philu wrote:Not sure how or if this could be implemented, but there's clearly a problem here and needs to be a way to stop false declarations. One option is to make the cost a lot higher but that's still exploitable.
Another way would be to have a way to 'police' (or log) an OP battle, round by round. A way to register who takes part. Then if you declare on an OP and don't take part in X number of rounds (e.g. half of them), you can't declare again for a set period (e.g. 6 months, preferably longer!). Nor can any other member of your guild since OPs are guild based.
Sounds harsh? Maybe but it would soon put a stop to all the situations that have been described on this thread, where people have had to spend their playing time sitting around. Quite frankly, declaring on an OP then not turning up is a form of griefing and should be against the COC. There's a line in the COC that states something along the lines of a player shall not adversely affect another player's gaming experience. Isn't that what false declarations do?
I disagree here that it needs some sort of system implemented that limits declaring. The community has done a decent job of policing it themselves. As I said before, false declarations, though they may be in bad taste, are a valid tactic and are a hazzard of owning an OP. Its annoying to be sure, but claiming it as greifing would be along the same lines as complaining about being ganked while in a pvp region. Both are mechanics of the game and can lead to some things that people don't enjoy. There is nothing stating that anyone has to show up to an OP fight or that anyone has to stay until the time is up. Forcing greif upon someone is different than you choosing to volunteer for it.
Now repeated false declarations on the same OP by the same guild might be considered harassment, but don't think thats happened to anyone yet.
Flase declarations are annoying, but they are also a valid tactic. If I was planning on attacking an OP, I might go and declare on 3 others at the same time. The enemy would then no know which to show up at to defend as they do not know which one I intend to make my primary target. it also provides a different target for when an attack is not going favorably. To be sure someone will be at each of the OPs making sure no one shows and that they'll not be pleased about having to watch an empty OP, but thats means that those people won't be at the OP I attack and thus make the defending force a bit lighter.
there is also the element of "boy who cried wolf"... if someone declares enough times that their guild becomes known as a false declaratory guild, any defense force against a declaration would be smaller and smaller. But then theres that one day where a large force shows up and the OP is overrun. Another tactic, a bit longer term, but a tactic none the less.