There are new rules being added to our site as well as a new approach for handling those that break them. Changes noted in Orange. 

These rules are constantly being developed and must be accepted by players at each change. Infractions upon these rules will be decided by Administrators based on the severity of the rules that were broken, Administrators have the final say and their determinations are based solely on the health and sustainability of Mafia Returns. 

A new scale is being introduced for the severity of rule infractions. Rules have been marked with Asterisks (***) to denote the punishment scale associated with that rule. When administration must make a decision for unique infractions on the rules they will use the following scale to determine consequence:

1. The consequences associated with a single asterisk * can be any of the following: A warning mail with opportunity for explanation, A demotion from rank, up to 5 days in jail.

2. The consequences associated with 2 asterisks ** can be any of the following: A demotion from rank, Up to 10 days in jail, admin wack.

3. The consequences associated with 3 asterisks *** can be any of the following: An admin wack, A site ban from MafiaReturns

4. No single rule will have 4+ asterisks, multiple infractions however will stack (Tied to account for 5 years). In this situation the player will be removed from the game for no less than 6 months.

Maturity- Mafia Returns has an ESRB Rating of Mature, in order to continue the content provided by the game and the players you are required to abide by the following:

1. I certify that I am an adult, being of legal age or over, 18 or 21, in my legal jurisdiction to view adult material.***

2. I certify that I fully accept that I will be exposed to materials and subject matter that may be of an adult nature and objectionable to some persons.

3. I certify that I can act in a mature manner in game events and competitions, I will not expect a participation medal nor will I stop my feet or whine that I did not get as much as someone else. I understand that this action will bring an end to the event/competition and in addition to game penalties, my fellow players will be upset that I am not mature enough for Mafia Returns and have brought an end to their event/competition. [Game Change: Breaking the pattern of entitlement]**
    

Cheating - Attempting to have an advantage over other players in Mafia Returns through any means falls under cheating and comes with harsh penalties. 

1. No DUPING. One person, one account. You may NOT share your account with anyone, not even one time log-ins. **

     All Players must abide by the following Account Creation Policy [Agreed to at account creation]:

1. I certify that I have not logged in or played on any accounts that are still alive.

2. I certify that I have not created any accounts that are still alive.

3. I certify that I am not using a disposable email address and understand that it will get flagged in an automated dupe check. [If you use a single disposable email address]

4. I certify that no one else will have access to the account OR password I have created.

5. I certify that I am using a password that is unique to this game and will not be used anywhere else.

6. I certify that I do not have or will not have access to any other account.

7. I certify that I will not create accounts to be used as a target account, or shoot at target accounts.

8. I certify that I will not hide my IP to remain anonymous for 50% or more of my time on Mafia Returns. [Rule Change: Proxy]

9. I certify that if I share an IP with someone, I will report my IP as a shared IP using the Management -> Report Shared IP page.
    

     If there are, or there is a chance that there are multiple players from your home, work, or school you MUST let us know every time you create a name by using the REPORT IP SHARING link under the management menu. We will NOT revive accounts for those who "forgot" or "didn't know". [Original vanilla rules] *

IP Sharing includes:

1. Playing from school

2. Playing from any location that is public not listed above.

Playing from a net cafe

3. Playing from a friend's house

4. Multiple players in one home

5. Playing from a library

6. Playing at a location or on a network where there may be another player.

Regardless of what you think, game administrators get the last say. [Original vanilla rules]

2. No Scripting/Automation - Attempting to get more than 1 action out of Mafia Returns for a single click/button press/tap is strictly prohibited. [Automation & Scripting] ***

3. No Spamming/Plagiarism - Spamming/plagiarizing threads or chat to get Hustle or posting points is cheating and immature. This comes with strict penalties. [Original vanilla rules] **

4. No exploitation of bugs - All bugs should be reported per the procedures outlined in the "Bug reporting" thread in the announcements forum. Users who exploit bugs, and are determined to have done so knowingly (by game administrators.) will suffer the pain of death, and possibly worse. [Original vanilla rules] ***

5. No Referral Fraud - The referral program is a well paying system used only to get new players with no previous accounts. Attempting to abuse this system will end in serious punishments. [Referral Fraud - just a heads up] **

Upper Structure Responsibility - 

1. Any Upper Structure that is aware of an attack on a Whistleblower and does nothing to prevent it will be removed from the game and unable to ever retain any position in the upper structure in the future. [Whistleblower Protection]***

2. A Crew Leader will be held responsible for the people they choose to be hands if a Right or Left Hand is caught breaking the rules the Crew Leader can receive a demotion, up to 10 days in jail, or admin wack depending on the severity and situation.** 

Upper Structure will not be punished for their member’s rule breaking on forums and chat but is expected to report all bugs, exploitation and cheating. 

