10 replies to this topic

[Warnhal]

Greetings everyone!

 

Today we wanted to take the time to help address recent issues that have been running rampant in game. We have been very concerned over the amount of reports we have been receiving involving ill-mannered behavior including but by no means limited to harassment, foul language, bot reports, etc. As everyone knows, participating in any of these, and other illicit activities, are strictly forbidden and can lead to sanctions being placed upon accounts. Everyone here is striving to help promote a friendly, fun game environment, but we will touch more on this later.

For now we would like to help clarify some confusion regarding when you should report an incident and how. We will be aiming this specifically towards ill-mannered behavior in this post because of recent events but the basic steps can be applied to almost any situation.

 

Addressing Botting and Foul Language

Let us first touch upon the less complicated topics such as use of foul language and botting. Both acts are not allowed in game, so what should you do when you come across such behavior?

Bot reports can be slightly tricky if you are not used to reporting them. First, start by making a ticket expressing your concerns in as much detail as possible. After you have expressed your concerns, please make sure to attach some sort of evidence supporting your claims. Video is preferred for this type of report as screenshots may not provide enough evidence. If you chose to use screenshots make sure they are unedited and make sure to send in as many as necessary to clearly show the issue. Any edited submitted evidence may be considered as falsified and comes with serious repercussions (discussed in length below). If you are able to record a video please make sure that it is a reasonable length (2-5 mins).  If you are unsure on how to record in game or how to test if a player is botting there are two excellent articles you may reference:

 

Policy on Third Party Programs

https://support.warpportal.com/KB/a658/policy-on-third-party-programs-macros-reporting-suspicious.aspx

 

Getting Started with Screen Recording

https://forums.warpportal.com/index.php?/topic/161672-getting-started-with-screen-recording/

 

Please take note that if the evidence is not sufficient the reported player will be placed on a watch list until proven or disproven to be a botter.

Foul language can be addressed through the ticketing system with screenshots or video evidence showing the behavior. Please refrain from interacting with the offending player as it can escalate the situation. If the player seems to be getting out of hand or is directly addressing you please remember that you can block them or ask a GM in game to talk with the player directly.   

 

 

Addressing Harassment

Now it is time to get into the more controversial topic, harassment. There have been quite a few reports coming in regarding this subject. Again we would like to go through when and how to report it through a ticket. Harassment can come in many forms and so it can be hard to tell when to report a behavior as harassment. Generally, this type of behavior tends to single out a player, or group of players. The actions they take are meant to isolate the player(s), make them feel uncomfortable, or intentionally anger them. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as foul language, heckling, inhibiting players from playing the game through certain actions or by exploiting bugs, etc. If any player or group of players performs any sort of actions as mentioned above, please feel free to submit a report to the WarpPortal Support Team with the appropriate evidence (screenshots or videos).

On the other side of the coin, generally having a player do minor actions, such as calling someone a meanie, saying that they have screenshots of an action being performed, does not qualify as the above. However, if it does persist please submit a ticket so that the Support Team can address it. As cliché as it may sound please strive to follow the golden rule: treat others the way you yourself would like to be treated. 

 

 

Tickets and Submitted Evidence

We do have one last important topic we would like to touch on, and that is on the topic of submitting appropriate evidence. As mentioned above, when reporting an issue we do need the appropriate evidence for any reported issue. Things that are considered appropriate can include but not limited to unedited screenshots of the entire game window showing ill-mannered behavior as well as unedited appropriate length videos. Anything edited to intentionally try and get a player or players in trouble will be considered as a falsified report/falsified evidence and comes with serious sanctions. You can read further about this topic and other zero tolerance activities in this article:

https://support.warpportal.com/KB/a811/zero-tolerance-activities.aspx

 

Additionally we would like to mention that the details of evidence submitted cannot under any circumstances be revealed. Now at times this may seem unfair, especially if you feel wrongly accused but please take these into consideration.

·         If we did reveal what type of evidence or who reported it, it would be a breach of privacy for the reporter which leads into the second point

·         If we revealed the above information this can exacerbate the issue and lead to more harassment, the very thing we are trying to avoid

We enforce this policy out of the best interest of those involved and hope for our player bases’ understanding.

            This last topic regards answers given by GMs that may seem vague. This can be due to the reason mentioned above, but can also be due to other circumstances. A common example is responses given regarding ongoing investigations. GMs may say something, for example, “we are still investigating” or “we are still looking into the matter.” This by no means indicates that the GM or Support Member has shelved the concern. Reports and tickets are never closed until the matter is fully resolved. The only exception to this is when a ticket automatically closes after a period of 72 hours has passed with no response from the reporter. To help keep track of tickets we all highly suggest making a support account if you have not already. This can be done by following the link below:

 

Creating a Support Account

https://support.warpportal.com/Main/frmRegister.aspx

Please also refrain from creating multiple tickets for the same issue. Not only does this delay the total ticket response time but may also cause confusion and miscommunication.

