The bot problem is rising and real.

Botting has always been a thing as far as I can remember while playing this game. But it just got to a whole new level, and someone needs to fix this once and for all. They've gotten better and smarter, they don't instantly teleport across the world now, you can see them walk in the sky, basically flying, or walk through walls and underground. They SWARM ARR areas at this point, reporting does nothing, they ban one and 20 more come out. I can't stand around Ul'dah 2 damn seconds without seeing 3 or 4 of them flying over my head. It's not a single datacenter or server problem anymore it's all over and it's getting bad, real bad. If I open the player search and look for people from lvl 1 to 50 in ARR areas, 85% of the results are bots. Is that the "new playerbase" that the devs want? All it would take is a lil surface detection check. A real anticheat. Please.

Here's some screens I managed to capture in just five minutes of looking during the day
https://imgur.com/l6chwlK
https://imgur.com/6t8MDn5
https://imgur.com/KJfjnuo
https://imgur.com/4hzJFuD
https://imgur.com/W86dx66

I'm from EU, but it seems like it's a heavy issue even on US, give a watch to this video and see for yourself https://youtu.be/p01FTSHNQz0

If we don't give a damn about it and just accept it like it's an impossible thing to resolve, we normalize the problem and it will only be worst as time goes on. We need more people talking about this. Not just a handful while the rest looks the other way "cause it's just arr".

I agree it’s a major issue. It took me 5 minutes to load into new Gridania because of the HUNDREDS of bots in that single zone. They are breaking physics, creating the log in queue problem for a low population server. They are joining the novice network and clogging it up.
I spent an hour reporting them yesterday.

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Originally Posted by KitiaraIornsight

They are joining the novice network and clogging it up.

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They actually can't get into NN without being invited by a mentor (They accept virtually all forms of invitation with no hesitation, whether it be parties, FCs, or NN), so someone has to be doing it deliberately.

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.

I don't think the devs realize how much of an issue this is. It makes the game look bad in the eyes of new people just leveling in arr

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Originally Posted by KitiaraIornsight

. They are joining the novice network and clogging it up.

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Thats been a thing since NN was first launched.People becomeing mentors and clicking every sprout name they see to join them.
Someone is either adding them on purpose to rmt spam NN and find potential novice players to sell gold to or one of the mentors is just trolling.

Saw at least 50 running through trees and the ground all of them lv 15-17 it's just like on WoW. After looking around I think the bots are using the same program company that blizzard sued for 8.6 mil.

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".

I say this all the time, having a quicker means to report botting would go a long way. The system now is to cumbersome (most likely to cut back on frivolous reports) But we need a way to quickly report Floaty Mcfloatbot.

Then the GMs in NA and seems like EU now too need to do something about it! Not going to doomsay but really I still remember the last years of Diablo 1 when bots were more plentiful than actual players.

I'm sick of teleporting Congo lines of lalafell black mages and air walking gatherers oh and those gil sellers that you can't see because they are inside the world or another object.

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Originally Posted by Nyvara

I say this all the time, having a quicker means to report botting would go a long way. The system now is to cumbersome (most likely to cut back on frivolous reports) But we need a way to quickly report Floaty Mcfloatbot.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Nyvara

Then the GMs in NA and seems like EU now too need to do something about it!

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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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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.

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Originally Posted by warcanoe

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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There are no effective methods. Most players can run bots for years without issue and reports are generally ignored. On the rare occasion that they get disciplined, it is usually lightweight and laughable. There is some "mass ban" thing they come out with every so often which appears to do absolutely nothing at all. It is really a blight on the game. My only hope is that it gets to a breaking point where they take action. But years have passed, so I don't see that happening. I can't even imagine the scale of fraud that must go into these accounts. You'd think they would take action from a legal perspective alone.

Real "named" players using more sophisticated bots are also rampant though less noticeable unless you're familiar with the patterns. They tend to do what they do without impunity as well and reporting has no effect.

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Originally Posted by warcanoe

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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they have an ingame report feature for RTM, which you can't clearly use on every bot, just the ones that spam in chat. other than that you either report them one by one by filling a form or wait for a banwave, if it even works.

Been leveling up a new character and literally every map I have been to, people were talking about the insane amount bots that flood all of ARR in the shout chat. I have never seen it this bad. Some folks in Eastern Thanalan was stopping a train of them by placing their chocobos in their path. The bots eventually got force log out by that afk timer but of course, about 100 more appeared after that. It's like we are already experiencing an apocalypse.

I, by just literally standing for ONE minute in the main entrance to ul'dah, see about 30 bots and 5 actual players

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Originally Posted by AngeliouxRein

Some folks in Eastern Thanalan was stopping a train of them by placing their chocobos in their path..

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I need to know how to do this for science and amusement.

I don't think simply having a chocobo would stop them, but I know in some other MMOs naming a pet after a mob the bots want to kill will confuse them and make them attempt to attack it.

could we make so we can right click on characters and report them for being a bot. Also maybe make a program that doesn't allow keyboard smash names.

Y'know, I'll be the first to admit that I hate most of the views that other posters have on these forums. More often that not I find myself in disagreement with their ideas and in disappointment that they would even think of something like that. And I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling this way. However, this botting issue is the one problem all of us can truly rally behind. No matter who you are or what your stances are on this game, I'm sure that we can agree that we need to eradicate these f***ing robots.

