Dear players
As some of you (if not all) are no doubt aware I have been investigating the
situation of a challenge that occurred @2414 between Celedhring (DS) and
Helkama (FP), and the previous turn had done a 930 at that location. As
there was no way to get the information other than by some duplicitous or
cheating means I chatted to a number of players.
Matt Thompson (FP) and Steve Mason (DS) (an old Middle Earth player)
contacted me asking to play in the same game on opposing sides. After a lot
of thought I decided that, as they gave their word to play correctly, that
this would be okay. Steve set up an email account for Matt and then used
that account to contact the FP asking them to send the turn reports and
information to an email account owned by him. Matt says he did not allow
Steve to do this.
The FP then followed up this request, hence that turn reports were sent out
to Steve as well. The DS then used that information as above. Matt had
also missed two turns of the game, despite informing us and his team that he
would be getting turns in.
With that in mind I am giving Steve Mason a 6 month ban, and the same for
Matt. Matthew Pearce is getting a warning for his conduct as well. It's
rather shameful to have to do this - it's the first time in 8 years of GMing
that I have to ask a player to leave the game and I find the entire
situation distasteful.
With that in mind I have the following "easy" fix:
The Challenge @2414 does not occur and I move Celedhring to his capital hex,
along with any other DS that might be in that location. I will resurrect
Helkama and allow any encounter that might have occurred there to occur.
With the QA being asked to leave, the DS need to find a replacement player
there please. As not all the DS are guilty of improper action here I ask
that the Neutrals try to play appropriately - a 5 nil (or similar) change
against the DS is just going to make the situation worsen and will
eventually end the game unsatisfactorily for all concerned. I also ask that
the DS do not use any information that they might have gained from Steve's
illicit use of Matt's position. Can we then try to put this situation
behind us and get on with the game?
Please get in touch with me concerning your thoughts on this situation asap.
(Please note we have two Steve Masons playing in Middle Earth, there is the
above and also a Steve Mason from the USA. Please don't mix them up!) This
information will be put on the Front Sheet and the List.
Thanks
Clint