Pilot’s Handbook

The following consist of the basic concepts that apply to all pilots within the NBT League system. Therefore some rules are necessary to keep things running smoothly. Please READ the rules and if you do not understand something, ask the Administration about it. That’s what we are here for.

By joining NBT-Solaris you are agreeing to abide by the standards laid out within the pages of these rules. This ranges from such subjects as cheating to Puretech to respect for others in the league.  Please make sure you read the rules thoroughly and follow them.

There are certain expectations that must be met by ANY pilot that plays within the NBT community.  This holds true from the newest pilot to a Grand Champion.  They are truthfully simple requirements, and are easily met if your goal is to play and have fun.

• Smurfing - If any pilot is found to be running multiple accounts in NBT-Solaris their access will be removed, and no new accounts will be granted them. 

NBT Rules of Conduct

The following are rules that are generally expected of most adults in all walks of life. A certain level of maturity is required to be a part of the NBT community.

• Admins: You will follow the instructions of authorized personnel while in NBT servers or on the Official NBT Forums.  Authorized Personnel may include (but not limited to):  League Admins, Server Admins, & Forum Moderators.
   
• The Rules: You will not taunt or otherwise encourage other players to violate any NBT or game rules.  You will not allow another player to taunt you into violating any NBT or game rules.  NBT Rules are to be upheld at all times, by all members.
   
• Cheating: Cheating in ALL forms are strictly forbidden.  In the game, in the automation, in comms, wherever. Any player found intentionally cheating will be banned from NBT-Solaris. This includes exploiting any bugs in the game itself to obtain an unfair advantage over your opponents.
• Cheating Accusations: Should you feel that someone is cheating, you MUST have proof. At that point you will contact NBT Administration with said proof. No public announcements on the forums, IRC or emails.  NBT Admins will then make a determination on the nature of the proof, and what action will be taken.
   
• Cursing & Offensive Remarks: You may not use any offensive, sexually explicit, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful, racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable remarks.  You will not use partial masking in order to use inappropriate words that would otherwise be in violation of the rules. [Note: If we can tell what word you are trying to mask, and the word is in violation of the rules, then the partially masked word is in violation of the rules. Hint: Try using cartoon speak when you really want to say something naughty. "I am &^%^$% lost!" This is an example of complete masking and is acceptable.]
   
• Gloating, Whining & Pouting: People win.  People lose.  This is a game. Winners are suppossed to be proud of their accomplishments, but not to the detriment of the members and morale of the other players.  On the other hand, when a battle is lost there is no excuse for stalking off or sulking as a result.  Learn from your mistakes and move on. Let the other players know it was a "Good Game" and continue playing.  Basically this comes down to a certain level of maturity on the part of the members of the league.
   
• Attitudes & Egos: These will not be tolerated in NBT. Each of us is here to have fun.  People with massive egos, chips on their shoulders, or just bad attitudes are a waste of the admins time as well as that of other units. If you are not here to have fun, and allow others to do the same, you are in the wrong place, and need to move on.
   
• Legal Mumbo-Jumbo: You may not violate any local, state, national or international law or regulation while playing NBT. You may not use the game service to engage in illegal activity. You may not arrange for the exchange or transfer of any pirated software or other contraband while you are on the NBT Servers or Website.  You may not use the NBT Servers or Website for activities other than activities permitted in the game universe or events associated with NBT. You will not attempt to interfere with, hack into or decipher any transmissions to or from the servers run by NBT.

Participation in NBT-Solaris is a privilege, one only extended to those that can make the most of it and work together with the group to make the league work.  Abusive personalities and troublemakers will have their Solaris invitation revoked and will be removed from the league. Players that violate the NBT Rules of Conduct may be subject to the temporary suspension of their NBT Play Rights as well as permanent banning if so determined by League Admins.

Mechs and Equipment

General Rules:

Each pilot/character in NBT-Solaris owns their own ‘Mech(s). ‘Mechs my also be shared by members of the same Stable.  All characters will generally start out with an IS Tech ‘Mech, unless their character creation were to specify otherwise.  Additional chassis, both IS and Clan will become available to your characters as NBT-Solaris proceeds.  During the course of league play, any pilot may pilot any ‘Mech, regardless of Tech Class, providing that the ‘Mech is owned and in good repair. This provides all units with the ability to use a wide range of ‘Mechs.

All MW4:Mercs ‘Mechs and Weapons are allowed in NBT-Solaris gameplay.

Customization:

There will be no restrictions on customization other than these:

• If you are piloting an IS chassis, then you are required to use IS tech weapons on that ‘Mech.
• If you are piloting a Clan chassis, then you are required to use Clan tech weapons on that ‘Mech.

These weapon limits can and will be enforced by the Admin. Each game server will be set to keep a custom game log. This log is parsed each night and provides the following information:  Pilot Callsign, ‘Mech Chassis, All weapons fired by this chassis.  Cross-Tech violations will result in the loss of all winnings.  Repeated violations will result in removal from NBT-Solaris.

Battle Procedures

There are various rules that apply when you are involved in league drops on the NBT servers.

• Callsigns - Each pilot participating in a NBT-Solaris drop must wear the exact Callsign of the character they are representing. Failure to do so will result in invalid servers parses, and no winnings being awarded.
• Weapon Restrictions: The above Weapons Restrictions are in effect at ALL times. No exceptions.
• Camping – Camping in Solaris drops is slightly different from other NBT drops. Since winnings are based on not only surviving, but also on participation, it behoves each player to participate in the drop to their fullest.  The goal of NBT-Solaris is to fight.  Constant running away from combat is seriously frowned upon, and can result in penalties, both to winnings and to your character.
• Teaming - Teaming is the practice of multiple pilots, either from the same NBT unit, or even multiple units, joining together in a Solaris FFA Match and working together to defeat the other pilots.  NBT-Solaris is built around the strengths and weaknesses of the individual pilot, not of a NBT team.  While there are Team Battle matches, most matches are FFA Battle.  Pilots found to be taking part in teaming will have their NBT-Solaris access revoked, and will be limited to playing in other NBT leagues only (since they like team play so much).
• Cheating - We will not put up with cheating in any form. Period! We will eject any persons or unit that we even SUSPECT is cheating. No excuses. Do not try to exploit the rules. We will not put up with anyone trying to "cheat the system". If there are loopholes in some rules, then please notify us if you see that it could pose problems for the league. Do not exploit "bugs" in the game, especially bugs that give you a clear advantage in battle.

Players that violate the above rules may be subject to the temporary suspension of their NBT Play Rights as well as permanent banning if so determined by League Admins.

Lastly, please understand that all of the Administrators of this league volunteer their time, talents and, sometimes even money to make this work. We are all adults and can take constructive criticism and suggestions, but if you just want to gripe and whine – you’re in the wrong league.

Once again, we welcome you to the NBT-Solaris community. Each of here is to have fun & blow each other up.  May your victories be many, and your aim true. See you on the battlefield!