Planetarion Forums

ComradeRob · 13 Apr 2005, 13:54

I'm sure I have written similar posts before, but it was a long time ago, so here it is again:

Taking roids out of the universe is bad. Not just for the people who lose the roids, but for everyone else who now have no chance to steal them - especially in a round like this where roids are going back and forth all the time. If someone stole my roids, got caught cheating then had 30% of their roids removed, I'd be utterly furious, because those are my roids that I would want to get back. Presumably they wouldn't lose the xp they gained for stealing those roids from me.

Secondly, roid loss is a direct cause of stagnation in the game. Stagnation occurs when planets have large fleets and not enough roids to be worth attacking, so it should be quite obvious that removing roids causes stagnation to occur sooner. There is a direct link between stagnation and the ratio of roids to fleet size.

Thirdly, removing roids often has almost no impact on large planets early in the game, because they can't mine the roids they have already. All you're really doing is reducing their value, allowing them to hit smaller targets and gain more xp.

My alternative is simple: instead of removing roids, remove fleet and/or xp (of course, some would simply suggest deleting the offending planets, but that's a seperate question). This is a "restorative" punishment, because it removes the fleet that they have built using roids they stole/defended by illegal means. As such, it puts their planet back to something closer to the level it would be had they not been cheating. Removal of xp (personally I think xp should be reset to 0) would also have a similar effect, though fleet removal is far more effective and fair.

This would be far more likely to act as a deterrent to cheaters - roids can be regained easily, but the loss of fleet is a real consequence that might actually hurt the cheater, without having the effect of accelerating stagnation; in fact it would have the effect of alleviating stagnation. The cheater loses, everyone else benefits (if only in a small and indirect way) from the punishment. Doesn't that sound much better?

Goatsemaster · 13 Apr 2005, 13:55

Yes, it does sound much better.

elviz · 13 Apr 2005, 13:58

Indeed.

Jackal2112 · 13 Apr 2005, 13:59

I am sorry, I must have missed something, but since when are cheaters not just deleted anymore?

[edit: if this is true and cheaters don't get deleted

then I think Rob has a good point]

Buddah · 13 Apr 2005, 14:05

breaking the rules aint always cheating. some times its just breaking the rules.

furball · 13 Apr 2005, 14:07

If you're not removing roids

then put the cheater's HCT research level back to base, so that he can't regrow so quickly with his ill-gotten roids.

NitinA · 13 Apr 2005, 14:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jackal2112

I am sorry, I must have missed something, but since when are cheaters not just deleted anymore?

[edit: if this is true and cheaters don't get deleted

then I think Rob has a good point]

Most recent example would be the removal of roids from planets who were found to be violating the EULA, closed, then reopened with roid losses.

Execellent points.

-NitinA

Goafer LX · 13 Apr 2005, 14:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonentity

If you're not removing roids

then put the cheater's HCT research level back to base, so that he can't regrow so quickly with his ill-gotten roids.

amazing idea

nice one
also, ia gree tho, removing roids from the universe is sick

wakey · 13 Apr 2005, 14:23

I'm not too bothered really on the punishments as long as they do punish the planet and are consistant but some of the ideas here do make alot of sense. Unless the roids are going to be returned to where they came (which might be hard to do) then it would make sense to leave them at the planet punished. Then the removal of XP and Fleet along with the removal of some of the HCT tech as Nonentity suggested would move them closer to where they should be and really punish them for cheating

Kal · 13 Apr 2005, 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nonentity

If you're not removing roids

then put the cheater's HCT research level back to base, so that he can't regrow so quickly with his ill-gotten roids.

i like that one, its nice and evil

Cochese · 13 Apr 2005, 15:09

Yeah, same here.

I'm all about creative punishment...reducing their tech branches, locking fleetslots so they can't attack for awhile (or run any fleet they may have), the XP removal is ace too.

I'm still waiting for a 'hall of shame'...

noah02 · 13 Apr 2005, 17:26

how about just destroy there light/medium/heavy factory and reset there ship research.

wakey · 13 Apr 2005, 17:40

At this rate we will be suggesting reset their planet to 0 excpet for roids

furball · 13 Apr 2005, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakey

At this rate we will be suggesting reset their planet to 0 excpet for roids

Bad idea, then we can't send them mass incomings due to score cap

Glad to hear everyone likes the HCT idea!

barney · 14 Apr 2005, 14:46

the HCT idea is fantastic, then the roids stay about to be won/lost/fought over, however the planet gets no gain from them, also reseting XP to 0 is fair (or maybe 1/2 the XP if you think that is a little harsh), imo what you should be trying to do is reset the planet to the situation it was in prior to cheating, with a little extra punitive damage. and i feel this solution coves both still giving them a chance to continue playing the game.

taking fleets is a little harsh i think (except in the case of zik steeling). imo opinion this should be the STANDARD treatment for thoses deamed suitable for punishment, that is not decided to be severe enuf for closure.