This server is dying. Ever since the number of online users peaked at over 2,000+ a couple of years ago, people have been quitting left and right. However, the staff seem to be oblivious as to why this is happening. The reason for this decline is simple: ridiculously restrictive policies and tendency to ban individuals for minor infractions. People are being banned left and right for harassment and KSing, and even permabanned for inconsequential things like account sharing. And now you guys are even drafting up a ToS for scamming (good luck proving that and not having that abused). Nobody dares utter a criticism about another Royaler any longer. Is this the kind of culture you want to foster? We would have over 10,000 users online if the staff stopped banning people for the littlest things. After recently being permabanned lately for a BS reason, I've already moved onto another server. But it doesn't have to be like this for the rest of you.
I agree about a lot of the rules being absolutely ridiculous, but a dying server wouldn’t be the most populated of all MSPS. We just need the staff to realize that we all played gMS without over moderation. We could KS, defame, account share and use whatever words we may have desired. We clearly enjoyed that style of gameplay hence why we sought out a private server that mimics old school gMS. There are some things that just don’t need a rule or staff involvement.
I'd be fine with maybe 5 of the channels being "no rules", i.e. KS'ing and being obnoxious is allowed. I'd just avoid them but I'm sure if that service is in demand, it'd be a popular feature
I'm fine with how the current server works. Just don't break the rules? I have been playing for almost a year and I don't understand what's so hard to not break the rules Edit: Oh yea, and this *cough*
i do agree that some of the bans are ridiculous and driving good, decent and honest players away from the server for stupid reasons.. example of uncalled for perma ban: https://royals.ms/forum/threads/ban-appeal.128233/ but i also agree that those same rules is what keep this server at number #1 and what keep this community clean from abusers hackers and other crap, if someone achieve here something you can bet he work his ass off for that. example for exactly why those rules are in place: https://royals.ms/forum/threads/i-think-i-got-banned.127016/ also about your ban, you have no one to blame but youself (and your drunk friend). as you said in your Ban Appeal "he told me he was deliberately trying to get banned".. with goal like that, you can't really blame the server can you?!
I mean it's really easy to not break the rules. They are there so people are not f*cking d*ckheads and ruin the experience for others, especially new players. They are also there so there is no chance of people abusing things and hacking. They have a difficult job in vetting this server, they're trying to make sure the amount of abusing and hacking happening is almost 0.
Okay, I'll bite. What part of that ban is uncalled for? The part where the player used a macro program, which is expressly forbidden? Or do you actually believe the absurd explanation? Not that it would matter, since macro programs are expressly forbidden.
firstly its not the place to talk about this, so you can let go of your little bite. secondly this ban was talked about plenty in few days ago by players and GMs alike.. so if you really want this conversation PM me or start new thread in General Discussion.
You brought it up in the thread, so clearly this is the place for it. But I'll simplify my question, if that helps: why is banning someone for using a macro program uncalled for?
If anything I'm not sure why that appeal isn't already closed. There shouldn't be any form of leniency when the terms are violated.
you clearly don't get the difference between full in-depth feedback on specific ban and example of uncalled for ban on feedback on "dying server" because strict rules.. i'll tell you this here since it just be easier to finish this conversation with you! yes, the permanent ban was uncalled for since the core reason is not the fact that the player use macro. the reason they gave the player was illegitimate "advantage over other players", the so called advantage was only pet closeness which as no meaning whatsoever no matter how you look at it!. further more, players who "afk Summon" and have significantly more illegitimate advantage over other players and impact the economy banned only for: Robotic Play (7 days) Robotic Play - The act of engaging in robotic or automatic play which allows any character you own to function autonomously or affect any portion of the game without your presence. Punishment: First offense - 7 day ban, Second offense - Permanent ban. and NO! if i believe player explanation or not, it's not the issue. the issue is the player in this specific case did not break ANY of the following sections of the alleged allegations: ✕ the player didn't modify any part of the game - IE: god mode, item vac/monster vac etc.. ✕ the player didn't gain advantage over other players - again pet closeness has no meaning whatsoever let alone over other players!. (even if there is, it's WAY to minor to permanently kick out a good player!) ✕ the player didn't took part on selling, advertising, distributing or posting information related to the act. ✕ the player didn't do anything from the section of Game Hacking! that was worth of permanent ban! a full reminder of the rule! • Game Hacking - The act of using or benefiting from any third-party program, macro program or otherwise defacing or modifying any part of the game software to gain any sort of advantage over other players, or otherwise selling, advertising, distributing or posting information related to the act. Punishment: Permanent ban. yet!, the player did exactly what the description of