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Appeal Status?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
22_Over_7
Dec 16, 2008 11:08:38 So I had an appeal sent to correct my on-line play history - how can I check the status of the appeal?
#2
jeffv
Dec 16, 2008 12:22:57 There's no automated way to check the status of an appeal. Most people I've heard of filing appeals have taken somewhere just short of a month to get it resolved - if your appeal has been outstanding with no response for much longer than a month, then I'd drop an e-mail to [email]dci@wizards.com[/email] and ask. If it's been less than that, then just be patient - you'll be contacted when it's resolved.
#3
kauu
Dec 16, 2008 21:47:27 Unfortunately the appeal process can take a long time. I logged an appeal to correct some reporting errors almost four weeks ago and still no word. I say wait a few weeks and if you don't hear anything, file another appeal.
#4
asoka
Dec 18, 2008 12:58:16 This really needs to be on the list of things to add. Currently, there is no way to tell if a ticket was even successfully submitted, let alone read or acted on.

Here's hoping for more transparency.
#5
jeffv
Dec 19, 2008 12:03:02
This really needs to be on the list of things to add. Currently, there is no way to tell if a ticket was even successfully submitted, let alone read or acted on.

Here's hoping for more transparency.

This appeal system has been used for years (literally) on the DCI side and there's never been any method of tracking appeals short of e-mailing them and asking. I don't anticipate it changing much anytime soon.
#6
asoka
Dec 20, 2008 14:58:32
This appeal system has been used for years (literally) on the DCI side and there's never been any method of tracking appeals short of e-mailing them and asking. I don't anticipate it changing much anytime soon.

Just because a system's always been non-responsive and the regulars are used to it does not mean that it doesn't need to be changed for the better.

Ideally, the company is constantly working to improve things. They can't focus on things to improve if we as customers do not voice what we'd like to improve. So I tend to point things out that I think are holes in their customer service front.
#7
telvin3d
Dec 20, 2008 15:54:17 As a DM, there are a few things I would love to see changed. First, the ability to review past events that I have run would be very valuable. Sometimes it's hard to remember when the last time I ran a particular mod was, or what players took part.

I would also love the ability to edit information after submitting a mad. Perhaps I had a player put in the wrong character number on the reporting sheet or had not set up a new character before play or I selected the wrong treasure bundle letter. I suspect that the ability for DMs to made basic retroactive changes, would clear up about 90% of the appeal system requests.

Finally, I would love the ability to review player's information. Be able to double check their play record, or see what infractions have been reported against them. In game day settings, I encounter players who I suspect of cheating, or have a reputation and the only choices are to either bar them from the table based on a feeling or let them play and hope they don't actively hurt my game. The ability to review past reports would make it real easy to keep harmful players away from the table without punishing innocent people based on rumors. it would also make it worth while to bother reporting player who do break or abuse the rules.
#8
22_Over_7
Dec 20, 2008 20:30:11
As a DM, there are a few things I would love to see changed. First, the ability to review past events that I have run would be very valuable. Sometimes it's hard to remember when the last time I ran a particular mod was, or what players took part.

You can. You hit "My Events" and filter by your participation.
#9
jeffv
Dec 22, 2008 11:23:57
Finally, I would love the ability to review player's information. Be able to double check their play record, or see what infractions have been reported against them. In game day settings, I encounter players who I suspect of cheating, or have a reputation and the only choices are to either bar them from the table based on a feeling or let them play and hope they don't actively hurt my game. The ability to review past reports would make it real easy to keep harmful players away from the table without punishing innocent people based on rumors. it would also make it worth while to bother reporting player who do break or abuse the rules.

That one has actually been discussed on the DCI side from time to time. At times it might be useful for judges at large events to review a player's penalty history. The main reason it's not permitted is that it's a privacy issue. You're releasing information about a person's activities to the general public* and that's not a very good idea. It's also very prejudicial - if you see a player in one of your events with a history of cheating, you're liable to single that player out when it's entirely possible they're not doing anything wrong.

* Yes, RPGA GMs as a group count as "general public". A test that you can take and pass online with no prescreening isn't much of a barrier to entry.
#10
telvin3d
Dec 22, 2008 11:44:50
If you see a player in one of your events with a history of cheating, you're liable to single that player out when it's entirely possible they're not doing anything wrong.

If a player shows up to one of my events with a history of cheating, I don't want to single them out every time something goes wrong. I don't want them playing at all.
#11
jeffv
Dec 22, 2008 12:24:51
If a player shows up to one of my events with a history of cheating, I don't want to single them out every time something goes wrong. I don't want them playing at all.

