Proxy-queuing is (now) a bannable offense.

[valura]

First a word of explanation for those who are not familiar with proxy-queueing. Proxy-queuing is any of the following (but is not limited to these):

• Queuing as tank/healer while wearing (full) PvP gear to simulate the ilvl required to perform that role in the chosen Heroic(s).
• Queuing as tank/healer while wearing (full) offspec (usually DPS) gear to simulate the ilvl required to perform that role in the chosen Heroic(s).
• Queuing as tank/healer while not having the (required) gear to perform that role, only doing so to shorten the queue time.

Result of proxy-queuing can be:

• Refusing to perform the role queued with, since it was only selected to shorten the queue time.
• Performing very badly due to the used gear not being designed for the task.
• Inability to perform the chosen role due to the lack of required gear for that role.
• Trying to get another player kicked, changing your selected role when re-queuing, because already formed (incomplete) groups get priority.
• Holding a party hostage, refusing to leave when asked, if they cannot kick, or if they cannot leave without getting the Deserter debuff.
  

When you encounter someone (ab)using the RDF this way, certainly do not hesitate to report the ingame. Blizzard considers this to be cheating and punishes first offenders with a minimum 24hr instance ban (no dungeons, raids, nor battlegrounds), with subsequent offenders might endure a 72hr instance ban (no dungeons, raids, nor battlegrounds), permanent instance banning or temporary/permanent account banning.

However, this does not cover people queuing with 2 roles selected, who either need to change specs upon entering the instance or who happen to forget to swap their gear after entering the instance. Those are common mistakes which may be frowned upon, but are no reason for reporting.

FYI, as far as I know this has not yet been officialised, but from my observations this has as of recently been enforced by GM’s when reports are being made. The details about the punishment involved vary form source to source, but it is an (observed) fact that those reported for this will be punished without exceptions, providing the GM can verify the infraction.

[Nikachelle]

AMAZING.

[Treck]

Sounds like a good step.
But the que system doesnt care about the gear your wearing, as it just counts highest ilvl you have (im guessing it will in 4.3).
Imo blizzards own fault for making it show highest ilvl your char could ever reach, instead of current ilvl your wearing.
Even having BoE epics that are not bound to you in your bags increase your ilvl...

[valura]

Sounds like a good step.
But the que system doesnt care about the gear your wearing, as it just counts highest ilvl you have (im guessing it will in 4.3).
Imo blizzards own fault for making it show highest ilvl your char could ever reach, instead of current ilvl your wearing.
Even having BoE epics that are not bound to you in your bags increase your ilvl...

I agree, Treck, that design is rather flawed, when it lacks in tracking actual equipped gear (which fits the role you chose). But at least now they're trying to punish those that abuse the design flaw, instead of looking the other way and saying "if you don't like/want them, just kick them".

It is now considered to be cheating/scamming, and is punished accordingly

[Shoju]

The only problem that I have with this, is that it sounds like using PvP gear to be a Tank is a bannable offense, while wearing your pvp gear to be a dps isn't.

While I understand that the former is far bigger of a detriment to the group, the latter is no excuse either. 1-2 pieces? Fine. I understand that the 384 shoulders and Helms are better than 353 for a lot of classes. That doesn't excuse you when you show up in full 384 gemmed and enchanted for PvP.

[Jeremoot]

This change makes me happy. I'm going to go pet my cat until she's thoroughly annoyed.

[KysenMurrin]

The only problem that I have with this, is that it sounds like using PvP gear to be a Tank is a bannable offense, while wearing your pvp gear to be a dps isn't.

DPS aren't queue jumping by using PvP gear to DPS. And this only applies if you're incapable of performing the role when you queue, not just for wearing certain gear.

[Shoju]

Right. And you can argue that you can DPS in PvP gear, while you can't tank in PvP gear.

[poptart]

Which is kind of bad for feral bears.

I have a seldom played Druid that I have geared up to be ready to tank Firelands if needed by my guild. After talking to our main spec feral Druid, he directed me to equip 3 pieces of 371 PvP gear that were itemized Armor/Stam/Agility/Mastery that were superior to any 359 I could equip, even losing out on the Resiliance rating on the piece.

Until they change Druid gear to be less dependant upon the amount of armor/Stam/Agility for their survivability and more on the "secondary" stats (like the other three tank classes), then judging a Druid tank solely on the inclusion of PvP gear will not be very accurate.

Poptart

[KysenMurrin]

If you zone in in 13 pieces of tank gear and 3 pvp, willingly start tanking the place, and don't fail because of it, who's going to report you?

[Chicken]

Going to predict an upcoming patch will change it so you can only queue for the roles you have specs for then; so if you're a Paladin and your two specs are Holy and Protection, you'd not be able to queue as DPS, etc.

The specific bannable offense also seems to be more "(Knowingly) queuing for a role you can't fulfill" and less "It's got a piece of PvP gear! Burn the witch!".

[Shoju]

If you zone in in 13 pieces of tank gear and 3 pvp, willingly start tanking the place, and don't fail because of it, who's going to report you?

But if you zone in with 13 pieces of pvp gear, and 3 pieces of pve gear, willing to DPS the place, that is ok? It feels like a double standard almost. An admittedly understandable double standard (when saying that tanks need tank gear), but still... If I'm expected to get my gear to do PVE from PVE content, so should they. I know, "Shoju is complaining" but I'm not. I want people to run dungeons. I want people to have fun, and succeed, but I think that the PvP gear in PvE, and the opposite, PvE gear in PvP should be addressed for all specs and roles, on both sides of it.

Yes, this means that I could be reported if i continued to run BG's in my full on tank gear, and I think that if I'm saying that DPS in Dungeons need PvE gear, I should be expected to wear PvP gear is a fair trade off.

[poptart]

If you zone in in 13 pieces of tank gear and 3 pvp, willingly start tanking the place, and don't fail because of it, who's going to report you?

The GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGO 543 item level 12 year-old-DPS who has already pulled 9 packs of mobs and is now raging that you did not save them from themselves....

I am just saying that it is a pretty blanket statement by Blizzard that can/will potentially be used against feral tanks that are "doing it right."

Honestly, how many times have you tanked a steller run for PuG and still gotten shat on due to some tiny little thing you did not do to the PuGs eternal displeasure? Please don't say zero because we both know the answer is higher than that.

Anyway, I don't mind the change as long as they don't go too far and in 4.3 or 4.4 actually put a gear checker in that does not allow you to queue as a feral tank if any of your gear has resiliance on it.

Poptart

[Nikachelle]

I wonder how low a dpser's dps has to be to be considered "not doing their job".

[Chicken]

I do feel sorry for their GMs though, this is going to be a pain to investigate properly for them.