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Why do bots bother you?

  • Tigerseye
    Tigerseye
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    In terms of farming, they make it harder to gather for yourself and they ruin the economy for crafted goods, like furniture.

    Because they gather mats with no effort on the player's part, the botting player is often prepared to sell the items s/he makes, from those mats, for only a little more than the mat cost (sometimes even less!)

    As opposed to the player who doesn't bot, who will want a decent mark-up, as they had to spend a long time tediously farming the mats needed and/or traipsing around the guild traders, trying (and often failing) to find decently priced mats.

    In theory, they up the supply and lower the price of the mats; which should be good for the crafter.

    However, in practice, because there doesn't seem to be that many of them who sell their raw furnishing mats in the game (I assume they're all selling any excess furnishing mats for real money on their websites), they don't even seem to do that.

    Meaning furnishing mats in guild stores are still overpriced and rare, while crafted goods (like furniture) are often priced way too low (relative to the average available mat price).

    It's the worst of all worlds...

    ...and in terms of things like PVP, in games in general, the presence of bots is almost always a complete disaster, for pretty obvious reasons.
    Edited by Tigerseye on December 13, 2018 9:07AM
  • phairdon
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    Just took another character through the main story (Cadwell's silver & gold). Did not encounter any bots whatsoever. They were prevalent in certain area's, of various zones, in the past.
    Your immersion is breaking my entitlement. Buff Sorc's. Darkshroud the cremator Death by furRubeus BlackFluffy knight BladesThe Fat PantherPsijic Fungal SausageFlesheater the VileCaspian Rafferty FernsbyArchfiend Warlock PiersThe Black BishopEvil Wizard Lizard (EU)Neberra Vestige Fajeon (EU)Salanis Deathstick (EU)Blood Mage Alchemist (EU)
  • RobDaCool
    RobDaCool
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    I've only seen a few on the PS4 NA server, mostly a group of sorcerers. I know they probably write a script for them on the PC, I am just curious how they do it on console?
    PS5 Pro NA - RobdacoolV2
  • Easily_Lost
    Easily_Lost
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    I have been wanting to say this for a long time about bots.

    One way to get rid of them is for no one to buy mats/gold for $$.
    Also in my opinion anyone that pays $$ for gold is one of three things: very lazy, stupid or a moron. or maybe all three.
    PC - NA - AD
    started April 2015
    PVE & Solo only

    Meet the LOST family: CP 1250+
    Easily Lost Crafter - lvl 50 - Sorcerer Orc ( knows all traits and most styles )
    Easily Lost-W - lvl 50 - Warden Imperial
    Forever Lost - lvl 50 Sorcerer


    CROWN CRATES: It doesn't affect gameplay, it's not mandatory, it's cosmetic only. If it helps to support the game and ZOS, I support it! Say YES to crown crates.
  • ESO_Nightingale
    ESO_Nightingale
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    If i have to grind for my levels and/or item sets. Why don't these people have to? It's against the rules of the game. It's disgusting and it should be reported wherever possible. Why even play the game at all if you aren't going to work for something so crucial to the gameplay experience?
    Edited by ESO_Nightingale on December 13, 2018 1:30PM
    PvE Frost Warden Main and teacher. Come Join the ESO Frost Discord to discuss everything frost!: https://discord.gg/5PT3rQX
  • Perwulf
    Perwulf
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    ECONOMY.

    ECONOMY.

    ECONOMY.

    Do you need more?
    "Monsters doesn't exist, we create them"
  • yodased
    yodased
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    All these reasons are valid and a lot of insight into the harm bot accounts can cause, but in my opinion the largest impact was missed.

    Botting is against TOS. When certain players see forum posts or in game rants about how bots are ruining the game and ZOS does nothing, it can teach or reinforce the lesson that bad behavior is tolerated.

    Something like what happened with all mundus at one time is shared on the back of "ZOS doesnt care about integrity of game, they dont even ban bots".

    Most probably won't make that jump, but those looking for and willing to cheat now have a false equivalency to justify their actions to themselves.

    TL;DR bots open the door for irrational breaking of other rules by players.
    Tl;dr really weigh the fun you have in game vs the business practices you are supporting.
  • Turelus
    Turelus
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    I have been wanting to say this for a long time about bots.

    One way to get rid of them is for no one to buy mats/gold for $$.
    Also in my opinion anyone that pays $$ for gold is one of three things: very lazy, stupid or a moron. or maybe all three.
    This is very true, but sadly there will always be those few who are to lazy/unwilling to play the game and earn things like everyone else.

