Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders

A post on Battle.net has news that following a series of bans for botting in Hearthstone, Blizzard has now issued permanent bans to a bunch of players for win-trading in the virtual card-based game (thanks PC Gamer). Here's what happened:
Fair play is at the heart of Hearthstone. The Ranked Play ladder is a place where players have the opportunity to duel and gauge their card-slinging prowess while climbing the ranks. Participating in Ranked Play should be fun, exciting, competitive, and fair.

We’ve recently banned Hearthstone accounts that were found to be participating in win trading. Win trading at any rank is something that we do not take lightly, and is in violation of our Terms of Use. As we mentioned in our previous statement regarding fair play in Hearthstone, instances of cheating will not be tolerated. Accounts that were discovered participating in win trading have received permanent account closure and disqualification from events where ranking is used as a method of qualification.
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Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 16:07
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Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 16:07
Oct 31, 2014, 16:07
 
Good for Blizzard, people who cheat to earn their ranks deserve to get banned.

For the most part high ranks in Hearthstone are more for bragging rights but if you place in the top 16 each season you have a chance to get into the Blizzcon Hearthstone tournament. The top prize for winning the Hearthstone Blizzcon tournament is 250k.
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13.
 
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 15:31
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Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 15:31
Oct 31, 2014, 15:31
 
Frijoles wrote on Oct 31, 2014, 12:24:
nin wrote on Oct 31, 2014, 12:01:
I'm assuming it's folks talking turns throwing the game, so the other person can win?

I wonder how this works in Hearthstone since I thought you were paired with a random person in ladder play. Wouldn't you have to know the person you were playing against?

At the highest levels of legend rank, and specifically at certain times, it's very common to get matched up with your previous opponent. Some of the people banned were in the top ~30 ranks and win trading was more frequent there.
12.
 
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 14:37
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Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 14:37
Oct 31, 2014, 14:37
 
Not surprised at all that this was going on. At the higher ranked tiers, the game play really breaks down to luck and rock-paper-scissors. I'm not that clear on the exact math behind it, but a friend told me about trying to break into Rank 3 and he would win two games, but lose his third constantly and end up making no progress in the rankings all due to just deck match-up.

Apparently in order to progress to the higher ranks you have to be on a rock-paper-scissors win hot streak.
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11.
 
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 14:26
11.
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 14:26
Oct 31, 2014, 14:26
 
Frijoles wrote on Oct 31, 2014, 12:24:
nin wrote on Oct 31, 2014, 12:01:
I'm assuming it's folks talking turns throwing the game, so the other person can win?

I wonder how this works in Hearthstone since I thought you were paired with a random person in ladder play. Wouldn't you have to know the person you were playing against?

You can play people on your friends list.
10.
 
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 12:24
10.
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 12:24
Oct 31, 2014, 12:24
 
nin wrote on Oct 31, 2014, 12:01:
I'm assuming it's folks talking turns throwing the game, so the other person can win?

I wonder how this works in Hearthstone since I thought you were paired with a random person in ladder play. Wouldn't you have to know the person you were playing against?
Avatar 6700
9.
 
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 12:17
9.
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 12:17
Oct 31, 2014, 12:17
 
If only they enforced this in Arena games in WoW. Not that I give two shits about PvP in Warcraft but that seems to be how the best remain the best and get multiple ranked titles.
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8.
 
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 12:01
nin
8.
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 12:01
Oct 31, 2014, 12:01
nin
 
Creston wrote on Oct 31, 2014, 11:56:
What the hell is win trading?

I'm assuming it's folks talking turns throwing the game, so the other person can win?

7.
 
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 11:56
7.
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 11:56
Oct 31, 2014, 11:56
 
I'm all for these perma-bans
good on Blizzard
6.
 
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 11:56
6.
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 11:56
Oct 31, 2014, 11:56
 
What the hell is win trading?
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Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 11:06
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Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 11:06
Oct 31, 2014, 11:06
 
Blackhawk wrote on Oct 31, 2014, 10:17:
Wait, they perma-banned them, and limited what kinds of events they can participate in?

I think the DQ is to remove them from the standings for ladder ranking?
Just a way for them to easily clean up that list? Perhaps a closed account doesn't automatically get removed from the standings.
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Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 10:32
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Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 10:32
Oct 31, 2014, 10:32
 
Blackhawk wrote on Oct 31, 2014, 10:17:
Wait, they perma-banned them, and limited what kinds of events they can participate in?
Presumably they're allowed to open new accounts?
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Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 10:17
JTW
3.
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 10:17
Oct 31, 2014, 10:17
JTW
 
Wait, they perma-banned them, and limited what kinds of events they can participate in?
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Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 10:05
2.
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 10:05
Oct 31, 2014, 10:05
 
Verno wrote on Oct 31, 2014, 10:03:
Seems kind of weird to temp ban botters but perma ban win traders. Unless they ended up permabanning botters after all, I never read any follow up on that.

When they announced the temp-bans for botting they also said botting would earn permabans going forward.
Stephen "Blue" Heaslip
Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life
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1.
 
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders
Oct 31, 2014, 10:03
1.
Re: Blizzard Perma-Bans Hearthstone Win-Traders Oct 31, 2014, 10:03
Oct 31, 2014, 10:03
 
Seems kind of weird to temp ban botters but perma ban win traders. Unless they ended up permabanning botters after all, I never read any follow up on that.
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