The farming bots are griefing the hell out of every legit player...

Loxy37 · May 2014

radiostar wrote: »

The ones I noticed and reported yesterday seemed to leave the Rune boxes and Treasure Chests alone, but speed/invisiport directly to ore and plant nodes. I try to screenshot some but they move too fast or disappear.

I'm not 100% sure but I think what they do is refine ore and stuff for the tempers and sell the ore to a vendor for 400g a stack. Enchanting rune have a zero sell value to a vendor if I'm not mistaken and I don't think I have seen any spam mail or Zchat which sell runes for Cash, apart from maybe Kuta.

Perhaps a solution would be to lower the resell value to about 50g per stack but again, its hurting the legit player.

You think that on average, I will get a couple of purple tempers and 1 legendary from a stack of ore with my BS maxed, so that's about 5$ to them. They then sell the ore to the vendor for 400g. Rinse and repeat this 24/7 and they are making 100s of dollars per bot, per day! So buying a new game and sub is nothing to them if 1 or 2 get banned. I've said many times that Zenimax shot themselves in the foot with poor game design decisions. Only way now to fix it is to recode several parts of the game which will not go down with the player base but something needs to be done and fast as soon all will be left are the bots and then FTP will be the next thing for ESO.

Teevesnacks · May 2014

I am in such grief but somehow I made it to VR4

Atticmonkey · May 2014

I noticed a bot train of about 8 to 10 Sorc's running around all with their Clannfears out. Talk about not being able to hit a quest mob. And yes, I have had nodes vanish right in front of my very eyes. Bend down to pick it and....POOF...Heeeey?!? I also have seen many times underground speed bots running to and fro. Most of the time im sure they are un- noticeable, but every once in awhile you will see a head zoom across the landscape and disappear again. I've reported my fair share just like the next guy, but after awhile you feel like you arent doing any good because you still see them everywhere. Its like this game has AIDS and Zeni is frantically searching for a cure. Hope they do.

Reykice · May 2014

Srugzal wrote: »

alexandru987eb17_ESO wrote: »

I could make screen shots or record it but they have this thing where they remove them for naming and shaming... apparently shaming a bot, a script... is not allowed.

@alexandru987eb17_ESO, make screen shots and video captures and send them to CS. They will not object if it's in the context of a report. I've been doing this since day one and I've got nothing but thanks from CS for my efforts.

I have the reporting addon... i`ll add that its sad when players have to make and use a reporting addon so often. They will never manually remove the bots, as they make new characters or accounts faster than they are banned...

They need an automated system to ban them on teleporting without the "teleport buff" (a buff they then make you get when you activate teleport to player/wayshrine etc), on moving faster without the proper buffs and so on...

They also need to ban people for being in cold harbor below level 20... and not allow "teleport to player" to work for areas 5 levels or more above the player level....

As it was said, an anti cheating system and a system that verifies for changed game files is needed....

Dodece · May 2014

aufischb16_ESO wrote: »

Dodece wrote: »

I suspect this is a story of a self inflicted wound. I can't help, but notice a lot of the bellyaching is coming from players who report having a significant number of high level avatars to their credit. Something that is usually accomplished by farming bosses. Chances are many of you were mistakenly reported as being bots yourselves. By other users who reported you as you farmed a boss.

I honestly don't expect anyone to acknowledge that this was exactly what they were doing two or three weeks ago, and frankly I wouldn't believe you if claimed yourself innocent of the charges. The reality is most people I talk to in game are not seeing bots anymore, and I know more then a few who are rolling alts. No they just aren't seeing them, but it is the same people on these forums. Griping non stop about them. This should be something of a hint.

You know that the problem really is just your problem. I personally haven't seen a bot in going on three weeks now, and I do return to the starter regions. I like the peace, and I like to help out low level players. I am sorry from my point of view this bot menace is pure fiction.

I am sorry, but I never ever farmed a single boss. I have also (to my best knowledge) never ever been reported by anyone. Additionally I have also never bought any in-game money or merchandise from a low-life bot or even another player.
I have not much money left with my V1 DK and my Level 35 sorc either (around 19'000 in the bank), and currently can't affort to respec my V1 because of that.

