Hi all! Quick suggestion! I had set up an in-game auction event that follows the tv show Storage Wars set up. Was just informed I can't hold it as I planned it because it doesn't follow auction guidelines. The only statement regarding auctions I can find on this site involves forum auctions, and it specifically states it's rules for the forum auctions, not in-game. Now, I've seen in-game auctions that did not comply, and mods were online at the time. So, I think there is confusion that these forum rules apply in-game as well. Could you add official in-game mention for these rules to avoid this type of confusion going forward? I had to cancel my event because these rules kinda defeated the nature of the event, which is totes ok. I'm just sad I got so many folks' hopes up for it all. Currently, forum auctions rules states this: Welcome to the Empire Auctions forum. In the auctions forum, you may auction off items from in-game. However, in order to keep this forum operating well, there are a quite a few rules we need you to make sure you follow when using the auction forums. So, need to update that to reflect all auctions held ingame or in forums. Thanks!! Miss Z
as far as i remember in game auctions used to not be allowed. particularly (and it sounds like this is the case here if it is based off that show) if the contents were not clear to everyone bidding
That is true. One of the rules says no mystery auctions or grab bags. Each bidder must know exactly what they are bidding for
I just thought this was for forums only. My misunderstanding. I hadn't seen rules saying no in-game auctions. In fact, players have held them just a week or so ago and posted about it. So, I dunno. The mod had even confirmed they could do it.
I agree. There have been many, MANY in game auctions held. I believe they are considered Player events and ARE allowed. The rules stated is only for forums from what I've been told. I believe you can choose to hold a player held event anyway you like. Reason for rules on forums is there's no way to physically see anything. Your event has that option. Many players have casinos or events that cost to play but don't guarantee winnings. I see no problem with you holding an event that everyone is invited to. Costs nothing, unless you want to gamble on guaranteed goods, which, many others all do in diff ways. Who was it that told you no? If it was a staff member they may not have been 100% sure. They prob said no because that's the safest answer. Not that that person is trying to shut you down but just to cover for themselves and do the safe thing. If I was staff and didn't know for sure, I'd always look out for the server 1st and look deeper into it later. I was looking forward to this event too Maybe it still can happen, who knows. Be nice to get someone make a clear decision for this tho
Someone had reported the event to staff with concern that not all the items in the units would be revealed. I would have to make everything known prior to bidding to hold the event. For me, that lack of mystery defeats the purpose of Storage Wars so I can't hold it. I mean, I stated clearly in the event description that there is a preview and that not all the goods would be known. That is the crux of the concern I guess. And then staff reached out quoting the forum auction rules for my in-game auction event.
I think they were just covering for the player, which is very understandable. But from what I'm told the forum rules and in game rules are separate. The difference is You are holding a player event, which is more than just an auction alone. You have spelled everything out and stated everyone winning will win something. That's more than can be said about casinos. I see a double standard. It's a game for cryin out loud! If a player doesn't like the parameters don't go. But don't ruin the fun for those that just wanna enjoy it.
The answer. Blind auctions/sales have never been allowed anywhere on EMC. This isn't an auction rule, this is a rule protecting players from scamming. In-game auctions ARE allowed and are not constrained by the forum auction rules in regards to specific quantity constraints. It would be wrong to have the forum auction rules apply to in-game auctions. The rules regarding no blind sales is a hard requirement at this time though independent of auctions. Online staff members failure to notice a rule being broken is not justification for others to break that same rule. With that being said, I have my doubts that you have been banned once this rule violation was discovered - and has opened the opportunity for us to better clarify in the rules this long standing rule that has been in place for at least 10 years. I am marking this suggestion denied but the thread still open for questions/clarifications. The suggestion itself is not "true" but the request to improve rule wording is valid.
I would entertain an exemption to the improved wording of the rules: to have an approval process for such a player event in a similar way to how gambling game approvals exist. Some approved way to communicate to the bidders an approximate "value" of the items being bid upon. Such that there is still the mystery of the exact value but an approximate value is known - so that for example, 100k of rupees isn't spent on a chest of dirt.
But that's the point of this type of "Storage Wars". You know full well going in that you could be bidding on something less valuable then reality or more valuable. I can't see that being a scam. If this message is told to anyone participating, then they know the risks and make their own choice to play or not. Anyone not confortable with that should not enter. Now if they piled only dirt in to the chests, ok I can see that.
I understand that is the draw. But the distinction between EMC storage wars and real life storage wars, is that the host here knows what's inside. It's not a game of chance. It is the perfect setup for scamming by the wrong host. Just because this host would do good by the community doesn't mean every host will play as honestly, just to make a quick buck. You may be surprised to learn that some members of this community dislike how lenient our gambling rules are: that no form of gambling, even with stated odds, should be accessible to minors. Anyway, I don't foresee us, staff, budging on the no blind auction/sales. I am open to suggestions to make event rules that maintain consumer protection, but not a wild west of anything goes.
I understand the reasoning for this rule and it's there to protect people. Just a shame there isn't away to work it in. Hopefully some idea's surface to allow something similar. Not at all actually, it's the 1 thing I hate about this place and I love this place. It may seem like it's just something in a block game until these people get a taste for it and it ends in up the real world with very real and damaging results. But that's another discussion for another time.
(I know at this point it is just casual discussion) But my "you" was the general reader. haha. But yeah, it is a tricky line.
I truly am first learning about this as a hard rule in general and am sorry if I missed where it was written. I will say that specificity would be fantastic and I like the idea of approximated values for blind auctions. Though, what one values something versus another is speculative as well. I think storage wars in it's normal sense cannot exist on EMC and that's totes fair and understandable. I'll do more research on server rules so I'm more familiar with other hard lines I wasn't aware of. Any links to this info would be appreciated.
Before this rule was implemented, I remember all those “Storage Wars” auctions on EMC… they always had a turnout of 10+ players… it was fun. No one got anything good, though.
As mentioned, I think it is a hole in the current written edition of the rules, not really your fault necessarily. I have been staff long enough that my understanding of this as a rule is obviously different in a way that made me unaware that it had been omitted clearly from public facing rules. The concept of no Blind sales has been a guiding principle of code decisions and rule interpretation for as long as I can remember. That is the reason that shulker chests cannot be sold with items inside of them through shop signs - as there is not a guaranteed way to communicate the contents currently for the purchase. Not that we don't want that option - just a good code solution has not been found yet.
