Secret Alliance Clarification, please

[horizon]

For the first time since I started playing, I feel that there is a secret alliance in one of my games. I came to this Forum and read some threads to learn about the subject of secret alliances, how to report them, what happens next, etc.

After said research, my current impression is that since secret alliances cannot be proven (unlike multis), that no action will taken against them by the admins. Example: One thread I looked at posted the PM where a player suggested a secret alliance (could have been made up, I know). The suggestion that was offered was to use the ignore and negative feedback.

So finally we get to my question: Should I bother to post a secret alliance complaint? I am happy to use ignore and negative feedback as has already been suggested here. I'm just wondering what the point is in posting a complaint on the forum if there is no official punishment for this particular offense.

Sorry if this has been discussed before - I didn't find it. Thanks for any responses I get.

Edited to add: Also sorry if this is the wrong Forum since it's not an actual report, yet.

[KoolBak]

It sheds more light on the offending parties...more folks will see and potentially avoid playing with these folks...on the other hand, the offening parties many times are furious re: the post and get pretty animated...that is either good or bad..your call. Thats my spin for what its worth.....

[horizon]

Thanks for the response. I assume it's proper protocol to first PM the parties involved and ask them about it?

[KoolBak]

I wouldn't.....they are not gonna fess up to it and will probably just be ugly to you.....incre your ignore list and decide if you want to stir things up by posting; a nice addition for any accusation post here is the old "if I am wrong, I apologize" or some such...good luck

[barbie]

As someone who has recently been accused, I think you should make sure you check out other games they have played in, if they play with the same person alot, there is certainly more credence to your complaint. I was asked in the game about this so called secret alliance, and tried to explain my rationale for playing the way I was playing, experience players would have understood what I said, they however didn't. I would ask them, maybe they can explain it so it makes sense why they are doing what they are doing. But like Koolbak said preface it by saying if I am wrong I am sry, just doesnt make any sense to me.

[KoolBak]

BARBIE!! CHEATER!!!! LOL!!!!

A very good player she is and a valid point she makes.....

Interested to see if a post is made for the offending parties.....

[thejackofhearts]

By posting it in here you allow for a public discussion and argument which, if done in a mature fashion, allows other players to make an educated decision on whether or not the accused should be ignored.

does that help?

[horizon]

Thanks Barbie, I'm sure being falsely accused doesn't sit well. After some reflection and getting some advice from another player, I've decided it looks more like a serious fit of rage directed at me. The other player involved is strong enough to not need the help and he has good feedback, so an actual alliance seems unlikely.

Thanks Jack, yes that helps very much. At first I just wanted the Powers That Be to swoop in and fix everything but having read some more posts and after talking to some other players, I realize that when something can't be proven, using the community is better and less Stalinesque.

So ... Maybe the question I need to ask is should I give negative feedback to a guy who obviously threw any chance he had in the game just to take armie from me? Example: 2 on 12 (twice) in one turn and 6 on 20 (could have had 6 on 1 against me or another player) in the next turn.

Do I need to move this question to the general forum?

Thanks for the responses!

[lackattack]

So ... Maybe the question I need to ask is should I give negative feedback to a guy who obviously threw any chance he had in the game just to take armie from me? Example: 2 on 12 (twice) in one turn and 6 on 20 (could have had 6 on 1 against me or another player) in the next turn.

That definitely sounds like grounds for negative feedback. You have to ask yourself "did this person show poor sportsmanship?". If the answer is yes, then leave feedback so the community knows about it, and to encourage the person in question to be a better sport in the future.