Account Action Review system is flawed. Where is the customer support?

[Aravell]

No, the game automatically kicks you out if you’re AFK for two minutes. Obviously I’m playing the match. Sometimes, I’ll camp nodes until they spawn and snipe, just run around and do that. I’ve won matches before this way. I’m not always chasing kills. I’m not the best at PvP and that stresses me out. Everyone has a different PlayStyle. My point is there is not a requirement to play any specific way or to earn a minimum amount of participation points. This is casual PvP, not competitive. I’ve been playing the same way for ten years and it’s only just become an issue. If they are going to make all PvP competitive and force players to play in a certain way, then that should be made clear. My point is this isn’t proper customer service and I have tried through several means to speak to someone that has actual information to help, in alignment with their policies and ToS not just assumptions and opinions from players that aren’t directly involved in the process. It’s not ok to constantly punish someone for something they are not aware of and then not tell them what they’re doing wrong so that it doesn’t happen again. Thats some backwards thinking.

While many people have given some really harsh responses, they're also not completely wrong. Camping on nodes and waiting for a spawn could be seen by the alliance as lethargic play, considering that you're not actually doing anything until the node spawns.

As for the question of why you never got any warning for it until recently, the section on lethargic play was only added on to the ToS after the implementation of Crystalline Conflict if I remember correctly. That's probably why you've only been getting reported in the past year or two.

[MisterNublet]

No, the game automatically kicks you out if you’re AFK for two minutes.

Just because a player can press their jump key every 1 minute and 59 seconds to avoid being kicked for AFK doesn't mean they're not AFK.

Obviously I’m playing the match. Sometimes, I’ll camp nodes until they spawn and snipe, just run around and do that.

Sounds like an AFK player style (ie lethargic) in a mode that is labeled Player VS Player.

I’ve won matches before this way.

Sounds more like your team won the match by pushing back or holding off enemy teams so you can "afk" at a node.

I’m not always chasing kills.

Most people who "chase kills" are also pushing for objectives, or trying to reduce the enemy team's score.

I’m not the best at PvP and that stresses me out. Everyone has a different PlayStyle.

Why are you playing a mode that induces stress?

My point is there is not a requirement to play any specific way or to earn a minimum amount of participation points. This is casual PvP, not competitive.

Just because Frontlines and Unranked CC is "casual" PvP doesn't mean you don't have to put in any effort. If you were participating in PvP with your team, then you wouldn't have to be concerned about any "minimum amount of participation points."

I’ve been playing the same way for ten years and it’s only just become an issue. If they are going to make all PvP competitive and force players to play in a certain way, then that should be made clear.

People are getting fed up with exp leechers in Frontlines and are reporting players more and more now. I would have to guess that people noticed you constantly standing around to "secure" nodes and ended the match with negligible damage done (in a match for 12 min without earning any points). Sounds like you had 0 damage done to players which is an easy player report.

My point is this isn’t proper customer service and I have tried through several means to speak to someone that has actual information to help, in alignment with their policies and ToS not just assumptions and opinions from players that aren’t directly involved in the process. It’s not ok to constantly punish someone for something they are not aware of and then not tell them what they’re doing wrong so that it doesn’t happen again. Thats some backwards thinking.

・Aiding the enemy / Uncooperative behavior / Lethargic behavior

You were reprimanded for Lethargic Behavior and was told by a GM on two separate occasions. You have the option of changing your play style in PvP or can stop queuing for the mode altogether.

[Raven2014]

Sorry to break this to you but ... while it may not be specific, there is a languages in the TOS that serve as more than enough ground for them to take action against you. There is a few red flag I noticed in your story:

- You're making the argument you shouldn't be punished not because the allegation isn't true (zero contribution), but because you shouldn't be punished even if it's true. So this means the allegation is true?

- GM don't tend to take action just because one or two report was made. After all people pissed on each others all the time. The fact they took action against you meaning there is enough people reported you.

- Given that PvP match is very small, for you to cross that threshold twice, you are likely a repeated offender.

So yeah ... my advise is wise up and stop doing ... whatever you doing. I think the banned system have 4 tiers and you're on 2nd (the 3 days ban), the next one I think is a week (or a month?) long, follow by a perma. I think the fell off time for repeated offender is 2 years so you're playing with fire right now.


And again, your behavior does provide them with ground to take action. Simila to back when Borzae was current, there were people who tried to join DR's run and just AFK at the entrance or stay death on the floor for free carry. Once the community fed up and decided to mass report these leeches, the behavior disappeared almost immediately. Your action probably fall under the same perview to the GM.

[gllt]

I mean I'd like for OP to come back and respond/clarify but also the communication from Square IS awful. If I asked why I got an infraction I'd expect to get an answer too instead of having to intuit what happened. Even if it's obvious to someone else, it's perfectly normal to not understand what you did and to want some kind of clarification.

