Why hasn't ZOS done something to deter the bot farmers?

smokey13a · October 2018

title says it, I'm just curious why ZOS haven't really done anything to make it harder for them, I'm not really bothered by bots but today I decided to farm some alloy's (because I have no gold left

) so I went to stros m'kai (which I haven't done in a couple of years) and at almost every ore node there was a lvl 2 or 3 player crouched on the spawn waiting for it and all I could think was why doesn't ZOS just make a few small changes that would make it very hard for bot farmers to do what they do.

2 of the biggest problems for ZOS in dealing with bots is 1: the fact that if they ban an account the botter can just make another account very quickly, and 2: it would take a lot of time and people to keep banning them all.

now, wa all know that most bot farmers use a load of low lvl's to farm the raw mats from wolves/bears/nodes...ect and then mail them to a crafter to refine for the gold upgrade mats to sell but if ZOS were to say change things so that you could only get the gold upgrade mats from max lvl raw mats like rubidite and also changed it so only cp160 chars with all the crafting passives for that specific crafting skill line were unlocked could find the max lvl mats like rubidit then almost all the bots would instantly be nullified as the low lvl chars they use couldn't farm the mats that can be refined for the gold upgrade mats (obviously the green/blue and purple mats could still be refined from any raw mats), in addition to something like that example destroying the ability to just create more bot accounts quickly if they got banned there would also be so few usable bot accounts left(and take some time to lvl up new ones) that ZOS could keep on top of them a lot easier.

that's just a quick example of a solution but ZOS could implement something like that very easily with a relatively small impact to actual players that are farming mats for use or trade but it would have a big impact on the bot farmers.

As I said I don't really have a problem with bots (especially as there are more gold upgrade mats in guild stores quite cheap because of them) I'm just curious why ZOS hasn't thought up a simple solution like that, although I suppose if they did they would probably need to increase the drop rate or the prices in guild stores would skyrocket but still.

Wollust · October 2018

They did actually do something a few months after the game launched in 2014 (I think it was the lighting patch that gave birth to the lag as well). Back then you would have dozens of bots at literally every delve boss and harvest node.

Haven‘t seen many bots since then honestly.

Donny_Vito · October 2018

I think this has been mentioned in many other similar posts, but the main problem is $$$. Do you think those characters are the only characters on those accounts, or that the people who run those accounts don't have multiple accounts? Those people might have ESO+, or they might buy from the crown store, or they might buy the next expansion/DLC that comes out. Banning them would be potentially cutting off some of their own revenue stream. It's unfortunate, but in the greater picture bots do help: prices for mats are A LOT cheaper than what they would be. Bots drive the price down, which as a consumer I do like. I don't want to spend 20k on a temp alloy, or 10k for some d wax.

bearbelly · October 2018

How long does it take to get to CP160 after you get a character to lvl 50?

The_Brosteen · October 2018

Until they can connect a substaintial loss in revenue to the presence of bots, there isn't going to be a massive effort to eliminate them.

Zos is after all a business. No, that's not a bad thing it just is what it is.

Grimm13 · October 2018

ZOS wants you to do your share and report bots to them citizen. When citizens stop doing their duty then the bot menace grows out of control. Be productive and report your share.

(This message has not been paid for or endorsed by the Citizens against bots.)

SaxonCrusader · October 2018

Grimm13 wrote: »

ZOS wants you to do your share and report bots to them citizen. When citizens stop doing their duty then the bot menace grows out of control. Be productive and report your share.

(This message has not been paid for or endorsed by the Citizens against bots.)

THESE BOTS ARE PLAYERS TOO! JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING CONTROLLED BY A HACKER'S HIVEMIND IT DOESN'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF US!

#BotLivesMatter #BLM #FreeTheBots

Starlock · October 2018

At this point, the total lack of response from the folks who make this game leads me to suggest the following:

Get rid of all grind for crafting materials, period. It needs to go away. If it is easy to obtain crafting materials and tempers to upgrade gear, the scumwad bot wranglers will leave. This is the only solution since the folks who run this game are unwilling to actually devote the resources necessary to correct the problem.

DMuehlhausen · October 2018

Starlock wrote: »

At this point, the total lack of response from the folks who make this game leads me to suggest the following:

Get rid of all grind for crafting materials, period. It needs to go away. If it is easy to obtain crafting materials and tempers to upgrade gear, the scumwad bot wranglers will leave. This is the only solution since the folks who run this game are unwilling to actually devote the resources necessary to correct the problem.

