Yautja Honor Code
The Yautja Honor Code is a set of rules all Yautja players are required to follow. Failure to uphold these rules may result in suspension or removal of your Predator whitelist.
If you break the Honor Code while hunting prey, you are to cease your hunt of said prey. If you critically injure them, please bring them to their teammates. Ex.: bring xenos to weeds, marines to their squaddies or fortifications. Should you not be able to due to a threat or time constraints, you will not be penalized. However, you should be prepared to defend your initial actions should a report be filed.
TO NON-WHITELISTED PLAYERS: Any players looking to make a whitelist report are kindly asked and expected to first read this thoroughly before making a report. DMing councilors is also accepted.
NOTE: This is a living code, expect changes to be made based on conversation and updates to the game.
- Prey
How each type of prey is seen and how they can be hunted. See Weapons and tools to know what each type is allowed.
Prey, to the Yautja, are non-Yautja creatures which are deadly and possess enough intelligence to prove a challenge - in our case, humans and xenomorphs.
Worthy
All prey is worthy unless they fall into the un-huntable classification below. All worthy prey is to be hunted alone.
Un-huntable
Prey that isn’t worthy and cannot be hunted. If they verbally provoke you (i.e. insulting, bossing you around; not asking ‘what the fuck is that thing’), attack or help its allies attack you, they become worthy.
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Worthy below 75% HP, missing limbs, or hugged; worthy in key areas; worthy dragging wounded/dead allies uninvolved in your hunt to safety.
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Honored, if specified. This is prey that has defeated a fellow Yautja in single combat or has done a feat of strength. They may be awarded a trophy from yourself or from the ship, and may be seen in higher regard.
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Almayer ship crew.
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Working medics.
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Synths. See prey caveats.
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IO, SO, XO, CO; they become worthy after the 1 hour mark and shouldn’t be permakilled unless they lead a hunting party against you and/or are no longer crucial for the round.
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Drone line castes, sentinels, boilers, queens, kings.
Dishonorable
Prey that is innately immoral.
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Abominations and anyone actively defending the abomination (including bodyblocking and other nuanced ways, use own initiative). See prey caveats.
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Dutch’s Dozen.
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Bad bloods (see Yautja & other Yautja).
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Honor dueling parties that breach the rules of an honor duel.
Temporarily dishonorable
Prey that stops being dishonorable once the engagement ends. Anyone aiding them inherit the temporarily dishonorable status. Temporarily dishonorable actions directed at only one Yautja on the hunt must be fought alone.
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A target or group of targets who attack you without due cause, i.e. not to help the prey you’ve initiated a fight against, but rather who initiate a fight against you.
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A target or group of targets attacking the prey you’re currently engaging.
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Shipside gear carriers, users, and anyone actively allowing for the gear to stay shipside. This status lifts once all gear is gone.
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Prey on stimulants that make them unkillable and/or super fast.
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Vehicles attacking/running you over.
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Prey carrying or desecrating a Yautja corpse (looting, beheading, delimbing).
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Prey committing LRP actions against the predator or metagaming the honor code. Do not be afraid to permakill unhuntables over egregious LRP.
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Prey or group of prey interrupting an honor duel or running from it.
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Prey using OT or research weaponry against you.
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Prey attacking you while cloaked. Lurkers excluded.
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Acid runners farming Yautja for acid (i.e. an acider constantly hitting once or twice and constantly running away to stay safe, use own initiative)
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Hive offensives. See prey caveats.
Trophies
Yautja are free to claim any body parts of their prey, and limited to a singular item of the prey’s inventory as a trophy, unless they are permakilled.
Yautja cannot use any of the trophies, except for headgear and melee weapons.
The collection of specialist weapons, smartguns and any unique ancillary gear the specialist/smartgunner requires is not allowed unless the prey is permakilled. (ex. Scout sight, specialist ammo)
Welfare of prey
You are forbidden to save or heal any prey that you are hunting, unless you are actively in combat with each other. If the other faction intervenes when you are actively engaged, you may save your prey and bring them to a safe location on the hunting grounds to continue the hunt. You may save any prey you are hunting if you breach the honor code while actively engaging them and return them to their defenses/faction. You may also heal prey you’ve killed, but not defibrillate them.
- Prey caveats
Synths
Synths interfering with a current ongoing hunt without attacking the Yautja are worthy, i.e. bodyblocking and trying to move the prey away.
Synths attacking/hindering Yautja in defense of others are dishonourable, i.e. disarming, stealing their weapon, or hitting them, in an attempt to defend prey you’re hunting.
Synths attacking/hindering Yautja in self defense are worthy (as in, if you hit them first).
Carriers & facehuggers
If a carrier is present during a fight between you and a xenomorph, assume they’re there to infect you if spectating or loitering. Following you while out of combat or chatting you up for a longer time can be for the same reason. This makes them worthy, including if they take out a facehugger to infect you.
