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Bots are now masking themselves? Report no longer accessible
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ViciousMink✭✭Really thinking we're seeing one of two things at play:- ZOS is overwhelmed, and the bots are simply out of control for the foreseeable future
- ZOS is fully aware, and they're preparing a "nuclear option" to annihilate as many bot accounts as possible in the near future
One can hope. ZOS has GOT to see how badly this is affecting the game and the players and that it's driving people away. It's clearly a huge problem. (Ironically, the goldscammers don't give a crap if they kill the game.) I'm concerned that a nuclear option will catch innocent players, but... at this point, it might be best to drop da bomb and clean up afterwards.1 -
GreySix✭✭✭✭✭
✭Its only a matter of time before the bots find a way to hack themselves to Level 50 with uber-gear, though I suspect we'll see from them the same mechanical movements we see now.Crotchety Old Man Guild
"Hey you, get off my lawn!"0 -
Westcoast14_ESO✭✭✭yes, they are using something which makes it exceedingly hard to detect them, even if they are standing still and you are next to them. It can be done, i think they are making the targeting space very very small and you have to find the exact point with your mouse
the great news that i take from this is that reporting is WORKING
I had an experience with a character that was NOT a bot doing something similar. It was difficult to manually target them, but they were clearly visible.
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ViciousMink✭✭I'm dubious that they've found a way to 'mask' themselves like this. Then again, considering that they're speedhacking in an MMO which I thought was something only done in things like Counterstrike and Battlefield 2142, I'm half expecting them to become evil Neos in the Matrix, and for one of them to come up to me and say 'i know kung fu' and kick me from Stonefalls to Coldharbour.
ETA: Well, now, it looks like other people are reporting this, too. I guess its only a matter of time before I log in and I see an army of bots. "Sweetrolls need love like everything does."+++athNO CARRIEREdited by ViciousMink on May 15, 2014 3:42PM3 -
GreySix✭✭✭✭✭
✭ViciousMink wrote: »I'm dubious that they've found a way to 'mask' themselves like this. Then again, considering that they're speedhacking in an MMO which I thought was something only done in things like Counterstrike and Battlefield 2142, I'm half expecting them to become evil Neos in the Matrix, and for one of them to come up to me and say 'i know kung fu' and kick me from Stonefalls to Coldharbour.
There is no spoon.Crotchety Old Man Guild
"Hey you, get off my lawn!"2 -
wrlifeboil✭✭✭✭✭TheGrandAlliance wrote: »|
Lol, manual handling is the most ineffective way of solving this problem, practically useless.
It is profitable though. Assuming a bot account costs 50USD... if a GM were to ban 2-3 accounts/day they would pay for their salary.
Asssuming nothing gets refunded (as some on forums claim; without proof) of course...
Even if they only ban 5 botters at a time, a $200 hit ($40 retail price) would add up fast. It does make me wonder if the bots are being cloned.0 -
Milanna✭✭✭Bots are flying by above my head, going through bridges, running underground with only the top of their heads showing. It´s crazy.
Immersion? That doesn´t really exist anymore.
I am sorry to say, but as much as I love this game, playing it in hackers paradise is not an option. It ruins my gameplay completly.
EU-server
Mila the True (Aldmeri Dominion)
Milanna the Cold-hearted (Aldmeri Dominion)
Raphael the Cunning (Ebonheart Pact)
NA-server
Cassius Tanicius (Daggerfall Covenant)
I just found garlic, you blood-suckers better stay clear6 -
Lonestryder✭✭✭Bots are flying by above my head, going through bridges, running underground with only the top of their heads showing. It´s crazy.
Immersion? That doesn´t really exist anymore.
I am sorry to say, but as much as I love this game, playing it in hackers paradise is not an option. It ruins my gameplay completly.
I have to agree with this. I booted up Skyrim yesterday for the first time since early access here, and it was...relieving.
I actually alter my game sessions based on the bot problem now and what's worse is that, in the starting islands anyway, harvest nodes are non-existent at times from all the node stealing bots, causing me to take a hiatus from gathering and crafting.
We need a dramatic and decisive stance on this before it begins to affect players less tolerant than I am regarding this issue.Edited by Lonestryder on May 15, 2014 4:16PM3 -
Diakos✭gamebouncerb16_ESO wrote: »Wow, this is insane how diabolical these drones are becoming
Yet, they can't even think of a good name for their bots?
Actually I came across several bots with Capital letter in front, pronouncable names overall and even last names.
Some have even begun playing classes besides 2h Templar.
