I was talking with a friend of mine and he stated he got banned(48hr) for being afk in his house. He said he never logs out - lets it time out when hes done for night and he got a ban for not being there? Is that a new policy cause i recall ages ago that you were allowed to be afk in house or at bank with no fears.
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Not Allowed to be afk anymore?
- Thread starter Belshazzar
- Start date
- Watchers 6
Pretty soon we won't be allowed to pay for our accoun... Oh wait, migration already happened.
...
If you're not at the keyboard when a GM calls to your character, they can ban/suspend you at their discretion. You can go AFk, but it's at your own risk and you definitely are at more risk if you're involved in some form of macro activity when AFK.
If you're at your house, just log out... seems easy enough.
If you're not at the keyboard when a GM calls to your character, they can ban/suspend you at their discretion. You can go AFk, but it's at your own risk and you definitely are at more risk if you're involved in some form of macro activity when AFK.
If you're at your house, just log out... seems easy enough.
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I was always under the impression it was unattended Macro'ing that was bannable. Not just being afk. Have been afk in Luna bank for hours on end but not working a single skill and had no problems.
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Sevin0oo0
Guest
lol, Liked it!
I seldom actually log either, whether at bank, at a spawn, in a dungeon, doesn't really matter where to me, and i do this this at Least a dozen times a day, Every day. me thinks there's more to this story than you were told.
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Well being it's "a friend" we can't be sure of how much of the real story we're getting, secondly there's always been the issues of different GMs = different rulings, we don;t know if the character was reported, and so on.
I've left my character in my house or on my boat as well at times (usually getting distracted by one thing or another), and really it simply comes down to, regardless of what you are or are not doing, you leave your character AFK at your own risk.
Don't want to risk it? Log out.
Well being it's "a friend" we can't be sure of how much of the real story we're getting, secondly there's always been the issues of different GMs = different rulings, we don;t know if the character was reported, and so on.
I've left my character in my house or on my boat as well at times (usually getting distracted by one thing or another), and really it simply comes down to, regardless of what you are or are not doing, you leave your character AFK at your own risk.
Don't want to risk it? Log out.
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Aye, sad but true. Better safe than sorry I reckon. Hate to jinx it, but the GM's do seem to be a good bit more active lately. Maybe communication is not the only thing Jeff S. is improving on.
Communication = Great!
Inconsistent, erratic, unknowledgeable GMs = Sucks!
Inconsistent, erratic, unknowledgeable GMs = Sucks!
I believe there is A LOT more information behind this, either:
A) The friend didn't mention to the OP
B) The OP is leavening out important information
or C) this is simply a veiled attempt to re-open that one locked thread that was posted earlier.
A) The friend didn't mention to the OP
B) The OP is leavening out important information
or C) this is simply a veiled attempt to re-open that one locked thread that was posted earlier.
That is always true about the story of a friend. Since i am unable to get into game yet i will have to find out myself, i just remember logging at my house or when it was time for dinner just leave my character logged in and sometimes it would log and sometimes wouldnt but never had a problem with a gm with that before, guess will have to question my friend a little more. I didnt think it was a issue.
So while know one else can manage to get a gm to show up in less than one hour this guys friend manages to get the old 48 hour while a GM was randomly walking by his house in the middle of somewhere? Inside of the 4 minutes it takes to time out? Me thinks not.
I will always agree with the opinion that you never know what’s happening with “a friend” and a story about a punishment. Being AFK at a bank, hidden or not, stepping off to the little pixie’s room or whatever for a moment… shouldn’t be a crime. Even then, I will never defend the endless collection of pro bank-sitters haunting the Lagtown bank.
1, Why would a GM just wonder into someone’s house uncalled?
Never, in my 11 years, has a GM just appeared from nothing and walked up to me and said “Hello babe!”. Not at home, not hunting, not tending vendors, not selling at the bank.
2, How is it even possible to stay logged in all night long at your own house without using some kind of cheat?
I have a fairly well known town in the woods of Tram, and if I forget myself… I easily loose connection, with approaching player’s names on.
