Age of Conan

This might be very uninteresting to the vast crowd of non-RPers, but I'm still baffled at how unhelpful this GM managed to be (note that my character's actual name is absolutely not Lichthammer ;)). So I'm going to vent my frustration by posting it here. I removed some names from the transcript.

There's a local folktale about how a deaf man spied a strnager on the horizon as he was sat outside his cabin, hewing an axe shaft - and the deaf man invented an elaborate scenario in which he predicted what the stranger would say to him when he arrived, and then planned his responses accordingly. Of course the stranger said something entirely other than what he had planned, making the deaf man's premade replies completely nonsensical. I felt a bit like the stranger here:

[Zerstorus(GM)]: Greetings! This is GM Zerstorus. Do you have a moment to speak about your petition? You may reply by using /tell Zerstorus or by clicking my name in the chat window. Before replying, please move to a safe location away from MOBs or other players (if you are in a PvP enabled area) as GMs cannot guarantee your safety.

To [Zerstorus]: Hi.
To [Zerstorus]: I wonder how you actually enforce the naming policy on RP servers. So far it seems completely arbitrary.

[Zerstorus(GM)]: Yes, there is a policy. If you encounter players with non RP names, please inform us and we will change them immediately.

To [Zerstorus]: That wasn't what I asked. I asked -how- you enforce this policy, and -why- you enforce it so arbitrarily? GMs don't act consistently amongst each other, and you let obvious policy-breaching names live while you go out of your way to change names that are perfectly fine but were reported by someone with a personal OOC grudge. Why is that?

[Zerstorus(GM)]: We take care of name violations as we are made aware of them.
[Zerstorus(GM)]: Please direct your comments and suggestions to feedback@ageofconan.com.

To [Zerstorus]: Can't you answer a simple question instead of responding with a nonsensical macroed reply?
To [Zerstorus]: Why are names such as <removed>, Galadriel, Pegasus and <removed> and so on allowed to persist while you change names like <removed>? (And then change it back because you realize you messed up badly).

[Zerstorus(GM)]: I cannot account for the actions of other GMs. I can tell you that we deal with name violations as we are made aware. I do not keep track of what all the other GMs do or do not do.
[Zerstorus(GM)]: If you would like to comment on how this procedure is carried out, please send an email to feedback@ageofconan.com.

To [Zerstorus]: If you can't account for the actions of other GMs, maybe you can account for which considerations are made when a name is reported, or if you just randomly change all names that are reported regardless of whether they constitute a breach of policy or not?

[Zerstorus(GM)]: We cange names that violate the policy.

To [Zerstorus]: Obviously that is untrue, since you also change names that -do not- violate the policy.

[Zerstorus(GM)]: A name that is in your opinion a violation, may not necesarily violate our policy

To [Zerstorus]: Are you suggesting that for instance Galadriel (Elven Queen in the LoTRO universe) is not actually a naming policy violation, but that it is merely an opinion of mine that it -should- be? What about a name that in your opinion is a violation, but is not one according to the policy?

[Zerstorus(GM)]: You may visit community.ageofconan.com for further information on our policy. Thank you and have a nice day.
[Zerstorus(GM)]: Your current petition is now closed. If you wish to speak with a GM you will need to submit a new petition. Take care today Namira! We wish you only the best and safest travels in Hyboria, and we thank you for your continued support.

To [Zerstorus]: I don't fucking believe you people. You're the epitome of useless.

You have no active petition with the GM or Follower you are trying to contact.
To request assistance from the online support team, please submit a petition using the "/petition" command.
However, before you petition, please check our Knowledge Base (http://support.ageofconan.com) for common questions, issues, and fixes.

This is ridiculous. Just like every other game out, the player petition the GM's and they make a judgment call.

They do not owe you any other explanation as to their moderation and naming policies. You are basically trolling that GM, and made he wont answer your very bated question, that you would intentionally turn around and use against them anyway.

If you see a name that breaks the rules, report it, and go on with your life. They make the call, not you.

Originally posted by Lichthammer

To [Zerstorus]: I wonder how you actually enforce the naming policy on RP servers. So far it seems completely arbitrary.

[Zerstorus(GM)]: Yes, there is a policy. If you encounter players with non RP names, please inform us and we will change them immediately.

To [Zerstorus]: That wasn't what I asked. I asked -how- you enforce this policy, and -why- you enforce it so arbitrarily?

Just wanted to point out that you were answered correctly. They said they change them immediately.

You didn't ask why they enforce it arbitrarily at all originally.

I suggest you cancel your account.

You can't really expect someone who deals with retards all day to be all nice and helpful when you start out with attitude

Oh, and if you actually read their policy, you'd see that roleplaying names are allowed whereas names like 'Crudthrower' or 'Technoninja' aren't.

Either you didn't ready the policy or you don't understand it.

So you think that GM having a debate about the actions of other GM's is time best spent? Honestly, I dont blame this guy for cutting the conversation short, hes just trying to do his job. You shouldnt petition this shit, it clogs up the petition queue and makes people with genuine problems wait longer.

Dont agree with the name policy? Make a thread on the official forums, maybe enough people will reply to garner interest from Funcom supervisors.

Which is besides the point really, if you give your name a unique and completely unoffensive name, you dont have to worry about this shit.

No offense, I can't stand Funcom or AoC, but this GM did nothing wrong. After GMing myself for a year, I can tell you this. That GM did exactly what the company teaches GMs to do. Answer questions which have technical issues or violation of protocols.

I understand you just wanted a simple answer to a simple question, but guess what, GM said use the feedback and the feedback is where you should have gone. From my experience, theres far too many problems in games to be answering everyones personal opinions on game rules and violations. Which is probably why people who have legit petitions have to wait 8+ hours to get a reply.

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Originally posted by darwa

Just wanted to point out that you were answered correctly. They said they change them immediately.
You didn't ask why they enforce it arbitrarily at all originally.

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I ask "how do you enforce your policy?" - he responds "yes, there is a policy. We do enforce it".

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Originally posted by Rhoklaw

No offense, I can't stand Funcom or AoC, but this GM did nothing wrong. After GMing myself for a year, I can tell you this. That GM did exactly what the company teaches GMs to do. Answer questions which have technical issues or violation of protocols.

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When they operate with a separate petition category for "Naming Violations", I expect petitions that revolve around their naming policy to be treated like any other petition.
Also, please point out where I was showing any kind of "attitude". As far as I can see I remained perfectly civil, even when faced with random macro replies only remotely related to what I actually asked him.

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Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

This is ridiculous. Just like ever