A warning to players participating in the Snowball ATS this year

Shayne Hawke

Shayne Hawke

Departed from Tyria

Join Date: May 2007

Clan Dethryche [dth]

R/

Wintersday will begin soon. It's possibly going to begin next weekend, maybe as late as the Tuesday or Wednesday before the 25th.

It's important then that if you want to participate alongside your friends or Snowball buddies in the Snowball Tournament, you need to get yourselves in the proper guild ASAP. At this point, you won't be able to meet the 2 week requirement of being in your guild to be considered a guild member if you have to switch, but the sooner you get yourself where you need to be, the better. Not everything is lost if this can't work though; you only need to have four people registered as "guild members" to enter the tournament.

Just a heads-up, in case you forgot. Enjoy your Snowball this year!

Edit: The requirements for entering GvG tournaments have changed since last year. You now only need to be a part of your guild for seven days to be considered a legitimate member. Registration requires two of these members as well as six filler players (henchmen, guests, guild members). The same rules applied to Daily GvG tournaments apply here, which you can read about on the wiki here.

M1h4iL

M1h4iL

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2005

Perth, Australia

Good point sir.

Reverend Dr

Reverend Dr

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Super Fans Of Gaile [ban]

W/

Man I sure am glad the 14-day rule was implemented. It sure stopped all of those smurfs dead cold and had no negative effects anywhere else in the community!

Barrage

Barrage

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2008

A/

Praying for the dwayna / grenth balance helps as well.

Eragon Zarroc

Eragon Zarroc

Atra estern?? ono thelduin

Join Date: Jan 2008

Madness Incarnate

[Duo]

W/P

oh yeah, lol. thanx for the reminder ;-)

Nerel

Nerel

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2008

Australia, what you want my home address?

[CAT]

Mo/

Nice heads-up, timely warning. Good of you to remind folks.

jonnieboi05

jonnieboi05

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

Mableton, Georgia

Guild Ancestors Reunited [?????????]

Nice heads up. This post will definately prove usefull for those who want to do the snowball ATS but have no guild.

JimmyNeutron

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2007

Crap....I have to join a Guild now????

Town: Looking for invite to Guild for the holiday snowball ONLY!!!

BenjZee

BenjZee

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2006

The Overacheivers [Club]

Mo/

^Yeah for the ATS...but you ofcourse do regular snowball

Jinkies

Jinkies

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2008

Korea

Peace And Harmony [PnH] War Machine [WM]

They better change the god specific skill this year. Dwayna snares were OP.

Clobimon

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2006

regarding just the start of it... I guess I expected the announcement already - maybe tomorrow. /shrug
Last year began on the 19th (Friday before), which would be the 18th this year.
http://www.guildwars.com/events/ingame/wintersday2008/

Shayne Hawke

Shayne Hawke

Departed from Tyria

Join Date: May 2007

Clan Dethryche [dth]

R/

One year later, and I figure I should remind you all again.

Ghost Dog

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2008

W/

Well played contest.

RedDog91

RedDog91

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2007

Farming for Nick gifts

R/

I'm interested in how many teams will over complicate the tournaments again this year. Took all the fun out of it when people tried to "balance" a team of set bars.

End

End

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2008

Rubbing Potassium on water fountains.

LF guild that teaches MTSC (did it long ago before gw2 came out and I quit...but I barely remember)

N/A

LF guild for snowball at.

lemming

lemming

The Hotshot

Join Date: May 2006

Honolulu

International District [id???]

Quote:
Originally Posted by RedDog91 View Post
I'm interested in how many teams will over complicate the tournaments again this year. Took all the fun out of it when people tried to "balance" a team of set bars.
Do you really blame people for "over complicating" things when there's thousands of dollars at stake?

ErrantVenture

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2010

Social Darwinism [SaD]

A/W

Not interested in playing snowball ATs
DnD bots will win every AT for the 3-4 guilds that use them

Yawgmoth

Yawgmoth

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2005

What matters to me is that they should FINALLY balance the Avalanche vs Yellow Snow skills. It's been an glaringly obvious problem since 2005 and it's far more significant when there are tournaments with high prizes decided on who gets which side.
Anyone from TK here knows if they're finally touching the issue? Testing better balance or ignoring again?

And bots should be just reported, this year at least they care and send Dhuum for the botters. But aren't the at winning guilds just using macros not bots?

makosi

makosi

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

"Pre-nerf" is incorrect. It's pre-buff.

Requirement Begins With R [notQ]

Me/

Isn't snowball AT just too smash-head-against-a-wall- frustrating with all the bots? And there's too few staff members to do anything about it, especially at Christmas time.

Yuris Sayuri

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2008

MoO, Glad, Boo

Mo/W

Lol, good luck in reporting player's skill. Doesn't any1 wonder why we never got banned since more than 2 fkn years.

