Recent Actions Against Win-Trading, Upcoming PvP Tuning for Week of 5/9

Blizzard Posted 2017/05/05 at 6:05 PM by Squishei

Shaman Tier 20 previewDemon Hunter Tier 20 preview7.2.5 Black Temple Timewalking Preview.Recent Actions Against Win-Trading

Blizzard

We've recently taken action against a number of accounts involved in win-trading in Rated Battlegrounds. This is a clear violation of the World of Warcraft Terms of Service, as well as the spirit of competitive play.

When we took these actions, we believed that the accounts being affected were used primarily by seller agencies, who exchange in-game wins for real-world currency, and not for normal gameplay, and so they were issued permanent closures. Once those actions were completed, we started hearing from players whose accounts had been affected but were not affiliated with a seller agency.

We then began an immediate re-investigation of all accounts. That investigation concluded that there were indeed some players caught in this action who should not have been hit with a permanent account closure. Those that were not involved with seller agencies but still found to be purposefully involved in win-trading have had their closures reduced to a suspension, with a duration fitting the severity the win-trading they participated in, and beginning on May 1st (the date we applied the initial closures). For some extremely minor offenses, that duration was short enough that it has already been lifted. Affected players should have received an email that indicates the corrected action.

We also discovered a small number of players whose accounts had been closed but had not engaged in any win-trading at all. We are deeply sorry to have punished those players incorrectly, and in addition to overturning their account closures, we have issued them with 30 days of additional game time as an apology.

We'd like to make it clear that we have fully identified the error that caused this issue to occur, and can be confident in saying that future actions do not make the same mistake. That said, we'd also like to remind players that win-trading in order to earn things like Honor, Artifact Power, or Achievements is still win-trading, and is subject to the same punishments as win-trading in order to gain rating.

Again, we apologize for the inaccuracies of our original actions. While we remain committed to upholding the integrity of rated play, we will take more care to ensure that the correct actions are taken in the future.

Upcoming PvP Tuning for Week of 5/9

Blizzard

We're going to be making a few PvP tuning changes early next week, with a focus on Guardian Druids. Due to how close these changes will be to the next North American Qualifier tournament, we wanted to give everyone advanced warning. These changes are still in test (and could change), and will not be applied to live servers until Tuesday.

Demon Hunter - Havoc:
-Chaotic Onslaught can no longer cause Chaos Strike to trigger more than one additional Chaos Strike in PvP situations.
-Rain from Above will now properly suppress all root effects when cast, such as Frost Nova.

Druid - Guardian:
-Pawsitive Outlook can no longer cause Thrash to trigger more than one additional Thrash in PvP situations.
-Sharpened Claws increases Thrash and damage by 25%, down from 50%.
-Frenzied Regeneration now heals for 25% of damage taken in the last 5 seconds, down from 50%.
-PvP Template Agility reduced by 5%.
-PvP Template Stamina reduced by 5%.

Monk - Brewmaster:
-Stave Off can no longer cause Keg Smash to trigger more than one additional Keg Smash in PvP situations.

Warrior - Fury:
-Oathblood can no longer cause Bloodthirst to trigger more than one additional Bloodthirst in PvP situations.

Comment by TrazizAt least they were pro-active to stop this from happening again, it is a shame some players got caught up in it, but people will no doubt use this event to say it was a large amount of innocent players rather than a small amount. Again I would rather they took action and fixed mistakes made, than to sit and twiddle thumbs like they used to do against bots, who could be still in the game 3 months later after a report.Comment by PurgatorywolfPeople need to stop breaking the ToS and blizz wouldn't have to do this stuff. If you break the rules, don't whine when you get smacked down.Comment by HornhideExcept that some players who didn't break the TOS got banned. Did you actually read the statement?Comment by SywardIt's a shame that some players that were involved in win-trading had their punishment reduced. Cheating is cheating, regardless of if you accept real world currency for it or just in game rewards (loot, honor, AP, rating, etc.)

I think if Blizzard really wants this behavior to stop, they need to toughen up the punishments, cheaters should receive permanent bans, none of this temporary suspension bull!@#$.

/my 2 copperComment by ONCHEhapTo be fair,I'd rather have them ban a little too many players than a little too few

Don't hate on Blizzard for that,hate on those who cheat

Also,I think Blizzard should seriously get some rougher sanctions,including IP bans.Comment by AKPlayerSounds like a bulk of those accounts that got perma-closed had been "For Sale" accounts that level characters to a certain Honor / Rep for money.

