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Est. 1899 · Antler Peak

Rules & Code of Conduct

A living document for a living world. Read it once. Know it always.

01 — Welcome to Antler Peak

Antler Peak is a serious, story-driven roleplay community set in the American frontier of 1899. We are a low/urban fantasy server — meaning supernatural elements exist quietly beneath a grounded, realistic world. Every rule here exists to protect that world and the people who build it together.

This is not a casual sandbox. We expect commitment to character, respect for your fellow players, and a genuine desire to create compelling, collaborative stories. In return, you’ll find one of the most immersive and community-minded roleplay environments available.

By joining and playing on this server, you agree to abide by every rule and principle in this document. Ignorance of the rules is not a valid defense. Take the time. Read it fully.

A Note on Staff Discretion

Staff may interpret rules based on intent rather than exact wording when a situation calls for it. If you feel a ruling was unfair, use the appropriate appeal process — do not argue in-game or in public channels.

02 — The World & The Social Contract

In-Character Lore

The following is in-character content. Understanding it will enrich your experience — the rules that follow exist, in part, to protect what the Social Contract describes.

The Social Contract became widespread and adopted by all citizens of the county. Just as there are those who seek anarchy and desire to act against the Social Contract, so are there keepers of the peace that wish just as strongly to protect it. Those that break the contract are subject to punishment by these peacekeepers, or if peacekeepers are not present, other citizens that decide to step up in their place.

The text of the Social Contract reads as follows:

The Social Contract

By becoming a citizen of Antler Peak, you understand that there is no countywide government and no overarching law except the Social Contract established after the county’s ancient beginnings.

First,
the people of Antler Peak are given the freedom to do as they will and are expected to respect others’ right to that same freedom. One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s will alone.

Second,
the people of Antler Peak understand that one who commits a willful act that limits, damages, or removes another’s freedoms forgoes their own freedom from persecution by the commission of that offensive act.

Third,
the people of Antler Peak understand that all beings are fallible. If one makes a mistake, one should do their best to rectify it and resolve any harm that might have been caused.

Fourth,
the people of Antler Peak understand that, by breaking this Social Contract, they are subject to judgment and punishment by those that have sworn to uphold the peace and pursue justice on behalf of the county and its people.

In addition,
the people of Antler Peak may uphold the Social Contract in the absence of peacekeeping forces should they feel compelled. The following acts are explicitly stated as breaches of the Social Contract: threatening violence or through violence, assault, murder, theft, falsehoods and manipulations that result in harm to another, kidnapping, commission of crude acts involving bodily fluids or wastes, and similar offences.

03 — Getting Started

Before you set foot in Antler Peak, the following requirements must be met. No exceptions.

Requirements

  • Age: All players and characters must be 18 years of age or older.
  • Language: Competent English is required for communication.
  • Microphone: A quality microphone in a low-noise environment is required.
  • Discord: Membership in the official Discord server is mandatory. Your Discord display name must match your in-game character name.
  • Steam: Your Steam account must be linked to Discord for administrative purposes.

Tickets & Staff Communication

All server-related matters must be handled through the official Ticket System. Do not DM staff members without prior approval — ask first. Player reports submitted without substantial evidence will limit the actions staff can take.

Evidence Standards

When filing a report, provide the best evidence available. A minimum two-minute clip is strongly recommended — one minute before the incident and at least thirty seconds after. The more context, the better.

04 — Player Safety & The Stoplight System

This system exists to protect players during emotionally intense roleplay scenarios such as serial killer storylines or torture RP. It is not intended for use during standard hostile interactions like holdups or bank robberies.

Important Reminder

Roleplay is not therapy, and immersion is never justification for compromising mental health. If you’re uncertain about engaging with a particular type of RP, do not engage. A genuine threat to any player’s mental wellbeing takes precedence over roleplay — without exception.

The Signals

🟢 GREEN — GO
Said in-character. “All green.” / “I’m feeling green about this.” Signals comfort and readiness to proceed.

🟡 YELLOW — SLOW DOWN
Said in-character. “I’ve got yellow feelings about this — let’s take it slower.” / “I’m in the yellow and need a minute.” Signals discomfort; the scene should be paced down or paused.

🔴 RED — STOP
Said out-of-character in /OOC chat. “I’m not okay.” / “I need to step out.” One-on-one scenes end immediately. In group scenes, the affected player may safely exit. A creative in-character reason for departure is encouraged but not required.

