Locked Combat Logging and Crashes

[PoptartRex 3294]

I want to preface this post with this - This doesn't apply to all cases. Staff still have the discretion on whether or not to ban or unban a player.

 

So you were playing on the server, and regardless of your situation - your game suddenly crashed, your internet went out, or you blue screened. What do you do?

Don't panic!!... yet....

There are a few ways to go about gathering proof of this, as well as a few ways to hopefully prevent people from reporting you. Here is what to do.

In every case:

Spoiler

Step 1: If you have any buddies on, try to get into communication with them ASAP and have them message or speak to the person that you were in conflict with or had you in custody. Communication is key. In every single case you are going to want to get back in game on the SAME SERVER and have your SAME NAME immediately. The longer you wait the harder it is to appeal a potential ban in the future.

Step 2: You are going to want to immediately message (EVEN IF YOU ARE IN JAIL) whoever you were in conflict in our had you in custody. You are going to want to ask them what they want for compensation.

Note for those in jail:

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If you were tased or restrained when you lost connection, then they likely had an opportunity to send you to jail when your bones appeared in your place for "combat logging". SEND THIS PERSON A TEXT ABOUT YOUR SITUATION IMMEDIATELY. They might not report you, and even if they do, a message in the logs is AMAZING for ban appeals. (However with only a message, then don't expect to get away with every situation. Staff do check to see if this is being abused). Monetary compensation should not be needed in this situation. If they sent your bones they got money (if not they  can submit a compensation request)

Step 3: Compensation. (BE SMART BUT REASONABLE) Offer to turn yourself into their custody if you were originally incapacitated or restrained. If you were in a fight then use some judgement for monetary compensation, etc. 

(If you get banned) Step 4: Understand that this is not fool proof and that you can still be banned. Submit a ban appeal in the support section and explain the situation to the staff member. Tell the staff member if you did anything in the following cases.

If your internet went out:

Spoiler

For most people, Recording can still work here!! If you use something that is not based online, such as Shadowplay, then you can save the past few minutes or your recording and upload that when you do have internet back. This is probably your best method in the case of internet going out.

If you internet is out for an extended period of time, a good idea is to use a mobile device (if possible) to reach out to a friend online to at least communicate your situation to whomever you were in conflict with. 

If your game crashed:

Spoiler

Depending on how you have your software setup, recording can  work in these cases. That is the best case scenario here. 

Step 1: Press windows key and type "Event viewer" and click on the following icon:

Step 2: Expand the Windows Logs, then click on Application

 

Step 3: Press CTRL + F and then type "arma" and then press "find next"

Step 4: If you keep pressing F3 or click "find next" you will cycle through all the arma events.

Here are some examples:

Credits to @Bow for pictures and guide here.

Step 5: Screenshot anything that could be used as evidence that relates to your case.

That being said, this is NOT FOOLPROOF. Since this can technically be reproduced manually, staff will take this evidence with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, anything helps.

If you had a blue screen:

Spoiler

Recording is impossible with most players with the dreaded BSOD, so it is a little tricky to prove these. If you are able to whip out a device quickly and take a picture of the blue screen, you MIGHT be able to use that as proof. 

Better case: 

Thankfully, Windows does a file memory dump when a blue screen occurs. However, prior knowledge and effort is needed before these cases can happen. So if you know you are prone to Blue Screens of death, then please use the information on this website to help you https://www.wintips.org/how-to-find-what-causes-blue-screen-of-death-by-reading-bsod-minidump/. Timestamps are key to getting unbanned here. 

A simple timestamp on a memory dump might be able to help your ban appeal. 

If your power went out:

Spoiler

Well you might be in quite the pickle here. Proving you had a power outage is not easy, so an attempt to use a mobile device to contact people that can help is necessary.  The best thing you can do in this case is get your friends to contact whoever you were in conflict with. 

 

 

Keep in mind this is a guide. Not all cases will allow for any of this to apply. This post is to help people prevent themselves from combat logging bans when they crash. 

 Any additional edits/feedback should messaged to me. I intend to continue updating this with information to help those who face crashes.