[Lotc Official] How To Respond To Rule-Breaking

[ski_king3 0]

If you’ve been on Lord of the Craft for some time, you’ve almost certainly witnessed some form of rule-breaking. While virtually everyone has witnessed rule-breaking, many of us are unsure how to respond when such a situation arises. It’s important to report players who are breaking rules in many cases so they do not continue in the future, but at the same time, there are other instances where player reports can be avoided entirely. As such, I’ve devised this guide to help new and experienced players alike understand how they should act when they come across rule-breaking before deciding to write up a player report.

 

Now, the first thing one must consider when coming across a form of rule-breaking is the type of offense. Certain rules, when broken, require immediate attention by a GM if possible, or some other immediate means of reporting them. Others, however, can be very minor, and often require no report whatsoever. As such, this guide will be broken down by the type of offense, as each one truthfully requires a different response.

 

Leaving Floating Trees & Strip Mining:

 

These offenses are probably the most minor of offenses one can make on LotC. Simply put, there should never be a point where a player report is necessary for these. In the case of leaving floating trees, your action should be based upon the severity. If there’s just a few blocks, or the tops of a few trees floating above, it’s probably best to break them and be on your way. It’s very possible there was a server crash or that a player had to suddenly log off due to real life events causing them to leave the floating leaves. If you know who left the floating leaves, it might be good to contact the player who left them there and just remind them that leaving floating leaves is against the rules.

 

If you come across an area where there are significant amounts of floating leaves, it is probably best to contact a GM in that situation. Make a modreq at the site saying that there is a large amount of floating leaves in the area. The GM will most likely arrive, use logblock to determine who left these floating leaves, and contact the player via forums or PM’s on the server. Even if there are no GM’s online, if you make the modreq at the location, a GM can take the modreq after you’ve logged out and determine the culprit. Simple solution, no need for a player report.

 

Strip mining is a bit more severe, however, it is not particularly common due to the lack of ores in the ground. If you’re unaware, strip mining is the practice of mining small tunnels underground with no supports. If you find one of these, your action should once again be based upon the severity of the offense. If it is a very small strip mine, and it appears the person will be returning to the area, just leave a sign there saying that the player should not strip mine in the future. If it appears to be a more extensive strip mine, make a modreq and a GM will handle it. Once again, no need for a player report.

 

Land-Scarring and Griefing:

 

These offenses are significantly worse than the above, as they are more harmful to the server environment, and often done with malicious intent. If you witness somebody land-scarring, which is the destruction of the server environment in a means that significantly decreases the aesthetics of the surrounding area. If you witness a player land-scarring, try speaking with them and explaining to them that you believe they are land-scarring, and request they try to revert the area they altered to its former state. If they disagree, or refuse to do so, take screenshots of the land-scarring which occurred as well as the entire conversation which was had, and try to contact a GM about the situation. If you have trouble finding a GM, try to speak with them one more time. If they are unwilling to reply, only then would it really make sense to make a player report.

 

Griefing, while somewhat similar in nature, is an entire different story. If somebody is griefing, and it is clear they are doing so with malicious intent, then take as many screenshots as you can, and make a modreq stating that you are witnessing griefing. If a GM does not come promptly to deal with the situation, or none are online, see if you can get a GM online by some other means. If you cannot, then write up a very quick player report on the griefer and report them. Perhaps use the word “griefing” in the title. This will likely get a GM’s attention and result in some swift justice for the individual in question.

 

Hacking:

 

If you witness a player hacking, only minimal contact with the player is really necessary. Take screenshots of whatever the event is, first and foremost. If it appears a player is fly-hacking, ask them how they are flying. If they say they are an Admin, LM, GM of ET member, do /modlist, /etlist and /lmlist. If their names do not come up, it is unlikely they are a member of any of those teams, and should not be flying (Media Team can also fly, but they use WS mode, so you can’t see them). If there are any GM’s online, do a modreq with the hackers username in it, explaining he appears to be hacking, or that you suspect they are hacking. No GM’s online, or no quick response, use those handy dandy screenshots you took and post a quick player report. Not a lot of detail is needed in the report, and you will likely get a GM’s attention rather quickly.

