2009/10/21 Stat-padding - The Rules

[ShadeShooter]

Hello Heroes!

We have decided to clear this up since it is such a grey area for people that there is confusion of whether it is right or wrong.

First, to clarify the definitions of both "stat-padding" and "mission padding".

Stat-padding

Stat-padding is stopping the game and calling a "truce" between both teams while organising the taking of a single flag and taking turns to do so. This allows you to gain XP faster than normal but in an unfair, unsportsmanlike and game breaking manner. The main reason why it is disallowed is due to the fact that it ruins everyone's fun when they join a server and want to play the game normally.

Mission padding

Mission padding is the same as Stat-padding but instead of stats, you are either helping others complete harder missions or getting others to help you complete harder missions. While some are hard, they are there to challenge you and hopefully drive you to keep competing and fighting in order to complete the mission. Again it is unfair for people that do this to have this achievement when others have played the game fairly to achieve the same mission completion. This also ruins the fun for everyone.

Now we know that with some missions, they do require you to help out fellow team mates, so how do you separate the good "help" from the bad "help?

Legitimate Help: Working as a team but allowing the player that needs the mission completing to take the lead, for example: You are a soldier, they are gunner, they need to complete Infantry Focus IV which consists of 15 kills and 1200 exp within a round. You can help by sticking to his side and healing him when he is low on health while protecting his back as he racks up the kills, eventually completing the hard mission that would probably be impossible for him to do on his own.

Mission Padding Help: Like Stat-padding this would need a truce between players and generally those that know each other. For example: You are a royal, they are a national. They keep complaining they need a few more kills and you decide to help, so you agree to let him kill you those few times and just stand there until they complete the mission

As defined by both our Terms of Service and Rules of Conduct

From the Terms of Service:

10. Rules of Conduct.

You may violate the Terms of Service if you:

• Interfere with the ability of others to enjoy playing an EA Service or take actions that interfere with or materially increase the cost to provide an EA Service for the enjoyment of all its users.

From the Rules of Conduct:

IF YOU BREAK ANY OF THESE RULES AND/OR THE BATTLEFIELD HEROES EUALA AND/OR EA TERMS OF SERVICES, YOUR ACCOUNT AND YOUR RIGHT TO USE THE BATTLEFIELD HEROES SERVICE, MAY BE TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY BY ELECTRONIC ARTS. IF THIS HAPPENS, YOU WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO ANY REFUND OF ANY AMOUNTS PAID BY YOU TO USE THE BATTLEFIELD HEROES SERVICE AND YOU WILL FORFEIT ALL OF YOUR UNUSED ACCESS TIME.

THE RULES ARE:

You will not do anything else that interferes with the ability of other Battlefield Heroes users to enjoy playing the game in accordance with its rules, or that increases the expense or difficulty of Electronic Arts in maintaining the Battlefield Heroes service for the enjoyment of all its users.

The Consequences: What will be done with guilty players?

If caught, reported or found in violation of our Terms of Service etc. Evidence will be logged for future reference and appropriate action will be taken on the account.