Quote Originally Posted by Melichoir View Post
I think, however, that the big take away is that while bots can and generally are overall bad, this idea that bots stop wealth generation completely or that theyre the cause of all the problems on the MB is a misplaced idea. They do cause problems, but there are things that inadvertently prove beneficial to the broader player base. I think most companies that run MMOs know this fact and have just figured out that the game probably runs better with a certain level of botting. Im very skeptical of the idea that for how many years MMOs have been around, and all the research thats been poured into studying all the Big Data that these games produce on a daily basis, that no company has figured out simple counter measures to wipe out most of the bot population in a game.

Seems more reasonable that these found out bots are probably a necessary evil, but dont say anything cause players would refuse to accept it (or would consider it a tacit approval to bot). Not a popular opinion, and I know Nepenthe has choice words about it, but I think again people arent critically looking at the whole picture. Bots are bad, therefore no good can come from bots and etc.
People likely wouldn't accept it because it's quite literally admitting that breaking the rules is okay. This already feels true enough when they do nothing at all, and at that point, why am I going to care? I'm only subbed at this point because of my house, and if I managed to lose that, my money is going to 100% go elsewhere because I don't enjoy paying my $15 a month to sit here and constantly see people literally cheat (for the record, not just botting, I'm referring to things such as teleport hacks to quickly traverse fates for relic too.)

Also, you are right, bots do have a bit of good in them... For people who do literally nothing that matches what the bots do. If you get on the game to just do expert roulette and level in dungeons, then yes you're going to benefit as gear for those would be super duper cheap for you. But are you gathering? Enjoy all those botted mats you're competing with. Crafting the new stuff? I hope you enjoy all the bots undercutting you. Oh, I could make leveki-- Nope those're posted by bots too. Maybe I can just do maps inst-- OH WAIT THEY'RE JUST BOTTING MAPS NOW TOO.

It's actually disgusting I can find the bot underground in 5 minutes with a player based feature, while it's taking weeks for the guys being LITERALLY PAID TO FIND THEM to do the same, and those guys are capable of using a lot more useful tools than /icam.

Last I checked, being super lazy and crap at your job usually would get you fired. Here at Square Enix however, we consider it "having a paid vacation" I guess.