Companies never comment on BOTS and hacks. They simply end up making an announcement of the BAN on X amount of accounts.

They will also never say what they did to remove the bots/hacks. If they said that then people would immediately know how to get around the new systems.

Syncronaut · October 2018

More like a ..get rid of buyers.
Just look what people you can find on the fan forums:
https://www.webinpaint.com/405913/Hk_p-Ucc7/
Yep seen this today. People have no shame.

idk · October 2018

smokey13a wrote: »

title says it, I'm just curious why ZOS haven't really done anything to make it harder for them, I'm not really bothered by bots but today I decided to farm some alloy's (because I have no gold left )

Technically Zos has done something about the bots. It used to be you would have to work just to get one hit on a delve boss because a half dozen bots killed them right when it spawned. Not to mention seeing the bots spawn in, do a quest interaction then spawn out.

Clearly they can do more.

I guess that 100k gold we got a few weeks ago. did not go very far.

EvilAutoTech · October 2018

The only way to eliminate bots is to make it unprofitable.

As long as people are willing to buy accounts/gold /whatever from these sleazy web sites, bots will find a way to make a buck off it.

ZOS could eliminate them by selling all those services in the CS but do we really want that to happen?

I've seen websites selling accounts with max CP toons, millions in gold, maelstrom weapons, stacks of mats and other difficult to obtain gear. It seems that the only limitation is how much people will pay. For enough cash you could probably get a Grand Overlord, former emperor, master crafter with all skins and other unlockables.

I can imagine the outcry if all that stuff was available for crowns or more likely in crown crates.

Syncronaut · October 2018

EvilAutoTech wrote: »

The only way to eliminate bots is to make it unprofitable.

As long as people are willing to buy accounts/gold /whatever from these sleazy web sites, bots will find a way to make a buck off it.

ZOS could eliminate them by selling all those services in the CS but do we really want that to happen?

I've seen websites selling accounts with max CP toons, millions in gold, maelstrom weapons, stacks of mats and other difficult to obtain gear. It seems that the only limitation is how much people will pay. For enough cash you could probably get a Grand Overlord, former emperor, master crafter with all skins and other unlockables.

I can imagine the outcry if all that stuff was available for crowns or more likely in crown crates.

You should probaly avoid this sites. Who knows if they come with keylogger that will try to steal your account.
Wow had those, so eso probaly has to.

aquiella · October 2018

The bots are still in Sentinel and causing problems with questing. I tried to complete a quest for the new prologues and the group was causing lag. I've reported before to both through ZoS and Microsoft. I doubt anything will get done soon because they have to verify etc. I wish there were in-game Game Masters to stop them when reported. It actually makes playing difficult.

Marabornwingrion · October 2018

If the bots will get banned, then ZOS won't be able to say again: "we have 10 million players!"

Starlock · October 2018

aquiella wrote: »

The bots are still in Sentinel and causing problems with questing. I tried to complete a quest for the new prologues and the group was causing lag. I've reported before to both through ZoS and Microsoft. I doubt anything will get done soon because they have to verify etc. I wish there were in-game Game Masters to stop them when reported. It actually makes playing difficult.

It can also cause players to quit. I know I would have if this had been such a big issue when I first started playing. It leaves an awful impression on new players, especially first time to MMO players.

Elsonso · October 2018

Donny_Vito wrote: »

I think this has been mentioned in many other similar posts, but the main problem is $$$. Do you think those characters are the only characters on those accounts, or that the people who run those accounts don't have multiple accounts? Those people might have ESO+, or they might buy from the crown store, or they might buy the next expansion/DLC that comes out. Banning them would be potentially cutting off some of their own revenue stream. It's unfortunate, but in the greater picture bots do help: prices for mats are A LOT cheaper than what they would be. Bots drive the price down, which as a consumer I do like. I don't want to spend 20k on a temp alloy, or 10k for some d wax.

Hmm.