 

Metagaming:

 

Metagaming, unfortunately, is very hard to prove. As such, unless there is strong evidence supporting the fact that somebody metagamed, it is unwise to report somebody for such. The most common sort of situation where metagaming occurs is during roleplay fights. Whilst engaging in roleplay fights, one will tell people via skype, tells, TS or some other means that they are being attacked, and friends will come to their aid. If you are in an roleplay fight, and somebody you were engaged with has a number of allies appear suddenly, it is best not to immediately jump to the conclusion of metagaming. However, one can take a look at TS and see if those who arrived and the one they are fighting are indeed in the same channel. If you can, just join the channel, and see what they are talking about. If it appears they metagamed, takes screenshots of who was in the chat, then perhaps voice your concerns, and perhaps ask if those who appeared could leave. If they say no, you’re left in a difficult position. You can choose to post a player report, but I would advise you only do so if you are absolutely sure the situation was metagamed.

 

One way to avoid these sorts of situations altogether, however, is to try to agree with the person from the beginning that you won’t allow any new players to join the fight midway. While this may seem restrictive, it really makes sense. Roleplay fights usually last what would be a few minutes in character, yet due to the time it takes to write emotes, it can take anywhere from half an hour in real life, to hours. So in reality, the person who is coming to their aid is RP’ly half a day late when they arrive, and thus this decision can be justified (although this condition should not be forced). Another way to avoid this is by electing to PVP fight, if one is so willing to do so. Just make sure you do a proper amount of roleplay before the PVP, and you ought to be good to go.

 

Powergaming:

 

Powergaming is likely the cause of the most player reports. However, it is also probably the rule which is broken most often, and the one that goes unreported the most. How you should go about dealing with powergaming is entirely depending on the severity of the situation. Oftentimes, a person will make an emote or two throughout an RP fight which might seem a little out there. Nothing too severe, but perhaps not totally feasible. It’s often best just to let these slip, or to simply ask the player if they think what they are doing is reasonable. If they say yes, sometimes it is best to just let it go. However, if it seems more severe, or there appears to be a constant series of powergamey emotes, it needs to be addressed. Take screenshots immediately, and tell the player you believe that what they are doing is not feasible for them. Continue to take screenshots throughout the discussion. Oftentimes, players will agree and rescind their emotes in order to make better ones. However, if you firmly believe that the player is powergaming, and the person refuses to accept such, it is best to continue taking screenshots throughout the encounter. Do not void the encounter and walk away, as this is pretty poor sport, even if you are being powergamed against. Respectfully make it clear throughout that you do not feel the other player is being fair, and that you believe they have powergamed, but continue through the RP is if it were valid. After the RP is completed, it is then okay to use the variety of amassed screenshots you’ve taken and post a player report. However, you absolutely /must/ make a significant attempt at resolving the situation with the player first.

 

If the player is powergaming while making a villainous action, and the powergaming is not too severe, it is sometimes best to simply contact a member of the VAT with your screenshots. They will look them over, and simply revoke the player’s VA’s if they also feel that there is powergaming involved. This should only be done, though, if the examples of powergaming are not too severe.

 

Likewise, if a player is powergaming magic, it may be best to simply send the screenshots to the MAT. If it is deemed excessive, then the player will likely receive a revoke on their MA. Of course, if the powergaming is too severe, it is still your responsibility to make a player report. Of course, always try to resolve these things first.

 

Breaking Villain Rules:

 

Breaking the rules of villainy on LotC is to be handled a little differently than most rule-breaking. When one witnesses such an offense, they should immediately take screenshots, then ask the players if they are aware they are breaking the rules for villainous action within Lord of the Craft. If they do not, then point out the rule(s) they are breaking, and ask them to adjust their actions accordingly. If they choose not to, or refuse to accept that they are breaking rules for villainy, then it is at your discretion what you do. Oftentimes, the offense will be very minor, and honestly does not warrant a report to the VAT. However, if the offense appears severe, then you should report it to the VAT and allow them to pass a verdict based upon the evidence given.

