Skill Point Exploit & Account Suspensions

Ackwalan

out51d3r wrote: »

Giles.floydub17_ESO wrote: »

It's very appropriate to susuoenc accounts for 3 days due to the abuse of this glitch.

Many didn't innocently farm the skill points without noticing and I expect this banned went well behind hitting the boss a couple or three times.

Zos, great job.

Keep reading the thread dude. Somebody who reported it as soon as he noticed it, and didn't repeat the bug, got suspended. He even provided evidence that he reported it and got suspended anyway. This isn't a clean ban wave, at all.

We are just taking his word that he didn't exploit the heck out of this.

Montayva

Ackwalan wrote: »

out51d3r wrote: »

We are just taking his word that he didn't exploit the heck out of this.

Well what would be the point of appealing my ban if I knowingly exploited the hell out of it?

out51d3r

Ackwalan wrote: »

We are just taking his word that he didn't exploit the heck out of this.

I am for several reasons, yes. He provides some evidence. There apparently was a witness. Several others are making similar claims. Somebody I've known for 25 years is making a similar claim. ZOS has a history of having to walk back their ban waves, due to sloppiness and false positives.

That's enough to convince me.

kip_silverwolf

Ackwalan wrote: »

out51d3r wrote: »

Giles.floydub17_ESO wrote: »

It's very appropriate to susuoenc accounts for 3 days due to the abuse of this glitch.

Many didn't innocently farm the skill points without noticing and I expect this banned went well behind hitting the boss a couple or three times.

Zos, great job.

Keep reading the thread dude. Somebody who reported it as soon as he noticed it, and didn't repeat the bug, got suspended. He even provided evidence that he reported it and got suspended anyway. This isn't a clean ban wave, at all.

We are just taking his word that he didn't exploit the heck out of this.

She didn't. I know as I was the friend with her. We both reported it as soon as we realised and then left the dungeon.

LiquidPony

Giles.floydub17_ESO wrote: »

out51d3r wrote: »

Skill points aren't rare, at all. I've got like 300 of them, and I usually have 5-10 unspent. Aside from skyshards(due to addon), I don't keep track of where I've gotten them from, and I most likely don't notice every time I get them, especially when multiple quest completions, champion points, and whatever else is being flashed in my face at the same time. For all I know I've gotten extra skill points from the same dungeon/quest/whatever myself. It's not my job to remember where those 300 skill points came from. It is completely asinine to suspend people over something like this. Fix the bug, take away any incorrectly rewarded rewards, and call it done.

Note: I didn't get suspended for this.

It's very appropriate to susuoenc accounts for 3 days due to the abuse of this glitch.

Many didn't innocently farm the skill points without noticing and I expect this banned went well behind hitting the boss a couple or three times.

Zos, great job.

Do you know what happens when you make assumptions?

Good lord, these "GG ZOS for banning people who reported the exploit!" comments are pathetic.

KerinKor

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

Last week, there was an exploit reported on PC that allowed you to repeatedly gain skill points from a single location. We have since fixed this issue as of our most recent incremental patch, but accounts had not yet been actioned… until now. This afternoon, we’ll be suspending close to 300 PC accounts that were found exploiting this issue. In addition to a 3-day suspension, affected accounts will have all skill points reset to their original state before this exploit occurred.

We encourage everyone to review the Terms of Service and Code of Conduct. If you’re unsure if you’ve found an exploit in ESO, please reach out to a staff member or contact Support.

A slap on the wrist is hardly any deterrent now, is it?

Thirty days perhaps may leave an impression, three is just laughable.

TrelNord

Alpha-Lupi wrote: »

@ZOS_GinaBruno

I would recommend closing this thread to ensure that it does not get out of hand.
But more importantly, to move on to different topics instead of talking about the you-know-what.

(As certain topics should be kept under wraps unless discussed with a ZOS staff member privately via the PM[private message] System.)

I think I would have to disagree respectfully with you on this point.

This discussion is exactly the sort of transparent exchange that consumers deserve to find when they're trying to decide how and where to spend their money.

I have played this game since beta and have never felt compelled to share an opinion here or elsewhere of ZOS, their products, or their customer service. That changed yesterday evening when I received the multiple emails announcing my suspension, followed up by terse non-answers from ZOS support staffers.

