Lol, Do Any of You Seriously Report Bots?

Lunatic_Dizzy · May 2018

So I reported a huge group of bots I came across in Auridon the other day. And ZOS's answer was for me to add people that I find with offensive behavior to my ignore list. Seriously? A group of bots crapping all over ToS and I'm advise to just look the other way and pretend like they're not there?

Why do I even both. So is this standard procedure or what? I mean, another part of the message did say that they would look into the matter and take appropriate action. But, I'll bet a day, a week, a month from now - that they will still be there, murdering all those poor bears and wolves. Oh, I know, I'll get PETA involved! Remember, when they went after Mario for wearing that Tanooki suit? I'll send PETA after those scumbag botters!

Turelus · May 2018

Yes I report them, every time I see them.

Did you report them under the right category? It sounds like you ticket might have been handled as harassment and not exploiting/cheating.

Lunatic_Dizzy · May 2018

Turelus wrote: »

Yes I report them, every time I see them.

Did you report them under the right category? It sounds like you ticket might have been handled as harassment and not exploiting/cheating.

Might have. It was my first time using the report system. Lemme check...

Buffler · May 2018

When will you guys realise that zos has no interest in dealing with bots whatsoever. That became obvious when they got rid of active GM's all those years ago.

starkerealm · May 2018

I used to. I'll still usually report one if I see a train and can get to it.

Turelus · May 2018

Lunatic_Dizzy wrote: »

Turelus wrote: »

Yes I report them, every time I see them.

Did you report them under the right category? It sounds like you ticket might have been handled as harassment and not exploiting/cheating.

Might have. It was my first time using the report system. Lemme check...

I mean it could also be support screwing up or an automated response which happens to include that line.

There is normally (at least on PC) an option to "report bot" via the context menu of player interaction, from there I normally choose cheating/exploiting.

Buffler wrote: »

When will you guys realise that zos has no interest in dealing with bots whatsoever. That became obvious when they got rid of active GM's all those years ago.

Games don't need active GM's any more, you don't have to log into a client to take actions vs bots it can all be done without that. ZOS does work to fight bots but the issue is it's too easy for them to come back and the detection methods used by ZOS don't seem to be working.
I would love to see some figures from them on how many they've banned in a period.

lientier · May 2018

but how do you report all these big farming bot trains? in the beginning I tried to like follow them for the toggle interaction for reporting, do you make a screenshot of the names and report them manually, do you somehow send zos a screenshot with their names? I found it always quite hard to report them..

Preyfar · May 2018

I used to report them... but after seeing the same bots running around weeks later I kind of gave up. I used to go to great lengths to get video, follow them around, record all the names and locations... but they never went away.

Lunatic_Dizzy · May 2018

Ok, seems like I reported under "Report other".

Kikke · May 2018

Reporting by:

Ingame report = normaly they go into nothing, because it's hard for ZOS too PROVE that they are bots.

Take a screenshot = abit better, specially against the bigger trains of bots, but as with ingame report, a picture is hard too prove.

Film it = The BEST way too report bots! Film the bot train for a good 5-10mins, upload said video private on Youtube. Then write a report ticket and give them the link too said film.

With the last option proving that they are bots are easy 'as they follow a set route and do a fixed rotation if combat' and Therefore correct and swift action can be done.

jaschacasadiob16_ESO · May 2018

There is no ignore list on the PS4, by the way.

bloodthirstyvampire · May 2018

Don't blame zos, bots are like cockroaches, they could be removing bots all day it won't make a difference

Turelus · May 2018

bloodthirstyvampire wrote: »

Don't blame zos, bots are like cockroaches, they could be removing bots all day it won't make a difference

The best way to get rid of most bots would be for people to stop buying in game items and gold for real money, but for some reason that never seems to sink in.

Lunatic_Dizzy · May 2018

kikkehs wrote: »

Reporting by:

Ingame report = normaly they go into nothing, because it's hard for ZOS too PROVE that they are bots.

Take a screenshot = abit better, specially against the bigger trains of bots, but as with ingame report, a picture is hard too prove.

Film it = The BEST way too report bots! Film the bot train for a good 5-10mins, upload said video private on Youtube. Then write a report ticket and give them the link too said film.

With the last option proving that they are bots are easy 'as they follow a set route and do a fixed rotation if combat' and Therefore correct and swift action can be done.

Oh, I got a vid btw. Am I'm allowed to post something like that here? That doesn't violate ToS? Cuz, I'll be honest I didn't read that Great Wall of Text. They seriously need to tl;dr that thang.

Kikke · May 2018

No! Not on the forums! Only in PRIVATE msg too one of the @ZoS guys
or in your report ticket.

Turelus · May 2018

Lunatic_Dizzy wrote: »

kikkehs wrote: »

Reporting by:

Ingame report = normaly they go into nothing, because it's hard for ZOS too PROVE that they are bots.

Take a screenshot = abit better, specially against the bigger trains of bots, but as with ingame report, a picture is hard too prove.

Film it = The BEST way too report bots! Film the bot train for a good 5-10mins, upload said video private on Youtube. Then write a report ticket and give them the link too said film.

