TeamFortress (Classic) is a game of war. It�s a game in which you deal with people. The common interest in TF(C) creates a coherence whereby people perceive themselves to be part of a group significantly different from, for instance, people who play squash. Unfortunately, the sense of belonging to a group brings out a need in some people to prove themselves for the group in the sense that they want to create a name and status. This has led to certain things being both pursued and compared to �sport� (cheating) and the acceptance of verbal abuse within a game. As I have often encountered this, I would like to make the following clear.

We can safely state the following about TeamFortress(C):

1.It is a team game, as there are two or more teams facing each other;

2.There are different classes of players in the game that can do different things and have different strengths and weaknesses;

3.Playing TeamFortress(C) is usually done with other people;

4.The people who built TeamFortress(C) built it for people;

From these facts we can deduce the following:

1.As a teamgame, the team is most important. You as a person can never supersede or secede from the team of which you are part. Therefore, basically, you, as a person, can never win. Your team wins. Also, you can never lose: your team loses.

2.Every class is available to both sides and each �strength� is equalised by a �weakness�. Therefore, no team is superior, as every team has equal acvcess to the classses, and no class is superior and no class is closed to a player.

3.Playing a game with people is acknowledging them as equals, Therefore, they have the right to be treated as equals: with some respect, and to be taken seriously. To gain those rights we should also respect and honour other people.

4.It may be stated that the builders of TeamFortress(C) did not build it as a covert way of insulting eachother. They built it for their pleasure and the pleasure of others.

Based on this it can be said that if you want to play the game correctly you should abide by the spirit that the builders put into the game: Respect, honour and teamplay. Notice that insulting and cheating do not form part of this.

Cheating, as an action, is to play a game or pursue winning the game through disregarding or avoiding either the rules or the normal procedure of the game or through modifying unilaterally the game in such a way that it offers advantages to the cheater, unknown to the other players.
Cheating can be said to be disrespectful towards other players and the builders of the game, it is dishonourable to you and your co-players and it ignores teamplay.

Cheating is disrespectful towards other players as you do not face them in open battle, but you resort to means that the game normally would not allow for. Furthermore, you do not inform them of your deviant way of playing so as to give your opponent the opportunity of taking precautionary action. It is disrespectful towards the builders as you show disregard for their intention of creating a game that anyone could play.

However, more importantly, you are stating: �I need to cheat, as I do not see any other way in which I could win.�

Cheating works on the premise that you believe that you cannot win or finish the game under normal conditions. Therefore, you deny yourself to have the ability or the intelligence to do this. You think you need cheats to win. It is, in conclusion, an insult to your co-players, but specifically an insult to your own intelligence.

Cheaters logic of �yes, but I am winning, so what I do is allowed� falls short of any normal logic. It does not take into account the feelings of the group, but only the feelings of the individual who is cheating. Under the same logic virtually any injustice can be justified. To draw a parallel to the real world this would mean that any inhumane action taken in war to win is a good action. This goes against the grain of any sense of civilisation and morality current people have.

All is fair in love and war? No, for in the fighting of wars even the most archaic civilizations have had rules on how to fight it. The Ancient Greeks only fought at certain times and at certain places, having observers present. Knights developed codes of honour, Samurai the bushido code. Native Americans had their laws of war. Even Amazonian tribes have intricate regulations governing conflicts. As TeamFortress limits the terrible factors of armed conflict in the sense that no civilians will fall victim, and all deaths are �virtual�, i.e. not real, one could forget about rules. However, the aspect of honour and respect remains even in TeamFortress. As medieval knights would consider it unfair in a tournament to carry daggers in your shield or up your sleeve, so most TF-players will consider it dishonourable to cheat.

Hurling insults to eachother in the game can be considered behaviour that is deviant with regard to the intention of the game. The game in its original set-up does not try to insult the player, nor does it solicit insults. There is no part in the game where you are requested which insults you would like to hear. TeamFortress has two messagemodes, which have clear and delineated functions. None of these functions include vulgarities. The people who are being insulted are real people who are trying to have a nice time, just like the person insulting. They are trying to do their best, just like the abuser. However, it gives a clear indication what this insulting person thinks about people by calling them names. They do so in the warm freedom of anonymity. It must be noted that in most societies it is considered quite a cowardly action to stand in anonymity and insult somebody. Rather then being a man/woman about it and going to these people to insult them while they can look the abuser in the eye. People who shout abuse are not aware that other people are seeing what is being said and certain insults might be upsetting towards groups or people. If this happens the abuser may congratulate him/herself on thoroughly ruining a game for a person. It would not be surprising if people would actually turn their backs on TF(C) because of misplaced �jokes�.

