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There are other forums which don't care what people discuss, like I think spacebattles or sufficient velocity. I have seen some things discussed there which I am not sure should be discussed anywhere, yet they are generally more or less fine as far as community is concerned.
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It is my supremely upsetting duty to inform you that Ashiel the person that you have come to ask to speak with or ask mechanical or other RPG related questions of has been banned from these forums. The why is rather confusing, at least from my perspective.
It all started in this very thread when there were some messages that were, seemingly randomly removed. When Klara Meison opened a feedback thread to ask for/find out why those messages had been removed. Not only removed, but removed without any sort of explanation given. A fact that was acknowledged by the moderator who had done the removing. After asking for an explanation as well as certain messages to be 'given back' so that their content could be gutted for important material she was sent this private message
"Hi Ashiel,
I am reaching out to you because I can see from the posts in Website Feedback and your own “Ask” thread that the actions taken by myself and our moderation team have caused you distress, and would like to provide more insight into the situation from our side. Out of the respect for the privacy of other accounts on our forums, I cannot divulge further information than what was provided in Website Feedback regarding the posts that caused us to remove the chain of conversation, or actions taken on their account. I would again like to extend an apology if any ill-will was perceived by these post removals, and have included the removed posts from your account below, with the exception of the attributed quotes.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please let us know."
That last line is very important to why I am confused about the ban. You see I have known Ashiel for... Well forever... And she came to me very confused and bit upset over this ban which seems to have been brought on by her 'questions and concern'... They were as follows, verbatim....
"Respect to what privacy? Do you have any idea how hostile your moderation practices come off as? I cried today because I my voice to talk about issues that concern me and people like me was taken away, for no reasons given. We cannot follow rules we do not know. What drama were we perpetuating? How does removing our posts respect someone else's "privacy"? I've received messages in my inbox today where friends are leaving the Paizo forums because of what looks like outright tyranny and unexplained censorship.
We are hurting, Chris. In desperation after being constantly, consistently, and conclusively shut down over and over and over, I've taken to contacting other members of the Paizo staff in effort to get help against what a lot of people are seeing as a gross misuse of power. This cannot continue to go on like this. We still don't understand why this has happened or why things like this have continued to happen. If it was because Rysky threw a tantrum over a misunderstanding (which everyone else in the thread confirmed was a misunderstanding) you are hurting many people in an effort to alleviate the tantrums of a few.
We need to know why we are being treated this way. It's not alright.
Repeatedly silencing our questions and concerns and then offering vague apologies in private are not enough. I do not feel safe and secure on the Paizo forums anymore and I've been here since the Pathfinder Alphas. Every day I worry that I'm going to be suddenly banned for reasons I'll never even be told."
Well my friend seems to be psychic because the answer to his 'questions and concerns were met with a ban and this, non-explanation.
"You have been provided with answers to these questions and have been provided with the text of your removed posts for reposting as you see fit. That you are dissatisfied with the answers provided is not indicative of any conspiracy or “censorship.” Our moderators use their best judgement for given situations, and yes, since they are human, it’s possible to not get it right all the time, or to make everyone happy with those decisions.
Over the course of the last 4 years, our team has corresponded with you about how to post appropriately to our website. I’m sorry that it seems that we cannot seem to reach an understanding where you will be satisfied. It seems that the community environment that you are seeking is not the environment that we facilitate, as evidenced by this current issue, past removed posts and notifications, as well as a previous temporary suspension. At this time we feel that it’s for the best for us to part ways, and will be suspending your “Ashiel” account.
If you’d like to ever return and continue participating on our forums again, you will need to request that the suspension be lifted, and show to us that you have intentions of interacting in good faith and in a non-inciteful manner on our website.
Chris Lambertz"
I'm going to close this message saying that, I don't know why the ban was put in place. I don't know what instigated this action against my friend. What 'appears' to have happened is that a moderator, maybe attempting to head of what they thought was a problem, over zealously removed posts had nothing wrong with them. Then when cornered with an argument that she either didn't agree with or didn't believe decided that the only lasting solution to those who disagreed with her was to get rid of them.
