Boards›Player Behavior

ACTUAL RIOT PERMANENT BAN CONVERSATION

PRKcMakC6a·7/26/2016, 10:40:17 PM·7 votes·16,238 views

This is for all to read. It is a conversation I had with Riot support. Please feel free to express your thoughts without a filter. No "safe-words" are necessary, as we are all equals here...remember that.

Dear Riot,

After thoroughly reading the Summoner's Code, I am aware how my attitude had such a negative impact on the game and community overall. I have served a lengthy ban and am here asking to lift the permanent ban on my account. I am asking for just one more chance to show that I can be a fair and friendly member of the community. Thank you for your time.

RESPONSE FROM RIOT:

Hey Summoner,

Your account has been permanently banned after being escalated through multiple levels of punishment by our disciplinary audits.

To see the most recent games which led to this action, please log in to the client to view your reform card. While we do our best at Riot Games to encourage reform, we permanently remove players who continue to create negative experiences from our game.

This action is only taken after repeat punishments and we will not lift the suspension under any circumstance.

Although this marks the end of the line, we’re confident that with some reflection you will be able to avoid this kind of situation with whatever new games you decide to play.

Best of luck in your future endeavors.

######## [REMOVED NAME] Riot Player Support

My Response:

Hi ########,

That is interesting. So just because I am not a professional player, such as IWILLDOMINATE for example, who as you are aware had a 1 year suspension which was then lifted, I am not subject to that same treatment and fairness? Because you did just say "This action is only taken after repeat punishments and we will not lift the suspension under any circumstance." Pretty sure he was a bit more extreme with the insults and bad attitude than I was. Sounds to me like unfair treatment. So no. This does not mark the end of the line. Thank you for your time.

RESPONSE FROM RIOT:

Summoner,

We have a Player Behavior team in place dedicated to working with these requests, so I need to transfer your ticket. A Player Behavior Specialist will be contacting you as soon as they can.

Please keep in mind that we respond to tickets in the order we receive them, so ‘bumping’ your ticket by sending us additional messages will send it to the back of our queue. This might inadvertently delay our response :(

Thank you for your patience!

######### Riot Player Support

FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE FROM RIOT:

Hey there,

I won't be able to discuss other player's behavior or the punishment they've received (regardless of their status) however I can give a bit of information. All players are held to the same expectations as all other Summoners regardless of status. Some pro players (similar to the ones you've mentioned) not only get their accounts permanently banned and receive a fine, they are also suspended from competitive play. In some cases, their suspension from competition is lifted however their accounts still remain permanently banned.

This account will remain permanently banned indefinitely.

######### Riot Player Support Zaun Wind Magic Research Division

MY RESPONSE:

##########,

So what you are telling me is that Riot makes special exemptions. Wow. And yet, Riot won't lift my suspension from competitive play (i.e. Ranked). That is the epitome of hypocrites. Never once did I say anything homophobic or racist (the two things that Riot claims are the most intolerable) and because of frivolous reporting from people who just claim this umbrella term "toxic" and I am permanently banned. I am not saying that everything I said was OK, nor am I saying that it didn't break the summoner's code on some level, but I was, and am not, nearly as extreme as many players I have seen. Between the taunting, sexism, racism, homophobia, etc. that I have read during play, it does not surprise me that Riot has this problem.

Also, there is something called "in-game banter" which is forever present in any form of competitive play on any level between human beings. It has been, and always will be around. Even in chess, players talk to distract the other. It is part of the psychological aspect of competition. So, either develop a system which only allows for all-chat to consist of "wp, gg" etc.or don't have it at all, and the reporting will stop. I'm sure you are going to follow that up with something along the lines of, "most players..." which is simply not true. MOST players start the game with "gl hf" but from what I have seen, rarely continue in that same fashion. MOST players just aren't reported. And Riot's statistic of being part of the "#% that is toxic enough to receive punishment" is just a statistic that can be skewed in any way Riot sees fit. It is a competitive game that creates frustration sometimes, and sometimes it spills over. Furthermore, yes I understand I had multiple in-game chat suspensions, and I believe a two week suspension from play entirely, but that was before, and this is now. It's called maturity and recognizing mistakes and having remorse. But Riot just wants to be the judge, jury, prosecutor, and clerk. OK. Thank you for your time. I will pass this along to other players and see what the community thinks.

P.S. Don't worry, I will blank out your name so that it is not seen as some type of attack against you personally. Wouldn't want Riot to get the wrong message.

RESPONSE FROM RIOT:

Hey again,

No, all players are held to the same expectations. If other players are negative they're addressed but it doesn't mean we'll overlook your behavior.

When you play League of Legends, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct and the Summoner's code. It's your choice to keep to this however, it doesn't mean we won't take action if you're contributing to the negative impact of the game.

If you post publicly be sure to remove any of your personal information to protect your privacy.