...which is precisely why this information isn't made public. The DCI and RPGA have suspensions for this purpose. If the DCI/RPGA Penalty Committee feels that an infraction or group of infractions is severe enough to warrant a person not playing in events for awhile, it's their prerogative to suspend that player. The vast majority of cheating infractions are what I like to call "cheats of opportunity" that happen on the spur of the moment and are unlikely to happen again. Premeditated, malicious cheating isn't as common as most people seem to think, and categorically banning everyone with a cheating mark on their records is an unfair overreaction.
#12
telvin3d
Dec 22, 2008 12:49:45 Fine, so let's say that a suspended player shows up at an event. How do I know they are suspended? Does the RPGA maintain a list of currently suspended players? Do I find out when I go to submit the event and find out that one of the tables can't be reported because the system won't accept a suspended player?
#13
kenobi65
Dec 22, 2008 12:55:56
Does the RPGA maintain a list of currently suspended players?

Yes, and it's actually a VERY short list:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=rpga/events/suspendedmembers
#14
jeffv
Dec 22, 2008 14:09:35
Fine, so let's say that a suspended player shows up at an event. How do I know they are suspended? Does the RPGA maintain a list of currently suspended players? Do I find out when I go to submit the event and find out that one of the tables can't be reported because the system won't accept a suspended player?

As kenobi says, yes - though the list is longer than just that. Check out the DCI's suspended player list as well (accessible via http://www.thedci.com/docs) - those two lists have always been cross-compatible. If you get suspended by the DCI, you're also suspended from the RPGA, and vice versa.