I will agree that something needs to be done about this definition of what’s AFK rule-breaking or not. Mostly, in regards to crafting. You can easily load a crafter, set the tool to whatever you wish to craft, choose “make max” and watch a movie on TV while crafting… with the keyboard in your lap! Change the crafter’s kit as needed and keep watching the film. That’s grounds for a ban?
I think these GM’s are starting to turn into “Little Tin Hitlers” if this is the best usage of their time… harassing people when real criminals are running around unchallenged. They really need to bring back GM Reviews and when people are accused… allow them a defense, if they have one. Otherwise this will just run off innocent customers and that is something the staff needs to worry about.
1, Why would a GM just wonder into someone’s house uncalled?
Never, in my 11 years, has a GM just appeared from nothing and walked up to me and said “Hello babe!”. Not at home, not hunting, not tending vendors, not selling at the bank.
2, How is it even possible to stay logged in all night long at your own house without using some kind of cheat?
I have a fairly well known town in the woods of Tram, and if I forget myself… I easily loose connection, with approaching player’s names on.
I will agree that something needs to be done about this definition of what’s AFK rule-breaking or not. Mostly, in regards to crafting. You can easily load a crafter, set the tool to whatever you wish to craft, choose “make max” and watch a movie on TV while crafting… with the keyboard in your lap! Change the crafter’s kit as needed and keep watching the film. That’s grounds for a ban?
I think these GM’s are starting to turn into “Little Tin Hitlers” if this is the best usage of their time… harassing people when real criminals are running around unchallenged. They really need to bring back GM Reviews and when people are accused… allow them a defense, if they have one. Otherwise this will just run off innocent customers and that is something the staff needs to worry about.
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ahardy
Guest
I got baned for use uoasist macro NOT AFK, so us never know what us can and what us cant do.
the gm called me, i reply in less then 30 seconds, then he bring me to the "ban house" i run in the moongate, return to my job, then he come again and banned me oO
the gm called me, i reply in less then 30 seconds, then he bring me to the "ban house" i run in the moongate, return to my job, then he come again and banned me oO
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2- Not sure how it happened but I have closed out UO before, ran some errands for 4 hours or so, get back home and try to log on another char only to get the message that another char is online. Not sure if a Vampire Bat had that one targetted and caused it not to poof when I logged or shortly there after.
Then again I have had times where I am sitting at WBB reading the boards and lose conn fast. *shrugs*
I always thought there was an appeal process for someone getting even a 24 hour ban. Do they not have one??? Have never had to contend with it personally.
I doubt that. Like you, never in my several years playing has any GM come up to me or anyone else I have ever known in this game and slap someone with a ban when they were afk and not macroing or doing anything at all. There have been rare, or at best less than frequent, complaints about people getting in trouble for being afk and usually it is lacking in information.
I think the most legitimate complaint I had ever seen initially happened due to some feud involving another player. One got pissed off enough to try and get the other in trouble by paging on them for standing in a house.
On a side note: If you are not doing anything at all and afk long enough the game usually logs you out for being "idle" for too long. I've heard of some circumstances that can prevent that from happening but don't know what they are. Also don't think stratics would want that topic of discussion to take place.
I was going to say this in my first post… but toned it down a little. hehe.
I honestly don’t think we have any server issues based on how many people are bank-sitting, AFK or not. Month to month, the numbers fall… not raise. So this sudden new interest is really creepy and it seems to be reoccurring.
If a department of the company is becoming “villainous” to the paid customers… they need to start getting involved. One 1 person runs every department and it could very easily be a case of someone not knowing their limitations or rules. The bigger problem is, like these boards… even a small slip up stays on your record forever and when you’re not out living a life of crime in UO… why should you have a single blemish on your record?
I have had a run in with a game master in player form who was harassing me at the time. Thanks to GM Reviews, is harassment stopped. Unlike someone just doing a job, this was out of malice not ignorance.
We have a problem in our lands, lords and ladies… clearly.
