EVERYONE READ!

[White Wolf]

[SIZE=16]GMs and Players of Layonara,[/SIZE]
  [SIZE=16]I would first like to state that I do not normally do what I am about to do, but every man has his limit, and the GMs of Layonara have pushed me to my limit. I am fully aware that this message will most likely be deleted as soon as a GM reads it, and so I hope that as many people as possible read this. What I am about to say is going to get this IP address and this forum name banned, but it's alright. I am officially finished with Layonara, and I have no intention of ever returning. You all know me; I am the player that played Kiva Seidai, better known as Darkchild. I was banned some time ago by Leanthar, but I returned twice. Once as Talistar Solari and now as White Wolf. The reason I am revealing myself is because I can no longer sit back and let the GMs' attitude slip by. In addition, the GMs are about to find out who I am regardless, so I may as well say me piece before I am banned again. And I was asked by someone to mention this, the way they are verifying that White Wolf is the same as Darkchild is by reading the Tells I have sent to other players and the Tells they have sent to me. So, in case any of you didn’t know; yes, they can and will read the Tell logs. So be careful, Big Brother is watching you! [/SIZE]
  [SIZE=16]I have been monitoring the forums since my initial banning but it wasn't until tonight that I reached my limit. I read a thread located in the Disputes and Grievances boards named "Another Story" written by a friend of mine, ohboy007. That thread is a classic example of the failing attitude of Layo's GMs. And so I am writing this as my final farewell to the community of Layonara.[/SIZE]
  [SIZE=16]Everyone here is a customer; we've all gone out and purchased something from a store. When we do that we become consumers and we have a relationship with various companies. Usually the retailer and the manufacturer. In this relationship we each contribute to the mutual benefit of all involved.The customerprovides the monetary assets while the retailer provides access to the good, andthe manufacturer processes the good.As for themanufacturer and retailer, the two go out of their way to provide a memorable and pleasant service to the customer. And why do they do this? Because they know that without the consumer's money and patronage, they would not exist.In this circumstance Layonara is a retailer, Bioware isthe manufacturer, and the player communityis the customer base. Bioware and the players are doing their job. The game is present and functional, and the players are there to provide their patronage. But Layonara andits GMs are seriously falling short of its duties.The GMs forgot that without the players they would have no server. Have you ever played on a server with no players? If you have then you know exactly what I'm talking about. Right now Layo is a successful server, but the GMs have become lethargicin their success. Even to the point where they are now abusing the player community. In the retail world, if a product is faulty the retailer will provide the means to return or exchange the malfunctioned item. Yet in Layo, numerous items are faulty. I have two perfect examples of this. One is the thread mentioned above. You are all aware that the Bind Stone is broken. And you are all also aware that it would take literally ten minutes to fix. All it takes is one of the GMs with module access to open their toolset and open that module, go to the room in question, insert a door into the wall, set that door as a transition point, then open the Vale area and insert another door with a corresponding transition point. And if you try to say, "But it doesn't take ten minutes," SHUT UP! It does and you know it! The problem is not that it'll take too long to fix, the problem is that there are few GMs with module access, and those few GMs have lives. Which isn't a problem. The problem is that when they get free time they would rather sign on and play the game as characters than be a GM. Well, you know what? Too bad. You're all GMs on a very large server, so start acting like it. The second example is the countless examples where an NPC is killed or an object is destroyed. Usually a "swim transition" or a "jump transition". I'm not sure if all the players here are aware of this, but did you know that upon creation of an item or NPC you can elect to have them immortal. There's actually a little check box that you can click entitled "Immortal". Did you also know that those jump and swim transition points are objects? They're placed graphics, like a scorch mark on the ground, or dripping water. They are objects, and just like the NPCs, they can be set as immortal. The reason this problem continues is NOT because the players break the rules or accidentally misplace spells. It's because the GMs decided not to click the immortal box. And why wouldn't they? For realism? To make everyone's time less fun? Who knows, but the point is that they can EASILY solve this issue, yet they don't. However, they have no qualms what-so-ever giving any players "responsible" a hard time. I'm sorry, but that is simply unacceptable. Can you imagine what it would be like if you went to a store to return a broken item and they yelled at you and blamed you for breaking it? Yes, yes, I'm sure all of you who have missed the point of this post will reply with something like, "Actually, I have been to a store that did that to me." Save it, I want people here to read. Don't respond. I won't be here to continue this discussion anyway. The fact is the GMs here treat the player base very poorly. And I say the player base because there are players that are treated well. There is definately favoritism on Layo. Hence the whole world leader concept. The GMs will argue that it is there to bring more depth to the character community, however it is just another way of saying, "This guy is my buddy." Look at the world leader list and tell me I'm wrong. As for the reimbursement policy, you've got to be kidding me. A GM or a world leader must be present? You know what that says? "We only care about