I can't believe you are coming to this forum, accusing all the people who do see the many bots on a regular basis (and report them whenever they can!) as being botters or farmers themselves, and then persist on not believing anyone who says otherwise. I would call this trolling, nothing else.

If you do not see many bots then that is because you where lucky that you got placed in a phase where they are not as visible, nothing else. It absolutely certainly doesn't make you a better person than the people who see the bots (honestly, who do you think you are?).

...edit for typos...

Welcome to the internet a magical place free of any accountability. Where you can lie to people without ever looking them in the eye, and if you for whatever reason actually get caught lying. No worries just change your screen name. It is a sad reality that even the most belligerent of cheaters will claim they are as pure as newborn babes.

Right up until the point where somebody produces evidence. That the crime for which they are accused took place, and even then not necessarily. Sometimes they just change their lie. No real consequences just means you might as well push things even further. Confessing may be good for the soul, but how often do your really see people online fess up to misbehaving.

I am personally not accusing anyone, and I am not responsible for anyone who is suffering from a guilty conscience. I am sorry but your personal assurances aren't proof of your innocence, and I am not going to give you the benefit of the doubt. To put it succinctly I advised people against wasting the time and effort of proclaiming their innocence.

Chirru · May 2014

Dodece wrote: »

This is purely educated speculation on my part. I am not claiming any kind of special knowledge, or that I am in a position to possess such knowledge. I think the development team is more clever then we have given the credit for. I think they have done the most reasonable thing possible given their resources, and the scope of the problem. They couldn't possibly perform due diligence on all of the bots being reported.

What they could do however is create a list of accused cheaters, and segregate them away from the general public. Effectively putting them out of sight, and thus out of mind. I suspect if enough reports are made against an account. That account gets altered so as to only be phased with other such altered accounts. Surreptitiously hiding the cheaters away from the community at large. While still letting the cheaters think they are part of the real community.

Remember that bots work in one of two ways. The first is they gather up large amounts of in game merchandise, and the second is they block access by the honest gaming community. Forcing them to make use of their services. Putting them in a room by themselves prevents them from harassing other players, and it leaves them advertising to themselves.

I suspect this is a story of a self inflicted wound. I can't help, but notice a lot of the bellyaching is coming from players who report having a significant number of high level avatars to their credit. Something that is usually accomplished by farming bosses. Chances are many of you were mistakenly reported as being bots yourselves. By other users who reported you as you farmed a boss.

I honestly don't expect anyone to acknowledge that this was exactly what they were doing two or three weeks ago, and frankly I wouldn't believe you if claimed yourself innocent of the charges. The reality is most people I talk to in game are not seeing bots anymore, and I know more then a few who are rolling alts. No they just aren't seeing them, but it is the same people on these forums. Griping non stop about them. This should be something of a hint.

You know that the problem really is just your problem. I personally haven't seen a bot in going on three weeks now, and I do return to the starter regions. I like the peace, and I like to help out low level players. I am sorry from my point of view this bot menace is pure fiction.

you lost it somewhere... that is all i can say.
either you are a Troll or you are one of the Cheaters.

GreySix · May 2014

epoling wrote: »

I guess mileage varies by player. I have yet to have a harvesting node stolen from me. Of course, I am picky and only harvest what that character can use, inventory being what it is. So your blanket statement of "every legit player" is inaccurate.

Over the course of playing the game, can recall about five times where I ran up to a node, only to see it vanish as I reached for it.

Never thought about underground bots though, assuming it was just a glitch.

KerinKor · May 2014

epoling wrote: »

Not imitating an ostrich. The OP's hyerbole is that it is negatively affecting every legit players. Not affecting me, my wife or people I am usually playing with. Therefore, It is not EVERY legit player. Whether none of us are experiencing it, seeing it or whatever, it is not "griefing the hell" out of us.

So none of you are harvesting in order to craft, have killed a boss and had no loot, had to wait for quest mobs to respawn, been undercut on items sales, etc. all likely due to the bot infestation everywhere. Nor will you no loner get a quest reward you once would have due to RMT abuse.

