Need Help - Banned Without Reason

[Lil Em]

Edit: my own personal issue was somewhat resolved, as it turns out I was merely kicked and then 'temporarily' banned. Thank you for the support, folks - but now I suppose the discussion whittles down to how easily the voting system is exploited. What are your opinions on it?

Hi. Before you ask, yes, I was on an official Valve server.

I was happily playing a game of cp_well and doing particularly well - a welcome comeback from being dominated by folks with Australium weapons and unusual hats the night before. In fact, I was leading on the top of my team, having capped the intelligence several times and generally pushing back the enemy team. Everything was great fun until I heard the drum roll of a vote kick in, and next thing I knew I was banned. I can promise anyone reading this I have never cheated online - I enjoy playing games for a challenge and to cheat would not be my thing. It's more than obvious that I was vote banned by a sore loser for the simple crime of playing too well (as boastful as that may sound). I have no clue as to why everyone would be so ignorant as to just hit F1 the moment the voting menu comes up, I suppose they just saw I was doing better than them and therefore I must be hacking or something alike (I don't know what reason they listed for banning me).

So, what I need help with is: what the hell do I do? How do I get unbanned from that server? How do I get retribution on whoever abused the feature, and get them banned instead? Conveniently, I was so pleased by my success that I actually took a screenshot of me at the top of the team - evidence that my reason for being banned was not at all legitimate. Is there any way I can use this?

I tried TF2's 'report a bug' feature as that was the closest I could find to report abuse, although I have my doubts that'll do what I need. If any Valve moderators read this, feel free to scan through my account and see I have zero VAC violations of any sort, and haven't even been kicked from a server to my knowledge (except for reserved slots on unofficial servers).

I am aware that I am not the first person this has happened to. This is why I'm posting this - as I'd appreciate any advice on what you did to resolve it (unless you had to just grin and bear it, in which case, I'm in the same boat as you now). Finally, I'm almost fearful to play on another Valve server - if I can be banned that easily, how long is it until I have one good game on every server and get banned from each and every one? It's ridiculous! The feature has to be changed, it's far too open to exploitation as has been demonstrated on me the hard way today.

[Amelia]

Valve bans are temporary, they last for around 1-2 days (I forgot), so no need to worry. What map where you playing on? Some maps are considered "fun maps" where no one likes capping.

[asian boy hamm]

if its a VAC ban , you can't do ♥♥♥♥.
if its a ban from the server , play a different server...

[Lil Em]

Originalmente postado por Darkanine:

Valve bans are temporary, they last for around 1-2 days (I forgot), so no need to worry. What map where you playing on? Some maps are considered "fun maps" where no one likes capping.

A massive thanks for the immediate reassurance - I've never been 'banned' like this before, so I was a bit worried. The map was cp_well (sorry if I've got the name wrong, 'twas the one with briefcase capturing and trains that could squish players with an open building within the centre, and the two bases on opposing sides). To my knowledge it was a perfectly normal competitive game, and I can assure you I was being shot at as much as I fired at anyone else.

[HAPPY HEAVY]

valve server: where voting system is completely broken and F2P's will kick you if they think, you are too good

[Lil Em]

Originalmente postado por Skrub-lord Gentlehamm:

if its a VAC ban , you can't do ♥♥♥♥.
if its a ban from the server , play a different server...

It wasn't a VAC ban - my concern here is how easily the voting system was abused. Surely I'm not the only one who feels it's ridiculous that I can just be banned for playing well. Players simply can't be trusted with the ability to ban, or stuff like this happens.

[Lil Em]

Originalmente postado por AOD HAPPY HEAVY:

valve server: where voting system is completely broken and F2P's will kick you if they you are too good

Apparently, yeah.

[asian boy hamm]

Originalmente postado por Victor Blackthorn:

Originalmente postado por Skrub-lord Gentlehamm:

if its a VAC ban , you can't do ♥♥♥♥.
if its a ban from the server , play a different server...

It wasn't a VAC ban - my concern here is how easily the voting system was abused. Surely I'm not the only one who feels it's ridiculous that I can just be banned for playing well. Players simply can't be trusted with the ability to ban, or stuff like this happens.

oh , i thought you were complaining about being banned :\. i for one agree with you , something needs to be changed

[Littlefoot]

Valve servers are filled with clueless noobs that kick youi if you're too good for them.

[Haan Kei]

You can only vote kick someone on your team. Apparently your teammates thought you were doing it wrong. I think the ban is only like 30 mins or something. Play one of the million other servers.

/thread

[ttv knuffeldraak]

Originalmente postado por Victor Blackthorn:

Originalmente postado por Darkanine:

Valve bans are temporary, they last for around 1-2 days (I forgot), so no need to worry. What map where you playing on? Some maps are considered "fun maps" where no one likes capping.

A massive thanks for the immediate reassurance - I've never been 'banned' like this before, so I was a bit worried. The map was cp_well (sorry if I've got the name wrong, 'twas the one with briefcase capturing and trains that could squish players with an open building within the centre, and the two bases on opposing sides). To my knowledge it was a perfectly normal competitive game, and I can assure you I was being shot at as much as I fired at anyone else.

You'dd better get used to it, then... Vote-kicks are very frequently abused these days as a last-resort attempt to get rid of you. People vote-kick for no legitimate reason at all. All they do is flag you for being inactive [where chatting really won't help], and they immediatly smack that F1 button regardlessly of knowing who they kick.

[Lil Em]

Originalmente postado por Mattman:

You can only vote kick someone on your team. Apparently your teammates thought you were doing it wrong. I think the ban is only like 30 mins or something. Play one of the million other servers.

/thread

It's perfectly possible someone was autobalanced onto my team who was on the enemy team before. Also, it was a vote ban, not a vote kick.

[Lil Em]

Originalmente postado por Knuffeldraak:

Originalmente postado por Victor Blackthorn:

A massive thanks for the immediate reassurance - I've never been 'banned' like this before, so I was a bit worried. The map was cp_well (sorry if I've got the name wrong, 'twas the one with briefcase capturing and trains that could squish players with an open building within the centre, and the two bases on opposing sides). To my knowledge it was a perfectly normal competitive game, and I can assure you I was being shot at as much as I fired at anyone else.

You'dd better get used to it, then... Vote-kicks are very frequently abused these days as a last-resort attempt to get rid of you. People vote-kick for no legitimate reason at all. All they do is flag you for being inactive [where chatting really won't help], and they immediatly smack that F1 button regardlessly of knowing who they kick.

I believe I've been kicked once in the past once again merely for playing too well - this is the first time I've been vote banned, though.

[ttv knuffeldraak]

I don't think that people can vote 'ban' you, or at least not on the official valve servers.

[Doehardt]

Votekick = ban for 30min. That prevents players from immediate rejoining, otherwise it wouldnt make sense. And it only occurs on Valve servers as well.
EDIT: Only counts for server you were kicked at.

[Lil Em]

Originalmente postado por Knuffeldraak:

I don't think that people can vote 'ban' you, or at least not on the official valve servers.

When I tried to reconnect it said I was banned - I guess I was only kicked as the guy below explains.

Nonetheless, my overall point here really isn't my own personal grievances. It's the fact that it was exploited and I have no way of reporting abuse or anything alike. The person who initiated the kick deserves an actual VAC ban - after all, is this not an exploitation of the game and thereby cheating?