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Buying from bot farmers
LadyDestiny
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Just a question here. I know that buying gold from gold sellers will get you banned if caught. I was wondering if buying materials, items etc. from bots in game will get you banned as well and if so, why are so many people doing it? It is ruining the economy and just promoting these bot farmers to mass produce. I even see people openly discussing in text chat how they buy from bots all the time to resale. 
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Tan9oSuccka✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭Bots are bad for business. People are walking all over each other in guild Traders. Undercutting is spreading like plague.
Huge influx of materials have flooded the market place.2 -
Nemesis7884✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭buying materials and items is the same as gold as they can be exchanged for gold so...0 -
idk✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭It's very possible talking in chat about buying directly from bots are the bot people themselves or trolls.
Think about it, why would someone advertise in zone they bought from bots?0 -
Turelus✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭If you're buying them in game unknowingly then I doubt it's an issue.
If you were actively buying just from them it might be an issue as it could be seen as you funding them. If you know who they are, report them and avoid them.
RMT is bad for many reasons not just the in game economy. Many RMT organisations deal in account hacking, stolen credit cards etc. don't support it ever.@Turelus - EU PC Megaserver
"Don't count on others for help. In the end each of us is in this alone. The survivors are those who know how to look out for themselves."4 -
LadyDestiny✭✭✭✭✭Giles.floydub17_ESO wrote: »It's very possible talking in chat about buying directly from bots are the bot people themselves or trolls.
Think about it, why would someone advertise in zone they bought from bots?
I wondered this too but he was doing it. It irritates me to no end to say the least. One guy in my guild today was just arguing with other people about prices he resells from the bots. I don't want to get people in trouble but dang it. It's because of this that people can't make any money not to mention the GT's are just full of ghost traders this week. So tired of traders with ten items on them.
Oh and no this guy was not a bot, but an actual player buying. Edited by LadyDestiny on August 9, 2017 2:32PM0 -
LadyDestiny✭✭✭✭✭If you're buying them in game unknowingly then I doubt it's an issue.
If you were actively buying just from them it might be an issue as it could be seen as you funding them. If you know who they are, report them and avoid them.
RMT is bad for many reasons not just the in game economy. Many RMT organisations deal in account hacking, stolen credit cards etc. don't support it ever.
If people are buying unknowingly, then they are either an idiot or it's a really good player with a real name, not jdxxgdd and high level to boot.0 -
Krayzie✭✭✭✭✭Is this a serious thread? ZoS can't even handle the bugs in their games infrastructure(years ongoing, you think they're gonna go out of their way about bots?
If you're shouting in chat you're buying from a bot and personally writing emails to zenimax/opening tickets admitting you're doing so. Maybe a 3 day ban.
With the free trials you get for every time you create a xbl/psn account FOR FREE, the problem can never be contained.
Buy from bots/don't buy from bots, the outcome will basically be the same unless you're going out of your way to get yourself in trouble(lol).I'm a PVE roleplayer concerned about my vampires stage 4 skin tone and keep getting load screens so I came here to distract people from major issues with a rant thread about my characters cosmetic appearance.3 -
BrightOblivion✭✭✭✭✭LadyDestiny wrote: »If you're buying them in game unknowingly then I doubt it's an issue.
If you were actively buying just from them it might be an issue as it could be seen as you funding them. If you know who they are, report them and avoid them.
RMT is bad for many reasons not just the in game economy. Many RMT organisations deal in account hacking, stolen credit cards etc. don't support it ever.
If people are buying unknowingly, then they are either an idiot or it's a really good player with a real name, not jdxxgdd and high level to boot.
Not necessarily. If those bot farmers are members of a trading guild and funneling their stuff through other accounts to sell (not unheard of, unfortunately), can you really tell for sure? You can have suspicions, but do you know?1 -
Balsagna✭✭✭✭I buy whoever sells the cheapest. I don't care who they are or what they do or what type of person they are.
It's not my job to police their game, and I really don't care about people in trading guilds losing money.Edited by Balsagna on August 9, 2017 2:46PM4 -
BlackSparrow✭✭✭✭✭
✭If ZoS knows they're bots then why are they not banned?
