It would seem that, aside from the actual game rules, there are rather a lot of untyped "laws of ESO2". For example, droptricking is technically forbidden but stealthing units and hiding them in the corners of the map is allowed by the game engine. Both are greatly disapproved of online. Herein lies the discrepancy. Some players consider tactics like hiding villagers and teaming in Free-for-alls legitimate ways to play, while others see them as second to cheating. So, to help clear up the confusion, below is a list of the main points of multiplayer etiquette, as suggested by posters in this sticky so far.
Online Code of Honor
1)Before the game
Restrict your Power Rating filter. Do not attempt to "n00b-bash" players much worse than you.
If you do not wish to play against civilisations you consider to be "overpowered", do not play quicksearch games. Host or join a game that consists of non-overpowered civilisations only, e.g. "1v1 no India, Japan". Be sure to mention the rule in the game title as if you don't you have no right to ask joined players to change their civilisations. If you do play quicksearch and are defeated by an overpowered civilisation you have no right to complain or flame them.
If joining or hosting a team game where players will be slotted into teams randomly, examine all players in the room and ensure that you would accept a game with any possible permutation of players in teams, even if you would prefer some players to be on your team than others. Once the game begins and you know your team, if you have the weakest players on your team you have no right to complain or insult your teammates.
If hosting a game with custom rules (e.g. "no ships"), before launching the game retype all the rules and a statement along the lines of "If you will not abide by these rules, leave now. By proceeding, you agree to follow them and cannot claim ignorance". Wait ten seconds, then launch.
If you are hosting, be honest. Do not create a low-level Home City for the purposes of deception and in a team game do not team up with a clanmate or other friend without giving some indication to the opposing players that you two have played together and will therefore have an advantage.
If you are hosting a team game with one spare slot and a player enters asking if his/her friend can join, do not boot someone else from the game. Give priority to the first players to join. Similarly, if you intend to play with a friend do not join games with insufficient spare slots.
If you are hosting a Custom Scenario game, be honest and informative about what it entails. Do not type something like "this map is rely fun!11! yehyeahyeh!" and wait for players to join the game and soon realise that they get two villagers and a Turkey Scout versus a horde of 87,593 FU cuirassiers and fixed guns.
In Free-for-alls do not decide to team up with a player before the game begins. Teaming is acceptable once the game starts but should not be premeditated. If you yourself are teamed in-game, do not complain or flame the teaming players.
2)When the game starts
If possible, type in "gl hf" (short for "good luck, have fun") or a similar message. This is not mandatory but it is a good way to begin a game.
Do not "trash talk" by insulting your opponents or teammates. This includes boasting about rank, typing "im goonnna owwnz joo 11!!11", etc. Also, do not excessively use the game taunts. Consider one in the first two minutes the limit, and keep all other use of taunts in the game to a minimum. If you are excessively taunted, do not return fire, simply type "!mute" (which will remove the taunt sound effects) and ignore the taunting player(s).
If you are playing on someone else's custom scenario and you find that it isn't working properly (e.g. stranded covered wagons), do not flame the host of the game. Politely inform him/her of the problem and if it cannot be rectified then leave the game.
Treasure stealing is permitted, as are any other legitimate game tactics at this point.
3)If you have almost won:
Do not type "gg". It is up to the near-defeated opponent to make the first move.
If you are certain that you have killed your opponent's last villager, politely ask if they intend to resign. If you recieve a rude or no message, discontinue the conversation and focus on researching Spies (or doing whatever is necessary) in order to finish the game.
If your opponent types "gg" and you respond with the same but he/she does nothing, politely ask if they intend to resign. If you recieve a rude or no message, discontinue the conversation and focus on researching Spies (or doing whatever is necessary) in order to finish the game.
In post-game chat, if possible and appropriate try to congratulate your opponent.
4)If you have almost lost
Do not attempt to droptrick, lag your opponent out, disconnect or otherwise sabotage the game.
Do not start insulting your opponent or proclaiming that you lost because of an OP civ or map screw, even if that was the case. Similarly, do not insult your teammates for poor play or try to blame them for your team's failure, even if it was their fault.
If you still have one or more villagers, it is perfectly acceptable to continue playing and trying to win. If your opponent demands that you resign, you are under no obligation to do so.