So beware the stealthy bots as well as the obvious.1 -
Worstluck✭✭✭✭✭I've seen some bots where I could not identify them with the reticle unless I got right on top of them and looked down. Not sure if this is just a game bug, but more than likely they have found a way to manipulate those game files.Worstluck - Breton Nightblade "Some of us refused to bow. We knew the old ways would lead us back to having a kingdom of our own."
―Madanach
Elfluck - Dunmer Dragonknight "When I will walk the earth again, the Faithful among you shall receive your reward: to be set above all other mortals forever. As for the rest: the weak shall be winnowed: the timid shall be cast down: the mighty shall tremble at my feet and pray for pardon."
―Mehrunes Dagon
Deadluck -Imperial Templar "Men are but flesh and blood. They know their doom, but not the hour"
―Uriel Septim
Daggerfall Covenant1 -
GreySix✭✭✭✭✭
✭gamebouncerb16_ESO wrote: »Wow, this is insane how diabolical these drones are becoming
Yet, they can't even think of a good name for their bots?
Actually I came across several bots with Capital letter in front, pronouncable names overall and even last names.
Some have even begun playing classes besides 2h Templar.
So beware the stealthy bots as well as the obvious.
Yep, found this comment on a botter forum:well [bot program name removed] isnt detected so you must of got player reported, I've currently leveled 15 characters to 50 and i have 5 accounts farming and no bans yet. This bot is by far the best on the market even in its beta stage.Crotchety Old Man Guild
"Hey you, get off my lawn!"2 -
Sakiri✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭ebuntsb14_ESO wrote: »Why not make it so that after you delete and then reroll a character, you wont be able to create another one on the same account for 2-3 days.
Deleting a character does nothing to stop bots, Its the accounts that get banned. But most bots using stolen credit cards because people go to their sites to buy gold or items and bam, Your credit card is used for creating new account and botting.
Not requiring the use of static ip is part of the issue to. Botters are able to mask their real ip otherwise.
Requiring static ips just bones over half the internet.
Most isps dont give static ip addesses. I have to pay more if I want one.3 -
Xnemesis✭✭✭✭
If you screw up you have 7 other slots... also you can delete and create with no problem, but if you use the delete feature it will go on CD for a specific amount of time. This would only affect those players who have all character slots filled and delete the 8th slot to reroll and screw up. If you delete your 8th slot to make a new character then be careful and make sure you are ok with your choices or you will have to play one of your other 7 characters until the CD for the delete feature is off CD1 -
p.hurst1b16_ESO✭✭✭Why not make it so that after you delete and then reroll a character, you wont be able to create another one on the same account for 2-3 days.
PWI did something like this, they put a cooldown on the deleted character that actually lasted 7 days so you had a week to change your mind and not delete.
Zenimax need to look around a bit to see how these issues have been handled in the past.
Edited by p.hurst1b16_ESO on May 15, 2014 5:02PM<Enigmatic Name> Is poaching new guild members again ! Apply on our webby with your CV and proof of identity and we can arrange an interview with a panel of our officers.0 -
Sakiri✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭TheGrandAlliance wrote: »|
Lol, manual handling is the most ineffective way of solving this problem, practically useless.
It is profitable though. Assuming a bot account costs 50USD... if a GM were to ban 2-3 accounts/day they would pay for their salary.
Asssuming nothing gets refunded (as some on forums claim; without proof) of course...
They mostly use stolen credit cards to buy accounts.
When the accoung gets banned, the card used will be used to do another, repeat until the card owner reports it stolen and the bank has all of those purchases charged back.
It actually costs ZOS money.1 -
Sakiri✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭TheGrandAlliance wrote: »Can't be bothered, if you don't believe me then fine. The reason given was that only the Report dialog report will contain location information they want to identify where the bot is.
Having 5 stars doesn't mean your information is vaild. Nonetheless: A bot army that spends hours grinding in the same place can easily be found by the character who reports the location (if standing nearby). The player sending the report has a position... and if the bots are there it is easy to find them.
FUrthermore they can simply check teh character's names that are reported, see what they are up to, and make a ban decision that way. They don't need all the information you "claim" to make a ban.
Unless you can "prove" that mass reporting is "useless" then your 5 starts means nothing. Please do not provide false information to others on forums.
You cant search for green posts can you?
Ill get on my damn pc and look later.0 -
Sakiri✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭wrlifeboil wrote: »TheGrandAlliance wrote: »|
Lol, manual handling is the most ineffective way of solving this problem, practically useless.
It is profitable though. Assuming a bot account costs 50USD... if a GM were to ban 2-3 accounts/day they would pay for their salary.
Asssuming nothing gets refunded (as some on forums claim; without proof) of course...
Even if they only ban 5 botters at a time, a $200 hit ($40 retail price) would add up fast. It does make me wonder if the bots are being cloned.