the GMs' friends and epic characters." You think a first level character who gets crash-killed by a goblin and has the poor luck of loosing a soul strand will get reimbursed? Not a chance. And there was actually a similiar instance, however it was with a higher level character and she was surrounded by other high level characters, but none were world leaders and the event was not monitored by a GM. In this event a female character entered into an area and was killed immediately by misplaced monsters. She lost a Soul Strand. She made a post and each of the party members present attested to the player's situation. But due to the policy in place one GM called the entire ordeal a waste of time, and Leanthar himself said that the time could have been better spent. How dare you! These people come to your server and play here, allowing you the chance...the PRIVILEDGE to create your world. Yet when one of them wants to address a concern you call it a waste of time? NOTHING a customer wants is EVER a waste of time. And these players are your customers. And like Leanthar said, with one comes many. So sure, there will be plenty of people voicing desires and concerns. But as GMs you have accepted the responsibility and have given your time to deal with them one by one. Leanthar stated that the hours used could have been used to do something more consructive. I have two things to say on that. One, the woman making the post did feel it was constructive, and don't you dare ever say to another human beingthattheir puruits are less worthy than yours. And two, if you want to spend those hours doing something else than you should not be a GM. You are here to serve the players, they are not here to serve you, and you all need to take a moment to accept that. I was having a conversation with a player that I will not name and this player told me that Layonara is the GMs' sandbox and you need to play nice with their toys. It is sad, but this analogy is far too accurate. You have your rules and when they're not followed you all become defensive and up in arms. The people writing these posts are human beings too. And they want to ENJOY themselves, that's why they play this GAME. And some of you, I won't name who, even go so far as adding insult to injury by purposefully going out ofyour way to degrade the player in question. And you know who you are, and I've been dying to say this to you: You're not nearly so brazen as you think you are, and if you tried your "Layo approach" in real life you might see just how ignorant you really are. But I'mnot writing this to attack a single GM, I'm writing this to voice a common opinion that needs to be voiced. As you all read this, more than half of you are going to be nodding your heads and agreeing with a majority of the words I have written here. And for those that do not quite agree, I would wager that you're new to the server and that it is only a matter of time. The general attitude of GMs on Layonara is deplorable, they have become neglectful and abusive. And it really doesn't surprise me to see who was added to the GM roster recently. Two of those people I have interacted with extensively, and I have to say: Bravo! You two are certainly cut out for Layonara GM-ship. They could have picked anyone more like themselves. I'm sure you'll add a great deal to the material and malcontent of the server. But I truly hope that Layonara pulls a one-eighty ad heads in the opposite direction. If you could only match your attitude to your material you would have the closest thing to a perfect server possible. But though I and others may wish this, it won't happen. Unfortunately people don't change. It's why Layonara is in a steady decline, it's why you have crooked politics and favoritism, and it's why I "hopped" my ban and came back twice, and ultimately it'ss why I'm writing this. I refuse to sit back anymore. And though this is most likely the last time anyone from Layonara will hear from me, I can depart happily with the knowledge that I finally said what so many have been wishing to say.[/SIZE]
  [SIZE=16]I want you all to know that I bear no grudge towards anyone on this server, which is why I mentioned no names other than Leanthar's. And his was only mentioned in reference. I am also not bitter about my banning in the least, it was the direct result of a decision I made, and I paid the price for it. I am also stating that no one asked me to write this or persuaded me to speak words for them. Everything above is my own. And my return was also my own doing, and no one else should pay any consequences for my return. So, to those of you who played with Kiva, and to those of you who followed Testament of a Shadow I wish to thank you all for the great expirience I had on Layonara, and though I may have said some harsh things above I also wish to extend a warm hand to the GM Team, there are those among you whom are truly equiped for GM-hood. One in particular, and so to him I wish to say: EdtheKet, it was truly a pleasure. As for those players closest to me and Kiva, you know who you are. I'd rather not mention names so you won't fear reprisals. I will never forgot the adventures, the conflicts, the drama, or the laughs. It is you people and the rest of the players that make Layonara what it is. The GMs may provide the land and layout, but you are all the People of Layonara, and it is YOU that makes Layonara what it is. Take away the scripts, the haks, the CNR, and you will still have a world class server because of the COMMUNITY. Take away the community however and your left with a desolate virtaul-land with disappointed GMs. No matter how long any of you play, and no matter where you play, never forget this. Never. Now, I've said my piece. I've said my thank yous, and good byes. And it's time to remove myself from the Layonara scene once and for all. If your characters ever find themselves wondering whatever happened to Darkchild, have them take solice that he moved onto a place more suited for him, but he keeps those close to him in his heart. And sowill I. Good Luck, Layonara.[/SIZE]
  [SIZE=16]Sincerely,[/SIZE]
  [SIZE=16]Tony[/SIZE]

