Bot mania in Bergen hot springs

white wolfgang

white wolfgang

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2005

Middle Of No Where

(GODS)

Me/

It is completely out of control in Bergen Hot Springs
The Bots are streaming out the door This just messes things up for the rest of us. I know Anet trys to get rid of them but it seem the nerf bat comes first then we suffer. Please get rid of them not because they are cutting into my slice of the pie but they ruin the FUN of the game!!!! Yes I am having fun right now with this hard mode change and would just like it to last a little while

Macktar Wang

Macktar Wang

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

I hear that. I noticed the stream last night myself. We can't be sure if they are farming Hard Mode or not, but they are definitely Undead Farming outside Bergen Hot Springs. Typical bot behavior including no guild tag, tatoo armor undyed, and they run straight to the sign, turn left, about 4 steps forward, turn right, then out the door.

the_jos

the_jos

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

Hard Mode Legion [HML]

N/

Bots farming undead HM (Holy Damage = double damage).
Probably gold Dead Bows.

TedTheDead

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2007

Sons of Metal

N/

Those undead rangers are pretty easy to get gold dead bows from

The Astralarium has an even worse bot problem though.

impoc

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2006

Warriors of Legendary Chaos

A/

I'm there now, its like a parade, I could fall asleep counting them like sheep jumping a fence

Trakata

Trakata

Crimson King

Join Date: Jun 2006

Resplendent Makuun

Song of the Forsaken

Isn't there already a thread complaining about this exact issue?

impoc

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2006

Warriors of Legendary Chaos

A/

I think so, somewhere, I thought I saw one earlier last night, not sure why a new one was made

RTSFirebat

RTSFirebat

The Humanoid Typhoon

Join Date: May 2005

UK

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

R/

Your never get rid of bots, they will always be about. I just ignore them, and its fun watching them run in and out of towns.

SotiCoto

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

Like the Granite Citadel all over again.

I'm sure A-Net COULD do something about them if we were just so good as to cap the usernames involved.... right? I'm guessing A-Net just don't care that much as to want to do something about it...

Etta

Etta

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

Mancland, British Empire

lol Bots?! I farmed there myself a few times in HM, the drop were freaking awesome. There are load of real people there, but im sure there are bots mix in the bag as well. You can tell who's the bot if you spend sometime looking at the way they moved. But don't go saying everyone there is a bot, same thing could be say about Gate of Kryta.

Try pming the bot and see what happen
me: Hey! how's going?
bot: 01101 00111 0101, 110?

Taala

Taala

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2006

After reading the title, I had this image in my head of bots taking a relaxing vacation at the hot springs...

SotiCoto

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Taala
After reading the title, I had this image in my head of bots taking a relaxing vacation at the hot springs...
With hot bot-on-bot action.... XD

Dronte

Dronte

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Etta
lol Bots?! I farmed there myself a few times in HM, the drop were freaking awesome. There are load of real people there, but im sure there are bots mix in the bag as well. You can tell who's the bot if you spend sometime looking at the way they moved. But don't go saying everyone there is a bot, same thing could be say about Gate of Kryta.

Try pming the bot and see what happen
me: Hey! how's going?
bot: 01101 00111 0101, 110?
Try PM-ing the unid seller bot for example
me: 9k for 7?
bot: 10k k
me: what type of items?
bot: 10k k
*open trade*
bot: 10k k
*u buy*
*bot opens trade again*
bot: 10k k

Thats fun, I tried it out 1 time xD
Btw a farm bot wont answer you :P

kalebmordannon

kalebmordannon

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2007

Ost in Edhil

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Etta
lol Bots?! I farmed there myself a few times in HM, the drop were freaking awesome. There are load of real people there, but im sure there are bots mix in the bag as well. You can tell who's the bot if you spend sometime looking at the way they moved. But don't go saying everyone there is a bot, same thing could be say about Gate of Kryta.

Try pming the bot and see what happen
me: Hey! how's going?
bot: 01101 00111 0101, 110?

second that, i like to farm too, so make sure b4 you go submitting names or something.

impoc

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2006

Warriors of Legendary Chaos

A/

actually, I tried trading with a few when they were dropping stuff off at the merchant, I would give them 1k and then they would give me some crap unid, and then I would modify so I'm giving nothing and then accept and they would accept, I got a few free unid golds and some cupcakes too, lol

SotiCoto

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

Quote:
Originally Posted by kalebmordannon
second that, i like to farm too, so make sure b4 you go submitting names or something.
Stay away from the sign then.... and definitely do NOT make a beeline toward it.

white wolfgang

white wolfgang

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2005

Middle Of No Where

(GODS)

Me/

Sorry I didn't see the other thread
How as a community can we curb this? I could have taken screen shots all day. The way I see it it was better to post here and get Anets attention to the Bots. Maybe they can start publishing statistics on how many corrective actions they have taken IE banned 2000 accounts this week for botting or gold trading. I know i dont want my account banned for ebay gold. Negative reinforcement is not great but maybe it can help.

