Marvel Mods Rules (Community, Content, Forums, and Discord)

[Teancum]

MARVEL MODS RULES
Rules Hub

    Welcome to the rules hub! This is where we list all relevant rules for our community. Click the links below to read the rules for different areas:

• Community Rules: rules that apply to the entire community, in public and private, regardless of platform.
• Content Rules: rules that apply to content published and shared within the Marvel Mods community.
• Forum Rules: rules that apply specifically to the Marvel Mods forums at MarvelMods.com.
• Discord Rules: rules that apply specifically to the Marvel Mods Discord server.

    The staff reserve the right to change, add, or remove any rules listed here at any time, although we will always provide a notice if this happens.

Contacting the Staff
    If you need to reach the staff, there are a few options:

• Discord (preferred method): To reach the staff via Discord, join our server (link at the top of the forums) and send a message to the @ModMail bot. It will communicate with you through your DMs and will step you through the process of contacting us. This process sends a message that all staff members can view and respond to at once.
• Forums (not preferred): If you can't reach us with Discord, you can also get in touch with us on the forums. You can find a list of active staff in the News Bulletin Board. If you have an issue, message anyone under the Admins or Moderators lists. Keep in mind that staff members aren't on the forums as often and that responses may be slower, especially because you can only send individual messages and not group messages.

[BaconWizard17]

MARVEL MODS RULES
Community Rules

    The following rules are applicable to the Marvel Mods community as a whole, both on the website and the Discord server, in both public posts/messages and private messages.

• Be civil and respectful of one another. Treat others how you would want to be treated. Do not insult anyone, regardless of the situation or whether they're online. Racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, or otherwise hateful speech will not be tolerated. Discrimination or harassment will result in a mute. Really egregious cases or repeat offenses will get you banned.
• Avoid discussions of real-world topics. This includes things like politics and religion. This community is about modding, and is not a place for such serious discussions.
• Do not post porn/sexual content. This includes usernames, writing, images, avatars, artwork, audio, videos, etc. This content will always be deleted, and repeated offenses will result in a ban. Non-sexual NSFW content should be hidden with a spoiler. Exercise good judgment and practice common sense. Don't post anything that you wouldn't want a child or your boss to see. If you're unsure, speak to the staff. For information on NSFW content in mods, see the Content Rules.
• Don't discuss software piracy or share pirated links. We understand that certain software can be hard to come by legally. However, if we catch you engaging in piracy, we must ban you. We don't want lawyers coming to us with issues. Legally preserved abandonware that is archived through official sites is an exception to this rule, as there is no other method of acquiring this software. However, if we encounter issues with this exception, it will be voided. Discussions of emulation are perfectly acceptable, provided that the games being emulated are legally acquired. Recompilations of old games that run on non-native consoles but still require an original copy of the game to build can also be discussed.
• Do not use AI-generated content in posts. There is not only a moral/ethical/environmental issue with it but a legal issue that could get us in trouble. AI-powered tools that don't generate content (such as image upscaling, sorting, or automation) are fine to use, as they don't rely on the work of others to function. Using AI for coding or programming assistance is allowed under specific conditions. Please check out the Content Rules for more information.
• Do not offer, request, or accept money or other financial payment for any services in this community. Modders cannot set a monetary price for their services. Everything offered here is offered for free, and always will be.
  
  • Public messages asking for work in exchange for payment (as a buyer or a seller) will be deleted, and repeat offenses will result in escalating action up to a ban.
  • Any creator found to be taking money in exchange for services in the community will be instantly banned, and their work will be removed.
  Making profit for any services connected to games we don't own is against the law. We don't want cease and desist letters coming at us.
• Do not violate an author's rules for their releases. Most, if not all, authors have certain rules set up for each of their downloads, whether it be a full mod, skin, or anything else. We highly suggest to abide by their rules. This primarily includes warehousing and hot linking on other sites without crediting the original author.
• Don't play "Junior Moderator". If a user is doing something wrong, kindly explain how they can fix it. If it becomes a problem, let the staff do their job. Usually, if we don't do something about it, there's no need. If you feel that it should be reported, please reach out to the staff with a description of what's going on and a link to the problem.
• Do not attempt to circumvent any type of ban. You were banned for a reason. If you have a problem with it, reach out to the staff with the reason you feel it was a mistake. Be nice about it. Don't burn your bridges. If you made a mistake, apologizing or kindly working out the problem helps the situation get resolved quickly. If users show genuine remorse and willingness to improve, we have lifted bans in the past. If we made a mistake, we'll be willing to work it out too.
• Have fun! Although these rules may seem strict, they are just in place to help us clearly sort out any issues and ensure that the community stays safe. We like to keep a friendly and relaxed environment where we can all enjoy our shared hobby!

