Bot population drop?

Westcoast14_ESO

I leveled an alt today, and unlike all of the past play times on my alt, I didn't see any bots (in around 6 hours of play time). That hasn't happened in quite a while. If the bots were impacted, they will of course be back, but if the 1.08 patch marks the first major coding strike against the bots, then well done ZoS! And please keep assiduously working to mitigate the damage they do to the game.

Maotti

This post give me hope! I'm on EU server so i can't see it for myself, yet.

Dominulf

So that explains why no one on my guild and friend lists log in any more, they were all bots.

Oogaci

You didn't see any when starting a new character because they are all in Coldharbour now.

Adryssa_Joneley

i have seen plenty around, i have seen heaps around the lvl 20-30 range. But hopefully, will see less and less of them in the coming future.

Natjur

Bots have just leveled and moved on, seen them in coldhabour (L44+ zone)

redwoodtreesprite

Been seeing lots of them, just depends on where you are I guess. Low level zones, all over the place. Like nasty little bugs.

KeynesAlley

On the EU server, Bleakrock Island is absolutely full of bots. They have circuits that they run collecting mats.

In the rest of the areas, they are all working jute nodes. Dungeons seem pretty clear though.

TicToc

I saw a bunch of bots last night running out of a wayshrine, getting about 20 feet and then instantly dying...over and over. They would die, respawn at the shrine, run out and die...rinse and repeat.

Most had names that were just a bunch of random letters. It was fairly amusing.

virreab16_ESO

bots are everywhere, they are running in groups at quest areas sometimes with 3-5 or more. Even double groups. Easy to see by the names and how in harmony they run after each other.

Problem I think is that we getting punished for it. Every boss in every solodungeon I did had nothing but crap white loot. So to me those dungeons are very useless but the skyshard. (I know about the-blue once per day/hour whatever)

Westcoast14_ESO

Don't know where to go to find bots in substantial numbers right now. I checked out Cold Harbor and didn't see any action at the wayshrines, that and all of the nodes in the hollow city looked pretty much untouched.

Didn't see any in Khenarthi's Roost, found what looked like a bot at an Auridon wayshrine(name like fsdfsdfsd), but it was inert, just standing at the wayshrine.

When I went to the previously bot infested farming areas in Auridon, I only found a couple with bots, and instead of 20-30 bots in clusters of 5-10+, today I saw 1 or two pairs of bots in a few of the areas. And most of the previously infested areas look untouched.

So I'm pretty sure some substantial anti-botting code must have been implemented in 1.08.

Loxy37

I don't see as many in the public dungeons but I hate to burst your bubble and I respect some positivity but they have simply moved on to other areas like the Rift and Coldharbour. They are also getting more cunning and clever. ZoS can do all they like but until they address the underlying issues with the game like horses costing 45g, motifs up to 200g (Who's stupid idea was it to nerf the drop rate, sack them now), then there will always be a home for bots in ESO, I'm afraid.

Phinix1

Nope, hasn't dropped at all. In fact it has gotten worse. I may just be unlucky and have been leveling at the same rate as the bot army, but I just hit 35 and they have followed me through every zone I have been to.

I really love this game, and I am about the most die hard Elder Scrolls fan out there. I have modded extensively in the community since Morrowind. I gave this all I had, even helping anti-spam authors write filters to block what ZOS should have had under control the first day.

I just can't take it any more. The frustration of dealing with empty dungeons and bot chains is just too much roller coaster for me to continue to enjoy the game, and I am leaving.

I haven't been this depressed in a long while. This is like some old biker guy having some jerk pour sugar in his Harley. It ruined one of the few things left in my miserable wage slave life that brought me any enjoyment.

ElliottXO

Maybe they just have to restart/reconnect after server maintenance?

You know it's a sh1tload of bots, and if it does not work automatically...

Aeradon

Oogaci wrote: »

You didn't see any when starting a new character because they are all in Coldharbour now.