Best Practices

  • It is each player’s responsibility to communicate a desire to slow down or leave a scene. If no signal is given, the scene continues normally.
  • Build rapport with roleplay partners before engaging in emotionally intense content.
  • If you become too overwhelmed or emotionally volatile: use Yellow to pause, or Red to exit entirely.

What Is and Isn’t Metagaming in This Context

Not metagaming: Using DMs during roleplay to check on a player’s wellbeing; discussing potential triggers before a scene begins; mid-scene communication focused on player mental health (not the scene’s content).

Is metagaming: Taking advantage of another player’s mental state to benefit your character; manipulating the Stoplight System to avoid IC consequences or escape standard hostile RP.

Abuse of this System

Players found abusing the Stoplight System or violating a Red signal will face permanent expulsion from the server and community. This is non-negotiable.

Three-Step System for OOC Breaks

When someone breaks immersion during a scene, use the following steps — calling it out almost always makes things worse.

  1. Ignore and move past. Do not call out the break. Continue as though it didn’t happen.
  2. Subtle in-character reminder. “You feeling all right? Your roly-poly looks a little weak.” / “Did you forget your roly-poly at home?”
  3. Report to staff. If breaks continue, submit a Report A Player ticket.

05 — Core RP Principles

Stay In Character

Remain in character at all times while on the server. If someone else breaks, do not call it out — stay in character and move past it as best you can.

Value of Life (NVL)

Act realistically when faced with danger or threats. Your character values their life. If instructed to leave an area by an involved party during an active hostile or combat scene, do so — failure to comply may result in an NVL ruling against you.

Realistic Roleplay

All roleplay must be believable and consistent with the 1899 setting. Actions, knowledge, technology, and behavior should reflect the time period.

Resolve Conflicts In-Character

Handle disputes through your character. If an issue cannot be resolved in-character, file a report or open a ticket with staff afterward. Do not break character to argue OOC during a scene.

Counterplay

Allow all parties fair opportunity to respond to your actions. Write actions as attempts, not conclusions: “tries to knock you out” rather than “knocks you out.” Avoid a Win Mentality — do not nullify or sidestep another player’s roleplay simply because it didn’t benefit your character.

Weapons

All weapons are treated as lethal and must be roleplayed accordingly, regardless of any Gift or special ability you may possess.

Locals as Valued Lives

Locals are valued lives. The local population is an active part of the world of Antler Peak and must be treated accordingly. Murdering locals without provocation is a crime within the county and a direct breach of the Social Contract — the same as taking the life of another player.

If you witness someone killing locals without cause, respond as you would to RDM: call the Peacekeepers, call for help, and if the behaviour continues, report the player. The Undertaker profession exists in part to honour this principle — locals’ remains are to be treated with the same respect as any other resident of the county.

Religion & Cult Roleplay

Religion and cult RP are permitted provided stereotypes are avoided. If roleplay bleeds into OOC offense or becomes a pattern of harmful behavior, the player(s) at fault will be spoken to, warned, and removed if necessary.

06 — Prohibited Conduct

Discrimination & Hate Speech

Racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and hate speech of any kind are strictly prohibited — regardless of the historical era the server is set in. The setting does not excuse real-world harm.

Sensitive Topics

The following content is prohibited without exception: slavery RP, suicide or self-harm RP, infantilization, and erotic roleplay.

Children & Pregnancy

No pregnancy RP. No characters under the age of 18. Characters who are minors may exist as backstory context only and cannot be present in active roleplay — no exceptions.

Metagaming

Using out-of-character knowledge to influence in-character decisions is prohibited. This includes:

  • Mind Sharing: Alts cannot know each other or share information, groups, or resources.
  • Scene Swapping: You cannot leave a scene on one character and return to re-join that same scene on an alt.
  • Mind Control: There are no mind-control mechanics on Antler Peak.

Powergaming

Forcing outcomes on other players without fair counterplay is prohibited. This includes exploiting lassos in PvP gunfights, pushing or ragdolling players, using in-game exploits to gain any unfair advantage, and exploiting or misusing animations in human or animal form — see Animation Exploitation below. Peacekeeper Exception: Peacekeepers may use lassos in PvP but must make an arrest immediately — they may not lasso a player and leave them unattended.

Overpowered & Unapproved Abilities

Any lore power or special ability used without prior Staff approval will result in a warning. If the roleplay continues, the character will be removed without IC interaction. Your character may believe they possess abilities they do not — but this must be clearly communicated as a delusion through /me actions, not played as a real power.

