The guidelines and rules listed below explain what behavior is expected of you and what behavior you can expect from other community members. Note that the following guidelines are not exhaustive, and may not address all manner of offensive behavior. As such, the Northern Darkness Command Staff shall have full discretion to address any behavior that they feel is inappropriate. Your access to the NDG forums, social media, and events are a “privilege,” and not a “right.” The 501st Legion and Northern Darkness Garrison reserves the right to suspend your access to the forums, social media, and events at any time for reasons that include, but are not necessarily limited to, your failure to abide by these guidelines.

Please read the Northern Darkness Garrison Member Handbook and Northern Darkness Garrison Handler Training Guide for additional information and descriptions.

We reserve the right to evaluate each incident on a case by case basis. The action we take may be more lenient or more severe depending on the specific situation. The following is a list of categories describing violations of Northern Darkness Garrison's Code of Conduct.

Harassing or Defamatory Behavior

This category includes both clear and masked language and/or links to websites containing such language or images which insultingly refer to other members or groups of people resulting in ongoing harassment to those other members or groups of people.

Harassment takes many forms, and is not necessarily limited to the type of language used, but the intent. Repeatedly targeting a specific member with harassment can lead to more severe action. The idea behind this is to prevent any one member from consistently being uncomfortable in the forums.

Real-Life Threats

This category includes both clear and masked language and/or links to websites containing such language or images which : refer to violence in any capacity that is not directly related to the costume / fantasy world.

What is a threat? A declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, or harm against a person or property of an individual via phone / voice mail, forum, electronic social media or in writing. (Threats must be direct and unmistakable to the average person.)

Obscene / Vulgar / Inappropriate Language

This category includes both clear and masked language in posts, signatures, and/or links to websites containing such language or images which are an inappropriate reference to human anatomy or bodily functions, are pornographic in nature, or are otherwise considered objectionable.

Illegal Drugs or Activities

This category includes both clear and masked language and/or links to websites containing such language or images which reference using (abusing) illegal drugs or reference to performing illegal activities.

Spamming or Trolling

This category includes: Excessively communicating the same phrase, similar phrases, or pure gibberish, creating threads for the sole purpose of causing unrest on the forums, causing disturbances in forum threads, such as picking fights, making off topic posts that ruin the thread, insulting other posters, making non-constructive posts, abusing the Reported Post feature by sending false alarms or nonsensical messages, IBTL (In Before The Lock) comments, TLDR(Too Long, Didn't Read) comments, or any other fad statements.

Extreme Sexuality / Violence

This category includes both clear and masked language and/or links to websites containing such language or images which refer to extreme and/or violent sexual acts, refer to extremely violent real life actions, or pornography .

Racial / Ethnic

This category includes both clear and masked language and/or links to websites containing such language or images which promote racial/ethnic hatred, are recognized as a racial/ethnic slur, or allude to a symbol of racial/ethnic hatred.

Sexual Orientation

This category includes both clear and masked language and/or links to websites containing such language or images which insultingly refer to any aspect of sexual orientation pertaining to themselves or other members.

Major Religions or Religious Figures

This category includes both clear and masked language and/or links to websites containing such language or images which negatively portray major religions or religious figures.

Distribution of Real-Life Personal Information

Releasing any real-life information about other members, whether 501st Legion members or not, without their express written permission is not allowed.

Impersonating a NDG Command Staff Member or Forum Moderator

Passing yourself off as NDG Command Staff or Forum Moderator to post false information is not allowed.

Creating Duplicate Threads

This category includes: creating threads about existing topics or creating a separate thread about an existing topic for further discussion in more than one forum.

Circumventing a Suspension / Ban

This category includes: Posting on another account or having someone post on your behalf.

Event Conduct

The NDG Code of Conduct and 501st Legion Code of Conduct are the guidelines for behavior when in character and as a member of Northern Darkness Garrison and the 501st Legion. If ambiguity exists between any section of Northern Darkness' Code of Conduct and the 501st Legion's Code of Conduct, the more restrictive section will apply.


Remember we are representing the Star Wars universe to the public and should behave in a professional manner at all times when in costume.

• Refrain from public displays of affection (PDA). We need to "stay in character". It’s great to have our wives, husbands, significant others with us.. but while in public, we should maintain a distance with them (no PDA) as it breaks the illusion and may also keep people from approaching us.
• Control the muzzle direction of your weapon. We do not point our weapons at others.
• Do not deliberately scare anyone. We are scary enough without sneaking up on an unexpecting adult or child. This can do serious harm to individuals. Be professional at all times.

Trooping with Children Under the Age 14

When you are at a troop in costume and have your children with you under the age of 14, you must have a non-costumed handler for them. Event handlers are not considered handlers for your children. When your in costume your vision is limited, your posing for pictures and your attention is being taken away from your children. For your children's safety they need a handler whose only focus is your children's well being.

Violating the Above Categories

If a member/poster is found to have participated in such actions listed in the above categories, he/she will:

1. A warning will be issued with a request to change behavior with suggestions of expected corrective actions to be taken.
   
2. A second warning will be issued with a request to change behavior with suggestions of expected corrective actions to be taken. Also, a ban from the NDG forums / social media / events for a minimum of 48 hours and up to a maximum of 2 weeks.
   
3. A final warning will be issued with a request to change behavior with suggestions of expected corrective actions to be taken. Also, a ban from the NDG forums / social media / events for a minimum of 48 hours and up to a maximum of a permanent ban.
   
4. Continued Code of Conduct violations after a final warning may result in 501st Legion level procedures for membership suspension and/or termination.

IMPORTANT

Repeatedly violating any area of the Northern Darkness Garrison’s Code of Conduct, including the areas detailed above, will often result in permanent banishment from the forums. This policy is not language-restrictive. Language that falls under this policy will always be subject to the repercussions listed, whether it is inappropriate in English or any other language.

The bottom line is that we want the Northern Darkness Garrison Club to be a fun and safe environment for all members. While participating with the Northern Darkness Garrison, you will encounter many other members who share different experiences and come from vastly different backgrounds. While certain language and images may not be offensive to you, consider the fact that that same language and images may have a completely different effect on someone else. We’ve done everything we can to make this a great environment – now it’s up to you!

Again, the 501st Legion and Northern Darkness Garrison reserves the right to suspend your access to the forums / social media / events at any time for reasons that include, but are not necessarily limited to, your failure to abide by these guidelines. We reserve the right to evaluate each incident on a case by case basis. The action we take may be more lenient or more severe depending on the specific situation.

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ND4LYFE