They should better balance Grenth/Dwayna and make them RANDOM in Finals. Match manipulation sucks.

ErrantVenture

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2010

Social Darwinism [SaD]

A/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yawgmoth View Post
And bots should be just reported, this year at least they care and send Dhuum for the botters. But aren't the at winning guilds just using macros not bots?
Every guild uses macros. That's a given. Some guilds are still using bots though. These bots use hooking to scan packets coming to their client to detect when a skill capable of cause knockdown has been used targeting them. The hook then inserts its own packets into the communication between your client and the server causing your character to automatically drop the gift it's holding, sidestep to avoid the snowball, pick the present back up, and continue running. I highly doubt Anet will ban many or even most of these players: they simply won't be able to catch them.

jazilla

jazilla

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2006

Guernsey Milking Coalition[MiLk]

E/Me

Snowball AT is "The Enchanted Winter Dance" for bot guilds! Pat yourselves on the back cheaters! BTW, whining about my post is akin to someone telling me they will continue to sync in RA until ANet "bringz back teh TA".

mrmango

mrmango

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2006

Southern California

Charter Vanguard [CV]

Me/Rt

I had no idea there were bots for Snowball fight. Dang I feel out of the loop. Anyone got a video?

LifeInfusion

LifeInfusion

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

in the midline

E/Mo

I want to do it now that my guild is pretty dead (i.e. switch for the time being). Is there any point in doing it with all the bots around though?

Essence Snow

Essence Snow

Unbridled Enthusiasm!

Join Date: Nov 2009

EST

DPR

Quote:
Originally Posted by lemming View Post
Do you really blame people for "over complicating" things when there's thousands of dollars at stake?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ErrantVenture View Post
Every guild uses macros. That's a given. Some guilds are still using bots though. Thesebots use hooking to scan packets coming to their client to detect when a skill capable of cause knockdown has been used targeting them. The hook then inserts its own packets into the communication between your client and the server causing your character to automatically drop the gift it's holding, sidestep to avoid the snowball, pick the present back up, and continue running. I highly doubt Anet will ban many or even most of these players: they simply won't be able to catch them.
So...there is a real world cash prize for a format that is plagued by bots and rampant use of macros?...Genius!

Shayne Hawke

Shayne Hawke

Departed from Tyria

Join Date: May 2007

Clan Dethryche [dth]

R/

I think a lot of people are blowing the prominence of bots out of proportion.

Quote:
Originally Posted by LifeInfusion View Post
I want to do it now that my guild is pretty dead (i.e. switch for the time being). Is there any point in doing it with all the bots around though?
If nothing else, you and a partner could fill a team with henchmen and just AFK your way through the tournament. It won't get you a stellar amount of reward points, but it could at least give you something.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yawgmoth View Post
What matters to me is that they should FINALLY balance the Avalanche vs Yellow Snow skills. It's been an glaringly obvious problem since 2005 and it's far more significant when there are tournaments with high prizes decided on who gets which side.
Anyone from TK here knows if they're finally touching the issue? Testing better balance or ignoring again?
Due to a number of personal issues I've been dealing with lately, mostly revolved around school, I was a lot later to putting DvG on the Krewe's radar than last year and than I would have liked. Plus, a lot of the Krewe's focus at the moment is on polishing our dervish update. Don't hold your expectations too high for changes this year.

lemming

lemming

The Hotshot

Join Date: May 2006

Honolulu

International District [id???]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Essence Snow View Post
So...there is a real world cash prize for a format that is plagued by bots and rampant use of macros?...Genius!
No, there's just a disproportionately large amount of reward points handed out.

Linksys

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

If you join a guild to qualify for this, make sure the guild is gonna keep you. Someone may invite you, then kick you the day before the Snowball thing starts just to intentionally grief you. Some people are like that.

ErrantVenture

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2010

Social Darwinism [SaD]

A/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Essence Snow View Post
So...there is a real world cash prize for a format that is plagued by bots and rampant use of macros?...Genius!
Not an actual real-world prize...huge amounts of reward points are given out as prizes though. These are exchanged for zkeys which are sold to other players/gold selling websites for ~40 USD per stack.

ruk1a

ruk1a

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: May 2008

UR MOM LOL

ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by ErrantVenture View Post
Not interested in playing snowball ATs
DnD bots will win every AT for the 3-4 guilds that use them
this. no point when bots are involved.

deluxe

deluxe

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Feb 2006

Monkeyball Z

S.K.A.T. [Ban]

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by ruk1a View Post
this. no point when bots are involved.
Anet should just put a message in the MOTD that they heavily monitor the Snowball AT for botting.
Even if they're just bluffing, most will be too scared to bot ^^

Reverend Dr

Reverend Dr

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Super Fans Of Gaile [ban]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by deluxe View Post
Even if they're just bluffing, most will be too scared to bot ^^
Do you honestly believe this?