RDM / VDM / Combat Logging / Stream Sniping

  • RDM/VDM: Attacking or running down a player without proper roleplay initiation is prohibited.
  • Combat Logging: Disconnecting to avoid consequences is prohibited. If being pursued, remain in-county for at least 10 minutes.
  • Stream Sniping: You may not be present in another player’s stream while simultaneously in-county.
  • Politics: Please leave all political disputes and disagreements outside the Discord and all community spaces. Everyone is welcome to their own opinions on the outside world, but Antler Peak is not the right platform for political debates or discussions. Any major political discussion will be halted, and further action may be taken if necessary.
  • Third Party Programs: Using any third party program to gain an advantage will result in a warning and a request to remove it. Further use results in a ban. Recording software and frame generation software are exempt.
  • Animation Exploitation: Exploiting animations in either human or animal form is prohibited. This includes using unrealistic animations to gain an advantage or in a way that breaks immersion. Violations will be treated as powergaming and handled accordingly.

07 — Your Character

Original Characters Only

Characters may not be lifted or copied from historical figures, modern public figures, pop culture (anime, TV, film), or memes. Your character must be your own creation.

Character History, Appearance & Clothing

Your character’s backstory must fit the server lore and the 1899 setting. Military service is permitted as backstory context only — active military characters are prohibited. Hair colors and animal coloration must be done tastefully: neon or unnatural colors are not appropriate; a purple streak through black hair is.

Both default and Murphy clothing are available. Murphy clothing is accessible through the Third Eye Menu (Left Alt) at the Saint Denis Tailor and through its F1 menu. The following constitute exploitation or fail RP:

  • Unrealistic outfits: Clothing that is clearly out of setting or breaks immersion — e.g. an all lime-green outfit, or oversized clothing unrealistic to your character’s size.
  • Clipping and invisible body parts: Excessive clipping or invisible body parts accessible through Murphy clothing. Any report will result in a warning.
  • Murphy body parts: Strange or unintended appendages available in Murphy clothing are not permitted and will result in a warning.

Special Character Types

  • Indigenous Characters: Welcomed and encouraged. Must use fictional tribes, not historical nations. Stay respectful and do your research.
  • Serial Killers: Require a whitelist ticket with Staff before advancing. Cooldowns apply to prevent trope fatigue. The Stoplight System must be fully respected.
  • Extranatural Characters: No aliens, time travelers, cryptids, or fantasy races. Ghosts may be permitted in rare approved situations.
  • Shifters: No speaking or vocalizing in animal form. Natural animal communication only. No psychic or telepathic communication between shifters. Avoid animal form in populated areas (see §08 Conflict & Combat).
  • Characters from Other Servers: Special status or powers require Lore Team approval before play begins.
  • Night Eyes: Available only to players with an approved advanced character whitelist ticket. Permitted usage is established during that process. Unapproved use will result in access being revoked and a warning issued.

Shifting While Restrained — Immediate Warning

Shifting forms while restrained by any means — including Gift items — is strictly prohibited. This is both a rule break and an exploit that can cause serious server instability. Any player found doing so will receive an immediate warning, no exceptions.

Bring Your Character formerly Come As You Are

The Bring Your Character system — originally known as Come As You Are — exists to help players retain their stories and continue them alongside friends. However, not every player on Antler Peak will share the history you’ve brought from another server. When interacting with players who don’t share that background, focus on the stories taking place here. References to other servers in conversation are fine — but the priority should always be the roleplay unfolding within this county.

Aged Characters

Any character established as being over 100 years of age must be verified through an advanced character whitelist ticket before play begins. This applies regardless of the nature of the character’s longevity.

Animal Communication

Humans may speak to animals, and animals can understand them. Animals cannot speak to humans or to each other. The only permitted form of communication from an animal to any other party is scratching a single word at a time into the dirt, communicated via a /me action. This applies equally between animals — one word at a time, nothing more.

For animal combat rules, shifting restrictions, and death exemptions, see §08 Conflict & Combat.

Animal Communication — Warning

Any player found not adhering to these rules will be brought into a ticket and will receive a warning.

08 — Conflict & Combat

Initiate with Roleplay

Verbal interaction is required before any violence. The only exception is a KOS bounty mutually understood and verified by Staff approval.

No Baiting

Do not intentionally provoke others to manufacture combat without legitimate cause. False alerts to lure players into an ambush are prohibited.

Group Size Limits

Hostile groups are limited to 6 members in any combat scene. This includes Peacekeepers. Castle Doctrine allows a defending community to use all members present, provided defenders are drawn only from those in or immediately near the scene. Aggressors may not bait defenders back to their stronghold to exploit this. Bank robberies do not qualify for Castle Doctrine.