Okay, I accept it, none of you are the leastwise impacted and are perfectly happy to ignore it when it does .. my avian reference still seems appropriate, but whatever.

GreySix · May 2014

Then perhaps the answer is to instance the entire game, allowing grouping to two players max (except for world bosses).

Of course we'd need a much bigger server for that ... but an instanced world would absolutely benefit solo-only players ... and bots would be SOL - just ban them within their instances.

Loxy37 · May 2014

I was in Den of Depravity today in coldharbour when we got a message on screen (EU), think it was server wide. It said that for the next 15 minutes GMsomething was banning accounts of bots and to report them via whisper. There were loads in that public instance, all level 3 not VR3 and in soul shriven garb, teleporting, handing in the quest and somehow avoiding all the mobs like they were invisible. I tried to report them to the GM but I couldn't even get it to send the message. Its so frustrating!

Last time I was in coldharbour with my previous character, it wasn't this bad but this time, the second I entered the Hollow City, I seen flying bots, yes Flying! They fly in and out of Hollow city like planes out of Heathrow airport! I mean WTH do we need to report to a Sole GM for? Just go to the hollow city and use your ban hammer!

The GM must have the same powers If not more to port around just like what the bots are using so why don't they take a day out and port around banning bots? Even if they are too valuable a resource to waste on something so trivial then why not employ a few people with the sole job of banning bots? I really at this point think that Zenimax drastically underestimate the problem or they are hatching a master plan, these token bannings don't do anything, I mean 15 minutes, what did you ban, 4 bots, 5?

Lauranae · May 2014

Started an alt one day ago, Dagerfall alliance, and i decided to count each time a node vanished upon me : 298 times from start until i finished Glenumbra.

No one around, or that i could see, i select the node or rune or any material to farm and nothing.... my pack stay empty of the materials i saw.

Mainly the Aspect runes, plants, jute, cotton and such.

I decided to see if i could get an other instance and have the mats i wanted. So if an area had too much vanishing i was out, and back in game again: each time i was able to have a fair amount of materials quietly, until i reach an area bots quests/dungeons and then it was starting again.

Only for Glenumbra i reported a lot of bots running in circle near quests objectifs, giving group names, zone, hours and exact coords, but 24 hours later they are still there, same name, same place.
They will outlevel the area and leave and then i will have to report the same again and again .... in others areas.
I am not sur now that i want to level ...

I am really starting to doubt that ZOS will get rid of those no matter what we do to help about

theshark666 · May 2014

i took a buzz around stonefield on my vet4 character just for laughs and in one area within maybe a total of 50 paces i counted no less then 18 bots all on jute and 4 others running around in a loop killing mobs that could affect the ones farming jute.
and standing at one respawn node i could see in view 3 other nodes with no less then 2 to 3 bots on them...... zenimax needs to toss more gamemasters into these lower zones.
and yes guys btw you may not see them but there are gm's around on occasion invisible .... i few weeks back i found a major spawn point for bots in coldharbour where they were spawning faster then you could count and keep up. A GM did happen to be watching chat when i called it out.. ended up with 4 GM's answering and coming out to ban the bots as they spawned at two locations.

So i think its time to put a mass pinch on bots.

I found 2 bots in balfoyen on an alt running in the basin where the wayshrine is. i disabled auto loot and stood at a jute spawn as the bots made thier path around various nodes farming. i clicked the jute but did not loot it this locked up the node and the bots got to that gather point they took a couple steps away and turned direct back to node freezing in place a bit later they vanished, logged out or booted for being inactive i do not know but they did not show back up for a good 10 minutes. i have found this works on other gathering area on bots also.
if we did this with gms around they would be sitting ducks for ban hammer. maybe just maybe if GMs reply ( they know how to contact many of us ingame ) we can organize a bot banning party by locking them up in place so gms can ban them

Worstluck · May 2014

At times, it feels like there are more bots than actual players around you, which is very eerie. I was playing last night around 11pm PST on my level 28 alt, just questing, and I saw them in the dungeons, quest areas, resource harvesting. The only way I can tell anymore if they are real players playing during this time is if they are on a mount of they have a title/pvp rank. It's pretty disgusting.

