Kill the "BOTs"

[PSxpert2011]

I know this is not much of a suggestion but a simple request (which SE will probably take care of).

Q: Is there really measures concerning the 3rd party tools and action taking place right NOW?

Theory: Botters and hackers are testing right now and would probably come back if you don't ban them on the spot to date. Knowing they're running back and forth repeating the same action over and over (just starts looking a little suspicious). While they're developing 3rd party tools and abusing their 'talent' for taking high advantage of the free play, swiftly investigating and dropping their characters level or even banning them could just make this game safe from RMT and Hacker/ Botters.

Q: Do most of you in-game see this happening, does this worry you at all? How do you think it will affect the integrity of the game?


I don't see why I have to word 10 hours a day 4-5 days a week earning the honest dollar to spend the little bit of time playing an honest game while cheaters get away with "enterprise hacking" and gold farming for money laundering.

I'll tell you right now SE, the BS is happening right now so do something about it.
Q:Cedarwood (31,30), why is there so much of this repetitive running back and forth of some Miqote and Lalafel while others just stand around taking up bits of space on my screen?? =/

Before they get smarter, kill them off... Before they build their empire, ban them now!
Plz

[Bearforce]

instead of making useless threads why not call a GM in-game?

[ToxicFox]

SE will be putting in countermeasures against RMT's but they can't just go around banning everyone who looks like they're botting. I can't tell you how many times I was called a bot in FFXI cause every once in awhile I'd spend a few days doing nothing but crafting to boost up my gil. Even people in my LS called me a bot sometimes. I'm pretty sure they were teasing but it still gives you a idea of how hard sorting out bots from real people can be. The best bet they have to counter RMT's is to put something in the mail and trade systems that red flags people who trade/mail large amounts of money. If they hit the money keepers then its kinda hard for them to operate. Still you have the people who level and sell profiles and then the user that uses bot cause he doesn't have the free time. Stopping them is where things really get tricky. I don't think the server's can handle tracking everyone's movements and looking for patterns. Not to mention most bot programs slightly randomize the path they take. So the only thing they can really do without hurting real players is ask us the players to report them. No matter what SE does though they will be around cause they're like cockroaches. You can stomp all you want but the damn thing can still survive a nuke.

[PSxpert2011]

instead of making useless threads why not call a GM in-game?

Its only useless if you don't reply. Learn some creative criticism for a change while your still in elementary school "son".

Reporting it and posting a thread about it can be just as useful but most likely GMs don't seem to respond unless it's harassment in-game or by any other means that put a player in a uncomfortable position.
@Toxicfox, Thanks for your post and supportive reply. We been playing this since the alpha/beta but unless we talk about it, it's up to SE to go solo on this matter.

Seems some people get either bothered by the subject and just say "Report it to the GM"... but no matter what you do, there's a need for immediate action and there's no definite report button or action for trusted players/ or VIP status. Unless they violate the ToS, you can't call up a GM and expect matters to get better.

I know I have to go to support.na.square-enix.com "yada-yada-yada", that's why i'm also posting on the feedback forums. So for anyone being bothered by BOTs in-game, share your concerns here or don't say anything at all (you just might be that bot).

[Zenaku]

instead of making useless threads why not call a GM in-game?

GM would tell you to report them to STF which they do noting unlike in ffxi when they did not had STF they ban them within few hours of looking at there record,trades and what there doing.

[ToxicFox]

I do believe botting does violate the ToS but GM's don't do investigations. Having the report system in game would really be nice though. I used to mine for ore in a pretty hot RMT spot in FFXI to get gil to level WW. I remember having to use the STF a lot and remember wishing it was easier to report people. Not that the STF wasn't effective once called. I remember there would be a short time of peace before new RMT's showed up. Although they were probably the ones I had gotten banned... One time I forget what I said but I voiced some frustration in say next to one and ended spending some time chatting. It turned out to be a female who was doing it to supplement her husbands income. Though getting one to talk is rare it happened from time to time. Like someone from my LS had a talk with one and found out he did it at night cause he didn't make enough in his day job. Well yes I do pity them some I still think banning them is a good idea.



To give you a idea of what a menu system could look like.

___________FAQ
Help desk > GM support
___________Report suspicious activity

No matter what happens though SE will not support or allow RMT. They are thinking about how make sure no RMT's abused the free trial that will come when the PS3 version is out but honestly odds are they won't care free trial or no free trial. To keep the RMT pop down they should not allow any form of sneak under the level 10 and don't go about giving newbies free starting items like movement+. Keeping the starting city markets separate from the main market would help but will cause some frustrations for players. Adding a new city in the middle of all three would move the main market to that city. Changing mob layout to keep lower level players closer to the starting city's would be a fairly welcome change. Adding aggressive mobs to map choke points to kill anyone who's too low that try's to pass. Kinda like the goblin bounty hunter who was added to kill fishing bots in FFXI. Often times they were lower level then the rest of the mobs in the area and had low HP but high ATK. These are fairly rough ideas but I think if done right you can make a system that makes life hell for a RMT and doesn't hinder real players.

[Bearforce]

the game design itself is built around an engine where GM,s Cant detect whether you are botting or not, i would rather wait for V2.0 to release then make wild hocus pocus suggestions about how to detect them.

anyone remembered how the endgame scene in ffxi relied on you heavly to bot kings for the last 5 years? thats right... because GM,S cant detect whether you are botting or not.

sadly when reading the PDF files,they didnt mention how they can countermeasure RMT,S. so bumping this thread to get answers from devs the more luckly that i will stay in a free RMT mmo game.

[PrettyPrincess]

In that case they need to forbid 3rd party controllers with turbo function. even though they enabled it

[ToxicFox]

In that case they need to forbid 3rd party controllers with turbo function. even though they enabled it

People would hack any controller so it has a turbo like function.

[Bearforce]

People would hack any controller so it has a turbo like function.

like PP said.SE enabled the use of Turbo controller.