Bot(Novice) Network

[Breakbeat]

How long has this been a problem?

[Minali]

How long has this been a problem?

For this specific case on Alpha: I joined right after World Transfer opened and it either was already a problem or started to become one soon after. For a while it seemed over but then it started again, with more bots each time as it seems. Reported around 150 or so by now, the first wave I noticed it was 20.

However, bots in the NN seem to have been a problem for longer. In ye olde days it was another kind of bot though, they got trouble with advertisement bots who joined, shoutet their spam and left again. So I don't know if that's comparable. The 0 spamming ones seem to be fairly new, in a very loose definition of "new". Here is a collection of threads I could find regarding the general problem of bots in NN:

https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...with-spam-bots
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...out-of-control
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...ising-and-real.
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...novice-network
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...ork-Bot-Issues

Older threads about ads:
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...Novice-Network
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...Novice-Network
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...Novice-Network

There are a few others, but you get the big picture. A little disheartening to see how long this has been a thing...

[Breakbeat]

OK, so then clearly (obviously) SE knows about this? They're not imbeciles.

I'm moving towards a point, here. Can we agree that SE knows about the issue?

I mean, you can take the side of "SE is ignorant of the issue," and then I will bow out and rest my case, because that's patently ridiculous.

But, anyway, so they know about it, right?

[Minali]

"SE" is not one single entity with a big hive mind... The Special Task Force and the GMs know about this because they got reports. No clue how careful the forum is studied for stuff like this. But I don't see a point in speculating how many other people in the complex structure that is a game development company might know, too. Nor how hard or easy it is to stop these floods, preferably permanently.

[RationalSquash]

"Hi new players, welcome to the Novice network, please feel free to ask questions"

What new sprouts get to see:

