Age of Conan declares rules for RP, four months after launch

Better late than never? The graphically intense, atmospheric slashfest Age of Conan has had designated roleplaying servers since day one, but it doesn't seem to have occurred to Funcom to give that status any kind of binding definition, let alone a formal code of conduct. Now, though, the exhaustive rules for what you can and can't do on a roleplay server have been laid out.

They're pretty much what you would expect from AoC. All names except those that gel with the Hyborian background are prohibited, so there will be no more StoneColdKillah or DARTH CONAN types running around. Some channels are content restricted. There's also a general injunction: 'Do not break the RP of other players. That includes harassing them by jumping around constantly, disturbing RP events or sessions etc.'

We're not at all sure how exactly this is meant to be implemented on RP-PvP servers. Are you not allowed to hack the head off the Aquilonian dog who ambushed you yestereve, because he happens to be engaged in an intense in-character poetic recital? Would in-character weddings be immune to raiding parties intent on slaughtering the groom and carrying off the bride, as occasionally happened in history? Would Conan himself have to sit back and wait for the conspirators to finish roleplaying out their conspiracy to dethrone him before he could split their skulls to the teeth?

Fortunately, Age of Conan GMs have a reputation for being clued-up when it comes to roleplay.