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

[Hybris-Maenad]

Bumping. It would be really nice to see a community rep response to this thread. The current system pretty much discourages people from reporting.

[ToffeeCoffee]

[AutumnLeaves]

We have bots in those same exact locations on the Zalera server, they stop sometimes to craft in Limsa Lominsa, but for the most part they are always there and have been since I started playing 2 months ago

[Theresa]

This thread is for tonberry's bots only or can I report Malboro's bots here too?

I think these bots are used by gil sellers.

[ToffeeCoffee]

This thread is for tonberry's bots only or can I report Malboro's bots here too?

I think these bots are used by gil sellers.

The more the merrier.

[Sadana]

I've reported so many as well on a bunch of different servers I've played on. My guess, SE wants the 'numbers' for advertising and the income from these accounts. We hate to see them and want them gone, but this reason is my best guess as to why they are not being removed as fast as we'd like and why there is no mod/dev response about this.

For those who use the (annoying but legitimate, I might add) reasoning of "SE can't be SURE these are bots and not 'real players'", look at the screenshot of the clones Vladislav posted, there is NO way to have the afk symbol up while actually playing (and not running a script). My logic says there is the proof they are botting and can be terminated completely from the game. Therefore we are back to 'SE wants the numbers and the money'... and that's just sad.

I think on some threads, a few players will say "The bots aren't bothering you, why be so upset about them?" It's because nothing (imo), even emote or ability spam or other annoying things, ruins the game like seeing a crowd of botted characters auto attacking everything nearby, mining underground, or jumping into walls repeatedly (when afk for a certain time made you auto log out).

[Theresa]

there is NO way to have the afk symbol up while actually playing (and not running a script)

Actually you can. There's an option in the menus that it doesn't auto update when you move or do something.

[Sadana]

Actually you can. There's an option in the menus that it doesn't auto update when you move or do something.

Ok, can you tell me specifically how to do this? I actually miss having the afk symbol available while gathering (nice break ^^; ) and SE posts have already stated on the OF that having the afk symbol while playing is not something they will bring back (I guess I can go post diving for the quote if I have to). Thanks!!

[ToffeeCoffee]

Actually you can. There's an option in the menus that it doesn't auto update when you move or do something.

You used to be able to pose as AFK and still be able to play but SE changed it. Now if you have the AFK status and use your keyboard/mouse controls in the active game window, the status is removed.
Haven't seen someone explain how you can legitimately do this yet so we can conclude that anyone with AFK status on and moving around (with an exception being if the character is on follow) or performing actions, is running on automation software.

[FriendlyUncle]

You used to be able to pose as AFK and still be able to play but SE changed it. Now if you have the AFK status and use your keyboard/mouse controls in the active game window, the status is removed.
Haven't seen someone explain how you can legitimately do this yet so we can conclude that anyone with AFK status on and moving around (with an exception being if the character is on follow) or performing actions, is running on automation software.

I'm pretty sure it's Busy not AFK that prevents the trades and such, correct me if I am wrong but Busy can be on while moving around. On another note I believe I'm seeing more and more legitimate players who have given in to botting, the alternative is they have had a hell of a lot of hijacked accounts.

I'm the game needs to be less grind-centric, its basically RNG Simulator 2014. And that kind of play style encourages botting and RMT activities. Want to gather or craft really awesome stuff? Better go GRIND with appropriate gear on so you can get your materia or go GRIND items to sell to purchase the materia. Not to mention materia melding for gathering and crafter requires overmelding which just adds fuel to the fire.

Want to upgrade your relics? Hope you are ready for this to get pants on head retard. Go farm Fates and pray that you get 12 atma within a timely manner, farm Myth to obtain a book to go clear more dungeons, mobs and fates. Repeat that what, 12 times? Novus, Again go grind some more mobs mindlessly to convert items to get the materia that you hopefully need and hopefully doesn't break. Nexus, go grind more stuff for glow.

Grind, Grind, Grind. I feel like Orc Peon from warcraft 3. Zugzug man. I understand its a japanese game, grind is part of it but this just seems excessive to the point where they are doing it to pad out content until the next patch, so to give themselves time to add more content they are inadvertently harming other parts of the game. I come from games like FFXI and EVE online, those have grind to it but at the very least, it felt rewarding. Spending some of my spare time I can play spirit binding to get crap materia I do not need or to break 12 of them is not rewarding.

Yes, bots are bad. But they need to take a long hard look at some of their game mechanics, reducing the grind will reduce the temptation to bot the tedious parts of the game and for people to resort to RMT for things like housing, materia, ranking cho's, etc.