Shard Chats = cheating

Cheating no, collusion yes. There isn't a thing the devs will do about it because I suspect it is making the game money on crystal packs. Basically top players in shards have formed gangs and like it or not some of those gangs aren't accepting new members because it will dilute their payout. If you're stuck in one of those shards, you're out of luck. That is where the frustration is. My gang isn't letting anyone else in causing me to miss out on hundreds of crystals daily even though I can and have beat every team in the top 20. Justify the behavior all you want but fact is shards like mine have taken competition out of the equation.

"BubbaFett;c-1579144" wrote:
And, btw..... I just read section 6...... Shard chats violate it in several places.....

Go on. Make your case then. Convince me.

"Sell, buy, trade or otherwise transfer or offer to transfer your EA Account, any personal access to EA Services, or any EA Content associated with your EA Account, including EA Virtual Currency and other Entitlements, either within an EA Service or on a third party website, or in connection with any out-of-game transaction, unless expressly authorized by EA."

Virtual currency/entitlements = crystals. Third party website = Discord.

Win-trading is against the terms of service on pretty much any game that has a PVP mode, and I believe this is the line item that covers it for EA. The issue with this game is proving it. How does an EA person take someone's word that a screenshot of a Discord chat is not doctored, or a copy/paste of Discord chat is not doctored? Most games would want their own records to research accusations of win-trading. But in this game, the Arena rankings probably look too "normal" to a casual eye, as shard-chatters routinely rotate people in and out of ranks.

It would take a lot of time/effort for EA to investigate. And the people they would be investigating and banning are likely the people that also spend $100s to $1000s on this game, which is more incentive for the game-makers to turn a blind eye.

But other than the technicalities, it's just an unfair practice in this game. When I get in debates on this topic, the shard-chatters usually throw the "but it would make the game harder for you!" at me... as if that would bother me. I don't care how hard the climb is. I would just like for every climber to climb only on their own individual merits.

"Graives;c-1579177" wrote:
"Sell, buy, trade or otherwise transfer or offer to transfer your EA Account, any personal access to EA Services, or any EA Content associated with your EA Account, including EA Virtual Currency and other Entitlements, either within an EA Service or on a third party website, or in connection with any out-of-game transaction, unless expressly authorized by EA."

Virtual currency/entitlements = crystals. Third party website = Discord.

Win-trading is against the terms of service on pretty much any game that has a PVP mode, and I believe this is the line item that covers it for EA. The issue with this game is proving it. How does an EA person take someone's word that a screenshot of a Discord chat is not doctored, or a copy/paste of Discord chat is not doctored? Most games would want their own records to research accusations of win-trading. But in this game, the Arena rankings probably look too "normal" to a casual eye, as shard-chatters routinely rotate people in and out of ranks.

It would take a lot of time/effort for EA to investigate. And the people they would be investigating and banning are likely the people that also spend $100s to $1000s on this game, which is more incentive for the game-makers to turn a blind eye.

But other than the technicalities, it's just an unfair practice in this game. When I get in debates on this topic, the shard-chatters usually throw the "but it would make the game harder for you!" at me... as if that would bother me. I don't care how hard the climb is. I would just like for every climber to climb only on their own individual merits.

(slow clap)

"Graives;c-1579177" wrote:
"Sell, buy, trade or otherwise transfer or offer to transfer your EA Account, any personal access to EA Services, or any EA Content associated with your EA Account, including EA Virtual Currency and other Entitlements, either within an EA Service or on a third party website, or in connection with any out-of-game transaction, unless expressly authorized by EA."

Virtual currency/entitlements = crystals. Third party website = Discord.

Win-trading is against the terms of service on pretty much any game that has a PVP mode, and I believe this is the line item that covers it for EA. The issue with this game is proving it. How does an EA person take someone's word that a screenshot of a Discord chat is not doctored, or a copy/paste of Discord chat is not doctored? Most games would want their own records to research accusations of win-trading. But in this game, the Arena rankings probably look too "normal" to a casual eye, as shard-chatters routinely rotate people in and out of ranks.

It would take a lot of time/effort for EA to investigate. And the people they would be investigating and banning are likely the people that also spend $100s to $1000s on this game, which is more incentive for the game-makers to turn a blind eye.

But other than the technicalities, it's just an unfair practice in this game. When I get in debates on this topic, the shard-chatters usually throw the "but it would make the game harder for you!" at me... as if that would bother me. I don't care how hard the climb is. I would just like for every climber to climb only on their own individual merits.

In spirit, I’d love for you to be correct. But legally you are incorrect. To violate the “sell, buy or trade” clause there has to actually be transfer of the “Virtual Currency or Entitlements” between those involved. Player A isn’t transfering the crystals to player B. He is just helping player B “earn” those crystals more easily. Also, Discord in this example would not qualify as a “third party website” in terms of precedent in enforcing this kind of clause in contract. The website has to actually be transfering the “Virtual Currency...” to the players for it to fall under this clause. (As an example, websites that sell gear to players for MMOs like World of Warcraft)

"Bigbearxba;c-1579228" wrote:

"Graives;c-1579177" wrote:
"Sell, buy, trade or otherwise transfer or offer to transfer your EA Account, any personal access to EA Services, or any EA Content associated with your EA Account, including EA Virtual Currency and other Entitlements, either within an EA Service or on a third party website, or in connection with any out-of-game transaction, unless expressly authorized by EA."

