Terms of play
The ground rules for playing Thole while it's an early test, in plain words.
These are the ground rules for playing Thole. By signing up you agree to them, along with the code of conduct and the privacy policy. I've kept them short and in plain words, because terms nobody reads don't help anyone.
It's an early test#
Thole is still being built. Things will break, some features will change or go away, and the game may be down now and then while I fix something or put up a new version.
Your progress may be reset. Sometimes a change to the game means starting the world over, and sometimes a bug means putting things back to how they were earlier. I'll try to give warning before a reset, but I can't promise to every time. Please don't put more into a settler than you'd be okay losing while the game is in testing.
Your account#
- You need to be at least 13 to play.
- Use an email address you can get to. It's how you sign in, and it's how I can reach you or check that an account is really yours.
- Keep your password to yourself, and don't share your account. What's done with your account is on you.
- You can stop playing whenever you like, and you can ask me to delete your account. The privacy policy says how.
No pay-to-win#
Thole is free while it's being tested. If it ever costs money, or sells anything, it won't be anything that makes you stronger, richer or quicker than someone who doesn't pay. Gold, gear and skills come from playing, and that's how it's going to stay.
The things in the game, like gold, items, land and settlers, belong to the game and aren't worth real money. Please don't sell them, or accounts, for real money.
Playing fair#
Play by the code of conduct. Don't use bots or scripts, and don't use a bug to get ahead or to mess with other people. If you find one, tell me through Report a problem in the menu. Finding bugs and telling me about them is one of the most useful things anyone can do during the test.
What you put in the game#
What you say in chat and letters, your settler's name, and what you build are yours to answer for. By putting them in the game you let Thole show them to other players and in the game's public pages, like the paper and the Atlas, as part of how the game works. I can take down anything that breaks the code of conduct.
If someone makes it worse for others#
I can warn, mute, kick or ban anyone who makes Thole worse for other people, and delete their account if it comes to that. When something is serious I may do it without warning. Most of the time I'll tell you why. The code of conduct explains the steps.
No guarantees#
Thole is offered as it is, while it's being built. I can't promise it will always be up, that it won't lose anything, or that it will keep running forever. I'm not responsible for lost progress, for the game being down, or for what another player says or does, though I'll do what I can when someone's causing trouble. Nothing here takes away any rights you have under consumer protection law where you live.
If these change#
If I change these terms, I'll update this page and the date at the bottom of it, and for anything that matters I'll say so in the game. Playing after a change means you're okay with it. If you're not, you can stop and ask me to delete your account.
The law and getting in touch#
These terms are under the laws of Prince Edward Island and of Canada. If you have a question or a problem, write to me at contact email and we'll sort it out.