Player Giveaways and Contests

The issue of players having resource giveaways and mini-contests in the public chat channels has been questioned as far as the appropriateness of the channel where they occur. The Code of Conduct (CoC) and Chat Guidelines contain the following:

• Trade Requests (and announcing when you post a trade in the Trade Office) should be reserved for the trade tab only.

From this, the working rule has been that resource giveaways, which require only announcements of posted trade offers, should be done in the trade channel. However, when there is additional player involvement, such as asking questions, and resources are awarded based on individual player response, this becomes a contest. Player-created events should follow the rules as posted in the CoC section. These events are normally requested to be held in the non-default global channels, 2-30. The forum calendar is available to players for scheduling player events.

However, due to the increased chatting that typically accompanies the resource giveaways, there are some complaints from the active traders that it is interfering with other trading that is going on. While we do not wish for people to be unable to use the trade chat for its intended purpose, we also do not wish to prevent people from providing the assistance of these giveaways. We are also aware of the resistance that players appear to have in changing to the non-default global channels.

Therefore, we are seeking the opinion of the player community in evaluating the current policy. While the opinions and poll is non-binding, and the final decision will be made by the customer service team, we want to give players the opportunity to provide feedback before a change is considered. If nothing else, we would hope a discussion will facilitate the community agreeing on what will best suit everyone's needs. Please remember that only opinions expressed in this thread can be considered, so while the forum may not be a complete sample of the entire community, we have to use the opinions of those who are willing to provide them.

In the meantime, please continue to use the current working rule of posting trade offers in the trade channel, even those offers that are in reality public gifts of resources. Also, please remember that there are others in the trade channel as well, and be considerate in the additional chat generated at these times. Non-trade chat that interferes with trading should be avoided.

I like to help my fellow players by giving away my surplus items everyday. To do that I may either post a trade of a certain number of items for a single fish and allow the people in the Trade Channel to race to get the "freebie" items. Sometimes I will ask a question, regarding the game or some other topic, and I will reward the winner with a mystery item such as a Noble or an adventure or something like that. The fact that people say "Thank You" after receiving a freebie or a reward for "winning" a trade or a question should not be a violation of any rule because showing basic human decency and manners is not a bad thing, it's a good thing where I come from. My trading of "freebies" does not prevent other people from posting their trades, nor does it prevent people from accepting those trades. I appreciate the assistance and guidance that the Mods have given to those of us in the Trade Channel regarding this issue. If someone doesn't want to "hear" my trades in the Trade Channel then they can "mute" me. I encourage them to "mute" me, because I have no problem "muting" the people that I don't want to "listen" to. Please rule that this activity is allowed. I don't see how what we are doing is a problem.

mike gives a lot of us fun trying to get his freebies, never known him post anywhere else but trade, should b allowed it doesn't happen that much

I would like to add that MikeOkhertz, has been very generous with his trades, EVEN, though I rarely manage to get them lol. And if others wish to share their bounty, go them. The main issue on these, that, I can see, is Mike getting ty's. in trade tab. Which is nice. :-). His and others Mad trades are welcomed and appreciated. They don't go on forever, so the the others who want profit, try grabbing some of Mike's trades and enjoy.

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Originally Posted by mod_Magenta

Therefore, we are seeking the opinion of the player community in evaluating the current policy. While the opinions and poll is non-binding, and the final decision will be made by the customer service team, we want to give players the opportunity to provide feedback before a change is considered. If nothing else, we would hope a discussion will facilitate the community agreeing on what will best suit everyone's needs. Please remember that only opinions expressed in this thread can be considered, so while the forum may not be a complete sample of the entire community, we have to use the opinions of those who are willing to provide them.

In the meantime, please continue to use the current working rule of posting trade offers in the trade channel, even those offers that are in reality public gifts of resources. Also, please remember that there are others in the trade channel as well, and be considerate in the additional chat generated at these times. Non-trade chat that interferes with trading should be avoided.

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I am confused. The whole community is binded by a bunch of selfish people that think that the Trade channel is reserved to only "WTB 10K Copper ore whisper me pls." I stand for the ability to do giveaways in trade channel. There should always be fun and happy hours. As long as trade is involved it's trading. In order to perform a giveaway you use trades. Now regarding other activities, like let's say my Trivia hosted event, I only announce and host it on other globals even though resources are connected to the event cause I respect the other channels.