Were it not for this thread I would have no clue as to what I might have done to run afoul of the TOS.

I'm a crusty old casual guy who plays this game mostly as a way to interact with my out-of-state grandchildren. I wouldn't know how to exploit a bug in an MMO to save my life (although I have a better idea now that I've perused this forum for a day or two).

My concern is not the account suspension, per se. I broke a rule - albeit accidentally and quite mysteriously - and there are consequences to breaking rules in life.

My concern is with the lack of transparency into what triggered this bizarre action and the disrespectful and disproportionate knee jerk response by ZOS.

Should anyone at ZOS truly review my account in detail (as was claimed in the auto-close ticket response) they would see that I am not a cheater. Never have been, never will be.

This is sort of a pile-on post but seems to be the only means through which I can potentially reach a grown-up at ZOS. It's apparent that the ticketing system is not such a vehicle.

There are a couple of upsides to this for me though.

First - It hadn't occurred to me that I was still paying monthly for EOS Plus. That was an easy enough fix.

Second - I have two or three free days now to try out some of these other games that my grandkids have urged me to explore.

So - thanks, I guess?

Giraffon

I'm getting the impression that if you got more than one skill point from this boss you got included in ban group.

If that's how it went down, then I think ZOS should be doing it a little differently:

Less than 5 skill points - just take away any skill point credits for this boss that they had because they could have picked them up quite innocently through normal game play or simply not noticing it while they were grinding a dungeon.

5-15 skill points - then what ZOS did was appropriate as the higher numbers lend themselves more to the player having the intent to exploit.

More then 15 skill points - ban them a day for each skill point. (and of course take away the skill points they shouldn't have)

Alternative solution:
No ban, but put an in game bounty of 25K gold per exploited skill point.
Oh, and while we're at it, let's make anyone with more than 250K bounties killable by other players---just for sport.

Yeah, I almost like in game punishments better. Let the community participate!

Gruffysb16_ESO

Well its after hours here in the UK now and I know ZOS staff in Europe don't work at the weekend so anyone who hoped for resolution before their 3 day ban is out of luck.

I'll be following up my support ticket on Monday though ZOS have a good weekend guys, whatever else you decide to do!

MajBludd

By responding they would be admitting that they were a bit overzealous in their suspensions.

out51d3r

Keep holding their feet to the fire on this, even after the suspension is up. They should not be treating you guys this way.

MajBludd

Only way to really show ZOS our displeasure is to cancel subs, if you have one, or to stop buying crown store items. They don't pay attention to these threads. @ZOS_GinaBruno @ZOS_JessicaFolsom @ZOS_CoriJ @ZOS_GaryA @ZOS_TristanK

out51d3r

MajBludd wrote: »

Only way to really show ZOS our displeasure is to cancel sub

I canceled mine shortly after reading this thread. Haven't played since either(note: I'm not suspended). Don't really have any intention to play until they do right by the people they falsely accused of cheating.

Sheey

Don't ban them but give those exploiters a debuff of -90% every stat for 2 weeks.

MajBludd

Yeah, it is pretty amazing that they go to this length. Auto rejected people's disputes but had no problem listening to the CE users and bowing to their demands of reinstatement.

MajBludd

Yes I'm an exploiter and you're a troll @Sheey. I'm an exploiter cause I had no clue of this exploit, as many others had no clue.

When you find the next exploit and are unaware, enjoy your ban. But don't come here trying to explain anything because it's all in black or white

Sheey

Not my problem.

MajBludd

Then why make a comment?

out51d3r

Sheey wrote: »

Not my problem.

Not this time anyway. If you want to keep it that way, never kill the same boss twice, and never report a bug.

Lord_Hev

I've already told all my friends to never again do the right thing, and report a bug or possible exploit. I don't want anymore of my friends being punished and receiving suspensions for following Zenimax's instructions.


In soviet Zenimax, the one who reports the crime gets punished apparently.

MajBludd

Here is a ray of hope for you guys. They lifted my suspension after a thorough investigation.

Hopefully those of you who were suspended for unknowingly falling into this bug get the same treatment.