If a facehugger does the any of the above, you may use dishonorable tools at will.
Abominations
Abominations are considered the worst thing in existence and should be eliminated with every Yautja-made tool in your arsenal. Focus should be placed on killing abomination with the intent on minimizing unnecessary kills, though some are to be expected.
Yautja may create a ceasefire with the marines in order to concentrate on killing the abomination, though you must focus on the abomination only.
If you get infected, you must die at any cost.
If you encounter an infected Yautja who is alive then you are to ensure they die, and if possible, self-destruct their body.
Self destructing to kill an infected predator/an abomination should be seen as a last resort, and not the first solution.
Should an abomination be present on the Almayer, hunters are able to go onboard to destroy it, even after hijack.
After its death and proof of its existence was removed, all Yautja are to leave the ship as soon as possible.
Hive Offensives
In the event that a smaller group of meta combinations that don’t let the Yautja fight back against infection (i.e., warrior, queen, carrier) attack a Yautja first, the attackers become temporarily dishonorable. In the case above or in the case that 5 or more xenos join a fight against a Yautja, other Yautja may join in freely, unless the engaged Yautja demands otherwise. Should the Yautja join in, the temporarily dishonorable status from being attacked first goes away.
In a situation where the Yautja instead begins a hunt of one or two xenomorphs and more xenos join, other Yautja may assist only if the number is much higher, i.e. the entire hive.
Hive Disruption
Yautja may hunt xenomorphs before T3s, however, they should be mindful of what and how much they do. Try and hold back if you initiate engagements yourself.
- Weapons and tools
Worthy
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All Yautja melee weapons
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Smart disk and harpoons; when engaging a single target, you should use max one of each, unless dishonorable.
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Hunting traps
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Non-lethal plasma caster, without stunhitting (i.e., hitting them while they’re down and unable to resist)
Dishonorable & temporarily dishonorable
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Plasma rifle
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Plasma pistol
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Cloaked combat
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Spike launcher
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Multiple harpoons and multiple smartdisks
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Lethal and non-lethal plasma caster, stun hitting allowed (Use your own initiative with this)
Prey weaponry
Weapons thrown at you can be thrown back, whether they’re aimed at you and miss or you catch one mid-air. When a thrown explosive is tossed into a lodge which you are inhabiting, you may also throw it outside or towards prey.
- Yautja & the hunting grounds
The Yautja are free to hunt anywhere in the hunting grounds except for the areas listed below.
Yautja are also not to directly alter the environment in a way that would lead to a direct benefit to one side (i.e. blowing up Lambda, blowing up Eta, blowing up hydro, clearing a straight path for either side’s base).
Yautja standing around prey uncloaked and not interacting with said prey should remove themselves from sight. It is the opinion of the council that a predator standing uncloaked when not interacting and in full view of either side is low role play (running around uncloaked does not count).
Using fuel tanks and other objects like lizards as makeshift traps is a dishonorable tactic, and is prohibited.
FOB
Predators should not be disrupting or causing any harm to marine fortifications.
Predators may go near non-FOB fortifications or even through them, as long as they make sure, to the best of their ability, that they are not noticed, and that they do not damage or disrupt any parts of the fortifications, i.e. sentries, barricades, supplies. Predators may taunt marines in non-FOB fortifications and beckon them outside, but should disengage if they do not move outside.
Passing through FOB fortifications is forbidden, and going near should be avoided unless it is to return a dead human. Taunting marines in FOB fortifications is forbidden.
Predators may chase fleeing prey to fortifications, but not into them.
Almayer
Predators may head to the Almayer only for gear recovery, returning thralls, and abominations. When on the Almayer, you should do things as concisely and efficiently as you can. Try not to do too much collateral damage. See their respective sections for more info.
Comms
When in marine possession, comms fall under the FOB fortification clause.
When in xeno possession, predators may not start fights there but may chase prey who run there to finish an engagement, including inside. The area becomes valid to hunt in after the marines have evacuated.
Hive
The hive is defined as the area where xeno captures are held and/or where the hive core is. Hunting and entry is forbidden under all circumstances unless there is an infected Yautja inside. See prey caveats.
Frontline
Predators may not initiate engagements on the frontline - however, they are allowed to chase prey fleeing there to finish the job. During this, predators may use ONLY their melee weapons, and nothing else. Furthermore, self-destruct must be set to small if the predator chooses to self-destruct there.
Sieges
During FoB/hive sieges, predators may hunt only the besieging faction as long as the hunt isn’t commenced at the barricades/the hive (that is to say, you may hunt troops moving to the siege, or just around the backline). As with the frontline clause, chasing prey retreating to the siege is allowed.