Yet, I still don't understand the occasional warnings I get from mods for posting my announcements on all chat tabs. I remember when the GM's hosted trivias everyone was informed in all chat Tabs. I'd like to clarify this. It's starting to get annoying (Even though a lot of mods have explained to me the situation and offer to help with the events, the occasional warning pop ups. People need to wind up and relax a bit. It's a game. Please start taking it like a game.

Sorry, for the mix of thoughts. Sometimes, I type down my raw thoughts, unfiltered the way they come out. Bare with me.

-TS.

I think if its just a 'posting free stuff' trade is a perfectly fine place. I've also been known to sometimes post them in help when i see noobs there. Ofc I don't spam help, just one post. Or people will tell the noobs to post what the need for a fish. That happens in all 3 channels.

If it's going to be a question/answer thing...I have no problem seeing those in global-1. The game sponsored trivia was always held in global, no need to go to another channel. I don't know how Scientist's games are going in Ares, but when Melorr tried one in Zeus on another channel not that many people showed up. Whether its an organized weekly thing or just an impromptu 'im giving away stuff because im bored' deal, I dont see how it significantly disrupts g1. If a conversation isnt interesting for a player, they just go do something else.

I personally believe that the Trade Channel is the most appropriate place for these types of "mini give-aways" as they do involve a trade even if it is on the most basic of levels. I think the service that Mike and others provide by doing these, helps the community as a whole. The few who continue to whine (send Tickets) and post tickets are just here to cause a stir. They are more of a problem with their post jamming up Trade than the actual give-away post. In the words of the Beatles "Let it Be"

This discussion was partly started as teh mod warned me for my trade giveaways in global 1. On zeus I started the SDE. Sylvanestes' Discount Emporium. WHere i trade away a LARGE amount of resources for one copper ore. I was doing this while BB's were online, and the BB that was online said in global chat. That they did not see any issue with it as it was a giveaway or donation to the entire player base and many people watch global and not trade chat. So I do think the policy should be changed. Or atleast explained to the staff so there is no miscommunication. BB's said it was okay a few weeks ago. Mods saying that the CoC says it is not. I liek to make a big production, like a game show feeling when i do SDE. I am sure people in trade chat would not be happy if i am being flamboyant in trade chat when they are actually trying to like you know....TRADE! I mean try haveing a few lines of convo in trade and people scream at you, try asking questions in global, and you get BLASTED to go to the help tab.......So I think giveaways should be in global one, as most people hang out there for the rare instance BB's are online so they can ask questions and such.

I just got chat banned for holding my "trading game" giveaway in trade chat, Though i was told they reason is they said i was posting trades in help tab, which i certainly was not....i posted two notices in help tab, one that the event was being held, and one later that the current reward for the game was bread. Both, notifications, just as when the bb's would say, hey we are giving away gems for our trivia event........SO if i were all of you, I would suspend any giveaways until this mess gets cleared up so no one else gets chat bans. PS. I got blasted in general, for my event notification by players, one even said to "*** off" and i got blasted by people in trade chat......for like you know....trading. Since accourding to the CoC it is a trading game. We are NOT allowed to hold it in ANY other tab then trade. But make sure, as not to offend ANYONE else in the game, by making it fun or interesting. Just limit it to "hey lots of stuff for one copper ore/fish/etc" search my name........anything more than that will upset the trolls and get you chat banned.

I think people should just chill out and use the developer created and added function of Ignore. Just as you would ignore a troll in general chat, or someone talking about a topic you do not like.....since you cannot change the channel like a radio.......Use the Ignore feature. either temporary or perm. Problem solved like an adult.

