[Updated] Player held contest rules

By Ow, 28th July 2020 10:37:14
21

Player Contest Rules Clarification






We’ve received feedback from Moderators and the communities on multiple Howrse games requesting clarification of the rules for player hosted contests and giveaways, specifically with offering horses as prizes.

Addendum: We've reviewed the rule about offering horses as prizes and have decided to allow you to offer a horse as a prize again.


Current rules

We allow players to host contests and giveaways according to the following rules:

  • You cannot require entrance fees or donations

  • You can give in-game prizes (Only those which can be done via the gifting options already within the game)

  • You cannot give Equus or passes as prizes

  • You do not have to give prizes

  • Your contest can only be posted on your presentation page or in your EC forum.


Review of rules

Some players want to offer horses as prizes and would like to know if this is allowed. We reviewed contests held on each version, and we identified the following:

On some versions, it has not been allowed for horses to be used as prizes; since the game does not include a tool for gifting horses. Selling a horse to a player costs them a fee to gain their prize. This falls within the Item and Pass Trafficking rules that are not allowed.

As a compromise, we will allow players to offer horses as prizes so long as the cost of the horse is the minimum amount that can be set - 500e. Since this is also considered a private agreement between players, we will not support these transactions. Contests are entered at your own risk and it is up to the contest holders to deliver the promised prizes.

In addition to the contest rules mentioned above, we have added the following:

- You can offer a horse as a prize provided the cost does not exceed 500 Equus.
- The horse offered as a prize can have Black Market items.
- Contest holders can ask but not require that participants re-post their contest banners.

Players who do not follow the rules are exposed to sanctions. For any questions, we encourage you to ask us directly via "Contact Us."


Last Updated: January 31, 2024

Regards,
The Howrse Team
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Ow
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By Crystal Clear, 16th September 2021 11:37:57
11
PiXeL wrote:

So when I say "Would you like a unicorn? message me and I'll give you one for 500e" on my presentation - isn't that the same thing? That is now not allowed?



I’d just change the wording to remove the word “give” and make it “sell” and maybe change the question wording to something like “Are you looking to purchase a unicorn” just in case they get picky over it
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By soᴘʜɪᴀ, 16th September 2021 20:35:10
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CrystalClear, I agree with you completely.
To be fair, I wrote that post after coming home from a long day at work. I was mentally drained, and should have waited until I had a clearer mind.
default smiley xd
Thank you for posting the thorough, correct reply I should have posted.
default smiley :p
soᴘʜɪᴀ
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By Crystal Clear, 16th September 2021 21:45:41
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soᴘʜɪᴀ wrote:

CrystalClear, I agree with you completely.
To be fair, I wrote that post after coming home from a long day at work. I was mentally drained, and should have waited until I had a clearer mind.
default smiley xd
Thank you for posting the thorough, correct reply I should have posted.
default smiley :p



Ahh, it’s no problem. We all have busy days and a lack of patience to write hundreds of words sometimes default smiley xd
Crystal Clear
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By EchOw, 17th September 2021 13:56:32
12
I’ll be closing this topic due to the thread turning from question clarifications into complaints and loophole discussions.

Before closing the topic, I’d like to clarify the rules for player held contests:

Horse prizes cannot be offered because:
- There is no gifting option for horses in the game.
- Donating horses to Ow is not free as you receive points in events for donating the horse.

The prize is no longer considered a prize when the winner of the contest must pay a fee to collect their prize, even though the "winner" can choose not to pay the fee.
Offering horses this way is considered horse trafficking. More information about trafficking can be found in the topics: Item and Pass trafficking and Keep Howrse a great community

I’ve shared your suggestions with the team about wanting a horse gifting option.
We understand that you want and wish for changes, but this rule will not be changed at this time.

What you can offer as prizes:
- You may offer any in-game item that can be given to the winner through the free gifting options already in the game.
- If the winner must pay any kind of fee, this prize is not allowed. For example: Selling the winner a horse, offering Stallion cover, etc.

This rule was changed due to the amount of requests we received through Contact Us from contest winners who never received the promised horse, were overcharged, or were required to give the contest holder something else in return.
These rules are not in place to punish or upset anyone, but to help better protect players and prevent disappointment.

If you have any further questions, please send a request to Contact Us.
EchOw
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By EchOw, 31st January 2024 15:20:00
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HellOw everyone,

The team has recently reviewed the rule about offering horses as prizes (for 500 Equus) for your player-held contests.

We have decided to allow you to offer horses as prizes again.

However, please remember that, while selling a horse for 500 equus is allowed in most situations, we reserve the right to sanction users who use such sales to sell horses for real money, to liquidate all horses on an account, or any other behavior that goes against Howrse’s terms of use.

The topic has been amended to align with this change

Thank you for your understanding in this matter!
The Howrse Team
EchOw
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By Goat_Girl, 1st February 2024 02:45:09
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default smiley *-)default smiley *-)default smiley *-)

I had given up on Howrse ever allowing this again! This is incredible default smiley <:o)

Thank you Howrse!! default smiley (l)
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By soᴘʜɪᴀ, 1st February 2024 12:34:54
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This is beyond incredible, I can't believe it.
I've never been more happy about a game adjustment before.

Thank you, Howrse.
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By SnowOfNovember, 17th July 2024 06:10:30
7
Great to see that giveaways have been reinstated, and that horses can be offered again! I've not really been on much, so it's good I returned after this announcement. Generosity between players has always been one of the best aspects of the game to me, so I'm glad it can find expression in this way.

Respect to the team for having the humility to take player feedback on board, and admit that the ban several years ago had been a mistake by reversing the decision default smiley :)
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By GallopKing, 8th December 2024 13:37:43
If I want to offer a prize of 4000 PASSES is this possible?
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By minkthepink, 8th December 2024 21:06:28
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GallopKing wrote:

If I want to offer a prize of 4000 PASSES is this possible?


If you read the rules in the top post, you'll see that it clearly states that passes and equus cannot be given as prizes.
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