Last edited
Harassment and Consequences
Hi, Everyone,
Thank you all for your comments and feedback on this subject. We, the devs, are listening, and we of course want to ensure that our community be a safe environment, one in which all players can freely enjoy the game without harassmentor negative disruptions.
To that end, we have decided that it is time to spell out exactly what we consider to be harassment, and to lay out exactly what the consequences will be from here on out. We are aware that the issues with block have resulted in something of a Catch 22 effect, which have made it difficult for players to provide the documentation needed when filing a complaint. This will always be taken into consideration when we review situations, so please don’t let that deter you from filing a ticket with Customer Support and reporting the offense.
Our General Rules of Conduct and TOS states the following:
• The administration shall be the sole arbitrator of what does and what does not violate community policy.
• The V&H game & forum will not permit members to harass, become argumentative or "flame" other members, and any subject, which at the sole discretion of Administration violates its policies.
• Users shall comply with the instructions of Mad Otter or one of its designate representatives. In all other respects, Users shall refrain from any action that disturbs the Game and the additional services and the vigorous interaction.
In other words, it is up to Management to determine which actions constitute as being those that disturb the game. By definition, here is what we consider harassment: To deliberately annoy or bother someone in a constant or repeated way, which makes the gameplay experience unpleasant for another user.
The following is a list of specific actions that we have determined are in violation of our community policy, and the penalties which will now result:
(*We do reserve the right to alter/modify penalties as we see fit)
• Following players around when asked not to by the individual, is considered stalking and harassment. The offender will be given a warning to stop. If they persist, they will be kicked from the game for 2 hours. If the behavior continues, player will be banned for 24 hours. If the behavior persists a third time, player will be banned for 3 days. (Moderators are designated representatives of our company, and have the ability to kick players after determining on their own if harassment is taking place.)
• Repeated whispers to another player, when asked to stop by that individual, is considered harassment. The offender will be given a warning to stop. If they persist, they will be kicked from the game for 2 hours. If the behavior continues, player will be banned for 24 hours. If the behavior still persists, player will be banned for 3 days.
• Name calling of any kind is considered harassment, and will not be tolerated.This includes the derogatory use of puns applied to a person’s name. Players who name call will be given a warning, and then kicked for 1 hour. Repeated name calling will result in a 24 hour ban.
• Deliberately circumventing the block feature for the purpose of antagonizing players. If a player has blocked another player, any further actions on the part of the blockee to contact that player will be considered harassment. This includes: emotes, chats, emails, or following the player around. The offender will be given a warning to stop. If they persist, they will be kicked from the game for 2 hours. If behavior still persists, they will be banned for 24 hours, followed by a 3 day ban if it still continues.
• Negatively interfering with the bounty runs of other players for the sole purpose of causing displeasure is considered harassment. The offender will be given a warning. If the behavior persists, they will be kicked for two hours, which will be followed by a 24 hour ban if the behavior still continues.
• Slandering an individual in world chat. All players should be treated with civility. It is considered harassment to deliberately provoke another individual with barbed comments or to incite others against them. The offender(s) will first be warned. If the behavior continues, they will be kicked for two hours, followed by a 24 hour ban if it still continues.
While moderators do not have the ability to ban, they do have the ability to kick. The V&H game moderators have our complete confidence, and will be fully implementing the penalties listed above if they deem harassment to be taking place. It is our hope that after having been temporarily kicked, the offending player(s) will cease the negative behavior. If not, we will be strictly enforcing the ban policy.
Again, thank you all for the feedback. We want our community to be a safe and harmonious one, and for gameplay to be a pleasurable experience for everyone.
EDIT TO UPDATE:
Slandering guilds, i.e, negatively calling out guild names in world chat, is also considered harassment, and the above consequences apply.
Hi, Everyone,
Thank you all for your comments and feedback on this subject. We, the devs, are listening, and we of course want to ensure that our community be a safe environment, one in which all players can freely enjoy the game without harassmentor negative disruptions.
To that end, we have decided that it is time to spell out exactly what we consider to be harassment, and to lay out exactly what the consequences will be from here on out. We are aware that the issues with block have resulted in something of a Catch 22 effect, which have made it difficult for players to provide the documentation needed when filing a complaint. This will always be taken into consideration when we review situations, so please don’t let that deter you from filing a ticket with Customer Support and reporting the offense.
Our General Rules of Conduct and TOS states the following:
• The administration shall be the sole arbitrator of what does and what does not violate community policy.
• The V&H game & forum will not permit members to harass, become argumentative or "flame" other members, and any subject, which at the sole discretion of Administration violates its policies.
• Users shall comply with the instructions of Mad Otter or one of its designate representatives. In all other respects, Users shall refrain from any action that disturbs the Game and the additional services and the vigorous interaction.