QuebraRegra

TrelNord wrote: »

Alpha-Lupi wrote: »

@ZOS_GinaBruno

I would recommend closing this thread to ensure that it does not get out of hand.
But more importantly, to move on to different topics instead of talking about the you-know-what.

(As certain topics should be kept under wraps unless discussed with a ZOS staff member privately via the PM[private message] System.)

I think I would have to disagree respectfully with you on this point.

This discussion is exactly the sort of transparent exchange that consumers deserve to find when they're trying to decide how and where to spend their money.

I have played this game since beta and have never felt compelled to share an opinion here or elsewhere of ZOS, their products, or their customer service. That changed yesterday evening when I received the multiple emails announcing my suspension, followed up by terse non-answers from ZOS support staffers.

Were it not for this thread I would have no clue as to what I might have done to run afoul of the TOS.

I'm a crusty old casual guy who plays this game mostly as a way to interact with my out-of-state grandchildren. I wouldn't know how to exploit a bug in an MMO to save my life (although I have a better idea now that I've perused this forum for a day or two).

My concern is not the account suspension, per se. I broke a rule - albeit accidentally and quite mysteriously - and there are consequences to breaking rules in life.

My concern is with the lack of transparency into what triggered this bizarre action and the disrespectful and disproportionate knee jerk response by ZOS.

Should anyone at ZOS truly review my account in detail (as was claimed in the auto-close ticket response) they would see that I am not a cheater. Never have been, never will be.

This is sort of a pile-on post but seems to be the only means through which I can potentially reach a grown-up at ZOS. It's apparent that the ticketing system is not such a vehicle.

There are a couple of upsides to this for me though.

First - It hadn't occurred to me that I was still paying monthly for EOS Plus. That was an easy enough fix.

Second - I have two or three free days now to try out some of these other games that my grandkids have urged me to explore.

So - thanks, I guess?

Well said sir/mam/sentient

out51d3r

MajBludd wrote: »

Here is a ray of hope for you guys. They lifted my suspension after a thorough investigation.

Hopefully those of you who were suspended for unknowingly falling into this bug get the same treatment.

Glad to hear it. I suspect a fair amount of them will get lifted as the investigations progress.

TBH though, the investigations should come -before- the suspensions.

MajBludd

Yes, that is how I felt. Innocent until proven guilty and all of that.

out51d3r

Sheey wrote: »

Not my problem.

So, I'm going to hold you to this. @MajBludd has now been proven innocent and his punishment reversed.

It's been proven that innocent people are being labeled cheaters by ZOS and punished for it.

It's been proven that people who reported the bug were labeled cheaters by ZOS and punished for it.

When does it become your problem? When one of your friends gets falsely labeled a cheater and punished for it? When -you- get falsely labeled a cheater and punished for it? Or do you feel it's okay for ZOS to just throw out punishments willy nilly?

When this stuff goes on, it's a problem FOR ALL OF US. Don't let them get away with it.

Lord_Hev

out51d3r wrote: »

MajBludd wrote: »

Here is a ray of hope for you guys. They lifted my suspension after a thorough investigation.

Hopefully those of you who were suspended for unknowingly falling into this bug get the same treatment.

Glad to hear it. I suspect a fair amount of them will get lifted as the investigations progress.

TBH though, the investigations should come -before- the suspensions.

You would think.... especially from a professional Game development and production company.

Arch_White

out51d3r wrote: »

MajBludd wrote: »

Here is a ray of hope for you guys. They lifted my suspension after a thorough investigation.

Hopefully those of you who were suspended for unknowingly falling into this bug get the same treatment.

Glad to hear it. I suspect a fair amount of them will get lifted as the investigations progress.

TBH though, the investigations should come -before- the suspensions.

It would have saved them a lot of time if they had been thorough originally and realized this isn't one of those obvious exploited with full knowledge situations. They perhaps want to appease those calling for harsher and more often punishments for exploiters while forgetting not every situation is that straightforward.

Rogue78

Unbanned again, next time please conduct that thorough investigation before blanket banning people.

Vonbone

I'm glad to see that they looked into this a bit further. I hope this will be a positive learning experience for everyone. This has restored my faith back in ZOS.

DarkAedin

Enjoy guys. Still havent heard squat since last night