Attention devs: Game Surveillance Unit re: open world Bots.

[AutumnLeaves]

Well it was fun while it lasted (sort of) but I refuse to renew my service with this game until SE acknowledges one of the major problem with this game, if I wanted to play with automated, mindless bots then then why the hell not stick with standard pc/console games and not waste anymore time or money in this playground for RMT's and lazy ass people who don't have enough talent to play this game legitimately, so so long SE, maybe in time if you develop an ounce of care for your customers I will return, but bloody unlikely, and for you people who do support botting, you can stick it where the sun don't shine...

[KaedrianLiang]

I propose the Player Reports Initiative. If a player(s) submit a report of suspicious activity that ultimately leads to a ban. a small % of that account's gil is sent to the reporting player(s)'s mailbox as a reward.

Filling out reports takes time, some people (like us) who have sent in countless reports are on the backwater list because in order for an account to be investigated there needs to be X number of reports filed by players.

So how to get players to diligently report offenders on a sizable scale? Offer rewards.

[LegendWait]

Well it was fun while it lasted (sort of) but I refuse to renew my service with this game until SE acknowledges one of the major problem with this game, if I wanted to play with automated, mindless bots then then why the hell not stick with standard pc/console games and not waste anymore time or money in this playground for RMT's and lazy ass people who don't have enough talent to play this game legitimately, so so long SE, maybe in time if you develop an ounce of care for your customers I will return, but bloody unlikely, and for you people who do support botting, you can stick it where the sun don't shine...

So... yeah see ya.

What's the point for SE to say.. "umm yeah thats an issue we will fix, please look forward to it"

Bots are there, but they dont affect my game experience in any share or form, I dont see the point of being butthurt about it.

[zenmetsu]

I have a fun story. We have a few blatant botters on Malboro. When I found out how to break their bots via a simple trade macro, and reported them to GM, GM response was simply "Do not trade with players as this is interrupting gameplay..."

WTF S-E.

Video proof of botting on Malboro server was posted to youtube. Link removed since the admins don't condone calling out cheaters here in the forums.

[Maxipep]

One way to help reduce bots, any shards mined are unsellable, anyone who doesn't want to mine can buy shards from NPC

[Stormrider]

One way to help reduce bots, any shards mined are unsellable, anyone who doesn't want to mine can buy shards from NPC

This isn't the worst idea I have ever heard. considering the stance on crafting being a second class citizen in the game. That said the bots seem to be doing more spirit binding. What is amusing is people have mentioned the balmung north shroud bots. Someone killed the puller so they weren't getting any mobs but the healer bot kept healing and casting holy. Didi dailies and was still there 30 mins later.

[ToffeeCoffee]

Bot #1 Bot #2 Bot #3 Bot #4 - all still not yet banned from Tonberry.
Location: Mor Dhona X18 Y17

SE please ban these bots! Please also ban their spiritbond gear crafter, he doesn't bot but is accomplice to their operation.

[DizzyDragonfly]

So considering that there hasn't been a single word from the staff of SE about this thread or botting in general, I'm going to take it that this is a lost cause and a colossal waste of time, considering SE always sends me the same cut and paste reply when I contact them, I am going to take it as this is the least of their worries and if we can't accept their obvious validation of botting then we either need to just move on or accept bots as a way of virtual life.

[Applesnap]

I'm on my twelvth report of the North Shroud bots on Balmung. Incidentally, on my eleventh report (harassment one instead of cheating) I got a reply from a GM. They told me to stop reporting this group of RMT since I'd already reported them in every channel I'm able. Here's the deal: I will stop reporting them when they are no longer in the game and have had their accounts deleted. Until then, << Please look forward to it >> GM staff.

They run the exact same operation as the ones in ToffeeCoffee's post. Four BLMs and two WHMs though. Have a GSM crafter who turns up occasionally to trade new equipment for them.

[kidvideo]

What is SE is really behind these bots? To stimulate the economy... Clearly they're not doing anything about it.