Part-Time Hardcore Organization: It is our desire that the XSO be a smaller sized, tight-nit organization where we all can have fun in a family friendly environment, but also accomplish tasks and advance within the Star Citizen universe. All guidelines formulated below exist in order to facilitate that end.
Weekly Gaming: Currently we're getting together once a week to work together on coordination and communication. While we wait for Arena Commander to provide us with co-op PVP for our full organization, we're jumping into Mechwarrior Online.
Roleplay Rules: It is required that all members write some short in-character explanation of how they came to join the XSO. Members are encouraged to read the origin story of the XSO and their personal story should tie in with the XSO narrative. These personal stories can be as short as a paragraph, or as long as you like, and they will be posted on the XSO forum.
In-game, try to roleplay as far as it is fun and convenient to do so. We value the opportunity to live the lives and play the game from the perspective of the characters we have developed, and we think that's a fun way to play. Members should explore this and develop their own characters. Disrespecting the roleplaying of others by continual, deliberate non-roleplay will not be tolerated.
Time Expectation: We don't expect people to play eight hours every day (of course you are free to do that if you wish). XSO is a small group of dedicated gamers who also have real lives. As such, these are the time expectations for XSO members:
XSO will schedule a minimum of 2 operations a week (one on U.S. time, one on European time). These operations will vary from PvE combat to Salvage to Merchant runs, and everything in between. XSO command will be responsible with the planning and leading of the operations. We highly encourage XSO members to participate in the official operations as they will be the primary way that we interact in the game as an organization. We will likely run more than 2 operations a week, but 2 will be the minimum. If you can't regularly attend them, there won't be much of a point in being a member of XSO. Consistent failure to attend may lead to disciplinary action.
Ops will be designed around the needs of the organization and its members. We aren't trying to just fill the coffers of the leaders. We want everyone to benefit from being a member. XSO members are encouraged to share with the leaders and others (likely through the forums) what their in-game desires are, so as we progress, we can help each other get that ship that we've had our eye on, or that cool but rare weapon we really need. We are here to help each other do together what we separately cannot.
If you are online and in-game during a time that an op is in progress, we expect you to be taking part in the op. XSO members are of course free to spend their time in-game any way they like when an op is not in progress, provided they aren't violating any XSO rules.
We also highly encourage members to be active on the XSO forums. We value the sharing of thoughts, opinions, game information, and general banter on the forums.
Behavior Expectations: As a part-time hardcore organization, we at XSO don't require members to play 24/7. However, when we do play (specifically when we are running ops), our time is focused and purposeful. Of course we will joke and have fun, but when it comes time to run an op, we expect XSO members to be serious and focused on the task at hand, just as they would if they were running an op in real life.
Team Speak Behavior rules: These will be expanded upon elsewhere, but in general, keep it family friendly. If you want to chat about something controversial, do it in a different room, and don't do it during an op. XSO is primarily a Star Citizen organization. However, we will undoubtedly play other games from time to time. If you are in a TS channel for Star Citizen, the topic of conversation should be limited to Star Citizen. If you are playing another game, or want to talk about another game, create or join an appropriate channel for that game. If you wish to talk about other things in general, just go in another room.
Command structure and discipline: XSO is not a democracy. In our experience, running an organization with a “let's just let people do whatever, no rules, it'll be great!” attitude doesn't work, and ends up being fun for no one. However it's not a dictatorship either. We will always value opinions and take time to hear from our members regarding their desires or complaints.
The leader, called the Preceptor, of the XSO is Matthias Stormfury. He is in charge of the leadership and direction of the XSO, and as such, he has the final say in all matters. He is tasked with leading the XSO towards the glorious goal of the redemption of mankind via the fulfillment of the Prophet's Gear vision.
The second in command is Relen Gedion, known as The Seer. It was to him that the Prophet's Gear revealed its vision of the salvation of humanity coming about via the syncretism of alien culture and technology with our human systems.
Below these two leaders are the Curates, who serve as operational leaders within the XSO.
Curates should be able to address all situations and questions that may arise, but should they prove unable to, they will refer issues to either the Seer or the Preceptor. If no Curate is available to assist you, please contact the Seer or the Preceptor.
It is our hope that we never have to spend time on discipline or dealing with behavior issues, but if we observe or if it is brought to our attention that a member of XSO is causing problems, violating rules, or generally conducting themselves in a spirit not in line with XSO ethics, we will approach the situation in this way:
1. A member of leadership will have a conversation with the party about the issue and try to resolve it amicably.
2. A member of leadership will issue a stern warning to the party that if the behavior is not corrected, they will be removed from the organization
3. The party will be removed from the organization.
Multiple Organizations: In order to protect the organization from being pulled into unwanted PvP combat, we are restricting XSO members to membership in XSO only. Under no circumstances will membership in another organization be tolerated. If it is discovered that you are a member of another org, you will be removed from XSO immediately, simply because you should have already known better. We feel at this time that this is necessary in order to keep the amount of potential griefing to a minimum.
Dealing With Other Organizations in the Persistent Universe: Members of the XSO are to remain in good standing with the UEE. Piracy is strictly prohibited. Under most circumstances, just don't do anything that would be considered illegal. If you aren't sure, ask a commander. As the persistent universe develops, we will undoubtedly make both friends and enemies. XSO members will be expected to abide by any agreements that we as an organization make with other organizations. If a member's actions are pulling the XSO into trouble or in a direction that the leadership isn't comfortable with, we will ask you to cease it.
Last Thoughts: If you have any questions about the rules, please contact either Stormfury or Gedion for clarification. If you have a problem with any of the rules, just don't join. It'll be easier for everyone that way. We want to create an environment that will make it as easy as possible for a small group of good friends to have fun and accomplish all that we want to in Star Citizen. If all this sounds good to you, then you are welcome to come along.