I honestly don’t think we have any server issues based on how many people are bank-sitting, AFK or not. Month to month, the numbers fall… not raise. So this sudden new interest is really creepy and it seems to be reoccurring.
If a department of the company is becoming “villainous” to the paid customers… they need to start getting involved. One 1 person runs every department and it could very easily be a case of someone not knowing their limitations or rules. The bigger problem is, like these boards… even a small slip up stays on your record forever and when you’re not out living a life of crime in UO… why should you have a single blemish on your record?
I have had a run in with a game master in player form who was harassing me at the time. Thanks to GM Reviews, is harassment stopped. Unlike someone just doing a job, this was out of malice not ignorance.
We have a problem in our lands, lords and ladies… clearly.
Of late I have noticed people passing my houses that I have never seen in my neck of the woods. When they spot me in the house they stop and it looks like they are stairing at the house like it will bit them.
One night had a passerby stop cast something and nearly kill me in my own house! Towers and keeps dont have doors to block off these things!
Yes a GM has poped in my home when i was just sitting there to most not moving or doing much visible... (had my nose burried in chests and bags in them sorting junk. I do thought keep the journal on top where i can read it.
He asked me if I was there I replyed yes. He said he was on a call that someoen here was macroing. I told him no macro just sorting chests and he was welcome to help me. He apologised and poofed out.
We have some very nosy players of late trying it seems to get players baned... for what who knows. (I have my suspicions but will keep them to myself)
One night had a passerby stop cast something and nearly kill me in my own house! Towers and keeps dont have doors to block off these things!
Yes a GM has poped in my home when i was just sitting there to most not moving or doing much visible... (had my nose burried in chests and bags in them sorting junk. I do thought keep the journal on top where i can read it.
He asked me if I was there I replyed yes. He said he was on a call that someoen here was macroing. I told him no macro just sorting chests and he was welcome to help me. He apologised and poofed out.
We have some very nosy players of late trying it seems to get players baned... for what who knows. (I have my suspicions but will keep them to myself)
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Woodsman
Guest
I've noticed those types. Maybe they bored and this is a new way to play, or maybe they are looking to get castle/keep owners banned somehow in the hopes that eventually the castle/keep would then fall.
Is something wrong with my client then ?
Whenever I leave any of my characters idle in my house, after a few minutes it auto logs off without me having to do nothing.
I know this well because occasionally I need to either go to the bathroom, answer a phone call, or the door or whatever and when I come back after a few minutes when leaving my character idle in my own home I find the client logged off and I have to reconnect.
Is there anything working wrong with my client then that automatically logs me off in my home for being idle while I should not ?
People have been playing like this for over a decade. It is not a new way to play. Whats sad is that it is still going on after the mass exodus to WoW. The population is so very low now, why even bother paging on someone when you cannot be positive that something fishy is going on.
Yesterday, I had a friend come over to my house in felucca to train on his golem. why? because it is far less boring when you have someone to talk to. At the same time, I was getting ready to train my pets inside my house. Almost immediately after I walked in my door, a person from a guild that is hated on my server more than any guild in the past ran up from my neighbors house (who is also in that guild) and started circling the house like he wanted a fight, next thing I know, a guildmate of his is outside as well. I ignore them, I'm busy afterall. About 5 minutes later, I get a message from a GM (the same one that someone from this guild was complaining about in a thread yesterday that got locked) checking to see if I was there. Seriously? I was talking with my friend in the game... overhead chat and all, and I get this? I am not going to blame the GM for doing his job, I applaud him, I even thanked him for doing his job.
Of course after the GM showed up, I had to lay the smack down on the idiots who paged for no reason... so I let a guildmate know what happened, he came over, and we killed them both 2v2... they ended up bringing about 13 more people to my house after to try and fight the 3 of us... they then began casting Animated Weapon through my walls (or on my walls rather... bugged spell that needs to be fixed immediately!). Why the lot of them haven't been banned for blatantly exploiting & the daily harassment of people in chat is beyond me.
