Creating your own Rules and Code of Conduct

Every healthy community needs clear expectations. In the context of Minecraft servers, Discord communities, and other online spaces, these expectations are shaped through rules and a Code of Conduct. Rules are the specific, practical guidelines players must follow when participating in your community. They tell people what behavior is acceptable and what is not, whether that means avoiding harassment, not sharing personal information, or respecting fair play. Rules act as the “dos and don’ts” of your community, written in language that players can easily understand.

A Code of Conduct goes a step further. Rather than being a simple list of rules, it is a statement of your community's values and principles. It explains the type of environment you want to build, whether that means being respectful, inclusive, and safe. This helps set the tone for how players and staff interact with one another. While rules handle specifics, the Code of Conduct shows what your community stands for, what it refuses to tolerate, and how everyone can help maintain that standard.

These documents are more than just formalities. They matter because they give players confidence that they are entering a space where their wellbeing and presence are respected. They also give staff clarity and authority, reducing hesitation and inconsistency when issues arise.

Without rules and a Code of Conduct, your moderators are left making subjective decisions, which can lead to confusion, disputes, or accusations of bias. With them, staff have a shared framework for action, making enforcement more fair, consistent, and transparent.

Writing clear rules and a Code of Conduct is one of the most important steps in building a safe, thriving community. Below are five key principles to guide you, with references to the 20 Violation Categories provided by DefenderNet.

1. 1

   Aim for clarity

   When drafting your own rules, aim for clarity and enforceability. Avoid vague terms like “don’t be mean” and instead define the behavior: “harassment, hate speech, and bullying are not allowed.” While behaviors that touch on gender are often implied in rules, it is still better to provide specific guidance on what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to gender-related interactions.

2. 2

   Cover different spaces

   Make sure your rules cover all the spaces connected to your community, like in-game chat, Discord communities, and other platforms where members communicate. Only create rules you know your staff can realistically enforce.

3. 3

   Consider different tones

   Some players may perceive guidelines around behaviour as “too serious” or contradictory to the fun-first culture in gaming. Some may even push back through ironic toxicity, baiting, or coded language as workarounds to moderation. It may help to learn from established sources like Xbox's Community Standards or EA's Positive Play Charter. Think about the kind of language that will let you set standards your community can follow and your team can enforce. Instead of a technical or legalistic tone, you can explain harmful behaviour in a way that is understandable for young players and general audiences.

4. 4

   Define your values

   Your Code of Conduct should reflect the spirit of your community. Rather than focusing only on punishments, it should highlight the positive values you want to see in your space. This could include respecting others, collaborating, fair play, and personal responsibility. You can also learn from the examples of Ubisoft, Global Game Jam, and AnyKey. A Code of Conduct sets the tone for your community's culture and helps players understand that safety and trust are priorities and a shared effort among everyone.

   Download our Code of Conduct Template (PDF)
5. 5

   Align with DefenderNet violation categories

   Within one server, rules and a Code of Conduct are vital to have. But when it comes to preventing severe harm across more than one community, they can fall short. If every server uses different ways to classify and report incidents, enforcement quickly becomes inconsistent. This is where DefenderNet's 20 Violation Categories come in. They provide a standardized way for all communities to classify and report harmful behavior, while still allowing each community to decide its own rules and consequences.

By combining your own rules and Code of Conduct with DefenderNet's structured categories, your community benefits from both local clarity and global consistency. Staff are empowered to act with confidence, players gain trust in the fairness of enforcement, and the wider DefenderNet network becomes stronger in protecting everyone from harm.

Reference

A few examples of the 20 Violation Categories