Behaviour rules - Syndicates of Arkon - the first free-2-play Sci-Fi MMORPG built on Next-Gen graphics engine. The unique game universe in the style of cyber-punk

Account Penalties
We have gone to great lengths to make sure that our penalty system is as fair and just as possible. This document clearly defines each type of penalty, and how each would potentially impact you.

Naming Policy
Your choice of a character name is a very important first step that you must make in the Syndicates of Arkon. To start you off on the right foot, we have created some guidelines to assist you in determining if your chosen name is appropriate.

Harassment Policy

To ensure your time spent in Syndicates of Arkon is safe and enjoyable, we have broken down what types of language and behavior are inappropriate and the penalties associated with each type of infraction. If the language you wish to use is generally not acceptable in the real world, there is a good chance that it will not be welcomed in the Syndicates of Arkon either.

Exploitation and Client/Server Manipulation Policy
This document details MCM Online stance on the use of third-party programs or utilities, bug exploitation, usage of user interface modifications, and client/server manipulation. The factor that links these various policies is that they are all considered "cheating" and our intent is to keep the playing field level for all players.

Scam Policy
What is a scam? Will scammers be punished? Will I get my item(s) back? All the answers to your questions regarding MCM Online's stance on scamming in Syndicates of Arkon can be found here.

Character & Item Restoration Policy

We realize that mistakes can occur which cause you to lose in-game items, money, or characters. When possible, our in-game support staff may be able to assist you in the recovery of your character(s) or item(s). This policy serves to detail how we will address such situations.

Anti-Cheat Policy

In an effort to combat the efforts of those individuals who are willing to violate the EULA and/or the TOU, MCM Online utilizes an “anti-cheating” utility that runs as part of Syndicates of Arkon.

Forum Code of Conduct

The Syndicates of Arkon forums are here to provide you with a friendly environment where you can discuss ideas, give game play advice, role-play, and converse with other players. Community forums are at their best when participants treat their fellow posters with respect and courtesy. Therefore, we ask that you adhere to the Code of Conduct when participating in these forums.

The primary function of the In-game Support staff (Game Masters) is to ensure that players who are currently in the game world can enjoy the experience to its full potential. Much of our time is spent reimbursing lost items, resolving bugs, and generally helping players who are experiencing difficulties. However, sometimes disciplinary action must be taken against disruptive players who are causing damage to other's play experiences or the service itself. Though taking disciplinary action is never pleasant, we must take action against certain individuals in order to maintain the quality of service for all. Keep in mind that even if our penalty system is a cumulative one, some penalties may incur more severe actions at the first occurrence.

Warning

We receive quite a few emails in the info@syndicatesofarkon.com email box from players expressing great concern over the warning they have received. Often, the concern they express is that they are generally a good player and fear the status of the account they use is in jeopardy. This could not be further from the truth.

Receiving a Warning is nothing more than an education in policy for minor issues and a tool our in-game support team uses to track player behaviour. While it is not a good idea to ignore a warning and continue the inappropriate action(s), warnings on an account have very few, if any, long-term repercussions. The following are also true of Warnings:

The most minor account penalty
The most prevalent of all account penalties
No service interruption

3 Hour Suspension

3 Hour suspensions are assigned when a player needs to be removed from the game for a short period of time or when the player has repeated an action he/she has been previously warned for. 3 Hour suspensions reinforce the unheeded education given via a Warning or on the first instance of a policy violation that we do not consider minor. These should be assigned when the importance of policy adherence needs to be stressed, but the violation is not excessive. The following are true of 3 Hour suspensions:

Relatively minor account penalty
Somewhat common
Brief service interruption

12/24/48 Hour Suspensions

12/24/48 Hour suspensions are assigned when a player needs to be removed from the game for an extended period of time or the player has repeatedly violated policy in a relatively brief period of time. 12/24/48 Hour suspensions are somewhat rare, as they are only given for serious policy violations or repeated policy abuse. The following are also true of 12/24/48 Hour suspensions:

Serious account penalty
Somewhat rare
Extended service interruption

Account Closure

Accounts are closed when a player has excessively and/or grossly violated our policies. When an account is closed, the player is no longer able to access the account. Account Closures are rare and represent a player who is unable to abide by our rules and insists on negatively affecting other players' enjoyment of the game or harming the service itself.

