Be careful of botting...the bots are making a comeback...

arena25 · January 2017

Caught three bots in 2 hours in Bleakrock Isle alone...

If someone looks like a bot and it runs like a bot...it's probably a bot.

Let's keep our auction house prices competitive, our materials safe, and keep these stupid bots out of Tamriel. Report any and all you come across.

I don't care whether they come back in a month...in a day...in a decade...when they return to the game, they will be caught, and will be punished...but it requires that we be vigilant.

I'm sorry if this doesn't look well-written. I'm tired, and I don't write well when I'm tired.

Going to bed.

Arena25

DigitalShibby · January 2017

Build a wall!

arena25 · January 2017

DigitalShibby wrote: »

Build a wall!

And get the botters to pay for it? Hell, yeah!

Seriously, though, please do not bring your politics into this mess. I already am trying to keep botters out of my games, I don't need to add politics as well.

Lord-Otto · January 2017

I've reported four bots in the Hollow City on XB EU a month ago.
They were gone two days later.
One was back two weeks ago, reported again.
Was gone last time I went there, but can't confirm now. Can't load Coldharbour.

Reporting them seems to be working!

Just wish there was a more severe punishment. Those bot profiles had 5 gamerscore. No reason not to permaban them from ESO, to be honest.

FleetwoodSmack · January 2017

There's some near the Thief Stone in Alik'r too. A few of us have been reporting them and they've been there ever since OT dropped slaughtering harpies all in a circle.

@ZOS_GinaBruno @ZOS_JessicaFolsom

ZOS_JessicaFolsom · January 2017

As @Lord-Otto mentioned, if you see any of these soulless ones running around, please report them. (And thank you for doing so.) We do take action. If you're unsure whether or not a person you're seeing is a bot or not, try sending a whisper. Usually a player who is actually there will respond with something.

Preyfar · January 2017

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

As @Lord-Otto mentioned, if you see any of these soulless ones running around, please report them. (And thank you for doing so.) We do take action. If you're unsure whether or not a person you're seeing is a bot or not, try sending a whisper. Usually a player who is actually there will respond with something.

But how does that apply to bot trains (e.g. where you see four players running the same path, making instant 90-180 degree turns, all moving on the exact same line, etc). Is there a proper way to report those, or a suggested method? I see them all the time, and I usually record about 2-3 minutes of video, upload it to YouTube and include that in the report... but I also see those same bot trains 2-3 weeks later, so I don't know if I'm reporting them right or if all the bots respond to a GM they're not considered bots (even though, as I said, they're all following the same path, turning at the same places, take actions like no players normally would).

DHale · January 2017

Jessica I reported bots checked on them for several weeks after three weeks I gave up. Reported all four they leveled to full and had more cp than me and I have over 700. Why can't you get gamemasters back in game and report bot on the q wheel. This was only a couple of months ago. I have seen several in public dungeons since them but gave up reporting them. I think there is a dicconect between the customer service or whatever and where your team is.

ZOS_JessicaFolsom · January 2017

@Preyfar & @DHale if you guys are reporting bots and you are still seeing them in the game weeks later, we do want to know. Has that happened recently? The best way to reports bots is in-game via the Support interface (called "Customer Support"), and select the "Report a Player" category from the drop-down, or the Support portal on our website if you want to include a screenshot or video.

FleetwoodSmack · January 2017

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

@Preyfar & @DHale if you guys are reporting bots and you are still seeing them in the game weeks later, we do want to know. Has that happened recently? The best way to reports bots is in-game via the Support interface (called "Customer Support"), and select the "Report a Player" category from the drop-down, or the Support portal on our website if you want to include a screenshot or video.

There's a large group of them in Alik'r Desert over at the harpies near that construction over by the Thief mundus constantly running around. It's been at least a week since I've reported them, almost a week and a half when others in my guild have reported them. PC-NA.

rotaugen454 · January 2017

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

@Preyfar & @DHale if you guys are reporting bots and you are still seeing them in the game weeks later, we do want to know. Has that happened recently? The best way to reports bots is in-game via the Support interface (called "Customer Support"), and select the "Report a Player" category from the drop-down, or the Support portal on our website if you want to include a screenshot or video.

Is there a specific "Report a Bot" section where I can post video? I've done it before under other categories, but having one specifically for this would be nice, as I'd know it went to the right people.

