Rules of War

This is an overview on the Rules of War, encouraging tactical warfare while preserving the beauty, creativity, and politics of the Landfall SMP.

For large-scale conquest mechanics, see the Frontline Mechanic. For covert operations, see the Sabotage Mechanic, the Imprisonment Rules, and Assassination Rules.

Rules of Engagement

  1. Target Strategic Objectives
    • Focus attacks on military targets like bases or supply depots.
    • Avoid unnecessary destruction of civilian or unrelated decorative builds.
  2. Limit Destruction
    • Mass destruction (e.g., deforestation, lava casting, or city-wide leveling) is prohibited.
    • Tactical weakening is allowed (e.g., breaching walls, destroying turrets).
  3. Minimize Collateral Damage
    • Use weapons and tactics designed to limit harm to civilian areas and natural landmarks. Avoid scarring the terrain.
  4. Respect Neutral Zones
    • Do not attack sacred sites, safe zones, or locations designated as neutral by treaty without a clear and compelling narrative reason.
  5. Fair Play
    • All combat must have narrative or tactical intent. Pure griefing or non-consensual destruction will be rolled back.
    • Repeatedly killing defenseless players or trapping them at their spawn point is forbidden.
  6. Freedom to Enter Contract
    • These are default rules. Players may negotiate contracts or diplomatic agreements to supersede specific guidelines, such as creating additional neutral zones or altering engagement terms.
  7. Formal Declarations of War
    • Formal wars must be declared publicly in the designated announcement Discord channel.
    • Make every effort to ping the leadership of the opposing faction via Discord.
    • Provide a brief narrative justification for the war in the message.
    • Leave an in-character notice or document at the capital of the opposing faction (e.g., signpost, book, or message board).

Preserving Creativity

  1. Respect Builders
    • Excessive destruction of creative or elaborate structures will result in divine rollback.
  2. Encourage Rebuilding
    • Victorious factions are encouraged to assist with repairs to maintain server balance.

Group Participation Rules

Group Type Can Declare War Can Be Declared On Can Use Sabotage Can Be Sabotaged Can Conquer Territory
Town ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌
Nation ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅
Empire ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅
Corporation ❌ ⚠️ (If Involved) ⚠️ (Under Contract) ⚠️ (If Involved) ❌
Guerilla ❌ ⚠️ (If Discovered) ✅ ✅ ⚠️ (Only via Rebellion)
Note that any nation or entity may claim to declare a war on any other entity, such as socialist nation declaring "War on Megacorp XYZ". This is different from a formal declaration of war, and is permitted.

Enforcement

  1. Divine Oversight
    • The Divine Entity enforces these rules, including issuing rollbacks, combat bans, and resource penalties.
    • All violation reports must include supporting evidence (screenshots, logs, video, or eyewitness testimony).
  2. War Crimes & Punishments
    • Players or groups who commit excessive destruction, abuse mechanics, or grief repeatedly may face:
      • Resource fines
      • Rollbacks
      • Combat restrictions
      • Forced retreats
  3. Anti-Abuse Measures
    • Use of proxy groups (e.g., fake towns or corp fronts) to bypass these rules is prohibited and will be corrected via divine reclassification.