 

However, there are some things which you should not do, when villainy is involved. For one, do not immediately see that villainous action is about to take place, and ask for links for everyone’s VA’s. It is best to try to trust those you are encountering, and allow the roleplay to happen. If any report is made regarding improper villainous actions, the VAT will recognize who does not have a VA, and act accordingly. Likewise, if you are to address a break in villain rules, you should do so immediately when the offense is made, rather than only doing so if the worst appears to be happening to you. This is generally a rather poor practice, as it shows you do not have regard for the fact that they are breaking rules, but rather the fact that their rule-breaking negatively impacted you.

 

Also, read Lym's post. It's important, I swear.

 

Insufficient RP before PVP:

 

This is honestly one of the simpler issues to resolve when it comes to rule-breaking. Despite the fact that PVP is default, there must be substantial RP before any PVP fighting is to take place. As such, if a conflict arises between characters which leads to the characters fighting, and one member wishes to come to PVP too quickly, the player should simply state that they would like more roleplay to take place before PVP initiates. If the player refuses, yet you still feel the RP was not sufficient, ask them why they do not believe it was, or ask if there are any reasons for their hesitance. Oftentimes, players will be worried that other people will metagame the situation and come to their opponents aid during the following few emotes. Offering to not allow other players to join their conflict if they arrive while the RP is still going on is one way that will likely resolve this fear. However, if the player refuses to do so, and is only giving you one or two lines before initiating PVP, make it clear that you do not believe the situation was acceptable, and file a report after the fact. The GM’s will determine if there was indeed enough roleplay preceding the PVP.

 

No RP Killing/Pugsying:

 

The offense of killing without roleplay is often a malicious activity. However, it can sometimes be caused by ignorance or misunderstanding. As such, it is best to delve into the details of the situation before filing a report. The two most common causes of this occurring are a new player who does not fully understand the rules, or yourself either coming across a PVP fight and the other party believing you are involved, or logging in in the midst of one.

 

If it is a new player who is causing such an offense, it is best to try to message them and explain to them the error of their ways. If they are reluctant to believe you, or are simply ignoring your words, it is best to try and get a GM involved by making a modreq, asking for them to explain the rules to the new player. Only if there is none available would it ever be advised that a player report be made against a new player.

 

If you log in and happen to be in the middle of a PVP fight, there really is nobody at fault except coincidence. Your best bet is to message the person who killed you, explain the situation, and ask if you could have any lost items returned to you. However, this really should never yield a player report. If no circumstances are presented which explain why you were killed without RP, a simple player report is your best option, as it is unacceptable behavior.

 

If you witness pugsying occurring, which is excessive killing without roleplay, your best bet is to make a modreq saying you are witnessing a pugsy, and also state the player’s MC name. My guess would be you would see a GM appear within half a minute, and the pugsying player receiving a swift strike of the ban hammer. If you do not receive any form of response after a minute or so, or no GM’s are online, post a status asking if any GM’s could deal with your modreq regarding pugsying. If this does not garner your modreq attention, only then should you make a player report, as any example of pugsying should be dealt with more swiftly than a player report allows.

 

Cybering:

 

Cybering is an offense which can get the server in legal trouble. As such, if you witness cybering, take screenshots, and do everything you can to get a GM’s attention ASAP. Make a modreq, saying something along the lines of “I see [insert playername here] and [insert playername here] CYBERING, please come ASAP.” This will likely garner a GM’s attention very quickly. If no, do whatever you can to try to get a GM’s attention without being too obnoxious, and only if it seems impossible to get a GM’s attention, then post a player report. Really, it ought to be dealt with before that.