Ulfgarde · January 2017

The easiest way to tell if they're botting is if they have Coldharbour clothes, have random name letterings (vvoirgm, zimqpwrk, etc.), and run between resource nodes unnaturally and do nothing else but that. Please report them. On PC EU, they are rampant everywhere. They DO affect the economy and item density, btw.

starkerealm · January 2017

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

@Preyfar & @DHale if you guys are reporting bots and you are still seeing them in the game weeks later, we do want to know. Has that happened recently? The best way to reports bots is in-game via the Support interface (called "Customer Support"), and select the "Report a Player" category from the drop-down, or the Support portal on our website if you want to include a screenshot or video.

@ZOS_JessicaFolsom Something I've noticed, there's supposed to be a semi-automated bot reporting form. Which skips the full, "what's their name, what're they doing, what's the speed of an unladen sparrow" question set. But, selecting "report bot," brings up the normal reporting form anyway. This could be a glitch with my client, but it might be interfering with bot reports from others.

captainwolfos · January 2017

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

Usually a player who is actually there will respond with something.

This just in: those of us with crippling social anxiety are bots :P

Preyfar · January 2017

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

@Preyfar & @DHale if you guys are reporting bots and you are still seeing them in the game weeks later, we do want to know. Has that happened recently? The best way to reports bots is in-game via the Support interface (called "Customer Support"), and select the "Report a Player" category from the drop-down, or the Support portal on our website if you want to include a screenshot or video.

Follow up question: When I report a player in such a manner, and it has report player name, I often put in multiple names into the "Player Name" field AND the Description both. Is that an issue? Does putting in multiple names in the "Player Name" field cause a question? I've had it where I've reported them, and weeks have gone by (even recently) where they were still there. I think the most was about two weeks recently.

I never report single players because, honestly, I have no way of telling... but the trains where it's 4 or more all running the same path are pretty obvious.

pod88kk · January 2017

They're in bangkorai farming werewolfs too on Xbox EU

It's hard to report them as the area is very laggy... Probably their doing

Preyfar · January 2017

rotaugen454 wrote: »

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

@Preyfar & @DHale if you guys are reporting bots and you are still seeing them in the game weeks later, we do want to know. Has that happened recently? The best way to reports bots is in-game via the Support interface (called "Customer Support"), and select the "Report a Player" category from the drop-down, or the Support portal on our website if you want to include a screenshot or video.

Is there a specific "Report a Bot" section where I can post video? I've done it before under other categories, but having one specifically for this would be nice, as I'd know it went to the right people.

I just upload the video to YouTube and then include a link to the video on the ticket description (which I assume ZOS can click the links in the tickets, but I have no way of actually knowing). I include imgur links for reporting other things, too, but... again, no idea if they can click/view the links (or are even permitted).

kaiage · January 2017

ZoS here's what you should do:

A captcha every five minutes in-game.

Xelrick · January 2017

I like my method of bot detecting on PS4. You drag an add and watch their reaction toward the add. Like it the don't react and/or get kill (in a series of multiple hit)... then it determine they are bots or rubberbanding, I do this all the time in Sanguine Barrows as it seems to be a gold and wax grind spot for the bots and the "gold for money" farmers. When I catch them off guard with a Troll they react by moving one or two characters at a time.

What I been doing is annoying the farm enough that the guys running it invite me to group to reveal other locations and all that involved...

People on the PS4 version claim you can't bot on the PS4 however if there are macros for controllers then it possible to technically bot a location.

Artemiisia · January 2017

DigitalShibby wrote: »

Build a wall![/quote

DigitalShibby wrote: »

Build a wall!

is that you

Prof_Bawbag · January 2017

I don't agree about the whisper method. I've been playing this game around 2 years and it was only around 2 months ago I realised I may have missed 20,000,000 whispers because I'm an idiot and didn't have it set up properly.

Preyfar · January 2017

Prof_Bawbag wrote: »

I don't agree about the whisper method. I've been playing this game around 2 years and it was only around 2 months ago I realised I may have missed 20,000,000 whispers because I'm an idiot and didn't have it set up properly.

Whispering is risky. I don't always have my chat box up, or I have a custom tab that only shows my guild/group/etc.