Player Interaction - Truly it is a shame this section needs to be stated and is as long as it is. This section deals with the fact that there are other players (many of them in professional environments) and your rights and entitlements end where their rights begin.

1. Player Interaction Policy:

   1. I certify that I will not ban a feature of the game. Examples include but are not limited to: Dueling, Mugging. [Rules Update] ***

   2. I certify that I will not demand real life information for identity verification. [CLs and their members information] ***

   3. I certify that I will not demand use of 3rd party website/tool/app or a players nicks, handles, logins on such 3rd party environments. [CLs and their members information] ***

   4. I certify that I understand 3rd party services and transactions carry a risk that Mafia Returns will not be involved in and using a 3rd party system or service is done so entirely voluntarily. [CLs and their members information]

   5. I certify that I will not use any technique or tool to provide geolocation, fingerprinting or any identifiers for tracking or verification. [CLs and their members information] ***

   6. I certify that I will not ban a specific player from more than one city in the game. [Banning of players by other players] **

   7. I certify that I will do my due diligence and research before performing a trade with another player and that it is up to me to pursue any fraud or theft legally on my own before getting Mafia Returns involved. [Fraud, Theft, Due Diligence, and Credits]

   8. I certify that I understand credits have a real life currency value and despite scamming being okay in Mafia, I understand that Mafia Returns draws the line at scamming credits and that harsh punishments are to be expected when doing so. [Scamming - Ethics] ***

   9. I certify that I understand people will break the rules to get ahead and that I will do my due diligence when attempting to purchase credits from a player. I further understand that Mafia Returns sells credits and that purchasing through a player means that I will receive no support from Mafia Returns. [Fraud, Theft, Due Diligence, and Credits]
       

2.  Sexual Harassment is not tolerated in any form and is subject to termination of account and removal from the game. Offenders can be removed at Administrator discretion no matter when the incident occurred. [Original vanilla rules] ***

3. No names, pictures, links, threads, mails, chats etc of the pornographic, racist, abusive, obscene or otherwise discriminatory variety. All names, pictures, links, threads, mails are subject to staff review. [Original vanilla rules] **

4. No Personal attacks/terrorizing players. [Toxicity and you] ***
   This is specific to the real world - not purging, not bloodlining, this is for actions that get personal to the player at the keyboard. Examples include:

   1. Use of real life names in any capacity that differ from a players game name or IRC name.

      • Intentionally using a players real life name or family members names as a player account name or referencing that name in a post or profile, etc.

   2.  Threats or attempts to harm someone in any capacity outside of the game (physically, emotionally, socially, financially, professionally and so on).

      • Threats to contact your employer with pictures you sent socially

      • Threatening to show up at your home or office with a weapon

   3. Real life consequences to another players actions.

      • Threatening to slash your tires if you kill them and then sending a Google Street image of your house with your car parked out front.

   4. Actions that have ventured into targeting the real life player behind the keyboard.

      • Ordering 30 pizzas to their house

      • Sending a call girl to your girlfriends house for you

      • Calling the local police to tell them you are suicidal

5. No Notification Abuse - Do not use notification features of the game for abuse. [Personal Bombing - Notification Spam & Harassment] *

6. No Spamming or Abuse through mail/chat/forums as attempts to advertise businesses/services/games/sites. [Original vanilla rules] **

7. No Player Bashing outside of Role Play Forums - Forums like the Suggestion Forum are meant for ideas to be discussed. If you don’t like the idea, shoot down the idea, not the player. [Rules of Behavior] *
    

Staff Limitations & Interactions - Coders, Developers, Owners, Assistants and Admins, henceforth will be referred to as CDOA [CDOA/HD]

1. Current members of the CDOA have agreed to no longer hold a position of power, they can no longer be a Crew Leader, Godfather, Right Hand, or Left Hand or any similar game instituted position of power. This does not include past CDOA or Help Desk or Street Sweepers who have no access to information that could give them an advantage. [CDOA/HD]

2. At any time, if someone in front of the CDOA becomes aggressive and the conversation ceases to be a positive constructive conversation, you will be admin wacked. You may only be admin jailed if there is compelling reason for this. [Resigning to work as coder] **

3. Any 3rd party that inserts themselves into a situation that becomes aggressive, and the conversation ceases to be a positive constructive conversation, they will be admin wacked. You may only be admin jailed if there is a compelling reason for this. [Resigning to work as coder] **

4. Any attempt to bully or threaten a staff member of any position into doing something on a staff level will end in account termination. We have zero tolerance for this and will include anyone involved. [Policy: Helpdesk is not a chew toy] ***