Most serious account penalty
Very rare
Permanent service revocation

The bottom line is that we want Syndicates of Arkon to be a fun and safe environment for all players. Syndicates of Arkon is an MMORPG, and the key words are "Massively Multiplayer". In playing this game, you will encounter thousands of other players who share different experiences and come from vastly different backgrounds. While certain actions may not bother you, consider the fact that these same actions may be perceived in a completely different manner by those around you. We have done everything we can to make Syndicates of Arkon a great game, but now it's up to you the players, to breathe life into the world. Choose wisely my friends.

Highly Inappropriate
Names which fall under the following categories are deemed to be highly inappropriate. Clarification on what constitutes each category can be found by clicking on the links below.

Paedophilia
Racial/Ethnic
Sexuality/Violence
National
Sexual Orientation
Obscene/Vulgar

Though we have varying tolerance for repeated or extreme abuse of each category, any name that violates one of these categories will most likely:

Be assigned a randomly generated temporary name, to be changed via the online ticket system
Be temporarily or permanently suspended from the game

Moderately Inappropriate
Names which fall under the following categories are deemed to be mildly inappropriate. Clarification on what constitutes each category can be found by clicking on the links below.

Inappropriate
Harassing or Defamatory
Religions or Religious Figures
Political groups or Political Figures
MCM Online Employees
Illegal Drugs or Activities
Advertising
Trademarks (Does not apply to locations and regions within Syndicates of Arkon for Guild Names).
Popular Culture and Media Figures
Pure Gibberish (Does not apply to Guild Names)
Titles (Does not apply to Guild or Pet Names)

Only applied on the Roleplaying Servers
Names which fall under the following categories are deemed to be mildly inappropriate but only on the Roleplay servers of Syndicates of Arkon. Clarification on what constitutes each category can be found by clicking on the links below.

Partial or Complete Sentences (Does not apply to Guild Names)
Real World References
Contain "Leet" or "Dudespeak"
Immersion breaking titles

Though we have varying tolerance for repeated and extreme abuse of each category, any name that violates one of these categories will most likely:

Be assigned a randomly generated temporary name, to be change via the online ticket system
Be given a warning
Be temporarily or permanently suspended from the game

IMPORTANT

Repeatedly violating any area of the Terms Of Use, including the areas detailed above, will often result in temporary suspension from the game.
This policy is not language-restrictive. Names that fall under this policy will always be subject to the repercussions listed, whether they are inappropriate in English or any other language.
Questionable names may not be changed immediately, but at a later date, pending further review. MCM Online reserves the right to change any names we deem inappropriate or that violate policy.
Players found to be in violation of the above policies may be assigned a randomly generated temporary name for their character, guild, arena team, or pet. An E-mail will be sent to the account's registered E-mail address with instructions on how to change his/her temporary name to one of their choice if he/she is not online.

Harassment Policy

Public We consider language to be public when said in the "General" and "Trade" channels as well as with the "yell" command and the “say” command. Since comments in these forums are visible to the largest number of players, we take harassment in these channels very seriously. Abuse of language in these mediums will receive at least the penalty listed below, if not additional repercussions in accordance with the Syndicates of Arkon Terms of Use.
One to one or One to few This group includes private "whispers", player-created chat channels (protected by passwords). Though we enforce all rules in these forums, the number of people affected will be taken into consideration, and penalties may not be as harsh as stated below.
Guild chat Since your participation in guild chat is "at will," we take a much more lenient stance in these forums. Only the most severe harassment (i.e. Racial/Ethnic, Extreme Sexual/Violence, Real-life threats) will be considered.

Below are guidelines detailing what language we find to be inappropriate and the action we will take for the use of such language. We have tried to encompass all manner of offensive language; however, there may be inappropriate language that does not fit into any of these categories - this will be left to the discretion of the Customer support.

In a general manner, no illegal activity will be tolerated in Syndicates of Arkon, neither encouraging such activities, nor providing for any means or support to attain or attempt to attain such goals.

Highly Inappropriate
Language which falls under the following categories is deemed to be highly inappropriate. Clarification on what constitutes each category can be found by clicking on the links below.

