trolls in Illyriad

1. Link or merge forum accounts to game accounts (the current separation is just a technicality of two different login systems), then users will have reputation to consider.

2. Require users to link their accounts as belonging to the same real person, and make this part of ToS. Game rules to prevent in-game exploits are enforcible, corruptive meta-gaming isn't so easy if these links are available for inspection, and anyone found failing to declare links can face GM-Banhammer consequences.

It's unfortunate that we're thinking about ways to tackle troll/cheat problems, as it indicates that trust alone isn't enough in all cases.

 Ratujone is right. This the simplest and most honest solution and yet it is the one which has been avoided by the Devs since the game was in its ealriest stages of development. 

 

Just as news editors like to create moral panics and folk devils to boost their tabloid's circulation so Illy's GM's have encouraged the labelling of trolls by categorising their tactics as "metagaming".

The use multiple accounts is not confined to "Trolls" but, in fact, is widespread throughout the game. Especially amongst alliance leaders who will tend to  "sit " more and more inactive accounts in order to maintain the alliance's rank. They have also been tempted to multi account with a view to influencing the outcome of Tournaments.  I have evidence on two longstanding alliances where this practise has obviously exceeded the permissable number of accounts controlled by one player. My guess is that the Devs must be aware of this also but, for their own reasons turn a blind eye to it or alternatively redefine the issues that come from it as "metagaming".

 

A return to the simple application of the rules and norms of browser games as suggested by RatuJone above would, I am sure, bring Illyriad back down to earth (pun) with a bump.  We can start returning Illyriad to the direct one player one account strategy game that we all want....

 

...but do the Devs have the integrity to do this across the board applying the rule in a uniform way????