The Gatekeeper is a place where new members can post their salutations and give a bit of information about themselves and why they've decided to join TPP. It is also a place for older members to post important notifications, such as going on extended vacations, their internet is lagging and they can't get online as often, or if they've decided to leave the boards for good. Sometimes, these types of messages are important for letting fellow players know you will not be able to maintain activity in any activities you might currently be participating in.

As such, it is important to be mindful of a few things during your time here:

• Follow the rules - All normal board rules apply within this section, including, but not limited to, no flaming, no spamming, no porn, no illegal activity, no advertising, etc.
  
  
• No self-promotion - This includes attempts to promote and redirect traffic to your personal websites, blogs, or fan fictions. Also, don't post invites to quests, discussions about pop cultures, or questions about random stuff in here, as that's all considered spam and is against the rules.
  
  
• No Harassment - New players who post here may be interested in learning more about the game and you can help them out in their thread by answering basic questions and offering suggestions, or by redirecting them to the appropriate section where that information is located. However, head-hunting (actively seeking new members) for your clan, quest, spar, or whatever, will not be tolerated in the Gatekeeper thread. If you want to invite new players to join your group, then PM them. Harassing older players for not being able to perform their online duties due to real world obligations will also not be tolerated. Likewise, do not flame or insult people, as that's a sure-fire way to turn people off to the boards.
  
  
• Check elsewhere - TPP is a big place and the staff have tried to make it as intuitive as possible. There are plenty of guides and stickies throughout the board that have probably already answered some of your questions. Be sure to check for answers before posting here. The Navigator and Game Lore forums will usually have lots of material that can help you out.
  
  
• Notify your teammates - At times, players will be integral members of a quest, spar, or whatever and then something will come up that will force you to leave the boards for a time (or for good). If that's the case, be sure to use this forum to notify all members of your group of what's going on and make sure to leave instructions for what to do with your characters while your gone. Generally, you have one of three options: continue on without the character, let him or her become an NPC for that quest, ask that a mod or other player take control of your character until you return. This last option is a special case and will not be allowed without mod approval, since it is normally illegal to control another player's character, so make sure you give ample warning and talk to the staff and your teammates. If no course of action is suggested, players should assume option one: continue on without the character. Also make use of the PM system for maintaining communication with your fellow players.
  
  
• Be respectful - If someone offers you constructive criticism, be respectful of their willingness to help you. You have the right to disagree with anything that is said, but you don't have a right to tell them off or insult them. Remember, they're only trying to help.
  
  
• Be willing to learn - If someone offers you legitimate feedback on a problem you're having, be willing to see where you might have made a mistake and take the necessary steps to correct it. If you come off as thick, stubborn, or just plain unteachable, no one will want to help you.
  
  
• Be accomodating - TPP is a place of learning and fun, not a roast or a flame war. If you're going to reply to someone else's thread, make sure your posts are constructive and geared towards that person's overall improvement. Also try to be positive and helpful to new players, as we want to leave a good first impression.

Follow those rules and everything should be fine. If you any have questions, ask a mod.