Paedophilia
Racial/Ethnic
Extreme Sexuality/Violence
Real-Life Information and Threats
National
Major Religions or Religious Figures
Sexual Orientation

Though we have varying tolerance for repeated or extreme abuse of each category, any language that violates one of these categories will most likely:

Be temporarily or permanently suspended from the game

Moderately Inappropriate Language which falls under the following categories is deemed to be mildly inappropriate. Clarification on what constitutes each category can be found by clicking on the links below.

Zone/Area Disruption
Obscene/Vulgar
Inappropriate
Harassing or Defamatory
Illegal Drugs or Activities
Spamming
Advertising

Though we have varying tolerance for repeated or extreme abuse of each category, any language that violates one of these categories will most likely:

Be given a warning
Be temporarily or permanently suspended from the game for very specific cases

Other Categories There are two other categories of harassment that are not necessarily related to the language used, these are listed below.

Physical harassment. We have taken great strides to ensure all physical harassment (i.e. stealing resource nodes, kill stealing, training) is addressed or being addressed by the development team. Forms of physical harassment in the game will not be addressed by the GM staff, but instead with a development resolution, if warranted. This however does not include abusing game mechanics/exploiting to cause another player grief or distress.

Ongoing harassment. Harassment takes many forms, and is not necessarily limited to the type of language used, but the intent. Repeatedly targeting a specific player with harassment, either physical or verbal, can lead to more severe action. The idea behind this is to prevent any one player from consistently being made uncomfortable in the lands of Syndicate.

IMPORTANT

Repeatedly violating any area of the Terms Of Use, including the areas detailed above, will often result in temporary suspension from the game.
This policy is not language-restrictive. Language that falls under this policy will always be subject to the repercussions listed, whether they are inappropriate in English or any other language.

Bug Exploitation

We have a top notch Quality Assurance team who tirelessly stamp out bugs and design inconsistencies within Syndicates of Arkon. However, a handful of trained professionals can never isolate and resolve each and every bug in such a deep and complex game accessed simultaneously by thousands of players. You may come across the occasional bug during your adventures. Some bugs are minor and do not affect gameplay, but sometimes these bugs can be used to provide an unfair advantage to certain players or affect the service itself.

Factors included in determining the appropriate penalty:

Whether or not the exploit is performed intentionally, maliciously, and/or repeatedly
Whether or not the exploit damages another character, their gameplay, the service itself and/or its economy
Whether or not an attempt has been made to conceal the exploit's use

If a player is found to have abused/distributed an exploit, he/she may:

Be given a verbal warning if exploitation is unintentional and no attempt has been made to hide its occurrence
Be temporarily suspended from the game
In extreme cases the account will be closed outright

Bug exploitation that we consider extreme includes, but is not limited to:

Any exploit that has a severe negative impact on a realm's economy
Causing disruption in service or intentionally crashing a realm/server

While these repercussions may seem harsh, we feel very strongly that this type of abuse has no place within Syndicate due to its negative effect on other players or the service itself.

Abuse of Game Mechanics

The distinction between exploiting bugs and abusing game mechanics is a fine one. While bug exploitation involves the abuse of what is essentially a programming mistake, the abuse of game mechanics is the act of taking advantage of the limitations of the Syndicates of Arkon game systems. Since the line between the sanctioned use and the abuse of game mechanics is sometimes unclear, we prefer to educate players before taking any action against the account being used.

This category includes using/distributing game mechanics in a manner unintended by their design that:

Damages another character, their gameplay, the service itself and/or its economy

If a player is found to have abused/distributed such game mechanics, he/she may:

Be given a verbal warning
Be temporary or permanently suspended from the game in very specific cases

Unapproved Third Party Software

A third party program is any file or program that is not a part of the Syndicates of Arkon software, but is used to gain an advantage in the game, such as increasing your movement speed or teleporting from one place to another beyond what is allowed by game design. It also includes any programs that obtain information from the game that is not normally available to the regular player or that transmit or modify any of the game files. Normally, this classification does not include UI modifications, except those UIs that require an external application to function.

Any external applications that are used in conjunction with Syndicates of Arkon can cause quite a few unwanted side effects. Some of the major possible results of the use of third party programs can be instability of the game to the point that a player "crashes" from the game quite often. External programs can also be used to transmit viruses, spyware, and other unwanted programs into a player's computer. Third party programs can also be used to obtain information from the player's computer, such as account, password, and personal information.