5. Any claims of Admin Favoritism, Admin interference, or Admin cheating are considered direct attacks against staff. If there is even a shred of doubt, do not make these accusations. If you still wish to pursue these claims, you must have factual proof and understand that if your claim is overruled you will be punished for such an accusation. [Player Conduct Policy] [A Reminder of the Player Conduct Policy] **

6. Anyone who states they are with or were previously of the group 303 will be killed by staff immediately. 303 was a serious issue to Mafia Returns in the past, do not ask about them. [Following through with the 303] **

7. CDOA Intervention Policy - In the event that a player interaction turns ugly and you have tried everything in your means, while remaining innocent yourself, you can request the help of the administration to aid you. [Harassment - Admin Intervention Policy]

To do this you must include/follow everything listed below:

1.  Provide your real life name, mailing address, phone number, email address, age and consent to release it to 3rd parties such as our legal council, ours/yours/theirs authorities.

2. Logs/Screenshots of when you instructed them to cease all communications in a calm, cool, clear and non emotional way.

3. Logs/Screenshots of all in game communications between you and the other party before #2 took place.  If there are no logs, please provide as much detail as possible and furnish as much supporting evidence to give us a clear picture.

4.  Logs/Screenshots of all in game communications between you and the other party after #2 took place. If there are no logs, please provide as much detail as possible and furnish as much supporting evidence to give us a clear picture.

5. Logs/Screenshots of all in game communications between you and your superior before #2 took place. If there are no logs, please provide as much detail as possible and furnish as much supporting evidence to give us a clear picture.

6.  Logs/Screenshots of all in game communications between you and your superior after #2 took place. If there are no logs, please provide as much detail as possible and furnish as much supporting evidence to give us a clear picture.

7. Logs/Screenshots of all in game communications between you and their superior before #2 took place. If there are no logs, please provide as much detail as possible and furnish as much supporting evidence to give us a clear picture.

8. Logs/Screenshots of all in game communications between you and their superior after #2 took place. If there are no logs, please provide as much detail as possible and furnish as much supporting evidence to give us a clear picture.

9. A thorough account of what is happening currently, and the backstory of what brought it to the point it currently is.

10. A clearly worded statement on how you feel is the best way to solve this, and the desired outcome you would like to see.

11.  A statement that you have not withheld any information past, present or future plans regarding the situation, misrepresented anything, and that you have been 100% forthcoming and honest with everything.

12. A statement that you understand that you, the offending parties, or any one else involved in any capacity may receive admin punishment and/or removed from the game, including paying in game restitution (once your account is depleted, money/gifts/credits sent to others will be accounted for going back as far as necessary to settle the restitution; they will be informed and encouraged to return everything)

13. A statement that you grant us permission to read all communications, private or public, in any capacity that is at our disposal to do our investigation, as well as share this with 3rd parties for further research.
     

Once we receive all this information we will begin our investigation and upon conclusion will render our verdict and do our best to solve the issue.

I can't stress enough that anyone who attempts to "Game the system" by using the admins as a weapon against others, will really not enjoy the outcome.

Appeal Handling Procedure - Sometimes new information is brought forth or the administration is forced to make a decision before all information can be heard. In the event that anyone wishes to make an appeal for a decision that has been made, please follow these clear guidelines for submitting appeals to a decision:

• An appeal can be submitted via mail to AdminTeam or on IRC to Syn[MR] or Toby-[MR]
  1. The appeal should include your most recent character name, email, and reason for appeal
  2. The appeal should only address the broken rule and punishment.
  3. You must include evidence to support your case
  4. The appeal must be submitted within 48 hours of the punishment
• Appeals will be reviewed by both members of the AdminTeam who will then come to a decision. All decisions made at this level will be final.
  1. All available information will be reviewed again
  2. You may be asked to meet with us to discuss the information and answer further questions
  3. Split decisions will be reviewed by Bunneh and/or FrankieFigs for input

Legal  

1. I certify that I will not keep important data stored on Mafia Returns, MehWhatever or any Crooked Studios LLC property/server that is meant to be retained indefinitely. I understand that data retention of such important data should be kept on my own computer/resources. I understand that Mafia Returns makes no guarantee that data will remain for any period of time. Mafia Returns does not assume responsibility for the integrity or security of any data I choose to store in its database or servers. Mafia Returns will do everything that it can to make sure data considered active will not be harmed. [Original vanilla rules]

2. I certify that I will hold harmless MafiaReturns, Crooked Studios LLC, their staff, owners and agents from and against any claims, liability, losses, costs, damages, or expenses (including attorney's fees) arising from my use of or participation in this service or the information contained therein. Furthermore, I will defend MafiaReturns, Crooked Studios LLC, their staff, owners and agents against all claims of impropriety regarding my use of this service. [Agreed to at account creation]