Group Membership Limits

To encourage players to spread out and allow groups to flourish without overtaking any one area, all clans, gangs, organisations, and teams are capped at 12 members. Rover groups are capped at 6 members. These limits apply to all groups, including Peacekeepers. ᴵᶠ ᵃ ᵇᵃⁿᵈ ᵒᶠ ˢᵉᵛᵉⁿ ᵁⁿᵈᵉʳᵗᵃᵏᵉʳˢ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗ ʳᵒᵛⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ʰⁱˡˡˢ ᵒᶠ ᴬᵐᵇᵃʳⁱⁿᵒ, ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰ, ᵃˡˡ ᵇᵉᵗˢ ᵃʳᵉ ᵒᶠᶠ. ʸᵒᵘ’ʳᵉ ᵒⁿ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵒʷⁿ. These limits are per District — Antler Peak spans New Austin, West Elizabeth, Ambarino, New Hanover, and Lemoyne. Groups are encouraged to expand, explore, and establish chapters across districts.

Peacekeepers, Raid Requests & Voice ID

  • Peacekeepers: May join active scenes if summoned by witnesses. Their role is de-escalation, not escalation.
  • Raid Requests: Large-scale events exceeding the participant limit require a Staff-supported ticket from both parties, including a time window and defined end-state.
  • Voice ID: Permitted but cannot stand alone — must be combined with at least one other factor (clothing, weapons, behavior, etc.).

Hostages & Animals

  • Players may be held up to 30 minutes against their will. With OOC consent, this may be extended. Bounty targets may be held up to 60 minutes.
  • False hostages — taking a member of your own group hostage for deception — are prohibited.
  • Animal characters may not RDM. Signs of aggression must be shown via /me before any attack.
  • Animals may not stun lock other players during combat. Repeatedly knocking a player down without allowing them the opportunity to recover or respond is considered powergaming and will be handled accordingly.
  • Killing a shifter in animal form within a populated town is exempt from RDM rules. Accidental kills of animal players in natural habitats (e.g., hunters killing player-wolves in Tall Trees) are also exempt.

Healer & Peacekeeper Duty Rules

Healers who are not on active duty or responding to alerts must switch to their secondary offdutyhealer job. Peacekeepers not actively responding to alerts must go off duty. Members of either role found ignoring alerts while receiving full pay will have that pay revoked and receive a warning.

Undertakers

Undertakers may not gather or process bodies of locals generated by actions of players they are affiliated with — including themselves, friends, family members, or known acquaintances. This applies regardless of the circumstances of the death. Contact another undertaker to prevent conflict of interest.

09 — Crime & Criminal Activity

Holdups & Robbery

Quality roleplay is required. Robbery is a scene, not a transaction. You may take any amount of money plus up to 3 stacks of items or 1 firearm per person robbed. No pocketwiping. Victims must be left able to survive. You cannot rob the same person more than once in any 24-hour IRL period.

Banks, Shootouts & Logout Cooldown

  • Banks may be robbed once every 2 IRL days. A failed robbery still triggers the cooldown.
  • Shootouts are a last resort. Let slow-burn conflicts simmer — dialogue is always the goal.
  • Anyone participating in criminal activity must remain on the server for at least 30 minutes after the incident.

Crime Scene Expectations

When leaving a crime scene, players must include: details of what was left behind, at least one clue pointing toward the perpetrator’s identity, and a hint toward where the perpetrator may be found.

Good Crime Scene Example

A woman lies with her throat ripped out by what appears to be a wolf. Paw prints of medium size surround her, with fine grains of sand pressed into them. Clutched in her hand are several eagle feathers.

Investigators can deduce: the perpetrator is a werewolf likely from New Austin, and wears eagle feathers that persist into their shifted form.

10 — Property & Housing

Custom Housing & Camp Placement

All custom housing placed via Building Plans or the Campement system must not block access points or roads, and must not overlap with points of interest such as shops or mines. Exceptions may exist for certain unused roads — open a ticket to discuss your situation. Any housing or camps found to be in violation will be removed.

Horse Rescue & Wagon Mission Locations

Any camp accidentally placed on a Horse Rescue mission location or Wagon Mission delivery destination must be moved. Open a ticket so the admin team can facilitate your relocation and minimise any losses.

Ownership Limits

Players are limited to owning one house, one business, and one organisation or gang at any time. This is not a per-character limit — it applies account-wide. Additionally, each group or family unit may own a maximum of one ranch. Additional jobs may be held in multiples; this restriction covers ownership only.