In other words, it is up to Management to determine which actions constitute as being those that disturb the game. By definition, here is what we consider harassment: To deliberately annoy or bother someone in a constant or repeated way, which makes the gameplay experience unpleasant for another user.
The following is a list of specific actions that we have determined are in violation of our community policy, and the penalties which will now result:
(*We do reserve the right to alter/modify penalties as we see fit)
• Following players around when asked not to by the individual, is considered stalking and harassment. The offender will be given a warning to stop. If they persist, they will be kicked from the game for 2 hours. If the behavior continues, player will be banned for 24 hours. If the behavior persists a third time, player will be banned for 3 days. (Moderators are designated representatives of our company, and have the ability to kick players after determining on their own if harassment is taking place.)
• Repeated whispers to another player, when asked to stop by that individual, is considered harassment. The offender will be given a warning to stop. If they persist, they will be kicked from the game for 2 hours. If the behavior continues, player will be banned for 24 hours. If the behavior still persists, player will be banned for 3 days.
• Name calling of any kind is considered harassment, and will not be tolerated.This includes the derogatory use of puns applied to a person’s name. Players who name call will be given a warning, and then kicked for 1 hour. Repeated name calling will result in a 24 hour ban.
• Deliberately circumventing the block feature for the purpose of antagonizing players. If a player has blocked another player, any further actions on the part of the blockee to contact that player will be considered harassment. This includes: emotes, chats, emails, or following the player around. The offender will be given a warning to stop. If they persist, they will be kicked from the game for 2 hours. If behavior still persists, they will be banned for 24 hours, followed by a 3 day ban if it still continues.
• Negatively interfering with the bounty runs of other players for the sole purpose of causing displeasure is considered harassment. The offender will be given a warning. If the behavior persists, they will be kicked for two hours, which will be followed by a 24 hour ban if the behavior still continues.
• Slandering an individual in world chat. All players should be treated with civility. It is considered harassment to deliberately provoke another individual with barbed comments or to incite others against them. The offender(s) will first be warned. If the behavior continues, they will be kicked for two hours, followed by a 24 hour ban if it still continues.
While moderators do not have the ability to ban, they do have the ability to kick. The V&H game moderators have our complete confidence, and will be fully implementing the penalties listed above if they deem harassment to be taking place. It is our hope that after having been temporarily kicked, the offending player(s) will cease the negative behavior. If not, we will be strictly enforcing the ban policy.
Again, thank you all for the feedback. We want our community to be a safe and harmonious one, and for gameplay to be a pleasurable experience for everyone.
EDIT TO UPDATE:
Slandering guilds, i.e, negatively calling out guild names in world chat, is also considered harassment, and the above consequences apply.
NOOB
Jack Of All Trades
Characters
N00B, Skrub
Platform
- iOS
I have one question
Why is following people considered harassment?
It does not affect the other players gameplay, and they can ignore the person following.
If someone just follows another in a dungeon ,and does nothing while near a run is it harassment ( i would think so by activating gift of mallok)
Just confused
Why is following people considered harassment?
It does not affect the other players gameplay, and they can ignore the person following.
If someone just follows another in a dungeon ,and does nothing while near a run is it harassment ( i would think so by activating gift of mallok)
Just confused
Just change the thought from gameplay to RL. If someone followed ME around all day without doing anything, just following, it would creep the living hell out of me. So, well, yeah.... its not that much different in game right? Just leave people alone if you're not going to interact or run WITH them
Bluefire
Squirrel
Characters
Cerci Bluefire
Platform
- Steam
NOOB, following someone, in itself, is not a violation. What IS a violation is continuing to follow someone (or someones) in a harassing manner after being asked to stop, after previous negative dialog (verbal harassment), or other factors that I'm sure you can figure out. If you plan on following someone (or someones) in a dungeon, simply ask if they mind. Some won't, some will. If they DO mind, then simply don't follow. Easy peezy. 
Following others on a dungeon run can negatively affect their gameplay if your damage/team buffs/other contributions to the group are insufficient to compensate for the scaling up of enemy health/defenses due to your presence.
NOOB
Jack Of All Trades
Characters
N00B, Skrub
Platform
- iOS
I guess that would make senseNOOB, following someone, in itself, is not a violation. What IS a violation is continuing to follow someone (or someones) in a harassing manner after being asked to stop, after previous negative dialog (verbal harassment), or other factors that I'm sure you can figure out. If you plan on following someone (or someones) in a dungeon, simply ask if they mind. Some won't, some will. If they DO mind, then simply don't follow. Easy peezy.
NOOB
Jack Of All Trades
Characters
N00B, Skrub
Platform
- iOS
In this case, following someone around was mentioned because there have been cases where people (referred to as 2nd person), in order to just harass someone (referred to as 1st person) follows with the only purpose being to disrupt their gameplay.