[Raven2014]

If I asked why I got an infraction I'd expect to get an answer too instead of having to intuit what happened.

Except this time they DO give the OP the exact reason why they're striking their account though? The OP just isn't aware of the existing rule that applied to them, it's not really a guessing game in this particular case.

[Kai_Alura]

No they didn’t give me the exact reason. I’m assuming it is that. All I was told by customer service was that I “didn’t earn enough points in a match”. And advised to contact a GM. The GM was no help and said they couldn’t give me any details. You’re assuming a lot in your original reply.. none of which is fact, by the way. The point of the post is to be pointed in the right direction of someone who can assist… not to be told what “might’ve been” the reason based on someone else’s assumptions.

[Archeron]

I'm not one to give sympathy to anyone who is sitting around in PvP matches deliberately participating poorly. To get banned for this means you had to really stand out. So why don't you explain how exactly you participate in Frontlines matches and don't don't give us vague information like "I play in a way I enjoy", because that can mean anything, and your interpretation of it being "Beneficial to the team" is also subjective. The GM's hardly EVER take action in this game especially with PvP reports.

[Raven2014]

No, the game automatically kicks you out if you’re AFK for two minutes. Obviously I’m playing the match.

I didn't say you were AFKing, but if I'm being honest what you describe as your "play style" pretty much sounds like ... botting. Am I accusing you of botting? No. But ... earning no point in 12 min? Common, at that point your team is probably better served if you actually were botting.

I’m not the best at PvP and that stresses me out.

Than you shouldn't play it tbh. You're being stressed out isn't a good reason to burden other people. Just like no one can tell 7 other people "I'm not good with mechanic so you need to carry me through savage because my playstyle".

My point is there is not a requirement to play any specific way or to earn a minimum amount of participation points.

And my point is they don't need to be that specific, because it's impossible for them to list all out possible scenario. Your so call "play style" probably fell under the "adding the enemies" (by not contributing to your team) and Lethargic behavior and that's considered to be against the ToS.

I’ve been playing the same way for ten years and it’s only just become an issue.

Well that makes sense though, after all the mode is only over 2 years old, and you get your first strike last year so ... Assuming you're talking about casual CC. If you're talking about Front line though ... for enough people in such a huge map+group notice it, your playstyle must be stand out in a really really bad way.

It’s not ok to constantly punish someone for something they are not aware of and then not tell them what they’re doing wrong so that it doesn’t happen again.

But they did tell you though? You're thinking it's wrong doesn't mean they didn't tell you. (and again it's not wrong). Also I don't really advise pushing the issue. GMs in just about every game are given some discretion to interpret the situation, and yours isn't exactly leave a lot of room for alternative.

If a GM strike you for say ... cursing. The only way you can argue with them is you are sure you didn't curse at all. But if your argument is "well I did say some mean word but it shouldn't be viewed as cursing" than yeah, no chance.

In this case, the GM did tell you they strike you for in a match for 12 min without earning any points, the only way you can appeal is if that wasn't true and you did earn some points. Otherwise, if it's true, it's not really your place to decide whether you should be strike or not.

Your "it's a playstyle I enjoy and it's not a competitive match so it's ok" angle hold as much water as a cup with a hole at the bottom. DR was considered to be super casual content, but enough people report you for being a leech and you feel the GM's wrath all the same. I'm sorry to say but this "casual content as a yard stick" only exist in your head.


And to put it bluntly, I don't think you'll get a lot of sympathy from other players with your "play-style". And you can't claim you still don't know what you're being striked for, unless you just refuse to acknowledge it. In that case good luck wit the 3rd and 4th strike.

[Bellsong]

If your playstyle is only hitting nodes then I'd suggest gathering over PvP tbh.

[Edelgarde]

Thanks for the self report. From what I can gather from your statement, you unintentionally grief your own team by almost NEVER helping them fight the enemy team, which means that you are not getting any assist.

Look at the scoreboard, and it gives you your KDA ratio. I want you to post your scoreboard results of just you in Frontlines. MULTIPLE. So we can see the pattern.

If you are doing the bare minimum of fighting with your team and hitting enemies at least, you could easily gather at least 20 assist of KOs. You don’t need to be the person getting the KO. But you just need to contribute in these fights at least. If the GMs claim that you’re not earning your teammates enough points, either you’re purposely doing nothing, or you’re too scared to even fight and unintentionally griefing your team by staying back and not even pressing your buttons to help your team in battle.

If you’re gonna play like that, then don’t bother. I’ve already accepted my 3 day suspension for emote spamming in PvP months ago. So you should learn to take accountability yourself. GMs don’t just suspend you for no reason.

My only gripe with GMs and actions being taken is that they are way too vague.

However, you did make it obvious as to what the issue is. If you don’t want to contribute in Frontlines cause it would hurt your feelings to get KO’d, then just don’t play the mode. That is actual griefing.