Please refer to the Table of Contents to the right for specific links to relevant sections.

Users may not use anonymous accounts to submit complaints, concerns, or reports. Anonymous complaints and concerns will be disregarded. Submit all concerns through the Service Desk.

For best results, users should submit their own reports whenever possible. Second-hand reports are accepted in some cases, but they may limit what Starlight Commons [SLC] can confirm or follow up on. Reports are kept private and are only visible to the Moderators reviewing them.

If you need to report a user, you must submit a ticket through the Service Desk at Advanced Support. Choose the correct ticket type, include a clear summary of the situation, all relevant details, all relevant links, and attach any evidence you have (i.e., uncropped screenshots with date and timestamps, etc.) If the report involves Masterlist content, include the Masterlist link.

After the Report is Submitted
After submitting a report in which another user is involved, the reporting user should stop interacting with them immediately. Block them everywhere possible, and discontinue discussion of the user, incident, or related conflict in any capacity. This is for your safety, and it is also part of the Starlight Commons [SLC] policy to prevent escalation and help situations end. Reporters are expected to follow this policy while Moderators review and handle the report.

Starlight Commons [SLC] has a zero-tolerance policy for incidents listed in Section 2.2 Prohibited Content, including hate speech, violent threats, doxing, and any form of adult or exploitative sexual content, including but not limited to grooming and sexual misconduct with minors. Due to the severity of these topics, every member has a responsibility to help keep the community safe by reporting them immediately.

Reports are handled privately through the Service Desk, and your identity will not be shared.

Starlight Commons [SLC] does not accept anonymous reports, and typically, the affected party must submit the report. However, due to the severity of violations in this section, Starlight Commons [SLC] will accept second-hand reports when clear evidence is provided, such as screenshots or logs. For reporting steps and requirements, see Section 4.1b Submitting Reports above.

Starlight Commons [SLC] believes in second chances, but we also believe in appropriate discipline. Depending on the situation, Starlight Commons [SLC] employs disciplinary measures depending on the intent, content, and severity of the infraction. Official warnings, strikes, or bans are delivered via a private message on Toyhouse from the Starlight Commons ToyHouse Account.

Starlight Commons [SLC] separates privileges so that users can be disciplined by simply blocking access to a single privilege rather than blocking their entire ARPG experience. Official privilege bans are delivered via a private message on Toyhouse from the Starlight Commons ToyHouse Account. The notice will clearly state whether disciplinary action is a temporary or permanent privilege ban, depending on the intent, content, and severity.

Example
Users could receive a permanent ban from the official Starlight Commons Discord and from Official Art Privileges, yet still be in good standing with the rest of the ARPG.

All ARPG Privilege Types
- ARPG Privileges | Allows users to submit to all Activities, Expeditions, and Missions.
- Event Privileges | Allows users to participate in Events.
- Discord Privileges | Allows users to access and interact in the Starlight Commons Discord.
- DA Group/TH World Access Privilege | Allows users to submit artwork and/or characters to the DeviantART Group and/or ToyHouse World.
- Design Approval Privileges | Allows users to submit for Design Approval.
- Official Art Privileges | Allows users to purchase from Official Artists.
- Ownership Privileges | Allows users to own Stellaborn.
- Trade Privileges | Allows users to trade characters and items freely.
- Giveaway Privileges | Allows users to participate freely in all free Starlight Commons [SLC] giveaways.

Due to the nature of Starlight Commons [SLC], our Moderators complete their duties on personal accounts and make sales through their personal social media accounts. Starlight Commons [SLC] does not bar its Moderators from blocking users on their social media or gallery accounts. They have every right to do so if they feel uncomfortable. Users cannot appeal a Moderator's personal ban because it does not affect their ability to participate in the ARPG or Discord.

Users are free to block or ban Moderators or users on their personal accounts, social media, or gallery pages. Doing so will not result in any disciplinary action or changes to your ARPG privileges. Users are never required to interact with Moderators outside of ARPG approvals.