Because it's not that easy. Bot containment is a never-ending arms race. If you ban an account, the botters just buy or hack a new account. If you ban an IP, the botters find ways around it. The method ZOS tries to use is to find methods of undercutting their effectiveness in-game, like the "standing in one place at dolmens" damage discharge and limiting how frequently you can get loot from bosses... but as soon as they implement one undercut, the botters find ways to circumvent it, and the devs have to come up with another method. Then the botters avoid that, and then the devs come up with something else, ad infinitum.
As much as we like to think bot prevention is as easy as a game master going to a bot train and swinging the ban-hammer around, it's just not that easy.Edited by BlackSparrow on August 9, 2017 2:48PMLiving vicariously through my characters.
My Girls:"If you were trapped in your house for, say, a year, how would you pass the time?"
Nephikah the Houseless, dunmer assassin: "I suppose I could use the break. I have a lot of business holdings now that need management."
Swum-Many-Waters, elderly argonian healer: "I think that I would enjoy writing a memoir."
Silh'ki, khajiit warrior-chef: "Would this one be able to go outside, to the nearby river? It's hard to fish without water!"
Peregrine Huntress, bosmer hunter: "Who is forcing me to stay inside, and where can I find them?"
Lorenyawe, altmer mechanist: "And why would I want to go outside in the first place? Too much to be done in the workshop."
Lorelai Magpie, breton master thief: "I'd go nuts. Lucky for me, I have a little experience sneaking out!"
Rasheda the Burning Heart, redguard knight: "I would continue my training to keep my skills sharp."
Hex-Eye Azabi, khajiit daedric priestess: "I suppose it would be lucky, then, that I built a shrine to Mephala in my backyard."
Yngva Stormhammer, nord bandit (reformed...ish): "I hate being inside even when I'm not forced to be. GET. ME. OUT."
Madam Argentia, vampire dunmer aristocrat: "I suppose it would be more of the same. I have a rather... contentious relationship with the sun."
Mazie gra-Bolga, orc scout: "Uh... I'd have to house train my bear..."
Felicia the Wanderer, imperial witch-for-hire: "What Lorelai said."
Calico Jaka-dra, retired khajiit pirate: "This one would like a rest from her grand adventures. Her jewel shop runs out of stock!"
Shimmerbeam, blind altmer psijic: "Provided that I am confined to Artaeum, I do not think I will want for things to occupy my time."
Shauna Blackfire, redguard necromancer: "Sounds like paradise. I hate people."
Kirniel the Undying, cursed bosmer warrior: "I would feel useless, not being able to fight."
Echoes-from-Dragons, argonian who thinks she's a dragon: "All the better to count my hoard!"
(Signature idea shamelessly stolen from Abeille.)2 -
Malamar1229✭✭✭✭✭
✭I just bought a bunch of wax off a couple traders for way below avg. Price. It wouldn't be cool for zos to confiscate those items if they came from a but farmer. I mean, how are we supposed to know. Do we need certificates of authenticity now for everything we buy?0 -
ookami007✭✭✭✭✭
✭I'm not sure how people would ever know they are buying from a bot unless they are in the zone with the bot and see it doing it's work and then get a tell from the bot or see it spamming in zone chat.
Otherwise, how would you know? You wouldn't... and couldn't. Someone selling it cheap could be a noob that doesn't know the value as easy as it could be a bot. I know until I got serious about selling things and got MM and TTC, I would check a few guild stores and then post slightly below their value - or much lower if I just needed fast cash.
Now that I have MM and TTC (which some people don't even know about), I keep my prices in line with the going rates, but if I see someone cheap I don't immediately assume they are a bot.0 -
Tan9oSuccka✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭BrightOblivion wrote: »LadyDestiny wrote: »If you're buying them in game unknowingly then I doubt it's an issue.
If you were actively buying just from them it might be an issue as it could be seen as you funding them. If you know who they are, report them and avoid them.
RMT is bad for many reasons not just the in game economy. Many RMT organisations deal in account hacking, stolen credit cards etc. don't support it ever.
If people are buying unknowingly, then they are either an idiot or it's a really good player with a real name, not jdxxgdd and high level to boot.
Not necessarily. If those bot farmers are members of a trading guild and funneling their stuff through other accounts to sell (not unheard of, unfortunately), can you really tell for sure? You can have suspicions, but do you know?
I think this is happening, and probably a lot. You are right....how do you know for sure?
The 1,000 Fortified Nirncrux deposited in the guild bank is totally legit.