They evolved. VR1 with better names. Though they still run through lava and occasionally stack together.

p_tsakirisb16_ESO

Loxy37 wrote: »

, motifs up to 200g (Who's stupid idea was it to nerf the drop rate, sack them now), then there will always be a home for bots in ESO, I'm afraid.

I agree with you.
They should give the motifs as standard reward as you get up on crafting levels/VR levels and be done with it.

The farmers have cornered the market. I have yet to find a single container that isn't empty in VR areas for more than three weeks now. Yet you see them spamming on zone chat selling the Ancient Elf for 150,000 gold, and Daedric 200,000 gold.

A simple player like myself, at VR2 doesn't have more than 60,000 gold, by making everything by myself (and I mean everything) and not spamming WTS messages on zone chat.

And they sell at those prices, because your hard earned gold are going to be cashed on their website.

The inflation they try to impose also, is stupid. When the game started, the gold price advertised was something like 20000g for $10. Now is 100,000g for $11-13.

While the motifs (non racial ones) were going for 10-20K. Until 4 weeks ago they shoot to 40K and last week passed the 150K.

(prices of EU server)
And the sad thing is when you ask them why that stupid price, they reply "everyone else sells so, get on with it and buy gold"

Kyle_Roberts

There appears to be so many bots because we are on a Mega-Server, If WoW was to use a Mega-Server instead of having lots of separate ones, you'd notice the number of bots on here is nothing in comparison :P

LadyDestiny

p_tsakirisb16_ESO wrote: »

Loxy37 wrote: »

, motifs up to 200g (Who's stupid idea was it to nerf the drop rate, sack them now), then there will always be a home for bots in ESO, I'm afraid.

I agree with you.
They should give the motifs as standard reward as you get up on crafting levels/VR levels and be done with it.

The farmers have cornered the market. I have yet to find a single container that isn't empty in VR areas for more than three weeks now. Yet you see them spamming on zone chat selling the Ancient Elf for 150,000 gold, and Daedric 200,000 gold.

A simple player like myself, at VR2 doesn't have more than 60,000 gold, by making everything by myself (and I mean everything) and not spamming WTS messages on zone chat.

And they sell at those prices, because your hard earned gold are going to be cashed on their website.

The inflation they try to impose also, is stupid. When the game started, the gold price advertised was something like 20000g for $10. Now is 100,000g for $11-13.

While the motifs (non racial ones) were going for 10-20K. Until 4 weeks ago they shoot to 40K and last week passed the 150K.

(prices of EU server)
And the sad thing is when you ask them why that stupid price, they reply "everyone else sells so, get on with it and buy gold"

I had mentioned this another thread. Definitely should just make racials all part of the crafting progression. Gain a new type as you level up and the rare ones when you reach max level. End of problem, no more motif sales or endless spam about them. I mean its crafting isn't it? Why can't I craft Daedric armor if I am a top of the line professional blacksmith without paying some yahoo for a book that doesn't know jack about it. Lol Maybe even make it a quest you have to complete to gain the knowledge. Anything but these outrageous sales you see spamming moitifs. Zos realky knew how to screw up the economy but nerfing the loots

KerinKor

Natjur wrote: »

Bots have just leveled and moved on, seen them in coldhabour (L44+ zone)

On Saturday on the EU server Bleakrock's bot population outnumbered legit players by at least 5:1 early on. I think the @OP was just lucky to get loaded into a layer with few bots which they never saw.

Loxy37

Kyle_Roberts wrote: »

There appears to be so many bots because we are on a Mega-Server, If WoW was to use a Mega-Server instead of having lots of separate ones, you'd notice the number of bots on here is nothing in comparison :P

Wrong to some extent because of phasing. There's probably hundreds stood right next to you but you don't see them. Look on phasing like having more servers or instances. To see how ESO breaks us all up into instances, servers, phases, just relog or try to group up with a friend you cannot actually see on screen.

So what you are actually seeing is Bots in your server or phase and only those. Another game the uses a mega server is STO or Neverwinter but both those allow the switching of instance by the user.

