A Word of Warning to the New (and Naive)

[Systolic]

I am a relatively unknown player, and have not been playing here very long. I have a friend who played on this server a great deal and acquired a healthy chunk of gear and cash. He decided to quit playing due to job circumstances in his life. He turned his account over to me and told me I could do what I wanted to with it, including selling his stuff, twinking my own characters, whatever.

I then decided that the classes I had been playing thus far weren't for me, so I took my assets I had acquired and purchased an account for 45k + Most of a Tier'Dal set. The account was being sold by a person on these forums named "Chtulu". I now know the error in my ways. The account had already been flagged for RMT prior to my purchase of the account, and needless to say within one week of buying the account, it was banned.

Upon research I found that Chtulu was not a very liked person on these forums, and had I known the depth of how far his bad reputation went I wouldn't have purchased the account. Now I am having to start over entirely, and I am strongly considering quitting because I just don't think I have the will to do everything over again.

So morals of the story here are these:

1) Don't buy accounts until you have thoroughly explored the seller's reputation.
2) Understand that because of the recent RMT banwave, there will be many people trying to dump off accounts for whatever quick buck they can acquire, leaving the buyer completely screwed.

This is not supposed to be a pity party. I know what I did wrong in this mess, and I know now what to do and what not to do. I just made this post so that maybe someone else out there will avoid my fate. Take care, everyone.

[skeletoria]

What is it that you will have to do "all over again" if you were handed over a twinked account with basically everything you would ever need?

[Systolic]

What is it that you will have to do "all over again" if you were handed over a twinked account with basically everything you would ever need?

I used everything that that account had to twink out the characters on the one I purchased.

I have a little bit off pp left, but thats about it. A vast majority of the gear that I purchased and that I transferred was lost when the account I purchased was banned.

And also, yes I could play on the character that I was given, but I don't really want to play a Necro. I played one on live and didn't enjoy it very much. I did a lot of buying and selling for a while, accumulating some gear on classes that I thought I wanted to play, and then didn't actually end up playing before I bought the account Chtulu was selling.

[Famous]

Well that stinks! But why you didn't just use that money to twink out a char even more instead of buying an account?

[Systolic]

Well that stinks! But why you didn't just use that money to twink out a char even more instead of buying an account?

Because the account had a 45 Monk, a 43 Cleric, a 35 Enchanter, and a 30 something mage, so I figured it would give me the chance to play several classes I was interested in without having to level everything up individually.

[falkun]

Moral of the story: Don't purchase accounts. The staff does not condone character trading, you can never be absolutely sure of the status of the account. You are better off making the character you want on your own account and purchasing a PL, plus its probably cheaper.

[Lagaidh]

AND you'll know your class better.

[Systolic]

AND you'll know your class better.

I played Live extensively for a very long time. I know most classes well enough to play effectively.

I mean, point taken and all but my entire reasoning behind buying the account was that I knew which classes I was interested in playing, and I was already familiar with them so I didn't want to start from scratch again.

[Gadwen]

Account selling and buying supports RMT on this server. How many threads like this have we seen now since the ban wave started?

And you don't want to be one of those awful people hanging out in KC who can barely play their freshly bought _____.

[Samoht]

this is already stickied in the EC forum (http://www.project1999.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107252)

[nilbog]

Account buying, selling, or trading has always been frowned upon. Safest bet is to always play your own character.

[SamwiseRed]

i cant stand playing toons i didnt level and gear myself. yall are weirdos.

[Systolic]

I understand that now.

The whole reason I made the thread was to give a real example of the kinds of things that happen when you buy accounts. I'm trying to be helpful, please don't jump down my throat about it. The realization that I have to start from scratch again is bad enough.

[SamwiseRed]

starting from scratch is the best part.

[Systolic]

I disagree, but that's another subject for another thread.

[ripwind]

That sucks, Systolic. :(

As a new player hanging out in EC collecting pelts last night, I saw a few people post that they were selling accounts for plat. I was pretty surprised by it, thinking "Is this even OK?"

The answer is no, apparently.

[Systolic]

Well the sale isn't technically against the rules, but RMT clearly is, and the prior owner was involved in it so he was flagged to be banned and tried to dump the account off (which he did).

[Uggme]

Aye, the true moral of this story is this: DO NOT BUY ACCOUNTS!

Roll a character, play it. It's easy. Remember, it's supposed to be fun doing this. If the "leveling" aspect of playing the game is not longer fun then you might want to consider doing something else seeing as that's the main means of getting entertainment out of this server :)

The end game content currently is an overall shitfest devoid of any enjoyment for the most part.

Anywho, good luck! If you're a true fan of EQ I hope you play again on a brand new account. I've never played on P99 before so I was literally flat broke to start with. It's been about a month ago and thus far it's been a blast! Plat and twinking =/= fun.

[Uggme]

There are threads on this forum indicating that the staff does NOT condone the sale of accounts. It IS against the rules, they simply have no legitimate means of preventing it. Staff has also gone on record indicating that as soon as they do have a means to prevent account sales, they will.

So it's best to just go with the rules of the server and not buy accounts. Period.

[Faerie]

It's a shame that happened, but you shouldn't be trying to buy or sell accounts in the first place. It's not in the true spirit of EQ, and I think it's even a little immoral.

[letsallkillandy]

Account buying, selling, or trading has always been frowned upon. Safest bet is to always play your own character.

Frowned upon is such an ambiguous term. Why do the staff dance around this subject? This isnt meant as a jab on the staff, I'm merely curious.

[Tecmos Deception]

Step 1: Start on p99
Step 2: Read stickies
Step 3: ???
Step 4: Profit

[Lyra]

Because the account had a 45 Monk, a 43 Cleric, a 35 Enchanter, and a 30 something mage, so I figured it would give me the chance to play several classes I was interested in without having to level everything up individually.

I'm confused.

So this account, with the highest character a 45 Monk then a 43 Cleric, a 35 Enchanter, and a 30 something mage "acquired a healthy chunk of gear and cash"?

Not even a druid cash cow?

Hmmmm

[Samoht]

Frowned upon is such an ambiguous term. Why do the staff dance around this subject? This isnt meant as a jab on the staff, I'm merely curious.

you give them a relatively safe place to do it, and you can prevent it from transforming into RMT

[Lyra]

Frowned upon is such an ambiguous term. Why do the staff dance around this subject? This isnt meant as a jab on the staff, I'm merely curious.

Because they have no way to stop it.

If you have suggestions, I'm sure they would love to hear them. Some ideas have already been researched, but a workable solution has not been found.

[nilbog]

Frowned upon is such an ambiguous term. Why do the staff dance around this subject? This isnt meant as a jab on the staff, I'm merely curious.

'Frowned upon' was the classic term for cases like this, if I remember correctly.

I'm not dancing.

I have always been opposed to characters being sold or traded. Alas, opposed is not the equivalent of condemned; at least not yet. My official stance to date has been these instances are 'frowned upon'.

When I initially launched the server, there were far more pressing matters on which to attend than policing trades. However, cases of players petitioning they were cheated on deals involving shared or traded accounts, I have declined to offer my assistance. Character sales or trades currently fall under 'at your own risk' situations.

That being said, there will come a time where this is against server rules. I hope that time is sooner than later, but heed this warning. Do not have your account in escrow, trade, or consignment for extended periods of time.

You might ask, how can we stop this? Whether it be through linked forum accounts, access codes, etc, I would prefer to prevent these situations than to seemingly condone them.

[Grillot]

The point of this thread was to warn new and / or unaware players that buying an account is a dangerous thing to do. Those of us who have been around for a while already know about the endless possibilities that come with account trading/selling/buying. Posts like this should be considered as valuable feedback and not turned into arguements or interrogations. If no one at all made posts like this then nobody would be aware of the risks.

[Gadwen]

starting from scratch is the best part.

Agreed, getting a full set of leather/banded/bronze on your first char is far more exciting than buying that 7th twink alt a CoF could ever be.

[falkun]

I understand that now.

The whole reason I made the thread was to give a real example of the kinds of things that happen when you buy accounts. I'm trying to be helpful, please don't jump down my throat about it. The realization that I have to start from scratch again is bad enough.

I'm not jumping down your throat. I stated the lesson succinctly. I also provided you an alternative to account trading:
1) Create L1.
2) Use assets to purchase PL.
3) Save PP from account sale.

