Hey there, I figured I’d give my story to see if I can get any help here.
So, yesterday I was force named changed/banned for having the name “Pirate” on Bloodsail Buccaneers, the classic RP server. In my eyes, Pirate isn’t against any of the name policies/TOS for RP servers. A pirate can be anyone. My character, in RP, is a pirate. Are unnamed pirates really force-name change worthy when you have players running around with names FAR less RP appropriate (ex: innuendos/phrases or adjectives)?
So this was the situation. I felt as though a mass amount of people initially reported the name, triggering the automatic suspension for 3 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes. I appealed the name through a ticket, and about 21 hours later Blizzard responded - lifting the ban and saying in the ticket response; “You should have no issues reclaiming the name when you relog.”
About three hours after reclaiming the name for use on the same character, I was suspended yet again - same amount of time, no warning. Might I mention again that the GM who appealed my first ticket stated that I should have no issues reclaming the name.
I’m more confused than anything else. I’m not sure if the name Pirate is RP-appropriate anymore, and while I’ve sent in a second appeal that is currently open/waiting for review, I’m worried about being banned if using the name yet again. Is there some sort of fail-safe when a GM 'okay’s the name after an appeal to NOT be automatically suspended/kicked from the game?
I would guess if you get a suspension over this and a forced name change this is not your first walk around the block as they say. For the first name violation you would get a prompt to change your name and a warning. It takes a few of them to get a suspension.
I am guessing the name Pirate on a RP server might not be a good idea.
Well, that’s the thing: the first was a suspension, but then the suspension was lifted and the GM told me that I’d have no issues reclaiming the name - which you’d think would be the OK to use the name, right?
I know about the policy when renaming your current character the name that previously got you suspended, but… I figured it was completely fine considering I was given the OK.
I also refuse to see how Pirate is against any RP naming TOS, because at its core anyone can RP as a nameless pirate. You see what I mean?
I appreciate the feedback though! I’m hoping maybe a blue could pop in and enlighten me here, I’m definitely open to more opinions on this matter.
Unfortunately, your eyes don’t matter here. It’s Blizzard’s sandbox and what they say, goes.
This forum is one for players to assist other players. There are no GMs or Devs here. Our SFAs, while rad, are not guaranteed to pop in any thread, and pleading for a Blue response is kind of frowned upon.
You’ve got two choices here. Keep attempting to slide under the radar, risking further sanctions or just change the name.
Also, clarifying this. People can mass report until they’re blue in the face. It is a GM who overlooks the reports and decides whether to sanction you or not. There are no automatic suspensions of any sort. The only ‘automatic’ thing that can take place is a temporary squelch, but that doesn’t have any bearing on this particular situation.
If the name got flagged once might be a good idea to come up with a better name. Something that wont attract attention. Even if a gm said it was ok, well it got flagged once I bet it will happen again.
Yeah, I suppose I’ll just wait until I get the appeal response and inquire within just to see where the name stands for extra clarification on the matter. While they have been removing any marks from my account due to this, a name isn’t worth much more of a headache.
If your apeal was sucessful yes black mark from the suspension should be lifted if it isnt look at fantasy name generators great place for names or use the randomizer.
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. All a “mass report” can do is get the report looked at relatively quickly compared to other reports. There is no “auto-ban”, “auto-suspension”, or any other kind of automatic account action that can be triggered by the general public (except a squelch, in the case of chat violations, but that is temporary and only lasts until a real human looks at the situation.)
I don’t know why this isn’t obvious to people. It only takes a second of logical thought and common sense to figure out that Blizzard hasn’t left banning up to the public. Imagine if you will the Mad-Max dystopia that the forums, Twitter, Reddit and all other social media would be if random members of the public could actually ban other people.
Think: the general public can jail any other member of the public.
Yeah, not happening. I mean, literally it’s not happening in our world (game or real) or you and I would hear loud and clear about it. Our ears would hurt.
To anyone at any time now, or in the future reading this:
You cannot have account action applied automatically by the public, no matter if you got reported once, or a million times. You can prove this to yourself by reading extensively about the report and account penalty system in these very forums. It’s been iterated by players, MVPs and Blues alike; there is no such thing as automatic account action initiated by random members of the public.
Going to go ahead and close this topic since we do not allow discussion about disciplinary actions on the forums, and the forums cannot be used to appeal an account penalty. Submitting an appeal ticket was the correct steps to take to get this looked into.
This is definitely a consideration I’d make. One can RP as a nameless pirate, sure - but that’s something you do in character. Your character name should still be RP appropriate. In the same way you can RP an evil aligned criminal but having the character name Evildoer probably wouldn’t be tolerated by the other players on the realm.