With the last option proving that they are bots are easy 'as they follow a set route and do a fixed rotation if combat' and Therefore correct and swift action can be done.

Oh, I got a vid btw. Am I'm allowed to post something like that here? That doesn't violate ToS? Cuz, I'll be honest I didn't read that Great Wall of Text. They seriously need to tl;dr that thang.

It would technically break forums rules as it would show the names of characters/accounts, and that falls under naming and shaming rules.
Your best bet would be to PM the video to ZOS staff (Gina or Jess) who can pass it on.

WuffyCerulei · May 2018

I do report them. I use the Botscanner 2000 addon on bot trains. Solo bots are a little harder to figure out. You have to observe them to see if they do the classic bot actions.

Kikke · May 2018

ZoS TOS has a part against naming and shaming, and for some reason, they feel that openly calling someone out to be a bot is in bad taste

Tandor · May 2018

kikkehs wrote: »

ZoS TOS has a part against naming and shaming, and for some reason, they feel that openly calling someone out to be a bot is in bad taste

It's nothing to do with bad taste, it prevents trolls from making false accusations against other players in public as has happened elsewhere. There's nothing whatsoever to prevent anyone from reporting bots, and supporting any reports with videos linked elsewhere, or from sending a PM to one of the team. Account disciplinary matters are always best dealt with privately.

Lunatic_Dizzy · May 2018

Oh, ok. I definitely won't post it here then. Well, I'll just go and attach it to my support ticket then. But honestly, I was sprinting through that big group so fast that I honestly doubt they'll catch any player names.

Delgent · May 2018

I used to report every blatant bot I came across, but it never seemed to matter. I no longer take the time out of my game play to do it. I have enough compliance issues to deal with at work, this is supposed to be fun time.

ZOS knows where the bots are; if they aren't that concerned, neither am I.

Vaoh · May 2018

Delgent wrote: »

I used to report every blatant bot I came across, but it never seemed to matter. I no longer take the time out of my game play to do it. I have enough compliance issues to deal with at work, this is supposed to be fun time.

ZOS knows where the bots are; if they aren't that concerned, neither am I.

Same way I feel about it. I’ve reported bots and seen the exact same ones a month later.

If ZOS does take action they’re way too slow - clearly their automated system is nothing compared to actual GMs.

Lunatic_Dizzy · May 2018

kikkehs wrote: »

ZoS TOS has a part against naming and shaming, and for some reason, they feel that openly calling someone out to be a bot is in bad taste

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I mean, if you commit a crime IRL, most states have laws that say that's public info. And if you're dumb enough to break the law, then you're dumb enough to end up on Mobile Patrol.

Dolnor · May 2018

lientier wrote: »

but how do you report all these big farming bot trains? in the beginning I tried to like follow them for the toggle interaction for reporting, do you make a screenshot of the names and report them manually, do you somehow send zos a screenshot with their names? I found it always quite hard to report them..

I video capture them botting...running with them a few times to get all their @usernames visible, upload the video to YouTube, then issue a report.

I've both seen groups disappear and a month later, reappear in the same spot but with different toon names. And yes, I check all layers of a given reported spot.

TQQdles™

ilander · May 2018

Well i'll be honest, i used to see the bot train at Karthdar in Grahtwood every day, each time i went past on a chest run. Now i'm only seeing them every once in a while so perhaps something has actually been done about it. Either that, or the multi-boxer who was doing it has become bored or made the money he wanted out of it and stopped.

Lunatic_Dizzy · May 2018

Dolnor wrote: »

lientier wrote: »

but how do you report all these big farming bot trains? in the beginning I tried to like follow them for the toggle interaction for reporting, do you make a screenshot of the names and report them manually, do you somehow send zos a screenshot with their names? I found it always quite hard to report them..

I video capture them botting...running with them a few times to get all their @usernames visible, upload the video to YouTube, then issue a report.

I've both seen groups disappear and a month later, reappear in the same spot but with different toon names. And yes, I check all layers of a given reported spot.

TQQdles™

This doesn't surprise me and yet it still breaks my heart. :'(

FR0STDEE · May 2018

Go to Alikir Desert, there's a huge bot train every day going from dolmen to dolmen. I try to report them but the next day there's a whole new group of them.

Silver_Strider · May 2018

NA PS4 has tons upon tons of bots in Belkarth, all Sorcs in Lighting Form just standing in pockets, killing all the wolves in the area.

I'd report them but it would take me about a month to do, given how many of them there are.

DragonRacer · May 2018

jaschacasadiob16_ESO wrote: »

There is no ignore list on the PS4, by the way.

Actually, there is. Kind of. You can "block" players, but that just keeps you from seeing their text chat or getting Playstation messages from them. Since bots don't really do that, blocking them would not improve gameplay at all so totally pointless.

phileunderx2 · May 2018

Used to...now I don't bother.

dennissomb16_ESO · May 2018

Pretty much stopped reporting them ages ago. The report system is very clunky (done so much better in many other MMOs). If you go back you will see the same bots in the same spot week after week which pretty much kills any sense that as a player you are helping to eliminate bots.