Think about it, most 55+ accounts are 100k+, considering you can purchase PLs for ~2k/level (on average, but realistically weighted from least expensive low levels to expensive higher levels) and you can still have a 50+ account for <100k with <2 days /played. And you'll KNOW its not flagged to be banned. And you'll get exactly the name you want.

[Uggme]

The point of this thread was to warn new and / or unaware players that buying an account is a dangerous thing to do. Those of us who have been around for a while already know about the endless possibilities that come with account trading/selling/buying. Posts like this should be considered as valuable feedback and not turned into arguements or interrogations. If no one at all made posts like this then nobody would be aware of the risks.

Pretty sure nobody here is grilling the fellow, but more or less trying to add to the warning itself.

Plus, I truly would like to see this fellow play again from the beginning :)

[Lyra]

Pretty sure nobody here is grilling the fellow

Well I was kinda.

I like ALL the facts when something like this is brought to attention. I don't see an account with the highest character 45 having 45K.

Unless, like SO many seem to do...he made his fortune "buying low and selling high in EC" *rolls eyes*

Maybe I missed something?

[Famous]

Well I was kinda.

I like ALL the facts when something like this is brought to attention. I don't see an account with the highest character 45 having 45K.

Unless, like SO many seem to do...he made his fortune "buying low and selling high in EC" *rolls eyes*

Maybe I missed something?

He said that his friend gave him an account to strip and sell when he quit.

[Lyra]

He said that his friend gave him an account to strip and sell when he quit.

The account his friend gave him had the highest character level 45.

[August]

Well I was kinda.

I like ALL the facts when something like this is brought to attention. I don't see an account with the highest character 45 having 45K.

Unless, like SO many seem to do...he made his fortune "buying low and selling high in EC" *rolls eyes*

Maybe I missed something?

When I first played EQ I was a tunnel rat (Age 13). My highest level was a 34 druid named Amaruq. Sometime when Throneblade of the Ykesha was out, I traded one for a 53 warrior account. I hated the warrior, so I played on the wizard (lvl 34, ha) and leveled her to 52, which she never grew out of.

When I quit the game I had just under 4 million pp. Not saying that this dude is legit or non-legit, just that it's possible to be 'low level' and have tons of pp.

Plus there a ways of making money that are constant. For instance, i invested 9100pp to level JC for which I've already turned about 15k in profits, giving me a net of 6k and climbing every day. You don't need levels to make that sweet cash.

[Lyra]

Well I did misunderstand. The account his friend gave him was a necro. The account he bought had the highest level 45 character.

So it is very possible the necro had 45 K worth of stuff.

Carry on.

[kaev]

It's a shame that happened, but you shouldn't be trying to buy or sell accounts in the first place. It's not in the true spirit of EQ, and I think it's even a little immoral.

Dunno what you mean by "the true spirit of EQ", but buying/selling accounts was happening in EQ pretty much from the start. I remember quite clearly being disturbed by the casual attitude of MUD and UO vets toward account selling when I started playing in '99.

I came to EQ straight from many years of P&P gaming, it simply hadn't ever occurred to me to treat player characters like used sports gear. I still don't like it, even games like in EVE Online where it is explicitly supported by the game company, but I've got no clue how to prevent players from selling off accounts & characters like bags of old golf clubs at a rummage sale. v0v

[chtulu]

Hey, i just found this thread. Nilbog, could you clear my name? I never bought plat or dealt with anyone shady, ever. Not on my original Account that had chtulu, my warrior, or this one I just recently sold.

Would like my name to cleaned of this baseless accusation. I'm just the angry atheist on RnF.

[chtulu]

Also, since when did I become a cheater? Crazy how shit the kinda gets made up on the spot in these forums. Do a search for my character chtulu. This is the only recent issue that's been had and the FIRST time i've been called a cheater haha.

It'd be nice if someone had evidence that my account was banned for RMTing. I think he's just assuming that, and he never petitioned to ask why it was banned. It was mostly likely his fault and his buddy who gave him his account had RMT shit on it. But of course, that would make too much sense.

[feanan]

I've been here a month. My highest level character is 4. I've made 3.3 million plat, off buying and selling bone chips in ec.

You guys obviously don't know what you are doing.

[Systolic]

Also, since when did I become a cheater? Crazy how shit the kinda gets made up on the spot in these forums. Do a search for my character chtulu. This is the only recent issue that's been had and the FIRST time i've been called a cheater haha.

It'd be nice if someone had evidence that my account was banned for RMTing. I think he's just assuming that, and he never petitioned to ask why it was banned. It was mostly likely his fault and his buddy who gave him his account had RMT shit on it. But of course, that would make too much sense.

This cant be true because I have another account that wasn't banned. It was only the account I bought from you that was banned.

[fuark]

This cant be true because I have another account that wasn't banned. It was only the account I bought from you that was banned.

He's just trolling you.

http://www.project1999.org/forums/showthread.php?t=108705

You'll notice all the posts that were flaming his reputation that got removed, however his responses didn't.

Definitely sucks you got your account banned, but I don't know why after seeing those posts you didn't research his reputation.

I would still recommend staying on the server, a char level 30-45 is incredibly easy to get. Hell you can PL a new char to 30 in a day if you can get a friend to PL you with the necro you have. Fortunately for you, necro is about the best PLer there is! It's the only thing I use mine for.

[Beaniron]

So, let me get this straight. It's illegal to RMT plat/items from third parties, but it's perfectly legal according to P99 rules to buy accounts from other P99 players for real money?

That's the vibe I'm getting from the first few posts.

[chtulu]

you guys are idiots.

[chtulu]

Is than an elaborate trolling? Am I being trolled?

[Beaniron]

Is than an elaborate trolling? Am I being trolled?

I was merely asking a question, one that I found an answer for after more closely examining the EC forum rules.

It seemed like that's what the TC was hinting at though.

[raff01]

leveling is fun. If everyone buys their toons to skip leveling, there won't be anyone in the lower to mid level zones. Leveling is fun, the game is 14 year old we all know it very well, we've all been here, but if we come back to it 14 years later to do it all over again its because we love it. If I just wanted to level a toon in a week just to play at high level I'd be playing on live.

[Danth]

On a related note, why are the folks selling accounts so secretive about the character names? Nobody ever posts the names on their auctions.

--------------------

Whether low-mid level content is "fun" is a matter for debate. A few longstanding problems on P1999 with relation to damage intake makes life a lot harder for melees than it was on Live in the comparable era. The lower population also makes groups much harder to come by, particularly during off-peak hours. I don't necessarily blame folks for wanting to skip it.

Danth

[Wudan]

So morals of the story here are these:

1) Don't buy accounts until you have thoroughly explored the seller's reputation.
2) Understand that because of the recent RMT banwave, there will be many people trying to dump off accounts for whatever quick buck they can acquire, leaving the buyer completely screwed.

This is not supposed to be a pity party. I know what I did wrong in this mess, and I know now what to do and what not to do. I just made this post so that maybe someone else out there will avoid my fate. Take care, everyone.

no you dont know what you did wrong...let me tell you

DONT BUY ACCOUNTS at all! Its for fukin losers! You got an account from your friend, gear, pp, everything noob could dream about and you decided to sell and buy new one....well you deserve what happened to you, because account selling is BS that is killing this server and everyone involved deserves to be banned.

[Clark]

This is lame, don't punish the wrong guy. Chtulu was a peace of shit noob.

[Uggme]

So, let me get this straight. It's illegal to RMT plat/items from third parties, but it's perfectly legal according to P99 rules to buy accounts from other P99 players for real money?

That's the vibe I'm getting from the first few posts.

You can't buy accounts for real money... only plat. The money referred to in this post is about plat. Buying an account for RL money is RMTing and is against the rules as well as a perma-bannable offence.

And honestly, you can't really even buy accounts with your plat. The staff doesn't approve of it either way. The simple and best option to avoid any issues now and in the future is to simply not do it.

[Lyra]

The account had already been flagged for RMT prior to my purchase of the account, and needless to say within one week of buying the account, it was banned.

What were the names of the characters on the account that got banned?

[chtulu]

Once again ill ask. Where is the proof that my accounts flagged prior to purchase? I only had about 30k when I sold it. That's not big money. My bet is he or his friend who gave him all his stuff rmt'd and is why he got banned.

