MEK, Marfski, Hubris [changed:cleared]

[tehbeautifulangi]

Subject line: MEK


These are suspected Multis (or secret alliance, not sure)

Suspect users:
MEK
Hubris

Game number: http://www.conquerclub.com/game.php?game=975665

Comments: This game became very fishy to me when green and blue were not attacking each other, but only me, and stacking up huge armies next to me while hardly trying to acquire bonuses. Although I am unsure of where HUBRIS lies in this, MEK seems to have games with many repeat players/possible multiple accounts? Other suspect accounts:

fishydance
Marfski
tylerA
Kel
Tully

Thanks,
~tehbeautifulangi

[soundout9]

MEK looks very fishy....

[sully800]

It seems to me that Marfski, tylerA, Kel, and Tully all probably know the player MEK.

Marfski and MEK have been blocked from playing together.

The rest will remain unblocked unless there is separate evidence from other games. They don't appear to be multis.

Hubris is cleared.

[fishydance]

I am Fishydance, and we all do indeed know each other, in fact we are related. I am the one who brought all the following players to the game and I paid for Marfskis premium membership. For the record, this is who they are:

Marfski - my oldest niece (daughter of my deceased sister)
MEK - next oldest niece, sister to Marfski
TylerA - next oldest niece, daughter of Tully
Tully - my older brother
Kel - youngest niece, daughter of Tully

Marfski and MEKs are very close, as they lost their mother (my sister) when they were in grade school and ended being adopted by another family. This game means a lot to them, and us, as it is a way to stay close even though we are not all near each other geographically.

It's a shame that they are now unable to play together. Frankly none of us will be inclined to remain here, as we don't want to play if Marfski and MEK cannot be included in games with us.

Addendum: Check out game http://www.conquerclub.com/game.php?game=772314

That was our very first game, and you will see the banter between us, and it's obvious we are family. I later bought Marfski a premium account so she could create private games to play with MEK.

[Marfski]

As Fishydance pointed out MEK and me are sisters and do play many games against each other and occasionally play from the same computer. It just seems to me that if you were creating multiple accounts it would be to illigitimitely raise your score and stats. If anyone cares to look at MEK and my stats they will see that of about 15 games we have played against each other, I have won around 10 and she has won around 5. I have played around 6 games against fishydance who is also family and have won 1. Of the games I have played against people outside of the family I have won around 9 and lost 17. Where is there any stat raising in that? This whole complaint is sad. You have a player who is disgruntled because they are not doing well (when I checked the game log both Hubris and MEK had attacked each other), and she decides to cry "Multis, or Collaborating". What is even more telling is that while she couldn't tell that there was anything unusual in Hubris history she still went ahead and reported him, just to be vindictive. Like fishydance pointed out in her post yes we do know all the people that were listed because they are family and that is the main reason we joined this site so we could play together. I have also had games that didn't go my way with multiple players and I got attacked a lot but I don't think it is my place or anyone else's to report someone because they don't strategize or play like you think they should. Some new players especially (and we have only belonged about a month, and I had never played Risk before) take a little while to get acclimated to the game. Also, I have found that some people like to dig in and fortify and some like to go out gangbusters and attack, I don't see how you can report someone just because they don't make the moves you think they should. This whole complaint has been disheartening because MEK and I have really enjoyed being able to play against each other. It is sad that you can be reported just because you "seem to know each other". I think the rules about joining should be more specific. If it is totally prohibited to play off the same computer then it should say that, but that kind of cuts out a family playing together or a group of friends who might meet to play. Both my sister and I have filled out an E-ticket as well as my aunt posting to verify that we are family.

[fishydance]

It does seem rather arbitrary. The person who reported you has engaged in repeat games with another player named What? . Had they been reported and banned from playing together, I'm sure they would have been just as upset as you and MEK are.

I fully understand the need to moderate players to ensure abuses do not occur. But banning the two of you without securing complete information seems hasty. If it's any consolation, I am researching other games our family can play together online.

[sully800]

My apologies for the inconvenience to you all. I was indeed a bit hasty when I placed the block last night. I checked a few of the games you had together and noticed many standard games which could have been a place to use a secret alliance since MEK and Marfski seemed to know each other (I was right about that! )

I failed to noticed initially that all of the standard games were private and amongst the members of your family. So you were following all the recommendations of the site for playing with family members (stick to joining team games or creating private games to avoid secret alliance accusations).

And I did notice that the both MEK and Marfski win in the two player games, so I didn't suspect them of being multis.

So I rescind my earlier decision. MEK and Marfski are cleared. I would recommend you continue what you have been doing if you want to play together (keeping it in the family). You haven't been joining many games with strangers, but if you would like to in the future just avoid joining the same games. Carry on!

[fishydance]

Thanks, Sully! This means a lot to us. Both of my neices were beside themselves (one even called me at work). I must admit we are neophytes here, and are still learning the ropes. We'll follow your advice closely about whom to play games with. Thanks again for your prompt attention!

[Marfski]

Thanks Sully. I am very glad to be back and playing with my family. I will definitely follow the advice you have given.