The Sturmgrenadier Online Gaming Syndicate Charter

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Member Conduct
3. Command Staff Conduct
4. Disciplinary Actions
5. Administrative Procedures
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
7. Navigation Menu
 

Sturmgrenadier is a unique online gaming community with a structure modeled closely to that of a real-life military unit. Inherent with such a military unit, Sturmgrenadier places more than the usual amount of demands on its members. It is through this structure that Sturmgrenadier has attained the status of a "professional squad', with highly dedicated members and leaders. The success of Sturmgrenadier lies within its dedication to discipline and precise execution, which come from a strict adherence to rules and regulations.

• Members of Sturmgrenadier must conduct themselves with professionalism and maturity at all times within the online gaming environment and out. Furthering the positive image of SG should be the goal for all members, be proud of your unit and its accomplishments through your actions.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier must comply with the orders given to them by duly appointed SG Command Staff, or designated representatives thereof, to the best of their ability.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier shall not attack nor otherwise harass fellow SG members or members of the general online gaming community.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier shall not use sexual innuendo or otherwise sexually harass fellow SG members or members of the public gaming community in-game or while otherwise using Sturmgrenadier assets. Members found to be engaged in such activity will be immediately removed from Sturmgrenadier.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier shall not cheat, nor exploit in any way, any online gaming application, to include activity considered detrimental to the enjoyment of gaming by others or by a team. A game's Terms of Service (TOS) carries the same weight within Sturmgrenadier as it does within the game; Sturmgrenadier members shall comply with all game publisher TOS's.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier shall not "grief" or otherwise cause undue harm to ANY member of the online gaming community while "in-game", through unfair or questionable gaming tactics.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier shall not fraternize or otherwise aid any opponent of Sturmgrenadier.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier shall not "spam" or "troll" public or private gaming forums while representing SG.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier shall not respond to "bait" or "troll" postings, in any public or private forum, that openly attack or criticize Sturmgrenadier or its members without the express consent of the Command Staff.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier shall not use SG imagery or reference in any public or private forum posting which is negative or adversarial in nature.
   
• Imagery and/or quotations deemed extremely controversial and/or political/religious in nature shall not be used in Sturmgrenadier's forums whether it be in forum signatures or forum posts. The use of such imagery and/or quotations in other public forums, while representing SG in any fashion, is discouraged.
   
• The use of pornographic images in Sturmgrenadier forums is strictly prohibited. Links and/or advertisements for such websites within SG forums is expressly forbidden. Use of such images in other, non-SG forums, by Sturmgrenadier members, is HIGHLY discouraged.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier shall not discuss nor advocate political or religious beliefs within any SG gaming forum, public or private.  Sturmgrenadier's membership is worldwide and highly diverse; due respect must be given to that fact. Commentary or debate about religious or political views simply will not be tolerated within SG forums.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier shall not discuss nor share information from our private forums with any non-member or in any forum that is not authorized by the Sturmgrenadier Command Staff. Material posted in any SG forum is the property of Sturmgrenadier and the poster and not for public consumption unless otherwise noted.
   
• A member of Sturmgrenadier should not retain membership with another squad/clan/guild that participates in the same "Official Portal" game(s) as SG. Sturmgrenadier is all about the teamwork, friendship, and loyalty; our members expect nothing less.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier must remain an active member in one of the MAIN Portals in order to remain within Sturmgrenadier.
  
  "Active" is defined as:
  
  - Posting in the Sturmgrenadier forums at least ONCE a month; preferably within the member's primary Portal.
  - Actively engaging in Sturmgrenadier operations within the member's chosen Portal(s) on a regular basis.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier must ensure that their immediate Command Staff is notified of any change in membership status (email addresses, leaves, discontinuance of membership, etc.).
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier shall ensure that they are wearing the rank avatar they actually rate while participating in the Sturmgrenadier forums, where applicable.
   