I just hope my neighbor enjoys the 16 presents I left outside his house tonight.
Anyway, as I was saying, this sort of game has been played for over a decade... people run by, see someone in a house - doesn't matter what they are doing or not doing, and they page on them, period. Especially people in enemy guilds and people they just don't like.
lol of course!
so whats so hard about clicking the log out button?
also what was REALLY going on, what shard pls etc
so we can see if he was innocent or not, we need more details than then i think
how come your "friend" has not posted here asking the question?
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Aida Quantrex
Guest
Back when game was still young it was bannable to go afk. It was seen as unattended macroing fx. as a red even if no macro was run, but because it burned off mcs.
I never heard about it changing.
When I leave the pc I logout - It just became a habit over the years I guess. But I must admit, that sometimes when I browse forums or answer the phone, I sometimes forget to logout and I time-out for beeing idle instead
I never heard about it changing.
When I leave the pc I logout - It just became a habit over the years I guess. But I must admit, that sometimes when I browse forums or answer the phone, I sometimes forget to logout and I time-out for beeing idle instead
Having two young children I often leave my toons AFK in the game. Its unavoidable and if you ask me bloody stupid to punish people for being AFK. If all they are doing is just standing there and nothing else, then so be it. Its not like they are cheating is it.
When (like now) I'm reading stratics I'm still logged into the game, when I research about a mob that I'm facing I'm often still in the game. I'm not exactly going to log out in the middle of Primeval Lich during a spawn if the phone goes am I? No I'll go to a corner and invis or something till I'm finished.
If any of that is bannable then EA can have my middle finger.
When (like now) I'm reading stratics I'm still logged into the game, when I research about a mob that I'm facing I'm often still in the game. I'm not exactly going to log out in the middle of Primeval Lich during a spawn if the phone goes am I? No I'll go to a corner and invis or something till I'm finished.
If any of that is bannable then EA can have my middle finger.
Sal, I'm sure the people who are actually having action taken against their accounts were not just sitting afk. I have never seen or heard legitimately that a gm had banned someone or even warned someone for just being afk. I have however seen people who have been banned attempt to claim that they were doing nothing wrong or have had their friends come on the forums and complain about it time and time again.
A person complaining about their friend being banned for what they think is no reason should really consider that their friend was actually doing something bannable.
There was once a time when using unsavory means to automatically do things for you while you were afk was looked down upon and avoided by a large majority of the community... since I have come back to the game I see more and more open talk about using such unsavory means to do things. It is pretty sad that things have gotten this way. If the GMs are becoming more active in fighting this off, GREAT! We need more GMs who will fight off these such things, but the whole players trying to get other players banned thing is a bit ridiculous and needs to stop. Anyone who is doing that now without knowledge that the person they are targeting is actually doing something wrong are just hurting the community.
A person complaining about their friend being banned for what they think is no reason should really consider that their friend was actually doing something bannable.
There was once a time when using unsavory means to automatically do things for you while you were afk was looked down upon and avoided by a large majority of the community... since I have come back to the game I see more and more open talk about using such unsavory means to do things. It is pretty sad that things have gotten this way. If the GMs are becoming more active in fighting this off, GREAT! We need more GMs who will fight off these such things, but the whole players trying to get other players banned thing is a bit ridiculous and needs to stop. Anyone who is doing that now without knowledge that the person they are targeting is actually doing something wrong are just hurting the community.
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Capn Kranky
Guest
As others have pointed out, why in the heck would one be AFK in their house? Just log out! Unless some other activity was being macro'd or something? THAT would be a no-no. <waggles finger> Also, seems to me the timeout (no activity) is 5-6 minutes ...
If nothing "bad" was going on, is not doing a logout at the house worth a ban?