   

We hope that this article has helped to clear up any of the confusion that has been surrounding these topics as of late. As mentioned before, all of us here, not just for Ragnarok Online 2 but for all of the games, strive and do our best to promote a friendly, welcoming, and fun game environment. Although we try our best to take every course of action possible to help prevent and resolve any concerns we do also need cooperation from the community. While we can achieve great things on our own we all need help from time to time to reach our full potential. Remember, teamwork helps to make all dreams work.

 

Thank you to our community and all players new and old!

 

[donchan]

Regarding foul language:

 

Just curious where do you guys draw the line on this?  Me and others who've read the term of service do not see anywhere on details of what we can and can't say in the game.  This screenshot fest going around the server currently is -_- ridiculous.  It's getting to a point where I avoid talking in normal or pub chat due to fear of being reported and I know I'm not the only person who does this.  Since you guys do not release evidence for your tickets (which trust me, I understand) how are we suppose to be know what we are allowed to say in game?  Can we get banned for telling somebody they are a bad player?  Can we get banned for calling somebody stupid?  Can we get banned for swearing in pub/normal chat? Or maybe get banned for simply getting in an argument with someone and upsetting them???

 

Also, what is the point of having a block function for players or word filter in the game?  I rarely talk in pub chat or normal chat, but when I do, I drop an occasional "S bomb" or an "F bomb", and may even drop a lewd comment or two.  I always hear people on the forums and in game complaining about what other people say, but why do they choose to see it?  Isn't that what the block function and word filter is for?  The way I see it, if you are easily offended, use the word filter.  If you do not like a way a particular person is talking publicly, then block them.  Now, please understand I do not condone people being hostile towards each other intentionally.  Some people are out of control to a point where GMs do need to step in, but 99% of the time I can see the issue simply be resolved by everybody being adults, stop tattling, and just use the built in function in the game to avoid being offended by what you see on your screen.  Not using the word filter/block function in the game is like intentionally buying an uncensored version of a movie and complaining after watching it to the director for making their actors swear or perform lewd acts in the movie. 

[magpi]

I understand that the GM's handle harassment on a case by case basis because everyone has a different level of tolerance when it comes to this BUT I feel that the relaxation of this policy has spiraled the unchecked public chat into a cesspool of toxicity.

 

I have no bad things to say about our current GMs, most of them have a very good relationship with the community but I do miss the days where it was up to their digression to put out fires immediately with muting players chats and/or temp banning on the spot. I would like to know why this policy has changed. I'm not one to mention Pre-AOV days, but this is certainly one thing I miss badly. 

[Leasfy]

Every players need to read Ragnarok Online 2 User Agreement.

 

Edited by Leasfy, 03 December 2015 - 02:11 PM.

[Vau]

Didn't take the time to read this thread until now, so there's a few things i gotta say first.

 

Game Weakness + PvP imbalance:

 

Ragnarok Online 2 has certain game weaknesses that can't be considered as bugs. It affects and has affected the game for a long time now, i'll refrain to list them to not cause more damage to the game than it already has.

 

PvP imbalance always existed but i would say it became notorious once AoV came out. Sadly, it affected the environment of the game and behaviour of players not just in-game but forums also. Both became so hostile that people just don't even bother to help to improve this game and consequently the fun environment it once had.

 

The game wasn't like that on 2013 and suddenly every Game Master stopped logging in once AoV came out, and things went out of control. Odin server had alot of merges, therefore people from many regions joined us, including their culture, behaviour, items and money, impacting the game how we see it now, and it's causing WarpPortal to make these tweaks on their tickets policy.

 

A year ago, before quitting, i pm'd Njoror on Skype adressing some of these problems affecting RO2 and still nothing has been done to improve it. We need active GM's in the game, so people can feel safe when playing the game that, there will be someone to assist any question or problem and at the same time, minimize such bad behaviours affecting players, like Harassment and foul language.
 