 

If it seems that the players you are witnessing have some lude roleplay going on, but you are unsure as to whether or not it would be deemed cybering, it might be best to ask them to stop, and then proceed to contact a GM in a similar fashion as above (although perhaps without saying “CYBERING” in your modreq).

 

 

OOC Harassment:

 

OOC Harassment is something which can come about in many forms, including repetitive trolling, insults and slander. As such, the severity of these sorts of offenses can vary drastically. That being said, if a character feels they are being harassed, it is more often than not rather serious, and will be dealt with as such.

 

If a player feels they are being OOC'ly harassed, they should take screenshots immediately (lest it's verbal, on TS) and ask the person harassing them to stop. If this does not yield any results, the player should then contact a GM. Keep in mind, however, this form of harassment must occur over an LotC medium (the server, forums or TS). If a GM tells the person to stop harassing the other player, yet harassment continues, only then would it really make sense to post a player report. More often than not, the GM will have handled the situation, either by convincing the player to stop, or by banning the player for continued harassment. However, if a player report is required, make sure to post all of your screenshots, and avoid using logs from external sources such as skype.

 

Obviously, I cannot address every possible situation in this guide. There are countless other rules to be broken. In any case, when you witness most forms of rule-breaking, try to do the following if applicable. In some situations, you should behave differently, but I trust you all to use common sense when dealing with these types of situations:

 

• Try to resolve the situation without a report or GM intervention. If you can make the player recognize he is breaking the rules, and change his actions, then you will both be better for it, and it will decrease drama on the server.

• Be respectful when trying to discuss any issues you might have with the other player. Being rude or dismissive will only detract from your goal, and any report you may have to make.

• Screenshots, screenshots, screenshots. Make sure you take screenshots of everything relevant when dealing with any form of rule-breaking.

• Try to sympathize with the other player. Look at the situation from their perspective, and see if you may in fact be in the wrong. Accepting that you were mistaken and moving on will obviously be better than allowing any situation to escalate.

• Don’t nitpick. If the offense is minor, then just let it slide and move on. There’s no point in dwelling on insignificant offenses, as insignificant things are… well, insignificant.

If you believe I left something out, or that something in my guide needs to be changed, feel free to PM me or post a comment down below. With that, I hope this guide helped you all, as I know a number of people have issues with when they should post a player report, and when they shouldn’t.

[The Vodka 50]

I like it.

[Aislin 4348]

A great guide, Ski. Well done.

[dandan1350 479]

 

Absolutely brilliant work, Ski. Good read, was needed very much so I believe.

[ski_king3 0]

Thanks guys, glad to see you all think I did a good job :)

[Pinsir99 525]

Very good guide. Glad this is here now.

[Volutional 935]

Make him a GM.

 

 

lol jk write 9 moar guides.

[5678 260]

*claps slowly*

[neopianzz 13]

You should add a player harassment section otherwise luv it :D Great job, it's clear that you spent a lot of time on it.

[SkyyoBee 249]

Great guide, Ski ^^ 

Good idea- too. This should help people out.

[Augor 142]

It's good, but it's a bit surprising that people really need to know what to do in case of people breaking the rules. You would think that would come with common sense, but hey, guides are nice too. 

[ski_king3 0]

You should add a player harassment section otherwise luv it :D Great job, it's clear that you spent a lot of time on it.

 

I knew I had forgotten something! I will add it in shortly, thank you for that.

 

It's good, but it's a bit surprising that people really need to know what to do in case of people breaking the rules. You would think that would come with common sense, but hey, guides are nice too. 

 

Eh, I wouldn't say that's entirely true. A lot of people are hesitant to post player reports for a number of reasons, or are unsure of how to proceed in different situations. Sure, some of it is common sense, yet it appears that a lot of people have some kind of issue in these situations. Thus, a guide was born :P

[xenenxnennxnx 99]

Impressive.

[Aislin 4348]

Great guide, Ski ^^ 

Good idea- too. This should help people out.

 

I told him to write it. :P

[LPT 767]

A very much needed guide... Nice job.