When something is submitted to the Starlight Commons ARPG and it may not follow the rules or something is missing, they might have their submission denied. When they are denied, the reason for the denial will be explained by the approving moderator.

Denials are NOT disciplinary or recorded unless it is explicitly stated that it is a warning because of a repeated offense. A denial is a moderator simply trying to remind the user of the rules and asking them to resubmit.

Warnings are the first level of the official disciplinary system, and are often given when a user has been told multiple times about an issue by a moderator but no changes have been made to correct the issue. A warning can also be given if the flagged issue's content calls for an immediate warning.

Warnings are given in an official capacity to warn the user that the continued repetition of their error could result in a strike if the behavior continues. A user can receive up to three (3) warnings before higher disciplinary action is taken, like the removal of some or all ARPG privilege's listed in 4.2a Disciplinary Removal of Privilege.

The amount of warnings given to a user ARE recorded, but will reset at the beginning of each Calendar Year.

Strikes are the second level of the official disciplinary system. A user may receive a strike for being given three warnings for the same issue, or if the flagged content calls explicitly for a strike as discipline.

Strikes are given in an official capacity to warn the user that if they continue perpetuating the problem, the user will receive a ban. Users can receive up to two strikes, but the third strike will result in a permanent ban from some or all of the ARPG privilege's listed in 4.2a Disciplinary Removal of Privilege.

The amount of strikes given to a user ARE recorded, but will reset at the beginning of each Calendar Year.

Starlight Commons will NOT tolerate consecutive strikes if the issues are relevant to one another, and reserve the right to escalate problems to permanent or full bans at any time.

Temporary bans are given for any repeated minor infraction, unless the flagged issue calls explicitly for a temporary ban as punishment. Temporary bans can range in length from anywhere between 30 days to a year long, depending on the intent, content, and severity.

Starlight Commons reserves the right to extend or escalate bans after the initial sentencing. See 4.4 Ban Etiquette | Appeals for more information.

Permanent bans are given for any major infraction, and can be applied to one or more of the ARPG privilege's listed in 4.2a Disciplinary Removal of Privilege. Permanent bans are the loss of one or more of these privileges forever.

Full-Account bans are the highest and most extreme level of official punishment, and result with the user automatically losing all of their ARPG privilege's. All items owned by the user become frozen in the account, becoming non-transferable. Unlike the other ban types, a full-account ban can NOT be appealed.

Users may appeal bans and Moderation decisions unless they are explicitly informed at the time the action is issued that an appeal is not available. SLC is always open to respectful appeals and will review them in good faith. Formal apologies may be included alongside an appeal and will be considered as part of the review process. Appeals may not be submitted through anonymous accounts. To submit an appeal, visit Advanced Support at the Service Desk under Ban Appeals.

Creating new accounts to bypass account bans or to regain ARPG Privileges will result in an additional immediate prohibition, with no eligibility for ban forgiveness.

Creating new accounts to circumvent personal blocks by users or Moderators, then using those accounts to contact Moderators or other users, may result in a warning or a permanent ban, depending on the intent, content, and severity. This behavior may also violate the Terms of Service for social media platforms. Users and Moderators reserve the right to report accounts involved in circumvention. See 4.1 Reporting for more details on the reporting process.

This includes, but is not limited to:
- Using new accounts to direct message (DM) Moderators or users.
- Posting publicly in spaces where access has been restricted.
- Creating new accounts to participate in sales, events, or games hosted by the blocking user.

Starlight Commons [SLC] can take action when harassment involves Starlight Commons [SLC] spaces, [SLC] users, or [SLC]-related activity. Starlight Commons [SLC] may also take action when public harassment targets a Starlight Commons [SLC] user and violates another platform's Terms of Service.

If harassment is unrelated to Starlight Commons [SLC], posted by a non-user, or posted by an anonymous account with no confirmed identity, Starlight Commons [SLC] cannot take action. Starlight Commons [SLC] also cannot moderate private venting in personal DMs or on private servers outside Starlight Commons [SLC]. However, if there is clear evidence of coordinated harassment, stalking, scamming, or a conspiracy to cause harm to a Starlight Commons [SLC], [SLC] may still take action, depending on the intent, content, and severity.