• Members of Sturmgrenadier, who "lone-wolf", shall not utilize the same voice server, nor operate in the same area as members who are actively engaged in normal SG operations in normal operational areas. Members that are present in SG operational areas are expected to be on the voice server and actively engaged in the group, with few exceptions.

Failure to comply with the above shall result in a disciplinary review by the Command Staff. Rules governing disciplinary actions are found in Section 4.

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• Members of the Command Staff shall be firm and fair in all actions taken in-game or out of game. Favoritism or bias should not be part of any battle plan.
   
• Members of the Command Staff shall conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times and serve as an example.
   
• Members of the Command Staff shall make every effort to issue clear and unambiguous orders. Ensuring that all members relevant to the mission at hand receive those orders, through voice or text communications, is a top priority.
   
• Members of the Command Staff shall maintain control and discipline over the members placed in their charge at all times.
   
• Members of the Command Staff shall maintain control and order over all SG communication assets.
   
• Members of the Command Staff shall maintain adequate administrative control over their unit's operation, to include rosters, promotions, disciplinary action, the unit's forum, and member communiqués.
   
• Members of the Command Staff shall ensure their units maintain operational readiness; requests for help from members must be acted on as quickly as possible. Ensure new arrivals receive adequate training and accurate operational information.
   
• Members of the Command Staff shall give their best effort in attending Command Staff meetings in which their presence is required.
   
• Members of the Command Staff shall ensure that members comply with the rules of conduct, taking fast, fair, and appropriate correctional action when necessary.
   
• Members of the Command Staff, who are in a Command role shall not retain membership with another squad/clan/guild, no exceptions.
   
• Members of the Command Staff appointed to a command role for a particular online game must maintain a majority focus on that particular game.
   
• Members of the Command Staff must maintain an active role in the SG forums.
   
• Members of the Command Staff shall ensure recognition is bestowed upon deserving members in a timely and appropriate fashion.
   
• Members of the Command Staff shall strive to improve and refine the concept of teamwork at all times, ensuring full member participation.
   
• Members of the Command Staff shall stay abreast of any operational changes, to include password/access changes, procedural changes, etc. Relevant changes are to be passed to the membership in a timely manner.
   
• Members of the Command Staff must be ever-vigilant for any attack on the reputation of SG or its members, defending with tact and professionalism.

Failure to comply with the above shall result in a command review by SG Syndicate Command or the relevant Portal Commanding Officer.
 

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• All infractions shall be reviewed by the Command Staff.
   
• Portal Commanders are responsible for members under their command.
   
• Reports of infractions must be sent via the member's chain of command, privately.
   
• Incidents are to be kept private and between the member and Command Staff only; open discussion in non-Command forums is prohibited unless deemed appropriate by the Command Staff.
   
• Infractions found to be of a gross nature, directly affecting the well-being and/or operations of SG or its members, shall result in immediate dismissal from Sturmgrenadier and forfeiture of membership. Examples of gross infractions would include cheating, spying for the opposing team, verbally assaulting a teammate, attempted hacking of SG resources, or bringing direct harm upon SG or its members.
   
• A member who is forcibly removed for actions occurring in one Portal shall forfeit their entire membership to Sturmgrenadier.

Disciplinary Steps

When a member is found to be in violation of established rules and policies (not of a gross nature), the following steps will be taken until a resolution can be reached:

• FIRST STEP - If the violation occurs in SG's forums, the offender's post will be locked and a notice of 1st warning will be attached, quoting the appropriate rule violation. If the violation occurs outside SG's forums, efforts are to be taken to cut and paste offending post into SG's forums and then apply the aforementioned lock and warning.
  
  If the violation occurs in-game, the member shall receive a verbal warning, accompanied by a follow-up post in the SG forum's that details the violation and quotes the policy violated; the post is to be locked.
  
  If the offender complies with this FIRST STEP, the disciplinary process is halted.
   
