Possible Solution to stop Hunt Abusers

[Kaethra]

In a previous thread the OP was talking about how they renamed their chocobo to the name of an Elite Mark to throw off those abusing the system. The original post can be found here http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...ctical-Balance .

This got me thinking... I'm not a programer by any means but would it be possible that when a Hunt Mark spawns, it sets down 4 to 5 npc nodes of the same name around the map, preferably enemy nodes with like 1 hp but i know that two very different enemies with the same name probably would cause a large amount of issues so npc would probably have to do. But yeah, just an idea...

Good idea simply because it would annoy the exploiters. But it is a bandaid fix at best. If they can radar out hunt mobs, they can radar players in frontlines, they can radar resource nodes, and a manner of all different stuff. The fix is to make it so such a program doesn't work at all.

[Nutz]

Good idea simply because it would annoy the exploiters. But it is a bandaid fix at best. If they can radar out hunt mobs, they can radar players in frontlines, they can radar resource nodes, and a manner of all different stuff. The fix is to make it so such a program doesn't work at all.

Oh, I completely agree. The OP was suggesting a quick fix that I think would work quite well specifically for hunts. I'm not sure how seeing resource nodes is an issue since they're either not hidden or (for unspoiled nodes) recur at exactly the same time in very nearly the same place daily and show up on the player's radar from anywhere in the zone (come to think of it that's unique of unspoiled nodes).

Radar in PvP, though I haven't played any PvP, is I'm sure also a problem and one not so easily fixed. Not that this suggestion 'fixes' anything, it's designed to remove the advantage of the exploit, not remove the exploit. Removing the exploit would require technical expertise that I doubt many of us are close to having.

[Potchi]

Good idea simply because it would annoy the exploiters. But it is a bandaid fix at best. If they can radar out hunt mobs, they can radar players in frontlines, they can radar resource nodes, and a manner of all different stuff. The fix is to make it so such a program doesn't work at all.

Totally agree as well. Also to be honest, I didn't even consider that they could be using the exploit on pvp as well... That would really explain how sometimes it seems the opponents can know exactly where we are going and how many of us there are at all times...

[Nyalia]

This can easily be added to Frontlines too. The game could spawn multiple ghost images of each character and have them randomly wander the map. Sure, it can be pretty obvious which are real and which aren't based on what they're doing, but the amount of noise it'll generate should make it hard for the cheaters to gain as much of an advantage from it.

Also, isn't this suggestion what was done for FFXI when they had this exact same problem?

But, until then, I strongly urge people to rename their chocos to the names of a hunt mob from their most-visited zone. Chilling in East Shroud? "Melt" is a pretty cool name for a chocobo! Want to do something in Eastern La Noscea? "Hellsclaw" is an epic chocobo name And so on.

List of Hunt Mob Names:

Area                  S Rank                 A Rank                  B Rank                

South Thanalan        Nunyunuwi              Zanig'oh                Albin the Ashen
Central Thanalan      Brontes                Sabotender Bailarina    Ovjang
North Thanalan        Minhocao               Dalvag's Final Flame    Flame Sergeant Dalvag
East Thanalan         Lampalagua             Maahes                  Gatling
West Thanalan         Zona Seeker            Alectryon               Sewer Syrup
            
Central Shroud        Laideronnette          Forneus                 White Joker
East Shroud           Wulgaru                Melt                    Stinging Sophie
South Shroud          Mindflayer             Ghede Ti Malice         Monarch Ogrefly
North Shroud          Thousand-cast Theda    Girtab                  Phecda
            
Outer La Noscea       Mahisha                Cornu                   Vuokho
Upper La Noscea       Nandi                  Marberry                Myradrosh
West La Noscea        Bonnacon               Nuhn                    Dark Helmet
East La Noscea        Garlok                 Hellsclaw               Bloody Mary
Lower La Noscea       Croakadile             Unktehi                 Barbastelle
Middle La Noscea      Croque-Mitaine         Vogaal Ja               Skogs Fu
            
Coerthas              Safat                  Marraco                 Naul
Mor Dhona             Agrippa                Kurrea                  Leech King

[AlrikRouge]

snip

Good call.

I'd agree with creating the false-positives others have mentioned; however that could also lead to additional discontent amongst legit hunters who now get "fooled" by the fakes.

If they could do it so it's NPC related, still shows up on the radar. And same with hunt bills - that'll create it's own problem. And we don't want FATEs.

What about keeping everything the same, except they only become visible when your within 10-20y of them? Sure it still shows up on radar apps and such, but only when someone happens across it or is hunting for it.

[Nutz]

Good call.

I'd agree with creating the false-positives others have mentioned; however that could also lead to additional discontent amongst legit hunters who now get "fooled" by the fakes.

If they could do it so it's NPC related, still shows up on the radar. And same with hunt bills - that'll create it's own problem. And we don't want FATEs.

What about keeping everything the same, except they only become visible when your within 10-20y of them? Sure it still shows up on radar apps and such, but only when someone happens across it or is hunting for it.

The false positives would only be visible to radar programs. The only way legitimate players would be negatively affected is if they were unknowingly following cheaters around. Making them invisible until someone treads close enough wouldn't really be possible or solve the problem. The enemies need to be in your system RAM before they show up. Also, this is almost the case already. Enemies (and players, NPCs, etc.) are loaded into RAM when they are just outside of your range of view (ignoring obstacles). The radar app can't scan much further than you can see, just that it does it regardless of walls, elevation, and in all directions at once.

[Kerowyn]

Well if you want to talk about alternatives for the Hunt System, why not set something up that actually mimics a hunt IRL? For example when picking up a Hunt Bill the bill could gives you clues as to what area to find the Hunt Target, and once you get to the area of the target you'd actually have to track it and or bait it with its favorite food/item. I mean when hunting Deer or Duck or anything else in the wild IRL you're gonna set up Blinds and and bait traps to attract what you're hunting in the first place Why not add something like that to the system?

Also maybe they could add a step to the Hunt Bills where you have to go capture a creature to work for you as a tracking animal? You like Blood Hounds and Fox Hounds? And then when the trackers pick up on the scent you have to order them to flush out the target Mark.

[Potchi]

I read over your response Kerowyn and I can see where you are coming from. However there are those who like the hunt system as it is. It's one thing if SE decides to change the system due to player response. If so I believe that they should do a vote in a live letter because you cant judge the whole player base off of the forums. Fact of the matter is that people don't post about what they like nearly as ofter as people post about what they don't like. So it would be rather unfair to make a decision because there are concerns on the forum about it. Seeing as how you posted that response here I am going to assume that you see that as a countermeasure for the abusers. It is on that point that I do not agree. I don't think SE should drastically change how something works in order to stop abusers. I doesnt mean they haven't in the past, especially in ffxi. I'm just saying it would be preferable if they didnt turn the system 180 degrees to counter the abusers.

[Kerowyn]

Well Im just basing my suggestions off what Ive read here on the Forums. Ive actually not even played FFXIV since the day before 2.3 went live :P I knew that there would be issues based on past experience in other MMOs and SE's track record. I decided after reading everything there was about Hunts that I'd take a break for a week or so and let the initial Zerg Fest die down some before logging in again

Turns out the situation is even WORSE than what I anticipated what with the Radar Plug-In for the FFXIV ARR App and all. Heres one thing I don't understand, why doesn't SE have a Public Testing Server for new Patches to find all these exploits and issues BEFORE releasing their patches? Every other MMO Ive played HAS a public testing server for just such things. If people REALLY wanted to help prevent things like this in the future they could make these reports to SE during the Public Test Phase and then SE could attempt to break it while the new patch is in development.