1. I think that the bot that we see is the one and only character on the account. I don't think the accounts last long enough for there to be more than one character on the account.
2. I think that they have multiple accounts, which get activated as accounts are banned. Whether these are new legitimate accounts, stolen accounts, or second hand accounts, I would say "all of the above".
3. Players thinking it would be cool to run a bot might have ESO Plus, but the typical level 3 Argonian named "jkjklh" on account "@ksd9939q74ss12" is probably not an ESO Plus member.
4. I never hunt for bots in DLC zones.
5. I doubt that banning bots will significantly hurt the ZOS revenue stream.

Sergg007 · October 2018

may be CAPTCHA will help?
you agree to type it once a day?

Elsonso · October 2018

Sergg007 wrote: »

may be CAPTCHA will help?
you agree to type it once a day?

Heh. I suggested that a couple years ago. Collect resource node, do a captcha before the loot is taken, only 30 seconds to pass. There is a reason why bots don't loot locked chests.

Sergg007 · October 2018

lordrichter wrote: »

Sergg007 wrote: »

may be CAPTCHA will help?
you agree to type it once a day?

Heh. I suggested that a couple years ago. Collect resource node, do a captcha before the loot is taken, only 30 seconds to pass. There is a reason why bots don't loot locked chests.

Yes! Pass some mini game, like open chest, would be nice. And not boring at all

Revelzdevelz · October 2018

If anyone from Zos contactx any of those "bots" and there is a answer then what do you want them to do? You cannot tell someone not to farm and unless you can prove its completely automated then oh well

BrokenGameMechanics · October 2018

The Stros MKai situation is WAY out of control. I try and go around an report 5-10 BOTS just on Stros several times a week and "REPORT PLAYER" as cheating ,

There are literally dozens of them camping pretty much EVERY mining node along the entire coast line of Stros basically mining Platinum. As this is a "newbie" zone in general, I don't understand why ZOS does not address it.

This really sucks. The jewelery crafting grind is as grindy as it gets. Being "locked" out by dozens of rampant BOTS sitting there mining tons of Platinum just pisses you off.

I disagree that nothing can be done to address the situation. Stros MKai could be cleaned up in a very short period of time.

These bots have BS names, are on 24/7 camping the same spot without moving for 10s and 10s of hours.

I'm inspired to do another run around Stros this evening to report a few dozen BOTS (yes there are dozens). Everyone should spend some time reporting a few. If ZOS's "help system" starts getting flooded with specific BOT cheating reports, they could do something.

Hell, just grant long term ESO+ players special BAN ability. There us no reason any 780 CP player would ever want, need or desire to ban some lvl 3 player other than BOTS. e.g. IF BOT tagged character is <= Lvl 3 AND logged for >= X hours WITHOUT moving from a constant postion ----> BANNED.

Numerikuu · October 2018

Sergg007 wrote: »

may be CAPTCHA will help?
you agree to type it once a day?

Other MMOs tried this in the past. While it worked for a period, it didn't last. Hackers/botters always find a bypass. In the end it hurts the actual players more.

ZOS does little because each bot account = $. Then there's been cases from MMO's in the past where devs were behind some of the bots and the selling of their accounts for extra cash lol.

While they can be annoying, ESO has been the first MMO I've played where they tend to keep out of the way and quiet...... I dread the day the game becomes free to play though...that's when *** will hit the fan.

XxCaLxX · October 2018

Every time I report a bot then get the automated email then go back to check email a few days later it says unresolved. I have around 100 unresolved emails over the last 6 months from reported bots. Does reporting even do anything?

kargen27 · October 2018

XxCaLxX wrote: »

Every time I report a bot then get the automated email then go back to check email a few days later it says unresolved. I have around 100 unresolved emails over the last 6 months from reported bots. Does reporting even do anything?

Somewhere along the way they tell you that they will not inform you about their actions. You can go to a popular bot spot and report all the names and sometimes those names disappear but new bots pop up in their place. I think ZoS is doing what they can to make bots lives miserable they just don't want us to know (obvious reasons) what it is they are doing.

EvilAutoTech · October 2018

Syncronaut wrote: »

EvilAutoTech wrote: »

The only way to eliminate bots is to make it unprofitable.

As long as people are willing to buy accounts/gold /whatever from these sleazy web sites, bots will find a way to make a buck off it.

ZOS could eliminate them by selling all those services in the CS but do we really want that to happen?