P.S.- I will be making this a thread topic as well, for those not frequenting this thread but interested in the news of Ashiel's ban. I might be suspended or banned for this. I do not care. Peace out and Game on
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A new thread for you http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2twkm?User-Ashiel-Banned-for-questioning-modera tors#1
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If anyone knows another forum where Ashiel can be found and their alias there, please let me know.
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They're banned. They can't return.
At least without jumping through a lot of hoops with a moderation team that, from the quoted message above provided by Arcane Knowledge, seems hostile to them.
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Yeah, know the feeling.
They're apparently pretty active over on the GITP forums, so if you feel strongly enough you could go seek them out there.
Hey Ashiel! I have been really inspired by your worldbuilding comments. However, there is one facet I would like to ask you for more clrification about.
In the post Divine Magic and Commoners, you described your Adept 3 crafter Valerie Surefire's magical defense systems. Only thing is, I am unsure of how exactly you gave them sentience.
Here they are, for reference:
G.I.N.A. (CR 3, DC 27 Perception, DC 27 Disable Device, Cost: 8125 + 2376 gp): "Gina" stands for General Incident Neutralizing Agent, and is Valerie's basic security system inside her shop. Gina is a female personality sentient magic item resetting trap with a true seeing visual trigger. Gina is capable of responding to unwelcome intruders verbally and can take verbal orders from Valerie or Siggy. G.I.N.A has a +30 Perception modifier and her 120 ft. radius sensors can detect the entire shop. If the system detects a thief or threat to the security or safety of Valerie, Siggy, the shop, or its legitimate patrons it neutralizes the threat without mercy or prejudice.
Gina has a resetting magic missile spell at 9th caster level that is used against any intruder or thief until they are neutralized. If Gina detects that the magic missile spell is of no use due to either the shield spell or spell resistance, Gina will instead switch to stone call every round which bypasses spell resistance and damage reductions and makes the area difficult terrain (but specifically ignores non-creatures, thus not risking the damaging of merchandise or the shop). Gina also comes equipped with a create water sprinkler system in case of a fire.
Gina's true seeing was granted by a single use magic item that cost 1,188 gp to create and apply during her construction.
F.A.S.S. (CR 3, DC 27 Perception, DC 27 Disable Device, Cost: 4,000 gp): "Fass" stands for Floor Attack and Subdue System. Fass works in tandem with Gina to protect the shop from burglars, robbers, or hostile intruders. Fass is actually the very floor of the shop and is a resetting intelligent male personality trap. He can detect anything within 60 ft. of the floor through sight and sound (which includes more or less the entire shop). Hiding from Fass is nearly impossible (there is virtually no way to find cover or concealment vs the floor). If a threat is detected, Fass strikes the intruder with repeated frigid touch spells (+10 melee touch to hit). Frass can only target one intruder at a time, but is merciless in his usage of frigid touch until the culprit surrenders or stops moving.
Fass, like Gina, responds to the verbal commands of Valerie or Siggy.
A.L.D.A (CR 2, DC 26 Perception, DC 26 Disable Device, Cost: 1,500 gp): "Alda" stands for Automatic Lock Down Assistant. Alda is a security measure to ensure that would be thieves or vandals do not escape the ravages of the security system. Alda is a female personality intelligent resetting trap with a 120 ft. sight and sound range of sensors. If either Gina or Fass become active, or upon request of Valerie or Siggy, Alda proceeds to cast hold portal every round on each exit to lock the doors and windows and add +5 to the break or unstuck DC. Since she casts it each round, it makes it very difficult for a would be lockpicker to get out, as the thief must spend his entire round picking the lock and then opening the door, resulting in the trap shutting and locking the door again immediately.
Alda, like Fass and Gina respond to the verbal commands of Valerie or Siggy.
Could you please describe how exactly you gave them all of these features? Because I am looking to replicate them in my own game. Thanks!