[chtulu]

This is lame, don't punish the wrong guy. Chtulu was a peace of shit noob.

And who is this idiot? Calling me a noob? You joined forum quest long after I did. You're a nobody and I hate you.

[Systolic]

no you dont know what you did wrong...let me tell you

DONT BUY ACCOUNTS at all! Its for fukin losers! You got an account from your friend, gear, pp, everything noob could dream about and you decided to sell and buy new one....well you deserve what happened to you, because account selling is BS that is killing this server and everyone involved deserves to be banned.

I didn't sell the account. I sold his gear and put that plat towards gearing out the characters on the account I bought.

[Systolic]

What were the names of the characters on the account that got banned?

Excelcius
Shoggoth
Surprize
I cant remember the mage's name... Nyzt or something.

[Systolic]

Once again ill ask. Where is the proof that my accounts flagged prior to purchase? I only had about 30k when I sold it. That's not big money. My bet is he or his friend who gave him all his stuff rmt'd and is why he got banned.

Again, I have another account and it is not banned.

If I RMT'ed, and they looked at that account, and wanted to ban my IP I would have lost all of my accounts, but I still have an account with my lowbie characters on it, and I also still have his necro and full access to it.

It was only the account that I got from you that was banned.

Furthermore, the GMs have notified me that it was banned for MacroQuest2 usage. I don't even own that program.

[Uggme]

Furthermore, the GMs have notified me that it was banned for MacroQuest2 usage. I don't even own that program.

This appears to be proof that, before the account was sold to you for plat, that the person selling the account was using MQ. In which case, perhaps there are legitimate grounds to both prove that person is in fact a cheater and ban his accounts as well for using illigal programs!

If I were you I'd continue to follow up with staff and you might be able to take some trash off the server :)

[Gadwen]

I find these stories interesting, the account was banned within 1 week of the sale for MQ...so how did it sit there long enough to even get sold? Do the GMs not see the "flag" on the account until someone is actually logged in? How is it that these accounts aren't banned until someone sells them?

On another note, this is why I would never buy an account, not to say that there aren't legit account sellers out there. But these kinds of things are just way too common, people knowingly sell accounts that they used to RMT or to cheat and double fuck the server by screwing another player over along with it.

[Thulack]

I find these stories interesting, the account was banned within 1 week of the sale for MQ...so how did it sit there long enough to even get sold? Do the GMs not see the "flag" on the account until someone is actually logged in? How is it that these accounts aren't banned until someone sells them?

On another note, this is why I would never buy an account, not to say that there aren't legit account sellers out there. But these kinds of things are just way too common, people knowingly sell accounts that they used to RMT or to cheat and double fuck the server by screwing another player over along with it.

Pretty sure they only do bans in waves. Like they have stuff running all the time to find cheaters but only pull out the ban hammer once every few weeks after going through them. And their are plenty of legitimate accounts sellers(me for one :)) but some people are giving us a bad rap. And to the person that said leveling was fun. Leveling is worse then sitting and camping gear or Playing EC market.

[Asap]

Chtulu was a peace of shit noob.

a peace of shit noob.

peace of shit

peace

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NYz4h0d6WAs/UFwnwnnuyLI/AAAAAAAAGOU/7nYpTw_7JzQ/s1600/Peace_Symbol_Vector_by_roxannemartin.jpeg

[Uggme]

And their are plenty of legitimate accounts sellers(me for one :)) but some people are giving us a bad rap. And to the person that said leveling was fun. Leveling is worse then sitting and camping gear or Playing EC market.

There are no legitimate account sellers. Every single one is walking a very narrow line regarding the rules of the server. All it takes is a means to PUNISH what you are doing to make the whole thing a bannable offence. So yea, You all have bad raps due to the innately underhanded nature of the transactions you process.

Secondly, Your opinion on leveling and playing the game is concerning and revealing at the same time. The journey through classic EQ, and playing through it (read: leveling up in it) is exactly why this server is about. If you are not having fun doing that, then you might want to try a different game or MMO. There are plenty out there with Micro-transaction models which have built in means to skip content and level faster.

Go play those.

[Lyra]

This server is EXACTLY about what each person wants to make of it. You are more in the wrong for telling X what EQ is supposed to be about than X is for making EQ what he wants it to be about for him.

Don't really follow your line of reasoning.

Monopoly comes with rules. Do you follow the rules when you play the game? Maybe you roll the thimble and the hat instead of the dice.

[Systolic]

I find these stories interesting, the account was banned within 1 week of the sale for MQ...so how did it sit there long enough to even get sold? Do the GMs not see the "flag" on the account until someone is actually logged in? How is it that these accounts aren't banned until someone sells them?

On another note, this is why I would never buy an account, not to say that there aren't legit account sellers out there. But these kinds of things are just way too common, people knowingly sell accounts that they used to RMT or to cheat and double fuck the server by screwing another player over along with it.

I have my theories, but I got the distinct impression that he was trying to sell the account quickly when I bought it from him... I, like I said, was terribly naive and impatient, thinking that a deal as good as it was would get snapped up quickly, so I moved on it.

I'm thinking he may have known he was flagged in some way, or even that he knew he would eventually get banned, so he wanted to dump things off now while he could make money on them. I know that he still plays and has at least 2 characters on the server.

[Nune]

People don't list the names of accounts when selling them because it usually only serves as a deterrent. "WTS 50 SK w/ 500k in gear blah blah blah" people will bid and buy. "WTS 50 SK Named Girthking with 500k n gear blah blah blah" you'll have people shy away because of stupid name. A Lot of people buy accounts with a sense of urgency instead of asking questions.

If I were you, I'd take this to the Petition forums. I Doubt you'll get the account back, if whoever used proxies, you can't really rely on IPs to trace it back to whoever did it. But the Staff here have more clever methods than they lead on, and at least you could see the person who fucked you over be punished.

Cthulu, you're a confirmed retard. "I've been forumquesting longer than you, who are you?" uh ok? Desperate means sought by a desperate man. You weren't arguing that the account you sold him was banned because of you, you only argued that a different account his friend had was flagged (you're aware that makes no sense right?) and banned, and pulled an Altari and said "prove it" regarding yours. Seems like you got away with this one, grats on furthering the archetype of idiocy thats prevalent around these parts.

[Uggme]

This is from the front page of www.project1999.org

Relive the classic Everquest MMORPG Gaming Experience as it was in 1999 and onward. Project 1999 is a free to play Emulated Everquest Server giving Players the opportunity to experience Classic EQ Once again

This appears to quite clearly define what the purpose of the server is. It also clearly shows the intent of the gameplay, which is to re-experience classic EQ. Account selling was not a part of the picture classically. It was not just frowned upon, but it was bannable. This clearly dictates how you are supposed to enjoy playing on the server.

So, there you have it.

[Systolic]

At any rate, my petition failed, the GM's won't reinstate the account, so I am done. Its not worth my time to start completely over again. I hope that this story helps people. I do think that account trading is okay, and I do encourage people to do so if they want.

For example, someone makes a character and places the starting stats in a certain way and when they hit 60 they realize that those starting stats being placed differently could significantly impact the viability of their character in the raiding scene. Why should they have to start from scratch just to reallocate points?

I think account buying and selling is only frowned upon because it inflates the economy and it lowers the real world value of platinum, which encourages RMT, imbalancing the game and creating a clear disparity between the lowbies who RMT and the lowbies who don't.

If giving ones account away is okay, then why is buying/selling accounts not? I think that the community needs to read between the lines a bit here. Someone obviously wants control of the games economy. It could be strictly for the purposes of game continuity, but I have my own opinions based upon one of the GM responses in my petition. more to come in a sec

[Nune]

I have my theories, but I got the distinct impression that he was trying to sell the account quickly when I bought it from him... I, like I said, was terribly naive and impatient, thinking that a deal as good as it was would get snapped up quickly, so I moved on it.


A Lot of people buy accounts with a sense of urgency instead of asking questions.

You got jobbed bud, don't quit. If you're in game, look up Rumham, I'll see if I cant pull some strings and get you some help/gear if you feel rerolling is a death sentence. The fact you got fucked over, and have continued to post with a calm demeanor is inspiring enough to want to help keep you around

[Systolic]

ALERT: Tin foil hat ON

Basically, this account was used to cheat. Whoever owns it doesn't change the fact that the characters on the account have acquired experience, items, platinum through a cheating program which against server rules, which is why the account itself was banned and not you as a player.