Dronte

Dronte

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Sep 2006

I farm there sometimes too. With undyed armor. And I usually go out on a similar way. So am I a bot? Well, no, I have guild, and no tatto armor lol. Its nearly impossible to find out which player is farm bot and which not.

SotiCoto

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dronte
I farm there sometimes too. With undyed armor. And I usually go out on a similar way. So am I a bot? Well, no, I have guild, and no tatto armor lol. Its nearly impossible to find out which player is farm bot and which not.
... Ask them?
Check their name perhaps? A lot of bots have really retarded names... aside from being cookie-cutter builds, hanging out by the sign, rotating in circles, wearing undyed tattoos and having no guild...

Etta

Etta

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

Mancland, British Empire

The bots also never dance, chat to guildies while farming or come back in to town and say "FFS forgot to turn on the hard mode again", or shout in guild chat "woot, gold dead bow 15^50" then got kill by poision because they forget to cast mystic regen.

Dronte

Dronte

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by SotiCoto
... Ask them?
Check their name perhaps? A lot of bots have really retarded names... aside from being cookie-cutter builds, hanging out by the sign, rotating in circles, wearing undyed tattoos and having no guild...
So lets see, who is a bot:
when u ask him no answer
retarded name
cookie cutter build :P
weird moving
undyed tatto armor
no guild

Well, thats more than suspicious, but can we say he is a bot? And if not?

TheRaven

TheRaven

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2006

Virginia

Spirit of Elisha

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by white wolfgang
Sorry I didn't see the other thread
How as a community can we curb this? I could have taken screen shots all day. The way I see it it was better to post here and get Anets attention to the Bots. Maybe they can start publishing statistics on how many corrective actions they have taken IE banned 2000 accounts this week for botting or gold trading. I know i dont want my account banned for ebay gold. Negative reinforcement is not great but maybe it can help.
How can we help? Ok, here's an idea. I don't know if it will work or not, but it's worth a try.

The other day I was in Granite Citadel and I saw 2 bots that were stuck continually bumping into each other. They stayed stuck for the entire time that I was in there. Could we set up some type of human barricade against the bots?

For example, everyone go to Bergen Hot Springs and leave your character in the path that the bots need to take to the signposts. If enough of us leave our characters AFK there, would that block the bots from being able to farm?

I'm not saying that you have to waste your game time standing there. Just leave your char there when you would normally sign off.

So what do you think? Dumb idea? Or workable?

TheRaven

TheRaven

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2006

Virginia

Spirit of Elisha

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by impoc
actually, I tried trading with a few when they were dropping stuff off at the merchant, I would give them 1k and then they would give me some crap unid, and then I would modify so I'm giving nothing and then accept and they would accept, I got a few free unid golds and some cupcakes too, lol
ROFL. Gives a whole new meaning to bot farming! I gotta try that. Sounds profitable.

lucifer_uk

lucifer_uk

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2006

Nottingham, England

The Venerable Truth [TvT] The Venerable Alliance [TvH] [TvL]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRaven
How can we help? Ok, here's an idea. I don't know if it will work or not, but it's worth a try.

The other day I was in Granite Citadel and I saw 2 bots that were stuck continually bumping into each other. They stayed stuck for the entire time that I was in there. Could we set up some type of human barricade against the bots?

For example, everyone go to Bergen Hot Springs and leave your character in the path that the bots need to take to the signposts. If enough of us leave our characters AFK there, would that block the bots from being able to farm?

I'm not saying that you have to waste your game time standing there. Just leave your char there when you would normally sign off.

So what do you think? Dumb idea? Or workable?
In towns you can walk right through people

SotiCoto

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dronte
So lets see, who is a bot:
when u ask him no answer
retarded name
cookie cutter build :P
weird moving
undyed tatto armor
no guild

Well, thats more than suspicious, but can we say he is a bot? And if not?
Then whoever it is shouldn't be doing such a good bot impersonation. Nobody would actually play the game like that to such a degree unless they were genuinely impersonating a bot...

