Too many bots, too few bans: The Shadowbringers edition.

[Barraind]

-If no FATEs are around, they'll either stand still and do nothing, run/fly back to a nearby safe spot like an aetheryte and wait there instead, or just start killing every mob in the near vicinity to squeeze out as much EXP as possible.

As others have said, your FATE bots section is pretty questionable, but this one is "bots will do fates unless theres no fates to do at which point they wont run in circles spazzing about with the jump button", which covers a large number of people.

[HyoMinPark]

That's how you get reported, my friend. I spotted a few bots a couple weeks ago (which is rare, since I don't really ever see them at all) while I was out gathering and one was set to busy so I couldn't send them a /tell, but the other wasn't, so I asked them if they were a bot. They didn't respond, so I said "if you don't respond I'll assume you're a bot and report you," and still nothing, so I reported them. You're not Cool or Edgy for ignoring people when they ask if you're a bot. You're a fool that could potentially get in trouble if you're acting shifty even if you're not actually botting, so do yourself a favor and respond to them anyway. Even if it's a "no, piss off," it's better than ignoring them like a bot does.

Conversely, if the owner of the bot is at their PC or comes back to see you sending them /tells, they can report you for harassment. So it's better to just not /tell at all.

[Barraind]

I said "if you don't respond I'll assume you're a bot and report you," and still nothing, so I reported them.

Thats a good way to get reported by someone who wants to gather in peace without you being a tool.

[Johaandr]

Someone mistakeb me for a bot beacuse i was going after every unspoiled nods haha!
But he figuree i was a psn user so he finally believed in me lmao.

[KageTokage]

As others have said, your FATE bots section is pretty questionable, but this one is "bots will do fates unless theres no fates to do at which point they wont run in circles spazzing about with the jump button", which covers a large number of people.

Honestly, I don't ever see actual players just locking up and not moving if no FATEs are present, nor do I see them repeatedly moving to wait at the exact same coordinates in the same scenario.

A lot of it sounds questionable, but I can't say I regularly, if ever see people simultaneously exhibiting most/all of the behaviors I mentioned at the same time and I've spent a ton of time grinding FATEs in both Stormblood and Shadowbringers zones.

I guess maybe there really isn't an easy way to put into words how a FATE bot behaves, but to me they stand out like a sore thumb.

Conversely, if the owner of the bot is at their PC or comes back to see you sending them /tells, they can report you for harassment. So it's better to just not /tell at all.

This is a point should be stressed, because it's not that uncommon for people to multi-box or be tabbed out while they have their bots running, but will still be monitoring them.

The only "safe" thing you can do with a suspected bot is report them and pray they end up becoming part of that single digit ban figure. Though I've been doing this with the same individuals on my server since Heavensward and they're still around, so...

[Doozer]

Thats a good way to get reported by someone who wants to gather in peace without you being a tool.

They were literally a bot. I saw them following a set pattern that was literally exactly the same as another bot. You can cut out any phrase and make it Bad. That part that you quoted was the end of me watching a bot be a bot, asked if they were a bot, got no answer, so I reported them. I don't report people just because they don't respond to me. Learn how to read.

Honestly I'm pretty suss about how many people defend people who bot by trying to create doubt like "oh they're probably not a bot they're just not looking". Normal people don't follow pixel perfect paths, don't be daft.

[Bixillarla]

That's how you get reported, my friend. I spotted a few bots a couple weeks ago (which is rare, since I don't really ever see them at all) while I was out gathering and one was set to busy so I couldn't send them a /tell, but the other wasn't, so I asked them if they were a bot. They didn't respond, so I said "if you don't respond I'll assume you're a bot and report you," and still nothing, so I reported them. You're not Cool or Edgy for ignoring people when they ask if you're a bot. You're a fool that could potentially get in trouble if you're acting shifty even if you're not actually botting, so do yourself a favor and respond to them anyway. Even if it's a "no, piss off," it's better than ignoring them like a bot does.

There is no law that says people have to talk to you. I do not respond to tells for people that I do not know. I get tells all the time and ignore them all. Just because someone is anti social does not mean they are a bot.

[KageTokage]

The most I'll do to interact with a suspected bot is just throw some kind of disapproving emote like /doubt their way and leave it at that.

On the flipside I make it a note to /yes or /clap for the odd few nightowls I encounter.

[Lissyl]

I feel like I need make a video recording of how the FATE bots behave because the way they move is far too consistent to be attributed to "normal" gameplay and perhaps not something that can adequately described with words.

This sounds like a good idea. From how it's described, it's exactly how I play but I can't imagine anyone thinking I was somehow a bot. Well I mean I do go for shortcuts when they exist, but anyways yah. I think a vid would be helpful.

[CorbinDallas]

There is no law that says people have to talk to you. I do not respond to tells for people that I do not know. I get tells all the time and ignore them all. Just because someone is anti social does not mean they are a bot.

Let him report away and get himself into trouble for being wrong and essentially harassing people. If you think someone is a bot, report them, the task force will confirm it if true. There's literally no need to PM someone to check.