If a player is found to have used such a program, he/she may:

Be temporarily suspended from the game
Have further action taken, up to and including account closure, based on the intent of the program

Malicious UI Modifications

We definitely want people to create their own UIs utilizing custom menu configurations, graphics, and even sounds. Anything that can be coded to modify the style and the look of the UI is fair game, as long as the modifications are done to the sanctioned internal files of the game. However, anything done to the UI to gain any sort of an unfair advantage over other players is unacceptable.

If a player is found to have modified a UI so that they gain an unfair advantage in the game over others, he/she may:

Be temporarily suspended from the game
Have further action taken, up to and including account closure, based on the intent of the modification

Data Stream Manipulation and Data Mining

Manipulation of the data stream involves a player altering the flow of information between the Syndicates of Arkon servers and his/her computer while data mining involves a player extracting information from said information that is not intended to be public. Data stream manipulation can be the alteration of either the incoming information or the outgoing information, and can be as minor as the manipulation of one byte of a packet, or the "sniffing" of packets for any reason.

If a player is found to have altered the data stream or performed any data mining, he/she may:

Be temporarily suspended from the game
Have further action taken, up to and including account closure, based on the intent of the data manipulation

IMPORTANT

Repeatedly violating any area of the Terms Of Use, including the areas detailed above, will often result in temporary suspension from the game.
A violation of any of these categories could potentially overlap with another. In situations where this is the case, we will default to the most severe infraction and take action appropriate to that category.

Scamming another Player

This category includes:

Acquiring items or any other "possessions" from another player through misinformation, confusion, or fraud (Scamming)
Running a casino (invite others to bet a pre-determined amount of gold, use the "/random" command, and if the "roll" is within certain parameters, lose their money or gain winnings)

If a player is found to have perpetrated a scam, s/he may:

Be given a warning
Be temporarily suspended from the game

IMPORTANT

Repeatedly violating any area of the Terms of Use (ToU), including the area detailed above, will often result in temporary suspension from the game.

Scam Prevention FAQ

What is a scam?

A scam is the act of acquiring items or any other possession from another player through misinformation, confusion, or fraud. In short, using any sort of deception to gain at another‘s expense. If you are unsure if your particular case fits the criteria of a scam, contact a GM in-game and they will be able to assist you.

Example:

[Scammer] says: Give me your sword and I will enchant it.
*Victim hands sword to scammer*
[Scammer] says: ROFL NEWB! Thanks for the sword!

What should I do if I get scammed?

If you fall victim to a scam, immediately petition your case within game. In situations where we can verify that a scam took place, a GM may attempt to intervene and assist the victim with the recovery of his/her item(s).

Will I get my item back?

Due to many variables involved with item reimbursement and types of scams, item reimbursement is not guaranteed. We will make every effort to verify your particular case and, once verified, will try to assist in returning the item to you. Please refer to our Character & Item Restoration Policy for further details on recovering lost items.

I was scammed again! Can you help me?

We want players to learn from their mistakes and take measures to ensure the same mistakes are not made again. We do not want players becoming career victims and utilizing the GM Staff as a crutch or shield versus scams. To this end, players will only be allowed a certain number of item restorations, including those lost to scams.

I grouped with a "ninja-looter." Can I get the item that I am entitled to returned?

Players that loot an item out of turn or against the group‘s wishes do not fit in the criteria of a scammer, and will not be investigated by the GM Staff.

I purchased an item out of game and have not received my item! Can the GMs assist?

If you are scammed out of game, we will be unable to assist you, as MCM online does not recognize any attempts to sell items outside of the game. We do not support, condone, or investigate these types of transactions, as all data contained on the Syndicates of Arkon servers is property of MCM online and cannot be bought or sold without the express written permission of MCM online.

Tips to Avoid Becoming the Victim of a Scam

Never give your prized possessions to anyone that you do not trust

In Syndicates of Arkonthere should never be a reason to hand your items to an unknown player for any reason. Such things as casting enchantments to your items can be done safely through the secure trading window, with little risk to the player. Moving an item to the "Will not be traded" box in the secure trading window allows other players to cast enchantments, or other effects on an item without it ever leaving your possession. Be wary and display extreme caution to any player suggests a proposal or deal that involves trust.

Caveat Emptor (Buyer beware)

Many scammers will attempt to use the auction houses as their tools of trade. Be diligent on what items you decide to purchase and the costs associated with each item. Always confirm the cost of the item before bidding or purchasing. In player to player transactions, confirm the item you are trading or purchasing before accepting the trade.