• SECOND STEP - If a second violation occurs in SG or other forums, the offender's post will be dealt with as outlined in the FIRST STEP with the additional steps of issuing a warning email sent to the offender and copied to Syndicate Command. At this point, the offender will be placed into a moderated forum status for a period of seven (7) days- all posts made in SG forums by the offender will be automatically reviewed by his/her Portal Command staff before it is allowed to actually post to the forum.
  
  A second in-game violation will be treated in the same fashion as outlined in the FIRST STEP, with the additional steps detailed in the previous paragraph also being applied.
  
  If the offender complies with this SECOND STEP, the disciplinary process is halted.
   
• THIRD AND FINAL STEP - A third violation of Sturmgrenadier rules and regulations will initiate procedures to determine whether or not a member will remain with Sturmgrenadier. A disciplinary review board will be convened by Syndicate Command. The board shall consist of at least two Syndicate Commanders, at least one of the offender's immediate Portal Command Staff. and as many impartial (not in the same Portal as offender) Command Staff members as is possible. Other Command Staff members may attend as deemed necessary by Syndicate Command or the offender's Portal Command Staff.
  
  In the forums, the member will be suspended until a resolution is reached in the disciplinary review process.
  
  The offender will be given the opportunity to argue their case, should they choose to attend.
  
  Based on the merits of the case, the convened board will determine whether or not the offending member shall remain with Sturmgrenadier or forfeit his/her membership. Decisions made by the board are final.
   

In all instances of rule and policy violations, the offender's Portal Command Staff has jurisdiction until the THIRD STEP. whereupon Syndicate Command assumes control of the proceedings.

Warning's shall remain on a member's record for a period of six (6) months following the last action, at which point the member's record will be expunged.
 

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Sturmgrenadier relies upon having an active member base to uphold and maintain all aspects of the Syndicate's operation. Members are expected to maintain at least a minimum amount of activity in order to maintain their membership within a Sturmgrenadier Portal. At the same time, Sturmgrenadier recognizes the fact that "real life" takes precedence of ANY online activity.

• Members must maintain minimum activity by making at least one post in their primary Portal's forum at least once a month AND regularly engage in SG operations within their chosen Portal in order to retain their assignment to the Portal.
   

• Members who depart temporarily for military or business reasons need only to email/PM their commander in order to preserve their standing within their Portal.

Member Removal or Voluntary Departure

From time to time, members must be removed from their assigned Sturmgrenadier Portal. The reasons vary from disciplinary to administrative. Whatever the reason, it is done to ensure the security and well-being of Sturmgrenadier, the Portal, and its members.

• Members failing to maintain participation in their Portal via the Sturmgrenadier forums by posting at least once a month must be unassigned for security reasons, with or without notice. The member will be placed in "inactive" status. SG is a team operation and requires every member to maintain an active presence in all SG activities.
   

• If an inactive member wishes to rejoin operations, they need only file a new application with their desired Portal; re-subscription is not necessary so long as the member's subscription is still active. The returning member shall enter Sturmgrenadier with the lowest rank for the given portal to which they are applying. Portal Commanders shall make the determination on whether or not to restore rank to the returning member; in most cases, no special exceptions will be made.
   

• Members who formally "resign" from SG forfeit any time remaining on their active subscription; all non-public access to Sturmgrenadier access will be terminated. If the member wishes to return to Sturmgrenadier, a new subscription will need to be created, without the option of a free trial period.
   

• All members who are set as "inactive" lose Teamspeak privileges for security reasons. "Inactive" members shall continue to have read/reply access to the General Members Only forum for the remainder of their subscription, but will be unable to create new posts. There is limited access to a select few other SG forums as well.
   

• Members removed for disciplinary reasons forfeit all benefits and subscriptions to Sturmgrenadier. Members may be banned, via IP and other means, if their offense rates it.