Origin · May 2014

theshark666 wrote: »

i clicked the jute but did not loot it this locked up the node and the bots got to that gather point they took a couple steps away and turned direct back to node freezing in place a bit later they vanished, logged out or booted for being inactive i do not know but they did not show back up for a good 10 minutes. i have found this works on other gathering area on bots also.
if we did this with gms around they would be sitting ducks for ban hammer. maybe just maybe if GMs reply ( they know how to contact many of us ingame ) we can organize a bot banning party by locking them up in place so gms can ban them

This would be fun

karstenb16_ESO7 · May 2014

The only real solution to this problem is getting rid of the players that buy gold. The professional botters will leave once their source of income vanishes. That leaves cheaters who use bots. Those can be easily reported and banned.

ZOS, put an effort into identifying the gold buyers and you'll solve this problem.

Edit: spelling

thegamekittenub17_ESO · May 2014

karstenb16_ESO7 wrote: »

The only real solution to this problem is getting rid of the players that buy gold. The professional botters will leave once their source of income vanishes. That leaves cheaters who use bots. Those can be easily reported and banned.

ZOS, put an effort into identifying the gold buyers and you'll solve this problem.

Edit: spelling

I have said the same over and over. It seems a lot of players are buying gold from the sheer herds of gold sellers bots that are within the game.

Part of the issue is because this game it prime for them to make a profit. The gold sinks and what little amount of gold that is achieved has a HUGE space between the two.

They made everything too high in the game and rewarded too low. This is the worst system I've ever played in an MMO (I've played many but never run across this system). So, Zenimax basically put out the welcome mat for gold sellers.

Banning or punishing gold buyers will hurt Zeni's wallet a little, but maybe not as much as their wallet is hurting now.

aufischb16_ESO · May 2014

Dodece wrote: »

aufischb16_ESO wrote: »

Dodece wrote: »

I suspect this is a story of a self inflicted wound. I can't help, but notice a lot of the bellyaching is coming from players who report having a significant number of high level avatars to their credit. Something that is usually accomplished by farming bosses. Chances are many of you were mistakenly reported as being bots yourselves. By other users who reported you as you farmed a boss.

I honestly don't expect anyone to acknowledge that this was exactly what they were doing two or three weeks ago, and frankly I wouldn't believe you if claimed yourself innocent of the charges. The reality is most people I talk to in game are not seeing bots anymore, and I know more then a few who are rolling alts. No they just aren't seeing them, but it is the same people on these forums. Griping non stop about them. This should be something of a hint.

You know that the problem really is just your problem. I personally haven't seen a bot in going on three weeks now, and I do return to the starter regions. I like the peace, and I like to help out low level players. I am sorry from my point of view this bot menace is pure fiction.

I am sorry, but I never ever farmed a single boss. I have also (to my best knowledge) never ever been reported by anyone. Additionally I have also never bought any in-game money or merchandise from a low-life bot or even another player.
I have not much money left with my V1 DK and my Level 35 sorc either (around 19'000 in the bank), and currently can't affort to respec my V1 because of that.

I can't believe you are coming to this forum, accusing all the people who do see the many bots on a regular basis (and report them whenever they can!) as being botters or farmers themselves, and then persist on not believing anyone who says otherwise. I would call this trolling, nothing else.

If you do not see many bots then that is because you where lucky that you got placed in a phase where they are not as visible, nothing else. It absolutely certainly doesn't make you a better person than the people who see the bots (honestly, who do you think you are?).

...edit for typos...

Welcome to the internet a magical place free of any accountability. Where you can lie to people without ever looking them in the eye, and if you for whatever reason actually get caught lying. No worries just change your screen name. It is a sad reality that even the most belligerent of cheaters will claim they are as pure as newborn babes.

Right up until the point where somebody produces evidence. That the crime for which they are accused took place, and even then not necessarily. Sometimes they just change their lie. No real consequences just means you might as well push things even further. Confessing may be good for the soul, but how often do your really see people online fess up to misbehaving.