Real MCM online Employees will never ask you for items or gold

GMs and other MCM online Employees will never ask you to transfer your items to them. Be wary of players attempting to use the guise of being a GM or MCM online Employee to trick you into giving him/her your possessions. If a player ever attempts to defraud you in this fashion, contact an in-game GM immediately, via our "Help Request" feature, to report the issue.

Do not participate in cross Realm trades

We do not support any trades of gold or items across Realms (servers). The risk is placed entirely on the player‘s shoulders. If you engage in these types of transactions, you run a huge risk of being scammed.

Be cautious in the friends you make

Trust should be earned and not given. Be careful in the friends and alliances you choose in game. When you join a group or guild, you are now governed by other player‘s rules. It is your choice to stay in a guild or group if you do not agree with their methods and practices.

Keep your account information secret

Account sharing is against our TOU. All too frequently, scamming and account hacking can be attributed to sharing an account. While you may develop strong online friends and ties, any time you share your information with another person, the security of your account is seriously compromised.

Character & Item Restoration Policy

Virtual property lost for reasons beyond a players' control

If we can verify that your loss of virtual property was the direct result of:

A documented bug.
Data loss due to a problem with our service (Unless due to a global database revert or a server rollback).

We will make every attempt to:

Restore your property to the best of our ability for free.

Items lost that are essential to class development.

If we can verify you have lost possession of an item (for any reason) that fits all of the following categories:

Was previously in your inventory.
You are unable to recover yourself.
Is essential for proper class development (i.e. a quest item needed to receive a class defining skill).

We will make every attempt to:

Restore your property to the best of our ability for free if you are not responsible for this loss.
Restore your property to the best of our ability only once per account as courtesy if you are responsible for this loss. We reserve the right to refuse restoration if we feel an excessive number of requests have been made in this particular category (Although we understand that the occasional mistake can be made, we do not want players becoming careless and utilizing the GM Staff as a crutch).

Virtual property lost due to user error

If we can verify that your loss of virtual property was the direct result of:

Accidental deletion (characters, items, and in-game currency).
Accidental sale to a vendor.
Any other user error.

We will attempt to:

Restore the virtual property.
We reserve the right to refuse restoration if we feel an excessive number of requests have been made in this particular category (Although we understand that the occasional mistake can be made, we do not want players becoming careless and utilizing the GM Staff as a crutch).

If your particular case fits any of the above criteria, you may be eligible to receive assistance with the recovery of your lost goods. Due to many variables with investigating these claims, your reimbursement, if approved, may not be immediate. Keep in mind that a player and the account registered to him/her will be permitted a limited number of instances in which the GM staff will assist with property recovery. We do not wish to encourage career victims, nor will we penalize players who legitimately make the occasional slip-up.

Reimbursement of any kind is NOT guaranteed. While we will make every effort to verify and restore your loss, the decision to reimburse your loss is entirely at MCM online's discretion. If a player is repeatedly making poor decisions that result in lost property, we reserve the right to refuse further reimbursements.

Anti-Cheat Policy

MCM online by and through itself and/or its licensees and affiliates, considers cheating through the use of “unauthorized third party programs” to be a gross violation of the Syndicates of Arkon Terms of Use Agreement (“TOU”) and/or the Syndicates of Arkon End User License Agreement (“EULA”) that you have accepted in order to view this notice. An “unauthorized” third party program as used herein shall be defined as any third party software, including, without limitation, any “Add-on” or “Mod” that in MCM online sole determination:

(i) Enables or facilitates cheating of any type;
(ii) allows users to modify or “hack” the Syndicates of Arkon user interface, environment, and/or experience in any way not expressly allowed by MCM online in the EULA and/or the TOU;
(iii) intercepts, mines, or otherwise collects information from or through Syndicates of Arkon.

In an effort to combat the efforts of those individuals who are willing to violate the EULA and/or the TOU, MCM online utilizes an “anti-cheating” utility that runs as part of Syndicates of Arkon. This “anti cheating” utility performs limited scans of:

(i) the Random Access Memory (“RAM”) that is occupied by the Syndicates of Arkon program to confirm that the Syndicates of Arkon program has not been altered or “hacked” in violation of the Syndicates of Arkon Terms of Use;
(ii) the Syndicates of Arkon ‘process’ to determine if any unauthorized third party programs or computer code has been attached to the Syndicates of Arkon process; and
(iii) the Windows Process List to determine if any confirmed hacking or cheating programs are presently open in violation of the Syndicates of Arkon Terms of Use.

