Introduction

The Code of Conduct is subject to change without notification, though Studio Wildcard will do its best to ensure that changes are communicated clearly to those on the Official Network.

Failure to abide by our Code of Conduct can result in the removal of your structures, creatures, items or banning of your account from the Official Network and all BattlEye Protected Servers. Studio Wildcard reserves the right to immediately suspend player accounts as it deems fit. Action taken is at the sole and absolute discretion of Studio Wildcard and its employees.

This list is not exhaustive but represents clear guidelines for players to adhere to when playing on our Official Network. For something you’re unsure of, please use your best judgement. When in doubt, reach out to us here and select "Report Abuse". Ensure you’re acting with some semblance of decency when conducting yourself on our Official Network.

Hacking and Exploiting

Hacking and Exploiting

Hacking or exploiting game mechanics to gain an unfair advantage over other players is not tolerated.

> Hacking - examples are not limited to but can include using third-party programs such as in-game automated bots, ESP, Aimbots, and Game Engine Modifications.

> Exploiting - examples are not limited to but can include:

Attacking from, travelling through, or building in unintended game-zones (under the mesh or above the map)

Duplication of tames, items, or characters

Unintended building mechanics (such as floating structures, using the world barrier as a snap point)

Building a box on a platform saddled dino to completely prevent it from taking damage

Modifying your game files to remove key graphical components (water, fog, etc)

Attacking or blocking players through the terrain with dinosaurs

Intentionally crashing users or servers (through DDoS or otherwise)

Placing excessive quantities of C4 to prevent hostile C4 from being placed

Stacking multiple creatures inside each other's models via raising babies close together, teleporting them near each other, downloading them, etc (ex: multiple brontos in a 1x1 foundation area)

Floating structures or structures that extend past normal building limits on platform saddles or rafts for PVP purposes

Benefit Hacking/Exploiting, Tribes, Alliances, and teaming up.

When playing on our Official Network, players must ensure that they are not taking advantage of hacking exploits and unfair play. Do not under any circumstances allow hackers to join your tribe, alliance, or party up alongside you within the game. It is your responsibility to remove them or yourself from the tribe. If you witness someone breaking the rules through the use of a game exploit, or a third party program (such as ESP or AIMBOT) ensure that you isolate yourself from those users and are not playing with or alongside them to avoid breaching our code of conduct.

Hack related chat

There should be no discussions in game or otherwise regarding abusing hacks and exploits, including access to cheats, where you can acquire them, or how they are utilized.

Griefing

Spawn Blocking

Spawn Blocking occurs when tribes intentionally block spawn points for the purpose of not allowing any new players to play on the server (including cross server players). In the event your base inadvertently or accidentally resides on a spawn point you will not be penalized.

Here are some examples of what spawn blocking can consist of, but is not limited to:

Using structures that players spawn into and can not get out of

Using spikes/spike walls at player spawn locations

Turrets located on or near spawn points

Dino gates, or any type of structure/cage that is meant to trap or instantly kill a player and prevent them from spawning on the map

Aggressive dinos placed near spawn points in order to instantly kill players that spawn in.

Small Tribe Server Specific Rules

> No Teaming - to maintain the intent and spirit of the small tribe servers, players are not permitted to form informal alliances between tribes (including cross-server). This includes such things as:

Joint raids against one or more tribes (12 v 6 etc)

Building bases together to provide mutual defenses

PvE Specific Griefing

> Game Blocking - you are not allowed to block other tribes from playing the game on PvE servers. This can include but is not limited to:

Building at their base

Blocking in other tribes dinos

Blocking access in/out of a tribes base

Obstructing pathways or waterways for the purpose of denying another tribe access

Blocking access to important resources (ie. charge nodes, gas nodes, Extinction City Terminals, etc)

Intentionally filling the server tame limit via spamming tames (such as Dodo, Jerboa, or easy to ‘tame and maintain’ dinos) and/or rafts

Leaving tames inside of caves or on obelisk teleportation platforms

> Structure Spamming - placing structures down such as pipes or wires for the purpose of disrupting others gameplay is against our code of conduct.

> Intentionally using wild creatures to destroy a player's assets when not in a tribe war.

GM intervention may be necessary if your structure or creature is negatively impacting a server (ie. you block off a large portion of the map so that other members of that server cannot access it).

Misconduct

Behavior, Chat, and Interaction With Others

Interactions with other players or Studio Wildcard employees through text chat, voice chat, and signs or paintings must adhere to the rules below and you cannot use an alternative spelling to circumvent restrictions.

Ensure that you do not:

> Offend - this includes but is not limited to language which is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful, sexually explicit, or racially, ethnically or otherwise offensive.

> Post Personal Information - belonging to someone else in the game, or any Official websites or forums related to the game.

> Harass, Stalk, Threaten - such as sending repeated unsolicited or unwelcome messages to specific users/tribes and can include but not limited to those sexual in nature or messages that would cause discomfort.

> Disrupt the game - such as intentionally causing the chat screen to scroll faster than other users are able to read, or setting up macros with large amounts of text that, when used, have a disruptive effect on the normal flow of Chat.

> Promote - do not send messages which are advertisements for inappropriate topics, including scamming, hacking, exploits or the sale of goods and services unless trading within the game for game specific resources, for example, 50 Stone for 1 Polymer, A trike for a Rex, etc.

> Real-Money Trading (RMT) - ARK items, creatures, or services must only be exchanged for other items, creatures, or services within the game. Trading for real-world currency (real money) is not an accepted form of trading.

Player, Steam and Tribe Names

When choosing your name, steam name, or tribe name you must adhere to general decency and abide by the following rules. If Wildcard determines your name to be improper, we may change the name and or terminate your use of our Official and any BattlEye Protected Servers. You should not use an alternative spelling to circumvent the name restrictions listed below. You should ensure that your name does not:

> Offend - names may not contain vulgar, defamatory, obscene, hateful, racially, ethnically or otherwise offensive, including any usernames which are sexual in nature.

> Impersonate - pretending to be someone else with intent to impersonate Game Masters ("GM") or Studio Wildcard employees.

False Reports

When reporting others, please ensure that you are genuine. Reports made to harass other players or for restricting their gameplay when no codes of conduct have been broken are deemed punishable by Studio Wildcard.

You can increase the effectiveness of your reports by including as much information as possible, as well as video or picture evidence. We never take our decisions and actions regarding potential malicious player behavior lightly. Suspensions, server wipes, and/or bans are only issued after careful review of all internal and external evidence.

Please be aware that submitting multiple reports for the same issue does not accelerate the review process and can cause your case to take more time to process.