As far as GMs exhibiting fairness, they are doing exactly so. An account shouldn't be waived a ban from cheating just because that account is no longer being played by the cheater. The fact is that whatever he did to cheat to add value to that account is not fair to the other players in the game who respect server rules.

Account trading is frowned upon by server staff. We do not recommend doing so for reasons such as this. While one of the GMs (Ephi or Sirken) may chime in here, I do not think the ban will be overturned.

This is one of the responses to my petition. I wont mention the GM who said this to me but I thought that the bolded portion was important. The guides/GMs obviously see the accounts as having value of some sort, so for them to have the idea that accounts have value but at the same time don't condone the sale of them logically implies that they have a direct bearing in the values of said accounts.

I don't have any hard evidence to prove that guides/gms might potentially involved in RMT themselves, but sentences like that can only make one wonder. It would also make sense for them to be opposed to account selling in this case because then any money potentially made (or platinum) would be filtered through the community.

This is all just a theory, but since I am quitting the server due to the attitudes of the leaders of the community (and their subsequent unwillingness to give me a legitimate chance), I figured I would at least share my thoughts...

One last little idea: What better way to make money than to monopolize it? If a currency has an real world exchange rate, if one (like an admin of some kind) could create their own currency through the client, then not only could that person control the exchange rate, they could also have an unlimited real-world cash flow.

[Nune]

This is from the front page of www.project1999.org



This appears to quite clearly define what the purpose of the server is. It also clearly shows the intent of the gameplay, which is to re-experience classic EQ. Account selling was not a part of the picture classically. It was not just frowned upon, but it was bannable. This clearly dictates how you are supposed to enjoy playing on the server.

So, there you have it.

Again, I find it laughable when people make this point.

In 1999/2000, if you went to Ebay and typed "Everquest accounts" it was bursting with accounts. SoE was super shy on the banhammer; its a different beast when you ban people that are paying you $15 a month. The only dif was the fact people didnt talk about account sales publicly, so to say account sales weren't classic is flat out wrong.

[webrunner5]

This server is EXACTLY about what each person wants to make of it. You are more in the wrong for telling X what EQ is supposed to be about than X is for making EQ what he wants it to be about for him.

I hate to say this Slave but I agree with you. :eek: Tradeskills come to mind. I would be a JC sitting in the tunnel making tons of plat if I wasn't too lazy to level up a Enchanter high enough to do it. But people do just that. And play the buy low sell high thingy.

Being 50 and above on this server is not what it is cracked up to be. I laugh my ass off on the people that want to be Pled to 60. What a joke. The fun is in the lower level zones trying to get some decent gear in a group, or pulling off breaking a camp solo.

[August]

ALERT: Tin foil hat ON



This is one of the responses to my petition. I wont mention the GM who said this to me but I thought that the bolded portion was important. The guides/GMs obviously see the accounts as having value of some sort, so for them to have the idea that accounts have value but at the same time don't condone the sale of them logically implies that they have a direct bearing in the values of said accounts.

I don't have any hard evidence to prove that guides/gms might potentially involved in RMT themselves, but sentences like that can only make one wonder. It would also make sense for them to be opposed to account selling in this case because then any money potentially made (or platinum) would be filtered through the community.

This is all just a theory, but since I am quitting the server due to the attitudes of the leaders of the community, I figured I would at least share my thoughts...

One last little idea: What better way to make money than to monopolize it? If a currency has an real world exchange rate, if one (like an admin of some kind) could create their own currency, then not only could that person control the exchange rate, they could also have an unlimited real-world cash flow.

You're really stretching an argument thin here. Because the GM said that the account had value you are going on to say that the GMs are behind a RMT conspiracy to monopolize accounts and turn that into real life dough? I would gladly say my account has 'value' - it's a 60 enc missing 3 spells. It has sentimental value, it has in-game value, it has platinum value, hell it has a more intangible value called prestige - but that doesn't mean that to me it has real money value.

[Systolic]

Again, I find it laughable when people make this point.

In 1999/2000, if you went to Ebay and typed "Everquest accounts" it was bursting with accounts. SoE was super shy on the banhammer; its a different beast when you ban people that are paying you $15 a month. The only dif was the fact people didnt talk about account sales publicly, so to say account sales weren't classic is flat out wrong.

Yes, the fact that people aren't paying for this service already makes it an entirely different experience from the original EQ.

It was 9.95 a month when it first came out, and you can bet your ass I was on the game ALL the time, so as to get my money's worth, even if I was just sitting on the newb log in Nektulos helping new players kill Leatherfoots.

[webrunner5]

Again, I find it laughable when people make this point.

In 1999/2000, if you went to Ebay and typed "Everquest accounts" it was bursting with accounts. SoE was super shy on the banhammer; its a different beast when you ban people that are paying you $15 a month. The only dif was the fact people didnt talk about account sales publicly, so to say account sales weren't classic is flat out wrong.

Yeah ebay was full of accounts for sale in the day. :eek:

[Uggme]

Again, I find it laughable when people make this point.

In 1999/2000, if you went to Ebay and typed "Everquest accounts" it was bursting with accounts. SoE was super shy on the banhammer; its a different beast when you ban people that are paying you $15 a month. The only dif was the fact people didnt talk about account sales publicly, so to say account sales weren't classic is flat out wrong.

You just confirmed that the buying and selling of accounts was not condoned nor allowed by Verant. thus, still showing that a rule-abiding player in 1999-2000 would never even consider it as a option.

The fact that you could ebay search accounts back in 1999 is actually pretty moot. It's prety common knowledge that nearly everything is for sale for the right price. That doesn't make it right to sell everything. You might actually recall that less than 200 years ago people were for sale here in the United States.

Seeing as this server seeks to recreate a classic experience, they should do eveything in thier power to stop it - which apparently isn't much atm. But at least there is some effort being put into it.

[Systolic]

You're really stretching an argument thin here. Because the GM said that the account had value you are going on to say that the GMs are behind a RMT conspiracy to monopolize accounts and turn that into real life dough? I would gladly say my account has 'value' - it's a 60 enc missing 3 spells. It has sentimental value, it has in-game value, it has platinum value, hell it has a more intangible value called prestige - but that doesn't mean that to me it has real money value.

It all goes back to platinum (which is clearly directly linked to RMT)

sentimental value is less likely to exist for someone who purchased an account outright.
In-game value is directly correlated to platinum value
Platinum value speaks for itself
Prestige is linked to gear, which is linked to the platinum value of the account.

I'm sure that in WoW the original Leroyjenkins account could sell for $10,000 if someone wanted it to, but there no accounts with that kind of 'prestige' on this server.

Since platinum is the primary exchange option for real world cash, then everything you have mentioned (save sentimental value) can be traced back to platinu, which can be traced back to RMT.

Like I said, its only a theory, but its just extremely odd to me that the GMs take such a hard stance on something that may not be breaking any rules in any way. they frown upon account buying, that doesn't mean you get banned for it. If you're dubious to an NPC, they don't attack you. Furthermore, my friends' account isn't banned. My baby account isn't banned, and chtulu's other account isn't banned.

Something just doesn't add up.

[Systolic]

My logic is that if they are trying to stop cheaters, and they have determined that SOMEONE is a cheater.. they banned one single account related to cheating and whoever of the people involved was cheating is still able to have access to the game... and I took the brunt of it despite the fact that I did nothing wrong within the game, despite whatever ambiguous rule is in place about enforcing the sale of accounts, and the person who committed the crime so to speak is still out in the wild.

What happened to me is the equivalent of being arrested for being on camera when someone else robbed a grocery store.

[webrunner5]

Well, yeah according to you, due to your experiences so far on the server. Many of us have done that 100x now and want a legitimate and fair chance at the raid scene, unencumbered by arbitrary rules and mechanics that clearly favor one party.

I can see why people want to go kill big, ugly, nasty, scary Dragons. But what gear do you not have that still drops in this game is going to make that big of a difference to your toon playing.

