I need answers!

[Anonymous]

Firstly, Thwark (or any other admins): please don't move this post. I know the specifics of being banned or not don't really come under the topic of general discussion, but
a) I don't really know where else I can have such a discussion and I want LaugingRat to see this as he seems to know something about the subject - I know the proper place would be the crackaz board but as I (or someone in my flat- we're all on the same ip) have aparrently been banned from mogs too (though I had no trouble getting in last night),
and b) if (as I think is the case) I've been banned for no reason other than being a bit crap at the game then I think it ties in very nicely with the previous row about server admins behaing like fascist dictators.

Now what's going on?

I accidentally crack CrouchingDork and appear to be banned from crackaz now, despite apologising. I ask about it on here and LaughingRat tells me I'm also banned from Mogs for using a "file hack" that changes your inventory (or something), but I was playing under a different name. I very rarely use any name other than Megadude, and my flatmates aren't cheaty boys, so what was the name? At least then I'd know who to berate about it.....

[Antero90]

I sugest you continue this on pms instead of making it a wide open discussion which has already happened.

[modetwo]

I've been banned for no reason other than being a bit crap at the game then I think it ties in very nicely with the previous row about server admins behaing like fascist dictators.

That was not the reason at all, we would never ban for things like not being good at the game etc. And please, we're trying to do our best here, none of us are fascist dictators. We're putting a lot of time and effort into this so you guys can have a good, lamer-free game. We're also keeping a server up for you, including hardware and bandwidth for a lot of money.

What happend here, was that you were mixed up with another guy, who was banned for cheating. I'm sorry for that, and you're unbanned at Mog's now. And at Crackaz I believe.

This thread may be closed now.

[LaughingRat]

I have no problem explaining what happened. It seems there were a series of errors leading to this.

First, a cheater was banned from Mog's server, name "NoWayOut". That IP was then banned from a number of other servers as well, including the Crackaz server. Mog then reported that there were repeated attempt to log in to his server from that IP under different names, including "Megadude".

When I saw Megadude in the Crackaz server, I verified that that name was being used from a banned IP. I also verified that the IP Megadude was on was the same that he's played from before (it was actually the same ISP and region in the UK). The one thing I DIDN'T check is that Megadude's IP matched the IP that was actually banned (or at least from the same provider) - it didn't.

Megadude/Muggins, this was just a series of mistakes, and I apologize. As soon as I can, I'll get that IP off our ban list (I'm at work right now and can't do it immediately myself). If it's not done by the time I get home this evening, I'll see to it personally. It had nothing to do with your ability to play, or any playstyle you've employed, we don't ban for those things at Crackaz. We do, however, sometimes make mistakes.

[Omega]

Peace at last.....

[Anonymous]

In that case, thankyou for sorting it out. Sorry to get a little narked, but it seemed that as soon as I cracked CD everything went wrong, and I drew the obvious (though wrong) conclusion. Looks like we all cocked up.
May I never diss the server kings again. It's a bit worrying that some cheeky monkey's been trying to use my name though....

[Buho]

I brought this up a few months ago -- the possibility that a lamer via dial-up (hence dynamic IP) gets banned. The only way to ban a dynamic IP is to ban the whole block of IPs, which means another Thievery player on that ISP is banned, too. LaughingRat responded by saying what are the chances that there is another person on that ISP that plays Thievery, too? Heh.

Sux, MegaDude. It's pretty cool that the admins sorted this out quickly, tho. They're nice like that

[Kiech Bepho]

Hmm...isn't there a way to pull up a MAC address? Maybe not, I have only had to use them when working with routers, not servers, but that would be an ideal way of dealing with these inDUHviduals, since IP's can be changed as easily as underwear. Changing MAC addresses requires a little more thought.

Kiech

[LaughingRat]

Buho:

In this case, it's not even dialup. The two IP's are on completely different ISP's, and in fact, not even on the same continent. If I'd checked thoroughly, it'd never have been an issue.

Kiech:

Even if you could pull a MAC address, there's no way to ban by that. Good thought, wish there were, would solve a lot of problems, but no.

[Kiech Bepho]

Kiech:

Even if you could pull a MAC address, there's no way to ban by that. Good thought, wish there were, would solve a lot of problems, but no.

Didn't think so, but I never went looking for software that could do that before, either, so I wasn't sure. Oh well.

[Buho]

Hmm, if you could ban by CPU serial number.... Hasn't Microsoft toyed around with this? I think with WindowsXP, you have to register the OS, and with it, it sends some hardware info.

[The_Judge]

Hmm, if you could ban by CPU serial number.... Hasn't Microsoft toyed around with this? I think with WindowsXP, you have to register the OS, and with it, it sends some hardware info.

You don't know the half of it Buho! I know!

[LegalAssassin]

I had a friend that TKed everybody on another friends comp (CS).

BANZORED

[modetwo]

I would have kicked that friends ass long and hard.