The bot problem is rising and real.

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Originally Posted by Dustytome

I'm not even sure we need to report those. Given the sheer number they ban with each wave, I doubt all those are from player reports. They've settled on an ineffective ban wave system and report or not, the rmt bots will exist until the wave hits and after that they'll just have until the next wave hits.



They would first have to be allowed by SE to actually do something about it. SE has forbidden the GMs from acting on bots/cheats. Everything has to go to the Special Task Force, which is a small team (less than a handful of people last I saw) at the home base. They're not even region based.

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ban waves don't work anymore. literally 5 minutes after the ban wave there's another 90+ bots showing up. They need to implement some sort of ground or surface detection, where if you're in a forbidden place, or in a place you shouldn't be if not on a flying mount you get kicked and banned.

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Originally Posted by miraidensetsu

If not for botting (that's hard to actually prove), why not ban them for bug exploit or hack? They're doing impossible things for players who's legally playing.

For me, the solution is launching some solution that makes sure that no process will mess with FFXIV's packets and makes sure that the client has the exact checksum of a non modified client.

But... But... Muh parser... Sorry, guy. Using parser was illegal to begin with.

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Client/packet checksum wouldn't affect parsers. Parsers only read, not modify, your network information to gather combat log data.

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Originally Posted by miraidensetsu

If not for botting (that's hard to actually prove), why not ban them for bug exploit or hack? They're doing impossible things for players who's legally playing.

For me, the solution is launching some solution that makes sure that no process will mess with FFXIV's packets and makes sure that the client has the exact checksum of a non modified client.

But... But... Muh parser... Sorry, guy. Using parser was illegal to begin with.

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Would probably screw anyone who uses internet security software that performs SSL inspections etc.

This is totally unnaceptable and ruining the experience for everyone.
Lately it has been such an amazing amount of bots everywhere, that completely kills the immersion of playing this game.
This seems more like a F2P game than a subscription one.
They appear in the hundreds at a time, going through walls, the floors, teleporting in the air, etc...
SE needs to do something about this FAST!

How is this normal?
https://i.imgur.com/lzGeJv3.png

https://i.imgur.com/1FjYtvb.png

Seems legit, 92 bots in that zone :)

I wish there was a section to post this where it would actually be noticed by someone from the staff, but it's either in the general discussion or sending a "suggestion" ingame using the support desk.

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Originally Posted by Ithaqua

I sometimes think the devs look on the Japanese server and wonder "what are these people in USA/Europe complaining about, I don't see any botting".

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Bots exist on the JP worlds, not as many as on NA or EU but they are there for the devs to see. Thing is though a bot isn't a bot until it gets caught or reported, so many just continue to function for quite a while until anything is done about them.

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Originally Posted by Monsoon_Lues

ban waves don't work anymore. literally 5 minutes after the ban wave there's another 90+ bots showing up. They need to implement some sort of ground or surface detection, where if you're in a forbidden place, or in a place you shouldn't be if not on a flying mount you get kicked and banned.

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I don't think you should get a kick and ban from the start. I have fallen through the map before due to a glitch and I know others have as well. Kicked - sure and then log back in, but if it happens multiple times maybe then a ban. I'm not a programmer so I don't know how that would work but a one and done will catch innocent people who are not trying to be where they shouldn't be. Maybe more of a your character gets an insta-kill when you are outside the map area. I would be okay that. If you fall through the map due to a glitch and are killed you just return to your home point and continue on your way. A bot though would just keep getting killed over and over again.

I am fairly new to ffxiv so what are SE's method of combating bots? Do they track and ban ect?

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Originally Posted by Thamorian

Client/packet checksum wouldn't affect parsers. Parsers only read, not modify, your network information to gather combat log data.

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ACT intercepts and scans packets being sent to and from the game, gathers that data and produces results that a player playing legit cannot see or benefit from. It can also scan memory directly. It has plugin capability and is used for far more than simply parsing combat log data. It can be used to have raid callouts timed exactly, and gather mob hunt locations without moving. Now, this is a rabbit hole, and no something like ACT is not on the same level of other programs that actually modify the packets themselves, but it is still a form of cheating, gives the user an advantage unavailable to those that play by the rules and is prohibited by the ToS. It is not a gray area. SE doesn't turn a blind eye. As with botting and more nefarious tools, they don't give a crap.