I'm very interested to hear people's views here, because I keep having this decision! I paused one recently when I was pretty sure three were multi's and a nation was about to be wiped out. However, how about more general circumstances? We don't want to stop all players games, but equally I'm sure you'd rather they were fair.

Just to add, I'm not saying multi's are frequent - they don't normally last very long before we clear up the issue, and very few actually manage to wreck more than 2 games even then. Obviously its a real shame if you're in those games, but its not a common problem.

I think it depends on what your standard response is. If you decide to go with a cancel option, which would just refund everyone (including defeated players) their points, then it doesn't really matter if the game continues during your investigation.
(I think this is an excellent idea; the cancel game option. Nobody should gain or lose in these instances.)

but we dont have a cancel game option at the moment so what should mods do during an investigation into suspected multi activity

Then pause it. If allegations are true then only harm can come out of letting it continue. If allegations are false, it just costs the players a little time.
Personally, I would rather wait a day or two for you to do what you gotta do than be eliminated by a cheater while you figure it out.

exactly

I agree. When suspected, look at it quickly, then pause if there seems to be reason for suspicion and need full invstigation.

Also, how do we keep players from taking over banned accounts and taking advantage of the superior position created by cheating?

I think that will come with a cancel option. Both Kestas and I have lots of exams in the coming months, so I haven't been able to talk to him recently.
However, I think the banning system needs a bit of an overhaul, as I suggested in the other thread. As private messaging is coming in with the new release, I envisage the system will go like this:
1) Player has a suspicion, and sends a message to a mod.
----> In an update I hope to add the feature allowing people to send a private message to 'moderators' rather than having to choose one. This would come up on a private message board where only the moderators or sender could read it, allowing anyone to continue the conversation.
2) The mod looks into the situation. If there's nothing there, fine - tell the player and we can all live happily ever after. Otherwise, the account(s) are suspended. In this form all their games are paused, and they cannot enter games. They can log in however, and thus use the private messaging system to explain themselves.
3) If they do not do this within a reasonable length of time (depending on the phases of their games) they are banned.
4) The mods would then go through each game and choose to put the account into CD or cancel the game in each case. If unsure then CD would be used, giving the players the chance to cancel their own game anyway.
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The sort-term is the issue, and if people want I'm happy to pause games where players are right on the brink whilst I investigate, but i don't want to interfere too much-especially when it makes more work!

whens the update coming in figle

I like the idea of pausing while the investigation is ongoing.

Multis haven't really affected any of my games as of yet, but if they ever do, I don't want my points to be affected.

then never did until 2 games in the last couple of days

The update I speak of won't be for ages - those are things I want to add to the current update. And that, who knows.
It has more in it than was originally intended, but because of this took longer, and so has slipped back into exam season. As I'm sure you're all aware once you hit exams no matter how interesting the coding project you really do have to put it to one side, and this is what's happened at Kestas' end.

yeah thats understandable mate

Pause 'em if the initial investigation leads you to feel an explanation or further investigation is warranted. You need to reduce the damage done by the potential multi and a paused game is not damaging, but a bad position leads to lost games/points/whatever.

Sounds good. I'm not so sure about having mods cancel the game though. I think it should be left up to the remaining players.

My logic behind cancelling is that if a game has been wrecked, it's unfair on those who may have been killed off by the cheats.
My favorite scenario for this point: If you're Austria against Multi's in Turkey/Russia, you're almost certain to be killed off no matter what you try. Therefore it seems unfair that you should loose a game you had no alternative in.
True, could leave it to the players but I fear they would take the draw over the cancel as then they wouldn't have to pay the other player?