RedDog91

RedDog91

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2007

Farming for Nick gifts

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Linksys View Post
True. Unless they're using secondary accounts to feed a primary.
This is why it won't work.
99% of bots are secondary accounts. Botters may not be the smartest players, but they're smart enough to not get their main account banned.

StormX

StormX

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2005

E/Mo

What's the point when it's going to be won by the same people every year? I just find it a little unfair that winners of the ATs get massive amounts of gamer points while I'm reduced to grinding it the slow, hard way.

BlueNovember

BlueNovember

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2005

WTS GW2 items for Zkey

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by StormX View Post
What's the point when it's going to be won by the same people every year? I just find it a little unfair that winners of the ATs get massive amounts of gamer points while I'm reduced to grinding it the slow, hard way.
Better players get more points? What injustice!

Space

Space

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2009

UK

No Goats No Glory (BAAA)

Quote:
Originally Posted by StormX View Post
What's the point when it's going to be won by the same people every year? I just find it a little unfair that winners of the ATs get massive amounts of gamer points while I'm reduced to grinding it the slow, hard way.
It's the taking part that counts, or so i've heard.

En panis

En panis

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2008

Finland

The Last Revolution [LR]

W/E

And here it starts again "winning guilds are using bots and macros" , "There is no point in playing when everyone is botting"

In my guild none of our players never used even a macro , i have known those guys for many years some of them even irl and i know for sure that no one is cheating its just pure skill and training hard.

And imo they should only change the system that the sides would be random in single's

See you on the field , This friday :O?

hitsuji182

hitsuji182

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2008

Poland

The Autonomy [?????????]

Mo/A

Quote:
Originally Posted by En panis View Post
And imo they should only change the system that the sides would be random in single's
You mean randomizing normal snowballs like they did with Costume Brawl? Are you kidding me? We have seen enough whines about this terrible idea. Snowballs need only a little balance between Avalanche and Yellow Snow, that's all. Probably it won't happen anyway as one of test krewe member stated, so just leave snowballs in current form, it's good already. No need to spoil it like CB...

Killed u man

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by En panis View Post
And here it starts again "winning guilds are using bots and macros" , "There is no point in playing when everyone is botting"

In my guild none of our players never used even a macro , i have known those guys for many years some of them even irl and i know for sure that no one is cheating its just pure skill and training hard.

And imo they should only change the system that the sides would be random in single's

See you on the field , This friday :O?
The wife of Jozef Fritzl never suspected for 25 years her husband was a molesting, incestious inbreeder.

Just because you believe noone in your guild is botting doesn't make it a truth, as millions of examples proove over and over again: you don't ever truly know someone.

Also, we can go over this again and again, but the bottom line is and remains this:

Players who achieved NOTHING of value in any high-end PvP evolving tactics and team coordination (HA and GvG) manage to completely steamroll teams who have, in fact, proven they're decent players (gold cap players) in a format which has already been proven to be infected by bots.

Heck, after my shouting and screaming over the past 3 years, I've atleast opened the eyes of the PvP community (Before my botting threads, 99% didn't even have a clue bots existed) and on QQ forums people are highly aware of the botting going on in Snowball, despite top snowball guilds (who have no credibility) claiming they don't.

It just bothers me that certain players (We all know who they are, pretty much all euros) managed to get thousands of dollars from the rewards alone by botting/hack syncing events such as snowball and RBR. I mean, if I would be in the position of getting free money, I probably wouldn't say "no", but the truth is I'm not in that position (mainly because I don't have 7 other friends who are willing to bot snowball for multiple AT's a day) and therefor I can only complain about the many guilds/people who are capable of doing so. (Because there can only be 1 winner)

Looking forward to the many bot threads, though.

I'm still amused when certain renowned botting guilds members claim they don't bot when I've already provided proof they do. (The KD'ing snowball DnD test, where they wouldn't know if I had hidden rock up, yet only DnD when I did have it up, and ignore other snowballs)

Snowballs, free real life money for botters, ho ho ho

En panis

En panis

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Mar 2008

Finland

The Last Revolution [LR]

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by hitsuji182 View Post
You mean randomizing normal snowballs like they did with Costume Brawl? Are you kidding me? We have seen enough whines about this terrible idea. Snowballs need only a little balance between Avalanche and Yellow Snow, that's all. Probably it won't happen anyway as one of test krewe member stated, so just leave snowballs in current form, it's good already. No need to spoil it like CB...
no , in ats so you could not abuse the second place in swisses to get dwaynas in singles...


And borat id like to know more about your testings and the guilds where those players were from.