The information that is obtained from this activity is communicated to MCM online, who uses it solely to determine if the computer that a Syndicates of Arkon user is using to log-on to Syndicates of Arkon has any unauthorized third party programs, ‘hacks,’ or ‘cheats’ that violate the Syndicates of Arkon Terms of Use Agreement, and is not used for any marketing purposes, and will never be sold, leased or otherwise transferred to any third party. Also, note that other than the previously mentioned scanning activity, MCM online currently does not employ any other scans of the computer that you use to play Syndicates of Arkon are performed.

In the event that Syndicates of Arkon detects an unauthorized third party program, MCM online may in its sole determination:

(a) Communicate information back to MCM online, including without limitation your account name, details about the unauthorized third party program(s) detected, and the time and date the unauthorized third party program was detected; and/or
(b) exercise any or all of its rights under the TOU, with or without prior notice to you.

Forum Code of Conduct

You may not use the Forums to:

1. Transmit any unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable content.

2. Post or transmit sexually explicit images or other content that is deemed by MCM online to be offensive.

3. Advocate cheating during gameplay including, but not limited to, the modification of the game program files.

4. Impersonate any person including, but not limited to, a representative of MCM online.

5. Post or transmit chain letters or pyramid or money schemes.

6. "Spam" by posting frequent and/or annoying messages in the forums.

Please find below examples of what the above activities may consist in.

Offensive or Damaging Links
Users who post links to "browser bombs," which open multiple windows or sites with offensive content, will be banned.

Posting Cheats, Hacks, or Trojan Horses
Users who post links to cheating or hacking programs will be sanctioned. If you wish to report information regarding cheats or hacks to MCM online, send it to our Customer Support. Do not post this information on the Forums.

Harassment
Harassment occurs when a Forums user targets another individual to cause distress, embarrassment, unwanted attention, or other personal discomfort. MCM online does not condone harassment in any form. While you may disagree with someone's point of view, personal attacks, or attacks based on a person's race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disablement, or other such affiliation are prohibited. If you have a disagreement with someone's point of view, address the subject, not the person.

Harrassment can also consist in posting harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, or obscene content about individual MCM online employees. This includes the posting of email addresses, street addresses, or phone numbers of individual MCM online employees, which could expose you to civil liability as a violation of privacy.

Objectionable Content
The Forums are a gaming-community-oriented service comprised of many different types of people. Therefore, the use of vulgar or abusive language, even if masked by symbols or other characters, or engaging in other impermissible behaviour, will be sanctioned.

Sexually Explicit Images
MCM online prohibits the transfer or posting of sexually explicit images or other content deemed offensive by MCM online. In addition to the sanctions mentioned above, you may be subject to civil liability and/or investigation and prosecution by law enforcement.

Impersonation
This can involve the use of another person’s identity, such as employees or representatives of MCM online. Users must, amongst other things, avoid the use of MCM online employees or representatives’ identity in all forms of online communication, including, but not limited to, user names, user profiles, and voice, text, and graphic chat and message postings.

Chain Letters or Pyramid or Money Schemes
Transmission of chain letters or pyramid schemes of any kind is not allowed in the Forums. These materials are considered a nuisance by many users, and certain chain letters and pyramid schemes may be illegal. Users who create Posts for commercial purposes or any Posts that are designed to generate money for themselves will be sanctioned.

Spamming
Your access to the Forums and/or to the Site may be terminated for posting frequent and/or annoying messages in the Forums. An example is posting the same message to multiple Forums. If repeated spamming occurs, you may be sanctioned..

These Forum Guidelines shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws applicable in your country of residence. If any provision of these Forums Guidelines shall be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from these Forums Guidelines and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions. MCM online may revise these Forums Guidelines at any time and in its sole discretion. By using the Forums, you agree to be bound by any such revisions and you agree to periodically visit this page to determine the then current Forum Guidelines to which you are bound. It is your responsibility to understand the Forums Guidelines currently in force and conduct yourself in accordance therewith