Most of the ones I have on video in Coldharbour are almost exactly the same physically.0 -
Sakiri✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭
If you screw up you have 7 other slots... also you can delete and create with no problem, but if you use the delete feature it will go on CD for a specific amount of time. This would only affect those players who have all character slots filled and delete the 8th slot to reroll and screw up. If you delete your 8th slot to make a new character then be careful and make sure you are ok with your choices or you will have to play one of your other 7 characters until the CD for the delete feature is off CD
I have one free slot right now.
Two vr2s, one alt Im leveling, four mules holding stuff.0 -
Xnemesis✭✭✭✭@ebuntsb14_ESO Botters who spawn in at wayshrines in wayrest and coldharbor are turning in non combat quests for gold. They take the gold and deposit into a bank delete the character and then reroll. By putting a timer on the Delete feature you would be able to make this form of botting non profitable. It wouldn't help with gathering and farming bots but it would be a step in the right direction. It will take a bunch of reporting and multitudes of changes and antibotting techniques to get this under control. I just figured a delete character CD would leave a very small footprint for 99% of legit players and alleviate a ton of wayshrine botters.
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Sakiri✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭gamebouncerb16_ESO wrote: »Wow, this is insane how diabolical these drones are becoming
Yet, they can't even think of a good name for their bots?
Actually I came across several bots with Capital letter in front, pronouncable names overall and even last names.
Some have even begun playing classes besides 2h Templar.
So beware the stealthy bots as well as the obvious.
Yep, found this comment on a botter forum:well [bot program name removed] isnt detected so you must of got player reported, I've currently leveled 15 characters to 50 and i have 5 accounts farming and no bans yet. This bot is by far the best on the market even in its beta stage.
Did you pm someone the name of that program? Because if I found out what theyre using I would.0 -
GreySix✭✭✭✭✭
✭gamebouncerb16_ESO wrote: »Wow, this is insane how diabolical these drones are becoming
Yet, they can't even think of a good name for their bots?
Actually I came across several bots with Capital letter in front, pronouncable names overall and even last names.
Some have even begun playing classes besides 2h Templar.
So beware the stealthy bots as well as the obvious.
Yep, found this comment on a botter forum:well [bot program name removed] isnt detected so you must of got player reported, I've currently leveled 15 characters to 50 and i have 5 accounts farming and no bans yet. This bot is by far the best on the market even in its beta stage.
Did you pm someone the name of that program? Because if I found out what theyre using I would.
PM sent.Crotchety Old Man Guild
"Hey you, get off my lawn!"1 -
ChairGraveyard✭✭✭✭Why not make it so that after you delete and then reroll a character, you wont be able to create another one on the same account for 2-3 days.
Or limit character deletions to 2 per day, with any after that requiring an access code via email.
After all - they have to delete the characters after they recover the gold due to the limited slots. So they'd run into that wall real fast, whereas normal players wouldn't have an issue (as they could enable further deletions via the email access code, ala the ones for a new computer now).1 -
YourNameHere✭✭✭This add-on has helped me a TON, as well as even using free version of FRAPS to catch the sneakier and quicker ones (I.e teleporting and flying ones)
Here is an add-on that was suggested to me by another forum user.
I got it, and it works wonderfully.
http://www.esoui.com/downloads/info181-FastReport.html
If you haven't already, get the addon client used Minion: http://minion.mmoui.com/
Then you can search there for FastReport by thelegendaryof
Once you install that in Minion, go into TESO then go to settings. You'll need to set up the report key (I used F5 in the key bindings).
So when you hover over someone, it will save the last name you captured, even if they disappear quickly. Hitting the key you chose for the report will bring up two windows, as shown in the screenshot http://cdn.eso.mmoui.com/preview/pvw554.jpg
Highlight and CTRL + C the information on the left hand window into the report window on the right hand side, then fill in the rest of what you saw, making sure to click from the drop down menu.
Hope this helps!NA Megaserver / RPer
Alinyssa Gaethar - AD || Raahni-do - AD || Wind-In-Tree's-Shadow - DC3 -
DragonMother✭✭✭I have noticed that the bots that are unable to be reported are those that phase into the terran, or hide in walls. It's hard to get them flagged to report them.Demi, Adult female, Guild leader, Roleplayer & TES enthusiastStatus: Inactive until further notice.
I trust my instincts, more than I trust other peoples opinions.
Four years, and still present. Sanguine still lives.1 -
Thorntongue✭✭✭ZOS_AmeliaR wrote: »Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We're passing this along to the appropriate team to ensure the issue is investigated.
Does this mean that your main revenue stream (bot accounts) will be dealt with?1