Business Employment Limits

Players may own one business and be employed at another, or be employed at two separate businesses — for a maximum involvement in two player-owned and operated businesses at any one time. Players may additionally hold one Publishing House (“government”) job, for a maximum of three jobs total. This is intended to prevent powergaming and to provide reasonable opportunities for all players.

11 — Server Tools & Features

Several tools are available to players that, while powerful for storytelling and immersion, carry potential for abuse. All usage is tracked. The rules below apply to each.

Pinboards

Custom messages may be posted on pinboards for all players to see. Pinboards are for in-character use only and must meet a realistic standard — all posts must fit the setting and time period of 1899. All posts are tracked. Incorrect use will result in a warning.

Freecam

Freecam is available to all players for taking screenshots. It presents opportunities for metagaming and powergaming. Anyone discovered using Freecam for exploitative purposes will receive an immediate warning. Use of the command is tracked.

Syn Books

Syn Books is a tool for in-character RP and story building. Books are for in-character use only and must fit the setting and time period of 1899. All book creations are tracked. Incorrect use will result in a warning.

12 — Downed, Injury & Death

Outside of PvP Conflict

If downed outside active combat, you are incapacitated but may speak or use /me actions. You choose whether to retain your memories when raised by a Healer. Using /localdoc or respawning (“seeing the light”) requires you to forget the 30 minutes prior to being downed.

During PvP Conflict

  • You are unconscious. You remember everything up to the moment of losing consciousness.
  • You may make sounds and describe injuries via /me but cannot speak coherently.
  • No respawning during active PvP. No re-engaging after being downed.
  • If raised during an active scene, you may only seek medical aid, hide, or flee.
  • If detained by Peacekeepers while downed, you cannot escape while they are present.
  • Treat injuries realistically — you are at a disadvantage in any follow-up conflict.
  • If abandoned for 10+ minutes after the scene ends, you may eventually take a recovery option.

Permadeath

Only you decide if your character dies permanently. Permadeath is final — your character is severed from your account at the database level. Players have 48 hours to arrange transfer of belongings with Staff. After that, access is removed.

  • Planned Events: A ticket must be opened before any planned permadeath event (execution, wild hunt, kidnapping, etc.), including all concerned parties and evidence of consent.
  • Spontaneous Permadeath: Open a ticket immediately with evidentiary proof (dying in bed at home, severe injury during unplanned event, etc.).
  • Enforced Permadeath: In rare cases, Staff may enforce permadeath against a player’s wishes for documented repeated rule violations (NVL, metagaming, failure to counterplay, etc.).
  • Afterdeath: If you plan to return as your character (faked death), open a ticket before the event. This is mutually exclusive with permadeath.

13 — Administrative Policies

  • Staff Communication: All server-related matters go through the official Ticket System. Do not DM staff without prior approval.
  • Player Reports: Submit through the official system only. Reports are confidential but discussed internally. Staff decisions are final.
  • Ban & Suspension Appeals: Appeals may be submitted once every 30 days, with a maximum of 3 appeals per ban.
  • Leader Expectations: In-game leaders are held to a higher standard of conduct. Leadership is a privilege, not a title.
  • Staff Discretion: Staff may interpret rules based on intent rather than exact wording. Good faith cooperation is expected.

Final Note

These rules exist to protect the story — and the people telling it. If you have questions, open a ticket. If you see something wrong, report it. If you’re not sure about something, ask before you act.

Welcome to Antler Peak. Make it worth remembering.

Key Terms — A Self-Check

If you’ve read this far, these terms should now make sense. If any of them don’t, find the relevant section and re-read it.

  • IC / In-Character — Actions, words, and knowledge that exist within the story world. Your character lives in this world fully — they might know how to work a forge, track game through a forest, or brew a poultice to treat disease, even if you as a player do not. Equally, things you know don’t automatically transfer to them.
  • OOC / Out-of-Character — Communication or knowledge that exists outside the story.
  • Metagaming — Using knowledge your character could not realistically possess to influence IC decisions.
  • Powergaming — Forcing outcomes on other players, or exploiting mechanics to gain an unfair advantage.
  • RDM / VDM — Attacking or killing another player (or using a vehicle as a weapon) without legitimate roleplay justification.
  • Combat Logging — Disconnecting during or immediately after a conflict to avoid consequences.
  • Permadeath — The permanent, irreversible death of a character. Yours to choose. Final.

If you understood all of that — welcome to Antler Peak. Make it worth remembering.

Last updated · 22 March 2026