Laming Rule

An example of laming

The laming rule is one of the most common server rules in JKA but originally came from JK2. The rule is applied differently on each server due to how each server interprets the laming rule. Due to this discrepancy it is often wise to check the rules of the server before playing. Most servers make this easier for players by editing the motd to display the laws of the land. This is a common practice done by many of the major JKA clans and servers. One can also check the webpage of the clan itself for a complete list of rules.

The Rule

Laming is attacking a player who is unarmed or chatting. Usually worded as "Laming is attacking a player with saber down or chat-bubble up." Some servers interpret the rule as it being illegal to attack anyone who doesn't wish to be attacked.

Some servers count melee as having saber down, whilst others don't. Servers are also divided over whether the laming rule applies in a duel (which involves attacking a player during the first 3-5 seconds of the duel, or whenever his saber is down on some servers.)

Controversy

According to some, the no laming rule is one of the fundamental elements of JKA that has led to the rise of a clan-rich environment by allowing players to focus on communication rather than just gameplay, or making the game easier for new players.

Others believe that the laming rule is a bad one, making JKA one of the few games with an FFA gametype in which you can not freely kill people, and that it discourages players from playing the actual game, as well as making the game more frustrating to learn for new players.

Not all servers enforce a no laming rule, but most do. It is particularly widely used on Japlus servers and largely avoided on base servers.

Origin

It is unclear exactly where the term "Laming" originally comes from, but one of the people speculated to be behind the original idea was Shroomduck:

"I never invented the word 'laming'. If I had of come up with a name for the act back when the LiCk server was in full swing, it would have been something cooler sounding like "Prunger" or "Tstastrami". I did try to get "Asshat" as a name, but to no avail! Heheh. The big difference between what I started, and what other clans emulated, is that I had a single philosophy: That the fun of one should not be at the expense of another. Of course, this ideal was perverted and distorted by the MANY admins who sought only to control others and pander to their own weak sense of self esteem. It certainly wasn't me by myself. [LiCk]Calvin and I formed a single rule "Saber up to attack", as a way of creating more freedom for players of JK2 on the LiCk server. What facinated us at the time (and this is like, the day JK2 came out!), was how social people were in this game as opposed to other games. Instead of the normal "shoot anything that moves" that one finds in most MP games, JK2 created a certain environment which promoted more chat and communication. We were really both stunned the first time we saw two people start to duel each other, and bow (crouch!) before starting. There was something magical about something as simple as that at the time... although most of us take it for granted now. So, the rule was really created to help promote what was already evolving in the game. We were QUITE disappointed when we saw other servers doing the same thing, but using it as an excuse to weild their admin power around. This is likely one of the reasons people 'lame' so much today... they are sick of admins and servers telling them what to do, and understandably so! That's why the whole thing I try to instill in our admins is a sense of respect towards ALL players as opposed to just enforcing the law. There's a big difference between the words of the rules and the spirit of the rules. The spirit is what will carry us forward and keep this game magical while it's still alive." - Shroomduck "I am [LiCk]calvin and ran/began the JK2 server that was a beginning (afaik) of a whole shit ton of stuff for the JK2 community (of which I wasn't a part of for long). Here is my memory of that time. Basically I was a FPS gamer primarily who generally tried out new games for fun. I had access to a server on a decent connection that would support quite a few players etc. From the beginning it was a server the [LiCk] clan would goof on so from the beginning we would be standing around talking and not necessarily playing like a normal mp game. I don't remember if Shroom and I formally worked together on the "don't attack when saber not up" because I remember having those binds made before most anyone joined but it could have been with him. I always had a soft spot for creating a place where everyone felt comfortable to bs and hang out/be themselves so that's the spirit of how it started. Pretty quickly it grew due to the name having some reference to having a no-attack rule in the name (can't remember how it was worded anymore) and I remember needing to assign other admins to help enforce the server which is where I think I remember Shroom coming in (this was extremely early days). Pretty quickly I was only around to enforce admin policies they didn't have access to and ultimately handed the server over to TMBJ which spawned on this server. Our LiCk clan at the time was primarily focused on Urban Terror and did not like all the JK2 people hanging around and soon they formed their own clan/irc chan. Pretty soon TMBJ, and more importantly Shroomduck, moved on to become a much bigger influence in the JK2 community. It felt weird as fuck to look back at Meeting Shroom and setting this random course for one mp server that was the beginning of a pretty cool community in JK2! I'll check in from time to time, ask anything!"