Wow...banned for trying to give away stuff??!!!!

ridiculous.

yus, we have screen shots that have been submitted to the staff showing the two posts announcing the event and announcing a prize for the event in help tab. Not actually listing a trade. plus the two in global. and a screen shot of the mod saying the ban was for posting trades in help.....But people were upset in the trade tab about the game show feel, which again i think is just stupid. instead of using ignore, they would rather complain. Even though when a bb was asked in general one night I was doing it. They said they had no issue with it. The issue seems to stem from the "mods" and how they are enforcing and interpreting the rules.

ive seen plenty of ppl doing mini trivia in global 1, with no problems. and ive never had anyone say anything to me when i posted free stuff in help tab.

man, the last night of the soccer event, stuff was going on in all 3 channels! ppl giving away collectibles and balls, and not a word was said! no warnings from mods, no complaints from traders

some of the "mods" seem to be well over vealous. IMO this stems from letting other players enforce rules on each other all it takes is for said player/mod not to like said player and that just leaves the door open for a Vendetta Ban. Not sure if this is by design that the company wants the game to be less social thus letting it fail of just a poor choice in how the mod system was set in place. Too easy for a player/mod to enforce the rules more on some than others and who would know? i also give away alot of stuff in trade and have been warned, although small talk is allowed, some would rather see it as the NYSE ticker than a socially active chat room designed for casual talk and trade. but what do i know right?

I also give away a lot of stuff. I give to my guildmates whatever I have that they need/want. \

Will I be banned?

My understanding is that ppl are able to do that. They need to know that if there's a problem or issue of "fairness", Support will not intervene. Having said that, is there a channel ppl should use to hold their trivia games instead of global 1? Guild chat and global 2, 3 etc?

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Originally Posted by Sylvaneste

I think people should just chill out and use the developer created and added function of Ignore. Just as you would ignore a troll in general chat, or someone talking about a topic you do not like.....since you cannot change the channel like a radio.......Use the Ignore feature. either temporary or perm. Problem solved like an adult.

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Wisest words I heard in a while. Well said sir.

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Originally Posted by psaltery

Wow...banned for trying to give away stuff??!!!!

ridiculous.

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Yeah. It's getting ridiculous.

It feels more like a prison when playing TSO. Got no free will when Mods are around. If you state your opinion about something you get banned as well.

I have zipped my lips.

If you are simply saying giving away free resource and posting resources in TO for 1 fish or whatever; that is one thing, but when you make it a contest where you ask questions and the first person to respond with the correct answer wins the prize that just causes clutter and is very annoying, especially in trade tab...

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Originally Posted by Moonlime

My understanding is that ppl are able to do that. They need to know that if there's a problem or issue of "fairness", Support will not intervene. Having said that, is there a channel ppl should use to hold their trivia games instead of global 1? Guild chat and global 2, 3 etc?

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why should we have to change channels to participate in an impromptu contest? mindless drivel (as well as good conversations) goes on in global 1, why not something constructive?

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Originally Posted by RomanGodCamper

Yeah. It's getting ridiculous.

It feels more like a prison when playing TSO. Got no free will when Mods are around. If you state your opinion about something you get banned as well.

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rgc you are one of the more level headed people on this game. if you see a problem too, i definitely believe it. i would suggest you, or anyone with specific issues with certain mods, private message Susu directly. i sent some training suggestions (from personal experience being a mod in other games.) Concerns will carry more weight if coming from people who *haven't been banned.

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Originally Posted by psaltery

rgc you are one of the more level headed people on this game. if you see a problem too, i definitely believe it. i would suggest you, or anyone with specific issues with certain mods, private message Susu directly. i sent some training suggestions (from personal experience being a mod in other games.) Concerns will carry more weight if coming from people who *haven't been banned.

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No. Bad idea. I've seen people getting banned for stating there opinions and talking about the issues. Instead of listening they get rid of the problem by banning them so that way they can't talk.

well.... u just talked about "it" and your still here ;D

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Originally Posted by psaltery

why should we have to change channels to participate in an impromptu contest? mindless drivel (as well as good conversations) goes on in global 1, why not something constructive?

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I "hear" that you are looking for an answer from the mods.

not really moonlime, just expressing my opinion. its not up to the mods anyways, the rules come from the BBs

rgc, im not saying do it in public, im saying private email to Susu, the BB who is over the mod program. why would BB ban someone for expressing concerns in private?

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Originally Posted by Snacknado

well.... u just talked about "it" and your still here ;D

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In correct. If I was talking about it here, I would be posting Proof and crazy stuff like that.

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Originally Posted by psaltery

not really moonlime, just expressing my opinion. its not up to the mods anyways, the rules come from the BBs

rgc, im not saying do it in public, im saying private email to Susu, the BB who is over the mod program. why would BB ban someone for expressing concerns in private?

