Aion Volunteer Program

[Aelo]

I have an idea that I have hinted at several times in the last few weeks that i would like to get feedback on. I believe that Aion needs more help from its community than it is currently getting to combat RMT and botting. I have a great solution to this, "The Aion Volunteer Program."

This program would allow "special" players selected by NCsoft from a group of volunteers to have some tools that can counter RMT spam and botting. The details would need to be discussed and hammered out but it should not be too difficult to find out what tools or privileges these players would be given. I propose that these players be required to give some sort of minimum time to the program to remain in it. I also propose that the "special" avatars remain anonymous and on separate servers than the players actual characters. This would prevent the community from "special treatment" accusations.

If this program were implemented, then spammers would be almost non existent and botters would be significantly reduced. This program would cost NCSoft little to no money at all and would help secure the life of Aion. I would imagine that the only things that would require money would be the training of Senior Volunteers and perhaps a special forum for the program members to discuss things.

There would be many restrictions for these players so that they could only help the game experience and not deter it. I would also like to point out that these players should undergo a tough interview process and initial training. (We don't want just anyone in the Program you know).


I think everyone gets the basic idea of what i am suggesting. Granted there are several things to discuss with the powers-that-be about this and certain issues would need to be addressed. However, I truly feel that this would fix alot of our RMT and botting woes. Please vote on the poll - but think of this more like a petition than a poll.

[Xare]

Umm i dont see a poll but great idea nonetheless hopefully ayayse reads it and takes note and relays it to the right people and things otherwise how will this idea take off?

[Aelo]

There is a poll now, but yes a Community Manager would have to bring this to someones attention. I personally have all of the details worked out "on paper". I just didnt want to post them here for the sake of saving time and other reasons.

[Maggeus]

That's a nice idea, but I wouldn't volunteer myself. No time to = can't do it right. ^^

[Cocowoushi]

People will take advantage of this.
People will feel they have more a of right to play than others if they are in this program.

The best way to volunteer is to report accurately to the GMs.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Kerte]

First to volunteer

[MMOWarrior]

Good God NO!

I can see the abuse already...

NO!.. NO!.. NO!!

[Aelo]

Originally Posted by Cocowoushi

People will take advantage of this.
People will feel they have more a of right to play than others if they are in this program.

The best way to volunteer is to report accurately to the GMs.
Posted via Mobile Device

You do realized the millions of reports that are given everyday? They is not sufficient at all. No one would take advantage of this because of the limitations put in place. Also it would be a req to remain anonymous.

I would also lie to point out that several MMOs have this program in place. There are ways to prevent abuse - and those that abuse it are already on a radar and can easily be dealt with, unlike 10s of thousands of botters that are as slick as eels...

[Aleste]

I approve of this suggestion. Though I doubt NCwest is willing to offer such authority without some processing which may make it unlikely.

Still voting yes though.

[Krystaline]

But if the volunteers are required to do this work on a server other than where their main is and are blocked from creating any more characters on that server, how could there be abuse? I'm not sure exactly what Aelo's plan entails, but I'm sure it could be done in a way to prevent abuse.

[PerfectByNature]

Aion wouldn't be the first game to do it.
In fact, 1997, Ultima Online used trusted players as moderators in their games.
Not true GM's per se.

First, the player's char couldn't be the moderator char. They had to purposefully log into the moderator account.
In doing so, their time on, and actions were recorded.
They couldn't create items or spawn items, and they couldn't perma-ban anyone.

They could help stuck players. Enact temporary bans of (i think) 6 hours, until the case could be investigated by a true GM.
The temp bans needed paperwork to fill out on the game company's (Origin, at the time) website.

The players were usually hand picked by the GMs. Generally people with even tempers.
In 1998 for 3 months I was able to convince the GM's I really wasn't a loud mouthed psycho (a feat i probably couldn't duplicate today lol), and was granted the status for 3 months.
They regurally changed moderators depending on who wanted to devote time. It was kinda annoying actually. Because you had to log into another account. So on one hand you wanna play. But on the other hand you wanna help people, and answer tickets.
Most people went all out in the beginning. Always on their mod char. But over time they stayed more and more on their playing char, and stopped answering ticekts. So they changed mods a lot.

But we could teleport in to anywhere visibly, or stay invisible and monitor situations, etc. We couldn't attack creatures. In fact, the chars had the same attributes as the ghosts in the game. So no interaction with objects, etc.
But we didn't need to open doors and stuff we could walk through em or teleport in.

The program worked really well.
It freed GM's up for actual work, since the day to day ticket stuff of "help! i'm stuck!" or "this mob is bugged" were answered by moderators.

While on my normal char I couldn't see tickets come in. I could only see/answer tickets on the moderator toon.

And don't quote me on this, but I believe Asherton's Call 1 also had a player moderator program. I'd have to look that up though.

[Daemian]

Absolutely with out question I would do this. I can only hope they take this into consideration.

Sign me up please.

[Xare]

With the right people it would be a fantastic idea i dont really think there is any other answer.

Oh and doesnt this need to be posted in a suggestions thread somewhere on the official forums or something?

[Srax]

I like this idea. EQ guide program was similar. I would apply and have a separate account and everything just to do this.

[Cocowoushi]

Originally Posted by Aelo

You do realized the millions of reports that are given everyday? They is not sufficient at all. No one would take advantage of this because of the limitations put in place. Also it would be a req to remain anonymous.

I would also lie to point out that several MMOs have this program in place. There are ways to prevent abuse - and those that abuse it are already on a radar and can easily be dealt with, unlike 10s of thousands of botters that are as slick as eels...

You can call me a cynic but people just WILL abuse this - regardless of which server they are on. Yes, I'm sure there will be some good apples, but NCSoft is not willing to put their already tarnished reputation on the line to have it further defamed more.

There are some sick sick people in this world. People who would LOVE to see Aion go down in flames. Some people who you wouldn't expect - who would happily play the role of an upstanding player to get the chance to be in this program just so that they can abuse the power give to them and make NCSoft look even worse.

I want to believe a system like this would work. I do. I would even volunteer for it. But I highly doubt NCSoft can cross that trust barrier at the risk of even more unhappy people and headaches they will need to fix after they sack them.
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