Now, not everything can be called �cheating� or �unethical�. To give you an example: during the American Independence War the Revolutionaries used guns with a longer range then the English did. This to an English General would have been unethical, because is was ungentlemanlike to shoot from that far. However, it was the fault of the English not to use these guns and implement them into their armies. U.S. Grant brought the Civil War into the Southern States because he wanted the Southern people to bear the burdens of the war. This could be considered unethical, but in a vast country, it is the only way in which you can decisively win a war

During the game, a player should try to be chivalrous and honest. This does include telling a teammember off in case of blatant stupidity, but it also includes congratulating a worthy opponent. A good game can fuel a good feeling, a good disposition can create a good atmosphere, which creates a good game. Insults do not form part of this.

�Fine things are the objects of praise, base things of blame; and at the head of the fine stand the virtues, at the head of the base the vices�. Therefore, to do things that other praise is to do fine things: to play the game honourably and well will gain praise. This, as a result, can thus be called a fine thing: a virtue.

The opposite, to play without honour and using abject means, will not gain praise. A cheater and somebody playing bad will not be praised, he will be �blamed�. Therefore, to play well is a virtue, to play bad is a vice.

People who are ill tempered, cowards, or foolish tend to play bad. People who want to be honoured for honour sake play bad. The road to honour is a difficult path: there are no shortcuts. Ill-tempered, cowardly and foolish players tell themselves there are short cuts, and try to gain honour by doing the ultimate opposite: dishonour.

The honourable road is long and will often drive you back. However, it will make you stronger as a person and as a player. During that path you will learn a number of virtues, which will come in handy, here and in real life.

The virtues to be learnt to become a truly great TeamFortress player are equal to the virtues of anyone who seeks to excel in the art of war. They can be summed up as follows:

Superior ability: To seek excellence in all you do, and not to be satisfied by anything less. A player cannot become an excellent player by accepting any situation. He must always wonder how he can enhance his knowledge of the game, and his control of the game. Engage in discussion on the game and practice often. To do these things is to enhance your control of the game. Read and study, follow the work of people who already have excelled. All this must be in the service of you, the team and honourable play. Assist others in their search for excellence. Be a guide and teacher whilst being a student.

Justice: Be just and merciful. During the game do not seek justice from those that made mistakes, forgive your team members and your enemies for any unintended wrongdoing. Be just in your actions, but do not fall for arrogance. You do not own the truth, you do not keep wisdom in your pocket. Grant victory to those who earn it. Do not tolerate injustice: in a situation where a small team is being assaulted by a large team join the smaller team. If somebody is being shouted at assist him or her. When you believe someone is cheating, do not address him/her in public, but rather in private to avoid any upheaval.

Loyalty: be loyal to your team and to what it stands for. Be loyal to your co-players. Never compromise what you and your team stand for. Your team and your co-players are your comrades in arms, they need you just as much as you need them. Furthermore, by joining a team you have chosen for them. You teamleader and team members can expect you to stand for them in battle whenever this is necessary. Once you have given your loyalty to a team Defense is the duty that comes with it.

Courage: Be prepared to make sacrifices for the notions and team you are loyal to. However, you must always combine this with the knowledge that blind faith will lead to nowhere. Courage will sometimes bring you in an opposite position towards your team members. In those cases remember the virtue of justice.

Courtesy: Be courteous in your acts and words. Emotions should never be the guide of either your hands or your mouth. Any message can be brought in a polite way. Being courteous and civil will bring even the wildest of dogs to calm. Reason applied through the mouth of emotion will be perceived as emotion trying to reason. Contain yourself and encourage others to do so. As stated before, give people the benefit of the doubt, but also give them the opportunity to give you the benefit of the doubt.

Faith: A good player must have faith in what he stands for. Faith is your foundation. It gives you the strength to play in even the most hopeless match. Rather then despair, faith gives you a course to sail by. Faith you need to have in your team, you must trust your comrades blindly. Having faith in your fellow players will result in them having faith in you.

Humility: To you goes no honour, it goes to the teamleader and the team. Do not speak boldly on actions you have performed and how you have slain the enemy, but honour the team and your co-players. In this way you ensure that the respect which goes to you goes to your team and to your fellow players. Remember the first line of the motto of the Knights Templar: �Not to us (goes the glory)�

Generosity: Be generous in both actions and thought. Assist your team members, but also people from other teams if they ask for it. This will make put them in your debt. However, do not try to cash in your debt, this will only make people hesitant in asking for your advice. Be generous in your sharing of knowledge.

Nobility: Seek greatness by applying, and living, by virtuous standards. To strive for virtue in your actions to try to excel in all you do will bring you greatness of spirit and greatness of being. Be an example to your fellow players.

Consistency: Strive for virtue in a consistent way and through sincerity. Do not think you can just be virtuous in clan matches. It can also be done in pub matches, on IRC, in short everywhere. If you are consistent in your virtues people will try to follow your example, and you will be a name of renown.