Please browse through here to find
answers to most of your questions
about the Equalizers.
On
this site, we have tried to anticipate as many questions as possible,
and provide the answers to them. It is generally believed that
we have accomplished this task and have laid out the information
in a manner that makes it easy to find. However, as with any volume
of work that grows and expands, the sheer volume of content can
make it seem difficult or overwhelming to find the information
you seek. As such, we have developed this FAQ page which will
expand and grow as our site grows. We appreciate the time you
take to read this page before e-mailing your questions, and for
asking questions not located on this page, to be added for future
visitors and new members.
Questions:
Answers:
What
is {=} all about? You can find more about {=} in our Introduction
Page. In summation, {=} is an online community for people
who like to play games, role-play, or simply interact with each
other online. Our setting is a medieval kingdom, as is our rank
structure. We value Honor and friendship above glory in games.
We are anti-PK. If you don't know what that is, you may want to
visit our Rules page on PKing.
Ultimately, {=} is more of what you make it than what we initially
created it to be. (Return
to Top)
What
do SH, FWFS and TSP mean? SH = Swords High! It is our greeting.
By holding ones Swords High, it demonstrates a sign of
confidence, and by holding the sword high, the player is not in
a position to strike. The posture is one of friendship, victory
and high moral standard. SH is simply the abbreviated term. FWFS
= Fair Winds and Following Seas. It is a Naval phrase that we
use to say goodbye. When someone retires from the Navy, the tradition
is that the crew wishes that person Fair Winds, strong enough
to sail by, but not tempestuous, to carry them safely and quickly
to their destination. Following Seas symbolize a long and prosperous
journey. FWFS is the abbreviated term. TSP stands for Till Swords
Part. It is a carry-over farewell from the days of the King's
Crusaders. (Return to Top)
Why are you called The Equalizers?
When
The Equalizers was established, it adopted the name that {=}Quaythescus
himself had adopted as his personal mantra as a solo avenger of
the innocent. The Equalizers were designed to be a PKK (Player
Killer Killer) group who would make it their duty to bring terror
to those who played with the purpose of terrorizing others. From
the beginning we never allowed the "community" to determine
hat was right or wrong with {=}'s methods. In fact, {=}'s own
code of Honor and Discipline has been set at a much higher level
than most online organizations may claim. However, we made it
or calling to Equalize the playing field, to use the PK's very
own strategies and tools against them. Fight fire with fire, give
a taste of their own medicine, and equalize the gaming world for
those who only wish to play the game. (Return
to Top)
Are
the King and Queen married in real life? As
a matter of fact, they are. (Return
to Top)
What
is an Arda? In
The Equalizers, our members are grouped together based upon Ardain,
the plural form of the word Arda. An Arda represents a genre.
Games that fall under that genre are listed within the appropriate
genre. For more information, view our Members
by Arda Page. (Return
to Top)
What
is a House? Every
member of The Equalizers begins as a member of one of the three
Houses. (Please see the Chain of Command
Page for more information on Houses.) Each House represents
a fundamental approach to our comunity. House of War is suited
for those members who joined {=} primarily to play games. Furthermore,
they tend to be suited toward a more competetive gameplay style.
The House of war encourages promotions based upon duels (and other
PvP matches), Quests, and PK hunting. The House of Duty, also
geared toward members who joined with a love of playing games,
is designed more for those who prefer the CoOp aspect of gaming.
These people also use Quests as a means of promotion, but also
use power leveling and rushing as a key requirement for higher
rank. The House of Insight is geared toward the casual gamer,
perhaps even the non-gamer who enjoys being a part of the community.
Role-players, artists, writers, and administrators tend to join
this house where promotions are based upon assignments.
(Return to Top)
What
is a Quarth? Members
of The Equalizers come from all over the world. As such, we have
devised a general system of locales called Quarths. Each Quarth
represents a general geographical location on Earth. Nala = North
America East, Dun = North America West, Kabil = Europe and Dorenil
= Asia. By grouping people into Quarths, we hope to allow them
to learn who might be best suited for partnering with where shecules
and time zones are concerned. (Return
to Top)
PK?
PKK ? PK
= Player Killer. A Player killer, by our definition is one who
kills an unsuspecting or unwilling victim within game. We do distinguish
between PKers and Duelers. This distinction is clearly defined
on our Rules Page. A PKK is one who
kills known PKs. PKKs are often called PKs by those who are ignorant
of the distinction or wish to blur the line between the two. A
PKK only kills known PKs and never hunts or harms the innocent.
(Return to Top)
What
is Teanthril? Teanthril
is the name of the Kingdom which is ruled by King {=}Quaythescus
and protected by The Equalizers. It is headquartered in (appropriately
enough) Teanthril Forest. Teanthril is not a place found in literature,
it is the creation of William J Norton, aka {=}Quaythescus.
(Return to Top)
What
is Ulrath? Ulrath
is the name of the planet upon which resides Teanthril and its
surrounding lands. Ulrath is not a place found in literature,
it is the creation of William J Norton, aka {=}Quaythescus.