Your telling me you can't go loot Fungi's. FBSS's, T Staff's etc to sell and buy shit TMO has for sale in the tunnel. Hell I would bet TMO might even let you join them if you are willing to Poopsock, Track and Batphone as a noob in the guild till your ass falls off like they make new people do. Sounds like you want to be casual and still get Pixels. I admit, I am too lazy to do it. And been there done that.

Hell do like Sirken said. Round up the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th guilds and you can be the Leader and kick TMO the hell off the server like IB. Tell TMO all they get is Lady Vox. De-level or eat shit. Now that is a plan. :p

[webrunner5]

Nobody is interested in becoming the new King of Shit. The server is now more interested in removing this completely arbitrary Shit that has been foisted upon us in the form of Variance.

I agree with you Slave. Just screwing with you. :p But the Gm's just don't seem to want to change it. So like they say if you can't defeat them join them. Make it like the Red Server is. 75% of the people in one guild.

[Wudan]

I didn't sell the account. I sold his gear and put that plat towards gearing out the characters on the account I bought.

Are you dumb or trolling? The point is you bought the account, which makes you a loser and part of the account trading problem this server has. Im glad you got banned, maybe some people will think twice before trading/buying accounts.

You all account buying idiots are jest feeding rmt operation. Its not the gear they are making most money on. It is PLing the crap out of new toons and selling them to lazy morons like yourself.

Your actions are detrimental to this server

[Thulack]

There are no legitimate account sellers. Every single one is walking a very narrow line regarding the rules of the server. All it takes is a means to PUNISH what you are doing to make the whole thing a bannable offence. So yea, You all have bad raps due to the innately underhanded nature of the transactions you process.

Secondly, Your opinion on leveling and playing the game is concerning and revealing at the same time. The journey through classic EQ, and playing through it (read: leveling up in it) is exactly why this server is about. If you are not having fun doing that, then you might want to try a different game or MMO. There are plenty out there with Micro-transaction models which have built in means to skip content and level faster.

Go play those.

I'm doing everything within legal rules on this server. The day they make account selling illegal then i will stop. But until then there is plat to be made buying/selling accounts. I'm sorry you don't get to experience all parts of the game such as the economy aspects of it. Your the same person i talked to in EC a month ago when you were bitching in OOC cause TMO was selling raid loots. Just as i have been told when it comes to rotation's "Thats not how it was on every server" so your experiences with guilds selling raid loots or people selling accounts(it was bannable on live but yet tons still did it) isnt classic. Well its not classic for me with varience or guilds just being douches for that matter when it comes to raid mobs. To each their own. I'll continue to flip accounts til i'm not allowed then i will sit back and watch the economy erupt with inflation and the pop go down because no one wants to level up new toons because they just cant buy a higher level toon.

[Systolic]

Are you dumb or trolling? The point is you bought the account, which makes you a loser and part of the account trading problem this server has. Im glad you got banned, maybe some people will think twice before trading/buying accounts.

You all account buying idiots are jest feeding rmt operation. Its not the gear they are making most money on. It is PLing the crap out of new toons and selling them to lazy morons like yourself.

Your actions are detrimental to this server

I'm not lazy, I just have other things I would like to do than sit in 5 zones from 1-46 for 30+ hours each. And yeah there are other places I could go to level but there are clearly faster places than others, and I'm not interested in the leveling process.

Ive experienced all of the content in this game before. I want to raid.

[Nune]

You just confirmed that the buying and selling of accounts was not condoned nor allowed by Verant. thus, still showing that a rule-abiding player in 1999-2000 would never even consider it as a option.

The fact that you could ebay search accounts back in 1999 is actually pretty moot. It's prety common knowledge that nearly everything is for sale for the right price. That doesn't make it right to sell everything. You might actually recall that less than 200 years ago people were for sale here in the United States.

Seeing as this server seeks to recreate a classic experience, they should do eveything in thier power to stop it - which apparently isn't much atm. But at least there is some effort being put into it.

You're twisting you point from "it's classic" to ethics. I didn't make an ethical point. I said that there were hundreds of accounts to be bought for willing parties, and it occurred during this era in EQ Live

[Gadwen]

Again, I find it laughable when people make this point.

In 1999/2000, if you went to Ebay and typed "Everquest accounts" it was bursting with accounts. SoE was super shy on the banhammer; its a different beast when you ban people that are paying you $15 a month. The only dif was the fact people didnt talk about account sales publicly, so to say account sales weren't classic is flat out wrong.

Everything that was against the rules happened on live. By that logic we could say that MQ is classic, training is classic, KSing is classic, RMTing is classic. It still doesn't validate these actions.

[Nune]

Are you dumb or trolling? The point is you bought the account, which makes you a loser and part of the account trading problem this server has. Im glad you got banned, maybe some people will think twice before trading/buying accounts.

You all account buying idiots are jest feeding rmt operation. Its not the gear they are making most money on. It is PLing the crap out of new toons and selling them to lazy morons like yourself.

Your actions are detrimental to this server

Starts post with are you dumb or trolling, then takes a dumb course to troll. Take your foil hat off bro, buying an account with plat feeds nothing RMT wise more so then selling a raid drop in EC. The only thing detrimental to the server is people like you, who are poster children for narcissism. Just because account selling is the #1 RMT source does not mean people who buy an account with legit plat have fed the operation. Somehow, you see an exchange of in game currency for in game pixels as a RMT exchange, which clearly shows you're fairly retarded.

[Ephi]

My logic is that if they are trying to stop cheaters, and they have determined that SOMEONE is a cheater.. they banned one single account related to cheating and whoever of the people involved was cheating is still able to have access to the game... and I took the brunt of it despite the fact that I did nothing wrong within the game, despite whatever ambiguous rule is in place about enforcing the sale of accounts, and the person who committed the crime so to speak is still out in the wild.

What happened to me is the equivalent of being arrested for being on camera when someone else robbed a grocery store.

This is honestly a very good point and distinction worth bringing up. That said, the process to verify accounts traded hands is nearly impossible to be 100% sure of. Most "uniquely identifying" system information can be faked to make it look like an account did trade hands, which would give intelligent cheaters a free pass. IP bans are also not 100% effective overall, especially when dealing with someone knowledgeable in such matters, so there's no way to ban someone completely from the game. The best we can do is ban every account they have ever touched, which creates its own set of problems due to the rampant sharing of account credentials on this server.

I've made an effort to clarify our stance on account trades here (http://www.project1999.org/forums/showthread.php?t=110034). Sorry you got pinched, but you aren't the first, nor will you be the last.

Also, the accusation that because we're banning accounts means we're somehow involved in RMT is silly. I can create any character, item, or monetary value on the server I want with commands entrusted to me as a GM. I don't need your account and its crap. I can make my own. Now of course I don't, and there are auditing measures in place to ensure GMs aren't doing that (nilbog and Rogean both regularly check logs).

I hope you're willing to come back in the future and play again on your own account. If not, I certainly understand, and best of luck wherever you go next.

[August]

It all goes back to platinum (which is clearly directly linked to RMT)

sentimental value is less likely to exist for someone who purchased an account outright.
In-game value is directly correlated to platinum value
Platinum value speaks for itself
Prestige is linked to gear, which is linked to the platinum value of the account.

I'm sure that in WoW the original Leroyjenkins account could sell for $10,000 if someone wanted it to, but there no accounts with that kind of 'prestige' on this server.

Since platinum is the primary exchange option for real world cash, then everything you have mentioned (save sentimental value) can be traced back to platinu, which can be traced back to RMT.

Like I said, its only a theory, but its just extremely odd to me that the GMs take such a hard stance on something that may not be breaking any rules in any way. they frown upon account buying, that doesn't mean you get banned for it. If you're dubious to an NPC, they don't attack you. Furthermore, my friends' account isn't banned. My baby account isn't banned, and chtulu's other account isn't banned.

Something just doesn't add up.

By this self-serving logic:

I farm a JBB.
I can sell JBB for 50kpp - and do so, I now have 50kpp

Quote: "Since platinum is the primary exchange option for real world cash" ... then me farming the JBB can be linked to a desire for platinum, which is tracked back to RMT, which means I farmed JBB for RMT.

Idiot.

[Nune]

Everything that was against the rules happened on live. By that logic we could say that MQ is classic, training is classic, KSing is classic, RMTing is classic. It still doesn't validate these actions.