[20:30]Novice - Fs Tayabas has been kicked from the channel by Mia Blaze-cari.
Reason: bot
[20:30][NOVICE]Walin Yaralin: 0
[20:31][NOVICE]Rotoni MeshatoniRaiden: 0
[20:31][NOVICE]Bcqlwccmykn Meshalbi: 000
[20:31]Novice - Ep Molpas has been kicked from the channel by Komori YuiLich.
Reason: Bot
[20:32][NOVICE]Yargutdshtfvr Anzak: 0
[20:32][NOVICE]Rojddceqvcn Madalbi: 000
[20:32][NOVICE]Sa Gamilin: 0
[20:32][NOVICE]Nfytmylqaymj Bulilto: 0
[20:33][NOVICE]Iwrwcmbwxbe Gamizak: 0
[20:33][NOVICE]Iwrwcmbwxbe Gamizak: 0
[20:33][NOVICE]Iwrwcmbwxbe Gamizak: 0
[20:33][NOVICE]Py Madango: 0
[20:33]Novice - Fujksmxyxqen Pototoni has been kicked from the channel by Komori YuiLich.
Reason: Bot
[20:33][NOVICE]Hppqgomeslah Lohzai: 0
[20:33][NOVICE]Yazyl Dalazyl: 0
[20:33][NOVICE]Psiweoqpmbndg Kelulno: 0
[20:33][NOVICE]Adtbnawmppo Tunlyo: 0
[20:33][NOVICE]Rtxiubldpvbi Dalanan: 0
[20:33][NOVICE]Cfmhqlngdth Natan: 0
[20:34][NOVICE]Hw Molipo: 0
[20:34]Novice - Zaipo Kesuipo has been kicked from the channel by Mia Blaze-cari.
Reason: bot
[20:34][NOVICE]Hoipo Meshaipo: 0
[20:34][NOVICE]Xyoyofrvyqt Meshatan: 0
[20:35][NOVICE]Yalto Dulto: 000
[20:35][NOVICE]Punco Zonco: 0
[20:35][NOVICE]Yunco Madanco: 0
[20:35][NOVICE]Jlviatugdkbt Atoral: 0
[20:35]Novice - Rr Anlugi has been kicked from the channel by Mia Blaze-cari.
Reason: bot
[20:36][NOVICE]Dk Potonan: 0
[20:36][NOVICE]Nolyo Zulyo: 000
[20:36][NOVICE]Duauovqfja Hamylto: 0
[20:36][NOVICE]Duauovqfja Hamylto: 0
[20:36][NOVICE]Duauovqfja Hamylto: 0
[20:36][NOVICE]Duauovqfja Hamylto: 0
[20:36][NOVICE]Duauovqfja Hamylto: 0
[20:36][NOVICE]Duauovqfja Hamylto: 0
[20:36][NOVICE]Biiwbnxsdhag Zuaka: 000
[20:36][NOVICE]Atvohmatvgu Vuwazi: 000
[20:36][NOVICE]Wjajgkhkyh Zalito: 0
[20:36][NOVICE]Xblyytsuvkf Honngi: 0
[20:36]Novice - Fuzyn Guzyn has been kicked from the channel by Mia Blaze-cari.
Reason: bot
[20:36][NOVICE]Xs Rawazi: 0
[20:36][NOVICE]Xs Rawazi: 0
[20:36][NOVICE]Kecho Romcho: 0
[20:37][NOVICE]Xs Rawazi: 0
[20:37][NOVICE]Kecho Romcho: 0
[20:37][NOVICE]Xs Rawazi: 0
[20:37][NOVICE]Kecho Romcho: 0
[20:37][NOVICE]Xs Rawazi: 0
[20:37][NOVICE]Kecho Romcho: 0
[20:37][NOVICE]Kecho Romcho: 0
[20:37][NOVICE]Hobmwnhyiyx Romlgo: 0
[20:37][NOVICE]Abyzon Atozon: 0
[20:37][NOVICE]Djjfapraqpn Buoylugi: 000
[20:37][NOVICE]Momaga Zamaga: 0
[20:37][NOVICE]Zopas Lohpas: 0
[20:38]Novice - Wo Vumono has been kicked from the channel by Komori YuiLich.
Reason: Bot
[20:38][NOVICE]Zaipo Kesuipo: 0
[20:39][NOVICE]Rolto Koglto: 000
[20:39][NOVICE]Om Menacho: 0
[20:39]Novice - Lasmknthdnw Menalado has been kicked from the channel by Mia Blaze-cari.
Reason: bot
[20:39][NOVICE]Shotopa Mabatopa: 0
[20:39][NOVICE]Zozai Thazai: 0

[Calacitea]

I can't count how often i've jokingly said in the NN:
We need a visual captcha for Amdapor, like in one of the Stormblood Raids (can't remember the name), where you have to solve maths. Just something easy that the bots can't solve, except if the people using the bots just stir deep in the code to solve it. But idk if that's possible in a game. Such a captcha should make it at least harder.

I even thought about "laying down" my Mentor crown, as i'm gatherer Mentor only and i'm heavily annoyed by the bots in the NN. Today evening they're literally running us over. 30+ Bots in just a few minutes. Sheesh. I moved from Shiva to Alpha, because i wanted a less croweded server. What i got are stupid market prices and tons of bots. Do i regret it? Partially. Won't be better on Raiden.

[RationalSquash]

https://i.imgur.com/NJx6PJw.png

[MiaBlaze-Cari]

Apparently bots now seem to be able to bypass the 30 minutes...I kicked one at least 4 times in less than 30 minutes.

[Minali]

I wonder how much it would help for the fight against the bots if they would just remove that one treasure chest in Amdapor Keep that you can get to before the first boss fight. I mean, the bots still get a lot of gil from following the ARR MSQ, but this goes very fast (especially on Alpha and Raiden with the Road to 80 buff) and all they do afterwards is farming this one chest over and over for days.

[ICountFrom0]

Yha, the botscript folk have figured out how to get them to worldhop, sending the add in the instant before world transfer, so there's no time to kick them.
So now any server that lets any in, show up everywhere.