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zaria✭✭✭✭✭
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Why should anybody sell way to cheap, sell 20-25% below mm price in zone chat and it goes fast.Malamar1229 wrote: »I just bought a bunch of wax off a couple traders for way below avg. Price. It wouldn't be cool for zos to confiscate those items if they came from a but farmer. I mean, how are we supposed to know. Do we need certificates of authenticity now for everything we buy?
This is plausible to, lots of players sit on stacks of tempers and might sell if they need money fast.
Grinding just make you go in circles.
Asking ZoS for nerfs is as stupid as asking for close air support from the death star.0 -
Krayzie✭✭✭✭✭Malamar1229 wrote: »I just bought a bunch of wax off a couple traders for way below avg. Price. It wouldn't be cool for zos to confiscate those items if they came from a but farmer. I mean, how are we supposed to know. Do we need certificates of authenticity now for everything we buy?
They are not going to confiscate items. They allow AP boosters they 3 day ban to keep AP and titles...
Come on guys, we're talking about a severely incompetent company.... remember?
I'm a PVE roleplayer concerned about my vampires stage 4 skin tone and keep getting load screens so I came here to distract people from major issues with a rant thread about my characters cosmetic appearance.1 -
LadyDestiny✭✭✭✭✭I'm not sure how people would ever know they are buying from a bot unless they are in the zone with the bot and see it doing it's work and then get a tell from the bot or see it spamming in zone chat.
Otherwise, how would you know? You wouldn't... and couldn't. Someone selling it cheap could be a noob that doesn't know the value as easy as it could be a bot. I know until I got serious about selling things and got MM and TTC, I would check a few guild stores and then post slightly below their value - or much lower if I just needed fast cash.
Now that I have MM and TTC (which some people don't even know about), I keep my prices in line with the going rates, but if I see someone cheap I don't immediately assume they are a bot.
Unfortunately on console we have no help with MM.
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doslekis✭✭✭I'm on console and saw someone in zone chat selling stacks of rawhide scraps for 3k each. I grouped with them and was about to buy a bunch of stacks and then I noticed their name, a bunch of random letters and numbers and decided I'd better not support this.
As someone who spends a lot of time legitimately mat farming and making most of my gold from tempers and various mats I can't knowingly support these game crushing botsI don't normally use daggers, but when I do, I choose dos Lekis.0 -
LadyDestiny✭✭✭✭✭Tan9oSuccka wrote: »BrightOblivion wrote: »LadyDestiny wrote: »If you're buying them in game unknowingly then I doubt it's an issue.
If you were actively buying just from them it might be an issue as it could be seen as you funding them. If you know who they are, report them and avoid them.
RMT is bad for many reasons not just the in game economy. Many RMT organisations deal in account hacking, stolen credit cards etc. don't support it ever.
If people are buying unknowingly, then they are either an idiot or it's a really good player with a real name, not jdxxgdd and high level to boot.
Not necessarily. If those bot farmers are members of a trading guild and funneling their stuff through other accounts to sell (not unheard of, unfortunately), can you really tell for sure? You can have suspicions, but do you know?
I think this is happening, and probably a lot. You are right....how do you know for sure?
The 1,000 Fortified Nirncrux deposited in the guild bank is totally legit.
D 0 -
Danksta✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭BlackSparrow wrote: »If ZoS knows they're bots then why are they not banned?
Because it's not that easy. Bot containment is a never-ending arms race. If you ban an account, the botters just buy or hack a new account. If you ban an IP, the botters find ways around it. The method ZOS tries to use is to find methods of undercutting their effectiveness in-game, like the "standing in one place at dolmens" damage discharge and limiting how frequently you can get loot from bosses... but as soon as they implement one undercut, the botters find ways to circumvent it, and the devs have to come up with another method. Then the botters avoid that, and then the devs come up with something else, ad infinitum.
As much as we like to think bot prevention is as easy as a game master going to a bot train and swinging the ban-hammer around, it's just not that easy.
The fact that it's not that easy was my point. If they can't ban the bots based on their name, then why would they ban players for buying from them.Edited by Danksta on August 9, 2017 3:06PMBawKinTackWarDs PS4/NA0 -
LadyDestiny✭✭✭✭✭I'm on console and saw someone in zone chat selling stacks of rawhide scraps for 3k each. I grouped with them and was about to buy a bunch of stacks and then I noticed their name, a bunch of random letters and numbers and decided I'd better not support this.