I never stood to validate it with my post, again, you're drawing lines in the sand. MQ was classic, SEQ was classic, account sales were classic. Not legal, supported, or legit.. classic

All I'm saying is that it happened, even if it was illegal than, and roughly legal here now. I just don't see the point in recalling history through perception and not factually

[Nune]

By this self-serving logic:

I farm a JBB.
I can sell JBB for 50kpp - and do so, I now have 50kpp

Quote: "Since platinum is the primary exchange option for real world cash" ... then me farming the JBB can be linked to a desire for platinum, which is tracked back to RMT, which means I farmed JBB for RMT.

Idiot.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this
+1

[Systolic]

By this self-serving logic:

I farm a JBB.
I can sell JBB for 50kpp - and do so, I now have 50kpp

Quote: "Since platinum is the primary exchange option for real world cash" ... then me farming the JBB can be linked to a desire for platinum, which is tracked back to RMT, which means I farmed JBB for RMT.

Idiot.

There is an assumed subset/philosophy/archetype of said player in my analogy.

If it went over your head, you don't have to attempt to insult me as a result.

[chtulu]

so I've been accused of rmting, MQing, or some variation of cheating, yet there is no proof and the op won't quote the gm who told him my account was exploiting some how. Look you guys, he is obviously a liar and him and his buddy who gave him items were shady before he even bought. My account. I have my accounts still too from 6 months ago, how come they weren't banned if they were traacking my shit and verified I was cheating?

The burden of proof is on the accuser, not the accused. The OP could just screen shot the gm response saying my account was shady, but he won't because he is lying and blaming me for his own cheating or friend who cheated and gave him items.

[August]

There is an assumed subset/philosophy/archetype of said player in my analogy.

If it went over your head, you don't have to attempt to insult me as a result.

Trust me, nothing you said 'went over my head'.

If you start with a false premise, anything can be proven true. Would you like to see a proof for that as well?

[chtulu]

There should be consequences to calling someone a cheater publically like this without proof. This is a small community and stuff like that carries a very negative and long lasting stigma. Either remove thiis thread or a gm needs to come in and verify that none of my accounts were invloved in shady dealings. This is harassment.

[Uggme]

I never stood to validate it with my post, again, you're drawing lines in the sand. MQ was classic, SEQ was classic, account sales were classic. Not legal, supported, or legit.. classic

They might have existed, it doesn't make thier use, lack there of, or over-use within the spirit of those who built the server. That doesn't make them "classic" features. It makes them old issues that unscrupulous people continue to use to muck things up.

So because people secretly sold accounts in old eq we should allow it now? because people started using SEQ on X date we should allow it on that date? You're missing the spirit of the server. it's to relive the classic eq experience based on how it was before - without SEQ, without approved account sales.

So, why support something that is against the guidelines of those who built this server anyway? For your own benefit? Because you don't give a shit? Because 2+2=4?

I suppose the reason doesn't matter. It just boggles my mind how people can so completely gloss over the spirit, the intent, of something and follow up with working quite hard to ruin it. Especially when it's be provided to them free.

[Uggme]

I'm doing everything within legal rules on this server. The day they make account selling illegal then i will stop. But until then there is plat to be made buying/selling accounts. I'm sorry you don't get to experience all parts of the game such as the economy aspects of it. Your the same person i talked to in EC a month ago when you were bitching in OOC cause TMO was selling raid loots. Just as i have been told when it comes to rotation's "Thats not how it was on every server" so your experiences with guilds selling raid loots or people selling accounts(it was bannable on live but yet tons still did it) isnt classic. Well its not classic for me with varience or guilds just being douches for that matter when it comes to raid mobs. To each their own. I'll continue to flip accounts til i'm not allowed then i will sit back and watch the economy erupt with inflation and the pop go down because no one wants to level up new toons because they just cant buy a higher level toon.

Maybe you really should take my advice and play a different game. You seem burnt out and bitter.

Oh, and my main concern then was that the items were stolen or being sold unnecessarily by someone who was given loot in a guild, which would have hurt the guild and reflected badly on the person. You informed me that it was, instead, a guild bank for TMO selling droppable raid items, which made more sense. That also gave me some good insight into the high end status of the game. For that, I thank you.

[chtulu]

I will be taking legal action against the OP if this thread is not deleted. This is harassment and it has been affecting me on a personal level. I can't eat sleep or work because of the stress this is causing me!

[ripwind]

The Internet: Serious business.

[Lyra]

I will be taking legal action against the OP if this thread is not deleted. This is harassment and it has been affecting me on a personal level. I can't eat sleep or work because of the stress this is causing me!

Let us all know how that turns out.

[feanan]

i think alarti has a lawyer he can recommend

[Systolic]

There should be consequences to calling someone a cheater publically like this without proof. This is a small community and stuff like that carries a very negative and long lasting stigma. Either remove thiis thread or a gm needs to come in and verify that none of my accounts were invloved in shady dealings. This is harassment.

The cthulu account was banned for macroquest2 usage.

[Gadwen]

There should be consequences to calling someone a cheater publically like this without proof. This is a small community and stuff like that carries a very negative and long lasting stigma. Either remove thiis thread or a gm needs to come in and verify that none of my accounts were invloved in shady dealings. This is harassment.


You are right, it does carry a long lasting stigma. You sold an account that was flagged for MQ use. You are not a trustworthy account seller, and in a small community like this people should know who they can trust.

If you really want to look like a good guy and clear your name, apologize and give this guy his money back.

[Gadwen]

I will be taking legal action against the OP if this thread is not deleted. This is harassment and it has been affecting me on a personal level. I can't eat sleep or work because of the stress this is causing me!

I can see this one unfolding. Please do it on Judge Judy, and OP counter sue for loss of plat and mental anguish from the ban. Will be a season finale for sure.

[Wudan]

Starts post with are you dumb or trolling, then takes a dumb course to troll. Take your foil hat off bro, buying an account with plat feeds nothing RMT wise more so then selling a raid drop in EC. The only thing detrimental to the server is people like you, who are poster children for narcissism. Just because account selling is the #1 RMT source does not mean people who buy an account with legit plat have fed the operation. Somehow, you see an exchange of in game currency for in game pixels as a RMT exchange, which clearly shows you're fairly retarded.

i guess you are screaming because you are one of those account buying idiots. Either that or you are really naive that you dont see the connection between mass pling and selling accounts for pp....which is being sold for real cash...you can shove your tinfoil hat cliche up yours buddy. What do you think is better for server, someone like me who plays his main from lvl 1 and would never sell or someone who just wants to buy account because he seen it all and wants to join tmo/fe retard fest?

[Systolic]

Being paid back MIGHT keep me around, but even then I'm still irritated at the policy itself.

[chtulu]

OP won't site his source. For all we know his account is still active and is just taking potshots at me. if you can claim I cheated without any evidence, I can say I don't without having to prove my case too. Logic bitch.

[chtulu]

simple way to prove your case without letting us know the gms name who responded. Take a screenshot of the post including gms reply and just blur his name out, duh.

[chtulu]

If you can prove without a doubt that that account got banned because of me I will either rfund you in full or I will talk to the gm who banned you and clear it up. The only stuff I run during everquest is other games, other eqemulators, porn, itunes or anti virus software.

[chtulu]

If it turns out to not be my fault then I want to take video of you sucking my d.

[Systolic]

If you can prove without a doubt that that account got banned because of me I will either rfund you in full or I will talk to the gm who banned you and clear it up. The only stuff I run during everquest is other games, other eqemulators, porn, itunes or anti virus software.

http://i.imgur.com/IH4NTor.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/CrjrkIu.jpg

[Systolic]

Furthermore, Ephi just told me that I got 'pinched' IN THE THREAD... In other words, he knows it wasn't my fault but the rules are in place for a reason. As of now all of my other accounts are still active. I have done nothing wrong. The necro is still active. That account has done nothing wrong. The only account with any issues is the one I purchased from you.

[chtulu]

Well then I'll have to petition for you and talk to whoever did the actual "investigation" because like i said, I played on and off for about a year on that account with month or two of breaks inbetween playing. This is a case of they don't know shit and accidentally banned the account because they THOUGHT they know what they were seeing.

I've had roughly 25k on my mule notchtulu, and about 10k of gear between the monk and the cleric. for the last month or so I was leveling in gukbottom and solb. Hell, i didn't even get power leveled during my recent active time on p99 on that account.