Decided to finally level one of my gatherers and in doing so I was hoping from zones and city-states and I saw some obviously bots. In Ul'dah I saw several running from the aetheryte to the adventurer's guild going through walls. In Gridania I saw at least 7 BLM just standing around for several seconds by the aetheryte and then all of then headed toward Old Gridania and then another set of BLM teleported by the Aetheryte. I would of liked a way easy way to report them but there is no report option when right-clicking another player.

I've seen them on my server, just not to this extent; the fact it happens at all though is simply embarrassing. I am embarrassed for you, SE.

Mostly, I've seen some when I'm out gathering, or occasionally when I return to Gridania for GC turn-ins. They'll talk to the NPC at the guild, then make a 45 degree turn and float away. Clearly, the "wait and ban in waves, don't allow our GMs to actually do anything, etc." methods aren't working. I get that you can't completely eradicate them, but this is worse then some ftp games... Come on, SE. :(

Edit: Anyone seen people camping the MB for longer than is reasonable? As in, possibly using a bot to purchase items? I know this occurs in other MMOs, but i don't recall seeing it here before this. I've seen the same character standing at the MB outside Shirogane apartments for hours on end. I'll port there, go to my apartment, port out to do something else, port back, they're still there... haven't moved an inch. For hours and hours, days on end, though granted there are times they aren't there. I dunno, either they're a very careful bot, or a player who doesn't mind camping the board... for, uh, hours... Maybe I should just send them a tell.

Reminds me why I quit playing Blade and Soul. I use to see trains of 60 summoners together and they kill every quest monster you needed. After not being able to complete simple quest I uninstalled the game. bots really suck in open world pvp. they just swam you and kick you.

@KageTokage For science!! Your comment legit put a smile on my face. But As far as I was seeing, the guy that had his chocobo out had it parked like directly in front of a group of bots. Not to spoil too much of the story but it's that part of the story where your character is sent out to collect the bodies of merchants after they were attacked by almaj`aa. I think what was happening is that they couldn't click on one of the bodies and they ultimately went afk because of it. That's what it looked like. Some others were trying this in different areas, also..for science...lol

I think the reason that works is because the bots use the "Target/interact with nearest NPC/object" hotkey and chocobos are included within that.

I think I'll try for it a laugh some day. It won't hinder actual players since they can just click on the object/NPC instead.

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Originally Posted by Metalwrath

Thats been a thing since NN was first launched.People becomeing mentors and clicking every sprout name they see to join them.
Someone is either adding them on purpose to rmt spam NN and find potential novice players to sell gold to or one of the mentors is just trolling.

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Those who are joined to the NN have usually normal names though. It is kinda hard to spot them if eg. you're a new mentor or don't keep track of those rmt bot advertising characters. Glad enough we have some dedicated people to instantly kick them out. But somehow they always return.

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Originally Posted by KageTokage

I think the reason that works is because the bots use the "Target/interact with nearest NPC/object" hotkey and chocobos are included within that.

I think I'll try for it a laugh some day. It won't hinder actual players since they can just click on the object/NPC instead.

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Supposedly the people controlling the bot accounts can report you for interfering with them... Now, I don't know how true this is; it sounds pretty ridiculous to me. Do so at your own risk, I suppose.

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Originally Posted by Taybat

could we make so we can right click on characters and report them for being a bot. Also maybe make a program that doesn't allow keyboard smash names.

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right click -> report -> RMT, its already a feature. for the keyboard smash names, Roegadyn (specifically sea wolf) naming convention looks like a keyboard smash, so I don't think it'd be fair to those who use randomize or who prefer lore-friendly names.

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Originally Posted by KitiaraIornsight

I spent an hour reporting them yesterday.

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It is probably useless, unfortunately.

I will share my experience as a CM on another MMORPG (Not FFXIV):
We had a LOT of bots. At first, I would go in-game, invisible in the starting areas. Spot a bot, ban it and check the IP. Ban all account in the IP.
Then I soon realised how useless that process was.

Bots change IP and can change MAC addresses on the fly. They can set a max amount of character creation per IP so they are not suspicious.
So manual CM-work of checking reports from users or even being in-game and baning them is useless.
The bots issue cannot be solved by manual work.

Good luck SE :)

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Originally Posted by Taybat

Also maybe make a program that doesn't allow keyboard smash names.

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It wouldn't even take half a day for bots to create a "normal names" generator, and piss players even more because the name they want to use is already taken by some bot. At least with what they are using now they have the decency of not using something you would want to choose.

I have noticed a lot more this last week, mainly in Gridania doing the old skywalking.

I just Blacklist them if they are shouting.

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Originally Posted by Mirhd

Supposedly the people controlling the bot accounts can report you for interfering with them... Now, I don't know how true this is; it sounds pretty ridiculous to me. Do so at your own risk, I suppose.

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I don't think the large-scale bot farmers would care enough to actually bother reporting for something that's not even obstructive to a legitimate player (Who could just click the NPC they're trying to reach or move closer so the hotkey targets the right thing).

I know from past experience that messing with the DoL/H bots is not a good idea, though.

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Originally Posted by Zomkei

right click -> report -> RMT, its already a feature. for the keyboard smash names, Roegadyn (specifically sea wolf) naming convention looks like a keyboard smash, so I don't think it'd be fair to those who use randomize or who prefer lore-friendly names.

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You can only do that to those that post in chat though.

I have tried to report the bots flying around, but there is no option to do that by right clicking, and yes their names are gibberish and they will be gone before you can even type them down.

A right click report function for when you right click them in the field would be appreciated.