Robotic Play state to the very last word! ✓engaging in robotic or automatic play. ✓character you own to function autonomously. ✓affect any portion of the game without your presence. a full reminder of the rule! • Robotic Play - The act of engaging in robotic or automatic play which allows any character you own to function autonomously or affect any portion of the game without your presence. Punishment: First offense - 7 day ban, Second offense - Permanent ban. why is a player who "afk Summon" macro at the voodoos and farm god know how many HS over night get 7 days ban (Robotic Play) while different player who use the same program with diffrent set of actions gain even less / not at all advantage over other players get permanent ban!? even if some of the "afk Summon" get permanent ban! the fact the THIS player fulfil the Robotic Play unlike the Game Hacking! don't get me worng, i said permanent ban was unccalled for, i didn't say ANY ban at all was uncalled for.. 7 days ban is what the player deserve and should serve, that's all. a punishment that fit the crime base on the rules!. that's all one can ask for! and over 99.99% of the time they usually fulfil their duties in VERY professional manner and give people answers no matter how rude or impossible they are.. which can be a lot! but sadly from time to time one or two bans are slipp through the cracks and players get banned for uncalled reasons. here another example of uncalled for ban: https://royals.ms/forum/threads/banned-because-i-defamed-someone.127804/ player get ban for 3 days after defame a guy twice (6 in total with his/her friends) after short in-game argument. the rule said "mass defamation will be considered no less than ten defames by an individual and may also include asking, paying, or otherwise incentivizing other players to defame another individual." even with the friends the total sum of the defames was only 6 yet it they ban the players for "Harassment" of the section of mass defamation.. that mean they didn't miss defame and yet they got ban for it, when we talk to the GM he/she said, "we use Game Terms & Conditions more as of guideline rather than literally".. a full reminder of the rule! 1. Objectionable Behavior (Harassment) - There are multiple scenarios in which harassment can be defined. Persistence and level of aggression are two major factors - constant harassment over a long period of time will likely qualify a player as having broken this rule, or alternatively a strongly objectionable statement or group of statements over a short period of time. Persistent mass defamation will be considered no less than ten defames by an individual and may also include asking, paying, or otherwise incentivizing other players to defame another individual. if the rules are that flexible to be considered as guideline rather then literally then this should also work the other way around and go infavor of first time minor rulebrakers/offenders! hope that's answer your question and future ones aswell.. also hope the "bite" of that tasted as good as you imagen.. please don't refer to the fact i answer you here as invitation to further convers on this topic in here, the only goal is as i said above "finish this conversation with you!". Back to the topic in hand.. in my time on this server and forum i've read about 2,000 Ban Appeals out of 10,000 in total.. i come across maybe 5 to 8 at most who didn't deserve the punishment they got.. that's pretty impressive level of professionally in display if i may say so.. so i don't think the punishment in the server is what drive people away and this server is FAR away from dying! as far as i know there are atleast 5,000 avtive players in the server every 24 hours.. (base on votes per day at gtop 100).
But a macro that increases pet closeness does give the user an advantage over other players: in pet closeness. Emphasis mine. Whether you (or me, or anyone else) considers that advantage to be meaningful is irrelevant.
Hey man it's not dying, it's still alive from @Don time his playing till now.. So what die? Want break rules then say server die? Lol You better die for the server, thanks.
I didn't even bother reading 80% of what you wrote because your comparisons are so wrong but I'm just gonna let you know that saying afk farming is equivalent to robotic play is downright stupid. Robotic play is when you're NOT in control of character actively. Afk farming is ACTIVELY REBUFFING your summon, so how is that considered robotic? The summon is killing for you, yes, which is part of the game's mechanics. But players are rebuffing them without any 3rd party help/holding a button down. That's fair play. And some people got permabanned for wiz editing as well. What did they edit? The colour of magic claw; it became purple instead of blue (back then). Is the ban justified? Yes, because it's a clear violation of T&S where it says wiz editing warrants permanent ban. Is it silly because it doesn't really give any advantage whatsoever like pet closeness? Quite. But still, is the ban justified and correctly delivered? Absolutely yes.
Hey all i rarely post on forum threads unless i have things to buy or sell but after reading this post, just want to share my 2 cent. I find it funny why people complain this that or things should be changed overall because they simply break the rules. I've played royals several years never once had issue with breaching rules and i just enjoy royals for what it is. Its really simple just enjoy the game play fair and not break the rules, i don't believe making adjustments so the game can be more lenient to abusive actions and behavior will do any good whether the server is dying or not. If anything, I've always appreciated the amount of effort staff put in on the private server despite getting no pay (i believe). So why not just follow the rules and just enjoy mapling aye