I'll get to this bottom of this for you, and whoever investigated my account I sold you can suck my D for not doing a proper job.

[Lojik]

Sorry that the account you bought got banned, but in no way can I disagree with the GM's on the decision. You can say that you didn't know their policy on account trades, but it's clearly listed on the site and ignorance to the rules of the server (that is free mind you) is no excuse at all. You are able to play on this server by the good grace of the coders, devs, and GM's alone. I know right after it happens it's probably hard to see anything but your side of the situation, but hopefully in a week you'll realize why their policies are the way they are. If you still can't see their side after that time, perhaps this is not the right place for you.

[Systolic]

Sorry that the account you bought got banned, but in no way can I disagree with the GM's on the decision. You can say that you didn't know their policy on account trades, but it's clearly listed on the site and ignorance to the rules of the server (that is free mind you) is no excuse at all. You are able to play on this server by the good grace of the coders, devs, and GM's alone. I know right after it happens it's probably hard to see anything but your side of the situation, but hopefully in a week you'll realize why their policies are the way they are. If you still can't see their side after that time, perhaps this is not the right place for you.

But the bottom line is that I didn't do anything banworthy, and I was banned. I see the inherent issue with account trade. I get it.

However, its not bannable, and I was banned for something I didn't do that IS banworthy. Thats the problem.

[Danth]

Given how P1999 detects third-party program use, if the account was flagged odds are the program was in use. If the owner was concurrently running another eqemulator for a server that permits usage of that particular program, the account will get flagged on P1999.

----------------------

According to all discussion, you weren't personally banned. Rather, your contraband character that you obtained was banned. It sucks, but that's precisely the correct judgment call for a tainted account. Look at it the other way around; allowing exceptions based on change of ownership opens up an avenue to easily launder tainted accounts.

Danth

[fullmetalcoxman]

But the bottom line is that I didn't do anything banworthy, and I was banned. I see the inherent issue with account trade. I get it.

However, its not bannable, and I was banned for something I didn't do that IS banworthy. Thats the problem.

You weren't banned, the account was. It sucks that you didn't understand the risks, but that doesn't invalidate the rules.

[Lojik]

You weren't banned, the account was. It sucks that you didn't understand the risks, but that doesn't invalidate the rules.

Exactly. While not against the rules per se, you engaged in behavior not condoned by the staff, and it is quite explicit as to the possible consequences of engaging in such behavior. You engaged in a risky, unprotected trade and got burned. Basically the policy says "Don't do this, because shit can happen and if it does we will not help you out." Shit happened, and they ain't helping you out.

[Emphase]

some people have it way worse, trading their account for another then having it be banned. you're basically complaining over a free account that was banned.
and why would you have to start all over, didn't you have your own account that you played with your friend? why can't you use those characters to play, it will be just like before he gave you the account.

[Systolic]

Exactly. While not against the rules per se, you engaged in behavior not condoned by the staff, and it is quite explicit as to the possible consequences of engaging in such behavior. You engaged in a risky, unprotected trade and got burned. Basically the policy says "Don't do this, because shit can happen and if it does we will not help you out." Shit happened, and they ain't helping you out.

Did you not read my OP? I'm not trying to get pity. I know that I took a risk, and I got screwed.. It doesn't mean the judgement is just.

[Systolic]

Given how P1999 detects third-party program use, if the account was flagged odds are the program was in use. If the owner was concurrently running another eqemulator for a server that permits usage of that particular program, the account will get flagged on P1999.



Worst case scenario here would be if Chtulu were using MQ2 on another server (not p99), got flagged on P99, sold the account because he legitimately wanted to, and then I got banned on accident.

That actually might be a possibility here, and if so, it really does make their system ridiculous, even for primary account holders.

[Faerie]

Worst case scenario here would be if Chtulu were using MQ2 on another server (not p99), got flagged on P99, sold the account because he legitimately wanted to, and then I got banned on accident.

That actually might be a possibility here, and if so, it really does make their system ridiculous, even for primary account holders.

They've said before that false positives like that are no longer a possibility.

Anyway, I think we should all let this thread die. OP lost the account that was purchased, and now is upset about it. This is understandable, but we all know the GM decision was made for the greater good of the server. There's nothing more to discuss.

Unfortunate for OP, but that's the way things go when you play with fire :/

[Systolic]

Well I want to see if Chtulu will actually refund me. If he does I will stay. If not, I'm gone.

[chtulu]

I'll refund as soon as i get to the bottom of this debacle because I know for I fact i've never used a third party program. I honestly don't even know what MQ is.

[Lojik]

Did you not read my OP? I'm not trying to get pity. I know that I took a risk, and I got screwed.. It doesn't mean the judgement is just.

This is not your server. By playing on this server you are agreeing to the rules. These rules are there for a reason, and you are failing to see past your own viewpoint here. For instance, if they unban this account what would stop people in the future from cheating and then selling the account, with both buyer and seller knowing that a cheating program was used? You could still argue "but I wasn't the one that cheated." It doesn't matter.

The OP and the tone of the rest of the thread are a bit different. The OP appears to be a PSA warning people against account buying, which is good. But then in the rest of the thread you are upset that a GM won't unban this account, when you said in your original post "I know what I did wrong" and "I just made this post so that maybe someone else out there will avoid my fate." This account will not and should not be unbanned, and I don't possibly see how the GM's could force C to refund you.

If Chtulu didn't cheat, he's definitely not going to refund you. If he did cheat and then knowingly sell you the account, do you really think he's gonna be the bigger man and give you your plat back? If he did cheat and sell you the account, are you really going to base your decision on whether or not to stay on whether a jerk gives you your plat back? Why give him that power? Be the bigger man.

[chtulu]

Doesn't know what MQ is. Something everyone talks about on these forums for years.

Join Date: Jun 2010

That is 100% believable.

let me clarify. I don't know what it does exactly. I'm not aware of it's functions.

[chtulu]

Wait a few months and ask for a review; they've unbanned many of TMO and FE accounts after awhile

[Emphase]

Why would you leave? you got free stuff when your friend left and decided to buy an account with it and its banned? just pretend your friend never gave you anything and continue playing and build your own wealth

[Nune]

I'll refund as soon as i get to the bottom of this debacle because I know for I fact i've never used a third party program. I honestly don't even know what MQ is.

"I know I can't be proven guilty of doing something illegal, but if you can prove I did, then I'll apologize and compensate"

If no one has touched this account before you, then 1 of you 2 should be perma banned because it's obvious one of you was hacking. Ever seen a person come clean for a crime on camera? They exclaim their innocence, cite their proof of how it can't be them, then the cops tell them they've got proof they did it and they start crying and apologizing.

Maybe you should lawyer up.

[Sadre Spinegnawer]

Ah yes, I remember this market in accounts, ah yes I do. This whole kind of mess, top to bottom, yeah. Ebays, they were then called, aye, because really, it was shenanigans up and down the county line and no one had time for that.

But then again

I sometimes wonder...



Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Or has time re-written every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me, would we? could we?


Memories may be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget
So yes, Norrath, it's the laughter
We will remember
Whenever we remember...
The way we were...
The way we were...

[Systolic]

"I know I can't be proven guilty of doing something illegal, but if you can prove I did, then I'll apologize and compensate"

If no one has touched this account before you, then 1 of you 2 should be perma banned because it's obvious one of you was hacking. Ever seen a person come clean for a crime on camera? They exclaim their innocence, cite their proof of how it can't be them, then the cops tell them they've got proof they did it and they start crying and apologizing.

Maybe you should lawyer up.

Well if you're implying that I am potentially the one who used MQ2, you should probably look at the story as a whole. Why on earth would I buy an account, twink it out, and then hack with a program that is totally detectable by the GMs... and even then within 3 or 4 days of owning the account. It just makes no sense.

[Systolic]

Be the bigger man.

I am. That's why I am leaving. I don't agree with the policies. I don't agree with the decision made by the GMs, I don't agree with the fact that Chtulu got almost 50k and a Tier Dal set for my getting essentially reset in exchange.

Your condescension isn't warranted or needed. Perhaps my tone changed a bit because arrogant, trenchant douchebags decided to come into a thread in which I was trying to provide a warning to benefit everyone else and derailed it by attacking my character for buying an account.