[OneST8]

Please discuss this post here: EVERYONE DISCUSS!

[Leanthar]

Thank you for freezing this thread and starting a new one OneST8.

[Leanthar]

Alright. White Wolf/Kiva (whatever name he wishes to use) stated we were tracking him by tells... Far from the truth. He left a trail so outrageously easy to follow that a blind child could have followed it through pouring rain or a blizzard.

1) He has characters that are very much alike that were approved. Almost the exact same bio, same sort of history…nearly everything. Even the names were telling.
2) He hangs out with the same players in game (for the most part).
3) They are coming from the same ISP...not too telling but it is a heads up on further things.
4) They typed and talked very much the same. Even the same childish and immature attitude was shown when trying to figure out "why he (white wolf) was temporarily banned" (gasp).
5) During a conversation that he was having with a GM (not while "monitoring tells". He said he was in Honolulu so how could he (White Wolf) possibly be Kiva? But when I did a tracert to the IP he was logged in as....GASP... it went to Rhode Island... GASP AGAIN...Through the same internet routers that Kiva was coming through from before because Kiva is in Rhode Island.... my my, that is pretty telling. Now correct me if I am wrong but Honolulu is not even remotely close to Rhode Island, I think it is about ¼ of the way around the world. Oh and wait….well I will not go on about the Honolulu location but I could….So what was he hiding?
6) We were waiting for one more piece of evidence but I don’t think we really needed to...

This is a total waste of our time, like we need to waste our time any more on this sort of nonsense. But it shows that we were trying to be real careful to not blame somebody that was indeed innocent. But he knew we had him the second we contacted him in game when he was playing as White Wolf (see #5 above because that is when that happened).

My thinking is that I may be banning at least one of his friends (and she knows who she is) because she knew Kiva was banned and she knew White Wolf and the other account was him. That is blatant disrespect to the community and the team as a whole and I do not want that type of person here. If she thinks it is okay to ignore a banning then what else is 'okay'? There may be others but it will take more wasted time and effort to track/verify things and I am not willing to do that right now. I think Kiva has wasted our time enough already. And if his goal was to get his friends banned he may very well have succeeded.

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And last but not least:

Email I received from him (as Kiva) yesterday Yesterday at 11:30am PST. He had been asking if he could come back via Ed and myself. I was thinking about things and then when this whole White Wolf thing came up I did not reply because I wanted to verify things on that side for sure before replying.

