Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

Les Beaux Chapeaux performs every other Sunday at 9pm (Landroval server time/EST)
At the Prancing Pony stables in Bree

Anything directly below is an advertisement

Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 5
  • 7
A victory for grievers; discussion
Topic Started: Oct 26 2014, 03:16 AM (1,460 Views)
Fayeh
Unregistered

For what it's worth we have a member in LMB who is also one of the LOTRO Reporters (TheCariMac). That's another venue we could report to for publicity.

WeeTodd, what was the response you got earlier?
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Fayeh
Unregistered

And Skoch, where is it? Is it in the PC forum or the public forums (I wanted to read and comment if I could, but if it's in the PC forum obviously I can't).
Quote Post Goto Top
 
WeeTodd

Basically I received a response that they would revisit my complaint. Slightly promising maybe...I sent them another reply which is on the facebook group page. I seem to be possibly the only person with any dialog with them at the moment. I believe there could be far better choices than me for a spokesperson, but I'm trying to give it my best shot. Maybe no one is actually listening...who knows?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Eukwen's player

Any time a group of people are having fun in a game, you'll find one or two people going out of their way to disrupt it. CSRs just have to have the ability to act without being e-Lawyers with rigid game rules.
Edited by Eukwen's player, Oct 31 2014, 11:11 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Fionah

Hullo,

Sir Chukkato informed me about the latest griefing incidents and sent me the thread links. Thank you, Chuk.

I would be willing to sign a petition stating that I withdraw all financial support to this game, and will not purchase anything from Turbine until they create AND sustain a safe environment for musicians and attendees of concerts. At this point, griefing has ruined my enjoyment of music concerts that are staged by artistic and good people of this fine community. I've had enough. I've had enough of seeing it happen, hearing about it happening, and seeing an idiot griefer receive public support from a GM. The GM's recent change of attitude has struck me as absurd and misguided without considering the context, and the perceptions from all who are involved.

Anyway, a petition I can and will sign, and send it off to Turbine with my middle finger raised to hail them.

*bows*

Fionah Fairskinne
Leader and Founder of FEET.


Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Fionwyn

Krohkur
Oct 29 2014, 12:54 PM
While there are plenty of reasons to really loathe the ruling of (and our treatment from) the GMs... I keep going back to the fact that this sort of thing was not tolerated in the not-so-distant past. They DID remove or at least warn trolls using this sort of thing.

So, what changed to cause them to "reverse" policy? It might be helpful to find/figure that out.

Our problem currently is that we have no "grip" on the issue. If we knew why they did what they did, it gives us something specific to attack. Or defend from, as the case may very well be.
Only thing I can think of that changed is that Sapience is gone.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Krohkur
Member Avatar

Posted on the Facebook page "Landroval RP Enforced". Please comment, edit, discuss... and if someone knows where to send this, ... I don't. LOL

-------
"Turbine says, 'Griefing OK' in LOTRO"

In what appears to be a reversal of previous policy against griefing, Turbine GMs in Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) refuse to act on harassment tickets, and have gone so far as to tell players in open chat channels to stop submitting such tickets. The GMs assert that actions (or inaction) deliberately designed to interfere with player-driven role play events is no longer considered to be harassment, and is not against the Code of Conduct that all agree to play by. The music community in LOTRO has been severely impacted by this sudden, unheralded change.

LOTRO is unique among MMORPGs with a system of player-generated music based on the ABC file standard. These files are converted from MIDI files, which are readily available on the internet. Several specific tools to create and manipulate these conversions have been developed by the players over time. The ability for several players to "take parts" in a multi-instrument song and play in synchronization has led to a large, robust community of player "bands" and groups who work on concerts and other social RP events together.

In the past, when a player interferes with concert performances, even by simply standing between audience and performers so as to block sight of chat bubbles (used to "sing" lyrics), a report of harassment (submitted using a context chat menu targeted on the offending player) has resulted in the offending player being warned or even removed by GMs. GMs had repeatedly told players not to react to the griefing character, but to report them. The "Report Harassment" action also placed the offender on the reporting player's "ignore" list.

During a scheduled concert event on Saturday, October 25, two characters arrived to disrupt the event. They took up positions to block the performers from the gathered audience, and were asked to move repeatedly. When they did not, several attending players submitted harassment tickets. Within a short time, GMs spoke in the open "say" channel, telling the reporting players that the actions of the reported player(s) was not considered harassment, and to stop reporting it. When players expressed shock and outrage at this lack of support from GMs, the griefing player was quick to quote back the GMs words, accompanied by laughter. Several players logged off as a result.

Over the next few days, the same interfering character(s) appeared at at least two more player-driven events, with the same behavior, and the same treatment of the reporting players by the GMs. It appears that the GM rulings, and the castigation of the reporting players, has given the offending players carte blanche to continue, and even escalate, the antagonistic behavior.

In direct protest of the reversal of policy, several long-time LOTRO players have cancelled subscriptions, and publicly stated that they are boycotting any purchases from Turbine, either in VIP access subscriptions or through the in-game store. Many agree that some sort of statement from Turbine regarding what policies are now in effect and how they will be enforced is needed. There is a general feeling that annoying behavior is not only okay, but tacitly endorsed.

Griefing in most MMOs is fairly simple to define. "Teabagging", "Camping", blocking quest-givers, resource node ninjas, all are fairly simple to define and to adjudicate. In LOTRO's more social setting, and with the long traditions of player-based RP events like music concerts and festivals, the meaning of "disruptive" and "causing grief or alarm" is muddier. From captured chat logs and video captures of the incident, there does appear to be the intent to annoy, and be disruptive, on the part of the reported character.

Harassment has been defined by Turbine: "Player harassment is defined as an attempt by a player to cause distress, game disruption or to intentionally offend other Lord of the Rings Online players. Player harassment may come in many forms, but the underlying similarity between all harassment and abuse incidents is player malintent. If the offending player’s actions are intentionally directed to cause disruption, grief or distress, no matter what the situation, this is considered player harassment."
http://support.turbine.com/link/portal/24001/24001/Article/145/LOTRO-Harassment-Policies

While it is normal for Turbine not to comment on any disciplinary action taken against players, calls for policy clarification go unanswered. One player calls the lack of response frustrating, and "A huge disservice to long-term, loyal players trying to follow rules that seem to change arbitrarily."
Edited by Krohkur, Nov 1 2014, 07:19 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Krohkur
Member Avatar

After hearing that they may be taking steps against harassment again, that "release" is on hold. I'll keep it, but I won't send it. But it will be there/here, if it's needed.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Lasswen
Member Avatar

I had been wondering if these griefers just hung around Bree for their activities, and had thought that the Shire homesteads would have been too out of the way for them to bother with interrupting Horrorfest.
But in watching Zed's video of our NWB concert I noticed his camera alt got a tell from Funspolyer asking which instance the party was in. It can also been seen in the video for LBC at the 2:22 mark.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Krohkur
Member Avatar

The whole griefer mentality is so alien to me... I just can't understand the motivation or behavior.

I guess it's worse in games that have open PvP... I have always thought of LOTRO's player base as more mature and friendly. I mean, one of the core values is about banding together, not doing things alone.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create your own social network with a free forum.
Learn More · Register Now
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · General Discussion · Next Topic »
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 5
  • 7

Via Domus created by Steve of the ZetaBoards Theme Zone