If nothing "bad" was going on, is not doing a logout at the house worth a ban?
also, but being in your house while the game times out takes what 5/10mins max, that does not give anyone else time to stop by, see what u r doing, watching you, decide your doing something wrong, spellcasting bard training mage training lol all while waiting to time out! then page
this takes longer than the said 5/10 mins
i love the bit in Buccs Den myself, when a non cheating player is either trying to recall away, or *training* or standing there next to the "wake up" lightning bolts that NO attended player can miss, then the pooof goodnight!
this takes longer than the said 5/10 mins
i love the bit in Buccs Den myself, when a non cheating player is either trying to recall away, or *training*
or standing there next to the "wake up" lightning bolts that NO attended player can miss, then the pooof goodnight!
As so clearly stated ....
if you are in your house after a certain time you log out of course there is the if somone approaches that can keep you logged in but most houses are to far away from a crowd to have this affect them SOOOOOOOO.
If you are in game and almost anywhere in the world is you just hide in a corner - invis - get a drink - return and are still invisd there is NO way a GM will be able to mark your account as you will either log out or come back and see his message. No i have had problem trying to answer as i could not see the key needed but still not an issue.
If you are in game away from your keyboard you are basically wrong. Log out, if it only for a short time no sweat.
:bowdown:Stop whinning because you got caught doing somthing you KNOW you should not be doing.
If i am wrong post the jornal / message / screen shot (entire screen, to see all running program)
Or STFU about getting flagged.
if you are in your house after a certain time you log out of course there is the if somone approaches that can keep you logged in but most houses are to far away from a crowd to have this affect them SOOOOOOOO.If you are in game and almost anywhere in the world is you just hide in a corner - invis - get a drink - return and are still invisd there is NO way a GM will be able to mark your account as you will either log out or come back and see his message. No i have had problem trying to answer as i could not see the key needed but still not an issue.If you are in game away from your keyboard you are basically wrong. Log out, if it only for a short time no sweat.:bowdown:Stop whinning because you got caught doing somthing you KNOW you should not be doing.
If i am wrong post the jornal / message / screen shot (entire screen, to see all running program)Or STFU about getting flagged.
Fair enough iamSnippa, but it was some of other peoples comments that led me to post more than the OP. If I am making stuff on my craft in my house and I load him up with resources and then click 'Make Max' then my little girl falls over and cries. I'm not exactly going to stop the crafting and log out my toon over picking up my little girl. Or even if I'm training with my pet again I'm not going to double click the horse to sit on it just so I dont get a ban while I sort her out.
While I cannot say on the OP, they way they've said it sounds dodgy however if the claims are true then I'm sure the account holder can demand to see proof of the alligations. I dont know about the US but in the UK we have a law that forces any company to produce all information held on a person within a minimal amount of time. Failure to comply can result in legal action. Granted that EA is a US company, but EA does have a UK office and thus comes under that law.
Failing that, contact Jeff about it if it is all true. I'm sure he can look into it.
While I cannot say on the OP, they way they've said it sounds dodgy however if the claims are true then I'm sure the account holder can demand to see proof of the alligations. I dont know about the US but in the UK we have a law that forces any company to produce all information held on a person within a minimal amount of time. Failure to comply can result in legal action. Granted that EA is a US company, but EA does have a UK office and thus comes under that law.
Failing that, contact Jeff about it if it is all true. I'm sure he can look into it.
STOP SAYING "TOON"! its driving me crazy we have CHARS here!
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clarkifer
Guest
retracted my S*** talking
LOL I only started saying toon since I saw it on Stratics so often!
Rules of Conduct: 6) You may not leave an active character or pet in game while unattended. If your character is performing a skill, text or action, you must be able to respond to a Game Master when one attempts to speak to you.
The Ultima Online unattended macroing policy is designed to prevent players from setting up their characters to repeat a series of actions for any length of time without having to actually be at the computer to even play the game.
If your character is performing a skill, text or action, you must be able to respond to a Game Master when one attempts to speak to you. Failure to do so will result in the suspension of your account.
Please know that you are taking a risk if you macro while at the computer. Should you be called away from the machine for any reason – even due to an emergency – your account will still be suspended if a Game Master arrives and you cannot make contact with them.
So assuming your "friend" wasn't macroing while afk, just have him call EA and ask them to look in their game logs and show him where he was "active" while the GM was talking to him.
