Multi-Hunters/Cheat-Hunters

[pinpower]

I think, that Azzer should appoint a small number of people (maybe 2) to become "Cheat Hunters"...these people would be able to (when the suspect someone of cheating) lock an ID. Maybe if he appoints 3 people there could be a system in which if one of them suspects someone of cheating they "flag" that ID and then the others can then check it...if a majority (2 out of 3) vote that it is a cheater then the ID is Locked.

To be clear: They would only be able to lock IDs, not delete them. The system would work by Azzer being able to properly check out the IDs that these "Cheat-Hunters" have locked.

I think something like this has got to be done as (Im not just *****ing about Azzer...well maybe a little...but only in a nice way ;)) Azzer doesn't appear to have the time/inclination to do anything about rule breakers anymore. Also i know he has another game in production...so realistically he isn't going to be able to be the only person maintaining both games.


Obvious Abuse Possibilities: -"Cheat Hunters" just locking their enemies in a war or something (someone hits them repeatedly and they lock them as revenge)...or locking people they have personal disputes with [i]However if a majority vote was needed this would be likely eliminated (using my below suggestions), it is unlikely that Meneldil, Darryl and Bobbin would all be in the same alliance...or on the same sided of a war etc.


However i believe Azzer could find 2/3 people that are trusted enough to take on this role. The first people that comes to my mind is Meneldil, Darryl and Bobbin. I really don't think any of them would abuse this power if it was given to them.

[Azzer]

It's an idea not without merit, but I think the number would have to be larger to minimise risk of the "majority" being on one side... (and I know that no matter, what, the victims of lockings will always cry unfairness/bias/"system-fiddling" no matter who it is doing the locking). Something like 6 people, with 5 being needed, should offer some safety... perhaps if all official helpers (since these are trusted players, experienced players that know what they are looking for in a cheat, and they provide a wide range of people from different alliances etc.) had the ability to "vote" an ID as a suspect (as a yes or a no), and when a minimum of 5 more yeses than nos have been reached the ID gets flagged up as a cheat for me. I still don't think any action (eg locking) should be automatic, but that could bring it to the level where really all I have to do is see who it is, which helpers voted, and go "Yup, ok, lock/send land farmers/send robotic monstrosities/send a warning" as appropriate :P

[DarkSider]

And any id flaged as suspect that you don't check will automatically get a temporary lock ? :D Sent you a similar suggestion but it was needed only majority of the helpers to vote"cheat" for an id to be flaged. So from 15 active helpers 8 votes would be enough, it's highly unlikely the votes to be splited so you'd need only 8 helpers to get around and decide.
You'd probably only have to instruct them not to guide themselfs after feelings and knowing 2 players know eachother irl and it's morelikely to .. bla bla. Just resume at the facts no speculations and it will all be great.

[Darryl]

The minor problems with the official helper suggestion is that whilst they all know enough about the game to be able to advise other players, not everyone is going to keep a clear head andlook at things clearly, though with the majority decision,, and no powers to do anything other than flag issues to Azzer's attention this issue should be minimal.

The number of inactive helpers could be a minor issue, too, though perhaps if the voting situation were to be put into place, it could be x% of the number who have logged in within the last y hours, to exclude the ones who haven't logged in within days?

Another problem is that, well, it's a bit pointless; Azzer does a fine job of keeping cheats under control when he is around, the main time something like this would be needed is on the few occasions that he is away for more than a couple of days, it'd be time like over the past round when he's ill/on holiday that I think there needs to be people who have the ability to deal with cheats. Being able to flag up IDs as possible/probable cheats for Azzer to look into them further when he is away for a while is hardly much better than just leaving them to it.

[CLem]

And any id flaged as suspect that you don't check will automatically get a temporary lock ? :D Sent you a similar suggestion but it was needed only majority of the helpers to vote"cheat" for an id to be flaged. So from 15 active helpers 8 votes would be enough, it's highly unlikely the votes to be splited so you'd need only 8 helpers to get around and decide.
You'd probably only have to instruct them not to guide themselfs after feelings and knowing 2 players know eachother irl and it's morelikely to .. bla bla. Just resume at the facts no speculations and it will all be great.

I would be gutted if i was suspected and temporary locked because Azzer is not there to check straight away. I think that once they are flagged as suspected, ID 1 would msg the flagged player saying that "you are currently under investigation of cheating etc etc" immediately. The person could already be under investigated as the msg get there OR if Azzer hasn't got time will act as a threat at the very least stop them from cheating during the time lag between being flagged and being looked at. This way an innocent suspected player can carry on playing as usual with no worries, whilst cheaters poo their pants as they don't know when they are actually being watched until they got the clear or get the lock.

[DarkSider]

Another problem is that, well, it's a bit pointless; Azzer does a fine job of keeping cheats under control when he is around, the main time something like this would be needed is on the few occasions that he is away for more than a couple of days, it'd be time like over the past round when he's ill/on holiday that I think there needs to be people who have the ability to deal with cheats. Being able to flag up IDs as possible/probable cheats for Azzer to look into them further when he is away for a while is hardly much better than just leaving them to it.


I can't quite agree with you here. I don't know every time Azzer has personal problems or needs time for himself so i can only make a comparation between the fast reaction to cheat messages several rounds ago when i was at my begginings of bush career and the nonexistant/minor warnings that the blatant cheaters get this days.
One guy went out of ally and the alliance sent on him for land. They got monstrosities.
One guy did one obvious land farm. He got land farmers straight away. He did it again he got monstrosities + land farmers.

Now an entire solo group land farms, abuses ar mod, boosts eachother with bounty, they get reported over and over and everybody around screams CHEEEATEEEERSS and there is nothing beeing done.

And as i posted i wrote in my suggestion only the active helpers to be taken into consideration. There are quite a few helpers who don't quite play lately and just give some guidance in the few ocasions they get around :)

[Augustus]

Anything that speeds up the process of stopping cheaters should be implemented as long as it doesn't give Ops/Moderators excessive powers. I agree with the suggestion of them flagging people suspected of cheating and a warning message being sent to the suspect, but the ability for them to lock anyone is innapropriate considering their role in the game. This would also be useful as you wouldn't have to rely on Azzer going through ID1 mail to check on suspected cheats. A mail could be sent to any of the Ops/moderators and they could start the process. This would also give anyone falsely accused of cheating the chance to explain themselves (providing a warning mail is sent to them), so that when Azzer gets round to checking them out he has both sides of the story to do so.