Virtual currency/entitlements = crystals. Third party website = Discord.

Win-trading is against the terms of service on pretty much any game that has a PVP mode, and I believe this is the line item that covers it for EA. The issue with this game is proving it. How does an EA person take someone's word that a screenshot of a Discord chat is not doctored, or a copy/paste of Discord chat is not doctored? Most games would want their own records to research accusations of win-trading. But in this game, the Arena rankings probably look too "normal" to a casual eye, as shard-chatters routinely rotate people in and out of ranks.

It would take a lot of time/effort for EA to investigate. And the people they would be investigating and banning are likely the people that also spend $100s to $1000s on this game, which is more incentive for the game-makers to turn a blind eye.

But other than the technicalities, it's just an unfair practice in this game. When I get in debates on this topic, the shard-chatters usually throw the "but it would make the game harder for you!" at me... as if that would bother me. I don't care how hard the climb is. I would just like for every climber to climb only on their own individual merits.

In spirit, I’d love for you to be correct. But legally you are incorrect. To violate the “sell, buy or trade” clause there has to actually be transfer of the “Virtual Currency or Entitlements” between those involved. Player A isn’t transfering the crystals to player B. He is just helping player B “earn” those crystals more easily. Also, Discord in this example would not qualify as a “third party website” in terms of precedent in enforcing this kind of clause in contract. The website has to actually be transfering the “Virtual Currency...” to the players for it to fall under this clause. (As an example, websites that sell gear to players for MMOs like World of Warcraft)

Oh, that legal stuff. Such a complexity.

All things equal if someone can't reach top 5 because the top 5 gang up on them then it's obviously unfair.

This garbage has been going on forever and they don't care.

these guys have no idea what shard chats are obviously.
"trade" wins ? huh ? i attack people after their payouts, thats all. all they give me is knowledge about their payout, so i can avoid them. then, i do less attacks, and they do less attacks, thats all.
against ToS, yea right. bunch of bitter people outside shard chat try to explain how it goes in the chats. you are outside you have no idea.
no one is giving free crystals, we still need to fight, we just fight SMARTER instead of harder. and you should too, but you rather whine on forum and request shard shuffle or something (which i have no problem with, i'll adjust and go #1 straight away, starting the new shard chat)
just bitterness of losers.

"BubbaFett;c-1579541" wrote:

"SithTrio_PO;c-1579493" wrote:
these guys have no idea what shard chats are obviously.
"trade" wins ? huh ? i attack people after their payouts, thats all. all they give me is knowledge about their payout, so i can avoid them. then, i do less attacks, and they do less attacks, thats all.
against ToS, yea right. bunch of bitter people outside shard chat try to explain how it goes in the chats. you are outside you have no idea.
no one is giving free crystals, we still need to fight, we just fight SMARTER instead of harder. and you should too, but you rather whine on forum and request shard shuffle or something (which i have no problem with, i'll adjust and go #1 straight away, starting the new shard chat)
just bitterness of losers.

You are being hypocritical..... You are part of one shard chat and presume to known how all shard chats work?..... Then you go on to start calling people losers?

The chat is so.bad in my shard that they have actually formed a guild.... And they don't just preserve payout times..... If you aren't part of their little click, you better not have any ideas about being top 20..... Working around each other's payout is one thing..... Ganging up to actively exclude other players is another....

I have to agree with Bubba on this one.
You may be part of a nice shard, i may be part of a nice shard, but i know shards who instantly and indiscriminately attack anyone who tries to go beyond 30, whether they have an incoming payout or not.
No one is allowed into top30. FINAL

For us we dnt hit people if we dnt have payouts coming, and even then its not our thing to just bust people out of top20 for "convenience" sake

if anyone wanna climb hes welcome to, but if its my payout or close to it, imma hit back

"BubbaFett;c-1579541" wrote:

"SithTrio_PO;c-1579493" wrote:
these guys have no idea what shard chats are obviously.
"trade" wins ? huh ? i attack people after their payouts, thats all. all they give me is knowledge about their payout, so i can avoid them. then, i do less attacks, and they do less attacks, thats all.
against ToS, yea right. bunch of bitter people outside shard chat try to explain how it goes in the chats. you are outside you have no idea.
no one is giving free crystals, we still need to fight, we just fight SMARTER instead of harder. and you should too, but you rather whine on forum and request shard shuffle or something (which i have no problem with, i'll adjust and go #1 straight away, starting the new shard chat)
just bitterness of losers.

You are being hypocritical..... You are part of one shard chat and presume to known how all shard chats work?..... Then you go on to start calling people losers?

The chat is so.bad in my shard that they have actually formed a guild.... And they don't just preserve payout times..... If you aren't part of their little click, you better not have any ideas about being top 20..... Working around each other's payout is one thing..... Ganging up to actively exclude other players is another....

Sounds a lot like my shard