I am personally not accusing anyone, and I am not responsible for anyone who is suffering from a guilty conscience. I am sorry but your personal assurances aren't proof of your innocence, and I am not going to give you the benefit of the doubt. To put it succinctly I advised people against wasting the time and effort of proclaiming their innocence.

You are aware that does apply as much for you as it does (according to you) for me? There is as much proof of you not seeing any bots as there is for me botting. I for myself prefer not to always think the worst of people.

I don't care wether you believe me and all the other affected players or not, and I certainly don't need your appoval to have a clean conscience. "Suggesting" ( which of course is sooo different of accusing) on an MMO-forum that bots can only be seen by people who cheat is trolling, nothing else. Gosh, have you even the slightes clue how long botting in MMO's has been a problem and how many millions of non-cheating players were and still are negatively affected by it?

Jim_McMasterub17_ESO · May 2014

Utterly agree @Chirru.

Granite · May 2014

YourNameHere wrote: »

First, if bots ruin your entire game, that is just .... sad. There are a TON of things to do in this game. Because they are in EVERY game in some degree. You'll never be able to play MMOs again with such an attitude (and I've played since EverQuest came out).

First, if thieves ruin your entire life, that is just .... sad. There are a TON of things to do in this life. Because they are in EVERY country in some degree. You'll never be able to live your lifes again with such an attitude.

What if cop would tell you this after thief stole your car and also the cop would say something like "So the thief stole your car, get over it. You have plenty of other options to choose from. Use your bicycle to get to the work or walk. No big deal."

Cheaters, exploiters, criminals (and thats what they all are) are punished for a reason.

And no its not a different thing. Doing something that hurts other ppl is doing something that hurts other ppl and that is childish.

And guess what. These childish ppl (according to you) with childish "fix bots now or I unsub" -threads will unsub their childish accounts and that means that this oh so mature company wont get their childish money.

And how is this not game breaking when it is affecting economy, crafting, lag, dungeon quests, open world quests and game experience overal. I played 4 hours this morning and reported more than 30 bots because I feel like its my duty to help zenimax to make this game better but if they wont make the effort to remove these cheaters from the game... guess what. This childish customer will leave with his childish money.

And one more puzzle to you: Am I angry?

Tip: Yes I am.

PF1901 · May 2014

Just was outside Glenumbra and it's a sad sight really. Practically no more resources for real players. And you can't but stand there and watch (well, and report). FFA server would be nice in such cases. It just hurts the game in the end.

Thalmar · May 2014

Today made an alt in Bleakrock, just where the wayshrine is there are like 20 bots making circles, some of them stucked behind rocks jumping, with names without vowels, spent like 30 minutes reporting them and at the end i gave up. There were not a single nod that i can get and enjoy game with doing my professions. I am not a type of end-game player, i like making alts and relax on low level zones. But it is obvious developers are busy with rushing new content for end-game consumers after only 1 month from release and ignore bot problem. Let's hope bots gives more money than the people who will leave because of this bot problem for the sake of game.

Savinder · May 2014

karstenb16_ESO7 wrote: »

The only real solution to this problem is getting rid of the players that buy gold. The professional botters will leave once their source of income vanishes. That leaves cheaters who use bots. Those can be easily reported and banned.

ZOS, put an effort into identifying the gold buyers and you'll solve this problem.

While that is a partial solution, it's better if ZOS focuses on stopping the bots, because some of the exploits and whatever other security holes the game has that the bots use, can allow players to pull the same tricks (tunnelling, no-clipping, flying) in the PvP aspect.
This game has no checks in place to prevent this, and while hitting the gold buyers hard enough might prevent most of the bots from continuing to operate in this game, it doesn't change that the game has massive holes that can be exploited by cheaters if they really want to.

chokesonastraweb17_ESO · May 2014

I personally have seen many bots in just a few hours of gameplay, every day I log in my inbox has 2-15 mails from goldspammer bots and when I go out to get some crafting mats I keep getting cockblocked by teleport bots more than half of the time in veteran 1 area even. In coldharbour it was literally impossible to find crafting materials until you had juggled through shards with /camp several times and hit one with less bots roaming it. And the annoying part is that bots now can fight aggressive mobs too, they turn around and spam 1 or 2 skills, and then harvest node and teleport out.