“….Dan,

I hate to pester, but I also hate to leave loose ends. You said that you would think over my plea and get back to me after last weekend. It is now a week later and I have yet to hear from you. I don't mean to pester or push, but I would rather have a negative answer than no answer at all. I'm looking forward to hearing from you…..”

I didn't bother to answer because I was in a meeting at the time and then I took the rest of the evening off because I was spending time with my family. In addition I was waiting for one last piece of evidence, of which is no longer needed because he ranted and came out with the truth.
---------------------------------
Strangely enough at 11:31 yesterday I received this PM from White Wolf who had been temporarily banned as we were researching things and this was my reply... Coincidental? NO.

Originally written by White Wolf (12/10/2006 11:31 AM)

Am I still banned? It's been a few days now and noone has said anything to me. I just want to know what's going on. So what's the deal?
---------------------------------my reply--------
The deal is that you are still banned and we are still doing some research. We have found out a few interesting facts that is for sure. But I have one more thing to verify and then I will let you know.

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It is my guess that my statement of ‘a few interesting facts’ was the clincher and he decided he would waste yet more of our time and troll/flame on the boards before he was banned again. Which seems to be his typical immature and illogical reaction to everything in life.

I do not like to ban people because everybody has the right to enjoy their time and enjoy this world and the community, but sometimes that sort of thing has to be done to protect the community. Every single decision I make is based around the community and the longevity of Layonara as a whole, every single decision. I think it is a sad state when a few people think that I wake up just to make life miserable for people or that I enjoy banning people or that I enjoy taking the community from somebody. It is not me that causes the banning, yes I may do the banning, but it is the action of the players themselves—not me, it is their actions and decisions that cause it to happen.

The very post made by white wolf shows the absolute disrespect and vile feelings he has towards the community and team. That is EXACTLY the type of person that I do not want here ruining the fun for other players in this community.

[Dorganath]

A member of the community sent me the following question via PM.  It's important enough, I believe, to present the answer to the public in order to be open and hopefully reduce the chance of misunderstandings
 

    I'd like to know exactly what he did to get banned, partly out of curiosity, partly to know what NOT to do, and partly to know what type of characters to avoid in game.

 In the interest of transparency, the situation is this:  Kiva/CandorIgnifer was banned because he broke server rules in a fairly serious manner.  This was not the first time we had to confront him but rather the literal and proverbial "third strike", and he did so as the leader of a guild.  Like WL's, guild leaders are held to a higher standard.  He broke the rules after giving us assurances that he would not tolerate rule breakage from members of his guild, as well as assurances regarding his own personal conduct.  In doing so, he almost brought down another player with him.
  When originally banned, the player asked that we not go into details as to the circumstances of his banning. The exact rule that was broken on that last incident is not really as important as the pattern. Out of respect for the previous request for privacy, the details shall remain private. This is not a matter of hiding anything, but rather respecting a request, even from a banned player.  He has since chosen to come back, with a new account, new CD-Key and even a new IP address.  The new characters drew suspicion due to his self-admitted unique playing style and very similar character bios.  He also admitted in tells to more than one player that he was Kiva.  One of those players happened to be a GM logged in as one of his characters. When confronted a few days ago about this information by two GMs, including the one who had gotten the tell, "White Wolf" pretended not to know who Kiva was, said they were not the same and even went so far as to say he was in Hawaii.  His story was not adding up, and he was temporarily banned on the spot, pending a review by the entire GM Team. Upon deeper review, his new IP address did not resolve to Hawaii, but rather to Rhode Island, and both Kiva and White Wolf used the same ISP which does not even have service in Hawaii.  This is all detailed above in Leanthar's post; I mention it only to show the chronology of events that led up to today.  It's important to note that no decision had yet been made on a permanent banning for White Wolf, as we were still sorting out the details and talking to people as well as contacting CandorIgnifer through e-mail and MSN.  All the while, CandorIgnifer was asking Leanthar if Kiva could come back to Layonara.  I'll also note that the "reading tells" is completely false.  The only reason we had information from tells is that he himself sent a tell to the character of a GM. We do not log tells on the servers, nor have we ever done so.