[BaconWizard17]

MARVEL MODS RULES
Content Rules

    The following rules are applicable to any mods, tools, resources, or other content released within the Marvel Mods community.

• Release your creations on the website. We have always been supportive of creators posting their works to other websites, whether that's simply hosting your files on an external download site like MediaFire or posting them to a modding website like GameBanana. However, we ask that any creator who is a member of Marvel Mods post at least a link to their mod on the Marvel Mods website in the appropriate section. We want to ensure that the website stays the one-stop shop for people to find mods for the games that we play.
• Don't edit or re-release mods without an author's approval. If you want to edit something that someone else made, we highly advise you to check if the creator has a specific usage policy for their work. Some have "just credit me" as a rule, others have "ask permission first and credit me" as a rule, and some don't want their work reused at all. Creators spend a lot of time on their custom releases, so it's important to respect their wishes. When in doubt, we recommend that you ask permission from the original author through a PM (forums) or DM (Discord). If a creator with an "ask first" policy has been offline for many years, the staff may make the decision to allow edits with credit only.
• Consent to archiving: the Marvel Mods staff maintain a backup archive of all releases posted to the forums. Trusted users can have access to their own archive folders to help the staff maintain their own mods. This archive is in place to help keep old mods available, as many older releases have been lost to time when their creators stop being active in the community. Links to the mods within will only be used if the original download link becomes unavailable and the original creator can no longer be reached.
  
  • The released content of active modders within the community will always be maintained in the archive. We can't offer exceptions due to the complexity of keeping track of who's being excluded.
  • If a creator is banned from the community, the staff reserve the right to keep the creator's mods within the archive.
  • A user who leaves on their own volition may request the staff to remove their mods.
• Regarding non-Marvel characters and mods: The folks at Marvel, Raven Software, and Activision have been good enough to look the other way when we convert things from the X-Men Legends games to Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and vice versa. They probably realize that modding helps PC sales, and that ideas for a game's sequel can often spring from mods for the first game. That being said, we always welcome Marvel-to-Marvel conversions, as our ideas can become the springboard to creating new games.
  As of July 13th, 2011, we do allow non-Marvel releases. We have been a long living community. We will cancel this rule if it causes problems.
  Completely original characters are always welcome and always will be. There haven't been many 100% original characters created, but they're totally safe, as they're your creations. However, they must be 100% your work and no one else's.
• Regarding NSFW content in mods: For clothing (found in skins, mannequins, and artwork) and poses (found in animations, mannequins, and artwork), we've definined 3 levels: Not Allowed, On the Fence, and Allowed.
  
  • Not Allowed: Content at this level cannot be included in a mod. If it is included, you will be given one opportunity to remove it. A lack of cooperation or repeat offenses will result in content removal and appropriate disciplinary action.
  • On the Fence: Content at this level will need to be reviewed by the staff. You can reach out to the staff to get it reviewed. While we will generally allow it, we may recommend some level of blurring, censorship, or warning with the release of the content. Much of this content is context-specific, and we're happy to discuss it with you. Regardless of the conclusion for the release, we recommend that this type of content is marked as a spoiler when announced on Discord, as Discord can be viewed in a more casual setting. If the character is a minor, then this level of content falls under Not Allowed.
  • Allowed: There's no problem with you posting this content, and no warnings or censorship are needed. Use your best judgment. If it's borderline, feel free to reach out to the staff for our review. If we think it's On the Fence, we'll discuss it with you as well. If the character is a minor, we reserve the right to evaluate this content as needed.
  Clothing Content:
  
  • Not Allowed: Exposed genitals, silhouettes of genitals, or fully exposed female breasts.
    
    • We recognize that there is a double standard with female vs male chests. However, most websites and online platforms structure their rules in such a way, so we will follow suit to help provide clear guidelines.
  • On the Fence: Near-nudity, anything more revealing than a typical swimsuit or bikini
  • Allowed: Typical superhero costume things, i.e., deep necklines, shirtless men, bare midriffs, strapless tops, underwear-type bottoms, and of course, any higher level of coverage.
  Poses:
  
  • Not Allowed: Deliberately sexual poses, i.e., spread legs, characters bent over, grabbing at genitals/breasts, covering themselves in a way that would otherwise make themselves nude.
  • On the Fence: Highly sexy but not sexual poses, i.e., emphasizing the butt or chest. This category is a bit harder to define because of the broad range, but if you reach out to the staff, we can help come to a conclusion about it.
  • Allowed: Casually sexy poses (for example, Spider-Woman's mannequin), and of course, poses with no sexual connotations.
  We will do our best to evaluate future content per these rules. As long as you are open to discussion and willing to cooperate, we will work with you. We want people to be able to make the mods that they're interested in, but we also want to have clear rules that guide creators and protect our audience.
• Regarding AI-generated content in mods:
  