TheRaven

TheRaven

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Sep 2006

Virginia

Spirit of Elisha

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by lucifer_uk
In towns you can walk right through people
Sometimes. Sometimes not. I don't know what the controlling factor is on whether you get hung up or not. Like I said, i really did see 2 bots stuck in Granite. There were no NPC characters in their path, just each other.

bobrath

bobrath

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

Texas

Scouts of Tyria

What we need is some sort of speed bump for the bots... if you run too fast at the sign, you suddenly fall down! Ha ha, bloody nose.

RTSFirebat

RTSFirebat

The Humanoid Typhoon

Join Date: May 2005

UK

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

R/

Look at it this way, I do like bots, you don't like bots, no one does.

But are they really hurting anyone? I mean what harm do they generally do? They don't effect your gameplay, they don't even get in anyones way.

I don't support bots, but I don't see what's the point going on about them.

SotiCoto

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

Along similar lines to bobrath's comment.... why not put barriers of some sort between the signs and the merchants.... barriers that cannot be autoed around...


Quote:
Originally Posted by RTSFirebat
But are they really hurting anyone? I mean what harm do they generally do? They don't effect your gameplay, they don't even get in anyones way.
L.A.G.

Skuld

Skuld

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2005

Thousend Tigers Apund Ur Head [Ttgr]

A/

My granite citadel tattoos cost 150k back in the day, I aint no bot

RTSFirebat

RTSFirebat

The Humanoid Typhoon

Join Date: May 2005

UK

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by SotiCoto
Along similar lines to bobrath's comment.... why not put barriers of some sort between the signs and the merchants.... barriers that cannot be autoed around...
Because they will simply script them to work in a different way without the signs. That would stop them for a bit, not forever.

Quote:
Originally Posted by SotiCoto
L.A.G.
I don't get much lag in bot towns. Maybe in towns there is a bit of lag, but once you in an instance area it matters little.

explodemyheart

explodemyheart

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2005

Indiana

Gui1d War스 P01ic트 [Pr으]

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheRaven
Sometimes. Sometimes not. I don't know what the controlling factor is on whether you get hung up or not. Like I said, i really did see 2 bots stuck in Granite. There were no NPC characters in their path, just each other.
Other than bots, I have never, ever seen people get stuck or block each other in a town which just leads to believe it's a pathing problem with the bots.

white wolfgang

white wolfgang

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2005

Middle Of No Where

(GODS)

Me/

Doesn't Anet have the ability to tell if you are using Macros?
I saw a post a long time ago regarding the use of keyboards with Macros.
In that they stated that the client software is actually pushing info to them.
I can't verify this. I certainly don't want to be turning in real peeps. Anet should be able to verify who is a bot on their own.

My beef is that the bots will effect us because it seems easier to change the run versus going after the bots so in the end we do suffer when we cant do this anymore.

LifeInfusion

LifeInfusion

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

in the midline

E/Mo

Yesterday night my guild leader was commenting about this on TS. It is pretty bad in in the international district.

Dronte

Dronte

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Sep 2006

There is a good side of bots too
They farm lots of golds and sell them unid, that means unid prices are going down, and THAT means I could get maxed wisdom cheaper ^^

Etta

Etta

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

Mancland, British Empire

Doesn't Anet have a 3rd party software detector program? I mean those botters are using 3rd party software right? Set a bots detector in a hot farming spot and ban any account with a funny program running in the background.

Gaile Gray

Gaile Gray

ArenaNet

Join Date: Feb 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by SotiCoto
Like the Granite Citadel all over again.

I'm sure A-Net COULD do something about them if we were just so good as to cap the usernames involved.... right? I'm guessing A-Net just don't care that much as to want to do something about it...
Actually, we do do something. We ban about 2,000 bots a week.

I've reported this location to make sure that this map is on the special watch list, as well.

Thanks.

MagicWarrior

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2007

If they could make it harder for bots to get out of town... maybe that would get rid of them? For instance, if the entrance/exit was marked on the map and moved around randomly... and there were no sign posts that the bots could follow... then would be funny to see the bots running around trying to find the exit.

I personally wouldn't mind this inconvenience if it means getting rid of all these damn bots.

TomD22

TomD22

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

2000 a week!? Every week? So that's 102000 bot accounts banned per year, potentially up to 204000 in the two years gw has existed. You claimed a while back to have hit 2m sales so around 10% of them were bots. Although I guess when the game was newer there were fewer, and I'm assuming your ban rate has been steady. And then of course there's all the ones you don't find/ban....but still, as a rough figure, that's a whole lot of bots. Much bigger business than I would have thought, I'm really surprised at the implied scale of it.

white wolfgang

white wolfgang

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2005

Middle Of No Where

(GODS)

Me/

WOW! I am honored Gaile posted in my thread