Now please, get out of this thread. You've said your piece, I've said mine, and you have nothing more constructive to contribute.

[Danth]

If you unknowingly buy contraband or stolen goods, you don't get to keep it once discovered. Same idea here on P1999 for the same reasons. You're essentially a victim of fraud. It's commonplace for the buyer to be the biggest loser in such cases.

You can, however, apply pressure to the seller if you know who he is. I'm sure defrauding players is against some rule or another. Maybe he'll claim he let his "friend" play the account before selling it to you.

P1999's detection method is highly unlikely to return false positives in this area.

Danth

[Ephi]

Given how P1999 detects third-party program use, if the account was flagged odds are the program was in use. If the owner was concurrently running another eqemulator for a server that permits usage of that particular program, the account will get flagged on P1999.=

Not accurate. The only accounts I ban are the ones where MQ2 attached itself to the p99 account (AKA, MQ2 was running specifically inside the p99 window).

[Lyra]

I'll refund as soon as i get to the bottom of this debacle because I know for I fact i've never used a third party program. I honestly don't even know what MQ is.

Let us help you.

Give us the facts of how you obtained this account.

[Danth]

Thanks for the clarification Ephi; my information was well out of date. Of course, the way you do it now moves false positives from "unlikely" to "virtually impossible."

Danth

[gmuk]

I am a relatively unknown player, and have not been playing here very long. I have a friend who played on this server a great deal and acquired a healthy chunk of gear and cash. He decided to quit playing due to job circumstances in his life. He turned his account over to me and told me I could do what I wanted to with it, including selling his stuff, twinking my own characters, whatever.

I then decided that the classes I had been playing thus far weren't for me, so I took my assets I had acquired and purchased an account for 45k + Most of a Tier'Dal set. The account was being sold by a person on these forums named "Chtulu". I now know the error in my ways. The account had already been flagged for RMT prior to my purchase of the account, and needless to say within one week of buying the account, it was banned.

Upon research I found that Chtulu was not a very liked person on these forums, and had I known the depth of how far his bad reputation went I wouldn't have purchased the account. Now I am having to start over entirely, and I am strongly considering quitting because I just don't think I have the will to do everything over again.

So morals of the story here are these:

1) Don't buy accounts until you have thoroughly explored the seller's reputation.
2) Understand that because of the recent RMT banwave, there will be many people trying to dump off accounts for whatever quick buck they can acquire, leaving the buyer completely screwed.

This is not supposed to be a pity party. I know what I did wrong in this mess, and I know now what to do and what not to do. I just made this post so that maybe someone else out there will avoid my fate. Take care, everyone.


Ahh! That shmuks account is still ping-ponging around. My condolences.

[khanable]

Don't go man. I'll help you get some gear + levels.

Sucks that dildos run around doing shitty things on this server. So lame.

If account sales are going to remain legal maybe there could be some volunteer work done writing up some code for an official account transfer hub (I'll volunteer!). Take %5 of the sale, nuke the plat, check account for flags, if everything is solid -- complete the transfer. Remove some plat, remove some cheaters, stop some potential cheaters that will just dump the account, and stop the headaches of the staff that comes with stuff like this.

Cookie for me?

[Faerie]

Cookie for me?

No cookie for you! :mad:

Account sales needs to stop, not be encouraged.

[Nune]

Well if you're implying that I am potentially the one who used MQ2, you should probably look at the story as a whole. Why on earth would I buy an account, twink it out, and then hack with a program that is totally detectable by the GMs... and even then within 3 or 4 days of owning the account. It just makes no sense.

I see 0 point to this tbh. Just because you got an account and geared it doesn't mean you wouldn't fire up MQ if that was something you did. Like I said, you both are blowin the clean whistle, but the only proof here is that the account at one point was used for MQ, so unless this was a ping-pong account before Cthulu sold it to you, then it greatly narrows down the guilty party

[Nune]

No cookie for you! :mad:

Account sales needs to stop, not be encouraged.

You sound like an anti-marijuana advocate. Sometimes the lesser beast is regulation. They can't "stop" account sales, with the dozens of accounts that top end guilds share for tracking/camping uses, you can't really use a shared ip as grounds for banning. And in the case of Platlord, we've seen that a 3rd party website is a very tangible way for people to conduct business on this server absent of the rules and regulations enforced through this site

[Lojik]

I am. That's why I am leaving. I don't agree with the policies. I don't agree with the decision made by the GMs, I don't agree with the fact that Chtulu got almost 50k and a Tier Dal set for my getting essentially reset in exchange.

Your condescension isn't warranted or needed. Perhaps my tone changed a bit because arrogant, trenchant douchebags decided to come into a thread in which I was trying to provide a warning to benefit everyone else and derailed it by attacking my character for buying an account.

Now please, get out of this thread. You've said your piece, I've said mine, and you have nothing more constructive to contribute.

Sorry if I am coming off as arrogant. I still think you should maybe take a little time off before you make the decision to leave completely, and I really don't think making that decision on whether or not the dude refunds you is the way to go. You've already gotten many responses from people who will help you out, so you may even come out of this on top by making more friends in game.

[Sithel1988]

are you seriously crying about having to start the game EVERYONE else has? just because you lost something someone else gave you? you're a little bitch dude lol. please just quit now

[Faerie]

You sound like an anti-marijuana advocate. Sometimes the lesser beast is regulation. They can't "stop" account sales, with the dozens of accounts that top end guilds share for tracking/camping uses, you can't really use a shared ip as grounds for banning. And in the case of Platlord, we've seen that a 3rd party website is a very tangible way for people to conduct business on this server absent of the rules and regulations enforced through this site

This seems true for now, so the next best thing is (unfortunately, for people like OP) to allow it like it is now, risks and all. The more traded accounts that end up banned the better. Make it known that the evil that is character selling/buying does not come without great risk, and hopefully fewer people will do it.

Any action to make this practice safer is a step in the wrong direction.

[Systolic]

I see 0 point to this tbh. Just because you got an account and geared it doesn't mean you wouldn't fire up MQ if that was something you did. Like I said, you both are blowin the clean whistle, but the only proof here is that the account at one point was used for MQ, so unless this was a ping-pong account before Cthulu sold it to you, then it greatly narrows down the guilty party

But I have other accounts as well that are not banned. If I used MQ2 with that account, wouldn't it stand to reason that I would have with my other accounts as well?

Why would I wait to risk getting banned until I dumped all of the money that I had into one account?

Yes I know that it doesn't clear my name from using MQ2, but I think that it at least makes it appear less likely.

[Systolic]

are you seriously crying about having to start the game EVERYONE else has? just because you lost something someone else gave you? you're a little bitch dude lol. please just quit now

Jesu Christe you are an imbecile with zero reading comprehension skills.

[Systolic]

As far as all of the attempts to help me, I will definitely consider them.

I am not totally broke, so while I won't be spoiling myself with Fungi Tunics and Tstaffs anymore, I can at least reasonably gear up whatever character I make.

Thanks for the support, everyone.

[hatelore]

Well I want to see if Chtulu will actually refund me. If he does I will stay. If not, I'm gone.

Man, you sound annoying. Maybe you should leave, Your jacket is on that rack... Yeah the one of there by the door.

You bought a cheating account and the account got banned. Deal with it, quit crying. Next time do your research and remember even with research, you take a risk by doing something many of this server, including the staff frown upon.

[hatelore]

Well if you're implying that I am potentially the one who used MQ2, you should probably look at the story as a whole. Why on earth would I buy an account, twink it out, and then hack with a program that is totally detectable by the GMs... and even then within 3 or 4 days of owning the account. It just makes no sense.

You obviously didn't know the rules on account trading or what could transpire. So who's to say you knew you couldn't use mq on this server too?

[Zithax]

If you want to try new characters just farm/load up on these http://wiki.project1999.org/Brazier_of_Elemental_Summoning

and go ham. If you're careful and safe and use it in a zone with wide range of mobs, you can do 8-20 or w/e very easily.

[Systolic]

You obviously didn't know the rules on account trading or what could transpire. So who's to say you knew you couldn't use mq on this server too?

I knew that account sales were frowned upon.

Frowned upon =! against the rules.

I know that MQ2 is against the rules. I didn't even know what MQ2 was until I saw people on this forum talking about it.