Public Etiquette Reminder
In general, users should not discuss or vent about other users in public spaces. Public call-outs, indirect posts, and hostile commentary often escalate conflict and may be treated as harassment depending on the situation.

Post Removal Requests
Starlight Commons [SLC] may request the removal of harassing content posted in Starlight Commons [SLC] spaces or on other platforms when the content violates that platform's Terms of Service. Even if content is removed, strikes or bans may still apply depending on intent, content, and severity.

Disciplinary Severity
Harassment and bullying are major infractions. See 4.3d Temporary Bans, Permanent Bans, and Full-Account Bans for more information.

Reporting
See Section 4.1 Reporting for more details on the reporting process.

Examples of Harassment and Derogatory Speech
- Naming or identifying another user, directly or indirectly, while describing a negative experience in a public space, even if the post is vague, but the person's identity can still be reasonably determined.
- Insulting, mocking, or speaking negatively about another user's art or personal character.
- Begging for art, items, or characters.
- Guilt-tripping others about prizes, characters, money, or opportunities.
- Spreading rumors or making false claims about other users on social media or in public spaces.

Scamming or theft occurs when a user takes items, currency, designs, or other value from another party and fails to deliver what was agreed upon. This includes any exchange in which one side receives something and the other receives nothing. Scamming also includes misleading another user about the source, authenticity, ownership, or legitimacy of the exchange.

Scamming and theft are major infractions. See Section 4.3d Temporary Bans, Permanent Bans, and Full-Account Bans for disciplinary outcomes. If Starlight Commons [SLC] finds clear evidence that a transaction occurred and was not honored, [SLC] may issue a warning, strike, temporary ban, or permanent ban, depending on intent, content, and severity. Starlight Commons [SLC] may also attempt to restore lost property when possible. However, Starlight Commons [SLC] cannot force refunds, require payment, or compel a user to return money. See Section 4.1 Reporting for more details on the reporting process.

Starlight Commons [SLC] does not support public blacklists or call-out posts. Starlight Commons [SLC] does not support cancel culture. [SLC] may take action against call-out posts when they violate Section 2: Content Policies, are considered harassment directly related to our group, or violate the Terms of Service of other platforms. See Section 2.1 Defining Realm of Control for details on where Starlight Commons [SLC] can take action. See Section 4.1 Reporting for more details on the reporting process.

Spamming and trolling take up significant space while contributing no content to the group or Starlight Commons [SLC]. Spamming and trolling may result in a temporary or permanent ban from the Starlight Commons [SLC] spaces, like the DeviantArt Group, ToyHouse World, or Discord. See Section 4.1 Reporting for more details on the reporting process.

Cheating typically results in a warning, a strike, a temporary ban, or a permanent ban, depending on the intent, content, and severity. Please report suspected cheating or suspicious activity by opening an Advanced Support ticket at the Service Desk. See Section 4.1 Reporting for more details on the reporting process.

Examples of Cheating can include, but are not limited to:
- Using multiple accounts to join raffles, circumvent one-per-user limits, or alter voting results.
- Using multiple accounts to circumvent bans.
- Using popularity or social pressure to influence community voting unfairly.
- Tracing, heavily referencing, or reusing assets from your own or another user's work across multiple activities.

Maintaining very consistent or repetitive poses and backgrounds across multiple submissions may result in a user's work being declined. Starlight Commons [SLC] encourages users to keep drawings visually distinct to avoid this. If images are too similar, they may fall under one of three categories: Bases/Reused Assets, Heavy Referencing, or Tracing. This rule is not meant to accuse users of wrongdoing, but to guide submissions toward uniqueness and prevent situations where the Moderator might interpret repeated elements as intentional cheating. Reusing assets, such as bases, repeated poses, or limb placements; heavily referencing official images; and tracing are not allowed. While this rule primarily applies to Stellaborn drawings, it can extend to other elements if they are visually required for the activity, such as reusing the same line art of a bush or a tree. Users will receive a warning before any instance of this behavior is treated as cheating. Reusing drawings or assets in this way across multiple submissions can be considered cheating in some contexts.