Communications

Sturmgrenadier "communication assets" include the Teamspeak server, the SG forums, plus any other officially sanctioned means of SG communications. Members are expected to utilize communication assets fully when participating in SG operations. Command Staff has jurisdiction over all means of SG communications where applicable.

• Unauthorized users are to be removed from SG Comms Assets upon discovery.
   

• Members NOT participating in SG operations yet still utilizing SG Comms Assets are to be removed immediately from said assets.
   

• All SG Members are required to have a fully functional headset and/or microphone (headset highly recommended) to participate in Teamspeak communications. There are NO exceptions.
   

• Sturmgrenadier members are to use officially sanctioned callsigns and insignia, where used, in all SG Comms Assets.
   

• Access information to SG Comms Assets are top-secret and are not to be shared with any non-SG member under ANY circumstances.
   

• Access information shall be changed on a regular basis.

Game/Forum Name Convention

Sturmgrenadier members are required to have a Sturmgrenadier forum name that closely matches their in-game name. Having the same name in-game and out facilitates tracking of Time-In-Grade promotions and benefits unit cohesion/camaraderie. From time to time a member finds themselves in need of changing their in-game name in order to conform to a particular game's naming convention. Attaching a number to the end of the member's in-game name (Joeplayer----->Joeplayer1) usually solves the problem and is an acceptable practice. When simple additions to the name are impractical and a complete change is required, the following must occur:

• The member MUST NOT register a new forum name, if they already posses one, under any circumstances. Forum access privileges will be adversely affected.
   

• The member must submit a name change request via their Subscription Management area. This feature is NOT available to non-SG members.
   

• The member must submit a new Teamspeak Registration Request from their Subscription Management area. The old name will be deleted upon activation of the new name.
   

• The member must notify their immediate commander of the change in order to ensure TIG rank tracking or other records are properly updated.
   

• Regular, repeated name changes are prohibited. Carefully consider any name changes before proceeding.
   

• Members who hold dual gaming accounts and utilize them in squad operations must name their extra accounts in a fashion that clearly identifies the relationship to the member (use numbers- Joeplayer, Joeplayer1 (second account). Forum registration of the extra accounts is not advised; you will be required to start a new subscription for the second name.

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Q. What is the Sturmgrenadier Syndicate?

A. The Sturmgrenadier Online Gaming Syndicate is the umbrella under which each SG Portal operates.

Q. What is a Portal in Sturmgrenadier?

A. The Portals in Sturmgrenadier represent each of the games that SG participates in. Each Portal is fully staffed and has its own forum areas and website within the Sturmgrenadier Syndicate.

Q. If I decide to quit one SG Portal and move to another SG Portal, am I required to pay for a new membership?

A. No. As long as your membership is current, you may move laterally, to another Portal, as many times as you wish. As an SG member, you have open access to ALL SG Portals. Your paid membership to Sturmgrenadier is not Portal-dependent.

Q. What happens to my paid membership if I go inactive for whatever reason?

A. If you go inactive in your assigned Portal long enough, you may be removed from the Portal; however, your membership with SG will remain intact with basic Member's access to the forums (Syndicate Members Only forum, read/reply access only); Teamspeak access will be removed for security reasons. Your membership will remain active until it expires, at which point all access will be lost to Member Areas. Should you return to active status, you need only re-apply to your desired Portal to re-gain assignment.

Q. Can anyone join Sturmgrenadier?

A. Anyone is welcome to apply to any of Sturmgrenadier's Portals; however, actual entry into Sturmgrenadier is, by no means, guaranteed. SG is selective in its application review process and generally does not respond to public inquiries about reasons for denial.

Q. Can I copy your Charter and use it for my own squad/clan/guild?

A. No, this document belongs to Sturmgrenadier and was written by SG President, Burnspot. It may not be copied or reproduced, in any way, without the express written permission of Sturmgrenadier. On that same note, all information contained within SG's web domains is either original work or that provided by game developers/publishers for use in game-relevant websites.

Our members ARE Sturmgrenadier!

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