(Return to Top)
What
can a member do in The Equalizers? The
Equalizers is a fairly eccelctic group of people from around the
globe, with a variety of interests. At one point in time, {=}
offered a place for Honorable men and women to gather in order
to avenge the death of the innocent in Diablo. Over the years,
it has become a virtual community with many offerings. Among those
offerings as of November 2004 are:
Gaming - The core of the guild is
still online gaming. be it Diablo 2, Warcraft, Halo 2, Lineage
II, we play a variety of games and reward our members for their
efforts within those games. We have come together due to a love
of gaming and as such we still revolve around this activity.
Community - Our message boards, most
notably Vampy's Pub, have been an internet hotspot for our members
and visitors. We enjoy the cameraderie that comes with mutual
respect and open playfulness. Our sense of community is strong,
be it on TeamSpeak, IRC, in game or message boards.
Reward - Through promotions and medals,
members who perform a variety of activities are able to see theor
progress and earn a page full of medals that reflect their hard
work.
Growth - Programs such as the ETA and TU allow members to learn
from each other, take courses, get help with homework or technical
issues.
Values - We are a family-oriented
group that encourages family togetherness. We already boast several
married couples, several perent/child combinations and sibling
groups. Our ETA encorages families to include their children (or
parents). Our rules on behavior and harrassment mean that oine
can feel comfortable introducing their wife, daughter or mother
to the group.
Leadership - Be it through involvement
in our political parties, self-improvement courses, earned promotions
in-game interaction, or Mentorship program, we encourage our members
of all levels to become leaders with strong honor-based convictions,
respect for others and themselves, and the Discipline to face
down peer pressure or stress to do what is right.
Creativity - be it through our role-playing
activities, article submissions for Generation G, or various showcases
for all forms of artistry, we encourage our members to be creative
and share their talents, be it in a private setting or a public
one.
The Equalizers is what one makes of it. Our members have been
the single most important influence on the course that this community
has taken, and we contionue to focus on that comunity... a gathering
of unique, respected, important individuals.
(Return to Top)
How
does one pass Citizenship? Citizenship is the time in a when
they are most vulnerable to removal. It is a time when the member
needs to prove that they are a team-player, that they actually
live by the letter of {=} law, that they hold Honor to the highest
standard and have the Discipline to retain Honor even under stress.
Citizenship is also considered Probation. When members first join,
they are brought into the guild as Citizens. Members may also
be demoted to Citizens for various reasons. Passing Citizenship
is as easy as completing your weekly Check-in, following the Rules,
obeying the Chain of Command,
and being respectful. You can see the specific requirements of
the Citizen rank as well as all others on the Ranks
and Duties page. Citizenship usually lasts a month,as
indicated on the Ranks and Duties page.
Exceptions can be made at the King's discretion for a variety
of reasons. Some mebers may find themselves eing promoted in less
tme than the standard month, others may face a longer Citizenship
at the King's discretion. Badgering the King about coming off
Citizenship will not speed up the process.
(Return to Top)
How
does the Chain of Command work? The best source of information
about the Chain of command can be found at the Chain
of Command Page which offers a basic rundown of the system
and a CoC heirarchy list. You should also read the
Ranks & Duties Page to get a more detailed look
at the duties of each rank within the Chain of Command. Basically,
The Equalizers has a militaristic chain of command. Each member
is given a rank. Any member with a rank higher than that member
is considered a Superior Officer. In general, these ranks are
more of a display of activity and effort and rarely are orders
given through the CoC. The CoC becomes more important for promotions
as each member, upon requesting a promotion, will depend on a
recommendation from a Superior Officer to gain that promotion.
Much like the military, there will be certain procedures which
will require members to act independently of the Chain of Command.
One example is requesting a Promotion. In order to request a promotion
one would contact the Zaljir directly as opposed to sending the
request up through the Chain of Command. This is similar to reporting
to the supply officer for needed supplies. The supply officer
may be several ranks above you, but you wouldn't send your supply
requisition up through the Chain of command, you would report
directly to the Supply Officer. When in doubt, use your Chain
of Command, and if it turns out that this is not the best course
of action, someone within the CoC should alert you to this.
(Return to Top)
How
does one get promoted in {=}? In
the Equalizers, members are responsibile for promoting themselves.
If you look around at many guilds you may find promotion systems
where members earn their promotions by sucking up to the leader,
or through a point system where the more points you get, the higher
the rank you get, other guilds promote based on the time you have
been with them. In {=}, getting promoted within your House
is a combination of meeting the requirements
for the next position (points and meeting attendance), working
well with others (Recommendations), paying your dues (length of
time as a member) and letting someone know when you are ready
for your promotion. The best explanation to this question may
be found at the Ranks and Duties
Page. Keep in mind, that certain requirements may be exchanged
to help meet the requirements. The system was designed to promote
well-rounded, active mebers. In {=}, a member who has been with
the guild a long time, who is popular, but who is simply not active,
will be limited with regard to promotion. Likewise, the newcomer,
full of energy and ideas, active, popular can't just shoot up
in rank. They have to pay their dues in time served as well. Members
who rack up requirement points, attend meetings and put their
time in, but who do not know how to be a team player or are otherwise
rude or dishonorable will find it difficult to get the recommendations
needed for promotion. In {=}, we cultivate leaders, members who
understand the value of interpersonal relationships, hard work,
devotion, and team-play. (Return
to Top)
Do
medals count toward promotions? Medals do not count toward
promotion. Members receive Medals as a reward for certain activities
they do as an Equalizer. A list of Medals can be found Here.