Also, it's unlikely that your event would be impacted if you had a suspended player enrolled. It's very rare for something like that to come up, so it's not really expected that every organizer is going to be looking for it. The consequences of that should fall on the suspended player (in the form of a longer suspension) rather than on the event as a whole. I can't categorically guarantee that your event would be completely unscathed in that case, but know that invalidation is an extreme solution, used only in cases where the integrity of an event has been compromised to an extent that it can't be allowed to stand as played. If something like that were to happen to an event of yours, you'd be in direct contact with DCI/RPGA personnel the whole way through.
#15
arnold_judas_rimmer
Dec 23, 2008 14:47:14 Even Wizards celebrate Christmas, give them a break this holiday season.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 22_Over_7 Dec 16, 2008 11:08:38	So I had an appeal sent to correct my on-line play history - how can I check the status of the appeal?
#2 jeffv Dec 16, 2008 12:22:57	There's no automated way to check the status of an appeal. Most people I've heard of filing appeals have taken somewhere just short of a month to get it resolved - if your appeal has been outstanding with no response for much longer than a month, then I'd drop an e-mail to [email]dci@wizards.com[/email] and ask. If it's been less than that, then just be patient - you'll be contacted when it's resolved.
#3 kauu Dec 16, 2008 21:47:27	Unfortunately the appeal process can take a long time. I logged an appeal to correct some reporting errors almost four weeks ago and still no word. I say wait a few weeks and if you don't hear anything, file another appeal.
#4 asoka Dec 18, 2008 12:58:16	This really needs to be on the list of things to add. Currently, there is no way to tell if a ticket was even successfully submitted, let alone read or acted on. Here's hoping for more transparency.
#5 jeffv Dec 19, 2008 12:03:02	This really needs to be on the list of things to add. Currently, there is no way to tell if a ticket was even successfully submitted, let alone read or acted on. Here's hoping for more transparency. This appeal system has been used for years (literally) on the DCI side and there's never been any method of tracking appeals short of e-mailing them and asking. I don't anticipate it changing much anytime soon.
#6 asoka Dec 20, 2008 14:58:32	This appeal system has been used for years (literally) on the DCI side and there's never been any method of tracking appeals short of e-mailing them and asking. I don't anticipate it changing much anytime soon. Just because a system's always been non-responsive and the regulars are used to it does not mean that it doesn't need to be changed for the better. Ideally, the company is constantly working to improve things. They can't focus on things to improve if we as customers do not voice what we'd like to improve. So I tend to point things out that I think are holes in their customer service front.
#7 telvin3d Dec 20, 2008 15:54:17	As a DM, there are a few things I would love to see changed. First, the ability to review past events that I have run would be very valuable. Sometimes it's hard to remember when the last time I ran a particular mod was, or what players took part. I would also love the ability to edit information after submitting a mad. Perhaps I had a player put in the wrong character number on the reporting sheet or had not set up a new character before play or I selected the wrong treasure bundle letter. I suspect that the ability for DMs to made basic retroactive changes, would clear up about 90% of the appeal system requests. Finally, I would love the ability to review player's information. Be able to double check their play record, or see what infractions have been reported against them. In game day settings, I encounter players who I suspect of cheating, or have a reputation and the only choices are to either bar them from the table based on a feeling or let them play and hope they don't actively hurt my game. The ability to review past reports would make it real easy to keep harmful players away from the table without punishing innocent people based on rumors. it would also make it worth while to bother reporting player who do break or abuse the rules.
#8 22_Over_7 Dec 20, 2008 20:30:11	As a DM, there are a few things I would love to see changed. First, the ability to review past events that I have run would be very valuable. Sometimes it's hard to remember when the last time I ran a particular mod was, or what players took part. You can. You hit "My Events" and filter by your participation.
#9 jeffv Dec 22, 2008 11:23:57	Finally, I would love the ability to review player's information. Be able to double check their play record, or see what infractions have been reported against them. In game day settings, I encounter players who I suspect of cheating, or have a reputation and the only choices are to either bar them from the table based on a feeling or let them play and hope they don't actively hurt my game. The ability to review past reports would make it real easy to keep harmful players away from the table without punishing innocent people based on rumors. it would also make it worth while to bother reporting player who do break or abuse the rules. That one has actually been discussed on the DCI side from time to time. At times it might be useful for judges at large events to review a player's penalty history. The main reason it's not permitted is that it's a privacy issue. You're releasing information about a person's activities to the general public* and that's not a very good idea. It's also very prejudicial - if you see a player in one of your events with a history of cheating, you're liable to single that player out when it's entirely possible they're not doing anything wrong. * Yes, RPGA GMs as a group count as "general public". A test that you can take and pass online with no prescreening isn't much of a barrier to entry.
#10 telvin3d Dec 22, 2008 11:44:50	If you see a player in one of your events with a history of cheating, you're liable to single that player out when it's entirely possible they're not doing anything wrong. If a player shows up to one of my events with a history of cheating, I don't want to single them out every time something goes wrong. I don't want them playing at all.
#11 jeffv Dec 22, 2008 12:24:51	If a player shows up to one of my events with a history of cheating, I don't want to single them out every time something goes wrong. I don't want them playing at all. ...which is precisely why this information isn't made public. The DCI and RPGA have suspensions for this purpose. If the DCI/RPGA Penalty Committee feels that an infraction or group of infractions is severe enough to warrant a person not playing in events for awhile, it's their prerogative to suspend that player. The vast majority of cheating infractions are what I like to call "cheats of opportunity" that happen on the spur of the moment and are unlikely to happen again. Premeditated, malicious cheating isn't as common as most people seem to think, and categorically banning everyone with a cheating mark on their records is an unfair overreaction.
#12 telvin3d Dec 22, 2008 12:49:45	Fine, so let's say that a suspended player shows up at an event. How do I know they are suspended? Does the RPGA maintain a list of currently suspended players? Do I find out when I go to submit the event and find out that one of the tables can't be reported because the system won't accept a suspended player?
#13 kenobi65 Dec 22, 2008 12:55:56	Does the RPGA maintain a list of currently suspended players? Yes, and it's actually a VERY short list: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=rpga/events/suspendedmembers
#14 jeffv Dec 22, 2008 14:09:35	Fine, so let's say that a suspended player shows up at an event. How do I know they are suspended? Does the RPGA maintain a list of currently suspended players? Do I find out when I go to submit the event and find out that one of the tables can't be reported because the system won't accept a suspended player? As kenobi says, yes - though the list is longer than just that. Check out the DCI's suspended player list as well (accessible via http://www.thedci.com/docs) - those two lists have always been cross-compatible. If you get suspended by the DCI, you're also suspended from the RPGA, and vice versa. Also, it's unlikely that your event would be impacted if you had a suspended player enrolled. It's very rare for something like that to come up, so it's not really expected that every organizer is going to be looking for it. The consequences of that should fall on the suspended player (in the form of a longer suspension) rather than on the event as a whole. I can't categorically guarantee that your event would be completely unscathed in that case, but know that invalidation is an extreme solution, used only in cases where the integrity of an event has been compromised to an extent that it can't be allowed to stand as played. If something like that were to happen to an event of yours, you'd be in direct contact with DCI/RPGA personnel the whole way through.
#15 arnold_judas_rimmer Dec 23, 2008 14:47:14	Even Wizards celebrate Christmas, give them a break this holiday season.