Prof_Bawbag · January 2017

Xelrick wrote: »

I like my method of bot detecting on PS4. You drag an add and watch their reaction toward the add. Like it the don't react and/or get kill (in a series of multiple hit)... then it determine they are bots or rubberbanding, I do this all the time in Sanguine Barrows as it seems to be a gold and wax grind spot for the bots and the "gold for money" farmers. When I catch them off guard with a Troll they react by moving one or two characters at a time.

What I been doing is annoying the farm enough that the guys running it invite me to group to reveal other locations and all that involved...

People on the PS4 version claim you can't bot on the PS4 however if there are macros for controllers then it possible to technically bot a location.

I think you're giving too many people too much credit. A lot easier and quicker to just rubber band the controller. I used to do that to level up my sneak in Oblivion. 'Twas great back yonder.

HELLB0UNDH0UND · January 2017

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

@Preyfar & @DHale if you guys are reporting bots and you are still seeing them in the game weeks later, we do want to know. Has that happened recently? The best way to reports bots is in-game via the Support interface (called "Customer Support"), and select the "Report a Player" category from the drop-down, or the Support portal on our website if you want to include a screenshot or video.

Do you have any idea how I might share a video that I record on xbox? There are tons of botters using those damn pets you all know and love to just farm adds over and over as they spawn. A few friends and I have taken a liking to rounding up groups of adds and dragging them to the botter. The pet usually gets overwhelemed and the adds kill the botter

vigilante justice.

Totes-Bode · January 2017

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

As @Lord-Otto mentioned, if you see any of these soulless ones running around, please report them. (And thank you for doing so.) We do take action. If you're unsure whether or not a person you're seeing is a bot or not, try sending a whisper. Usually a player who is actually there will respond with something.

Soulless ones! Excuse me, but we all start out soul-shriven! :'(

jcaceresw · January 2017

kaiage wrote: »

ZoS here's what you should do:

A captcha every five minutes in-game.

That would break game immersion.

Preyfar · January 2017

HELLB0UNDH0UND wrote: »

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

@Preyfar & @DHale if you guys are reporting bots and you are still seeing them in the game weeks later, we do want to know. Has that happened recently? The best way to reports bots is in-game via the Support interface (called "Customer Support"), and select the "Report a Player" category from the drop-down, or the Support portal on our website if you want to include a screenshot or video.

Do you have any idea how I might share a video that I record on xbox? There are tons of botters using those damn pets you all know and love to just farm adds over and over as they spawn. A few friends and I have taken a liking to rounding up groups of adds and dragging them to the botter. The pet usually gets overwhelemed and the adds kill the botter vigilante justice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SXShUmIPI4
WITH KINECT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weV_NUZiXxw
WITHOUT KINECT

Here's a simply video that shows you what you to do. =3

ZOS_JessicaFolsom · January 2017

kaiage wrote: »

ZoS here's what you should do:

A captcha every five minutes in-game.

Cyrodiil hardmode right there. x_x

ZOS_JessicaFolsom · January 2017

Prof_Bawbag wrote: »

I don't agree about the whisper method. I've been playing this game around 2 years and it was only around 2 months ago I realised I may have missed 20,000,000 whispers because I'm an idiot and didn't have it set up properly.

That's fair. We won't use lack of whispers as a singular sign that someone is definitely botting, and just ban based on that. We do check other details as well. As a few others have mentioned, there are some other visual "tells" such as gibberish names (though I've seen some legitimate players with those as well.

)

Preyfar · January 2017

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

Cyrodiil hardmode right there. x_x

Can that be a Crown Store ability? 25,000 Crowns. And it has to one of those Captchas that's like "Highlight all the pictures that show a cup of coffee." AND a secondary captcha of the "Type in the Text" variety where you have to contort your head into 50 different uncomfortable positions, squint your eyes, do a backflip and recite an incantation JUST to figure out what the squiggles actually say.

When the Captcha is successfully used against another player everyone on the server is rewarded with the infamous "YAAAAY!" sound effect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtEljxur6eI

1mirg · January 2017

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

(though I've seen some legitimate players with those as well. )

Sometimes those with legitimate names are "hacked" by goldsellers. Though most of the "hacks" from goldsellers are usually accounts which were willingly willing to buy gold from them, rarely do they hack into users outside of that group but it does happen.