    I don't know much of ZOS' inside workings on security but I have often on the forums and a few times to them said how adopting some of the systems other companies have used and being more aggressive on the buyers/sellers would help.

    Also it goes in supporting them more now that we have a legal means by which to buy gold from other players.
    @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."
  • LordSkyKnight
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    I don't mind bots at all.

    They keep the improvement mat cost low, which is okay by me, and have never disrupted my gameplay.

    I do report them occasionally, usually when I find a particularly egregious bunch.

    @DeadlyRecluse

    I don’t mind thieves at all.

    They keep stolen goods cost low, which is okay by me, and never have disrupted my life.

    I do call the police on them occasionally, usually when I find a particularly egregious bunch.


    The sad truth is we have laws or rules in place because many people have difficulty understanding morality. Someone who actually works to gain something should be rewarded for their effort not a person who writes a script but never steps foot into the game.

    "And it's important to state that our decision to go with subscriptions is not a referendum on online game revenue models. F2P, B2P, etc. are valid, proven business models - but subscription is the one that fits ESO the best, given our commitment to freedom of gameplay, quality and long-term content delivery. Plus, players will appreciate not having to worry about being "monetized" in the middle of playing the game, which is definitely a problem that is cropping up more and more in online gaming these days. The fact that the word "monetized" exists points to the heart of the issue for us: We don't want the player to worry about which parts of the game to pay for - with our system, they get it all."
    - Matt Firor
  • DeadlyRecluse
    DeadlyRecluse
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    ...yeah false equivalencies are super fun!
    Thrice Empress, Forever Scrub
  • yodased
    yodased
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    I don't mind bots at all.

    They keep the improvement mat cost low, which is okay by me, and have never disrupted my gameplay.

    I do report them occasionally, usually when I find a particularly egregious bunch.

    @DeadlyRecluse

    I don’t mind thieves at all.

    They keep stolen goods cost low, which is okay by me, and never have disrupted my life.

    I do call the police on them occasionally, usually when I find a particularly egregious bunch.


    The sad truth is we have laws or rules in place because many people have difficulty understanding morality. Someone who actually works to gain something should be rewarded for their effort not a person who writes a script but never steps foot into the game.

    You shouldn't let your horse smoke weed, its way too high right now, probably wanna get off such a high horse.
    Tl;dr really weigh the fun you have in game vs the business practices you are supporting.
  • Salvas_Aren
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    Why do bots bother you?

    They work in the support center and reply to my requests.

    And one is the chief combat designer. But instead of a real Terminator, it's just a Wrobot.

    xd51ZdN.gif
  • HallowedUndead
    Kadoin wrote: »
    They don't tell me "hi" back!

    It REALLY makes me upset when then just don't respond XD

    But in all actuality, bots are bad, but really only if used to be sold. I don't have a problem with people using them to level accounts that aren't being sold or if the mats are being donated (Which i have seen one person do).
    I COMPLETELY understand the views of everyone in here, and no one is wrong. Bots affect people differently depending on the time, place and situation.
  • Jhalin
    Jhalin
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    ...yeah false equivalencies are super fun!

    Let me give you a better one then

    I don’t mind corporations that outsource to unpaid laborers and reduce the number of local jobs at all.

    They keep item costs low, which is okay by me, and never have disrupted my life.

    I do claim I dislike such practices sometimes, but only when the reality of it is shoved in my face.



    That’s what bots are. They make casual resource gathering barely worth doing for actual players. Botters do nothing but exploit the system so they never have to put in an ounce of their time to profit. They make real money off these bots through gold selling and the selling of the account itself.

    If you think that’s harmless, then you really don’t care much for the health of this game.
  • Zweible
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    Many, many threads on Bots. No comments on a single one of them from ZOS. I think they are overwhelmed by them and have no clue on how to handle the problem. I do not think they realize the problem the bots cause for the normal player and as long as the bot is a paying account.. let it be. I have personaly reported the same three resource gathering bots over a period of 2 months. They are still going strong. It has ruined my gameplay and I have cancelled my ESO plus and will likely stop playing because of these bots that ZOS wishes not to deal with.
  • Jeremy
    Jeremy
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    myskyrim26 wrote: »
    There are a lot of posts about bots here. I wonder, why do they bother people at all? I sometimes see bots at dolmens. I report them. Just because... well, no reason, actually. They don't disturb my game. I report because it is a common practice when one sees a bot. Because a bot is something bad and unfair. But lot of people here seem to really suffer from bots - in what way, I wonder? No sarcasm or something like that, just curious.

    They can hog harvest nodes.

    So I Imagine you'll change your mind about them not disturbing your game when you meet one of those.
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