As someone who spends a lot of time legitimately mat farming and making most of my gold from tempers and various mats I can't knowingly support these game crushing bots
Exactly, this is my point. There are some bots out there that look like legitimate players. But these players are getting theirs mats from lvl 10 jdxxgyd guys non stop to sell along with their little bot minions. Even top guilds use them for suppliers as well as individuals. Most of the time if that level 10 guy is spamming trade on you while in the bank, it is not hard to tell they are a bot with jdxxgyd on their name. I mean come on people. Stop being nauve.1 -
StormWylf✭✭✭✭
This is the answer. ^^^^^^Malamar1229 wrote: »... I mean, how are we supposed to know. Do we need certificates of authenticity now for everything we buy?
With the guild auction houses system, there is no way to know. Many people are selling outside the AH system, but it doesn't mean that they are botters.
So unless someone advertises Bots-R-Us buy from me I don't see the problem.
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Belidos✭✭✭✭✭Malamar1229 wrote: »if they came from a but farmer.
I just snorted my coffee, butt farmer indeed lol
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Balsagna✭✭✭✭I'm on console and saw someone in zone chat selling stacks of rawhide scraps for 3k each. I grouped with them and was about to buy a bunch of stacks and then I noticed their name, a bunch of random letters and numbers and decided I'd better not support this.
As someone who spends a lot of time legitimately mat farming and making most of my gold from tempers and various mats I can't knowingly support these game crushing bots
Send me a message next time, I'll happily buy them off his cold farming hands.
I mean every time I die in Cyrodil people put their *** inside my Grothdarr helm, after that it all sort of washes together. I keep my morality where it belongs, not sure where that is as of yet but it isn't in a video game. I'm trying to gold new sets, can't be bothered to think of the long term ramifications on the digital economy of a ridiculously idiotic trader system to begin with.Edited by Balsagna on August 9, 2017 3:36PM1 -
misfitmanic✭✭✭I'm on console and saw someone in zone chat selling stacks of rawhide scraps for 3k each. I grouped with them and was about to buy a bunch of stacks and then I noticed their name, a bunch of random letters and numbers and decided I'd better not support this.
As someone who spends a lot of time legitimately mat farming and making most of my gold from tempers and various mats I can't knowingly support these game crushing bots
Send me a message next time, I'll happily buy them off his cold farming hands.
I mean every time I die in Cyrodil people put their *** inside my Grothdarr helm, after that it all sort of washes together. I keep my morality where it belongs, not sure where that is as of yet but it isn't in a video game. I'm trying to gold new sets, can't be bothered to think of the long term ramifications on the digital economy of a ridiculously idiotic trader system to begin with.
Pretty much this...
I only get a few hours to play before/after work and cannot be bothered to research where I am shopping beyond finding a good deal. Cheap mats for all sounds like a win to me. You can always find other in-game items to farm/sell/profit on.0 -
Tan9oSuccka✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭I'm on console and saw someone in zone chat selling stacks of rawhide scraps for 3k each. I grouped with them and was about to buy a bunch of stacks and then I noticed their name, a bunch of random letters and numbers and decided I'd better not support this.
As someone who spends a lot of time legitimately mat farming and making most of my gold from tempers and various mats I can't knowingly support these game crushing bots
Send me a message next time, I'll happily buy them off his cold farming hands.
I mean every time I die in Cyrodil people put their *** inside my Grothdarr helm, after that it all sort of washes together. I keep my morality where it belongs, not sure where that is as of yet but it isn't in a video game. I'm trying to gold new sets, can't be bothered to think of the long term ramifications on the digital economy of a ridiculously idiotic trader system to begin with.
Double thumbs down for you. Grothdarr/Eye user and buys/would buy from botters.2 -
twev✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭If ZoS knows they're bots then why are they not banned?
Z has lost control of the game from the bot perspective.
If they had control - you'd see areas stripped of bots.
For longer than 24 hours.
More often than every few months.
As it is now - bots are reported in the same areas for months at a time.
A bot train is reported running a pattern in an area for months by many people,
- the bots disappear one day and the next day new bots are back,
- and are there for months,
- running the same pattern, again:
doesn't count as controlling bots or being in control of the game.
The problem with society these days is that no one drinks from the skulls of their enemies anymore.0