This all has made me seriously reconsider continuing my subscription in next month. No matter how much I enjoy playing with my friends the irritation of bots combined with plethora of never issued bugs, *** werewolf treatment and utterly ridiculous veteran grind has made this game more irritating experience than enjoyable one. I do not play games to be irritated and stressed, I play them to relax after hard workday and just get mind off from work. I don't need another career as bot reporter and NPC punching bag.

As much as I wanted to enjoy this game and as big of a Elder Scrolls fan as I am there is just too much *** to wade through at this time to keep my experience on the positive side.

PF1901 · May 2014

Thalmar wrote: »

...There were not a single nod that i can get and enjoy game with doing my professions...

Because of this I'm not even thinking about making an alt anymore. One can imagine what the current situation means with someone starting with this game at the time being - you're basically done for. There are literally almost no resources or very minimal ones left to gather in some of the areas beginners are staying in. My opinion is that this problem should be given a very high priority. I'm fine with bugs and whatnot but these <self censorship> need to go or at least be drastically curtailed - fast.

Solistis · May 2014

I have seen the bots also - please fix this crap so I can level up enchanting? haven't seen a potency rune for 3 levels - what a bunch of crap!

BeerWolf · May 2014

They should make Mats vendor for 0 gold. This would effectively kill off botters vendoring said Mats purely for Gold.

Currently, every mat vendors for 400 per stack...

Do this, and it would EFFECTIVELY kill botters farming nodes. Sure, there'd probably be some trying to sell the Mats directly to players after - but this would be a much slower process of them acquiring gold overall, so they'd seek out other forms of easy gold.

Let players determine the cost of Mats, supply and demand - what people are willing to pay for them there after.

Eorea · May 2014

Oh, is this new breed of bot what that was when I saw some lady fall from the sky out of nowhere in Glenumbra and then disappear into the ground? Fortunately, I got the flower and they did not.

Reykice · May 2014

Making mats vendor for 0 gold would also hit players... they should just fix the holes allowing hackers to take advantage and by doing this they will also eliminate cheating... right now anyone can pretty much get a cheat like the bots use and unless he is reported and then a GM manages to actually see him cheat there is no way for ZENIMAX to know he is cheating....

MMO`s have had this handled for a while now that`s why you don`t see this kind of thing in other MMO`s. GM`s will never be enough... they have been using GM`s for a while now and there are even more bots...

This game will die if the first thing a new player notices are bots flying and stealing nodes... i think its a priority for ZENIMAX too but since they need to change the core mechanics i doubt they can do anything about it anytime soon.

Knovah · May 2014

I am a big supporter of eso. I understand bugs and glitches and even bots....

But...

I have said this many times in many threads. I will stop when I am not having fun. I am not having fun these bots have ruined it for me....I am sad to say I cancelled...not for good I hope...just till some of the bots are under control .

I love this game .I love everything about the game but the bots are to many and I can't even gather crafting mats with out the grief or just even some quests I find bots over running the area.

I know zos is trying and I know they will fix it at some point but I want to enjoy my gametime now not frustrated while waiting. I will be back when they fix it...I do love the game...

Happy Hunting

Ohh and I am not being a hater on the game but I am not going to waste my time being frustrated...I play these games to relax and enjoy my time, if I am not getting what I need now I will go elsewhere and check back at periodic times and at such time I can enjoy my time again I will return

But yeah the bots got me too ....

Jarrax68 · May 2014

Thought I'd make a tank today... Bleakrock... oh dear. 7 levels later, all quests completed, I had gathered a massive 28 iron ore, not near enough for a set.... the sheer number of bots doing loops, running at warp speed underground was staggering.
Next zone off the boat, the first 4 or 5 moving characters I see... yup bots.. and more bots, starved plain is chockfull of bots, why a GM doesn't just sit there for 5mins I don't know.

Not funny guys, not going to help retain anyone just starting the game is it?

If you cant get rid of them, maybe remove the nodes entirely in starter areas and give low level players full sets of (0gp resell) armour/weapons etc to get started. or jam them on insta spawn with 0gp resell at merchants, I dunno, something needs to be done and fast.