Does ZOS investigate and eliminate botters ?

GLP323b14_ESO · February 2019

I saw a group of five characters clearly all connected to each other in some fashion (all moving along in a tight group together), running a precisely defined circuit around an area killing mobs. I watched and followed them for a while. By the time it came back to its starting area the mobs had respawned. I left to do my things in game and was back in the area 2 hours later. This group was still running the same circuit, killing mobs. I tried to get his attention (using /say, not whispering) but to no avail.

Anyhow, I logged out for the night. Came back the following day, and the same group was STILL running the very same circuit over and over.

I reported them as possible botters.

Wondering if ZOS does anything about them.

GLP323b14_ESO · February 2019

I have screenshots.

I suppose if I posted them here, * I * would get banned.

BWS2K · February 2019

There's a couple recent threads about botting. The bottom line is ZOS is under no obligation to discuss what happens after reports are filed. From what I hear, it's much more horrendous on consoles - but if you want nothing to happen for sure, don't report them at all. There's as much evidence that reporting works as there is evidence that it doesn't. It's a complex issue.

And you're right - posting a picture of a bot without the names all censored violates the Name n'Shame policy here on the forums. *shrug*

Thanks for reporting though! I still like to go on reporting runs every so often and I've seen the bots disappear pretty quickly most times. Sometimes, not so quickly. Happy Gaming!

MLGProPlayer · February 2019

No. They only investigate if they get a substantial amount of reports about a player. This is evident from all the bots you see out there every day.

BWS2K · February 2019

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

No. They only investigate if they get a substantial amount of reports about a player. This is evident by all the bots you see out there every day.

There's no evidence of this at all. *shrug*

You ninja edited me, lol. Continued botting explains nothing. What about the bots that get reported and disappear in hours? That happens too. It's all a wash.

Mr_Walker · February 2019

Ahahahaha! Ahahahahahahaha!

Ah, good one.

Elsonso · February 2019

GLP323b14_ESO wrote: »

Wondering if ZOS does anything about them.

Yes, on PC NA. (I can't speak for other servers from personal knowledge)

However, the more people who report them, the faster this will happen. What server and location, so that others can go look and report.

GLP323b14_ESO · February 2019

lordrichter wrote: »

GLP323b14_ESO wrote: »

Wondering if ZOS does anything about them.

What server and location, so that others can go look and report.

PC/NA Westtry in Glenumbra (Edit: Sorry Gaudet Farm in Glenumbra)

GLP323b14_ESO · February 2019

I was mistaken earlier, the suspected botter is actually at Gaudet Farm in Glenumbra. It's one of the Striking Locales.

I'm actually there right now. And the botter with his 5 characters is STILL running the exact same circuit. I can't imagine how many hours a day this guy is here, but it seems whenever I happen by he's here farming away.

GLP323b14_ESO · February 2019

So yeah, I decided to start killing the zombies he's farming in advance to his group getting to them.

They run right to the spot where the zombies should have spawned. They pause and move on.

I was able to pull one of the group of 5 off by dragging over a zombie they don't typically go after. While 4 in the group left, the one got distracted on the zombie I pulled over. After he finally killed that zombie, he proceeded to run to the spot the other zombies ought to have been, but the other 4 had already killed. He paused there, then went to the next predefined spot, he eventually caught back up with the other 4.

Definitely on a predefined path, and automated to look for zombies in specific spots.

If anyone is on PC/NA go over there and turn in a report. Of the four separate times I've been there, the guy has been farming.

Elsonso · February 2019

GLP323b14_ESO wrote: »

I was able to pull one of the group of 5 off by dragging over a zombie they don't typically go after. While 4 in the group left, the one got distracted on the zombie I pulled over. After he finally killed that zombie, he proceeded to run to the spot the other zombies ought to have been, but the other 4 had already killed. He paused there, then went to the next predefined spot, he eventually caught back up with the other 4

If you watch bots long enough, you notice that the botters have put a lot of work into the scripts that run the bots so that they sync up with each other. A single bot will often get killed by mobs, since they are basically mindless, but if they can catch up with the pack, they will be OK. When they die, the script gets them back to the path from the wayshrine they resurrect at and they try again. One time, I watched one bot die over and over, practically right at the wayshrine, until the pack caught up with him. Quality entertainment.

Elsonso · February 2019

BWS2K wrote: »

It's Sunday, so don't expect much today, but I just submitted a ticket and an accompanying video. Let's give it a test, shall we? I'm more than happy to have been proven wrong in my opinion. Subject is in Bal Foyen on the beach in PC/NA. Super obvious. Ask the zone regulars and they'll point him out. Go there, report him, and we'll see how long he lasts

Anyone seen him recently?

