Topic

In game Ethics and Reporting

What will you do if you have proof, that 

- Someone in your friends list forms a secret group and is encouraging others to hog all the tower keys (basically in game monopoly of items). This causes lots of frustation for other players who are looking for keys.
- Is asking members to give them coveted easter bunny trophy pieces to be part of a group? Note: Easter bunny trophy is something alpha and beta players can keep after reset.  I can't help wonder if this a scam?

Almost all games have these kinds of problems, which are part of game. But the other games also have rules against scamming and monopolizing the game too; and means to report such issues; and actions against those who spoil the game for others by monopolizing or scamming. 

Sorry I can't say any names, because I am hoping I won't loose any friends over this. But I am just wondering. I personally play games for relaxing; but I guess each to their own. Please be kind and don't trash me for raising this.

Posted 19 months ago by gia Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • I have to agree with you on that. It gives them an unfair advantage over other players. there should be a limit maybe?
    Posted 19 months ago by MadHatter Subscriber! | Permalink
  • the key monopoly sounds impossible to maintain. the keys just spawn in too many places, too spread out, and it would be too easy to notice someone hovering around all the spawn points.
    Posted 19 months ago by striatic Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Madhatter I agree with the limit.  Before in other post I suggested limit per player per day. Such limits will solve problems of such group hogging and unfair prices in the auction. Also maybe people should not be able to auction or give for free, more than certain number of rare items like the trophy pieces. This will prevent from grabbing everything from auction and selling at higher prices.

    Striatic, the problem is not just one person. It is a group of people.

    What makes this game special are the peaceful graphic, non violence and laid back  nature of players. I hope it stays that way.
    Posted 19 months ago by gia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • There certainly is at least one group of players who are "peaceful, non-violent, and laid back".  But there are other groups of players in the game as well. 

    Those other players may not be as peaceful or laid back.  They may not even be as nice as the first group.   They are going to play the game in their own way, which may include "unfair prices" and reselling things that they buy in auctions.  I don't think you can claim that the game needs to be designed to only allow the playing style preferred by the first group. 

    There are thousands of players already, and tens of thousands waiting for invites.  A small group of people are not going to be the only ones considered when rules are made.

    That said, I doubt that TS will allow harassment or bullying.  Reporting that behavior will likely be quite simple.  But usually, blocking irritating players is your best strategy. 
    Posted 19 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I didn't know you could transfer trophies.
    Posted 19 months ago by Johnny Subscriber! | Permalink
  • You can't transfer trophies themselves, just the *pieces* of the the street creation trophies.

    And WindBorn said it pretty well: there will be all kinds of people. And some will be mercantile, aggressive or trying to push the boundaries of the system to get their way in the world. That will probably make it interesting to everyone (including those whose response is to bound together more tightly in communal living).

    But, on the other hand, harassment, bullying, spamming, scamming and a whole host of other things won't be allowed. Sometimes it will be hard to draw the line, but it shall be drawn.
    Posted 19 months ago by stoot barfield Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Hi gia!

    I'm part of the group you're talking about - but I'm only in it for the good stuff, not to be evil ;)

    I hope we haven't offended you in any way. Well, I guess we already have - but I'd like to explain. First, about the keys. I wouldn't really calling it monopolizing them, since they respawn quite often and we also buy off auction. You should know, those keys are part of a plan to give keys to more players. It's not for personal gain at all, and we've actually put quite a bit of money into it.

    About the items - well, the reason we ask for those things is so that only players who REALLY want in join. I honestly don't see that there's anything wrong with that; I don't believe anyone was pressured into giving it. It's completely optional to do so and that's how we chose to go about recruiting members. I promise, it's NOT a scam, it's solely for the purpose of finding devoted members ;)

    Thanks for understanding!
    Posted 19 months ago by Cupcake Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'd suggest changing the ways keys are distributed so that they can't be abused.  I heard that people were saying that I was "stealing keys" when I was just collecting them whenever they respawned (unless someone else said they needed it) so that more keys would be in existence (rather than letting it collect dust for who know how long), and I also handed out quite a few keys to those who needed them, and gave them tips, and made sure they brought the Orange-Blue Square Key with them.  I did put up a lot in the market at first, and someone bought 7 of them for 1,500, and he tried to sell them back for 4,000 each... which I thought was funny since I kept putting more up for at least 50% cheaper than that. XD  I think that there will be less people farming for keys in the future since the prices have gone down a lot, and isn't really that profitable anymore. :P  For those who don't know, the keys spawn in the secret spot in Corridor 1 (up the ladder behind the column), and in C3W (peeking out behind the only column there).

    What I think could be an option, is to have players participate in single-player puzzles to obtain keys (or have the puzzle be the lock on doors) so that people won't have to compete with each other to grab the key first. Or, we could have multiplayer puzzles that require cooperation, which could get annoying if the other person doesn't speak the same language, or if no one else is around (it'd probably work for a big, short-term event that people will rush to).  I think if the game is going to have something spawn, then it should be inside a solo room (like with some of the keys they have now), and the item could be a key or a unique item needed for a puzzle.

    If the way it is now is the way it's going to stay, then just imagine the key problem in the tower when the game actually launches. XD
    Posted 19 months ago by Father Creamy Subscriber! | Permalink
  • The main problem with the keys in the Tower is the respawn time of the C4 key, every time I go in there I have to wait a very long time to get one.
    Posted 19 months ago by Johnny Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @cupcake. Sincere apologies as I jumped the gun on this one; and going about it in a wrong way. The only reason I did not mention names is because I already know you and group creator (just in case they want to remain anonymous) are helpful to players; and I was surprised by the posts.

    I wasn't told trophy piece was optional, or given a chance to know more about the group. I hope you understand why I thought it was a bit too much. If not for that; I would have been more than glad to stay around.  As for keys; for the ones I have in auction, I paid twice for some of them. For now, I can help you pass on any keys I obtain in my wanderings. Just post in the free trading group, or IM me. 

    But anytime items are stored in a single place; you will have players who will misuse the trust. For example the bag stealer you recruited by mistake. Also even though your intentions are good to pass on the keys later; it will still spoil the current experience of other players who wait and wait and wait for keys to respawn. 

    @Father Respawn, I like your ideas :)
    Posted 19 months ago by gia Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Father Creamy The keys did sell by the way. :P
    Posted 19 months ago by TheInfamousBob Subscriber! | Permalink
  • First of all, gia, nobody forced you in. I only invited you to the group because you seemed at the moment like a nice player, and if you didn't commit to the initiation ceremony in full, then you aren't PUFF material. That's all.

    I can't reveal anything else about the group or about OPERATION KEY MOUNTAIN, but I really don't understand why you felt the need to write this post, since its misinformed and kind of spiteful.

    Just so you know, I went to great lengths to make the initiation ceremony something interesting and valuable for new members, and spent a lot of my own money in the materials to do it (including the gnome, plenty of pink bags and about 200 pieces of paper.. [have you seen the prices on those auctions??])
    Posted 19 months ago by Yaya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Oh.. and about the keys.. we didnt get them from the tower. So no spoiling for others there.

    Cheers.
    Posted 19 months ago by Yaya Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Ah, drama. This reminds me of why I don't tend to get involved in the group aspects of MMOs any more than is necessary - too much stuff flares up when you only have misinterpretable text and actions to rely on.

    No offence intended, I know other people love the by-play, but it's not for me.
    Posted 19 months ago by Spong Subscriber! | Permalink