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Throughout my time on Massivecraft I have (I'd like to think) been part of the pvp community. In many factions and with lots of different people. For the entire time people have been punished for varying things, including myself. Flaming, hacking, glitching etc are the standard reasons for punishment. Until a few months ago I had no issues with the system despite close friends of mine being banned.
A quick story now for those who may not know. In massivecraft pvp there are two very clear sides. Magnanimus and their allies versus a smaller group consisting largely of Raptum, LakewoodMercs and Chronikatr. This is essentially a conflict that has been going on for far longer with some changes in faction names and a few side changes. However things changed recently, a large number of staff became more directly involved with one side, Magnanimus. This is not a problem as staff are obviously players in their own right and this is fine. The vast majority of the time I agree with decisions made.
However human nature I believe inevitably plays a part, despite best intentions. Personally it seems to me this has slowly come through in decisions made. The punishments given out seen to vary in severity at least in some part depending on which side someone is on. I understand past offences etc also take a part but nonetheless it still seems this way. If we look at people banned for hacking over the last few months due to pvp I think most have been fighting against Magnanimus. Has anyone in Magnanimus been banned for hacking? No. Perhaps this is correct and everyone who hacks is on one side but this does not seem right to me. I'll be clear, I'm not saying these people were not hacking just that it's strange they're all against Magnanimus. They also tend to be those who're the most effective in fighting Magnanimus.
This can also be seen in more minor punishments I believe. I know for a fact that someone against Magnanimus said "Magnanimus" in general and was muted. Fair enough if of course this was applied consistently, however it does not seem to be. Things such as "Raptum come to Mag for erp", "Pizza delivery for Raptum", "Feel free to leave your trash here, we'll take your members" nothing seems to happen past a warning.
There has also been a case of a certain player's ban appeal seemingly being ignored for some time. They made their appeal and it took over a month to be answered. A backlog of appeals perhaps? But others who made their appeals later were answered and unbanned. Again this person was someone who fought Magnanimus and their appeal was looked at by someone who is now in Magnanimus. I understand staff are expected to be unbiased and largely they are but this does not seem right. That staff involved in a war as players are then able to make staff decisions that could well affect they outcome of said war.
The problem then of course being that most the staff are on one side, this has led to almost everyone against Magnanimus feeling under pressure. There is a sense that if you do not record every fight you could get banned. On both sides people are sometimes accused of hacks. However when a majority of staff are fighting actively against you it feels like you're at greater risk. I certainly feel that way and so do others. Is this fun? No. Not everyone has a computer that can handle pvp and recording at the same time. So you say if you don't hack you have nothing to worry about. Perhaps, but people have been wrongly accused and banned before. Massivecraft may be advertised as "lag free" but most pvpers will say otherwise. This can easily make it appear so that someone is hacking from another's view.
I am aware that pvp in general still has a pretty bad reputation so many people may not care about this. Particularly as this is coming from Raptum and myself who I know have a pretty poor reputation for several reasons. I understand that, but consider if this was you and your friends on the server in this position. You are unwilling to do what you want to do due to the fact that friends are being banned around you. A large number of staff are opposed to you and still are able to make staff decisions towards you. How would you feel?
This is not directed at any one person in particular. It is a general feeling by a good amount of relatively long time players that things have reached a tipping point. I simply put myself forward to make this thread and the others agreed.
Evidence will be posted below of some of these things mentioned.
Please refrain from flaming as I understand the huge potential for flame on this thread. I have tried to get people I know to not flame on here and hopefully they will not. It would be appreciated if this was reciprocated. I also ask this is not instantly locked due to possible flame because it contains important issues for many people. Opinions are welcome so long as they're valid and are not purely flame or based on the fact this is coming from Raptum and co/myself.
A quick story now for those who may not know. In massivecraft pvp there are two very clear sides. Magnanimus and their allies versus a smaller group consisting largely of Raptum, LakewoodMercs and Chronikatr. This is essentially a conflict that has been going on for far longer with some changes in faction names and a few side changes. However things changed recently, a large number of staff became more directly involved with one side, Magnanimus. This is not a problem as staff are obviously players in their own right and this is fine. The vast majority of the time I agree with decisions made.
However human nature I believe inevitably plays a part, despite best intentions. Personally it seems to me this has slowly come through in decisions made. The punishments given out seen to vary in severity at least in some part depending on which side someone is on. I understand past offences etc also take a part but nonetheless it still seems this way. If we look at people banned for hacking over the last few months due to pvp I think most have been fighting against Magnanimus. Has anyone in Magnanimus been banned for hacking? No. Perhaps this is correct and everyone who hacks is on one side but this does not seem right to me. I'll be clear, I'm not saying these people were not hacking just that it's strange they're all against Magnanimus. They also tend to be those who're the most effective in fighting Magnanimus.
This can also be seen in more minor punishments I believe. I know for a fact that someone against Magnanimus said "Magnanimus" in general and was muted. Fair enough if of course this was applied consistently, however it does not seem to be. Things such as "Raptum come to Mag for erp", "Pizza delivery for Raptum", "Feel free to leave your trash here, we'll take your members" nothing seems to happen past a warning.
There has also been a case of a certain player's ban appeal seemingly being ignored for some time. They made their appeal and it took over a month to be answered. A backlog of appeals perhaps? But others who made their appeals later were answered and unbanned. Again this person was someone who fought Magnanimus and their appeal was looked at by someone who is now in Magnanimus. I understand staff are expected to be unbiased and largely they are but this does not seem right. That staff involved in a war as players are then able to make staff decisions that could well affect they outcome of said war.
The problem then of course being that most the staff are on one side, this has led to almost everyone against Magnanimus feeling under pressure. There is a sense that if you do not record every fight you could get banned. On both sides people are sometimes accused of hacks. However when a majority of staff are fighting actively against you it feels like you're at greater risk. I certainly feel that way and so do others. Is this fun? No. Not everyone has a computer that can handle pvp and recording at the same time. So you say if you don't hack you have nothing to worry about. Perhaps, but people have been wrongly accused and banned before. Massivecraft may be advertised as "lag free" but most pvpers will say otherwise. This can easily make it appear so that someone is hacking from another's view.
I am aware that pvp in general still has a pretty bad reputation so many people may not care about this. Particularly as this is coming from Raptum and myself who I know have a pretty poor reputation for several reasons. I understand that, but consider if this was you and your friends on the server in this position. You are unwilling to do what you want to do due to the fact that friends are being banned around you. A large number of staff are opposed to you and still are able to make staff decisions towards you. How would you feel?
This is not directed at any one person in particular. It is a general feeling by a good amount of relatively long time players that things have reached a tipping point. I simply put myself forward to make this thread and the others agreed.
Evidence will be posted below of some of these things mentioned.
Please refrain from flaming as I understand the huge potential for flame on this thread. I have tried to get people I know to not flame on here and hopefully they will not. It would be appreciated if this was reciprocated. I also ask this is not instantly locked due to possible flame because it contains important issues for many people. Opinions are welcome so long as they're valid and are not purely flame or based on the fact this is coming from Raptum and co/myself.