@BWS2K ... I think this guy is gone, now. Whether he saw himself in your video, got bored, or talked to/banned by ZOS, I have no idea. It has been a couple days since I saw him.

ZOS_JesC · February 2019

Greetings, we've removed a few comments that contained player names. As outlined in our forum rules, identifying players and stating they are bots/cheaters/harassers publicly on the forums is not permitted. This rule is in place to protect players who are being falsely accused and to prevent both in game and forum harassment. While we understand it can be frustrating to not receive an update regarding a report you submitted, please understand that we do not discuss any disciplinary action that has been taken regarding another players account. This is for their privacy and yours.

BWS2K · February 2019

ZOS_JesC wrote: »

Greetings, we've removed a few comments that contained player names. As outlined in our forum rules, identifying players and stating they are bots/cheaters/harassers publicly on the forums is not permitted. This rule is in place to protect players who are being falsely accused and to prevent both in game and forum harassment. While we understand it can be frustrating to not receive an update regarding a report you submitted, please understand that we do not discuss any disciplinary action that has been taken regarding another players account. This is for their privacy and yours.

*sigh*
Love ya'll... but this helps no one. :shrug:

BWS2K · February 2019

lordrichter wrote: »

BWS2K wrote: »

It's Sunday, so don't expect much today, but I just submitted a ticket and an accompanying video. Let's give it a test, shall we? I'm more than happy to have been proven wrong in my opinion. Subject is in Bal Foyen on the beach in PC/NA. Super obvious. Ask the zone regulars and they'll point him out. Go there, report him, and we'll see how long he lasts

Anyone seen him recently?

@BWS2K ... I think this guy is gone, now. Whether he saw himself in your video, got bored, or talked to/banned by ZOS, I have no idea. It has been a couple days since I saw him.

I agree. Can't play much for a few months because of surgery but it seems like he lasted a day or two past my video.

notimetocare · February 2019

Should they? Yea, it would be nice
Will they? No, in the long run it isn't really worth it. No central AH limits impact. And if you have played any other mmorpgs, no Matter what they do it will never stop. Even WoW, a much bigger game with more resources, cant stop it

VaranisArano · February 2019

Eventually, yes.

I've seen several times where sustained player action - players reporting bots multiple times over time - where those bots were removed.

And then a week later, new bots were back in those spots.

I suspect that while ZOS could devote time and effort to patrolling known bot spots and removing them as they appear, from their perspective its a little like trying to hold back the tide.

So reporting is efficacious, if neither as immediate nor as long-lasting as we might like.

Nebthet78 · February 2019

Zos has a tendency to remove for forum threads that have actual good conversation that point out major issues, than they do anything in game to remove botters.

danno8 · February 2019

If you assume they never do, then it would be logical that the game would be packed with thousands and thousands and thousands of bots at this point.

It is obvious they do, but it is also obvious that bots find their way back. It is an ever-going contest with no end. The best any game can do is mitigate it to tolerable levels, which feel different depending on the player.

russelmmendoza · February 2019

Will never no because they dont discuss it.

Anyone ever receive a reply to their report about botting activity.

Like just to inform you they deleted that bot from the face of existence.

Elsonso · February 2019

russelmmendoza wrote: »

Will never no because they dont discuss it.

Anyone ever receive a reply to their report about botting activity.

Like just to inform you they deleted that bot from the face of existence.

No, they won't be sending that sort of reply. The bots disappear. Why, is anyone's guess, but does the reason matter?

rickard_karstarck · February 2019

As others have stated, of course they are constantly banning bots, otherwise the game world would be full of them just like at release, and they'd have 2000+ cp....

ZOS will not provide you with any details, because that would just give the botters the same information and allow them to evade bans.

If you see bots use the add-ons to report them so you generate good reports that contain actual proof and go on with your life.

If you're still concerned, keep reporting them with the add-ons so you have their EXACT name, verify that actual character doesn't disappear after weeks of reporting, and then put on your tinfoil hat and read up on other conspiracies since there's no helping you.

ookami007 · February 2019

Greetings, we've removed a few comments that contained player names. As outlined in our forum rules, identifying players and stating they are bots/cheaters/harassers publicly on the forums is not permitted. This rule is in place to protect players who are being falsely accused and to prevent both in game and forum harassment. While we understand it can be frustrating to not receive an update regarding a report you submitted, please understand that we do not discuss any disciplinary action that has been taken regarding another players account. This is for their privacy and yours.

This is your answers. They care WAY, WAY more about their forum policies than their game. Simple.

You bot... no worries. You break a forum rule... KILL ... KILL... DIE... DIE! We delete all your posts!

