Disclaimer: I have no idea who is being complained about in the slightest. I have no idea what staff member made the call, or what factors they took into account.

I know this answer won't be popular, but it really is a case-by-case basis.

One character might have a full set of armor plus ten limited, coveted objects in their inventory, and make regular use of all of them. Another character might have four unique items worn and nothing in inventory, but they hide in their guild and only play when their range is completely free of enemies, switching to other characters when the coast isn't clear. I consider the latter a hoarder and the former just fine. Good luck writing a rule that encompasses that kind of judgement call.

The major guidelines we've given staff:
1) Observe repeatedly. Make sure you're seeing a trend and not an exception.
2) Consult with other staff, especially if the person isn't "yours" (someone else's empoweree, etc.). You're surrounded by decades of collective experience. Use it.

Roleplay isn't an exact science. At some level, the staff is always going to be entrusted with making subjective judgements. It's not useful to anyone (player or player/staff) if the staff member is only allowed to make positive judgements about characters unless they to consult a lawyer, file forms in triplicate, get permission from the character's player's family, etc.

valguarnera@carrionfields.com