Rules of Engagement (ROE)

Intent of Our Rules of Engagement

Vanguard is a player friendly organization that follows our Prime Directive. The goal of our Rules of Engagement is to engage in combat with players who want to be engaged. These Rules are designed as a framework to make a best guess, while also acknowledging the hostile nature of the verse. We will get this wrong, on both sides. These Rules attempt to do the best we can.

Our intent is to foster positive relations with many different organizations throughout the verse and avoid unnecessary aggression. As a member, you will do your best to properly identify hostiles, to minimize accidental conflict, and to do your best to mediate situations, especially when misunderstandings lead to loss of ship or life.

This intent statement supersedes anything that might be written in the ROE or definitions. Do not use these Rules of Engagement as an excuse to bully, harass, or kill players without recourse. Generally, these rules should not be weaponized to entrap players who do not want to be engaged. If a peaceful player is operating near us, we intend to let them be without harassment. 

At all times, any Vanguardian is responsible for their actions whether or not they engage. Be prepared to answer for your actions and explain yourself. If you think that something will not be looked upon favorably by senior leadership, then it likely will not be.

Rules of Engagement

NOTE: While these definitions are here for guidance, they are not an exhaustive list.

You may engage any player considered hostile within the ROE scope. A player is considered hostile if:

  • Category 1: “Everywhere”

    • They engage you or a known friend. (see the Known Friendlies section above)

    • They are a Known Hostile (see the Known Hostile section above)

    • They enter a previously determined or declared exclusion or escort zone

    • They clearly are following or loitering near your position excessively

      • Does not include a player clearly conducting PVE or non-combat operations (example: box running, trading, mining, salvaging) in the vicinity

    • They attempt to breach/board your ship or enter your hangar elevator or hangar uninvited

    • They are clearly engaging or griefing players indiscriminately in the vicinity of High Traffic Zones

    • They are within 50 kilometer (km) of a Lawful System Conflict Zone and are Conducting Combat Operations

    • They are in an Unlawful System Conflict Zone

  • Category 2: “Outside High Traffic Zones”

    • In all Systems:

      • Their ship approached you within 30 km and is Conducting Combat Operations

        • Editor note: If the game changes missile ranges in the future, accurate current stats for missile ranges plus a 20% buffer should be used instead of the 30 km value.

      • Their ship is Conducting Combat Operations against other players

      • They are in a ship with a Quantum Enforcement Device (QED) (ex: Mantis, Scorpius Antares, Cutlass Blue, Guardian Qi)

      • They are holding/ carrying a weapon or holding their fists up (see note below*)

    • In Unlawful Systems:

  • Exceptions

    • During any Vanguard Fleet event or operation, all orders given by the leaders should be followed, no questions asked, even if the order may be considered outside the ROE. Submit a ROE violation report to any Wing CO/XO if you want it reviewed. If a bad call was made, no one following the order will be held accountable.

    • During a major Vanguard Fleet Operation, the Operation Commander is authorized to temporarily declare a ship or person hostile in the interest of protecting Vanguard.

*Note about Ground ROE: Almost all players in Star Citizen carry weapons, however not all players are actually hostile. Currently there is no reasonable method of quickly identifying who or how many other players are nearby. Until CIG implements better friend or foe recognition for FPS players, we must err on the side of a loose ROE.

Exclusion Levels

Our operations will have different levels of Exclusion, determining response type and setting valid targets. Exclusion should be communicated regularly on public text channels in order to prevent unaware players from entering the exclusion volume, or else directed at individuals violating the exclusion rules with enough time to reasonably comply before engaging. Below are some common examples.

Combat Exclusion

No combat vessels are allowed into an volume, defined in km from a point.

  • Example: When holding ATC, we allow Combat Escorts to approach up to 15km. Any combat ship closing further is to be engaged and destroyed immediately for non-compliance.

Exclusion zone access may be contingent on any number of rules, as defined in an operations Standard Operating Procedure.

Full Exclusion

No vessels are allowed into an volume, defined in km from a point. Any contact within the volume should be engaged. Contacts fleeing the volume may be pursued, but pilots should break off and return to position once target has been chased off, unless ordered to continue pursuit.