People such as 2nd person, have followed 1st person on bounty runs and then before the 1st person can attack the bounty, 2nd person will hit first. This isn't all that bad anymore since we all get credit for kills, but if 1st person is also doing a quest and needs a drop, 2nd person will get that drop. Which in some cases is only being done to harass 1st person.
Sometimes both parties are just there to kill bounties, and usually one or the other will offer to party so they both can enjoy the loots. This of course is the ideal situation and sometimes the added benefit is you make a new friend.
Illuthas
Wizard
Platform
- PC
The fact that you can just get a hit in for credit without hurting anyone is honestly one of the the best things about his game. You dont have to wait for others to leave and mobs to respawn.
Just help with this bounty and ask if they want to team up for the rest of the zone.
Primum Auxilium
Grand Priest
Characters
Errapel
Platform
- Android
- PC
Harassment and Consequences
Hi, Everyone,
Thank you all for your comments and feedback on this subject. We, the devs, are listening, and we of course want to ensure that our community be a safe environment, one in which all players can freely enjoy the game without harassmentor negative disruptions.
To that end, we have decided that it is time to spell out exactly what we consider to be harassment, and to lay out exactly what the consequences will be from here on out. We are aware that the issues with block have resulted in something of a Catch 22 effect, which have made it difficult for players to provide the documentation needed when filing a complaint. This will always be taken into consideration when we review situations, so please don’t let that deter you from filing a ticket with Customer Support and reporting the offense.
Our General Rules of Conduct and TOS states the following:
• The administration shall be the sole arbitrator of what does and what does not violate community policy.
• The V&H game & forum will not permit members to harass, become argumentative or "flame" other members, and any subject, which at the sole discretion of Administration violates its policies.
• Users shall comply with the instructions of Mad Otter or one of its designate representatives. In all other respects, Users shall refrain from any action that disturbs the Game and the additional services and the vigorous interaction.
In other words, it is up to Management to determine which actions constitute as being those that disturb the game. By definition, here is what we consider harassment: To deliberately annoy or bother someone in a constant or repeated way, which makes the gameplay experience unpleasant for another user.
The following is a list of specific actions that we have determined are in violation of our community policy, and the penalties which will now result:
(*We do reserve the right to alter/modify penalties as we see fit)
• Following players around when asked not to by the individual, is considered stalking and harassment. The offender will be given a warning to stop. If they persist, they will be kicked from the game for 2 hours. If the behavior continues, player will be banned for 24 hours. If the behavior persists a third time, player will be banned for 3 days. (Moderators are designated representatives of our company, and have the ability to kick players after determining on their own if harassment is taking place.)
• Repeated whispers to another player, when asked to stop by that individual, is considered harassment. The offender will be given a warning to stop. If they persist, they will be kicked from the game for 2 hours. If the behavior continues, player will be banned for 24 hours. If the behavior still persists, player will be banned for 3 days.
• Name calling of any kind is considered harassment, and will not be tolerated.This includes the derogatory use of puns applied to a person’s name. Players who name call will be given a warning, and then kicked for 1 hour. Repeated name calling will result in a 24 hour ban.
• Deliberately circumventing the block feature for the purpose of antagonizing players. If a player has blocked another player, any further actions on the part of the blockee to contact that player will be considered harassment. This includes: emotes, chats, emails, or following the player around. The offender will be given a warning to stop. If they persist, they will be kicked from the game for 2 hours. If behavior still persists, they will be banned for 24 hours, followed by a 3 day ban if it still continues.
• Negatively interfering with the bounty runs of other players for the sole purpose of causing displeasure is considered harassment. The offender will be given a warning. If the behavior persists, they will be kicked for two hours, which will be followed by a 24 hour ban if the behavior still continues.
• Slandering an individual in world chat. All players should be treated with civility. It is considered harassment to deliberately provoke another individual with barbed comments or to incite others against them. The offender(s) will first be warned. If the behavior continues, they will be kicked for two hours, followed by a 24 hour ban if it still continues.
While moderators do not have the ability to ban, they do have the ability to kick. The V&H game moderators have our complete confidence, and will be fully implementing the penalties listed above if they deem harassment to be taking place. It is our hope that after having been temporarily kicked, the offending player(s) will cease the negative behavior. If not, we will be strictly enforcing the ban policy.
Again, thank you all for the feedback. We want our community to be a safe and harmonious one, and for gameplay to be a pleasurable experience for everyone. Good, for gameplay and pleasure I'll continue to harassment ppl who are not members of our guild and act like idiots when I asked them nicely to leave
As a head's up, I just updated the original post to include this:
Slandering guilds, i.e, negatively calling out guild names in world chat, is also considered harassment, and the above consequences apply.
Slandering guilds, i.e, negatively calling out guild names in world chat, is also considered harassment, and the above consequences apply.