The Forum

[quote="WEPSURPLUS"]Jackelpup here; Would it be possible to revise the rules and how they are moderated/applied please? I would be very happy to help with this process, especially the drafting of guidelines, moderation steps, rules etc. (my website and technical abilities are "nil"). As the regime stands, there is a "three strike" and you are out. However, having just received a strike, I have read and re-read the rules (here); http://myth-of-soma.com/Forum/Thread.asp?ID=3400&title=Soma+etiquette&Page=1 ... and I can find nothing to say I breached any rule. May I suggest the following; 1) There is a more definitive rules page that perhaps has more detail on the finer and ambiguous points? 2) GMs have the discretional ability to "warn" a player for a minor breach of rules (especially if there appears to be confusion, a lapse or ambiguous rules)? The "warn" can still be recorded but would not count as part of the three strikes. 3) A message be sent to the transgressor (email?) advising of the action, the reason why and also the length to avoid speculation and mis-understandings. 4) A transgressor be given the opportunity to mitigate their position. This may have no effect on the GMs decision but it may cause the GM to see the event in a different light apply a lesser penalty if there is (in the GMs opinion) merit in the mitigation. 5) Permanent bans be changed to "not necessarily permanent" (to be determined by the GMs). For instance, a "hacker" might be rightly permanently banned. However, would it be reasonable for a person to be banned for three separate minor transgressions that, in themselves, are petty and may have come about through a lapse or mis-understanding? 6) Of course, the GM(s) have the final say. I am not trying to complicate the rule regime and I am happy to volunteer help in drafting something as outlined at the outset. Having been handed a ban, I have not had a reply to my question as to why (which I did privately as instructed) and I can't see anything in the rules (link above) that suggests I have done anything wrong. ..... Obviously, I don't want it to happen again to me, and I am sure other people don't want it to happen to them. Jac [/quote]

[quote="GHOSTLORD"]1) We have a rules page. We only need to adapt it where necessary. 2) I generally only do this ingame. But it doesn't happen a lot. Most offences are clearcut. 3) too many people use fake e-mails. Accounts that are previously owned by someone else and the likes. This wouldn't work in most cases. It'd probably be easiest to show a message when a banned character tries to log in. 4) They can and they have done. Through forum pm. 5) I do understand this point but it's made in the wrong order. If there are three minor incidents there is a chance that the person does not deserve a permanent ban. However the people that do recieve one do deserve it and those won't be revoked. I understand why you made this post but we're not going to make a document fit for court. it's impossible to write everything out and it sounds like a waste of time. However I do agree that we need to update the rules page every now and then. *edit* By the way I was just reminded. We do have a ruling fit for court. It's called the T&C. What I made were house rules, those are the official ones.[/quote]

[quote="WEPSURPLUS"]Ghostlord, Thank you for your reply and the time you took to do it. If you don't think we need to make any amendments then fair enough. I realise you have said in your reply that these are just the "house rules" but, as you know, they (in part or in whole) are frequently quoted on the forum when queries arise. I have never looked beyond those rules and I suspect many other people have not. Having read your reply and your *edit" where you added an extra two lines, I followed the link to the terms and conditions and read through them. I could see there what has happened but, in fairness, I had to read through a mountain of stuff to find it. I do realise that it is the players responsibility to ensure they are compliant but I would ask you to consider that some/most/all players have been relying on the list of rules that is pinned to the forum (and quoted from repeatedly) and probably have never read through the terms and conditions (and probably hardly ever do in any other aspect of life). Can I ask that this list be updated to include the rules that are missing please? Thanks..... Jac [/quote]

[quote="EVIL_JR"]The banning system is aload of shit Its a community based game.... At present a player can join the server get banned 3 times in a couple of months and leave.. Yet players who have been playing from the start still only have the 3 strike rule.. Yes i understand if they have been playing long enough they should know the rules, But you could of have 2 strikes from swearing or pking and people claiming harassment... It needs a total rework! Theres players bringing back old chars.. Botting them to death and getting a weeks ban.. Botting the full events gaining say 2000+ Christmas presents shit loads of upgrades... Getting a weeks ban and carrying on... At present dsoma has been ruined by the present events.. People like lazarus have spent 5000+ hours farming upgrades for a char botting presents to get in a few hours and a weeks ban Tale or leave my opinion im not bothered but the ban system at the moment is a complete joke. 90% of the time you dont even know why youve been banned or who has done it lol then have to wait a few days/ week to find out *just an idea* Create a panel of judges to discuss/ inform the player. Maybe let the banned player still login to forum pm's but not post on forum. Also takes stress off ghost! [/quote]

[quote="TYPHIN"]Sorry you are finding this frustrating, I suspect since it took some time for you to learn the reason that it was an auto ban. And the auto ban is scary, because if it finds your activity suspicious then boom insta 7 day ban, from what i'm told. While I understand your mates coming to your defense in discussion, i know you would maybe rather not broadcast your experience in this instance. I also understand you wanting to perhaps reform the clarity of the rules to avoid anyone making the same mistake. If you felt like saying what happened in your instance that would probably do the same job. Rules are just another way of saying mistake in my opinion. It's not a big deal, it wont stop you from having an alt account and playing another char if you want to continue playing during your main account ban. Lots do. Otherwise, its nice to take a break from soma now and then. The three strike rule in my opinion from hearing about other experiences is rarely enforced unless you draw the attention of the GM's on a regular basis. Hence, IP bans rather than just account ban. I think folks fall into two brackets, incidental offences which are treated as not being deliberate. The other folks maybe like to live life a little closer to the edge and sometimes/often take the piss. What happens to their accounts is plainly seen in these two instances. I wouldn't worry, chill for a while or take up an alternative account and try something new. [/quote]

[quote="BRAINSTORM"]iv been banned more then 3 times myself due to me being a prick lol none for botting just telling dan how it was lol but i rarely play now lol and with the ban days i got told it was 3 days, week and 2/3 weeks then perm [/quote]