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Not really. Rather keep mouth shut.

The issue is that you (MikeOkHertz) are a bully. it is evident when you take over the trade channel for your giveaways and DEMAND a thank you. Yes, it is excellent behavior to thank someone for a great deal, but to DEMAND it is just as rude as not acknowledging the great deal received.
It was also evident when my 13 year old son first started playing and posted something in trade that he was selling. All he said was he was selling something. He did not say the cost. 2 minutes later, he received a rude pm from YOU stating that he was a "stupid noob that didn't know anything about selling". Instead of correcting him in his wrongdoing, you continued you assault on him, instead of educating him the "proper" way to conduct trades in trade channel. The funny fact is, i see DOZENS of trade posts everyday where the seller announces that they are selling something. They don't name their price. They just say "x amount of yy for sale. posted"
Needless to say, you get NO respect from me. You might get the "respect" from your Pavlovian Dogs during your giveaways, but get nothing from me. Enough said. PEACE.

kingduuude is exactly right in his assessment of the situation. it goes much further and deeper however.

6 months ago i suspected a person of creating multiple accounts and asked in trade tab how to report them as i i was rather new to the game and had heard others in trae tab talk of reporting them. MikeOkherz and another player immediately stated insulting me berating me and abusing me verbally. One of them said to "fill my mouth with marbles and he'd take a full swing with a gold club" Mike said that he used to e a prison guard and that i was a rat. and in the pen they know how to deal with rats. Since when did we as civilized people let the dregs of society dictate how we are to behave. They both ignored me per the chat funtionality and continued to demean me and persecute me from behind their shield.

Fast forward to last couple of weeks. For most, I see no problem with giving away free stuff. Perhaps it'd be better suited to have a specific channel for such events. In trade tab, this has evolved into MikeOkhertz monopolizing the trade tab and bullying everyone that does not bow down to his supposed authority. Every day he posts a link to some site and says,"Click here and tell me what you see." I've never read any official rules for this site. I usually follow my common sense. Others have little of this. Some people are so enthused by whatever trinkets that are given away that they instead take to abusing players in defense of someone giving away miniscle amounts of various items. Now, I don't now what these sites are, but I'd bet that there is a rule about referring people to outside sites while in chat. They may be pay per click sites, where he gets a penny per click. They may be sites set up to inject a virus (Trojan) to anyone visiting them. idk. Seems very sketchy to me. At the very least, these giveaways should have a channel that is not trade, that anyone that wants to do them can go there and have at it. Not pick and choose who will be ostracized in trade tab on the whim of an belligerent, offensive, biased, undiplomatic, fickle, maniacal tyrant!

And btw, I was there when kingduude's son was insulted and abused by MikeOkhertz. and when it happened several people that seem to always show up at his giveaways jumped right in and laughed and conjoled the new player to "buddy up" to MikeO. This is not a friendly environment. Let them all go somewheres else and do whatever they want. Not pick on innocent people and bully them.

03:31] [Equal] MikeOkhertz: Don't let the cry babies get the freebie give aways banned. Cast your vote on the poll that the mods set up. forum.thesettlersonline.net/threads/20602-Player-Giveaways-and-Contests

[03:32] [Equal] MikeOkhertz: Some people are just bad people and need something to whine about.

Personal opinion follows, file as appropriate...

I voted for Trade Channel in the ballot, but I wish I'd read the above conversation first. The issue isn't as straightforward as I'd been thinking.

For instance - it isn't as simple as telling traders to use the Ignore function on the givers. I would think the Trader's chief concern is that their offers get nearly zero visibility as they scroll off the top of the page in 2 seconds flat because of all the 'TY's and 'YW's. Those niceties could be done via Whisper, but how do you inform the constant influx of newbies of that convention without clogging trade chat even more? Same with ruling that the niceties are flat-out not welcome. They'll still happen until the newbies are told (over and over) to not do it.

Trivia's are far worse, with the streams of answers and general banter that occurs between questions. Trivia's have no place in the Trade Channel.

Personally - I would classify trivia's and giveaways as 'Contests'. One of knowledge, the other of fortunate timing and quick clicking. I would NOW vote that such 'Contests' be done in Global-1. As stated earlier - changing to a different global channel isn't newbie friendly, and I would think they are the main target audience for the giveaways. Newbies would automatically see them in Global-1.

