Abuse of "Group Kick" in Instant Adventure

[Querthose]

Having run several of these, it's become VERY apparent that if someone votes to kick someone out of the group, "sheep" mentality sets in and most folks just hit "Yes" for no reason- which rapidly turns into an abuse situation (for example- random individuals who aren't okay with someone selecting "Need" on something they don't think people should select "Need" on). I've personally never voted "Yes" to kicking someone out- because there's never been a clear reason presented. In fact, the only good reason I can think of is that there are people in the raid taking up space who aren't physically present.

I suggest that we disable group kick in IAs and instead have an AFK timer set up. If you are inactive for more than 5 minutes and/or are outside of the questing area for more than 5 minutes, then you are kicked from the adventure. Alternately, "Kick" should require some kind of reason presented that folks can actually look at.

It's getting downright silly how often I see people kicked out for no apparent reason.

[AJ911]

I hate IA groups during events, the popups are very annoying.

[TheGrinnz]

Having run several of these, it's become VERY apparent that if someone votes to kick someone out of the group, "sheep" mentality sets in and most folks just hit "Yes" for no reason- which rapidly turns into an abuse situation (for example- random individuals who aren't okay with someone selecting "Need" on something they don't think people should select "Need" on). I've personally never voted "Yes" to kicking someone out- because there's never been a clear reason presented. In fact, the only good reason I can think of is that there are people in the raid taking up space who aren't physically present.

This is usually the reason for a votekick. I click "yes" because I am not doing an IA to micromanage my teammates.

I suggest that we disable group kick in IAs and instead have an AFK timer set up. If you are inactive for more than 5 minutes and/or are outside of the questing area for more than 5 minutes, then you are kicked from the adventure. Alternately, "Kick" should require some kind of reason presented that folks can actually look at.

IIRC something like this (auto-afk-kick) is on PTS or in the works. Could be wrong.

One issue is that the zone invasions overlap with IAs but only sort of. Either the IAs need to "switch gears" to focus on the zone invasion, or it needs to stop presenting "Join Adventure" buttons instead of "Join Public Group" during zone invasions.

[Irishae]

I don't run into the "vote-kick for no reason" problem very much in the way you describe, but I also avoid IAs like the plague during zone events or drop from the party to avoid the confusion/annoyance. I agree that the lack of synergy with IAs and zone events needs to be refined which would help.

What really bothers me is that IA vote-kick can be used to hijack IAs altogether--a determined group has the ability to vote-kick every player that joins if they so choose. I've seen this more and more during off hours, it makes me rend the pretty hair from my head. Port in and then insta-kicked because a few guildies want everything all to themselves....

[Akyaevin]

This is usually the reason for a votekick. I click "yes" because I am not doing an IA to micromanage my teammates.


IIRC something like this (auto-afk-kick) is on PTS or in the works. Could be wrong.

One issue is that the zone invasions overlap with IAs but only sort of. Either the IAs need to "switch gears" to focus on the zone invasion, or it needs to stop presenting "Join Adventure" buttons instead of "Join Public Group" during zone invasions.

The real problem is that half the time it does show a "Join Public Group" button - but that group happens to be an IA group. Seems to be whenever you're not near the IA area, but someone in that group is near you.

[Khadra]

I was in an IA group.. that got itself merged with an event group. Our quest was taking place in the area where the event boss spawned (read major fps lag). I disconnected, but came back quickly.

Now I can understand FULL IA groups (20 peeps), kicking disconnects if they do not return quickly, and totally understand the reasons for it.

However, my original IA group was 90% guildies, around 8 of us, that found ourselves with no control once the merge happened. When I was able to reconnect about a minute later, my guildies informed me that the new raid leader had issued a vote kick a mere 10 seconds after my disconnect.

While my guildies (I was on mumble with them), voted against the kick, they were outvoted, and I logged back in to find myself no longer in party, and unable to rejoin it at all since it was now full.

Personally I think that when an IA group and an event (normal public party) run into each other, both sides should get a clear INDIVIDUAL indicator and choice to switch groups. (IE: I am in IA, I get a join public party option, and if I choose YES, then ONLY I move).

