🚀 go-pugleaf

Unified FAQ
===========

For:
 o alt.games.command-n-conq
 o alt.games.command.and.conquer
 o alt.games.redalert
 o alt.games.command-n-conq.red-alert
 o alt.games.tiberian-sun
 o alt.games.redalert2

By:
 o Matt (Dark Samurai)
 o Stevie Kay
 o Sigbjørn Lund Olsen (e...@adjective-army.com)
 o Brian Garcia
 o Dave Downs (da...@adjective-army.com)

Maintainer:
 o Sigbjørn Lund Olsen (e...@adjective-army.com)

Last updated:
 o 6th January 2001


Table of Contents
=================

1 - Introduction
 1.1 - Unified FAQ
 1.2 - Group-specific FAQs

2 - Newsgroup Guidelines
 2.1 - Posting 101
 2.2 - Newbies
 2.3 - Trolls
 2.4 - Flames
 2.5 - On-Topic / Off-Topic
 2.6 - Top Posting
 2.7 - HTML
 2.8 - Binaries
 2.9 - Signatures
 2.10 - Spam
 2.11 - Clans / Squads
 2.12 - Cheats / Hacks / Cracks / Trainers

3 - The Adjective Army


1 - Introduction
===============


 1.1 - Unified FAQ
 =================

The Unified FAQ (UFAQ) for the Command & Conquer newsgroups was put
together by Sigbjørn Lund Olsen (aka Eol or The Profound Eol) from
various pieces of the AGRA / AGTS / AGRA2 FAQs. Its purpose is to move
all the newsgroup posting guidelines into one FAQ to minimize work on
every FAQ, and to establish a common standard for all the Command &
Conquer newsgroups. It is also to provide as a _small_ guide to the
Command & Conquer newsgroups for newbies to read. The UFAQ will be
posted once a week in every Command & Conquer newsgroup. Suggestions and
comments can be sent to the current maintainer of the UFAQ.


 1.2 - Group-specific FAQs
 =========================

Some of the groups covered by the UFAQ also has a group-specifc FAQ
answering questions related to the specific game covered by the group.
The group-specific FAQs do not have posting guidelines in them any
longer, as the UFAQ covers this topic.


2 - Newsgroup Guidelines
========================

 The C&C newsgroups are unmoderated newsgroups, but the regulars there
have a few basic rules and guidelines that we believe are common
courteousy and netiquette...

 2.1 - Posting 101
 =================

 There is a loose, general standard for posts on the Usenet, and
following this standard is considered good netiquette on the Usenet. You
should follow the guidelines as written in this UFAQ, and in addition to
the other points specified, there are certain things you should and
should not do. 

 You should intersperse your reply in between the quoted text to which
you are replying to. Non-relevant quoted text should be removed - the
reply should still be possible to put within context through the quoted
text. On no account shall quoted text be modified - this is considered
trolling of the worst sort, and will be treated as such.

 Try to be polite when asking questions and you are likely to get and
answer, provided the question is sensible. Do not make demands, you are
likely to be flamed, at the very least your question is unlikely to be
taken seriously.

 Do not overuse caps, only use this to emphasise the odd word here and
there. Whole messages or phrases typed in caps are considered to be
shouting and this is considered offensive.

 Try to have correct grammar (especially capitalization and punctuation)
as this makes your posts easier to read. Do not write like an "l33t
haX0r" and expect to get a (serious) reply. 

 When replying to off-topic posts check which newsgroups the message was
sent to as some people crosspost. In the case of crossposts bear in mind
that others do not know which newsgroup you received the message in. If
the crosspost is a result of spam or trolling, you should remove all
groups which you are not posting to. Try not to crosspost unless
necessary, and remove any superfluous groups from a reply to a
crossposted thread. 

 2.2 - Newbies
 =============

 As a general rule new users should lurk in the newsgroup for at least a
few days to get a feel for the type of messages posted. Newbies should
also read the FAQ. Often, an answer for the question which a new user
wishes to ask is already answered. Frequently repeated questions can be
very tiresome for the regulars, and may be targeted for ridicule and
general flaming. 


 2.3 - Trolls
 ============

 Trolls will be counter-flamed until they are burnt to a crispy shell.
Bear with the NG in question during the process of doing so - a world
without trolls is much better to live (and post) in. Trolls are
considered people who make insults towards members etc with no need,
reason, or purpose in the newsgroup. People who repeatedly disrespect
the other users of the NG are usually also regarded as trolls. 

