Account Restrictions on Subeta are to prevent problematic behavior for users - such as preventing posts globally from people that have a Communication Restriction, or preventing any sort of trading for users with a Trading Restriction.

However, I've noticed that when an user with a Communication Restriction tries to access the forums, it just says "Not enough privileges to view the forums.". Why prevent viewing too? As long as the user in question can't post to the forums or anywhere else to the site, it shouldn't matter if the user is able to see the forums or not.

this is a thing? the only "communication restriction" i know of is when you've violated the community guidelines and you have to re-agree to them before you're allowed to access the forums again.

I know you can't immediately post on the forums when you first join and I know - because I've done it because hey, oops - where you violate the community guidelines and have to agree to play nice again.

I'm not sure what you're meaning?

From the Community Guidelines page itself:

The news post about the CG also implies bans for repeated offenders:

I really hope a staff member replies to this thread with some sort of official/final answer, I'm kinda curious about this now. On one hand the user isn't interacting with anyone, so no risk of troubles and headaches and restricting users to useful information won't help anyone. On the other hand, it's just pure and simple punishment to someone that broke basic, simple rules again and again, so, yeah, who kinda deserve it.

On a not-so-unrelated note, the FAQ and rules pages could get a little revision. There are some outdated info on them, plus things that need better clarification, like this one.

I've got a 24-hour communication restriction for being too negative when posting. Restrictions do exist, but maybe they were added recently or something.

tbf, this is a site that basically tells everyone "we don't do news posts, you have to read the staff forum posts to get any info on what's going on with the site". it doesn't seem smart to cut users off, yes including rule-breakers, entirely from reading what is such a vital aspect of the site and one of the main sources of information for... well, basically everything? especially for things like, for example, if one of said staff members posts a reply here to clarify the rule. don't get me wrong, I understand the posting block. but reading anything entirely (which is what it sounds like)? it seems a bit much.

Agree 100%, that's why I would love an official statement from staff. For partial restrictions there's the "Admin Posts", which I highly doubt hides posts from restricted boards (the fact that maybe no one knows for sure is an issue itself though). However, what if someone gets a perma ban from the forums? Subeta becomes quite unplayable. But then staff can just ¯(ツ)/¯ to all this as the user was given enough warnings and chances to not end up in such a situation.

There are two clear sides here and I don't even care which one staff is, but they have to be transparent about it, and of course, make said information available somewhere everyone has access to.

I think its reasonable and fair to ban someone completely from the forums, reading and posting, for up to 24 hours for bad behaviour. Yes, this would be a minor impediment for blocking access to guides and information, but its only for one day and gives the user a chance to sit back and reflect.

If a posting ban lasts longer than 24 hours, however, I think that it should only be a posting ban and not a reading ban. Not being able to read forum posts at all could have a huge impact on playbility and I don't think that's a fair punishment. However, with the lack of clarity in the rule, I don't even know if bans longer than 24 hours can or do exist.

I agree, a restricted user should at least be able to read the forums. Ban their ability to post is all.

When I received the restriction, an UA in a support ticket has said, quoting: "Each time you violate the guidelines, your ban time increases.". There most likely are longer restrictions than 24hr, maybe even permanent (or set with a nonsensical expiration date, like the year 3023).

People that were rule-breaking to the point that they got suspended shouldn't have access to the forums, no.

No matter the duration. At some point, mess around and find out?