Kyle_Roberts

Loxy37 wrote: »

Wrong to somre extent because of phasing. There's probably hundreds stood right next to you

Good old "probably"...


I think there is "probably" only 2-3 bots in-game but we just keep seeing the same ones over and over.

Chirru

Westcoast14_ESO wrote: »

I leveled an alt today, and unlike all of the past play times on my alt, I didn't see any bots (in around 6 hours of play time). That hasn't happened in quite a while. If the bots were impacted, they will of course be back, but if the 1.08 patch marks the first major coding strike against the bots, then well done ZoS! And please keep assiduously working to mitigate the damage they do to the game.

you have not been to Bleakrock Island...It is overrun with bots... what you missed you will find there.

Kyle_Roberts

Chirru wrote: »

you have not been to Bleakrock Island...It is overrun with bots... what you missed you will find there.

They need to remove the chance of getting Legendary upgrade materials from Refining the Raw Tier one materials and it will solve this problem, until then there will always be bots there

GossiTheDog

Some areas there are way more bots than players. Worth noting it takes a while for bots to be reloaded when server has been restarted.

The jute exploit has just been fixed on both megaserver and dungeon boss farming doesn't really work well due to a patch, so expect them to find new ways to exploit the game.

@AlienDiplomat, if you really love Elder Scrolls why not ignore the boys and get on with playing?

Loxy37

You obviously haven't seen them at the shrines or in coldharbour where they port in and out by the 10s, all day?

Obviously your experience is different to most others and I'm glad that your experience is much more positive. I hope to see you back when a locust swarm of bots invade where you are questing and really spoil your day. Hope you also don't craft, hope you don't still need motifs because good luck with that!

If the problem was just 1 or 2 then why all the posts about it, why are Zenimax always nerfing drop rates, why the diminishing returns. Now I know as they cull a few it may cause a lul in their population but they just come back more clever. They are like Neo from the matrix and Zenimax like agent smith. Agent smith is bound to the rules of the matrix because he's programmed that way but Neo isn't, he creates his own rules and can bend them! Zenimax will always be playing catch up!

Oh and I said "Probably" because I cannot be certain but seeing so they all use the same scripts which would put them all on the same route, its pretty safe to say that just as many if not more would occupy each phase.

Kyle_Roberts

Loxy37 wrote: »

You obviously haven't seen them at the shrines or in coldharbour where they port in and out by the 10s, all day?

Yes I have they are making brand new level 3 characters to complete a very small quest for 282g each time (video below shows it)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJnwsIqNsSI&feature=youtu.be


but like I said In comparison to other MMO's if they were to be on a megaserver, the amount of bots we have would be nothing.

ttwinklerub17_ESO

jute exploit? - i found they have devised a way to spawn all of them the same way

all you had to do was stand in an area they were popping up instantly
wood, iron jute didn't matter what

the problem was the underground/flying bots(collision turned off) - the nodes spawn with numerous close activity(number of players) - so the bots speed around - lightning fast
would spawn them even if they didn't harvest til next go around


i did notice they left most runes and plant ingredients alone - just wait they will get those too

Crassius

You obviously haven't seen them at the shrines or in coldharbour where they port in and out by the 10s, all day?

You know the funniest thing to me with these ones? They all look like Soul Shriven.
In my head I imagine Molag Bal has taken over the shrine and sent them there to mess with The Caretaker...if you get my drift.

Loxy37

Kyle_Roberts wrote: »

Loxy37 wrote: »

You obviously haven't seen them at the shrines or in coldharbour where they port in and out by the 10s, all day?

Yes I have they are making brand new level 3 characters to complete a very small quest for 282g each time (video below shows it)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJnwsIqNsSI&feature=youtu.be


but like I said In comparison to other MMO's if they were to be on a megaserver, the amount of bots we have would be nothing.