Other MMO's should learn from this and implement similar bans on accounts that "Win Trade" in PVP.Comment by Skikkelig

Also,I think Blizzard should seriously get some rougher sanctions,including IP bans.Comment by SubtilisThis permanent suspension was made to me personally, even tho I have never ever made any PvP Win tradings. I opened 4 times ticket to blizzard about them making a huge mistake in their department, however they replied to me that any further tickets are going to be auto closed and the actions made by Blizzard will permanently remain.
Firstly I contacted GM via phone and the guy told me that my account has been under investigation for long time and was manually closed for PvP win trading. Which I havent done EVER! He said that I cant even appeal for that because it has been manually closed. I was freaking out while keeping polite behaviour within the tickets. I AM ^$#!IN GLAD THEY FIXED THIS GARBAGE! Anyways I am still having suspended account until 14 of may 2017 even tho I havent done anything.... Should I be happy or mad? From perma ban to 7 days suspension, even tho I havent done a #$%^! I understand that the chinese/russian sellers are ruining the game, every second pleb is boosted in either PvP or PvE, but heck.. at least they dont ruin the economy flow in the game as botters or dupe tcg mount sellers do! Think about that how you are affected by people who got boosted in PvP or PvE... they get achievement, play 1 game with them and you know the people have no freaking idea how to play... still im mad for being frustrated the 4 days when I had no appeal chance. Thanks god Blizzard is not idiotic as Riot GMs are in LoL.Comment by FarstuckerIt's a shame that some players that were involved in win-trading had their punishment reduced. Cheating is cheating, regardless of if you accept real world currency for it or just in game rewards (loot, honor, AP, rating, etc.)

I think if Blizzard really wants this behavior to stop, they need to toughen up the punishments, cheaters should receive permanent bans, none of this temporary suspension bull!@#$.

/my 2 copper "and so they were issued permanent closures", they ARE perma banning...Comment by MelchiahAlexTo be fair,I'd rather have them ban a little too many players than a little too few

Don't hate on Blizzard for that,hate on those who cheat

Also,I think Blizzard should seriously get some rougher sanctions,including IP bans.Comment by FurydeathPeople need to stop breaking the ToS and blizz wouldn't have to do this stuff. If you break the rules, don't whine when you get smacked down.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTsDqIcpHUcComment by ZerOrbitThe same thing happened to me in Runescape after 10 years of being with them! I was perma banned a year ago for cheating but I'm not even a cheater :( I'm still banned on Runescape and the mean company won't even accept my messages at all. I'm sure some here know of Runescape. I totally hate these perma ban things! They keep banning random innocent peopleComment by ShashosI'm glad they overturned the innocent bans. That was the right thing to do and very glad to see the recompense for the accident. That was also a good thing to do.

I'm not so sure about the ones deemed 'minor offenses.' I still find it dubious in how you can be in a group that's exploiting things and not know. If the other team is not fighting back or doesn't even zone in, how on earth can you not wonder about how suspicious that is? I'm not even a PvP'er and am completely clueless about RBGs, but I'd be out of there so fast their heads would spin.Comment by schnizolHow could they possibly ban people that didn't take part in win-trading at all? Anyone have any idea why? If someone wasn't involved... how did their accounts come up as "guilty"? Playing RBG's at similar time?Comment by piraka810People need to stop breaking the ToS and blizz wouldn't have to do this stuff. If you break the rules, don't whine when you get smacked down.Comment by NynaeveHow could they possibly ban people that didn't take part in win-trading at all? Anyone have any idea why? If someone wasn't involved... how did their accounts come up as "guilty"? Playing RBG's at similar time?Comment by EngerzI really, REALLY want the vanilla PvP set for transmogging, but I personally wouldn't have gone this far. I'll just have to keep telling myself never ever, or git gud in PvP.Comment by EneathrieliaHopefully now we can que up without a fear of getting randomly banned. Glad they solved this issue so fast.
The only thing I do mind about RBGs at the moment is being matched against 2.2-2.4k MMR teams when mine team had 1.6kComment by PelontirThis permanent suspension was made to me personally, even tho I have never ever made any PvP Win tradings. I opened 4 times ticket to blizzard about them making a huge mistake in their department, however they replied to me that any further tickets are going to be auto closed and the actions made by Blizzard will permanently remain.
Firstly I contacted GM via phone and the guy told me that my account has been under investigation for long time and was manually closed for PvP win trading. Which I havent done EVER! He said that I cant even appeal for that because it has been manually closed. I was freaking out while keeping polite behaviour within the tickets. I AM ^$#!IN GLAD THEY FIXED THIS GARBAGE! Anyways I am still having suspended account until 14 of may 2017 even tho I havent done anything.... Should I be happy or mad? From perma ban to 7 days suspension, even tho I havent done a #$%^! I understand that the chinese/russian sellers are ruining the game, every second pleb is boosted in either PvP or PvE, but heck.. at least they dont ruin the economy flow in the game as botters or dupe tcg mount sellers do! Think about that how you are affected by people who got boosted in PvP or PvE... they get achievement, play 1 game with them and you know the people have no freaking idea how to play... still im mad for being frustrated the 4 days when I had no appeal chance. Thanks god Blizzard is not idiotic as Riot GMs are in LoL.Comment by TurboslavThat's all good but what about those wowvendor scammers?