Interesting, I’m curious to find out how well that system works in practice. On a previous episode of the Hots forums, I made a post regarding introducing a merit system that awards good behavior in game.
As it stands, we have a mostly automated systems that many players use to report chat abuse and ping spam, (as many people think they are the only report categories that work), yet there is nothing to promote positive behavior, or a system that helps to encourage those players who have reformed their previous negative behavior.
I wouldn’t trust the players to be in charge of moderation. Too often I’ve encountered players in chat calling on others to report a player for “AFK”, simply because they didn’t like a talent that player took, or that player was performing poorly.
I’m also doubtful Blizzard would take such measures to revamp the system, as that would mean allocating more resources to setting it up, so far, all actions taken suggest (at least in the case of Hots) that Blizzard wants to spend as little time and manpower as possible and leave automation in charge.
Centuries ago, I belonged to a gaming guild, and a similar thing happened to me there. I was promoted to moderator and I hated it and quit after two weeks. Your observation that when an individual is put in this position, it sets them apart from friends or any potential friends is very true in my experience. Regardless of if you’re a “fair” or “good” moderator, it changes the dynamic between you and everyone who isn’t a moderator.
- I’m also not fond of the idea of moderation being done for free, for companies which have more than enough money to actually pay their CS workers.