Must allow them to fully stand before continuing combat
No gun tackling and executing: Cannot tackle someone and immediately execute them while they're on the ground. Allow proper combat roleplay

📅 Remember: It's 1895!

No cell phones, no modern tech. Travel by horse, communicate face-to-face or by telegram. Keep it period-appropriate!

How to Report Rule Violations

Create a ticket in Discord - All reports must go through Discord tickets
Provide evidence - Clips, screenshots, detailed descriptions
Be specific - Include date, time, player names, and what rule was broken
Don't handle it yourself - Let staff deal with rule breakers

Staff Authority & Appeals

Staff have final say on all rule interpretations
Rules are enforced using common sense approach
Staff may issue punishments not explicitly listed if behavior is harmful
Follow all staff instructions immediately

Appeals: If you believe a punishment was unfair, you may appeal through Discord. Appeals are NOT guaranteed to be accepted.

Note: Zero-tolerance bans (racism, cheating, ERP, doxxing) are PERMANENT with NO APPEAL.

Thank You for Reading!

These rules exist to create a fun, immersive, and respectful environment for everyone.

Welcome to Lonestar County. We're excited to see the stories you create!

"Words create better stories than bullets ever could."

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