Addressing Harassment
Now it is time to get into the more controversial topic, harassment. There have been quite a few reports coming in regarding this subject. Again we would like to go through when and how to report it through a ticket. Harassment can come in many forms and so it can be hard to tell when to report a behavior as harassment. Generally, this type of behavior tends to single out a player, or group of players. The actions they take are meant to isolate the player(s), make them feel uncomfortable, or intentionally anger them. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as foul language, heckling, inhibiting players from playing the game through certain actions or by exploiting bugs, etc. If any player or group of players performs any sort of actions as mentioned above, please feel free to submit a report to the WarpPortal Support Team with the appropriate evidence (screenshots or videos).
On the other side of the coin, generally having a player do minor actions, such as calling someone a meanie, saying that they have screenshots of an action being performed, does not qualify as the above. However, if it does persist please submit a ticket so that the Support Team can address it. As cliché as it may sound please strive to follow the golden rule: treat others the way you yourself would like to be treated.
 
Thank you to our community and all players new and old!

 

 

- Does count doing Daily quests inside WoE and kill or get killed by random players as Harrasment and inhibiting players from playing the game?

 

 

 

- What else can you do to refrain newer forum players from posting on guild recruitment threads as it affects their reputation and it more likely won't stop even if you ban them? Can you IP track these players and punish their main accounts?

 

Ex: Coward

 

 

- Does count spy players as guild harassment and can it be reported to WarpPortal to punish them?

 

 

Thanks for your time, Warnhal.

[swaggycloud]

I usually just walk away if I feel unwelcome or unsportmanship is occuring in-party. Thats what my grandpa told me !

[jesseclane]

How you define foul language?

[pinksoda]

me i dont do anything RMT why i get permanent ban    . do want me to get a new account and start over again u know its not easy to grind and farm item gezz 

[AndraSyte]

Hello pinksoda!

If you are having issues with accounts, please make sure to send in a ticket so that it may be investigated as we cannot help through the forums. 

 

If you do need help with making a ticket or have any questions please feel free to PM me and I would be more than happy to help you out!

[SandySandman]

Didn't take the time to read this thread until now, so there's a few things i gotta say first.

 

Game Weakness + PvP imbalance:

 

Ragnarok Online 2 has certain game weaknesses that can't be considered as bugs. It affects and has affected the game for a long time now, i'll refrain to list them to not cause more damage to the game than it already has.

 

PvP imbalance always existed but i would say it became notorious once AoV came out. Sadly, it affected the environment of the game and behaviour of players not just in-game but forums also. Both became so hostile that people just don't even bother to help to improve this game and consequently the fun environment it once had.

 

The game wasn't like that on 2013 and suddenly every Game Master stopped logging in once AoV came out, and things went out of control. Odin server had alot of merges, therefore people from many regions joined us, including their culture, behaviour, items and money, impacting the game how we see it now, and it's causing WarpPortal to make these tweaks on their tickets policy.

 

A year ago, before quitting, i pm'd Njoror on Skype adressing some of these problems affecting RO2 and still nothing has been done to improve it. We need active GM's in the game, so people can feel safe when playing the game that, there will be someone to assist any question or problem and at the same time, minimize such bad behaviours affecting players, like Harassment and foul language.
 

 

 

- Does count doing Daily quests inside WoE and kill or get killed by random players as Harrasment and inhibiting players from playing the game?

 

 

 

- What else can you do to refrain newer forum players from posting on guild recruitment threads as it affects their reputation and it more likely won't stop even if you ban them? Can you IP track these players and punish their main accounts?

 

Ex: Coward

 

 

- Does count spy players as guild harassment and can it be reported to WarpPortal to punish them?

 

 

Thanks for your time, Warnhal.

 

Great Post, actually the same happens to all the Games this Company own, you see a decline in Game Quality a huge Spike on In Game inflation and more and more unbalance on the Starter/Beginner Zones. 

 

I speak here for the Requiem Community and if you talk critic there, you will simply get banned or the Topic gets instant looked or moved to the Trash Can.

 

So Gravity maybe you start thinking about your Role in the Big Picture, why actually the Atmosphere change in a Game,

 

WHEN YOU CHANGE THE GAME.

 

Thank for reading

Edited by SandySandman, 16 February 2017 - 05:27 AM.

[kinkthecat]

i just want to mention i have a singular afk or more a less semi-afk character, there is no 3rd party program he just sit and autocast sometimes in hunterfly map in hopes for the card (this is not botting by my understanding) so that is totally 100% legal to play him sometimes that way correct?

 

secondly with language and harassment i feel that both those are tightly intertwined, the main subject matter of which people in this world tend to disagree, and on the contrary people tend to agree. so i feel there is no way to avoid slight "rough turbulence" with other plays in game from time to time. not saying i am on any end of that stick. to justify a point here i just want to say anger is a tough thing to deal with and sometimes bottle that is alot worse than make a fuss for 10 seconds. it usually blows over after that, am i right?

if i am wrong here then maybe i dont understand human nature.