My friend was banned for six months because it was used by his cousin. His cousin wanted to test a priest to see if he enjoyed PvP on it. He had no intention of exploiting or using it to get ahead. He just wanted a feel for what the character played like and if he wanted to make his own one. This is all verifiable.
So my friend, who has played everyday with me for years, now has a six month ban. Blizzard’s response was “that’s what a trial is for”. Which seemed a little rude to me (maybe two sides to a story going on). And I get this to a degree. But instead of banning the people who should be banned - someone who has a very high life time value for blizzard - especially in hours played - doesn’t have his account for six months. And his cousin now has no intention of putting any hours into a new character.
I’m definitely not blind to how sharing accounts can be exploited. Or how blizzard would rather people pay their own subscriptions. But there should be some nuance.
I feel like I’ve lost an online friend for a very average reason. And I think Blizzard should have more fair guidelines on account sharing in general - especially if the purpose is to trial the game and will actually drive more engagement in the long run vs actually causing harm. Doesn’t make business sense to me.
Hoping someone sees this and either corrects my POV or unbans my friends account.
Account sharing is explicitly forbidden. Share an account, pay the price.
The cousin could play free up to level 20, could watch videos, could talk to other people. Lots of ways to learn without breaking tos as a first activity.
Its been this way for years nothing changed its always been 1 parent and 1 child under them. Frankly your friend only has themself to blame for being aware of this im pretty sure this is covered in the TOS.
Guys, I am not arguing that he didn’t do something wrong. He clearly violated the current TOS. I get that. I am saying that I think it needs a review because you end up with decent people who add value to the game, leaving the game.
Why if blizzard does it to one player every single person banned for something similar. That did that would cry why was he shown favortism why cant i get that thats not fair I demand you show me the same favortism for breaking the rules that have been around forever. length of account will not matter every player is treated the same frankly your friends account couldve been closed outright for account sharing. Which is also coverd in the TOS that blizzard can close a account any time for breaking the rules.
It’s something that doesn’t need to be changed for obvious reasons.
Also come to think of it, a while ago they suspended a bunch of players for 30 days for account sharing regarding the mage tower. Either they are upping the punishment, or your friend got hit before because most punishments scale up.