########## Riot Player Support Zaun Wind Magic Research Division

THOUGHTS:

Now what I find interesting here, is that it is clear that Riot does not actually care about improving player behavior. Because if they did, they would see that I have no intention of continuing down the path that I was on before. Not only that, but there should in fact be a warning system describing how/WHEN/why a permanent ban will be implemented if the behavior continues. Not just, "further infractions..." Furthermore, why are some players granted a year suspension (only to be lifted...which by the way completely goes against what they say) while others a 2 week suspension followed by a permanent ban. Sounds rather suspicious and that there is an extreme amount of unwarranted subjectivity on the matter.

I don't expect all readers here to agree with me, if any. But put yourself in my shoes. Think back to times that you learned something from it, and would want to revisit it if you had the chance to. It is hard to stop inertia. And it may have been best at the time to suspend my account. But there is always a chance for redemption on the Rift, why not here? I think it is time for another serious look at how chat is viewed in game.

51 Comments

EvilDustMan7/27/2016, 1:06:42 AM9 votes

You misunderstand. If you get banned, that account is gone. So if BillyYumYumTwobyTwo is a world case ranked fiddle top, but he gets banned for toxicity, he may eventually go back to competitive, but his account, BillyYumYumTwobyTwo is gone.

You are absolutely allowed to make a new account when another gets permanently banned. That's what they are saying. Whatever LCS Person has to make a new account and get it back to 30 to play.

BlueThingamajig7/26/2016, 11:04:50 PM6 votes

iwdominate got all of his accounts permabanned.

All of them.

None of them EVER came back. He had to make a new account just like everybody else. After a year, Riot decided that he could use his new account, that he leveled on his own after the other accounts were permabanned, to play in the competitive circuit.

I'll restate this in another manner. iwdominate received two different punishments. From the player behavior team, he received a total account permaban. From the esports team, he received a 1-year ban. The first is still in effect. The second expired after dom demonstrated that he had reformed as a player and stopped being a toxic ass.

Dynikus7/26/2016, 10:58:17 PM6 votes

I feel like a lot of this is you misinterpreting what they said. Being suspended from competitive play doesn't mean they can no longer play ranked, that's not the competitive play they're referring to.

Horse Grenades7/27/2016, 5:06:46 PM3 votes

OP, I can only assume, based of your responses, that you are unable to read. No one has ever received a perma-banned acct back. Dom had to remake accounts, and climb from there. Your argument doesn't follow the flow of logic. Only 1 PERSON has ever been banned from LoL, Tyler1, in all other cases, accounts are banned.

Awkward Couch7/28/2016, 2:02:46 PM2 votes

Well I want to clarify a couple of things here. IWD had all his accounts banned and he was banned from the LCS for 1 year. Being banned from the LCS does not mean that you are banned from the game. To my knowledge, there are only two players who are banned from ever playing the game, XJ9 and Tyler1.

Not only that, but there should in fact be a warning system describing how/WHEN/why a permanent ban will be implemented if the behavior continues. Not just, "further infractions..."

This one is sort of your fault. The punishment system goes as follows:

  • 10 game chat restriction *25 game chat restriction
  • 14 day ban
  • Permaban

After your first punishment you should have checked the FAQ here and saw what was coming. Even after you received multiple punishments, you didn't stop your behavior. If you decide to level up an account, do things like:

  • if you're tilted, take a break (I usually go for a walk for about 10 minutes, then again I have a dog so that helps)
  • say what you are going to say out loud, just don't type
  • if someone is being toxic, mute them immediately, or just mute everyone at the beginning of the game
  • listen to calm music in the background, personally, I have Hans Zimmer pandora playing
  • have a stress ball so you focus on that when you die instead of typing out your rage
  • If you really need to, type out what you are going to say, then hit esc instead of hitting enter
  • put your chat key to something weird like ctrl+o+` That way you have more time to think about is what I'm about to say actually helpful?

Hope this helps, best of luck to you all.

Reket DeAlk7/26/2016, 11:07:45 PM2 votes

{quoted} In some cases, their suspension from competition is lifted however their accounts still remain permanently banned.

This right here is what you're not getting.

You can still play ranked. You're not banned from it. Your account is and will remain banned, just like the pro players. So yes, you're being held to the same standards.

PS. Ranked != Competitive. Ranked is the mode available to all of us. Competitive is the pro scene. AKA LCS, Worlds, etc etc

fuktihsgame7/26/2016, 11:39:51 PM2 votes

yea i had a similar experience with support dest. and when showed evidence to riot, even after they referred me to check the player behavior boards. and still showed them the truth. they had nothing but round about answers and no "real" reason for their ban. riot is fucking up a game every season that passes. from no more solo q . to making new champs that are broken while leaving older champs in a state which leaves them not even fun to play just to pump out champs they will nerf "i mean balance" even tho the new champs are run through pbe before release. in other words.. riot is biased and unfair and there's nothing anyone can do about it..

Laqutis Bot7/27/2016, 1:20:20 AM2 votes

Riot is saying that their account is banned, but they are free to make new ones ,although they don't want to actively encourage this so they don't outright say it, so they are saying they are still 'free to make new accounts' is what they mean by still continue in competitive play.