If you have no villagers left and no possible way of rebuilding, either type "gg" and resign or do something interesting that will quickly result in your defeat (e.g. gathering all your troops for a suicide raid on the enemy). Do not hide stealthy units in corners and hope your enemy loses patience.
If your opponent tells you that he/she needs to go and your opponent has been fairly courteous throughout the game, even if you have a couple of villagers left you should resign. This is a matter of judgement, but be considerate and reasonable.
5)Miscellaneous
If at some point you need to leave for up to three minutes, pause and immediately type why you need to pause and how long you'll be gone, e.g. "brb need 2 answer phone 30secs pls". If you need to go for longer than three minutes, ask your opponent if they mind waiting. If they do, resign and do whatever you need to do. If you get back (before three minutes have passed) and find your opponent has unpaused, simply type "thanks a lot" and continue playing. Do not ask for a pause when you do not need one e.g. to secretly micromanage your units.
If your opponent pauses, wait for twenty seconds to give them time to type a message. If none appears, unpause and continue playing. If your opponent gave a reasonable reason for pausing but has been gone later than three minutes, you have a right to unpause if you wish to. If you suspect your opponent may have paused to micromanage his/her units, follow the above etiquette and use the time to micromanage yourself.
If you yourself need to go for any reason, if you are losing or the game is in an undecided state, resign immediately (if possible with the message "g2g" or something similar). If you are winning, ask your opponent if he/she would consider resigning. If not, resign immediately. If you are in a team game, inform your teammates (if possible tribute them or help them however you can) then resign.
In a Free-for-all, you are under no obligation to wait for a player to be in the Imperial Age and "ready" before you attack. (Unless of course that was stated in the title of the game beforehand.) Most FFAs will end up with no attacks before Imperial, but you have no right to complain if you are attacked at an early stage of the game.
If your opponent is profane or idiotic in chat or breaks the etiquette above, it still applies to you in all cases except those where you feel courtesy would be wasted.
If you have a poor-performing computer, turn your graphics down. If that makes no difference or you've gone as low as you can go, stick to land maps. If you want to play semi-water maps, host a game explicitly stating "no boats" or a similar message in the title. Fishing boats must be disallowed or problems may rise regarding people stashing boats where nobody else can get to them.
If, once the game has started, a player from either team asks you not to build boats return a message asking him/her to turn their graphics down. If they refuse, you do not have to take notice of their request and it is up to you whether the lag levels are sufficiently acceptable for you to play on.
If you have anything to add to this list or want to correct something, please post and let me know. Remember, those who break the Code will suffer terrifying nightmares containing multitudes of disapproving elderly ladies wielding longbows. If you have committed violations of the Code and wish to escape the wrath of the Elderly Longbowladies of Doom, ask forgiveness in my "Confessions" sticky and I will grant you absolution.
Giskard: BrianManahan = Tsar_Ivan_VII? Discuss.
Giskard: BrianManahan = Tsar_Ivan_VII. It's no longer a question.
Giskard: Isn't BrianManahan liable to be banned anyway for being the smurf of a banned forumer (Tsar_Ivan_VII)?
BrianManahan: I'm not sure who that is, Giskard, but I see what you is trying to do. I don't smurf >:O
(One day later) Moderator Announcements: Tsar_Ivan_VII / BrianManahan Banned Permanently - IP Match
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If you have anything to add to this list or want to correct something, please post and let me know. Remember, those who break the Code will suffer terrifying nightmares containing multitudes of disapproving elderly ladies wielding longbows. If you have committed violations of the Code and wish to escape the wrath of the Elderly Longbowladies of Doom, ask forgiveness in my "Confessions" sticky and I will grant you absolution.
Giskard: BrianManahan = Tsar_Ivan_VII? Discuss.
Giskard: BrianManahan = Tsar_Ivan_VII. It's no longer a question.
Giskard: Isn't BrianManahan liable to be banned anyway for being the smurf of a banned forumer (Tsar_Ivan_VII)?
BrianManahan: I'm not sure who that is, Giskard, but I see what you is trying to do. I don't smurf >:O
(One day later) Moderator Announcements: Tsar_Ivan_VII / BrianManahan Banned Permanently - IP Match
[This message has been edited by Giskard (edited 08-29-2008 @ 12:40 PM).]