The Ultima Online unattended macroing policy is designed to prevent players from setting up their characters to repeat a series of actions for any length of time without having to actually be at the computer to even play the game.
If your character is performing a skill, text or action, you must be able to respond to a Game Master when one attempts to speak to you. Failure to do so will result in the suspension of your account.
Please know that you are taking a risk if you macro while at the computer. Should you be called away from the machine for any reason – even due to an emergency – your account will still be suspended if a Game Master arrives and you cannot make contact with them.
So assuming your "friend" wasn't macroing while afk, just have him call EA and ask them to look in their game logs and show him where he was "active" while the GM was talking to him.
I have two houses, one house, I'll be logged out if I'm idle, while the other house, most of the time I'll stay logged in. It's because of the movement on the screen at the other house. I have cows and gypsies spawn near the house, and an active neighboor. My characters don't do anything, and can stay logged in as long as there is activity on the screen. If someone doesn't want to log out, they shouldn't have to. Say they stepped away for what they thought would be a short amount of time, and ended up needing to stay away longer. Their house is a safe location, so it doesn't bother them to stay logged in. I don't hurt anyone, I'm not doing anything, no activity of my character what so ever, so leave me be! ^_^
I've seen alot of these random people staring through the walls of my houses as well, and was attacked through the walls of the downstairs corner of a keep, and almost died.
I've seen alot of these random people staring through the walls of my houses as well, and was attacked through the walls of the downstairs corner of a keep, and almost died.
If your friend truly wasn't doing anything against TOS, I'd say have him call the company and complain. Make them look into the logs ( I think someone may have suggested that ), and let them know that this was purely someone trying to get him trouble.
Hopefully though, your friend will learn that yeah some people are jerks and want to get whoever they meet into whatever trouble they can get them in so their house and all their goodies will be "fair" game. Does your friend have active enemies? Also, hopefully they can take that extra couple of seconds and just log out. If you aren't at the keyboard and you want to be safe, just go to your house, an inn, or use camping skill and log out. No one is really safe unless they are out of the game or at the keyboard to defend themselves.. Harrowers and Turkeys come to mind.. (sometimes you can be standing in just that perfect spot that a Turkey's AoE will hit you through a wall, and for whatever reason you get tele'd to it and gobbled up). Also, crap happens. If your friend has a taste to afk macro until he times out or server down then the only thing I've got to say is he's lucky he didn't get caught by Draconi and loose his account permanently and his house burnt to the ground.
Hopefully though, your friend will learn that yeah some people are jerks and want to get whoever they meet into whatever trouble they can get them in so their house and all their goodies will be "fair" game. Does your friend have active enemies? Also, hopefully they can take that extra couple of seconds and just log out. If you aren't at the keyboard and you want to be safe, just go to your house, an inn, or use camping skill and log out. No one is really safe unless they are out of the game or at the keyboard to defend themselves.. Harrowers and Turkeys come to mind.. (sometimes you can be standing in just that perfect spot that a Turkey's AoE will hit you through a wall, and for whatever reason you get tele'd to it and gobbled up). Also, crap happens. If your friend has a taste to afk macro until he times out or server down then the only thing I've got to say is he's lucky he didn't get caught by Draconi and loose his account permanently and his house burnt to the ground.
Another small note of how insane this new obsession is for game-masters to harass the innocent:
What if we are tending vendors…
You are standing before the vendor… have to go to an extensive text file with all your sell item notes that you constantly work off of, change, add text to prices with copy and paste. Takes a moment to get a line to move to the game item as you place it… but you could very well find your account banned for this?
What if we are tending vendors…
You are standing before the vendor… have to go to an extensive text file with all your sell item notes that you constantly work off of, change, add text to prices with copy and paste. Takes a moment to get a line to move to the game item as you place it… but you could very well find your account banned for this?
Long ago people would have their characters AFK in their house or at the bank just waiting for their murder counts to go away so they could stay blue. It was a popular pastime for many players to find and kill them