I imagine they do actually permaban someone from competitive play, if they are behaving badly or cheating in competitive events, which would be totally separate from account banning.

I'm not going to deny they probably give pro players a little more leeway, but if they're making a negative experience for a large number of players / large number of reports they will still eventually get banned.

MmaSpawn8/7/2017, 2:21:20 PM2 votes

i completely agree with you , as i am in your shoes great job on talking too riot!

OverextendingMid9/7/2017, 7:44:49 PM2 votes

Strongly agree

Ok sure but why7/27/2016, 3:52:41 AM1 votes

If they know people are going to make smurfs anyways, they should just reset people's accounts so they don't lose all of their skins.

Links19955/30/2017, 6:06:59 AM1 votes

Did you pursue legal action? Before i talk to my lawyer about getting my money back i need to know if its even possible. It's absolute bollocks that i've spent well over $1000 on game only to be unable to access any of my content. Do you know if we have a case?

Scary Door6/9/2017, 12:00:12 AM1 votes

I don't expect all readers here to agree with me, if any. But put yourself in my shoes. Think back to times that you learned something from it, and would want to revisit it if you had the chance to. It is hard to stop inertia. And it may have been best at the time to suspend my account. But there is always a chance for redemption on the Rift, why not here? I think it is time for another serious look at how chat is viewed in game.

If, for some reason, I received a chat restriction I would use that as my wake up call, but you apparently did not. You went through multiple restrictions and a 14-day suspension and still didn't get the message? Why should Riot give you another chance when they have already given you so many? You don't deserve it, it's as simple as that.

As far as your ridiculous comparison to other players is concerned: That's how life works. One guy speeds on the freeway and another is pulled over. One person gets a promotion, while the other with equal experience doesn't. A professional player is treated with a different set of rules than a casual player, yeah it isn't fair, bu life isn't fair, get over it.

Vikådin7/22/2017, 7:22:33 PM1 votes

Blatant proof of riot favouritism and bias, which more frighteningly is also used by the individuals who have power within riot to met out punishments for their personal vendettas. The same reason they refuse to tell any player how long their "reform period" is, because they are bias and unfair, singling out players they personally have problems with and making the game miserable for them, or punishing them for absolutely no reason. Unfortunately the majority is uneducated and incapable in intelligent thought so they just spam upvotes to reinforce one another's wrong opinions, like a bunch of lemmings reassuring one another they are doing the right thing as they charge headlong off a cliff.

I'm waiting riot, line up all your employees and find a nice high cliff....

Colgate Gator9/18/2017, 3:21:21 PM1 votes

{quoted}

Now what I find interesting here, is that it is clear that Riot does not actually care about improving player behavior.

You see, that's the funny thing, they do as long as you don't overstep the limit. A lot of people fail to realize that a permanent ban isn't a chance for you to get a second chance, hence the name. You had a second, and a third and a whatever number of penalties your account got to fix your behavior, but you didn't care to do it until you had your toys taken away from you.

Just because you arbitrarily decided you have been reformed it doesn't mean they should bend the rules for you.

Astôlfo7/27/2016, 2:22:15 PM1 votes

I don't think you know what "permanent" means.

Siegfriedx19/14/2017, 12:56:40 AM1 votes

I do feel that riot ban system is distant from the personal kind of approach I believe it would work best.

Also it follow some hidden rules that make the player not understand exactly why they are getting punished and because of exactly what frequency of behaviour.

Its like you need 50 happenings to get a chat restriction and after that ita only 3.

The player dont know that and have the feeling that he only need to reduce the rate he do the certain thing.

Also players that change from servers receive 0 information from riot about the diffdrence in behaviour accepted in the new server. A lot of stuff that here make peopls get 14 day ban in brazil is normal for example.

EskTheOgre9/18/2017, 11:29:22 AM1 votes

https://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/player-behavior-moderation/iF3hJXog-unfair-bannings-that-are-legit-thievery just got perma banned look at the shit i said. not remotly offensive and they where mostly trolls.

I am not remotely toxic, i will call out a person who goes 0-5 in ranked 5 minutes in and then flames the team. Literally all i did, but apparently im an anomaly in the community. Also i understand its in the contract that they can do this but it still seems like thievery when they get to keep your money, i've been playing since season 3 and have had around 10 accounts over the years, out of all of these two have been perma banned and i've lost 600 dollars from it. Again i understand they are within their legal rights here but it still seems off. if i buy a t shirt the and am slightly rude they cant repossess it and keep my money. IT just seems off. on top of that why does the account get perma banned for being rude when you have a mute option? and wouldn't a permanent mute make more sense considering thats the only issue here?

Linthe7/27/2016, 4:46:40 PM1 votes

As has been stated.. Riot bans ACCOUNTS... not players... This is why your punishment is the same as IWDOMINATE. You are free to start a new account.

ModPrandine9/18/2017, 4:56:17 PM

Hey all. Since this thread is a year old (and since it appears that the OPs topic has been addressed) I'm gonna go ahead and lock it now.