View source for Valve Developer Community:Policies and Guidelines

{{VDC-navbox}}[[Category:Administration]]__NOTOC__

<p style="margin-top:1em;">{{shortcut|[[VDC:PA]]}}This page documents the Valve Developer Community's '''accepted policies and guidelines'''. A collection of standards and practices held by the vast majority of the community, through consensus, that reflect the expected behavioral conduct of new and experienced users alike.</p>{{clr}}

== Terms of Use ==
{{Main|Valve Developer Community:Terms of Use}}

== Article content ==
=== Images ===
{{For|the official image use policy| [[Valve Developer Community:Image use policy]]}}

{{For|help with using images|[[Help:Images]]}}

== Editing ==
{{For|the general etiquette of the wiki|[[Help:Etiquette]]}}
{{For|tips on styling|[[Valve Developer Community:Style guide]]}}
{{For|a list of all help pages|[[Help:Contents]]}}

== Other ==
=== User content ===

==== User images ====
Images used on user pages aren't exempt from the [[Valve Developer Community:Image use policy|image use policy]]. 

While these types of images can be used more leniently, they should also follow the following guidelines:
* They should be placed within one of the applicable subcategories of [[:Category:User images]].
* They should not be used on non-user namespace pages.

==== User names ====
User names must not be:
* Profane, vulgar, offensive, libelous or defamatory.
* Used to threaten, slander or attack another person.
* Used to impersonate someone else.

==== User pages ====
{{Seealso|[[WP:WP:User pages|Wikipedia:User pages]]}}
User pages must not be placed outside the user namespace. 

A user page is generally edited only by the user who owns it. Edits that aim to improve functionality without fundamentally changing anything about a user page are usually accepted, but only insofar as the owner of the user page sees fit. A user may also be allowed to edit a user page, without express permission from the owner of the user page, if the intention is to add a notice used to inform an editor on the ill intentions of said user. However, if said user has demonstrated that they haven't done anything objectionable, then they are allowed to promptly remove the aforementioned notice.

If a user has been blocked temporarily, and has had a notice placed on their user page informing users of their block, then that notice must be kept upon their block expiring.

=== Deletion ===
{{Seealso|[[Help:Deletion]] and [[WP:WP:Deletion policy|Wikipedia:Deletion policy]]}}
Pages may be deleted if they violate the [[Valve Developer Community:Image use policy|Image use policy]], the [[Help:Mod Profiles|mod profile criteria]], the [[Valve Developer Community:Terms of Use|Terms of Use]] or any of the mentioned policies and guidelines.

Images may be deleted if they lack effort or quality, aren't properly licensed, violate copyright terms or trademark rights, and/or aren't used anywhere.

Blatant policy violations may be [[:Category:Candidates for speedy deletion|speedily deleted]]. This occurs through a step-by-step process in which the {{code|{{tl2|delete}}}} template is applied to the offending article, the matter is discussed at [[Reasons for speedy deletion]], the template is or isn't deleted, and then the discussion is closed.

=== Blocks ===
{{Seealso|[[WP:WP:Blocking policy|Wikipedia:Blocking policy]]}}

Users who prove to be disruptive may be blocked from editing the wiki for reasons that are, but not limited to:
* [[WP:WP:Vandalism|Vandalism]] 
* [[WP:WP:Spam|Spam]]
* [[WP:WP:Edit warring|Edit warring]]
* [[WP:WP:Sockpuppetry|Sockpuppetry]]
* [[Valve Developer Community:Copyrights|Copyright violations]]
* Intimidation or harassment
* Breaching the [[Valve Developer Community:Terms of Use|Terms of Use]]
* Breaching the [[Help:Etiquette|Etiquette]]
* Breaching the aforementioned policies and guidelines.