I've seen websites selling accounts with max CP toons, millions in gold, maelstrom weapons, stacks of mats and other difficult to obtain gear. It seems that the only limitation is how much people will pay. For enough cash you could probably get a Grand Overlord, former emperor, master crafter with all skins and other unlockables.

I can imagine the outcry if all that stuff was available for crowns or more likely in crown crates.

You should probaly avoid this sites. Who knows if they come with keylogger that will try to steal your account.
Wow had those, so eso probaly has to.

I followed a couple of links on my phone. Only looked at the first page of the sites. It's crazy that people buy all that stuff. I don't get it. Why buy the game and then buy a way to not play it?

Elsonso · October 2018

XxCaLxX wrote: »

Every time I report a bot then get the automated email then go back to check email a few days later it says unresolved. I have around 100 unresolved emails over the last 6 months from reported bots. Does reporting even do anything?

I doubt that the ticket status means anything at all for bot reports. I doubt anyone even looks at them. Don't take that the wrong way. Some automation probably pulls the account name and location from the tickets and that gets passed along. No one needs to look at the actual ticket.

Davor · October 2018

Why has Zenimax not DETERED botters? Well they do ban them so they just BUY a new account. After all you really think the number Zenimax boasts of 11 million accounts are all human players? So Zenimax lets them bot for however long they let them, ban them, then they buy a new account and rinse and repeat.

As you said, it's business. This is how Zenimax gets new accounts frequently. They let them bot for a bit, be it a week, month, what ever so it's worth to keep buying new accounts to get banned. It works for both parties. More money for Zenimax, not deterred enough to not keep buying.

firedrgn · October 2018

Silk is at an all time hi
Bots not affecting the market from what i can see.

Ngh · October 2018

Davor wrote: »

Why has Zenimax not DETERED botters? Well they do ban them so they just BUY a new account. After all you really think the number Zenimax boasts of 11 million accounts are all human players? So Zenimax lets them bot for however long they let them, ban them, then they buy a new account and rinse and repeat.

As you said, it's business. This is how Zenimax gets new accounts frequently. They let them bot for a bit, be it a week, month, what ever so it's worth to keep buying new accounts to get banned. It works for both parties. More money for Zenimax, not deterred enough to not keep buying.

Zenimax also does not release how many accounts they have banned. So they may have sold and had 11 million accounts activated but banned 3 million permanently. The world will never know exactly the numbers.

smokey13a · October 2018

Donny_Vito wrote: »

It's unfortunate, but in the greater picture bots do help: prices for mats are A LOT cheaper than what they would be. Bots drive the price down, which as a consumer I do like. I don't want to spend 20k on a temp alloy, or 10k for some d wax.

oh I agree with you there, if I see a group of say 10 or so bots farming wolves for mats somewhere i don't really care but there was around 50 camping the node spawns so no legit players could farm at all and at that point it gets kind or ridiculous.

BrokenGameMechanics wrote: »

The Stros MKai situation is WAY out of control. I try and go around an report 5-10 BOTS just on Stros several times a week and "REPORT PLAYER" as cheating.

yep, this is the exact problem, I don't report bots but just before i made this thread i reported about 42 of them because it was so ridiculous, I also just went back and most of them had gone, I don't know if they just logged off or ZOS banned them but i did manage to do a little farming for myself and reported the 14 new bots i came across, I'm guessing they were new bots because most of the ones I saw earlier were lvl3 and these were lvl2.

I disagree that nothing can be done to address the situation. Stros MKai could be cleaned up in a very short period of time.
These bots have BS names, are on 24/7 camping the same spot without moving for 10s and 10s of hours.

so do I, the example in my first post would destroy most of them and I barley put any though into it so ZOS could clearly think up something.

Hell, just grant long term ESO+ players special BAN ability. There us no reason any 780 CP player would ever want, need or desire to ban some lvl 3 player other than BOTS. e.g. IF BOT tagged character is <= Lvl 3 AND logged for >= X hours WITHOUT moving from a constant postion ----> BANNED.

yeah but people could end up trying to ban others they had arguments with and stuff so it probably wouldn't end well, although I suppose ZOS could choose a few players to have access to gamemaster accounts kind of like moderator accounts or something but what's the probability of that happening

.

Numerikuu wrote: »

ZOS does little because each bot account = $.

actually at this point since the botters have all the copies of the games they need and just make new accounts when one gets banned ZOS would be making like no money from them at all.