 2.4 - Flames
 ============

 At times disagreements will occur, and/or trolls will appear.
Furthermore, the regulars of the groups sometimes flame newbies when
they do not follow netiquette (if you read this UFAQ and take it to
heart you won't have that problem). One should try to avoid flaming
anyone. You should also consider taking the disagreement to e-mail,
especially so if other users of the newsgroups request this.


 2.5 - On-Topic / Off-Topic
 ==========================

 The C&C newsgroups are generally extremely tolerant of off-topic posts,
and off-topic posts are allowed in these groups. An effort should be
made to post on-topic posts every now and then. The C&C groups have a
saying - "Come for the game, stay for the people." - The regulars of the
groups are a very closely knit bunch, and as such idle talk will always
be a major part of the C&C newsgroups. Newbies should respect this, and
should at no time assume that they can, should or must change this -
previous attempts have led to large flame wars.


 2.6 - Top Posting
 =================

 As mentioned in 2.1, you should intersperse your comments into your
replies. This means you do *not* top post - for any people who don't
know, top-posting is the posting of a reply above the quoted text,
without any reply interspersed later on. 


 2.7 - HTML
 ==========

 HTML posts are not welcome in the C&C newsgroups - many people who read
it pay for internet time, and since HTML posts are larger than text
posts, they increase download time. Also, there should be no need for
HTML, as plain text is a good enough media. 


 2.8 - Binaries
 ==============

 AT NO TIME SHOULD YOU EVER POST BINARIES TO AN alt.* GROUP THAT IS NOT
IN THE alt.binaries.* hierarchy! Binaries (ALL attachments are
binaries... That includes VCards and attached text files) should be
direct to the newsgroup alt.binaries.games.command-n-conq, or the
RA2-specific binaries newsgroup alt.binaries.games.redalert2 -
alt.binaries.games.command-n-conq is more widely propagated, mind. Many
people who read newsgroups have to pay for internet time - respect that
by not posting binaries. If you post a binary to any of the regular C&C
newsgroups, then the regulars there will consider you a troll and fry
you into a crisp shell. Consider yourself warned! 


 2.9 - Signatures
 ================

 Signatures should not be excessively long or offensive - use common
sense... If other members of the NG find your signature to be too long
or offensive, please respect them and change it. 


 2.10 - Spam
 ===========

 Don't spam. On-topic advertising (Anything related to the newsgroup in
question) is permissible, but not repeatedly. If need be, put the link
in your signature and post useful posts. 


 2.11 - Clans / Squads
 =====================

 No clan/squad warfare in these NGs. No clan/squad advertising except
for in sigs - and ONE recruitment post. You can make clan/squad
challenges etc, but do not argue about which clan/squad is the best.
Clan/squad warfare and repeated recruitment posts will be regarded as
trolling...


 2.12 - Cheats / Hacks / Cracks / Trainers
 =========================================

 None of the C&C games on the PC platform have any cheats. Cheats,
hacks, cracks, trainers, and warez are off-topic and unwanted in the C&C
newsgroups, and will therefore almost always result in either ridicule
or flames. DO NOT ASK FOR CHEATS, HACKS, CRACKS OR TRAINERS AND DO NOT
ASK FOR SUPPORT FOR THESE THINGS EITHER. You use hacks, cracks and
trainers at your own risk, and they are illegal through the terms of
your licence (You do have one, right?) to the game, and are thus not
supported by Virgin Games, Electronic Arts or Westwood Studios. They are
not supported by us either.


3 - The Adjective Army
======================

 The Adjective Army is a group of people that reside in the C&C
newsgroups, and indeed, most of the regulars are members of the
Adjective Army (termed as Adjective Assholes, due to our favourite
troll, Hans). The Adjective Army have a separate FAQ and a separate
group, alt.fan.adjective-army, and a website,
http://www.adjective-army.com/. The AA website is also the host of the
various NG newsgroups, which at the time of writing, there are none of.
There used to be an AGTS newsgroup, but it currently only exists on my
HD. I need to update and rewrite it before putting it up. 

 Do not assume that the AA are evil or trolls - we are not. We maintain
the FAQs, we answer questions, we try to help, we maintain the websites
etc etc. Without the AA the groups would by all likelihood be dead.
Furthermore, the AA are relatively organized, and as such are capable of
efficiently "dealing" with trolls - the AA has never, ever, *ever*, lost
a flamewar. 
--

The Farcical Dave