Question regarding removing bots from Novice Network

[subic]

Well I know they are not actually spamming the chat but they still should not be there. If each kick is investigated, at least GMs can ban these accounts or some actions can be taken. It is actually quite easy to differentiate a player from a bot, if you are a Mentor, chances are you can tell a bot from a Roe name :P Also, on Cerberus EU, many bots are in FCs name, FCs such as HjjkLa <fT> (random example) so that makes our job of identifying them even easier.
Basically, you are looking for people in such FCs, with names like Qqjkfkak Lfrttakjva, always at Twin Adders GC, always as a BLM/BRD, in dungeon or in group.
Also, not letting such bots take up half the Novice Network is a good idea in my opinion.

And yes, people inviting others randomly without asking is not only a problem because of bots but also because it is rude to just force invite people into a channel without even as much as a "hey", those people often don't even know where they are, what they joined.

[Mimoza]

Hello Subic,
I'm also from Cerberus and as i stated in another topic (and i also announced that in the novice network), i asked GMs to know if it was our duty or not to kick bots and fill a report. Here is the answer I got :
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...=1#post3643460

For the moment it's the only "official" info i saw so far about that topic.

Also don't just judge by the names of the bots to kick them. With some mentors we also check the jobs, the instance, the FC, the GC and we also ask the bot to answer a question before proceeding to kick.
bots are usually :
-Bard main class, pugilist 15 and arcanist 4
-Black Mage main class, archer 15 and arcanist 4
-they all go together in the same duty (the pattern is usually : the Navel (normal) before reaching level 30. At level 30 they all gather below the floor on the Sand Shelter in Horizon, then from 50 to 60 they do Amdapor Keep normal and Wanderer Palace and all gather in Uldah).
-So far, they are all from Twin Adder GC
-they may be part of a fake fc (usually with names like : GuhdUGHUHIsg <<tHr>>) fullfilled with bots
-they are all "E" language except some exceptions i suspect to be the "bot masters" who are "J" or "D"
Also the golden rule is : Don't kick if you have any doubts. Since those bots are not talking, rather let one survive in the network instead of kicking an innocent. if you have any doubts, just let them be. Usually to check if they are human or bots i /tell them with that question "Just a quick message to check if you are a player or a Real Money Trader robot : how much does 2+2=?"
And then i fill a big report with all the suspect names.


@LineageRazor : according to what the GM answered me in my request, i can't agree with you. They clearly advice us to kick the bots to keep the network clean. When you accept the mentor Rank one of the rule is : keeping the network clear of any annoyance. Bots fall in that category.

[worldofneil]

When you accept the mentor Rank one of the rule is : keeping the network clear of any annoyance. Bots fall in that category.

I think many people would argue, especially the new adventurers, that you're the one causing the annoyance by spamming the chat with kick messages every 30 minutes as well as intimidating possible real players by challenging them. What do you do if they don't answer (because no bot would?) I'm assuming you kick them? What if they were real and semi-AFK, busy with something else, not watching the chat or just don't speak your language?

[Mimoza]

As i stated before, if i have any doubt, even a small little doubt, i don't kick. Usually when i have a doubt i also try to go directly where the person is and /wave that person and start a conversation in case. When the guy is called "Gyudigfuy GIUGYiuyeru" and is in Amdapor Keep with thousand other person with the same name, usually there is no doubt so i just do the /tell thing in that case. I also try to ask questions in German, French or English to be sure the person understands me.

Usually before kicking i apologize for the incoming spam and we rarely have a problem anymore on Cerberus with such things. Some novices are even encouraging us to keep cleaning the network.