[PR] Church Changes

[Siegfried]

Over the past couple of months the Church has been undergoing some changes which have now been completed. A list of these changes can be found below:

• The 'Religion' tab on the website has been updated, and a new handbook has been created, providing all players with a more updated and accurate background of the Church; all guild members are recommended to read this document.

• The 'Law' tab on the website has been updated with new laws that all members of the army should know and enforce in order to promote role-play with individuals causing trouble within Cove. An in-game copy of the law can be obtained by presenting a member of Command or the Church with your copy of 'The Church of Avatar' (which has been superseded by the handbook) who will exchange it for a copy of the law. Once you have received your copy, ensure your fellow men also have their books exchanged. New recruits must be issued with a copy of this book.

• The Church Boards have been cleaned up and all outdated and irrelevant information has been archived. Information should now be easier to access and read.

• The Church is now recruiting; more information on this can be found within the handbook. Applications are currently being accepted from all individuals, regardless of whether or not they are already a member of The Baronship of Cove.

[Siegfried]

A second edition of the handbook has been created, detailing two new classes within the Church; Wytch Hunters & Disciples, amongst other corrections, changes and editions.

[Siegfried]

Players of Cove,

It has been drawn to my attention that certain individuals have been pestering Church members both in and out of game in unnecessary attempts to 'catch them out', in terms of trying to ascertain possibly known identities of Church member's other characters.

I would like to remind everyone, and make it explicitly clear that the Church of Cove Handbook is publically available for all to read, and whilst not a requirement due to it's length, is certainly recommended to any member who finds they have thirty minutes to spare.

In particular, I draw your attention to the following paragraph, paying a great deal of attention to the paragraph in bold:

Finally, the players of Church characters should remain anonymous on all levels in order to avoid conflicts of interest when dealing with individuals, and maintain an air of authority when dealing with individuals known to the player. Forum accounts should not disclose any personal information. Players should create a new ICQ account for their Church characters if they intend to be immediately contactable, and primarily use it for receiving messages only, not sending messages except in response, or with regards to events or player complaints and concerns. Players should maintain a neutral demeanour with individuals and avoid creating a rapport or friendship with other individuals whilst under the guise of their Church identity. Church members should not engage in idle chat in game, only using guild chat and party functions to enforce rules and remind players of events; where possible, Church characters should avoid joining parties during events. The only exception to the anonymity rule is informing the BoC Command team who you are; other than the Church member who recruits you (who will likely inform Command on your behalf), no one else within the Church should know who your regular characters (if any) are.

With regards to the above, regular players within the community should not assume that all Church characters are “alts”, and in any case should in no way, shape, or form badger or pester anyone in order to obtain the identities of any Church member. Both regular members and Church members believed to be disclosing Church identities without good reason will face disciplinary action.

It is no mystery that the Church acts as an internal policing force within the guild, and in order to perform this role professionally without favour or bias, anonymity is required; especially if a Church member does have any other characters.

I remember a time in Ultima Online when 'alt characters' could run around without the roleplay they experience being affected by out of character knowledge of the player, and the fact that Ultima Online's population is not as it used to be should not change this, in regards to any character, not just certain Church members.

Both Command and Church members will be disclosing the names of any individuals believed to be shying away from the rule above and attempting to pester Church members for alternative identities, and I have no reservations with dealing with such individuals personally.

You have been warned once through the handbook. I am now warning you all a second time through the forums. Do not let there be a third in person.

Regards,