Backstory & Fluff Rules, Guidelines and Useful Threads.
In addition to the General Tabletop Rules, Backstory and Fluff has a few extra that are specifically relevant to the section.
Rules
6) No comments on real world politics. This is a fantasy section of the forum, and while certain parallels are welcome to be drawn between styles of modern/classical government and warfare, there is to be no discussion of current politics. Not only are they largely irrelevant, but due to the multi-national background of the member base, they have a high potential to be inflammatory. Stick to the fluff, and keep current politics out of it.
7) No linking to 3rd party websites with content that breaks Games Workshop’s Intellectual Property (IP) rights. We know they exist. We also know they do a good job of ripping of GW IP by copying codices and rulebooks in their entirety. This is piracy, and while you may not see the harm in linking to a website conducting illegal activity, it reflects on the forum, and gives the impression we condone such activity, which we certainly do not. Breaking this rule will earn you a harsh warning at the very least.
8) Excerpts from publications are acceptable in context, but not in full. Basically this means that you are welcome to quote a paragraph from a book/article to reinforce your argument, but quoting a whole chapter is out of the question. This similarly applies to published short stories. Quote the relevant section, but not the entire thing. If the whole thing is relevant, provide a reference (without breaking rule 7) where people can access it. In the case of artwork, reproduction for the sake of doing so is a no-no, but you are free to provide access to a piece if it is relevant to discussion.
9) No ‘Vs’, or reproduction threads. ‘Vs’ threads have no discussion value. Unit A could quite happily beat Unit B if it’s sunny and they are engaging from range and it’s a Thursday, but Unit B could likewise take Unit A in the rain on a Wednesday in their face. It’s far too situational to ever come to a conclusion, and arguments typically go around in circles after a lot of hypothetical situations where your chosen side wins hands down. It’s a waste of time, so just don’t bother.
Reproduction threads degenerate into ‘lol penises and boobies’ rapidly. They are spam. While it is acceptable to bring the matter up if it is relevant to an existing discussion, or tactfully done (discussing whether the birth-rate of the Eldar is ultimately detrimental to their long-term survival, given casualty rates and the duration of the mating process, for example), it is not acceptable to post some inane enquiry into how Sisters of Battle get their groove on.
10) No Goto-Baiting. The forum members' stance on this is known, and critique of his work always ends in flame fests or just outright bashing his work. We’ve seen the same arguments numerous times, so there’s really no reason to rehash them.
Guidelines.
3) If you are referencing Black Library novels, it is best to put sections of the plot in spoiler tags. Nobody wants to know the ending of a book they are half way through, nor do they want to know that character X dies in the next book. You wouldn’t want the ending/plot twist spoiled on you, so don’t do it to others. To put a section of text in a spoiler, simply type [spoiler] at the beginning of the text, and [/spoiler] at the end.
Useful links. A collection of threads aimed at those who may be unfamiliar with the forum, which cover some of the most frequently asked questions, or frequently covered topics. These are the cream of their respective discussions, so it is highly recommended you read them.
Best 40k Books I - A discussion of 40k Books in general.
A List of Useful threads - A collection of excellent reading material, compiled by Sir Guppy.
Index Astartes - The Chapters of Relic - A collection of all existing Army Backgrounds, complied by Mirehn Beilann
Informus Pronunciorum- A pronunciation guide for the 41st Millennium, compiled by Solidzaku.
Ex Libris Imperator: The Ultimate Imperial Propaganda Machine- A collection of 40k short stories and fanfics posted on RelicNews, compiled by Sethgarrick.
