Battleground Marshalls

[Cerec]

I was trying to think of a way to help police afk players and exploiters in battlegrounds.  This idea was the crazy thing that came to me:

For each battleground there would be the possibility that an extra player would be pulled in to serve as the BG "Marshall".  This player would be utterly invisible to all of the other players in the instance and 100% unable to interact with anything that is going on.  Their entire job would be observation.   The Marshall can see all channel communcation (both sides) but is unable to communicate with anyone.   (NOTE:  A checkbox would be added to the personal options window for people to "opt out" of this if they have no desire to serve in this role.)

They would be granted several new commands (a new UI window would pop up with these buttons..or, they could use /slash command versions of them.)

1. /FlagAFK {player}  -- if the Marshall flags someone AFK, then the rest of the BG would get an instance-wide announcement indicating that the player has been marked as AFK.   The player in question would have 30 seconds to redeem himself via actions and/or conversation.   At that point, it would only require two other players voting the player AFK to have them removed.   Using THIS form of afk flagging (and after the 30 second cooldown), the other two votes could be made from anywhere in the zone.
2. /MoveTo {player}  -- "Move" to player from anywhere in the zone.  This would be in order to observe the player in question after reading in channels about supposed problems.
3. /Report {player} -- This command would take an instant screenshot from the perspective of the player being reported as well as a screenshot from the perspective of the Marshall.   A UI Window would pop-up and the Mashall would be able to write a brief report of why they're being reported.   This would be sent with relavent server logs to a queue for GM review.
4. /BG  {chat text} -- this would be a serverwide chat channel in which all GMs and BG marshall's would be automatically placed.  Marshalls would be unable to see any GM communication or other BG Marshall communication on the channel; however, GMs could see everything.  Think of it as a way to indicate major exploitations or major bug/problems that need to be immediately addressed.

Anyway, I'm sure you could think of other things that would be a neat addition to this program.  Some other thoughts for consideration that came to mind:

1. Not every BG instance would need a Marshall.  It could be random -- so, players in the BG instance would never know if there was a Marshall or not (unless someone was reported as AFK by the Marshall.)
2. If you're nervous about giving everyone the opportunity to do this (which, personally, I think is just fine.)   There could be a membership system for the program requiring an application or other such things.   Or, it could be by invitation only for player/community leaders that have shown great insight and maturity on this website (or other fan sites), guild leaders, etc.
3. Anyone abusing the system would be banned from Battlegrounds (as a player or Marshall) for a given amount of time (i.e., 3 months.)

Someone serving as a marshall would be granted 5 tokens at the end of the match.

[Yimway]

Hmm, guide programs generally have had no reward for the participants, but any policing is better than none imo.

[Cerec]

Well, if it's something to which people apply and are accepted (i.e., a "program"), then perhaps rewards would not be appropriate.  However, I really like the idea of it being completely random people ...so that everyone gets the experience of 'observing' and providing a "referee" type service.   I mentioned a reward of 5 tokens simply because I feel like they deserve something for actually "working" while everyone else is "playing".

It would add a new element for everyone when you hit that "queue" button

[lollipop]

The gm text is asking a bit much, with all the BG matches GM does not have time to go over all of that. I do think its a good stepping stone to an idea.

I would very much like to see random players picked for this type of action.

[Taldier]

Some kind of guide style program that actually involved signing up and recieving some basic training would be a decent idea.

I honestly wouldnt trust the average random player to tie their own shoes, let alone randomly grant them even limited authority over other players.

[Cerec]

My concept of the "gm text" thing would just be a channel that BG Marshalls could send text on, but not see any responses or view anyhing on it.   Think of it like a "prayer" line -- you talk, but you don't actively hear any response, nor do you see other prayers.   Obviously GMs could either ignore it or turn it off entirely ...and, I think it should be only used for emergencies, blatent cheating/exploiting, or major bugs.   The command could definately have a cooldown timer.

[Cerec]

grant them even limited authority over other players.

There is no authority at all granted by this via my idea.   The closest thing is to start an "AFK vote"; however, it would still take 2 (maybe 3 would be better?) active players in the instance to make it stick.

Everything else is purely observing and reporting.   

However, maybe it should be only folks that have done 100+ BGs or whatever would be eligible...or something similar.

[Winter12345]

The award shouldn't be 5 tokens, that's too much considering all they're really doing is watching over the match rather than actually participating in it. This can be bad, because they wouldn't have to worry on which side wins, and could keep recieving a substantial amount of tokens regardless of the outcome...

However, it still is a good idea. if it was implemented, I think the only thing that would need to be changed would to lower the reward to 1-2 tokens, so people don't find it as an easy way out to farming tokens.

[Cerec]

so people don't find it as an easy way out to farming tokens.

My idea, as it is presented, says that it is 100% random who is chosen and that whether or not a BG has a marshall in the first place is also random.   Therefore, it would be impossible to farm this concept.  In fact, I'd be surprised if a lot of people ever had the opportunity.

The point is not to have a Marshall at every BG, but rather to make everyone think that there COULD be a Marshall in their BG.     

[Lathain_Sarathai]

Dont forget than some people do BG for the reward, they dont like pvp and anythiong you can sthing, or evn do will NOT make them love pvp. I m here and sometime i cast a spell and that's all. i can run around, just jump at enemy face, it's the game, if i want give flower to opponent it's my right.

Ask to BG to be balanced then perhaps more people will want to do it seriously.

One player one shoting a full group it's not balanced.

One player be hitting by 12 other without a heal lost for one eternity it's not balanced.

[Horgana]

Oh please. Policing the BG? Is this another early April Fool Joke that you want this? The occasional disruptive person is annoying but hardly that much of a problem. Not likely to tip the balance in an x2 or x4 match, and in an x1 it'll only last 5 mins anyway so you can get out with your token and start a different one.

[Grumble69]

Definitely no, lol.

[Harbringer Doom]

Seems like a great way for people to obtain more tokens AFK.

WHO IS WATCHING THE WATCHERS!