The requirements for promotion can be found at the Ranks
& Duties Page. (Return
to Top)
What
is a a Rush? A
Rush, also known as Power Leveling, is when a member, or a group
of members assist another member (or ally) of lower level to gain
levels, items, quests etc. This may be applied to several games.
In The Equalizers, Rushes may be reported and can earn a member
points toward a promotion. We also keep a rating system on hand
so that members can see which Rushees and Rushers are worth teaming
with and which might require additional training. More info on
Rushing may be found on the Rules
Page. (Return to Top)
What
is your Channel/Server?
Accurate channel and server information is posted at the top if
our News Page.
(Return to Top)
Is
there an age limit to join {=}? Yes,
there is an age limit to join {=}. The age limit we impose is
14 years of age. This is done to comply with COPPA. You may view
our Privacy Policy
for more information. There is no upper age limit. The Equalizers
have a program called the Equalizers Training Academy or ETA,
in which children of non-probationary members, between the ages
of 8 and 13, may participate in certain {=} functions as well
as many ETA exclusive activities. For more information, please
visit the ETA
Page. (Return to Top)
What
do I do if I see an Equalizer acting dishonorably?
One
of the major differences between {=} and most of the guilds you'll
find, is that we take our Honor and Reputation very seriously.
If you see an Equalizers behaving dishonorable, or if one is mistreating
you or someone else, you should take the following steps: Firstly,
take screenshots, gather chat logs, collect any actual "hard"
evidence that you can. Then take any evidence that you have, along
with your testimony and any other witnesses to the Sheriff. If
the Sheriff is unable oe slow to respond, follow the Chain
of Command upward. Please do NOT accuse any Equalizer
at the boards, in channels, games or meetings. It is not good
business to accuse each other. Discretion is the better part of
valor. Those who make public accusations will find themselves
receiving disciplinary action. The Sheriff will investigate the
matter and attempt to correct the offensive behavior, or remove
the member. If you are a non-member, you may report dishonorable
behavior by Equalizers to our Sheriff or our Regent.
(Return to Top)
How
often does King {=}Quaythescus play? The
Equalizers grew out of {=}Quaythescus' love of playing. The task
or maintaining the guild however, coupled with the responsibilities
of work and a family, monopolizes his time. As such, he plays
very rarely. Don't wait around for the King to get online. Make
friends within the guild, play at the times that suit you best
and you never know, he might just show up one day, sword or flame-thrower
in hand. (Return to Top)
I
can't get the {=} tag in front of my new Bnet account... how come?
What do I do? Blizzard
has long since gotten rid of the special characters in the account
and character names. A few of us old-timers still have the {=}
tag, but it is a small few. What can you do? If you want to create
an account for {=}, then put EQ_ in FRONT of the character
and/or account name. (Return
to Top)
What
is a Duel? A
Duel is a Plaver vs Player (PvP) match (in game, where both parties
understand and agree to the combat.
A Duel may take place in a Real Time Strategy environment such
as Starcraft, or a role-playing envirement such as Neverwinter
Nights, First Person Shooter, such as Halo, or MMORPG such as
Everquest. It is basically, the consentual competition between
2 or more human players. The Equalizers have a very strict code
of conduct for Duels which are posted at our Rules
for Dueling section. (Return
to Top)
My
friend filled out a membership application. Why hasn't he been
replied to yet? There
are a number of reasons why an applicant may not receive a response.
Firstly, there are times when the King cannot get to all of the
updates. Real life still exists. Your friend may simply have to
wait. Secondly, the applicant may not have supplied an email address.
Applications without email addresses are immediately discarded.
Incorrect addresses will obviously not receive a welcome letter.
Thirdly, the applicant may be underage. If we see an underage
applicant we immediately discard the application. We used to email
them with a reason for denial, but have come to realize that if
they can't spend the time to read the rules, we can't spend the
time replying to them. Also, an applicant may have given an obscene
name, or email address in their application. We have no time for
immaturity and offensiveness in {=}. If you feel that your friend
would not fall into any of the categories above, have them fill
out another request to join, mistakes happen. Keep in mind that
all areas of the form should be filled out. Rules for applying
must be followed, including not listing a member name that is
in use by a current or Honored former member, not using numbers
or |337$][D34|< in names, etc. (Return
to Top)
I've noticed most Equalizers play on such & such server. I
play primarily on another server. What should I do?
It
is recommended that everyone create an account on a common server,
whatever the game is. If you are starting one to play with Equalizers,
it is hoped you'll create it with the EQ_ tag in front of the
name where aplicable, but is not mandatory. (Some Medals require
the EQ_ tag of some sort) If you choose not to create an account
on a common server, that is your choice. We have some members
on various servers. The best way to help find Equalizers to play
on the server you are on is to recruit new members from that server.
(Return to Top)
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