Same in reverse, a public party member, even the leader.. gets a choice to "JOIN IA GROUP" that is individual, and does not automatically merge parties in the event that one group is IA and the other is not.

[Kadeth]

I agree with the OP. I rarely get kicked, but I rarely chose anything but PASS on loot either in dungeons and such because, if one of the kick abusers is your class and wants what you might actually need, they will kick you if you don't let them have it. So tht leaves me with quest and completion rewards, that's it. Or waiting for 50 and soloing the dungeon, in which case I no longer need the drops anyway.

You should at least have to chose a reason to kick someone and, other should see the reason. (None loot related) I think most would speak up if the reason given were not valid.Say you chose AFK as a reason, but the player was running with the group and trying to hit targets - well I think most would deny that kick.

[Laban of C O]

Best way to avoid getting kicked is to have a white cross by your name. :P They never kick healers...

One of my guildies.. (not that I condone this..) got in an ember island AI, went afk to go take a nap.... and came back to 5 PA levels. Lesson? Maybe the afk timer would be smarter than vote kick... just saying.

[Baramos]

The sad thing is you can grief people all day and the people vote kicking are allowed to do whatever since they are "play driven" adventures.

[bitnine]

The real problem is that half the time it does show a "Join Public Group" button - but that group happens to be an IA group. Seems to be whenever you're not near the IA area, but someone in that group is near you.

I ran into this and it was a tad annoying. There was an IA group in stillmore. Meanwhile, not particularly near them, there was also a PvP rift open. Get near the PvP rift and the "Join Public Group" joins you to the IA group. Meanwhile, folks were votekicking people out of the IA group for being nowhere near the adventure.

But not everyone, apparently, or not fast enough, because the process would repeat itself.

[Will5757]

i think a simple box you have to stick a reason into would work well, a afk timer is a terrible idea (at least as a replacement..some ppl are deliberately useless, such as moving to the area then afk, tab out, etc)

[SunrayV]

i think a simple box you have to stick a reason into would work well, a afk timer is a terrible idea (at least as a replacement..some ppl are deliberately useless, such as moving to the area then afk, tab out, etc)

I dont see the arguments here, why an afk timer would be a terrible idea.

[Pixel Monkey]

get off your mount and maybe you wont get kicked
more than a few times il be zerging throu mobs and turn around and theres a few people idly following me
they look pretty foolish when i simply stop

[Gardy]

Unfortunately OP vote kicking in MMO games is a issue across the board and it can apply to Instances as well as IA.

Strategies to avoid vote kicking especially as a DPS are not easy other than being near top DPS if a group of players controlling the group are determined to keep it "theirs"

It happened to me on the odd occasional WoW random instance and for numerous reasons the most common of which was to obtain loot from boss killings after you had patently killed trash mobs to arrive at Boss.

Here in Rift there are two consolations

1) Planar levelling applies across the board so no grouping is wasted at level 50 whatever you kill

2) Rift is when all said and done only a game - it does not pay bills obtain success in life, solve problems, pass exams, or REALLY matter once you log off.

When all is said and done we will all depart this game one day, perhaps we can hope we have set our toons free in contented retirement (my hunter is contently fishing in Grizzy Hills in another universe :-)

But you folks get the point, accept the kick, go off and do something else, it does not matter if we can mitigate our egos -......

[Galibier]

This is usually the reason for a votekick. I click "yes" because I am not doing an IA to micromanage my teammates.


IIRC something like this (auto-afk-kick) is on PTS or in the works. Could be wrong.

One issue is that the zone invasions overlap with IAs but only sort of. Either the IAs need to "switch gears" to focus on the zone invasion, or it needs to stop presenting "Join Adventure" buttons instead of "Join Public Group" during zone invasions.

I have hit "join public group" and then seen the game ask me if I want to teleport. I have left more than one raid trying to find a just zone event raid and it is rarely successful. People just need to suck it up that people will do the zone event.