- Yautja & the hunting preserve
Preserve etiquette
All participants must be established before a hunt by the huntsmaster, the Yautja releasing prey. Predators may not join in the middle of the hunt except to observe unless all existing participants have died, or if the huntsmaster consents to them joining after the start.
A hunt in the preserve is a hunt, not a thunderdome match, and thus predators cannot goad humans to fight each other, even though they are allowed to out of their own volition.
Prey
All prey is worthy. Prey who prove themselves by killing a Yautja in single combat can be allowed to leave via the escape gate.
Prey may be taken from the hunting grounds to the ship alive, but never to the main part of the game.
Dishonorable actions
Prey rushing predator buildings to breach them and prey being LRP towards each other or to the predator are dishonorable.
Trophy restriction
Allowed hunting ground equipment trophies:
- Unloaded, stripped guns
- Knives
- Rank pins
- Helmets
- IDs
Things not on the list are unallowed.
All hunting grounds prey bodies must be skinned before being taken to the main part of the game, and devoid of all gear.
- Yautja & other blooded
Honor code breaches & bad bloods
A bad blood is a predator who’s been outlawed for breaking the honor code, making them dishonorable and a disgrace to their kind. Not all crimes make a predator a bad blood, but the honor code is very strict and unforgiving, so many acts can qualify one as a bad blood. If you see an honor code breach, do your best to make the offender desist, and if they refuse and don’t self-destruct, challenge them to an honor duel.
Murdering a fellow Yautja outside an honor duel is considered the worst possible crime. This action will result in your Yautja becoming a bad blood, and will result in disciplinary action being taken against your whitelist. Accidents in spars are excused.
Respect for elites, elders, ancients
Hunters are expected to show some respect to their superiors; be they elites, elders, and ancients, even from other clans. This can vary from character to character, but simply do not disrespect superiors to bait honor duels.
Honor duels
Yautja may challenge another blooded Yautja or human they deem worthy of an honor duel. Honor duels are to the death but have some rules:
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The challenging Yautja can choose the rules of the duel, such as the weapons and gear used by either party, and whether humans can be allowed ranged weaponry or not.
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For a Yautja on Yautja honor duel to occur, there must have been a major incident that occurred between the two (i.e. the stealing of a trophy, grave insults and so on).
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Human victors may be given a trophy from the ship by the other Yautja or one of the gear parts of the fallen Yautja.
Cooperation
Yautja must hunt alone. The only thing you are allowed to do as a group, with consent from your other Yautja, is dispatch dishonorable prey, gear/body retrieval, and hunt abominations and defend lodges. The only case where Yautja are obliged to work together is killing abominations.
Death of yourself, and of other yautja
Dying in combat is one the greatest deaths a Yautja could ask for, though to die by a bracer’s self-destruct is an even greater honor. If a Yautja is about to die, they must try to self-destruct. Once you have committed to self-destructing, you must go through with the process unless you have a very valid reason to cancel it.
Self-destructing and then canceling to scare away enemies is considered extremely dishonorable. During the self-destruct process Yautja are unable to use any weaponry or attempt to keep Xenos or Humans within the self-destruct radius. You’ll never be disciplined for not self-destructing - however, you should try and make every attempt to do so within the bounds of the honor code.
You are allowed to self destruct fallen Yautja as you see fit provided they are not in the FoB or the hive. That being said, do not throw the body as a weapon after you trigger the self-destruction sequence. The same rules apply with attempting to keep humans or xenos within the blast radius.
Yautja should make every effort to avoid SDing in the FOB or in the hive, unless it is completely unavoidable - then you may do so. However, you may be reported and should be prepared to defend your actions.
- Yautja & Youngbloods
Youngblood handler & responsibilities
The hunter that calls the ERT is in charge of the youngbloods no matter their rank, and will be held responsible for any actions of the youngbloods.
Youngblood kill button
The youngblood kill button is not to be used unless a serious honour code break is witnessed or the player is being LRP. The button is meant to be a last resort. The button logs both the reason and both parties’ C-keys; you may face repercussions for using the button.
Youngblood expectations
Youngblood is not a role for the person to learn the honor code to its minute details. As long as the player playing as the youngblood is not breaking the honor code or being LRP, them not knowing everything in the honor code is fine. The role is meant for players to experience a different roleplay environment outside the main game loop.
- Yautja & Thralls
Yautja players can abduct humans as thralls, prey who have proven themselves worthy and/or interested enough to be taught to hunt like the Yautja.
Thrall expectations
Thralls are expected to uphold the honor code. Begging to be thralled is a dishonorable act. Thralls must be given a thrall bracer box to acquire their gear. Thralls are not allowed to use any human ranged weaponry.
Thrall & mentor
Thralls are viewed as extensions of their mentor, and as such, the mentor is also held as responsible should the thrall break the honor code, which they must uphold. Yautja are to police their thralls and are to pick the opponents that they hunt. An unruly or misbehaving thrall can be reprimanded or executed as dishonorable foe at any time by their master. Thralls should not be force infected, and if infected should be exterminated.
