Abuse of flag mechanics to block assault on port

[God Emperor Trump / Alan]

http://puu.sh/nzEkb/dc9119f715.png

 

http://puu.sh/nzEm0/edfa9f9d9b.png

 

This just happened on EU1 PVP.

 

We had 40 people involved in the operation to retake Misterosa and were getting ready to buy the flag, when this guy does this with the obvious intent to block us from attacking. 

 

Now he's gonna sit in PR while the port capture window expires.

 

What is being done about this? How will you prevent this happening in the future?

[Jack Marslow]

This is absolutely one of the most disgusting demonstrations of blatant exploiting I've ever seen in a game.  

 

Account should be banned, and any attached accounts. 

 

Id say Misterosa should be flipped to Britain too but then I dont get to sink any of these guys. 

Edited March 8, 2016 by Jack Marslow

[Richmuel UK]

This is just one disappointing part of a trend of alt account abuses. We've seen people jumping into PBs just to take up space and leave again, and green on green instances and all. Really hoping for a quick solution for this as this is really game killing.

 

Not a bad solution tonight of a flag purchase requiring a sign-off by every other player in your group.

[DarkFenix]

Some more info, the character's name was "heyhey". A one day old character, midshipman rank. This character buys a 150k flag out of the blue.

 

Spanish players are playing innocent, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that a spaniard's alt bought this flag specifically to block the british being able to do the same.

[WladimirUN]

Really annoying exploit preparing and using all TPs, then noone can do anything again because of "clever" use of mechanics and an alt buying the flag.

 

Please take care of this and somehow prevent this from happening via multile flag purchases, no cooldown or having a special rank for buying a flag

[Predator Gaming]

Completely disgusting exploit! Pathetic attempt to block an attack on a port. This needs to be resolved as this wasted a lot of peoples time and effort. 

 

Cowardly, cheating scum such as this will kill off even the most passionate players interest in the game. FIX IT NOW!

[Jack Marslow]

This guys main account should be Named and shamed too. 

[G'Kar Rah]

ALTERNATE ACCOUNT ABUSE:

 

1. Alternate accounts joining the opposing side on PB's to to use up PB slots to decrease BR.
   (This will get so bad with accounts that I can see 25 cutters joining a shallow water port battle
    
2. Alternate accounts used to start attacks on your nations ships to avoid reinforcement circles or force engagements.
   (this is most exploitative when used by a cutter that sits next to a Port Assault fleet and tags the flag carrier into an unwilling battle)
    
3. Alternate accounts buying flags on the opposing nation to prevent that nation buying a PB flag.
   (as seen by the OP for this post)

 

 

These are three of the most exploitative game mechanics that exist.  While these players should be found and IP banned the real issue is to address the fundamental game flaws with solutions.

 

 

1. Create a PB joining system that involves some kind of earned position in the battle, a voting or approval system for port battle leaders or maybe raid groups?  This could be fore the first 2 minutes then open to everyone?
    
2. When an allied ship initiates an attack and drags in nearby ships, there should be a popup to INVITE nearby ships to join the battle but not instantly drag them in.
    
3. Buying a flag with an alternative account as a blocking flag is a terrible exploit.  A voting system for a flag that requires at least 6 positive votes to buy the flag?  This wouldn't stop 6 accounts from being used, but would increase the number of exploiters that could be investigated and banned.

Edited March 8, 2016 by ZaND

[captain_andrey]

Wow thats disgusting. No matter, the mechanics will be fixed one day, but the Spanish have just signed their own death warrant on PVP1. Prepare to be wiped off the map and re-roll Pirates.

[Jager]

He should be named shamed and banned. This is disgusting as all hell, Spanish will most likely claim innocence but why would it be any other nation when that port belongs to them.

[Richmuel UK]

And the gold transfers should be traced back too.

[Ikerna]

Wow thats disgusting. No matter, the mechanics will be fixed one day, but the Spanish have just signed their own death warrant on PVP1. Prepare to be wiped off the map and re-roll Pirates.

 

[Vykorie]

I.P ban ASAP!

[Johny Reb]

I have heard this "technique" suggested as a tactic by some US players. We have always rejected this kind of behavior. Its simply a way to cheat the system. What is reasonable is to buy multiple flags as feints before buying the flag for the real target. I believe that any rules created by this op should be worded in a way that allows these flag feints.

[Capt. Rice]

And the gold transfers should be traced back too.

this very much

[Heibges]

ALTERNATE ACCOUNT ABUSE:

 

Alternate accounts joining the opposing side on PB's to to use up PB slots to decrease BR.

(This will get so bad with accounts that I can see 25 cutters joining a shallow water port battle)

 

Alternate accounts used to start attacks on your nations ships to avoid reinforcement circles or force engagements.

 

Alternate accounts buying flags on the opposing nation to prevent that nation buying a PB flag.

 

This is what eventually KILLED PotBS.

[Jack Marslow]

And the gold transfers should be traced back too.

 

For sure. There's no way they didn't know what was going on. 

[CptEdwardKenway]

Pirates, danes and spaniards are ruining the game at the moment. And it's just early access. Gratulation. I would warn every single player who can't play fair. And ban everyone who keeps playing dirty. Camping 8 hours in front of ports, attacking certain ports after they found out with other accounts that there is fleet in there, joining PB with low BR ships and leave again, insulting other players and buying flags to block an attack.

[akd]

Really annoying exploit preparing and using all TPs, then noone can do anything again because of "clever" use of mechanics and an alt buying the flag.

 

Please take care of this and somehow prevent this from happening via multile flag purchases, no cooldown or having a special rank for buying a flag

 

It's not clever.  It's an obvious and predicted exploit.

[Alictos]

using pathetic dirt tactics to win a battle in a online game, i hate seeing shit like this i also think that alts in genaral should NOT be allowed it breaks the current game for pvp and that is a fact 

[Richmuel UK]

Was the Saint-Nic flag a legitimate attempt or was that also an exploit tonight?

 

And to add to what others said - buying multiple flags and feints is not an exploit, there is a difference.

Edited March 8, 2016 by Richmuel UK

[akd]

And to add to what others said - buying multiple flags and feints is not an exploit, there is a difference.

 

There should, however, be a greater threshold for flag purchase (requirements in addition to gold).

[CptEdwardKenway]

It is if you buy 3, 4 or 5 flags. It's not fun and a game should be fun. It's just stressfull. Right after you start the game you see constantly enemies buying flags to attack you. Every day. It's trolling. Not tactics. You can use tactics with your ships but not by abusing game mechanics and force your opponents to give up and you have easy port fights. Most fights should be at sea but not winning PB with less or no enemies in there. It's not why I payed for this game.

[Sir James Alexander Gordon]

not cool, not fair,

 

if you can't defend a port you shoundn't exploit. you should be prepared to defend or lose the port.

 

is that the game you want to play in?

[CptEdwardKenway]

Oh and I totally agree. A ban for this account and every other account attached to it plus a flip of Misteriosa to the british nation after the abuse of this massive exploit would be the only right and fair solution after many players wasted so much time just sitting there and beeing frustrated. If this game really don't want to loose more players this should be executed.

 

And a flip of every other port which got propably attacked from spain with a flag or a fleet coming from Misteriosa.

Edited March 8, 2016 by CptEdwardKenway