  • Generative AI may be used in the creation of code for mods, tools, engine tweaks, de/recompilations, etc. However, the source code must be available so that it can be checked for safety. The code must also be labeled as AI-generated in release posts, release announcements, and any documentation.
  • Generative AI may not be used in the creation of images (artwork, textures, release materials, etc.), videos (in-game cutscenes, release materials, etc.), or audio (voice lines, music, release materials, etc.) within any content released on the site. If your content is determined to be AI-generated, you will be given one opportunity to remove or modify it. Repeat offenses or a lack of cooperation will result in content removal and escalating disciplinary action up to a ban.
  • AI-powered tools that don't generate content (such as image upscaling, sorting, or automation) are fine to use and do not require an AI label.
• Regarding mods based on real people: Mods of real-world people may be created so long as they meet the following criteria:
  
  • The individual's main career and public legacy must be in entertainment, art, sports, science, or technology, not politics, lobbying, religion, or social/ideological commentary.
  • The mod must be a respectful tribute to the person's work or a good-faith parody based on their appearances in other media. Fictionalized, satirical, or comic-book variants of real-world individuals who are historically associated with genocide, hate groups, or severe real-world violence are strictly prohibited, regardless of the media source.
  The staff reserve the right to evaluate all mods of real people against real-world context and may remove them at any time if they cause intense ideological arguments or toxic discourse within the community, or if the real-world context around the person drastically changes.

[BaconWizard17]

MARVEL MODS RULES
Forum Rules

    The following rules are applicable to the Marvel Mods forums at MarvelMods.com.

• Don't use all caps. Never post a message with all caps, nor a topic. It's considered rude, and it's more difficult to read.
• Post meaningful and clear topics and posts. Topics should clearly state what you need help on. This is more of a guideline rather than a rule, and we understand that this may be difficult if English isn't your first language, but please try your best. If you find errors or want to change something, make use of the edit/modify button for your post.
• Don't hijack someone else's thread with your own work or requests. Posting one image of yours in someone else's thread for comparison is okay. If you want to post more than that, create your own thread and provide a link to it in the other person's.
• Multiple user accounts are not allowed. There is absolutely no reason to have more than one account. If you want to rename your account, an admin can change it if the new one is available. If you are having trouble logging in, reach out to us via Discord and we can help sort out the issue.
• Don't spam. This includes posting pointless messages to increase your post count, double posting without good reason, resurrecting old topics for no reason, posting the same thing in multiple places, etc. We have special ranks that we'll give you if you spam, and you won't like them.
• Don't ask questions in the Knowledge Base. The Knowledge Base board is only for information about the game, tutorials on modding, and other useful information. If you have a question, ask in the Technical Problems board.
• Don't log in under another user's account. If you feel your account has been breached, notify an Admin before the violator has a chance to get you banned. We have had some occasions where a sibling got a member's account and had a field day.
• Don't abuse/misuse the report function. The report function on a post is to help alert the staff to rule violations and major issues. It should not be used to report broken links or to ask questions.

[BaconWizard17]

MARVEL MODS RULES
Discord Rules

    The following rules are applicable to the Marvel Mods Discord server.

• All behavior must abide by Discord's policies. This includes their Terms of Service and Community Guidelines.
• Check the tutorials before asking for help. You can find tutorials and other important information in the #tutorials-and-faq channel within the server.
• Ask for help in the correct channel. The #help❗ channel is the best place to go to ask for help if you don't understand something in a tutorial or keep running into issues. Be patient and someone will help you when available.
• Don't spam. This includes excessive off-topic messages in a chat, excessive use of the @everyone tag, or repeating a message multiple times in one or more channels. Doing so intentionally will get you muted. Continued intentional engagement in this behavior after three mutes will result in a ban.
• Try to keep to the channel topic. We're not super strict, but use the channels as a guide. When discussing recent spoiler content, use the spoiler function. Otherwise, your message will get deleted.
• The #mod-releases channel is only for announcing mod releases. Don't use this channel for discussions. For announcements, please avoid long messages that are redundant to the mod's release post. Only those with the @Modders, @Skinners, and @Animators roles can post in this channel.
• Don't hassle anyone with DMs or by tagging them repeatedly. Ask questions in the suitable channel. Please avoid excessive pinging of large roles (such as @everyone or @here). The everyone or here tags should be used sparingly, and only @Modders, @Skinners, and @Animators can use them. Here are cases where they would be appropriate:
  
  • Major mod project releases (something on the scale of the 36RH/50RH or the EXG)
  • Major mod breakthroughs (overcoming limits, etc.)
  • Major tutorial releases
  • Major announcements
  • Polls about major topics
  • Any critical updates to your mods that fix any kind of issues.
  The @Modders/@Skinners/@Animators tags, while a bit more lenient, should not be abused either.