Measures to counter botting

[KageTokage]

SE initially did try to filter to their chat to a degree but seem to have just given up after they started using weird symbols/characters in their text.

Diligence is the key thing when it comes to dealing with bots because they will eventually get backed into a corner if they're persistent about enforcing their methods.

[frostmagemari]

SE initially did try to filter to their chat to a degree but seem to have just given up after they started using weird symbols/characters in their text.

Diligence is the key thing when it comes to dealing with bots because they will eventually get backed into a corner if they're persistent about enforcing their methods.

Gold sellers tried the same thing with Warcraft; the only thing is, is that Blizzard didn't throw their hands up and say there's nothing they could do when the sellers started getting cheeky with how they put their advertisements out.. they kept updating their filters. As the sellers changed tactics, so did Blizzard to keep ahead of them.
SQEX could do the same thing, but they don't for some reason.

[Feronar]

Some things they could try:

- Implement server-side character motion auditing to detect teleport/speed hacks, a feature that WoW has had for years, and any responsible online game developer in this day and age would implement as soon as possible, preferably with the launch of the game.

- Limit character deletion to 3 charges, recharging at the rate of approximately 1 per day, like in ESO.

- Restrict the privileges of new players for features such as public chat, creating party finder groups, trade, in-game mail, and the market board, lifting the restrictions after analysis showed no suspicious behavior after a reasonable amount of activity.

- Auto-ban accounts if they engage in behavior that would be impossible for a legitimate player, i.e. progressing the main story campaign faster than would be physically possible for a legitimate player, harvesting "honeypot" resource nodes in inaccessible areas, etc. Speaking of which...

- Add "honeypots", gathering nodes and enemy mobs in areas that legitimate players cannot see or access, but can be easily be accessed by bots. If any honeypot node is gathered or honeypot enemy mob is killed, the player responsible will be automatically flagged as a cheater.

- Automatically apply suspicious activity locks to accounts that engage in behavior that indicates a high probability, but not necessarily 100% proof, of botting/cheating. (I.e. entering the same dungeon too many times in a short period of time) The accounts will remain locked until reviewed by the special task force. If found innocent, the player will be compensated for lost play time.

- Implement an anticheat system such as BattlEye or PunkBuster, or make you own, (I.e. Warden in WoW). Maybe even license Warden from Blizzard.

[TnTaLuS]

Gold sellers tried the same thing with Warcraft; the only thing is, is that Blizzard didn't throw their hands up and say there's nothing they could do when the sellers started getting cheeky with how they put their advertisements out.. they kept updating their filters. As the sellers changed tactics, so did Blizzard to keep ahead of them.
SQEX could do the same thing, but they don't for some reason.

That's one of the reasons why I stayed with Blizzard so long and still have a lot of admiration for many parts and the history of that company... They were insanely passionate about EVERYTHING. Not just the prestigious parts... With Activision they kinda started building a 2-class employee company which is horrible but their Customer Support is still industry leading performance. Especially at the end of the Blizzard era.. when there was the Money and corporate abilities of 2 companies but still the heart of Blizzard beating they grew on all parts positively.. And most companies severely underestimate how important Customer Support is and that it is a key part of what makes you survive.. the happiness of the customer...
So I still hope SE will wake up.. hell.. if they have a Job offer for Customer Support Lead or require assisstance in Customer Support Design I'm going for it..