BRICKnoble · February 2019

Most of these bots are gold resellers. Its a professional farm set up to create new bots as the old ones get banned. If we were dealing with lazy players that didnt want to farm mats it would be handled by now but this is a buisness for someone so programming another bot is their job. On ps4 the bots all have the same jibberish psns and nonsense names. lvl 3 naked toons with unstable familliars lol

burglar · February 2019

rickard_karstarck wrote: »

As others have stated, of course they are constantly banning bots, otherwise the game world would be full of them just like at release, and they'd have 2000+ cp....

ZOS will not provide you with any details, because that would just give the botters the same information and allow them to evade bans.

If you see bots use the add-ons to report them so you generate good reports that contain actual proof and go on with your life.

If you're still concerned, keep reporting them with the add-ons so you have their EXACT name, verify that actual character doesn't disappear after weeks of reporting, and then put on your tinfoil hat and read up on other conspiracies since there's no helping you.

This times a million.

If any of you want to trigger some of the anti-cheating software they have in place repeatedly run the same sequence of button presses as close to a regular interval as you can - pretend to be a computer. In about 1-2 min of gaining any xp/gold you will be booted from the game.

That guy with 5 similar looking characters could just be a dude running 5 clients at once - people really do this. If they were botting, it'd have to be pretty sophisticated I would think, like integrating AI and whatnot. For consoles, proving that someone is botting is harder because it usually involves modifying hardware which tends to leave the burden of proof on some external factor like the console manufacturer rather than ZOS. Console mfgs do it too, Sony has banned people from PSN for detected lag switching amongst other things.

BWS2K · February 2019

rickard_karstarck wrote: »

As others have stated, of course they are constantly banning bots, otherwise the game world would be full of them just like at release...

I just want to point out, again, that there's absolutely zero proof that bots are being banned. We only know they disappear sometimes (within hours and days and weeks... etc.). It's worth a lot of money to botters to not get caught and keep switching things up. It is entirely possible they're ditching the character/account. ZOS doesn't discuss responses to reports at all. We cannot assume our reports result in bans.

That said, it's apparently best to just report and move on. I posted a video here with nameplates off and had the post deleted. It contained no more identifying information than what is contained in other posts. My video was submitted with my ticket and viewed twice... one of which was mine. *shrug*

Very frustrating. Doing nothing accomplishes nothing, but doing something might - that's the best that can be said.

GLP323b14_ESO · February 2019

I know right.

They're botters. So we can't expose people who are clearly botting?

Yeah, I can see not wanting to falsely accuse anyone of wrongdoing, BUT when the evidence is so clear, it's pretty much a certainty that we're not falsely accusing these people. If the one's I reported aren't in fact using automation to farm hours on end, I'll eat my Morrowind Collectors Edition box.

It would be nice if ZOS would give us some metrics on how many botting accounts have been banned on a monthly or quarterly basis, if they aren't going to explicitly thank the people via a reply to them, that the "players" we reported were in fact botters, and so "keep up the good work".

joseayalac · February 2019

@ZOS_JesC so do botters get banned or not?

BWS2K · February 2019

joseayalac wrote: »

@ZOS_JesC so do botters get banned or not?

It's official ZOS policy to never discuss disciplinary actions so I doubt you'll get a response. Botting is against the Terms of Service and infractions of that can result in lots of things, up to and including a ban.

Elsonso · February 2019

GLP323b14_ESO wrote: »

Yeah, I can see not wanting to falsely accuse anyone of wrongdoing, BUT when the evidence is so clear, it's pretty much a certainty that we're not falsely accusing these people. If the one's I reported aren't in fact using automation to farm hours on end, I'll eat my Morrowind Collectors Edition box.

It would be nice if ZOS would give us some metrics on how many botting accounts have been banned on a monthly or quarterly basis, if they aren't going to explicitly thank the people via a reply to them, that the "players" we reported were in fact botters, and so "keep up the good work".

The thing is that we might think they are bots, but we might be mistaken. I think I am very good at detecting bots, but I have no independent assessment that says that I have always been right. No matter how certain I am that I am right, I could be wrong.

I would definitely welcome feedback from ZOS, even privately, that my reports are effective. I don't even know if what I am reporting is OK. Am I reporting too much? Too little? Do they need just a name? Maybe they don't even read the text that goes with it because they have the name. How much location data do they need? The report is sent with hidden location data, so do they need more? Do they need the whole story of why I think it is a bot? Can I just give the account name and recite a limerick? I have no idea.

As for "metrics" on the number of bots banned... I don't think I need numbers. Actually, I probably don't want to know how many.

Girl_Number8 · February 2019

Yes Zos does take care of bots. I have seen it but they have many things to deal with like keeping the game going.