As for the BB reps and Mods not being on the same page for this stuff... c'mon BB - all it takes is one email from Susu to all Mods.

I don't have a problem with a Trade tab giveaway until it goes on ad nauseum. The problem with simply ignoring the individual in that instance is that even though you can't see the posts of the person you've placed on ignore, the monopoly of the "screen time" is still held by that person holding the giveaway. You don't see the posts, but they're still there taking up screentime. Someone trying to sell or swap a lootspot, or anything else, can't really keep the trade visible for any meaningful amount of time and, at least on Ares, we have the unwritten rule of not spamming Trade with your offers (posting the same trade more than once every 5 mins).

So, If I'm selling or swapping lootspots, or perhaps in the final few minutes of Premium and looking for other lootspots/swaps then my posts are literally off the screen in under a minute because of all the "ty" "yw" "whats next" "what do you guys need" "going to be in the hospital next week" "guess what's wrong with me now" etc, etc, etc. Because most of us don't spam we sit there burning another 5 mins of our Premium time, or the premium time of our lootspotters......and that's kind of expensive to burn. Again, the issue isn't simply about lootspots and Premium time, it's about other trades as well. That's just an example of how the issue affects me.

We have an "unofficial" auction channel, I don't know why holding "extended" giveaways couldn't occur on another channel. Just simple courtesy for the rest of the traders imho.

1) off the screen depends on the size of your chat window
2) keeping it on the screen is not a reasonable goal if you post once every 5 minutes.
3) people do know how to scroll back a few minutes

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Originally Posted by Draconus2004

1) off the screen depends on the size of your chat window
2) keeping it on the screen is not a reasonable goal if you post once every 5 minutes.
3) people do know how to scroll back a few minutes

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I agree 100%. Clearly draconus is the wisest player on these forums.

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Originally Posted by Draconus2004

1) off the screen depends on the size of your chat window
2) keeping it on the screen is not a reasonable goal if you post once every 5 minutes.
3) people do know how to scroll back a few minutes

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1. Screen fully opened
2. It is unless someone is monopolizing the tab (at least in Ares), and;
3. Agreed, but if the screen is fully engaged with ad nauseum trinket give away babble, as specified above, it doesn't matter whether or not they "know how" (lol) to scroll back. I assume that most ppl have that one figured out ;-)

Quote Originally Posted by Draconus2004 View Post
1) off the screen depends on the size of your chat window
2) keeping it on the screen is not a reasonable goal if you post once every 5 minutes.
3) people do know how to scroll back a few minutes
I agree 100%. Clearly draconus is the wisest player on these forums.

Clearly you are not! Why should someone be expected or even expect to scroll up the screen constantly in search of trdes they do not even know are available. Put the giveaways in their own tab and be done with it. People should then be allowed one post to inform of giveaways. If they're not sure if there are any giveaways the they are free to scroll up and down the page looking for a possiblity that it exists.

And as Dirkjon alluded to. Every time MikeO gets on giving away stuff he demands that everyone that gets a lot says "thank you" or he threatens to stop the giveaways because people do not appreciate him enough and respect his generosity. Yes this happens every day for an hour each day. clogging trade tab and filling it with useless egotistical nonsense.

Well I have gotten an official response to my support ticket regarding my ban and other issues I have had regarding all this "chatter" Here it goes folks...plain and simple in a nutshell with para phrasing........IF YOU ARE HOSTING SOMETHING, ANYTHING,Trading game, giveaways, trivia, etc......"you are hosting" Then it needs to be in global 2-xxx. It cannot be done in global 1, trade or tab. Even though i was told by a bb in global 1 when i started my personal discount emporium that is was in essence not a trade but a giveaway so it could be done in global 1. But we shall digress since it seems to be too much of an issue for people to use the ignore button. *takes deep breath*

Again, if you are "hosting" it. It belongs in global 2-xxx. So make a general announcement in global 1/help/trade that you are starting an event, and which global channel 2-xx you will be using and then go there. Then no one can complain, nor should you be banned. That being said. I hope i never see another bb trivia game in global one ever again, as they would be breaking there own rule.

I see no reason why they can't be held in global 1. I never go there anyways. lol. Just not in trade tab.