Well we all have different experience but you are only seeing one instance and at peak times there could be 10s of instances of that area running + phasing also which increases it further. I think you aren't understanding the megaserver properly. A mega server is 1 server but its split up into many small parts as population rises, phasing puts you into other instances as you complete quest stages or save a town, that why the world reacts to your choices and stays that way.

Further reading: http://elderscrollsonline.info/mega-server

I'm still surprised that how many people think that what you see around you is all the population of the game. I mean how could they fit over a million + people into those small zones without instancing or phasing as Zenimax like to call it.

Ojustaboo

Westcoast14_ESO wrote: »

I leveled an alt today, and unlike all of the past play times on my alt, I didn't see any bots (in around 6 hours of play time). That hasn't happened in quite a while. If the bots were impacted, they will of course be back, but if the 1.08 patch marks the first hmajor coding strike against the bots, then well done ZoS! And please keep assiduously working to mitigate the damage they do to the game.

I wrote a post a few days ago in another thread saying

My main is just finishing Rivenspire, when I started playing, every single dungeon had bots in, some quests couldn't be completed

Now:
I started an alt, have done the first 2 starter islands and 3/4 through Glenumbra and not found one quest bug or one bot in any dungeon.

I am on the last couple of quests in Rivenspire, having recently completed the excellent quest chain in Doomcrag. Not found one of them bugged, not had to re log to get something to spawn, all been perfect.

I have done all 5 of the scull and crossbones bosses, all public dungeons and I have not come across 1 bot in any of them in fact when I had fun finding obsidian scar very challenging by myself, I joked in guild chat saying if only they hadn't got rid of the bots, I wouldn't keep dying.

So I think they got on top of this before the latest patch for the lower level dungeons (not mats) already or it could be that the bots have worked out how to hack into higher level areas, it definitely makes it like playing a completely different and fun game, and the sooner the rest are banned the better, I'm in the EU

Loxy37

Ojustaboo wrote: »

Westcoast14_ESO wrote: »

I leveled an alt today, and unlike all of the past play times on my alt, I didn't see any bots (in around 6 hours of play time). That hasn't happened in quite a while. If the bots were impacted, they will of course be back, but if the 1.08 patch marks the first hmajor coding strike against the bots, then well done ZoS! And please keep assiduously working to mitigate the damage they do to the game.

I wrote a post a few days ago in another thread saying

My main is just finishing Rivenspire, when I started playing, every single dungeon had bots in, some quests couldn't be completed

Now:
I started an alt, have done the first 2 starter islands and 3/4 through Glenumbra and not found one quest bug or one bot in any dungeon.

I am on the last couple of quests in Rivenspire, having recently completed the excellent quest chain in Doomcrag. Not found one of them bugged, not had to re log to get something to spawn, all been perfect.

I have done all 5 of the scull and crossbones bosses, all public dungeons and I have not come across 1 bot in any of them in fact when I had fun finding obsidian scar very challenging by myself, I joked in guild chat saying if only they hadn't got rid of the bots, I wouldn't keep dying.

So I think they got on top of this before the latest patch for the lower level dungeons (not mats) already or it could be that the bots have worked out how to hack into higher level areas, it definitely makes it like playing a completely different and fun game, and the sooner the rest are banned the better, I'm in the EU

Bots can port where they like. See my Matrix analogy above. They are not bound to the rules of the matrix like you or I, this is why we see them in Coldharbour at level 3. You don't see them in public dungeons because Zenimax in there infinate wisdom decided to nerf to loot and all this did was shift the problem from one place to many more places. Don't forget that a lot of bots are using speed hacks, invisibility, underworld (No not Vampires) and teleporting faster than A sorc with a zerg on his dress tails!

They haven't got on top of anything at all. All they are doing is forcing the bots to adapt but they never beat the bot because Zenimax are bound to the Matrix rules and the bots are not. They can code in way to detect them but what about macros that appear to be just legitimate commands sent to the server. If people think that this is going to go away then they are in for a rude awakening, maybe from Agent Smith