Thrall welfare & death
Thralls can be healed by their master, but they should not be brought back from the dead. Each Yautja may only have one thrall per round. A thrall cannot be saved from death unless it has defeated their opponent. If a thrall dies the gear given to the thrall must be recovered.
Mentor death
Should a thrall’s master die, the remaining Yautja should retrieve their gear and teleport them to the Almayer. Should there be no Yautja left, the thrall should be left to their own desires/whims.
- Gear recovery
Planetside gear recovery
Planetside gear carriers are worthy prey.
Gear recovery is not mandatory, but encouraged, and seen as a priority. Gear recovery in the FOB/hive is forbidden.
Yautja body recovery is mandatory and exempt from the FOB/hive clause above, though collateral damage should be avoided.
Shipside gear recovery
Shipside gear carriers and those actively keeping you from retrieving it are dishonorable prey.
Shipside gear recovery is only ever mandatory for bodies. You may choose not to recover gear parts.
Post-hijack gear recovery is forbidden, unless it was started pre-hijack: then it must be finished. Yautja body recovery is still mandatory even post-hijack.
When on shipside gear recovery, focus on the recovery and avoid collateral damage: you are not on the hunt here.
- Lodges
A lodge is an enclosed and secluded area wherein Yautja set up and operate from.
Lodge placement & foundation
To declare a lodge the Yautja must agree upon a single site, and must secure the enclosed area with any entrance/exit to it being handcrafted sandstone doors. No more than 1 lodge can exist at a single time. Should a lodge get destroyed, or the Yautja decide to abandon/move their current one, then they must tear down the sandstone doors to the best of their abilities before declaring a new lodge site.
Lodges must be away from the main areas of the map so as to keep it away from possible front lines, and lodges should not excessively impact either faction’s ability to flank or maneuver around the map. It is the responsibility of the Yautja to ensure the lodge is created in a secluded area. Lodges must be made after Marines land to avoid round impact.
Lodge storage
Any gear that can be tracked should not be stored in the lodge, unless said gear is in the process of being recovered.
Lodge defense
Parties that trespass into the lodge that you were already engaged against or that are taking a passive look-around are worthy.
- Example of passive look-around: entering the lodge and not engaging the Yautja, trying to RP.
Parties that attack the lodge itself or enter the lodge offensively instead of a passive look-a-round are dishonorable due to interfering with your hunt/attacking without due cause.
Stray weapon fire or spitting is not considered a deliberate effort. Any vehicle that deliberately attacks the lodge may be dispatched in dishonorable means.
- Example of offensive entry: entering with weapons drawn and immediately engaging the Yautja before the Yautja engages them.
Multiple Yautja may attack the same prey that enters the lodge. However, they should be very careful on the classification of the prey to avoid problems.
- Spirit of the Whitelist
Yautja are antagonists - however, they should use common sense when it comes to hunting during a round and be aware of their surroundings. They should not be detrimental to the round and Whitelist as a whole. What is written above in this Honor Code realistically covers only a small portion of events and scenarios Yautja may encounter during rounds, you should be using the set in stone rules in the Honor Code to guide your judgement in situations not clearly defined by the Code to ensure you act in a way that befits what is expected of a Whitelisted Yautja.
The Yautja Council holds the final say and can remove you if they believe you are not acting in the Spirit of the Whitelist. Obviously, every case will be handled case by case and won’t be used for grudges.
Good Spirit of the Whitelist examples
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Sparing/throwing back a revivable prey who fought well.
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Gifting someone a spear or gear piece after they kill a Yautja even if it was outside of a duel.
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Make someone’s day, thrall a new player, make a fighting pit, create an interesting role playing situation.
Bad Spirit of the Whitelist examples
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Placing hunting traps on a road leading out of the FOB and attacking anybody who walks into them.
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Lethal HPCing baldy mc baldface just because they are hunting you down.
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Murdering someone instantly because they are holding gear groundside.
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Round removing someone that shoots at you whilst you are cloaked.
- Hellhounds
Hellhound usage etiquette
Hellhounds may be used during preserve hunts, planetside hunts (sparingly), lodge defenses, and abomination hunts.
Hellhounds must be used to break up or distract larger groups in normal hunts, and never sent to dispatch a singular target, unless dishonorable.
Example of bad hellhound usage:
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Taking a hellhound planetside and having it attack a lone target from the darkness.
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Calling a group of 8 humans on the preserve and releasing many hounds at them.
Example of good hellhound usage:
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Calling a group of 8 humans on the preserve and sending one to break them up and distract them.
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Using a hellhound planetside to distract a larger group of xenos helping your main prey.
Hellhound expectations
Listen to your master. When in doubt about doing or not doing something, ask.