Reusing assets refers to creating pre-made elements, such as body parts, facial features, characters, or background objects, and repeatedly inserting them into multiple artworks. This includes copying, pasting, or otherwise reusing the same drawn elements rather than creating them fresh for each piece.

Users may not create assets and reuse them across multiple images. Each submission must be an entirely new, original artwork and may not be assembled from previously created components. This rule also applies to backgrounds, even if they are resized, recolored, or slightly modified.

For example, creating a set of trees, flowers, rocks, or other environmental elements and placing them into multiple activities is not permitted. Likewise, character-based assets, such as Roamkin or Collectibles, may not be reused more than once within the same image or across different images. Even if adjustments are made, repeated use of the same base asset still counts as asset reuse. This rule intends to ensure that each artwork represents a complete, original effort rather than a composition built from previously created elements.

Heavy referencing and copying occur when artwork is inspired by existing art to the point that it appears similar. This can happen unintentionally when users repeatedly and consistently draw nearly identical backgrounds or poses for simple characters.

This may include reusing the same visual elements in very similar placements across multiple works, even if those elements are redrawn each time. For example, repeatedly drawing a house and a tree in the same positions with a scene, even if the artwork is flipped, resized, or redrawn, it can still be considered heavy referencing if it is on multiple submissions.

Tracing is the practice of using existing artwork as a direct guide for drawing, either by drawing directly over the original image or closely following it by eye. Even when portions of the image are altered, such as changing details, colors, or flipping the image, the underlying structure of the original work can often still be identified.

This includes situations where poses, proportions, or line placements match the source too closely to be coincidental. For example, recreating a character by following the exact outline, pose, or silhouette of another artist's work, or your own work, even if the character design or environment is changed, would still be considered tracing. Because tracing relies heavily on the original artwork's structure, it limits originality and can result in works that are effectively copies.

For these reasons, we strongly discourage tracing for official activities and encourage artists to use references as learning tools rather than direct templates.

Impersonating Moderators, even accidentally, can create serious confusion and place users at risk. Please do not get involved in other users' conflicts or act as a liaison. Moderators are responsible for keeping the community safe, organized, and handled fairly. While we understand users may want to help, intervening often escalates situations and can undermine Moderator-led resolution.

Disclaimer: Starlight Commons [SLC] and its Moderation team take no responsibility for the management or fulfillment of user-to-user commissions, sales, and trades. If you encounter scams, harassment, or inappropriate behavior related to commissions, sales, or trades, please see Section 4.12c Dispute Policy, Commissions, Sales, and Trades below.

Best Etiquette This section is a guide to the do's and dont's of commissions. It outlines best practices for safe and fair transactions, as well as reportable behaviors. These guidelines are not enforced as rules.

- Clarity before Starting | Clients should provide precise details before a commission, and all details should be confirmed with the artist before work begins to avoid miscommunications or disputes.
- Payment Terms | Payment terms for commissions or sales should be agreed upon before work begins, including whether payment is due in full upfront, half upfront, or upon completion. All payments should be made through secure methods, such as PayPal, where refunds can be processed easily should a commission not be delivered.
- Communication | Both clients and the artist should communicate regularly and respectfully through any sale process.
- Revisions and Changes | Artists should clearly define how many revisions a commission can have before additional costs are incurred.
- Clear Refunds and Cancellations | Cancellation policies should be agreed upon before work begins.
- Respect Boundaries | Artists and clients should clearly state boundaries. Harassment, threats, or abusive messages directed at either party are unnecessary. Any behavior of the like can fall under Section 4: Community Behavior and may be reportable.
- State Deliverable Timelines | We do not recommend taking longer than 30 to 90 days to complete commissions, as any longer can affect the availability for refunds. Communication is key.
- Properly Credit Work | Artists can showcase completed commissions unless asked otherwise by the client. Clients should credit the artist when sharing the work publicly.