Did you really take away a players ability to make war hits?

Sounds like a good idea.

The criteria should be: "making obvious-troll threads on AT"

Just like you have.

it IS concerning, because, so far as I can tell, it prevents players from being able to play the game properly.

As near as I can tell, it prevents players from making any form of offensive hit, or any spy ops at all against any country, unless that country hits them first.
That also means that players are therefore effectively forced into all X strats only for any netting they might attempt. which puts them at a disadvantage, given that it seemingly also applies across multiple servers.

I cannot say 100% for certain that this is happening, but if it is, then yes, it's a genuine issue, depending on what it is given for, and how.

If say, it is given to someone for 2-3 sets after an extended, demonstrated history of intentional suiciding and griefing, fair enough.
If it's say, given for 10 years because someone made a trolling forum post, not so much.

EDITED to clarify and expand on my meaning and intent.

What really hurts the game is almost three decades of circlejerks, so when some old netter lazily getting by without worrying about being attacked, because most won't, and when newbies do a gaggle of seemingly uninvolved players step forward to rescue the "victim".

How can a country make a spy op or hit on another country unless they hit first ... how did that country hit first?

chicken, egg

No more bot hitting until the bots hit first

my understanding is that sanctions are only applicable on solo servers, i.e. express tournament and classic.

However, as Leto is, the guy currently sanctioned maybe he can chime in and tell us his experience on how sanctions are affecting his gameplay. I’m not sure if he also got a forum ban or not but maybe somebody can talk to him and report back?

I think everyone posting in this thread should be sanctioned. It's all very concerning.

Sanctions is only on the solo servers. I was trying to fight countries vs finish first.

I did read the posts about the threats of sanction and I did slow down a little. I didn't realize sanctuons would not let me hit or spy on bots, one of those tldr things. It was a fluff move on my part.

Do you have a cape?