Official "rules for the game"
 

Is there anywhere that these are laid out? As in, bannable offenses, the process GPs must follow before banning a player, etc.

If these do actually exist and it's a server-specific thing, I'm more interested in iClassic than anything.

Would be nice to see something like this if there's not one already. I know zone has one --> http://graalians.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24091

They definitely need to be documented and laid out somewhere.

Does anyone ever use the "Help" button in the main menu anymore? It would be beneficial to have the rules listed there, and in other places in-game (ex. Balamb).

I will admit that I am asking because I am butthurt that a friend of mine was recently banned for the strangest reason, without warning, but there seem to be a lot of weird gray areas and exceptions and the gist of it should all be laid out somewhere I guess. I feel like a lot of people wouldn't do stupid things if they felt as if they'd definitely be banned for doing it, so maybe making it clear would prevent a lot of bans.

As a GP on iClassic, I thought I'd throw together a list of most bans players can receive. As a disclaimer, no one is responsible if you try to work around these and complain when you get banned for something you probably should have.

All bans administered are given an offense level based on how often a player has committed said offense in a given amount of time. The higher the offense, the longer the ban. In each offense type below, I will include the consequences of each offense: 1, 2, greater than 2.

Game Disruption

• Players who attempt to interrupt any type of event going on in the server. This could include intentionally lagging in spars, modem-tapping in events or at towers, blocking areas of interest to news updates, etc. This also includes players who encourage other players to break any kind of rule.

Warning, 1 Week, 1 Month

Boosting Statistics

• Players who boost their statistics through illegitimate means. This is for players who are boosting their spar wins/losses and PK kills intentionally and illegally. If you are banned for this, your stats will also be cleared in the respective area.

Warning, 1 Week, 1 Month

General Harassment

• Players who evade the swear filter and direct this foul language at other players. Essentially, players who harass other players verbally.

Warning, 1 Week, 1 Month

Inappropriate Behavior

• Players who are slightly offensive (in some text-based manner) but not severely.

Warning, 1 Week, 1 Month

Severe Vulgarity

• Um. Kind of self explanatory. Don't do it. lol.

1 Month, 3 Months, 6 Months

Inappropriate Solicitation

• Players who are clearly asking for sexual activities/favors. Don't do that, ew.

3 Months, 6 Months, 12 Months

Distributing Personal Information

• Players who distribute private, personal information about other players/staff.

1 Month, 3 Months, 6 Months

Intentional Scamming

• Players who attempt or successfully scam other players. This includes any scamming of any kind.

1 Month, 3 Months, 6 Months

Hacking or Cheating

• Players who use third-party software to better themselves in-game. This includes wall-hacking, speed-hacking, farming bots, etc.

3 Months, 6 Months, 12 Months


Hope this helps!

Cool, thanks. I think the banning process should also be made clear, too. For example, some of those ban reasons seem more serious than others. Can a player ever be banned without warning? For what ban types of bans can a player expect to be warned before banned? For example, is there any situation where a player should be banned for inappropriate behavior without receiving a warning first? Stuff like that, etc.

Yes, some are more serious than others. I shall add the times that are associated with each offense type to my original post.

Edit: Done.

The poll center on Belle Isle used to have a sign that directed players to the Graalonline.com URL including official Graal rules and terms of service. I'm not sure if that building still stands or if it were removed, however.

Damn...those ban times are unforgiving. I'd go as far to say as it's going a bit overboard. I mean come on ONE WEEK for foul language? Last time I checked this was an online game and swearing is prevalent in all online games. Yeah sure you get a warning but you can't just jail someone for a few hours?

However I agree with the harsh ban times for the offensives on the lower part of your list Xavier.

I will agree that the ban times are harsh; however, the reasoning behind them is to really discourage players from fooling around again. If they're only banned for the time it takes them to do their homework or hang out with some friends, they're just going to do it again without a thought.

Because of this, players either get banned once and never do it again, or they keep getting multiple-offense bans with massive ban times; they can't be a menace to the server anymore. This generally results in a better community experience overall by correcting the people willing to conform and sweeping the nasty, stubborn kids out.

P.S. The less-serious offenses also give a warning the first time as stated, so there's also that safety buffer.

Why not gradually work up to one week?

Warning>>Four hour ban>>Six hour ban>>Eight Hour ban>>One day>>Two Days>>Four days>>One week.

^^^ seriously this, my problem is with the severe vulgarity thing, where the last time I got banned was in '11, and im pretty sure if I were to get banned for swearing it'd be for 6 months, and if I didn't see that list I'd be pretty unhappy.

Also, what is severe vulgarity? is it just cursing in public, like, if i say **** down at the burger refuge will I be gone for the next 6 months? Because the last time I was banned for something of the sort that was the reason. And the list you have given looks like it wouldn't be the same.

I really think you should try and talk to whoever your superior/s are about this whole system, because it honestly seems kinda weird in general. AT LEAST get a sign out somewhere that says the rules. And clarifies, that even if the last time you were banned was 2-3 years ago you could still get banned 6 months for swearing on your next offense.

Nah, the ban histories that are used for reference only show the previous month (or so) of offenses. If a player hasn't done anything within that period they will get warned.

If someone has 8 offences in the last month they deserve more than one week. The point is, bans aren't supposed to be fun, they aren't supposed to be lax, and they're supposed to be a deterrent for bad behaivior. Four or Six hours aren't a deterrent. Especially if a person has a history of being banned.